Big Salmon Lake do my patriotic chore

He'd sojourned off to the middle-of-nowhere after being caught upon the borders of some pack. All Dingo knew was that Panther lived there, and his friends were jerks, so Dingo had half a mind to say fuck it and just go on his merry way. Having a place to sleep and a constant supply of food was vastly more appealing than he let on, though. So as unhappy as the boy was, he couldn't ignore the predicament. To see his brother — and this Fox person who might or might not be a relation too — he would have to hunt the bajeezus out of this place.

The forest swallowed him first, and he ambled through it with minimal care. It was appealing to him because of the cover it provided, but after squaring off against a few too many dead ends Dingo forgot about hunting and sought a way out. He emerged to the north of the tangled woodland; bits of leaf-litter across his back and a number of small burs embedded in the fur of his hindquarters (don't ask), and stared out at the foreign lake, breathing a tired huff at the pretty view.

Minor pp, just to say he continued looking at the lake!

It seemed that he was alone, so Dingo continued looking. And then, seemingly materialized out of nowhere, came a voice. Having fun? With the voice, came a man of small stature and one the younger male had seen before - jerkass extreme and companion to Shrike, whom he did not know and probably wouldn't find out yet.

Ashmedai cropped up behind and next to him, one nonexistent eyebrow raise and voice coming out in a couldn't-care-less drawl. If anyone asked, he'd scented his way, following the boy to stalk him (creepy) and make sure he was doing what was assigned to him. (creepier). Still intent on joining the Caldera?

Also, I poofed up

This was similar to the last lake he'd encountered, but a little smaller. Maybe he could find something big inside of it? A really really big monster fish! Or a hundred little fish? Which one was better? He was thinking such ridiculousness when a voice fell upon him, and suddenly Dingo was gesticulating with his tail — it went up, puffing in the manner of a startled cat, and then when he turned and leered at the stranger, identifying him as one of the dupes at the border, he scrunched his nose. Oh, its you.

Dingo felt a sudden urge to urinate — but doing so against the sturdy-looking haunch of muscle next to him might've hurt his chances. Instead he tried to play nice, although his voice betrayed his annoyance. The Caldera, ooh, sounds fancy. Yeah, if my brother is there like you said, then that's where I wanna be too. Which meant hunting — and hunting a lot. Even though Dingo had done his best to evade work back home, even going so far as to vacate the premises indefinitely. Were you gonna participate, or are you more in to watchin'? His brow wiggled slightly, and he smirked.

"I am disgusted by that statement." Was all Ashmedai offered in return before he, too, turned to the lake. "Your Brother is there. You, however, are not yet." Rolling his eyes, the male pointed a paw at the water, gesturing for the boy to look closer. There came a glint of light and a ripple of liquid, Ash's gaze fixated intently on the now-still surface. He counted under his breath until his saw the ripple again and repeated.

It was constant. A pattern, a pattern he recognised and catalogued. On the sixth cycle, he lunged.

A fish flipped out of the lake, scattering the others and Ashmedai caught it neatly in his jaws. "Don't think Shrike will mind fish," he mumbled around the thing, setting it down beside him. "I've got my own job, don't let it stop you. Ask if you need help."

Dingo watched as the other wolf stared off in to the lake, and gingerly followed his gaze, thus watching the surface as it flicked and popped with movement. After a few moments the stranger lunged, and came away with a chunk of fish meat that made Dingo's mouth fill with fresh saliva. He licked his chops, watching the wriggling creature rather than the wolf holding it, and grunted when the stranger spoke. You're like a freakin' ninja, dude, which was the best compliment Dingo could muster at this point, probably.

Maybe he could weasel this guy into gathering all the necessary meat for the caches? But then again, judging by the manner in which he had been accosted and chased off of the pack's lands only hours before, Dingo was skeptical that his efforts would be in any way rewarded. Instead of plunging in to the lake to do the work required, he sat back on his haunches and queried the fishmonger - So, that lady that showed up. Was that the head honcho? Which would make her Fox, if he recalled Ashmedai's words correctly. 

Dingo looked down at the lake, and his gaze deviated slowly towards his own paws which perched upon the rock in front of him, casting his head down. I guess she thinks I'm some kind of dick, but there was Panther too. Thinking of his older brother, Dingo's head canted slightly up, and he regarded his stalker with a sideways glance; but maybe Panther can convince her I'm not totally a dick.

Rude as it might seem, Ashmedai completely ignored the male beside him. In the moment of hunting, his brain had labeled Dingo as 'distraction' as he flipped another fish out of the lake, this one that he didn't bother to catch and left instead for the supposed Crestwood. If he could catch it, he could keep it. Woe betide him if the child didn't realise it was a test of reflexes, the crafty old man having other ways of assessment.

