Ouroboros Spine Little Fishy Bite

Ajei had found a small area of the river where it ran calm and lazy. There was no deep parts at least not near where she sat and she could actually see the fish that swam beneath the water's edge. She occasionally would dab a small paw at them, but she had not the skill to fish for the things.

She was just attempting to see if she liked it. The water was cold and the fish were fast. They were all shades of colors and she found them quite fascinating really. It was nice and relaxing to watch them swim throughout the clear waters.

She hummed to herself as she watched.

Chiteo had seen his sister head off and of course being the protective brother he was, he followed her. He spotted her at a little pond and settled down next to her. “You pwaying wit te fish?” He asked her

He saw the two siblings settled at the edge of the river, though feared not, as it was a shallow and gentle portion. They had been taught and knew well not to go where could be dangerous. At least he had told his pups and per Arrluk, Ajei had been given the same rules. 

Ajei, Chiteo, hello to you both. He greeted the little ones and came nearer, head and tail low between his legs as to not alarm the little ones. Aiolos, while having kept watch over them as he did for all, had not yet spent one on one time with the latest litter of their Star Beta.

Ajei heard a voice she didn't recognize immediately and quickly got to her feet and slid to her brother's side facing away from the stranger. She pressed tightly to him and dipped her head down around his chest to peer up at the father of the two boys she'd played with's gaze.

She offered him a timid smile, but kept close to her brother. Her voice whisper soft as she answered him. Hi.

"It ok Ajel. He a leadwer of our Pwack." Chiteo told his sister, though he kept himself pressed against her for comfort. "Hey." He then said to Aiolos.

The little red and white girl immediately scampered to her feet, hiding behind her brother as she pressed closely to him, peeking up at Aiolos from around. A small squeak of a 'Hi' given. Though timid, still polite. 

Aiolos smiles and sits down, head leveling with the two children. The brother explains Aiolos to be their leader and greets as well, to which Aiolos nods. Chiteo is right... I'm also Arrluk and Massaraq's father. Maybe in knowing that connection too, she would feel a bit better. 

Do you like the water? He changes the subject, his eyes moving between them and the river behind them.

Her brother eased her fears as easily as he could. An answer and allowing her to stay close.

She smiled at the leader. You has nice boys. Dey take good care and fun. Massaraq like esplore. And Arrluk likes river.

A small coo and she nods. Yes it sound like fairy song. Today we wantin learn to fish.

She looked at her brother to see if she was correct.

Chiteo licked Ajels ear as she relaxed. "Yeah I like de water too and be wantin to learned more abouted the fishies and how to 'unt dem." He said with a smile.

Chiteo's information given and Aiolos mentioning his two sons he knew that had met her, seemed to quickly ease the weary tension in the red girl. That is good to hear, Ajei. Perhaps I have a young explorer and fisherman among them. Although he hoped that Massaraq would not be too gone for long. Stratos being often so long gone, Aiolos did not have as much time with him as he would like. 

He smiles deeply as Ajei describes the water's sound as 'fairy song' and both of them then said they had been wanting to learn how to fish. Aiolos goes from smiling to full grin, stepping closer to the pair and toeing at the water's edge. Then you have the perfect teacher! I have been fishing since I was very young and lived in a land called a bayou. Then I lived on an island and fished in lakes, rivers and the ocean. He explains and with it, explaining all the places where one might go fishing.

Ajei eased but stayed near Chiteo. Though she didn't press so tightly. She looked up at him and smiled and then refocused to their leader.

He had figured well for sje adored both his boys though she found herself more in the presence of Arrluk for they had similar likes and she preferred his quiet energy.

Ajei looked at him with wonder.  What is bay bayou? Ana told me of rivers and lakes, and our big bwother Mojag live by ocean.


Ajei would wait for her brother to approach the river with the leader. Then she'd follow.

Chiteo too was confused by the words that were said, though his jaw dropped a bit and he cocked his head, because despite his confusion it all sounded so interesting and cool. "Yeah, what that be?" He asked, commenting on his sisters question.

He watched them inch closer, questioning. Yes he did. He spoke, when speaking of their elder brother Mojag. He lived on an island where I had once called home. He offered the connection. With the gentle spirits of the Sweetharbor wolves. 

A bayou is a very marshy land. The ground is soft and mostly covered in water. It was by a large lake formed from the coast. He explained. Our food was mostly fish, crusteons called crawdads and long legged birds.

Ajei smiled. is it pretty there? I like pretty things. She hadn't  met Mojag more than a couple of times, but she still loved him fiercely.

