Two Otters, a Lake, and a Pike-Fish
Characters: Aikuen, Fira
Location: Near the Govi's house, Lake Silverwater
First thing in the morning aaand Fira's nowhere to be seen. There is a couple of little cooked fish waiting for breakfast and a drink with a note trapped under the mug though it simply says 'Breakfast. Eat. Back soon' as she's wandered off to check out a few things round the lake, careful not to wake him up while he was sleeping so nicely.
Aikuen would have felt her leave, because he has one of his arms around her, but she left so carefully, and the fact of last night also helped. He was out like a light, until now. He rolls over onto his stomach, and yawns trying to get back to sleep, when he realizes something. Where is the wall, that is Fira, to block him. He blinks groggily awake, and looks where she should be, and becomes alarmed instantly. He jumps up, and after a second of balancing his sleepy form, he looks around quickly to find out why she isn't here. Its doesn't look like a struggle at all. Even looks like breakfast was made. He blinks a few times as he can see the note. He is still alarmed, but maybe the note will tell him what happened. He sits down in front of the meal and takes the note to read it. He blinks at it, then sits it back down. He can feel his heart rate slow down to normal, and he sighs. Well she did make breakfast, but after that incident he is not really hungry. So he picks at his food while waiting for her return.
Fira just can't see her home as dangerous since she's never seen anyone else in the place. Besides, she's rather good at being carefree. So far she's discovered one more house has fallen down, half into the lake but she cleared it out years ago. She's found and dug out raft she made a while ago too and left it floating on the edge of the lake not far from the tent. Found a couple of her other contraptions but she's stopped checking up on things in favour of a bit of fun. Climbing a tree on the south side of the lake to get up to a nice length of rope in it. All looks in order still...Five minutes later and with a woop of joy she comes sailing out of the trees, hanging to the rope, only to let go and land in the lake with a big splash. She knows how to have fun.
Aikuen was nibbling on a piece of fish when he hears the woop. He turns his attention to the sound, and blinks as he swore he saw flying otter just then. He rubs his eyes clear and blinks just in time to see the splash. He tilts his head, as he places the hunk of fish down, so he can stand up. That was quite odd. He chuckles and starts to jog in the general direction of the tree with the rope in it. Not to check up on her, because it didn't look that bad. And by the woop, he bet that she has done that many times before. He is jogging up to the tree, to see if he can have a go. Just because he is old doesn't mean he can't have fun either.
Fira set that rope up ages ago solely to do it. Nothing quite like jumping into a lake first thing in the morning. She resurfaces and laughs, starting to swim back towards the tent only to see Aikuen's not there. Hmm. She scans the bank and just sees him running round. Tilting her head faintly as she watches him, not at first sure what he's up to.
Aikuen gets to the tree and looks around to find her. Ahh, there she is in the lake, totally not around here. Oh well. He will just have a go on the swing, then go and bug her. He is not a climber, like a squirrel anyway. So he bends down and dirt's his paws as he prepares to climb, his way. He gets to the lowest branch he can find on the tree and jumps up and grabs it. He pulls himself up and repeats the process over and over till he gets to the branch with the rope. He eyes the rope and tests for sturdiness. He smiles and nods as he drags the rope up to grab around the middle section. He readies himself and looks down. Boy its high up. He just shrugs and lets himself drop off the branch, as soon as it starts to swing, he lessens his grip on the rope, pulling his weight down and off the rope. This causes the rope to swing much faster. Faster then he anticipated, and when he gets to the lake to let go. He pretty much skims the surface, before landing with a belly flop. Sure is graceful isnt he! He resurfaces and spits out water from his lungs.
Fira gets the idea when she sees him climbing the tree and she swims off that way, though she's sure to keep out of the direct path of the rope. She's not quite fast enough to get there before he goes flying and she laughs at the belly flop, quickly swimming over to check on him...and swim a couple of circles round him "I think you need more practice"
Aikuen is still spitting up buckets, when she swims over. Through coughs, he shakes his head and eyes her, "I'm rusty... and, trees and ships are complete different... Stop that!" he aims a splash at her when she starts to circle him. He then laughs at her, "Guess it did look kinda stupid... heh" he grins.
Fira laughs at the splash and aims one right back at him "Oh definitely. I liked the part when you skimmed the surface. Like a little rock skipping along before PLOP!" still circling and another splash is aimed before she pounces. Going to flop her arms round his shoulders from behind and lean her head over his shoulder with a grin "Hilarious!"