"Fox, yes." Ash replied rather curtly, smiling for a split second when he remembered her leaping with intent to kill. Granted it would not have been very nice for Dingo, but he seemed relatively unharmed, so the male didn't push it. "You're lucky you're not dead." His eyes narrowed, tone turning sharp. "Get on with it, then.

Almost as if he'd not heard the older man's words, the boy sat down firmly on his rump to stare at his paws. Right she is, you are a dick. You're a thief as much as you are a trespasser, and she ain't gonna be forgiving you for that anytime soon. Luckily for Dingo, he was decidedly less territorial when actually out of his territory, and far less intent on exterminating him.

"Hey, I'm in hot water for being too nice to you. You'd better be able to show that you're a stellar student, or I'll personally have your hide."

Rolling a dice to see if he gets a fish. 10+ is a yes. Will edit with the rest of the reply! >>> 10

The guy had a point. The fate of their collective asses was Dingo's responsibility now, and although he was keen on letting this guy take the piss for everything, he at least had a small heart. Maybe this fishing lesson would make it grow three sizes in one day — who really knows. The boy's body was still sore from his escape, with bite marks scoring his skin and a few scabs to show for it; but he would have to get off his ass and work if this situation were to get better. He wanted to see his brother, after all.

With a grunt Dingo did as he was told. Right. Time to go zen-mode, I guess, he mumbled as he stepped up to the proverbial plate. He stood there for a solid thirty seconds, his tail swaying just a little above his hips, and just before he thought he'd fall asleep standing up, Dingo spotted a glimmer. He dunked his face towards the water and sank his teeth in to something, then yarded his head back sharply, pulling free a small fish. It flopped uselessly from the side of his mouth (as his teeth had sunken in to the base of its tail), and after a few seconds of awkward maneuvering, he turned and grinned beyond the fresh catch at his tutor.

Haws thet? Said the fish-faced boy through his catch, before promptly plopping the fish on the bank.

Ashmedai's fish - 5 and above, for skill and experience as well as observation 16

Ashmedai said nothing, only watching in seriousness as the boy took his chances with the water. He was... certainly more reckless than himself, watching only until he saw the first glimmer of something that might be a fish, then immediately pushed his head in, hoping for a lucky catch. In fact, Ash was surprised that he had even gotten anything at all. The child probably had incredibly fast reflexes, but that seemed normal for the hyperactive youngsters. The sign of teeth in the tail meant that indeed been lucky, for they were in the tail and not the body.

But he gave only a curt nod as befitting his newly christened station as a tutor, motioning for Dingo to drop the thing and get back. He did so, and Ash nodded again. Did you plan your strategy? He questioned next, steel blue eyes carefully watching the boy. You got your fish, but it might just have as easily slipped out of your jaws.

Ashmedai turned his gaze back to the water, watching the still pool as the boy had earlier. The only difference was that he'd been waiting for the fish to make reappearances even though he stood for longer.

Watch the fish. If it continually comes back, you know you have a sure meal. 

The man watched a bit more, then suddenly threw himself forward, securing his jaws around the fish, then bringing his head out. It wasn't exactly around the body - the head had been severed when teeth had cut clean through and the fish was currently leaking blood into the lake. That works, I guess Ash mumbled, then dropped the fish down. It was food, either way.

He was rather proud of himself, and would've devoured the fish already had it not been for the quota he needed to fill. The stranger continued to give him lessons, and even went so far as to try and correct Dingo's technique - which he idly scoffed at as soon as Ashmedai's face was plunging in to the water. When the man's fresh catch was withdrawn, headless and bloody, Dingo's face scrunched up as if disgusted. His voice heralded this event as something entirely different, though: Woah, that's so grody man! Sweet! The head was attached by a tiny thread of skin, the scales glistening with red for a second; but then when the body was tossed down, the head came free. It floated out in to the lake with the blood and Dingo watched it, enthralled. Woahhh, look at it go! Maybe it'll attract something really big!

If the boy had not shown such "enthusiasm", Ash might have just left him then and there. As it was, he was already partial to leaving and letting the other haul his sorry arse back to the Caldera by himself. It wasn't as if Ashmedai had to help. And that was right, he wasn't. Staring at his measly pile of two fish by the lakeside and literally nothing else except a trail of pale blood to his credit, he bent his head down to pick his kills up. A Fisherman's life wasn't for him. 

Hurry up, boy, you still have to fill those caches. And hope that you don't kick the bucket once you get back either. With that, he turned his head and departed, leaving Dingo still staring at the fish head in the water and the silvery stains the blood left as it finally dissolved away. Maybe he will catch something "really big" after all. For his sake.

-exit Ash-