Ajei drew closer and looked up at him then with a small tremor. There be crawdads here. I see them. Little see through crabbies at the bottom of the river. They go dart real fas.

She shifted and looked up at him again, shyly.

"wow!" Chiteo said, amazed. He then inched even closer to hear the answers to Ajels questions.

Aiolos laughs. Yes, yes. The island is very pretty. The bayou? Not so much. He states as he sticks out his tongue. 

Very fast in water. It is best to try and catch them in the mud! But they would have to get mighty dirty! They make holes in the mud to look for and you dig them out! Sometimes, they're too far. He said with an honest shrug. Not every hunt was a win.

He reminded her so fiercely of Arrluk in that moment she could have hugged him. It did more to ease her current shivers than anything else. She couldn't help the small giggle at him. She got a little closer and waited.

YOu teaching us catch crawdaddies? Or Fishes?

"I be wanting to learned how to catched dem all!" Chiteo said, excitement flowing through his body and he stood super tall, tail up and ears perked

Ajei inched a little closer on her rump and Chiteo hoisted himself up on growing, gangly limbs. Aiolos stretched on his toes and walked into the shallows of the river. He waited there a moment, seeing if they might join him. 

Stay here in the shallows. Ajei had come to a more shallow, slow-flowing area of the river anyway but Aiolos went out a bit further to where the water just barely touched his undersides. A place yet still too deep for the pups. You have to be very quiet and very still. Fishing is far different then hunting rabbit and deer. Far less of a rush, I guess you could say, but during the salmon run, it's almost too easy. The fish basically jump right at you...!

Ajei followed, curious and a little wary. She reached a paw out and touched the water and then continued in. Trusting that the adult among them knew what he was doing and could keep them safe. 

She stood near him and studied the fish in the pool beneath their feet. They swam and darted so fast. She wasn't sure how they would ever catch them. 

What is a salmon run?

She giggled a little she couldn't imagine fish just jumping right in your mouth. that was too funny. But he didnt' seem like he was teasing. It seemed genuine.

"I fink that is when all de salmon come here." Chiteo said. "Dey all swim in here, I waz told. I don know why but dat be what i waz told." He informed his sister, then looked Aiolos to see if he was right.

Ajei asked of the salmon run and Chiteo answered and looked to him for confirmation. Aiolos nodded with agreement. Yes. It is when they have their yearly breeding season. They leave the ocean, the long salt, As Kukutux and many ithers called it, and come into the rivers. There are so many of them and makes for easy catches. However, you must be careful, because when many salmon come, so do the bears to eat them.

He looks away from them then and down to the water. Right now, most of these in the water here are trout. They were already beginning to circle closer near. The way the wolves leg fur moved in the water attracted the fish and they nipped at it. In some places, usually when the fish are scarce, fishers do something called blood-letting to attract more or bigger fish.

Her brother gave her the answer she jad sought and she was surprised and so proud that he knew that.

Good job Chi!

Ajei flattened her ears at the mention of bears and looked around warily. Though they wouldn't be here now. She hoped.

Blood letting that didn't sound good.

That doesn't sound good.

Aiolos smiles. It is not something I will teach you this day and not until your older if it becomes necessary. He told Ajei as his eyes sweep between the two of them and then he turns away, focusing his attention on the water. 

You must be very still and patient. Strike swift when the moment is right. It was not like hunting from herds, where you would have opportunity to strike again and again. 

His head lowers, hovering just over the water's surface. He waits, frozen in place. When the moment is right, his upper body dices down into the water and a moment longer he lifts up, a large trout in his grasp.

Ajei's ear twitched as she listened. So she was right, it wasn't good. It sounded like it would work though if a must. He turned back to the water.

Green eyes on broad back, nose quivering, ready to listen and learn.

She was still and silent, trying hard to barely breathe
 Chiteo right beside her, his attention to on the sun man.

Then a strike. Water arching up and something snuffed. As sun man lifted the scaly fish from the eater, his face dripping, but his prize held fast.

Breath left her in a rush and a small laugh stirred the air.

You did such a good job sun man!

She had caught with keen eyes his dart ahead of the fish and didn't yet put two and two together, but would learn with time.

pretty sure Ryder said we could skip, but if not let me know

we could fade here with them eating if you'd like?

Aiolos grinned through a full mouth, hoping out of the water and back onto dry land, where he would toss down the fish, allowing the children to investigate it. 

It will take quite some time with much practice and learning to focus on the one instead of being distracted by the many. It is not for everyone. Some do not have the patience for it. 

He then settled down into a lay, oposite of them on the other side of the fish. How about lunch? He asks the pups and then begins to prep the fish for them to eat.