Aikuen gets the first splash square in the face, and he spits out the water "Yes,... Ha... Ha... Whoh!" he was aware of another splash attack, but as he was dodging the splash an otter has seemed to latch on to his shoulder and is now peering over at him, "Hey... it wasn't that funny... and it hurt like heck!" he grins evilly and reaches behind him and places his paw on her shoulder lovingly. Just for a second before he dips suddenly and does a under water front flip with her still attached to him. He resurface quickly and says, "Now that! Was funny!"
Fira starts to aww but it turns into an eek! As she's pulled under and looses grip in the process. Resurfacing back in front of him and spitting out a bit of water "Tricky otter!" coughing up last little bit of water between the words.
Now its Aik's turn to be the one that circles, and which he does with a flourish! He laughs and places a paw on her shoulder as he circles creating a pivot point, "I'm not tricky, should have seen it coming..." he shakes his head, "Should have seen it coming..." he laughs and when he gets behind her, dips down once more to nudge her.
Fira can see future tricks coming and chooses a preemptive strike, going to put an arm round his shoulders before he can get behind her. Going to dunk him back underwater for a second.
Aikuen grins as he was about to dip down when suddenly he is shoved downwards. He is a bit more prepared this time, so he didn't swallow gallons of water though he was still caught off guard. He gets back up and shakes the water from his fur, "Rude!" he treads water for a second glaring at her, when a small smiles creeps across his face.
Fira smirks back "Just helping you practice and now...I think I'll run!" or rather swim as she suddenly dives and speeds off, get away from anymore attacks before he can try them. Or at least it means he'll have to catch her first.
Aikuen licks his lips as he dives in after her. Catch her he will, as that was the plan in the first place. Though her swimming first was not, but its okay. Just makes the chase that more enjoyable. He follows her, just lagging behind on purpose. He has a plan to catch her. He speeds up just a little bit and swims above her, giving her rudder a little tweak.
Fira dives at the rudder tweak and suddenly changes direction, going to hide in the weeds at the bottom of the lake and make a lot of direction changes as she speeds on through them. She's not making it easy for him.
Aikuen laughs to himself as she dives and tries to catch her. He grunts every time it seems that he would have her in his grasps, she would make a course change and speed off in another direction. No, she isn't making it easy for him. And the stupid weeds don't help a bit. But he likes it that way, and when he does catch her... He licks his lips. He stops mid chase and looks around as he lost her in the growth. He lick his lips again as he slowly starts to peek through the weeds trying to find her.
Fira is still speeding around, getting further and further away. She glances back quickly but with no sight of him still behind her she's sure she's lost him. Probably stay that way too but she's disturbing the fish a bit.
Aikuen grunts and pulls a weed off him. He sighs as he believes that he completely lost her. And even though he loves the chase, you cant win, what you cant find. He starts to make for the surface to wait for her. He exits the weeds and is about to start upward, when a big old fish comes crashing above him, nearly knocking him out. He manages to keep his cool as he dazedly looks around to see where he was at the moment, as he was completely spun around. He blinks a few times as he can see a black blur off in the distance, its making several changes in direction. He laughs at his good luck and waves to the big fish who has left off for another part of the lake. Thanks to the fish, he now knows where she is. At least he hopes its her, and not another big fish. He rockets off in that direction using the weeds as cover.
Fira has slowed down a bit since she's fairly confident she's lost him so she's headed for one side of the lake. Still sticking to the weeds and weaving about. Catches the one fish that swims into her in a panic. Poor thing decided to go the wrong way. She ducks behind a big pile of rocks and uses them as cover, swimming up behind them to just peer round the top, mostly hidden.
Aikuen gets really close to the big blur in the water an peers around a weed to see what it is. The blur stops, and then the blur just gets bigger. Apparently its swimming toward him, at a blazing rate. He tilts his head, and then goes wide eyed. He just manages to jump off the bottom of the lake as a big fat stinking pike chomps his jaws down where the otter was swimming just moments before. Aikuen pumps his legs and arms as fast as he can trying to get in a good position to fight the monster. Yes, he is going to fight the thing. He hangs just above the set of rocks, where Fira, unbeknownst to him is currently hiding. He draws his dagger and place it between his fangs as he waits for the Pike to get free of the weeds.
Fira can't see Aik for a moment but then there he is right in front of her. She's about to try and sneak up on him when she sees the pike coming straight for him as it wriggles free of the weeds. Of course she quickly swims forwards, headed for Aikuen. At the same time she actually throws the fish she caught at the pike, hoping to distract it or something but it doesn't really do more that annoy it.
Aikuen is watching the pike coming toward him, and then from behind comes a fish, heading for the pike. A dead fish? He is the one slightly distracted now. Oh! Now here is Fira swimming next to him. He blinks a few times and looks between the pike and her. He forms a quick plan. The pike after getting hit, then eating the dead fish, starts to charge after Fira, now its ticked off and hungry for fresh meat. Aikuen looks to her and takes the dagger from his fangs to mouth, "Be a distraction, ill get him soon!" he twirls his dagger, and then contiunes, "I love you, and be careful..." then there is a quick kiss, before he is off going to flank the pike.
