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Post by Jack on Jun 20, 2020 13:19:39 GMT -6
Just keep swimming...
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 13:43:21 GMT -6
She heaved backwards, trying desperately to make sure her own pace of backwards movement outmatched the fish's attempts to escape. This was a REALLY bad fish to try catching with a net but in her defense, it didn't look that big when she swiped at it. Algol merely watched from his position under a tree, his eyes lazily tracking her movement. She was a bit miffed at that, but at the same time his idea of 'helping' wasn't actually that helpful. She'd just have to deal with it. Finally though, she managed to get it into shallower water. The fish's rate of struggling only increased, but thankfully now that it was more in air than in water, Fiera could maneuver it a lot better. It would probably tire out soon as well, and then she could easily hoist it up and into the bucket. Another good catch, if not her easiest.
Fiera 6 Algol 35.1/35.1 51
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 13:47:10 GMT -6
Now that the fish was closer to shore she could see it better as well. It was one of those fish that had a massive head but a tapered tail, and a lot of muscle on it. It wasn't as shiny as some of her other catches either. Instead it was a dull grey color. Not the prettiest fish, but Fiera was sure that its size would be more than enough to impress any buyers. It gave a particularly intense wriggle however and nearly wrenched the net out of Fiera's hands. Again. She decided to put the kibosh on thinking about how much she could sell it for for now. First and foremost she needed to actually finish catching the darn thing. She gave it one last great heave ho, and finally lifted it above the water, letting it flop around uselessly inside of her fishing net. That had been a lot of effort.
Fiera 7 Algol 35.2/35.2 52
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 13:52:22 GMT -6
It was still a lot of effort, now that she was thinking about it. Sure, holding the fish above the water meant that it didn't have a lot to push off against, but the now awkward angle made it a lot harder for Fiera to keep the net from twisting around as well. If she wasn't careful, she would end up dumping the fish onto the sandy ground, which she knew both of them would hate. At least they WERE finally over ground though. Fiera waddled as quickly as she could manage toward the bucket, carefully holding the fish. Finally she was right next to it, and she awkwardly squatted down, maneuvering the handle of the fishing net into her lap. She was so close to being done with this she could nearly taste it. She gently prised the lid off with one hand, using the other to keep the net from falling over.
Fiera 8 Algol 35.3/35.3 53
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 14:08:02 GMT -6
The fish was starting to weaken now, so they were both relieved when Fiera finally tipped the net over, allowing it to fall deep into the cool, fresh water of her catch bucket. It was starting to get pretty full now that she was looking at it. She and Algol might have to leave soon once it ran out of space. Still, she figured she could keep fishing at least for a little while. She watched the fish swim for a moment, taking the opportunity to get her breath back after that last catch. They seemed to get along for the time being, but Fiera knew she had to split them up once she got home. Most fish were predatory after all, and chances are once they all had a moment to destress, they would realize how hungry they were and... well... she did just introduce The Biggest Fish to the ol' tank.
Fiera 9 Algol 35.4/35.4 54
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 14:11:07 GMT -6
That being said though, she didn't think the call of the wild would kick in for them quite yet. She had a bit more time to stretch her legs and maybe catch some more fish before they had to go. Maybe she would try to catch some smaller ones this time, though. She wasn't sure how many more big fish that bucket could take, considering how much she had loaded into it. She also wasn't sure how many big fish her arms could take either, considering how tired they were right now. Maybe she'd just wade into the shallows and wave her net around so she could see what she could find. Even now from the shoreline, she could see some patches of green out in the water. Maybe there would be some valuable river plants there that she could bring with her (and to give the fish in the bucket more places to hide).
Fiera 10 Algol 36.0/36.0 55
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 14:28:46 GMT -6
Fiera waded back into the water to take a look at the greenery. To her surprise, it wasn't all seaweed. There were some crustaceans that lived around here that heavily resembled seaweed, most likely for camouflage- or perhaps, to lure in prey. Fiera never really paid too much attention to them, but decided to lean in and take another look now. Sure enough there was a couple of them skittering along the bottom, gently sifting through the silty bed of the river for food. The wriggling tendrils coming off of them looked just like river plants, and Fiera was sure that if she didn't know what to look for, she never would have noticed these critters. Well, she was noticing them now. Who knew, maybe someone else would find them interesting. Fiera plucked one up off of the bottom of the riverbed and turned it over in her hand delicately.
Fiera 11 Algol 36.1/36.1 56
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 14:31:46 GMT -6
It wiggled its legs indignantly, completely offended by Fiera picking it up. In response, the others suddenly burrowed down, revealing only their leafy disguises above the riverbed. She supposed that was a defense against predators, though it sucked for the one that was already caught. She wasn't about to let go of it either- despite its intense efforts, Fiera couldn't even feel it trying to get away. It was hers now, and she was taking it with her. Happily she strode back up the shore, weird water bug in hand. Unlike fish, Fiera found that most crustaceans were fine being out of the water for a little bit. This critter didn't seem any different and its pace of leg wiggling didn't change at all as Fiera walked up to her bucket. "Okay, buddy. Time to go in." SHe said, and dropped the creature into the bucket with her other catches.
