Twisted Wonderland 2

The Long Haul

The Track club gathers by the lake, setting up their fishing rods with the bait.

Jack grins as he inspects his work. "Okay, our bait's hooked and ready. Time to cast our lines and see what bites."

"Let's do it!" Deuce cheers.

The boys cast their lines into the water. Deuce excitedly grins as he waits for a bite. And he waits... and he waits...

His excited smiles drops. "...Nothing so far."

Jack chuckles. "That's pretty normal. You gotta be patient and settle in for the long haul. At least, that's how it was when I'd go fishing for pond smelt back home."

"Ohh." Deuce nods. "So this is normal."

Jack points to the water. "Hey, look. Some fish are gathering around your bait."

Deuce nods. "You're right. All I need is one tiny bite..."

"What's shaking', boys!"

The fish scatter. Grim runs over to the two, his loud shouting scaring away the fish.

Jack growls at the cat. "Grim, you scared off our meal."

Grim huffs "Maybe you just ain't so hot at fishin'!"

You scoop the cat into your arms before he can do anymore damage. "Sorry about Grim. How's your progress going?"

Deuce sighs. "So far, we've got nothing. Grim, could you please keep it down?"

Grim rolls his eyes. "Fiiine, you don't have to beg. I dunno, though. Are you really gonna catch anythin' just waitin' around? You oughta shimmy your bait a little so it looks like a real fish. Here, gimme one of them rods!"

Grim wriggles out of your arms and runs over to a fishing rod.

"Check it out!" Grim waves the rod back and forth. "You make it do a little dance in the water like so, and... Whoops. The fish bolted."

"Grim!" Both Jack and Deuce shout.

Grim drops the rod. "What? I was just tryin' to help... Hey, wait a minute. Look, in the lake! There's a big shadow under the water!"

Deuce peers into the water with a grin. "That's gotta be a fish, right? It's coming this way. That sucker could feed the whole team. Jack, we can't pass this up."

Jack eyes the shadow warily as it swims closer. "I guess not, but... isn't it a little TOO big?"

The shadow rockets to the surface with a splash, sending water at you and the boys. Looking back at the lake, you see Floyd in his merform. He uses his hands to prop himself above the water in the shallow end.

Floyd grins as he waves to you. "Oh hey, it's Macky and Sea Urchin. And you got Sealie and Little Shrimpy with ya. What'cha doin'?"

"Floyd?" Deuce exclaims. "What are YOU doing?"

"Our challenge." Floyd shrugs. "What can I say? I was hungry. Sitting around with a fishing rod's a real snoozefest, though. It's easier to jump in and catch fish the old-fashioned way. It's also waaay easier to fish in merform." Floyd looks to you with a cheeky grin. "Wish we could've fished like this before, huh?"

Deuce tilts his head. "What?"

Jack narrows his eyes at the twin, moving his hand in a cutting motion by his neck. When Deuce glances at the wolf, Jack quickly looks away and scratches his neck.

"Anyway, I was in the middle of a hunt, so I better get back to it." Floyd salutes you. "Later, gators."

Floyd leaps into the water and swiftly swims away.