Nightingale Palisade Ice Everlasting

Kova's search for Primrose's wolf skull wasn't going well. The gray lad was relatively sure that he wasn't going to find a white skull against the white snowy landscape unless he tripped over the thing. Still, he tried to search for it. It was the only way he saw that Kova could repay the white she wolf for her kindness. 

It wasn't until he wandered closer to the shallow edges of the river flowing down the center of the palisade that he began to scent fish. The child's belly was sufficiently full for the moment, but the chance to catch more food to store for later was too rare to let it go. The Lagina lad moved closer to an edge of the river that had been frozen off from the rest of the flowing water. Fish were stuck in the shallows keeping the water from freezing completely. However they had no way back to the main river because that section was blocked by logs and ice. Kova's tail wagged happily as he spotted the easy opportunity to catch some food. This might just be another way to repay Primrose for the deer leg.

“Hey Primrose! You hungry?”

He asked jokingly before setting at the edge of the patch of shallow water. Kova recognized some of the fish in the puddle as trout, while the others looked like large versions of minnows. The smaller fish were darting around every time the trout touched them, and Kova was pretty sure that they would be the hardest to catch.

Putting his front paws into the cold water, Kova steadied himself just above the water and lowered his muzzle to tip just into the surface. His nose was still out of the cold liquid as Kova opened his jaws slowly and waited for a fish to come close.

It was only a few minutes later when a mid-sized trout came too close. A quick splash of Kova's jaws snapping downwards sprayed water all over before the gray wolf pulled out of the water's edge. His head wobbled as the fish struggled inside his jaws. When he dropped it onto the snowy earth Kova pauses to look at the beautiful thing. It had greenish gray brown sides with red spots encircled by blue halos along its sides. The dorsal fin had strange black markings on it, a clear way to identify it by an experienced fisher, but Kova had not seen this species before. The brook trout flopped in the snow covering itself in the sticky white crystals before the gray wolf grabs its tail and drags it closer to Primrose.

“Here! This is for you! I'm going to go get some more...” Kova spoke between fish fins and scales before dropping it close to the white she wolf. Then the child heads back to the water to look for other fish to catch.Surely @Hexamora would get a bit a meal out of this slimy fish?

The snowy woman couldn't manage to get far enough away before the young pup's voice echoed off the frozen crystals and into her eardrums asking if she was hungry. Of course she was hungry. She couldn't remember the last time she had a proper meal and being in this god forsaken place she wondered if she ever would again unless she got out. Pausing her steps to turn her body partially back around to glance at the silvery lad a curious look passed over her face as mismatched optics watched his crouched form near the edge of a small body of water. "What are you doing?" came out the question with a blatantly obvious answer. Shifting her form to return to the direction she had just traveled from a few steps brought her closer to his hunched, hunting body. Not shortly after she asked was her answer given by a splash of water and some odd looking fish trapped between the jaws of the young Lagina. Well i'll be damned. The kid can fish.' Hexamora thought as the fish was plopped down before her paws after one lifted to wipe away the water droplets that the splash had adorned her face with. Hunger rippling through her stomach with a audible grumble.

Not one to push a free meal away her ivory cranium quickly dips down to sink her canines into the scaly flesh, tearing off bite after bite and swallowing the pieces nearly whole down her gullet. Only partially quelling the raging hunger that was once dormant and now out and awake with the smell of something edible beneath her nose. A few more bites later and all that remained of her meal was an array of scales, tiny fish bones and the internal liquids. Some of which casting her maw in a faint pinkish hue. Licking her chops, mismatched eyes watched the silver pup retreating back to the waters edge. 'Maybe I can get the little guy to teach me how to fish.' she thought before following in his footsteps to the receding water. "Why don't you teach me how to fish." After all it could prove useful later on when food was scarce.  

"Speech."

I would say +2 health for each fish they catch and eat?

He hadn't answered her question while he fished, for any other noises might scare the fish further from him. However a large smile had pushed across the gray wolfs muzzle after he gave her the fish. The young wolf allowed his tail to wag for a few moments while he listens to the sound of Primrose eating. He was glad he could help her in some way. Even if it wasn't by finding some dirty wolf skull. To be truthful even if Kova had found the skull he would be afraid to touch it. His father told him stories of ghosts and spirits, and that spirits could sometimes still remain near the bones of their bodies. He didn't particularly want to disturb the spirit that may be attached to Hex's wolf skull. Even if she herself hadn't been harmed by it so far. It was a good thing that he found the pool of trapped fish when he did.

The ivory she wolf questioned whether he could teach her how to fish, and that question alone brought forth a happy giggle from his ebony lips.  “Sure! It's easy once you get the hang of it!” Kova ceases his giggling though his tail continued to wiggle back and forth showing his merriment. He sets himself up at the edge of the water this time keeping his paws out of the icy liquid. They were numb from before, and he didn't particularly want to freeze them off. The boy only hoped that they warmed up before his next real try.