Fiera 12 Algol 36.2/36.2 57
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 14:36:15 GMT -6
It fell in with an effortless 'plop' and slowly sunk to the bottom. The fish seemed happy to have extra plants though, and a couple of them swam over and around its tendrils. The group seemed happy enough, so Fiera stood up and let them get back to it. She brushed herself off and picked up her net again, returning to the water. The second she put her foot down though, she spotted another flash of color. Another fish, so soon? She would take it. As soon as it came though, the flash of color disappeared again. Fiera perked her ears and kept a close eye on the area where she saw it. It didn't pop up quite yet. She waited, and waited... and there it was again! A brief stripe of red darting through the shallows. A smile spread across Fiera's face- she had it now. She took a slow step forward.
Fiera 13 Algol 36.3/36.3 58
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 14:41:11 GMT -6
Then, quick as a flash, Fiera launched herself forward, swiping her net through the waves. She drew it back up and... huh. There was nothing in there. Her ears fell again. She was pretty sure that was the first time she had missed on this trip. Or maybe she hadn't, and the fish was just that fast. Well, Fiera was always up for a challenge. She looked around again, keeping her eyes peeled for another flash of red. She saw it flash again, about six feet to her right. She was determined- no matter what, it wasn't going to get away from her. Even if she had to look like a complete flailing idiot to catch it. She lunged forward again, striking at the water once more. The splash obscured her vision, but she was sure that this fish wouldn't get away from her this time. She had spent years honing her skills.
Fiera 14 Algol 36.4/26.4 59
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 14:45:12 GMT -6
She was faster than this fish, stronger, harder. She was sure she- the net was empty again. Fiera yowled with frustration, and heard a snort from Algol. She glared at him, and he quickly turned away. "Yeah yeah, laugh all you want. I WILL catch this thing." She hissed, looking around again. Sure enough there it was, swimming in circles just a couple feet from her. She sighed. It was probably mocking her, wasn't it? Blasted beast. She would catch it if it was the last thing she ever did. And with how her shoulders and neck were feeling by this point, let alone her knees, it probably would be. She was really starting to feel the effects of this fishing trip on her body, and it was only getting worse. She made a mental note- this would be the last fish she caught today, and then they would both go home.
Fiera 15 Algol 37.0/37.0 60
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Post by Jack on Jun 20, 2020 15:28:12 GMT -6
You've come across a lot of the living seaweed lately. What's seaweed doing in a river...?
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 15:29:37 GMT -6
She gave it a while before her next strike, watching as it swam around her ankles. She wanted to lure it into a sense of false security, let it get used to her before she tried to grab it again. She gave it a few minutes, watching and waiting. Eventually, it decided to settle down inside of Fiera's shadow. Fiera supposed that the water there must be cooler, or it at least wanted to get out of the sun. She could finally see it clearly too. It was a shiny silver color with a bright red streak along its side. It was quite tiny as well, and was most likely only barely the length of Fiera's littlest finger. It seemed quite calm and still now though. Maybe it finally assumed that Fiera was just an oddly shaped rock and not a predator. Well, it was about to get a rude awakening.
Fiera 16 Algol 37.1/37.1 61
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 15:38:05 GMT -6
Fiera slowly and achingly raised her net, not wanting to alert the fish to her presence. Once she was in position however (and the fish had still not moved), she swiped it downward, breaking the still surface of the water. She prayed to herself quietly- she was just about done with this fish, and if she didn't catch it this time, she would probably just give up and go home. To her relief though, when she pulled the net out she saw a streak of red that was quite familiar to her by this point wiggling in the net. It felt like a weight had been lifted from Fiera's shoulders and she practically deflated at the sight of it. Finally! That had taken forever! She sat there for a moment just soaking it in when she remembered oh, right, this thing probably still needed water to live. That put more pep in her step.
Fiera 17 Algol 37.2/37.2 62
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Jun 20, 2020 15:44:25 GMT -6
She hustled over to the bucket and ripped the lid off, happy to be done with her trip. She shook the net gently and the fish splashed into the bucket, taking a moment to swim around and test out the limits before settling down at the bottom. Fiera nodded with satisfaction and got out another, small buckets. A few bailings out and a few scoops in, and the water was appropriately freshened up. Now she could make the long journey home. Fiera snapped the lid back on, making sure it was secure. Then she went back to her bag and put everything away, including her fishing net. She lingered with it for a moment before she put it away though. She usually preferred her fishing rod, but she had made a lot of progress with this today. It looked like she needed to take it more seriously in her future fishing trips.
Fiera 18 Algol 37.3/37.3 63
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