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Post by Èdan on Sept 9, 2021 8:45:39 GMT -6
The stream appears to behave after the line is cast anew, simply bubbling along as it carries the bobber on the surface and the lure below, as if denying the incident entirely. Perhaps it was indeed a series of events that had been unpredictable, perhaps there is more hiding beneath the shallow-looking waters than initially anticipated. The Docks he's since learned to steer clear of, both to avoid the noise and bustle, but also because it seems infested with giant sea serpents. How they allow river ships to draw so close to those things remains beyond him.. Half of them barely under command and the other half would suffer little retribution even if they did disobey.
By comparison the river seems almost paltry. Abundant in fish, yes, but certainly no place for a great serpent like that. And in similar comparison the shadow can seem to be the most well behaved beast you ever did see, despite refusing touch and attention.
. 51 . Atrum: 16 (1/5) Wet Season: 51
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Post by Èdan on Sept 9, 2021 8:53:47 GMT -6
Said shadow, as if denying that fact about itself as well, creeps up along the boulder to settled in the man's shadow. It is given some concern as to the events that happened, as much is clear, though what it makes of it remains anyone's guess (Unless they were a mind reader, in which case they wouldn't even need to guess to begin with). He doesn't pay the shadow mind initially, merely assuming it to be seeking shelter again, but after a while it does bring him to wonder. Between when the acquaintance was made and now, the shadow is certainly seeming to be a lot more.. well, not 'clingy' but certainly more approachable, purely in terms of distance.
In truth, he's not entirely sure if he would even know whether the shadow is hiding behind him or on him, given the thing has no body to cause a sensation of weight anywhere it connects. And likewise if connection even leaves a sensation at all?
. 52 . Atrum: 16 (2/5) Wet Season: 52
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Post by Èdan on Sept 9, 2021 11:48:43 GMT -6
His head turns to glance behind him, and sure enough - A portion of the darkness cast by the sunlight remains dark even to his senses, with emerald eyes staring back. It's an attentive gaze, evaluating, searching.. As if expecting to find more meaning out of his expression. He doesn't offer any back, for there's nothing yet to offer. The thing seems to like hanging around near him, but it hardly meant they are connected in some form or fashion. The shadow could just as easily find itself a new fanciful person to follow any time they pass through town. Just because it hasn't yet doesn't mean it couldn't, simply that it's standards are either lacking or far too high (Depending on how much it understand of the courier).
The line wobbled then, bringing his attentions back to it. A short moment passed, expectation creeping up until it moved again, lightly tugged. Half of him expected to be yanked off his feet again, but no, whatever is on the line is much too small for that.
. 53 . Atrum: 16 (3/5) Wet Season: 53
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Post by Èdan on Sept 9, 2021 11:54:55 GMT -6
(And the other half is perhaps a bit disappointed about that. Sure, the before had a very real sense of danger to it, the exact degree of which was debatable, but he'd be lying if the blood being sent racing wasn't exhilarating and rather awakening. Almost better than even coffee, in some ways). The man stands and manages to reel the small fish in without too much issue, catching into the palm. The hook almost seems too big for it, making it a wonder how it was even caught (But there's the bit about gift horses, and all that).
Jumping down from the boulder, the trick is getting the hook out without damaging the fish further. Nothing that can't heal, sure, but small and slim as it is a wrong move could leave much more lasting damage. The shadow trailed in his wake, not so alarmed as before as it seems to largely take cues from his own responses.
. 54 . Atrum: 16 (4/5) Wet Season: 54
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Post by Èdan on Sept 9, 2021 12:00:50 GMT -6
He's not exactly sure if that's always been the case, though. Perhaps some things are easier to learn by observation (And if that's the case, good Goddess-given luck to it. He suspects all the things that could be learned wouldn't even have space to fit within that small head). The fish is released into the bucket as soon as one of the branch lines begins to wobble as well, signalling another catch. Well, then! A whole lot of trouble with the mysterious assaulted from before, only to be followed up by a double catch (Perhaps the Goddess was looking out after all).
There's a short series of pulling out the line and fussing about with the strange flat white fish before he gets it free of the hook and into the bucket. Neither the fishing pole nor the branch line seem damaged, so he places the latter back in and readies the former. Hmm.. If the fish are as lively as that, perhaps throwing out something more 'enticing' might bring about their strange stalker.
It's not exactly 'live' bait, but the store assured it would work just as well. So he throws the expired fish into the pool and waits with the net in case it brings around something curious enough to nibble on it.
. 55 . Atrum: 17 (0/5) Wet Season: 55
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Post by Jack on Sept 9, 2021 12:23:38 GMT -6
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Post by Èdan on Sept 9, 2021 16:28:14 GMT -6
Both man and shadow loom over the waters, watching the dead fish drift around in the slow current of the pool. In fact, it's hardly moving, making it perhaps not the most ideal bait, but certainly something to entice more of the scavenger-feeding types. He doesn't have to wait all too long - Soon enough something dark creeps out from between the rocks and cautiously makes its way towards the floating thing. Bold, opportunistic.. and ultimately doomed.
The net is dipped into the water, slow and steady as to avoid causing any more ripples and currents than is necessary. It's much bigger than the fish in question (And he hardly assumes this small thing was their alleged assaulter either, despite it looking.. rather weird. Not many river fish that had quite the same sort of physicality, but perhaps it was mutated by something in the water or in nature.. The Labs certainly liked playing with nature, even if they didn't necessarily take proper consequences into account).
. 56 . Atrum: 17 (1/5) Wet Season: 56
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Post by Èdan on Sept 9, 2021 16:33:52 GMT -6
Some of the markets in the City also showed this, which the variety of odd fruits, game and fish so boldly on display. To be sure some are foreign imports, but the rest seem a little too easily passed off as 'normal'. (Though, perhaps despite the appearance, they none the less worked well enough. After all, if the food had any adverse side-effects, the City's populace would be in nothing short of an uproar. Kings have been deposed for less).
