Our fourth cache had rolled down further than expected, settling in a depression near the pond’s
deepest
point. Thankfully it didn’t take
too long
to actually trace its path and I got it to drier land easily enough.
The fish I threw was even larger than I’d estimated - a beautiful ’northern pike’ with distinctive markings and
probably more than ten pounds
of fresh catch. It reminded me of... what I believe would be similar to ’carp’ here, that were
stocked
in the royal garden’s pond.
"I’d always wanted to eat another one of those, but I don’t think the Queen Mother would have believed it was not me who poached it again."
I still have many hours to go on the
Task
and the rain looks like it might pick up for a while... so it might be a good idea to take a longer break than I did after the ravine. All in all, not bad for a morning’s work?
Not that I’ve ever
... ’worked’.
Looking around to make sure no
scavenger
is going to come steal my catch, I start to walk to the shipping container doors... then walk back. Dragging the fish by the tail,
I keep it where I can see it
before I somewhat waste one bottled water.
After washing any pond muck out of my hair -
and some of it off my feet
- I reach for one of the cheap towels I’d purchased after getting stuck in that
thunderstorm
. The march back from that park all the way to the Oak Knot was long.
"There are just so many stores in a city. How is a person supposed to pass by every one? Especially when they have signs about ’sales’ plastered outside. The merchants here are just so, so evil."
And of course, the cashier had looked
sympathetic
on seeing my still somewhat damp clothes. Made worse by strolling through the last drizzles from the storm yesterday morning. He offered me
a coupon for an umbrella
.
> Lightning rods. That’s all they are. But it needs something for scale. How else will the impressiveness of this fish be properly portrayed?! So much for a relaxing noon rest. I might need your mental support, friend. Pal. Okay? Maybe if I could wedge a thin knife at the seam where the cap meets- Perfect. Just perfect. I bet at least something in there is broken now, huh? <
The storm was turning me into
a nervous wreck with sharp weapons for fingers
. I momentarily feel something about this reminds me of a movie Helene had watched in her youth... an outcast with
dangerous
hands.
I let go of the damaged container carefully and allowed the
transformation
back to human form to begin slowly with my eyes shut, not wanting to panic from another heavenly bolt. The familiar sensations feel my head of bones
reshaping
, fur receding, and claws
retracting
.
"Vrika, I hate this world. I hate your lightning. I hate... well, okay that’s about it but it’s enough!"
Stomping over to my fleece blanket, I pulled my
knees
up and wrapped it around myself. Then my arms around my legs as I buried my face into them... and
spit out a wolf hair
.
The
rational
part of my mind knew I was safe inside the shipping container while away from the walls. Metal conducts but then it will ground to the earth. Plus, it’s
more likely to strike a taller tree
than this object.
The less rational part
kept flinching at every rumble and flash
as the sound of rain picked up on top of metal. Vrika sent impressions of warmth and
companionship
, reminding me that I wasn’t entirely alone.
But as happy as I am that the spirit is a
good hearted individual
... my
phone
sat nearby where I’d left it. Before I could second-guess myself, I grabbed for it.
Selected the
best
shot I’d taken of the fish. Sent it to Kyrie
without any other message
.
Then I sat there staring at the screen, phone clutched in both hands. Feeling like what I was
actually holding
was my own too
loud
heart.