A Fisherman's Respite [Open]

[Laike]

((Nothing special, just Laike waking up early to get some fishing in on Bronze Lake. Anyone is welcome to join in for any reason! Let's see where it goes.))

 

 

It's was that calming sort of dawn just outside of Camp Bronze Lake. The atramentous blanket of night was falling away, giving rise to a smattering of azure blue and coquelicot red as the sun peeked over the horizon.

 

The ritualistic crowd of bathers hadn't yet picked up. This left the ruins, for the moment, feeling... ruinous. The broken walls and crumbling stones cast long shadows across the lake, undulating and dancing with the ripples of lively fish hunting for their morning meal.

 

It was here that a strapping young Hyur appeared. An old mahogany stick of a rod slung over his shoulder as he sang idly to himself with the slight twang of a country accent;

 

"Gon' bait my hook..."

"Gon' cast me a line..."

"From dawn till dusk..."

"Gon' watch that twine..."

"And when it jumps..."

"And when it fights..."

"Gon' catch me a fish..."

"Gon' be just fine..."

 

Finding a patch of matted grass on the bank, Laike lowered himself before reaching for his hook and deftly attaching the bait. Looking towards the sun-streaked sky, he muttered a light, private prayer before casting his line...

[Miryn]

Miryn strolled along the broken path, mindful of protruding stones made slick by the water. Dressed simply in cotton and leathers, though she was a guest of the springs, she couldn't help keeping a small dagger sheathed at her hip. She'd heard beastmen lived nearby and could become rowdy at times. Better safe than sorry.

 

She'd come via recommendation of a friend after her most recent excursion left her with a nasty leg injury, courtesy of a bandit and his axe. Though Miryn was no stranger to places of healing, Camp Bronze Lake was nothing like she'd encountered before. The springs and wine were amazing, just as soothing for the body as the scenery was for the soul.

 

Her friend would not arrive for a couple hours yet, so Miryn took it upon herself to enjoy the springs' other wonders. The lake was glorious to behold in the dawn light and she paused in her walk to drink it in.

 

It was then that she caught a faint verse of song drifting from somewhere nearby. Miryn turned to find its source and sighted a man-shaped lump seated upon the bank. As she leaned in for a better look, pain suddenly lanced through her wounded leg and she slipped on the rocks. Miryn's hiss morphed into a gasp as she fell into the water with a loud splash.

[Shayrei]

The world came into bright, swirling view as Reina materialized next to the aetheryte crystal.

 

"Gods be damned!" 

 

Bending at the waist and staggering slightly as the world stopped spinning, she slowly straightened, checking to see if all parts remained in tact. Legs, rear, sword, chest, shield...

 

The motion brought long hard stares from a few passing attendants as they milled between buildings readying for what would certainly be another busy day at the springs. She eyed them in return and pushed hair from her face before tightening the hair pulled back at the crown of her head, "What?"

 

The attendants laughed at some inaudible jest and shook their heads continuing on about their business. "You jus' wait! I ain't th' only t' hear those tales!" she grumbled, looking around to gain her bearings, "Someday, someone's gon' pop up here missin' a damned hand..."

 

A shrugging sigh pulled her shoulders back and she lifted the levecard from a pouch on her belt as she began the walk from the resort, "Alright... Waterskippers...." She lifted her gaze to scan the horizon just in time to see the woman's form fall into the water. 

 

"O-oh!" A small snickering snort echoed in her throat a moment before she sobered and moved toward the woman as quickly as she could pass over the slick rocky obstacles in her way, "H-Hey! Y' alright there?"

[Laike]

The lake rippled idly as the lure fell into the shallow-depths of the Lake. Laike leaned back, the sky reflected in his powder blue eyes as he watches the wispy little clouds float by. All was well in the world, and nothing...

 

SPLASH!

 

It all happened at once. His eyes flicked towards the fallen woman just as a large fish hit his line,

 

"Shit!"

 

His hand stretched in one direction, held in place by the fighting fish as the rest of his body tried to tug down the bank towards the woman who might be in distress.

 

"Shit shit shit...."

 

 And then the second woman appeared. Manners, right, "Oh! Hey.. pleased to...."

 

 But that final tug was one too many. His arms rolled back to try balance himself but he began to fall, fall fall... Reaching towards the woman still on the bank, he made one last attempt to grab her but came up short.

 

 Into the water he goes.

 

 And that fish? It was still fighting!

 

 ((Sorry, was out of the house all weekend!))

[Miryn]

Miryn spat and swiped her hand across her face. Her clothes were soaked to her chest, her leg throbbed, and red spots were blossoming through the bandages. At least the water was mostly clean, it seemed? It certainly tasted fine.

 

Any worries about possible infection fled her mind though, when a blonde hyuran woman voiced her concern. Miryn winced, more from shame that someone had watched her take such an embarrassing tumble than from any actual pain. She wiped her face again and sent the woman an apologetic look.

 

"Sorry, I'm fine. I-"

 

Another splash from down the bank cut Miryn short - the singing man. The fishing man? Only now did she notice the fishing pole and Miryn sighed at herself. The peaceful calm of morning shattered by a clumsy elezen. This was not the best start of days.

 

Moving carefully so as not to aggravate her leg - or take a second spill - Miryn got back onto her feet and offered the man her hand in case he needed help.