“Come over here to the edge.” He says simply while waiting for the woman to move closer. Once she's by the edge he continues the fishing lesson. “You can catch fish by swimming, or standing in the water too, but its too cold to be in for long. I stood half in the water before to get at the fish in that deeper part. ” He explained in a rather hushed manner. The fish were all swimming at the opposite edge of the trapped section of water. They tried desperately to stay away from the large and potentially dangerous moving things which were Kova and @Hexamora sitting at the waters edge.

“It's easiest to stay over the water with your mouth open ready to snap shut. Then you just wait till a fish comes close and then quickly try to reach for it. Sometimes I think they forget we're here and they come swimming almost into your mouth....” He kept his paws just outside the water then leaned over dipping his lower jaw into the water again. This time he opened his mouth more to allow for the chance to catch a larger fish. There was one he had been watching just before that seemed bigger than the others floating near the bottom of the pool. The boy then stilled himself and his wagging tail before shivering from the liquids cold touch.

(This post was last modified: Apr 08, 2015, 12:51 AM by Kova.)

There was no immediate reply from the silvery coated pup at her question, but from the sudden giggle that left his jowls she was pretty sure that he liked the idea.  “Sure! It's easy once you get the hang of it!” was his reply as the giggle fit came to a cease, but the whipping of his tail back and forth continued to signal his merriment at her question. At this her eyes gave a dramatic roll that she cared not if he saw or didn't see. The last thing she wanted to do was encourage the squirt into thinking she was trying to be friends with the little fur ball. All she was trying to do was increase her survival rates by picking up a new tool of the trade. Learning to fish may eventually prove useful to her if she could get the knack for it.

Soon though he beckoned for her to come to the waters edge to watch like the diligent pupil she should be. With a low grumble and silent 'Why am I taking lessons from a pup?' argument in her head, snowy paws brought her slim embodiment to hover over his left side as mismatched eyes watched the darting shadowy figures beneath the water's frigid surface on the opposite side of the small portion of water. Audits pricking forward she caught the hushed words that soon fell from his grayed muzzle. Apparently there was more than one way to go about hunting for fish and at that she gave an over-exaggerated 'huh' as if she really cared about the art of fishing or the ways to go about it. She just really wanted to shut her stomach up.  

“It's easiest to stay over the water with your mouth open ready to snap shut. Then you just wait till a fish comes close and then quickly try to reach for it. Sometimes I think they forget we're here and they come swimming almost into your mouth....” Kova continued to lecture, resurrecting a genuine bit of laughter from the pearly woman. "That's because fish are stupid." she commented with a bemused grin spread across the length of her inky lips before her gaze shifted to watch the teacher in action. Slowly he lowered his bottom jaw into the water and waited patiently, her own head lowering just enough to get a better view of the process at hand. Watching the swimming fish slowly begin to approach the waiting trap of razor sharp teeth.

(This post was last modified: Apr 08, 2015, 06:42 PM by Hexamora.)

Kova was so still the only thing that barely moved was his sides as the boy breathed deeply. He noted how Hex kept herself back to watch instead of trying herself but didn't comment on it. Maybe he'll make her catch the next one.

Concentrating on the water and the fish, Kova waited for about ten minutes until one of the trout began to swim closer to his jaws. It didn't seem to be turning around any time soon so Kova held back from reaching for it to nab the critter from the water. Instead he waited a little longer. About a minute later and the trout proved Hexamora's comment to be true. It swam right in between Kova's jaws which prompted him to snap down hard before pulling back out of the water. A bit of splashing soaked his face as the trouts tail flipped around the water, but then it was pulled out onto land where Kova quickly drops it. He'd gotten a spiny part of the fish to his cheek but the injury didn't bleed, nor did it do any real kind of damage. Looking over the trout with a mad grin spreading across his waterlogged face, Kova noted how it was of the same coloring as the previous fish.

“I wonder what kind of trout these are...” He commented quickly before pushing the trout towards Primrose once again. Since there were still plenty of trapped fish in the pool he knew that he could catch a few for himself later once the white she wolf was full like him.

“Once you finish up with that I want you to try with me next. We can both fish at the same time.” He said delightedly while finally allowing his happy tail to wag again. Then Kova watched Prim eat her trout before settling near the waters edge again. The big fish was still near the bottom of the pool, and Kova wasn't sure if it was dead or if that area of the water was its territory to protect. It almost seemed like none of the other fish dove to that depth. Maybe he could scare it out of its hiding place?

