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Post by Èdan on Oct 19, 2021 15:26:49 GMT -6
Having avoided one such encounter at a fork in the river, the man turns his attentions towards the wider of the two distributaries and makes a rather wide arc around the campside of the fellow fisher towards it. It's mostly luck that the pup is too busy trying to jump high enough to peek into the bucket he's holding as they're walking, for the strange lizard-like beast the other fisher has could have the pup for a snack. (And gives him a concerning reminder how big some of these things can truly grow.. Though useful to know as well, in case something big is exactly what he needs at some point).
So, provocations avoided, whether through pup-induced playfulness or disrespecting a warning side-eye, the two walk down the riverbank of the distributary. It's still much too close to the other fisher for his liking, but he does start preparing the fishing line for the rod. As much as the shores have things to find, the real catch is still in the waters.
. 4 . Perscitus: 28 (4/5) Dry Season: 4
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Post by Èdan on Oct 19, 2021 15:34:05 GMT -6
With enough of a distance between them and the other fisher, the man finally stops along the distributary, fastening the final piece of the line - the hook. He sets down the bag on the drier, sandier part of the shore, while the bucket is closer to the muddier outcroppings. Or rather, buckets. He's nothing if not able to learn from past mistakes, and given the haul last time nearly broke the handle of it, it doesn't hurt to bring spares, for weight distribution, as well as space.
"Now's the time," he finishes fiddling with the line, looking to the pup, "Let's see what you can do. Go on, search and fish for something." The hand motions towards the bare shore, in no specific location as such, but it doesn't necessarily matter - The pup's already dashing off, released from the leash. Any one spot is likely as good as the next, and out of the two of them, the pup might have the better senses for things hidden under the sands anyway.
As for him, his focus is on the water, and he pulls back the line to cast it into the narrow river.
. 5 . Perscitus: 29 (0/5) Dry Season: 5
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Post by Nadia on Oct 20, 2021 3:58:18 GMT -6
The lure has attracted... a pair of weirdos.
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Post by Èdan on Oct 21, 2021 8:27:17 GMT -6
So far so good - The pup runs along the banks up and down, ears flopping almost comically in the process, despite not being very flopped to begin with. Whatever he is searching for seems to elude him, or perhaps the pup is merely trying to find the best place to start. Every now and again he stops and starts digging in the wet sand, sniffing the hole and then running off again.
The man honestly can't tell if there's a pattern or rhyme or reason to the method, but at this point it too early to tell whether it works regardless. If it doesn't he can't exactly be mad about it.. After all the training was essentially free, short of having to spend some grueling hours staring down a long-necked herbivore with anger issues, as compensation. So while he did have to flex some unusual skills to deal with that, it also saved him a good deal of credits.
. 6 . Perscitus: 29 (1/5) Dry Season: 6
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Post by Èdan on Oct 21, 2021 8:33:39 GMT -6
In the end, the method isn't so important as the result (And that was a motto to live by, if there ever was one, for life in general). So long as the pup could bring in a fish or two, it would be worth it. If he brought in more than that, even better. If he brought in none, well.. At least he can enjoy the scenery in a bit more silence than before. The pup still barks and yaps every now and then, but it's already a far better improvement from the incessant noise from before.
"Keep searching.." (Sure you'll find something). The man adjusts the line, checking to see if the hook is still free. With the river so low, it's much easier to get it snagged on something, and honestly he should just consider wading out with the net instead. But not yet.. The box is still full of some unused hooks, so might as well put them to use first.
. 7 . Perscitus: 29 (2/5) Dry Season: 7
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Post by Èdan on Oct 21, 2021 8:39:47 GMT -6
The occasional barking makes for a indistinct background noise, right up until it's interrupted by a sudden yelp instead. The pup is halfway into the waters, having tried to dig for something in the shallows, when suddenly he jumps back shaking his head and instead begins to yell at the water. And no simple yell, but one with alarm mixed with a threat. If that's not enough to put two and two together, he also keeps jumping towards something, trying to bite it.
The man reels the fishing line in, and makes his way towards the commotion, not exactly worried, but more curious what the cause is. (It hardly seems like the pup could be eaten by any of the small fish, and if they saw another of those black snappers again, that would have made a much louder entrance).
As it turns out, the cause is much smaller, much brighter and much sharper. At first he thinks it's a form of rock, until little legs poke out from under it and the thing scuttles sideways.
. 8 . Perscitus: 29 (3/5) Dry Season: 8
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Post by Èdan on Oct 21, 2021 9:41:01 GMT -6
So, not a rock.. but some form of crab? It's still a little unclear, given the water is already rippling from the river's stream and only made worse by the pup hopping from foot to foot, barking. It doesn't seem like it has pincers, so the man reaches in to pick it up from the river floor. No sooner do the fingers touch the red shell when a sudden sharp pain shoots up the palm and he flinches back, "Son of a..!"
Looking at the palm, there's a tiny but distinct hole cut right through the fingerless gloves and into the skin. A bit of blood specks the middle of the spot, but not so much as to be called a wound outright. He glares back at the spiked thing still scuttling off, and seems to understand the issue the pup was having with it. But it wouldn't be getting away so easily (Not after such brazen attempted assault..)