The trick doesn't last, as the fish quickly seems to realize the net is getting closer and closer. Not surprising.. Short of training the pup or shadow to quite literally herd the fish towards the net, they are the ones accustomed the sensations of current and wave, able to sense the smallest of disturbances (And even quicker to panic to them). Best he can do is try to lull them into a false sense of security long enough to make the snatch a much shorter affair.
. 57 . Atrum: 17 (2/5) Wet Season: 57
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Post by Èdan on Sept 9, 2021 16:39:00 GMT -6
The snatch in this case actually misses, and the fish is quick to dart away, the distance to make the motion still much to great for a good rate of success. He can feel the bump against the edge of the net's ring, but a miss is still a miss. That would have been that as well, with the fish darting off even as the shadow slipped into the water to chase it, but fate had some fortune still in store for the two - As it makes its grand escape, the fish ducks into a tangle of seaweed and does not come out. Instead, the tangle itself seems to writhe and twitch, with occasional glimpses of the fish visible in between.
He squints, the ripples of the pond still settling and distorting most of the view, but the gut's sense for opportunity is strong and he's never been one to pass on them. The net moves again, quick to catch up and slam over the whole of the seaweed mess.
. 58 . Atrum: 17 (3/5) Wet Season: 58
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Post by Èdan on Sept 9, 2021 16:45:37 GMT -6
The net is dragged across the bottom of the pool a short distance, to ensure the catch is secure. There's a tug and a forceful motion within, confirming as much, even as the silt and sand gets kicked up again from the motion. He quickly scoops the net along, around and up out of the water, bringing it closer to see. Sure enough, the fish is within there, still wiggling and trying to free itself. The seaweed seems to have wrapped around it like a coil of rope, and most likely being the main reason he got the second chance to begin with.
As the man crouches down, he begins to untangle the fish from the kelp (Both are worth keeping, but it wouldn't do to have the thing stress itself to death in the bucket if it remained tied up by it) while the shadow slowly crawls back out of the water, seeing the situation already handled.
. 59 . Atrum: 17 (4/5) Wet Season: 59
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Post by Èdan on Sept 9, 2021 16:51:23 GMT -6
As he's working, there's a glance towards the shade and a smirk, "Felt like going for a dip? Or looking to offer a helping hand?" As if embarrassed about the question, the shadow melded back into the grass, moving a little ways off. Not a conversationalist then.. Well, he could hardly blame it - After all, it's a little hard to start discussions when you don't even have lungs to make sounds with.
With the fish freed, he quickly dumps it into the bucket, dropping the two strands of seaweed on the opposite end. If it's smart it'll avoid getting tangled again (But he's not going to hold his breath. Fish-related intervention hasn't exactly been something he anticipated to deal with, but none the less might need to be a necessity eventually), but he'll keep an eye out for any sudden undue splashing coming from the bucket, to be on the safe side.
That sorted, he cleans the net from any other pieces of seaweed and takes another box of bait, scattering it about the pool. If there's one, surely there might be more opportunists..
. 60 . (added)
Atrum: 18 (0/5) Wet Season: 60
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Post by Jack on Sept 9, 2021 17:27:52 GMT -6
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Post by Èdan on Sept 10, 2021 1:06:58 GMT -6
At first, the splash of dark in the corner of his field of view is assumed to be the shadow, returning from where it had decided to run off to. But he quickly realizes the shape is a little wrong, the size a little off and the manner.. It's too quick, too erratic. The net hovers over the water, at a ready, but he almost flinches back when the thing suddenly lunges for the plants and then towards him. Okay.. Okay, this is definitely not your standard average fish and if he assumed the previous one had been something of a nightmare looker then this one certainly tops that without even trying.
The shadow materializes beside him, brought forth by the sudden commotion and sense that something is wrong, and even it flinches down once the tail of the thing breaks the surface of the water. Faex.. He's going to have to try something else, since this thing isn't exactly in the same category as the ones from before and the net may well be too small to catch it. But.. it could serve as distraction, perhaps..
So he lowers the net into the water, gently moving it to catch the thing's attention.
. 61 . Atrum: 18 (1/5) Wet Season: 61
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Post by Jack on Sept 10, 2021 11:48:07 GMT -6
The strange, violent fish didn't appear to think much, as it shot toward the movement it saw out of the corner of its eye. Snapping jaws descended upon the net and it attempted to roll, much like a large alligator might if presented the same opportunity.
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Post by Èdan on Sept 10, 2021 16:08:45 GMT -6
The plan is going as expected, but much like most of his plans, there's always a snag. And the snag with this one ends up being the literal snag itself - He expected the fish to grab for the net and perhaps entangle itself enough to get stuck, but he didn't think it would do it's own wrestling move in the same attempt. Faex! he thinks, not for the first time in however many seconds.
The net is wrenched sideways, but he keeps the grip on it even as the creature's mass pushes him sideways closer towards the edge. The shadow scatters aside, still looking to fear his feet as if physical things could do anything to it. So, looks like their stalker friend came back for seconds after all.. It's strength is certainly enough to match his, but out of the two of them, he has the better footing. Digging the heels of the boots into the muddy grass, he flips under the net and around to the other side, switching up the grip so the pole is gripped under on the back hand and over on the forward one. "Let's see how well you like dry land," he mutters through his teeth and hoists the net sideways, to drag the thing out of water.
With luck, it'll be too stuck to realize what's happening until it's done.
. 62 . Atrum: 18 (2/5) Wet Season: 62
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