It seemed like time was wasting away as the ivory pelted woman watched the silvery pup stand there with his jaws in the water for a good solid ten minutes before any real action happened. A quick jaw snap and splashing water later a trout was dragged onto the snowy bank. Nudging the fish towards her Kova made a comment on wondering what kind of trout it was, but Hexamora had no clue. She was about as useful with identifying fish as a newborn pup was in helping bring down a bull elk. Useless. Shrugging her shoulders she lowered her head to grip the scaly creature to pull it further away from the water while it still had some flop to it. "Beats me. I know nothing about fish." mouth shortly after clamping down again to pull off a chunk of scale and fish meat. Being a naturally tender meated creature it took little to turn the flesh to minced pieces and swallowed down her gullet to fill the aching of her stomach. A couple minutes passed and she finished the fish and left the same behind as she did with the first.

"Alright i'll give and give it a try, but if I lose a toe its your fault and im coming after you." she teased with an actual grin gracing her lips. What wonders food did to ones mood. Stepping to the edge next to Kova her optics focused on the remaining fish in the pool of water while her mind recalled what the pup had taught her thus far about fishing. Stealing a glance to the wolf at her side she noticed the way he stared near the bottom at something large that blackened out where the muddy sediment should have been visible. "What'cha see?" the Beauvau woman asked in a hushed tone much like the one he had used earlier when he was in the zone on snagging a fish. Gandering back to the spot where the water was darkest. Was there a larger fish waiting down there or something? Her stomach would love to dine on a nice fatty fish. 

"Speech."

OOC: two more posts of Kova fishing/teaching, and Hex has three to do in order to get them skill points.

IC:

Finally it seemed as if Primrose was warming up to him. It was either that or the fish were going to her head. He grinned at that thought then looked back towards the ripples in the water. He could spot her own smile in the corner of his eye as Kova concentrated on the water. That big fish he had spotted nearer to the bottom had all of his attention now, but Kova couldn't quite tell how deep the pool of water was. He really didn't want to jump into the freezing water, but the chance to catch a good meal that could be saved for later had him unsure of what to do. As far as the young wolf could tell the bigger fish wasn't going to move from its spot unless he made it move.

Watching the water closely, Kova nipped at a few minnows who were close to his jaws. He managed to grab one, but the other four tiny things were far too fast for him to snap up. Dropping the tiny fish onto the shore, Kova looked at it as it flopped around in the snow. Then he looked to Hexamora. She had readied herself at the edge of the water, but so far she hadn't caught anything yet. She asked him a question as he turned his gaze back to that big fish in the bottom of the pool, and Kova couldn't helpt but bite his lip as he thought about their options.

“See that big log looking thing at the bottom there? In that deep area? I think that's a fish, but I'm not one hundred percent positive of that.  ” He leaned towards Hex, or Primrose, and tipped his nose to point towards the deepest section of their little pool.  “I don't think it's going to move from there either. Not unless one of us goes in after it.” He commented lightly while creeping around the edge of the pool. The young wolf straddled a thick wall of ice next blocking off the pool from the river. If he jumped in from here he might be able to grab it, and even if he didn't Kova hoped that the fish would scare out of its place and swim to the shallower areas of water where Primrose waited.

“That's a lot of fish....  I think I'm going to jump in after it. If I can't get it try to grab it yourself when it swims closer.” Kova looked into the water for a long moment. It seemed like the fish was only a tail length or two long. It also looked as if the water wasn't that deep. Kova had no idea of the surprises he was about to get.

Using the bank like a launching pad, Kova takes off into the air. His aim is dead on, landing in the exact are of the water where the fish lay hidden. Already Kova was surprised by the depth of the water as he paddles down a bit deeper. He swims closer to the fish holding his breath until he realizes a little too late how big the fish really was. Screaming in the water, Kova heads back to the surface as fast as he can. He did however scare the literal crap out of the four and a half foot lake sturgeon. The fish slipped right past Kova trying to flee the wolf who was swimming in its watery domain. The large fish headed for Hexamora just as Kova broke the surface of the water sputtering and shivering. Looking towards Primrose, Kova barked to her. Grab it! He called out while swimming to the shallows. Once his paws struck the bottom, Kova started for Hexamora and the giant fish hoping to help her if she had managed to grab it.

Hope this is okay, if not I can go back in an edit it to fit the criteria!

Not turning her attention away from the area deep down near the bottom that the silver pup had been staring at only moments ago, her pearly audit nearest to him pivoted to face him. Catching his words on its soft velveteen inner lining. She had indeed noticed the log looking silhouette nestled at the bottom of the trapped water source, but followed his gesture to the exact location he was talking about. The thing what ever it was was huge and if it was indeed a fish would make for one hell of a meal. Absentmindedly her salmon tongue slipped past her lips to lick at her chops at this fact. Man, a score like that would surely fill her stomach to the brim and the Lagina's with some left over for another time.

