Ocean's Breath Plateau BWP: TSS Fishes and Whales

9. Your character discovers an orca pod has stranded fish along the beach (requires sea proximity). Tags for reference but please feel free to jump in if you wish. Also fully using fathers @Inutsuk NPC status

With permission Ajei had traveled to the sea with her Pop. She had gone to where her older brother @Mojag had lived only to find him on a mission to find another wolf missing. It saddened her, but it was okay. The nice leader Rodyn had played with her and shown her around. She even hoped for a glimpse of @Heph.

She had invited the other pups with her to the shore. But they currently left her mind when she came across large black and white beasts blwoing water and shimmying through the water. A gasp left her lips as she looked at all the fish they had chased to the sandy beaches.

She wondered if she could gather some. Could the big beasts come up on the sand? Could they hurt her. A tentative step forward and she wished fiercely for @Shikoba or @Kukutux or @Aiolos or even one of the boys @Arrluk or @Massaraq

It was only ever the second time which Arrluk had left his homelands. Many went on ventures, visited the other packs, went on spirit walks... Arrluk was content in the heart of home. With the loss of second mother and now Galana, he had become hessitant to explore beyond Moonglow. He never wanted to get lost from home too. 

Arrluk found comfort in traveling with family, however, and though Ajei was not blood, she was just as closely so in his eyes. 

Arrluk was excited to see the ocean for the first time. It was not with mother or father he did so, which he would have liked, bit having Ajei be with him was enough, he realized. Secretly, he would also not miss an opportunity to see if Galana had found her way here. Yet she had not. The disappointment weighed on his shoulders, yet as he came to the shoreline, his sadness was eased with the sight. 

Wow... He said with awe, standing tall now at Ajei's side. Mom and dad said it was big, but I guess I couldn't quite grasp it, not until now. From left to right and forward, it looked endless. Open ocean so far out that only the sky's horizon could be seen in the distance. It was incredible. 

It looked different. It smelled different. Waves further out higher then any rapids of a river or falls. And along the cove, black large shapes cut up out of the water and then broke the surface. A large beast of black and white lifted up from the waters and crashed back down on its side as it seized a large fish. 

That's it...! He loud whispered, as though if he spoke too loudly the beast would dispear from sight. Orca- the killer whale.

Arrluk had seemed reluctant, but she knew it wasn't her company that kept him unsure. No, it was the homebody he was. Which frankly Ajei saw nothing wrong with this, she herself preferred the tall mountain spires and valleys of home. She had only wished to see where Mojag was and the ocean that heph talked so fondly of.

Ajei had to look up to meet his face now. Long and limber of limb he'd grown. But it suited him. She followed his gaze to the ocean and a faint smile on her face
 Her tongue darting out to taste the salt on the air. It was truly something.
 

She shivered. They are so big! she whispered spoke.

The aound of the water breaking as the creatures slapped upon it. The rows of sharp teeth as they gobbled the fish. They were beautiful, wild, powerful, and somewhat savage.

Massaraq had heard his brother and Ajei going to the coast and had not wished to pass up the opportunity to see it. The vast stretches of water, the beaches, it all sounded like a fantasy. And yet Ajei had invited them to the beach and he found himself staring out onto more water than he had ever imagined. Even as he was growing larger it made him feel small all over again.

The sight of the giants breaching the water startled him, but as he looked more deeply he could see the wonder in it. He wondered how much space there must be, under the waves, to accommodate such large creatures. Their dens must be the size of lakes. Or maybe they had none and swam constantly like fish.

Heph had caught wind of the younger visitors to Moontide and gamely ranged the territory in search. When she caught a fresher scent she switched there, out towards the sea. She supposed they were not quite so young as to need supervision, but she was still excited to meet whoever had come.

At the sight of them all lined up on the beach staring outwards her lips twitched and she began a slow creep forward. They may or may not have taken note, but either way as soon as she was near enough she leaped forward, landing near them. "What are you all up to here hmmm?" There was teasing in her voice, not a true demand for information. And she glanced briefly out onto the water to see the splash of the creatures far out.

They really were big, as Ajei had whispered. They looked like fish but not like they had scales. They had something big sticking out of their backs- like a horn or something, but Arrluk couldn't quite decide. 

His larger brother came to join them then, silvered and icy as he was, which matched glaciers in the ocean, so it had been told. There was none here that Arrluk could see, but perhaps somewhere further northeast in the waters. Then Heph, the large dark Beta of Moontide which he looked to sheepishly when she jumped in front of them questioned them. 

Her having given him quite the start, he laughs off how she had nearly made him jump out of his skin while having forcused so hard on the whales. Ajei's father had brought us. He spoke and jut his muzzle to the water. Look. 