 

"Sorry," she said again. Her good eye flicked to the twitching pole. "Er, you seem to have a bite."

[Shayrei]

Reina stooped to reach for the man as he toppled backwards, her hand withdrawing to her chest with an empathetic wince as the second body met the water. She reeled back and barked out a laugh, "Gods be tamed! Ain't you lot graceful as Goobues!"

 

She looked over the woman and then toward the line and man as Miryn spoke "Aye! Rally, lad! Y've got dinner on your line!"

 

Bracing her stance on the bank Reina moved a hand toward Miryn, "Ah... Seems you need a bit of tendin' to 'fore somethin' in that water makes dinner of you." She made a short motion toward the newly colored bandaging on her leg with a short wiggle of her finger.

[Laike]

Laike sputters and glances around, blinking. Seems his morning fishing trip has gone awry, or has it?

 

The fish.... Laike the fish... Powder Blue eyes scan the water. Bronze Lake Cat.... Probably around 35 pounds. Big one. Good one... Hit hard, good fight.. hmmm....

 

He flits those eyes behind him noticing Miryn, when she holds out a hand he nods gratefully, "Good idea." He reaches out, taking her hand. However, instead of pulling towards her, he places his fishing rod in her grip, "Now, hold tight. Very tight. Tighter. Always tighter..."

 

Nodding towards Reina he gives the most puckish of smiles, "Hey there, ah...." He rushes towards her, but instead of clambering up, he grabs a nice size rock from the bank, right next to her foot, "Stick around, right?!" He peers towards the rippling water...

 

"I'm gonna go get this fish. He's a fighter...." Like a set of compressed springs, his legs release, pushing him into a dive, rock in one hand and moxey in his heart.

 

Hopefully Miryn's leg holds out... Because this fish is fightin!

[Miryn]

If anything good could be said about Miryn's tumble, it was that her embarassment over the spectacle had done a swell job of masking the pain of her injured leg. Reina's jest brought her attention back to it however, and she frowned as the wound throbbed anew. The other woman was right - about the leg needing tending, not Miryn ending up anyone's dinner - but for the moment she was more concerned about the fisher-singer in the water.

 

"It can wait, the lad seems to need-"

 

Out of reflex, Miryn took the rod from Laike before she fully registered what accepting it meant.  The sudden lurch nearly took her off her feet again and she dug her heels into the bank, wincing as she put unwelcome pressure on her leg.

 

"-help!"

 

Halone's fury, what did he catch?

[Shayrei]

Reina's jaw gaped slightly at the situation before her. The pole being shoved into the stranger's hands as the lad bounded of into the water. If that fish didn't kill him she would certainly be happy to give him a swat or two.

 

"-help!"

 

 

Shaking herself from her thoughts she moved into the water with Miryn and attempted to remove the pole from her hand, "I got this, get outta the water."

 

If allowed to hold the pole, she'd brace herself, taking a firm grip as whatever was on the end of the line fought to free itself of its tether. 

 

"Son.. of... a Sea Wolf! What'd he hook?"

[Laike]

"Catfish!" The mans head pokes from the surface of the water as he looks back, "Always a catfish... You can tell. 'Specially when you're..." He falls under the waves, cutting off his words.

 

Popping up again he continues, "Usin' large bait..." He falls under again, staying under.

 

10 seconds... 20.... 30...

 

SPLASH!

 

His hand is hooked in the jaw of a nice-sized catfish as he fights to avoid it's pounding tail, "Whoooie!"

 

Slow step by slow step he drags it to the shallows. Looking towards the pair, he holds up the catch, "See there? Ya'll did a fine job."

[Miryn]

Miryn gladly relinquished the fishing pole. The moment it was free of her hand, she stumbled back and onto her rear, hissing under her breath. 'No strenuous activity', the chirurgeon had said. What a fine, relaxing walk this turned out to be; her leg felt like it was on fire.

 

Whatever was on the other end of the line seemed to be putting up a valiant struggle. Miryn cradled her leg and watched Reina fight its pull. Idly, she wondered if she still had enough strength left to grab hold of the other woman if she overbalanced as well.

 

Catfish?

 

So it was. Despite herself, the man's enthusiasm brought a smile to Miryn's face and she gave him a congratulatory salute.

 

"I don't know that I did anything, except perhaps nearly scare your quarry away. I do apologize for that. My name is Miryn." Her smile broadened as she turned to Reina and nodded. "Thank you for your help, truly."

[Shayrei]

Reina watched as the man proudly held out his prize, turning at Miryn's voice only to just notice she'd fallen back to her rear once more and shook her head, "Nah, love y' fine. Not as though I did much!" She offered the woman her hand once more and smiled.

 

Her gaze moved between the polite woman and the proud fool for a moment or two before her gaze narrowed on the man.

 

Fishing pole still in hand she stepped toward him and swatted at the man, aiming to 'wap' him on the upper arm in a gentle but firm flick of the hand, "An' you! A fine job, m'arse!"

 

Her hands moved to her hips as she scolded him, "The hells' wrong with you? Shovin' that pole int' the lass' hand! Y' coulda pulled her right under with that wee beast fightin' as it were."

 

She barked out laugh, "Y' may owe th' lass a meal, lad!"