Keeping her eyes trained on the dark figure the creeping motions of the silver pup went unnoticed. The next phrase almost unheard until she lifted her head just in time to see the boy's rump disappear beneath the frigid water's surface. A small shuffle forward sinking her front paws into the icy liquid in a feeble attempt at drawing him back out while mismatched eyes zoned in on the squirming shape of the pup in the water. What the hell? Was he down right mad going for a swim in the dead of winter?! He was going to kill himself! For a fish! Silence settles over their private expanse of the palisade as she watches intently. Unsure if she should dive in after him, risking her own life or just let the dude freeze himself to death. That was until a stream of bubbles begins to disturb the water from Kova's scream of pure terror. Hearing the muffled sound from her end of the spectrum. Frantically her muzzle dipped down into the water in hopes she could clamp down onto something of his and pull him out. Not paying much attention to where she was snapping at.

On the other side of the embankment the lad had surfaced from his daring attempt at stirring up the fish. Which in the end had worked and now sent the ten foot long sturgeon right for her awaiting, snapping jaws. Unable to hear his barked out orders over the sound of her snapping and splashing it wasn't until something slimy and something big got stuck between her jaws that she finally reeled her head back. Or at least she tried to pull her head back. Whatever it was between her jaws it wasn't going to let her take it without a fight. Growling lowly she braced her paws against the snowy bank beneath her, digging her black tinted nails into the ground for better traction as she pulled and pulled. Just as the sturgeon was desperately attempting to pull and pull her into its watery domain. Crap. Looks like she was going swimming with the fishes if she didn't get some help. And fast. Luckily, though, Kova was on his way to do just that.

"Speech."

The fish had launched itself at the white she wolf and whether she had been ready for it or not the Rose woman clamped down on the end of the sturgeons tail. He staggered through the water splashing everyone as he did so. The boys deep river blue eyes flicked from Primrose's mouth to the waggling thing who's skin was covered in what looked a bit like the shells that turtles had on their backs. How were they supposed to kill that thing?

He didn't get much of a chance to think about that question as Kova rushed forward towards Hex to help her keep the giant armored fish in the shallows. It flailed around in the water spraying the pair of wolves with cold wet droplets as Kova struggled to aim his jaws correctly. The fish slid a bit further into knee deep water dragging Hexamora with it. However Kova quickly braced himself against the hard rough body of the fish keeping it from going into deeper water where they might lose it completely. The creature flailed some more jarring the boys teeth something harsh while he tried to grab at its scaled body.

He snapped his jaws closer to the torpedo shaped front end of the sturgeon. His eyes caught the flash of fleshy whiskers located near the sturgeons mouth as Kova tried to grip onto the creatures head. He failed twice before attempting to grab at the underneath of the fish's head where the skin was more soft. The youth only barely held onto the sturgeon with one of his teeth actually hooking the fish painfully through its eye. Then the gray child shoved with all his force using his chest and front legs to try and tip the massive thing over onto the land and onto its back. If they could do that much they might be able to cut into the softer places that the creature seemed to have on its underbelly.  “Speech”

So basically just killing the fish with exit post now?

It was incredible the strength that this ten foot(really only four and a half) fish whatever it was possessed as canines clamped down on its flailing tail. A tug-o-war raging on between beast of land and beast of water, the sound of growls and splashing filling the air and coating everything in their path with sprays of frigid water. Much to Hexamora's displeasure. A heave forward with all her might was contradicted with a heave backwards by the sturgeon. Slowly inching the woman closer and closer to the deeper end of the pool where all sure foot holding would be lost, marks left behind in the snow embankment from her sliding. "A...little help...here!" she mumbled against a mouthful of solid scales in Kova's direction noting the way he just gawked at the thing. Wondering what was taking him so long in getting his butt over here to help.

Thankfully she didn't have to wait long as the silver pup bounded through the water to the other side of the prey using his nose to prod it closer to shore where any chance of escape diminished greatly for the sea beast. More annoyed grunts were muffled as the sturgeon put up more of a fight again. Its body slithering and flailing against her teeth awfully painfully while the boy attempted to get a hold on it himself. The odd armor on its upper body giving the boy a run for his money on snagging the thing. Rolling with the force as Kova pushed forward, she pulled back. The momentum from both of them causing enough of a force to outweigh that of the fish's struggle. Eventually the two managing to pull it onto the edge of the snow then gradually up further until all four and a half feet were out of the water. Flakes of snow sticking to the scaly surface of the soon to be meal, but even then Hex kept a firm grip on the tail. No way in hell was she going to risk it escaping now. Exhausted or not.