Arrluk wiggled his white toes as he looked down at them in the sand. He arched his head back to look at his sides- the grey streak which went from his shoulder to the mid of his beck. His white undersides which arched over the curve of his flank and up under his tail. He looked back to the orca pod again, as one came near the shallows with another attack and then pushing back into the water. That was close! They were daring, even out of the water! And Arrluk got a good look and realized just how much he resembled them as though it were some sort of magic.

Heph had startled her and a soft oh! had left her mouth. Ears had sunk to her skull and she had shifted more towards the brothers until it was noticed who had startled her.

She giggled a little self consciously. Hiya Heph.

She moved closer to Arrluk and Massaraq on instinct. Making herself smaller. But she admired the whales and noticed the way that the pelt of one of her dearest blended.

The orca made her jump further. Tail curling tight against her hind quarters.

Goodness. So big and look. Such good hunters of the sea. Fishers like you Arrluk and You Massaraq!

Massaraq startled at the sound of another wolf joining them, larger and in a flurry of movement. He gave a growl of surprise as he skittered away, but at Arrluk's answer and Ajei's familiarity calmed down enough to look back towards the sea. "I wonder what they eat, they're so big." He said, full of wonder. Surely they could not fill up such massive bellies on the same size fish that he and his siblings ate. But if there were fish big enough to feed those in the ocean perhaps it was more dangerous than he had thought.

He stared at the water, as if he could discern simply by staring at the surface, what was hidden in its depths.

Heph nodded. "It's good to meet you." She too looked out to the water to see what caught their eye. She had seen orcas before off the coast, but it was not a common occurence. The water was beginning to turn cold with the seasons as summer faded.

At Ajei's mention of fishing she waited until the whales had gone out of sight. "Would you all like to fish?" While she could not take them far out onto the waves the tide would be going out soon leaving tidepools but also shallower waters as long as they could find their legs.

sorry for the massive wait guys!

Arrluk pressed to Ajei as she came to the brothers, finding security between the two of them. Massaraq gives a growl, his protective nature beginning to show through. Arrluk is still and silent in those moments. 

Then, all their gazes once more took to the sea. His brother wondering what all they ate, Ajei saying how they were mighty fishers, like Arrluk and Massaraq were. Arrluk smiled to this, turning his head to Heph once more when she questioned. I'd love that... I've not had sea-fish before.

She drew comfort from Arrluk's press and Massaraqs protectiveness. She telt safe. She knew Heph would protect them too.

A huge amile lit up her face at her offer. To fish in the ocean waters. She thought she would like that very much.

oh yes please.

Heph grinned, "follow me!" she called out behind her, already bounding along the coast on the lookout for where the tidepools formed. She had wandered these coasts many times and yet the ocean for all it came and went with regularity still allowed some variation that made each new journey interesting.

In the distance she spotted a grouping of broad shallow pools, perfect. "Find a tidepool." Her gaze cast across them, spotting the surefire glint and flash of light indicating that there were fish in them.

Massaraq quickly forgot any suspicion and followed after the larger wolf. He was curious about tidepools, what did that mean? But when he arrived he saw fairly quickly what they must be. Little flashes were similar to ones he had seen in the lake and yet these were small and shallow. His tail wagged in excitement.

Tide pools. Arrluk stored the name of them to memory- little baby bodies of lakes, filled with salt water instead of freshwater, like the great large lake back home. 

Arrluk loved the water. Enjoying to soak, swim and the sound of rain and the river was a comfort to him. Now, he would listen to the sound of the waves rushing over the sand. 

Arrluk padded to one of the pools of water, seeing the fish within. He lowers his head to take a drink- his mouth pukers and his tongue sticks out. Why does it taste like that.....!? Mother had called the ocean 'the long salt'. He was now realizing why.

Ajei kept pace with the two brothers and when gaze came upon the small waters edge she couldn't quite hide her smile. Much like those from moonglow.  She found solace where water met land and this was no different. Though, these tiny pools were more sccurstely described as almost cute in their small ness.

As she dipped her head to look in, she was quite surprised to see it teeming with plants and small lillte creatures. Crabs and fish and this tiny thing with 5 arms.

She spent precious moments watching them paws dabbing near the edge.

Heph grinned, "because the water here is full of salt. When it dries on your fur you're nice and tasty for bears to eat." Her voice turned joking and she gave the young wolf a playful nudge with her snout.

Her attention briefly turned to Ajei who ha dipped her paw within. "When the tide goes out some of the water is left behind in these little depressions in the sand. The creatures there get caught as well and you can catch them. Just be careful, some of the fish have spikes or poison. If they look like they have spines not fins then leave them be."

Massaraq stared at the tidepools bearing through the exploration. He could see the flashes but when he peered over at Ajei's pool there was something strange with little hooked things on its legs. Crouching down low he let himself get a better look as they scuttled to avoid the shadow of her paw over the water. He heard the warning and looked again at the creature. Was it a spine then?