Fira stops besides him and wishes the pike hadn't eaten the fish so quickly. Still, she catches the plan and nods once, going to give his paw a quick squeeze. He better be careful too. She looks back to the pike. That thing has too many teeth. She quickly waves her paws about, get it's attention back off of Aikuen while he's moving aaand here it comes! She shoots off round the rocks, lead it in a few circles.
Aikuen has been off to the side and when Fira starts to lead the fish on a merry chase around the rocks in circles, that's when he goes at it. He follows after the pike. When he said he could swim faster then any fish in existence, he wasn't lying. With ears laid back, and all appendages and a rudder all pupping in one direction. He literarily rockets through the water. He gets right above the pike, and draws his dagger going to plunge it into the pikes brain. He hopes that the big fish hasn't seen him, or else this plan is going to be over quite soon.
Rockets stir up the water a bit too much sadly and the pike was turning anyway, going to cut Fira off before the other otter's upon it. It doesn't have time to completely get out the way but it's not dead. Thrashing about and trying to bite Aikuen instead as Fira speeds back round the rocks to try and help.
Aikuen is thrashed about and hit with the end of the pikes swishing tail. He still manages to hold the dagger in his paws, as he regains consciousness in the water. He blinks a few times and rockets away as the bleeding pike chomp down on him again. Aikuen is still completely dazed as he swims away, and the pike is catching up. Aik makes a quick stop, and slashes out at the pike. He was expecting the pike to be far behind him. Nope. The pike takes it full force in the face, but manages to bite on Aiks left leg. If it wasn't for the first slash, the pike might have torn Aiks leg clean off. Aik screams bubbles of pain as the plunges the dagger into pikes brain again, and again. The pike's jaws let go of his leg. It is a monster, as its still alive! But its not doing much anymore, just bleeding from its head. Aik then lets go off the dagger to grab his bitten leg. Its bleeding into the water also.
Fira is currently more concerned about the 'still alive' part, worried it's just stunned and it'll be off again in a minute. She has no dagger on her so she just does the first thing that comes to her mind. Grabs it, gets her teeth in and near enough rips it apart. Now it's dead and if it's not there's two of it. Hopefully it'll distract a few other fish too as next point of business, she goes to help Aik back to the surface and off to the shore. Quickly. She's not sure if pikes can smell blood and she's not keen on finding out.
Aikuen is helped by Fira to the surface as he left leg has become immobile at the moment. The pike is now defiantly dead, and some of the other fish have come to 'clean' up the mess. There seems to be no more pike around, just yet. Aikuen grits his teeth as he swims to the shore and goes to fall down to the ground. He smiles weekly up at her, breathing heavily, "That... That was... was fun... heh" he grunts with pain again and grasps his still bleeding leg.
Fira makes sure he's out of the water before she quickly runs off to get the healing stuff, soon sprinting back with it and going to quickly clean up the leg "Just our luck to find one of the few pike in the place" she's clearly a little panicky.
Aikuen watches her work on his leg and he smiles at her. He is not panicky at all. He runs a paw over her wet cheek softly, "Calm yourself, you make mistakes when you panic. I'm fine, just a little..." he grunts, "... small bite... that's all. Just take it slow. Ill be fine." he grits as when she cleans it up, it particular stung, "Ow... that stuff hurts..." he sighs, and continues to watch. Mostly just her.
Fira glances up to his head at the touch and she does try to slow down but she's still a little panicked "It's hard to calm when my husband's bleeding" she's slowed down enough to do the job properly at least. Carefully cleaning before she sews the bite back up and bandages up the leg. Keeps glancing at the water too but all looks calm.
Aikuen smiles at her, "When i panic, that's when you should too... My leg will heal up just fine, thanks to some wonderful healing by my wife..." when she is done he goes to wrap an arm around her neck, "I finally got yah... Just took a pike, and a bitten leg to do it... but i got yah!" he laughs.
There's a faint smile as Fira tries to look amused or something "Ahh, maybe next time I shouldn't run. Much more of this and you're not going to think it's worth it"
Aikuen bobs his head in a nod, "Aye, but next time i wont hire him... The pike was a little much... and then the bite he gave me. He went a little overboard... i told him not too improvise, but what are you going to do... he is just a fish!" he acts like it was all some sort of joke, just to catch Fira. He smiles and says, "Speaking of biting..." he pulls her in, and gives her a long, proper kiss, "Good morning Fi..." he can tastes a bit of the pike, and he chuckles.
