Swiftcurrent Creek of Food and Presence

When prompted to act, Ferdie refused. He looked to Njal and the man felt like he was dealing with an insolent child; so the chuff of a sigh brought forth his minor frustration. The boy looked in to the water but did little else. A question lingered on the air, which Njal did not feel inclined to answer (at least verbally). With a rolling stride he took a step across the ledge so that his face loomed over the rushing water - and then, after a few moments of watching, he dived in. Teeth passed through the cold water and though he resisted the urge to snap them shut, the presence of the foreign body spooked what fish there were. He drew back with a dripping face, his maw empty of any potential meal.

But he would not be dissuaded. Njal reached in again. This time he loomed over the water for longer, waiting, patient and prone, until something slithered beneath him. He launched his fangs at the thing, and rose up afterwards with a fish wriggling unhappily within his mouth. Njal beamed through his gritted and bloodied teeth, tasting the life of the fish as it drained. Incisors were sunken in to the fish's head, just after the gills - nearly a perfect lock. The fish wriggled a few more times and then, gasping and dying, life fled from it. Njal tossed it aside, over Ferdie's waiting body and on to the soil of the bank. "You watch for fish, then grab at them." The man explained, with his tongue intermittently slicking the fur of his lips and the blood that sat between his gums; "If you still have trouble, you can try positioning yourself with your front limbs in the water," To explain this better, Njal reached over the ledge and descended front-wise with his paws placed upon the stones. The water was just reaching his shoulders, but his rear was safe and dry. "Like this." He looked to Ferdie to make sure he understood, but did not linger there for long. It was dangerous, and Njal was caught thinking about Lethe and her death.

"You will practice. Come to me again when you think you can learn more." Njal stated blandly, clearly out of patience. With his front end dripping and wet, he was eager to dry off and get back to his patrol - but he lingered, easing to a position behind Ferdie in order to observe. Ears cupped at the air for anything Ferdie may say, but it was clear by the distant look in his eyes - and the roaming gaze that Njal held, as his attention waned from the river - that he had other priorities.