. 9 . Perscitus: 29 (4/5) Dry Season: 9
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Post by Èdan on Oct 21, 2021 9:48:20 GMT -6
The courier wades back out towards the bag and drops the fishing rod in favour of the net. It's only moments later that the scuttling red crab thing suddenly finds itself caught up in a fibre-woven prison, unable to stab itself free. As he's lifting it out of the water, the pup still continues to yell towards the stream, and so he pauses. Ah.. So it seems this one isn't alone, as he spots another vaguely red dot among the water ripples. With a reach of the net and a quick scoop, it's not long before both spiked things are nestle in the webbing, being taken over to the buckets.
He dumps both in, this time careful to avoid touching one outright (And so not getting stabbed, again). With that done, he leaves the net where it is and picks up the fishing rod once more, stringing on a new hook.
The pup is already sitting by the water, watching and waiting with what could be described as baited excitement. He glances over, finishing fussing with the line and casts it out. "Alright.. Not bad for the first try. Let's see if you find anything else. Go search and fish."
. 10 . (added) Perscitus: 30 (0/5) Dry Season: 10
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Post by Nadia on Oct 21, 2021 13:04:04 GMT -6
Oh... hi, little buddy.
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Post by Èdan on Nov 1, 2021 3:49:22 GMT -6
There's an excited yelp and the pup immediately turns, taking off down the sandy strip of river. He watches as the hound seems to dash for a while, then suddenly skid to a stop, pause and begin to sniff around the beach, lightly clawing around the sands. Involuntarily, there's a short scoff, as he smirks. Can't take the recklessness out of the pup, but can put in more things to make up for it, looks like. If he keeps that up, he might even become endearing, if he isn't careful. (Though attachments are tricky things and best taken in moderation, seeing as nothing really ever lasts).
With the boulders being few and far between on the distributary, most of the fishing is done standing up. Not quite the same level overview he's used to, given the boulders of their old spot, but then the river is pretty shallow, so there isn't all too much to be viewing over, anyway.
. 11 . Perscitus: 30 (1/5) Dry Season: 11
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Post by Èdan on Nov 1, 2021 3:54:31 GMT -6
The line is adjusted, as it slowly carries along with the flow of the river. Shallower, but a little quicker than usual, now that the river isn't bogged down by as much water weight. Eventually the bobber has drifted far enough that he reels it back, checks the hook, and then casts it again, back to it's initial location. A scenery of peace and quiet, with only the bubbling of the stream and the occasional splattering of four feet fading in and out of the vicinity, as the pup comes and goes dashing past.
Whatever he is doing worked the first time, but looking at things now the man's not entirely sure what the method to the madness is. The pup seems to be running in rather random directions, only to pause and search, if only then remembering. Occasionally that takes him into the shallows of the water, where he chases flecks of light (or perhaps spots of shadow) on the water.
. 12 . Perscitus: 30 (2/5) Dry Season: 12
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Post by Èdan on Nov 1, 2021 3:59:47 GMT -6
Said distractions are fleeting enough, though something else does seem to catch his attention. The pup jumps around in the water, barking at the waves just in front of him, enough so that the man eventually sighs, reels in the line and goes to see what the commotion is about. Quite a bit of the water is muddied and silty from the splashing of the paws and the stamping of the feet, but when he pulls the pup aside some and waits a little while, the stream clears things enough for them to spot a snail. Not a red one, and by no means spiky. Just a regular, common water snail.
The man reaches into the water and plucks it up from the rock it was making its way across. "Mmm.. Good job," he turns it around between fingers. Behind him, the pup is all wags, points ears and lolling tongues - Beaming for lack of a better word.
. 13 . Perscitus: 30 (3/5) Dry Season: 13
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Post by Èdan on Nov 1, 2021 4:57:22 GMT -6
On a technicality, it should be said the snail is not exactly a fish, but it's still a far better result than the pup merely barking at the water and trying to get himself drowned. So he calls it a win, ruffling some of the scales on his head, before standing and heading over to the bucket. Should they come up short on bait, perhaps this lil guy can make up for it.. Although it's unlikely many things would find it tasty. After all, most of their catches have been almost as big as the snail, and the rest look to be big enough to find other fish a much more fetching target.
There's a soft 'plop' as he lets the snail drop into the bucket and watches it sink to the bottom. Turning, he starts to unreel the rod and line, when he notices the hook missing. Ah, faex. Not again.. Looks like the pup's antics were distracting enough that he hadn't paid attention to it.
. 14 . Perscitus: 30 (4/5) Dry Season: 14
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Post by Èdan on Nov 1, 2021 6:16:53 GMT -6
Once more the courier rummages through the box for a hook, and once more he has to fiddle with the line to get it properly secured. If this kept up, he might need to actually look into some fishing tips, seeing as the knots aren't really keeping these things on well enough. A no small irony, that for all the preparation and equipment, it would be the want of a proper knot that ends up costing so many supplies. (Though, in his defense, these synthetic strands are strange and weird, and behave little like rope at all. It's difficult enough to bend them, much less loop into a proper knot).
The pup is already waiting on the shoreline, tail scattering rocks behind him as it swishes back and forth. Finishing up with the line, the man glances to him, raises a brow, and then motions towards down stream, "Well, go on. Search and fish." Riverbed rocks clatter as the pup takes off into a run, while he merely prepared the line, pulls back and casts it out into the shallow waters.
. 15 . Perscitus: 31 (0/5) Dry Season: 15
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Post by Nadia on Nov 1, 2021 11:17:16 GMT -6
Oh, boy. That's not the kinda thing you want to hook.
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