Fira kind of smirks at him now. He does make her feel better "If it helps he probably won't be improvising again" she eeks as she's suddenly pulled over but seems happy enough when it comes to kisses "Mmm. In all the excitement I forgot hadn't said good morning yet"
Aikuen chuckles, "No... I bet the fish wont, as you tore him in two..." he grins and goes back to kissing her, "Well... you can tell it too me now..." he wiggles he left footpaw, "... as I feel much better already, and could use a good morning from my favorite..." he leans up, "... Otter in the whole wide world..." he runs paw over her cheek, still planting kisses whenever there is no beast talking.
Fira smiles properly at last "Well it seemed the best way to be sure he wouldn't come back" she shifts round so she's lounging closer to his head than his leg, going to kiss him back "Good morning Aik, even if 'good' might be debatable" little smirk and she gives him another little kiss in between his own.
Aikuen grins, "Ahhh, just what i wanted to hear..." he chuckles and takes her paw, "I think its still good... Cant really blame the pike, as i am delicious... and he just wanted a light snack... Even i can understand that" he laughs and takes her other paw to wrap around her neck to pull her in, even more, regardless of leg injury, giving her bottom lip and small bite. A light snack. He grins and says "Thank you Fi, for helping me... and being a good distraction."
Fira cuddles onto him and lets him pull her in close. Still has to lean her head a little back to catch the words but helps to have him close and know he's not seriously injured "I'd still rather he didn't. You're my husband, not his snack...probably should have warned you there's the odd pike in the lake. Just glad you're alright"
Aikuen nods and laughs, "A notice of pike-fishes would have been nice, but its alright. I should have expected something like that in a big lake like this. Didn't think it was all lumbering fish." he sighs, and wraps his arms around her back, "I much rather be your husband, then some fishes morning snack. I wouldn't like that much... And... I'm alright, just a little... shall we say... lovey dovey... today... Think the pike gave me something when he bit me!" he gasps, and kisses her long, and then he laughs, "Nope, i'm always like that!" he grins, and nuzzles her. Yah, he is alright, he is Aikuen and he bounces back like a rubber ball.
Fira smirks back at him "Good seasons, if I got bitten by big angry fish, well I don't know how you bounce back so well" she gives him a kiss "But I'm glad you do...of course if that pike did give you something I sure hope it's not contagious"
Aikuen grins, "I bounce back so well... because, it just a tiny leg wound. AND, I wanted to do this..." and once again to nobeasts surprise he goes to pin her to the ground, "...all morning! Cant do that, when im all sad and mopey..." but he is careful to keep is sutured wound off the ground. He chuckles at the kiss, and the next part, "Nah, im all me... Not contagious one bit... at least i hope not..." he tilts his head, then shrugs and chuckles.
Fira squeaks a little as she's pinned. Chuckling lightly a moment later "Wrestling with a pike just isn't enough to wake you up then?" she smirks and leans up to give him a kiss "Had best not be" her reply to the contagious bit.
Aikuen fake yawns, "Yah, im tired... That pike wore me out..." he flops to the ground next to her, and begins to fake snore really loudly. Then, during the lull, he goes to tickle her in the side, "Maybe its certain pike-fish... like i remember one just a few days ago..." he laughs and after a good tirade of tickling, he goes to hold her close kissing her nose.
Fira eeks at the tickling and there's that weird giggle of hers that she's never got to sound right. She tries to escape the tickling only to be pulled back in again after a minute "Grrrr. Just asking to get bitten again"
Aikuen grins at her weird giggle, he just loves it, even if it is deformed. He starts to rock from side to side, giving a smile and a wink, "Do you actually have to ask?..." he grins. and he starts to kiss her again. Leaning into it, "I wonder... do i have to ask?" now its his turn to laugh oddly.
Fira smirks and rolls her eyes though of course she doesn't know his laugh sounds odd. Or that hers did for that matter. She gives him another kiss and wraps her arms round him "Silly otter"
Aikuen smiles, "I'm silly? No... you are!" as he cant think of anything clever to say back. Course he usually doesn't. Aik leans back to let her fall on top of him. He places his paws all over her body, kissing her roughly. After pulling her body closer to his, he goes to move his leg up and it pains him. He grunts dislodging her from him, "Ack... Ow..." he smiles weakly at her, "Sorry..." Fira smirks, giving his nose a kiss before going to cuddle into his side carefully not to hurt his leg anymore. Aik sighs and goes to cuddle up next to her. He chuckles going to tickle her side after a few minutes. He then laughs loudly as she jumps up suddenly going to frown but then smirk at him. Before going back to cuddling with him. It doesn't seem like just an hour ago, he was fighting off a Pike, and then got bitten. Cause he is Aik, and that is his way.