Arrluk's eyes widened to Heph's words, tongue still jut out from the front of his mouth. Slipping it quickly back in, he took note of Heph's joking expression and smirks. Maybe I'd make their face pucker up too, long enough to get away. 

Arrluk had known salt before- sometimes brought from the coast and spead on the meat which got dried on rocks in the sun back home. The boy just hadn't put two and two together until now. 

Turning his attention back to the water, he took note of the creatures within, not just fish as at and heeded Heph's warning. Focusing his attention where his brother and Ajei's lie, Arrluk points with his white-toed paw. That's no fish- but what about those things? The 'hooks' were claws and the creature was good eating. He didn't think it was spines, because it looked different like say, a porcupine.

There was much to take in and Ajei slowly curled her paws back into herself as she saw the spiky thing and heard Heph's warning. She didn't want to be poisoned.

Though a small giggle escaped her at the way Arrluk made a face and she nudged Massaraq as he moved closer to look into her pool. She pointed at the thing that looked a bit like a star, but she also wondered at it.

What is this? and this?

So many pretty colors and sights. She almost couldn't contain her excitement. We learned to fish with our jaws, but the salt may make us sick, yes? So how do we fish the long salt waters?

She didn't want to be throwing up for the rest of the day, thanks to that nasty salty coating that settled if you licked at the ocean water.

Heph laughed and followed the pups to the tidepool that seemed to hold the most interesting catch. She surveyed them. While she was still learning all the creatures at least these two she knew. "mmm the one with the shell and funny looking hooked legs is a crab. And the other one is called a starfish." She added brightly, and excited. "they're both tasty although the crabs can pinch you."

At Ajei's question she nodded and hummed, approving. "You can still fish with your jaws, but you can't keep your mouth underwater very long. Once you see what you want to grab strike quickly and let go of it on land so that you don't get too much saltwater in your mouth. A little bit won't hurt you as long as you don't drink it." While drinking the ocean water was a good way to get sick Heph had not noticed much of a problem when she started fishing in the water as long as she was careful not to swallow too much. An admittedly difficult feat for a novice especially when she had first started out.

Massaraq watched fixated on the starfish, it did not look like it was moving as much as the crab and might make easier prey. But he was unsure if he would be able to catch it, and wanted to wait. His tail flickered out behind him in an excited twitch, waiting to see if the curious little fish would move at all.

Arrluk's eyes remained transfixed on the water in front of him, his multi-colored eyes dancing between the small fish that had gotten trapped in here, the starfish, the crab... Arrluk assumed that the 'tide going out' was similar to when it was summer and the lake back home would receed and the rivers would become thinner. 

He listened carefully, putting the names of the creatures and information to mind. One of te crabs pinching claws looked HUGE compared to the other and he wasn't sure he was willing to take on that fight just yet. So he went first after what he knew, diving after a silvered fish a few times until he was able to catch one and tossed it onto the land. He coughed, he sneezed, shaking his body of water and narrowing his eyes. Kinda burns too. Very different then the fresh water for sure. I guess it takes some getting used to.

Ajei tilted her ears forward and then looked back down into the water. She tried to listen closely, but there was so much to see and do and wonder at. Massaraq stood with tail twitching watching the star fish closely, though she wondered about it. It did look a little bumpy, but would it hurt?

Arrluk just jumped right in and she gave a soft titter of delight as he caught it. She studied the water again and though she wasn't entirely sure, if she could remember. She used a paw to scoop in at the crab. She caught it with paw and claw and quickly pulled her hand back and smashed it upon a nearby rock. Only once, hard. It splintered, but cleaner and with less shell pieces.

She smiled softly and pressed it towards the boys. Try the crab, yea? A woman and her child taught me to hunt it on the beach. Reverie and Blossom were their names.

Heph watched first Arrluk and then Ajei both successfully snatch creatures from the water, Arrluk first with his mouth the fish and then Ajei the crab with her paw. She nodded her head and gave a bark of congratulations at both. "Nice job!" Glancing at the crab she noted the names down with some curiosity, but they were not familiar. "They sound like good teachers." There was a smile on her face. While she was more adept at using her jaws to grab them she could see the use of paws.

Turning to Massaraq she watched him for a moment. Offering encouragement when his first descent into the water came up empty and congratulations when his second attempt rendered the starfish flailing on the wet sand.

Massaraq watched Arrluk's harsh reaction and success, and then Ajei's own maneuvering of the crustacean. His own target was far more stationary and yet when he dove for it he sneezed harshly and stared in consternation at the missed mark. Ears shooting towards his target he felt the earth shift beneath his paws as he balanced his weight in frustration. But trying again he emerged with the thing, almost dropping it, this time on land though he grabbed it without a second though until it went limp.

Nosing curiously at the crab he took a small bite. "It's good Ajei! Have you had it before?" If Blossom and Reverie had taught her perhaps she had tried it and known it was good then. THere was a briny taste that was not unpleasant, perhaps that was the sea.