Ironclaw: A Pirate in Nottingham

Chapter 6: Catfish Calamity

"Wake up,  deputy!" Said the Sheriff,  kicking me awake. "Nngh,  not now,  Skully. Just five more minutes... " I mumbled in my sleep. "Git up!" urged the Sheriff as he kicked me again.  "Come on,  rise and shine! " he urged as I slowly sat up. "Blast it, Skully! What is it now?" I muttered,  half asleep.  "Who's Skully?" questioned the Sheriff. "What? Uh, nobody." I replied as I came around. "Ah, never you mind." he said, tossing me a fishing rod. "What's this for?" I asked. "Before we get ol' Ironclaw today, we're gonna get breakfast." explained the Sheriff. "You do know how to fish, right?" He asked. Of course I do! I thought. I used to do a bit of fishing back when I was still Captain Ironclaw. "Uh, I-I guess so," I replied, casually looking down. "Eh, good enough." shrugged the Sheriff as we went off a ways into the forest. 

  "What kind of fish are you in the mood for?" I asked, trying to strike up conversation. "There's some catfish over in the stream yonder." he noted. Ooh, how fascinating. I thought sarcastically. "We eating catfish?" I questioned. "Yes." He nodded. "Well, Alright," I replied, following him to the stream. "Now, this fishin' business is a little tricky," explained the Sheriff. "Uh-huh," I nodded occasionally, trying to seem as if if I was paying attention. I was focused on getting my breakfast for the day. "Come on, Silverfur." snickered the Sheriff, snapping me out of my focus. "The fish ain't gonna catch themselves." He snickered, tossing me a line.  "Thanks for that," I mumbled as I caught the line in between my fingers. "Good catch," grinned the Sheriff. "Hopefully you'll be able to catch the fish, too." He said as he lead me to the stream. 

  "Go on," He urged, reclining on a nearby tree. Just like him. I thought to myself, casting my line into the water. Yeah, sit back and watch, why don't ya? I thought, grumbling to myself. "Come on, fish..." I muttered to myself, eyes focused on the line. "Come to the Cap'n." I said quietly, ears folded back in focus. I felt a tug on the line. Aha! I got something! I thought with a slight grin as I was dragged into the stream by an apparently large fish.  "Get 'im,  Silverfur!" called the Sheriff. "You show that there fish who's boss!" I felt the fish give one great tug on the line,  and I went flying into the stream. "Now,  this is what the Captain likes..." I said to myself with a small, pleased chuckle.  The thrill of the hunt. Or,  in my case,  fishing.

  I yanked the rod,  and felt this monster of a catfish pull back harder,  pulling me along the stream,  and into a river. A wide smile spread across my face as I fought with this fish.  I wagged my tail enthusiastically as the fish proceeded to struggle.  "Oh,  no ye don't." I snickered as my Captain Ironclaw took over.  "Come here!" I strained,  pulling the line.  The fish gave one last tug,  and snapped the fishing rod,  and I fell into the river,  almost sinking to the bottom with my heavy iron leg. I sprang up,  gasping at the sudden and unintended swim I was having. I pulled myself ashore,  and watched in dripping defeat as the catfish swam away.

  "My,  my, " Chuckled a voice.  "That didn't go too well,  did it,  Silverfur? " Snickered the Sheriff. I spun around to see him stifle a laugh,  as if he had just walked in on my struggle to catch breakfast.  "Shut up. " I grumbled. "Ooh,  look who's mad he can't fish. " snickered the Sheriff. "Oh,  come on! You were just sitting -" I began.  "Look again,  Silverfur. " He snickered,  showing off a few good size catfish he caught. "What the..? " I questioned,  raising an eyebrow. "I coulda taught ya,  but you insisted on springing right into it,  and I thought it would be more fun to let you learn for yourself." Replied the Sheriff with a wide grin.

  Well,  this was fun. I thought sarcastically as we walked down the path,  eating some of the fish as we went.  "Do you think we'll get Ironclaw today? " I asked in between bites.  "I'm sure,  alright. " nodded the Sheriff.  "Oh yeah? Why?" I asked,  curious to see how he intended to get me this time.  "I have a trap in mind, " He said proudly. Oh,  a trap,  eh? I thought.  I can't wait to see how this goes. I thought rolling my eyes. "Will it work?" I asked, being careful not to reveal myself. "Of course it will," insisted the Sheriff, preparing to set it up.

  "Do you need help?" I asked, sitting on a nearby log. "Naw, I'm okay." shrugged the Sheriff, clearly struggling a little. "Are you sure?" I asked. "Yes, I'm sure." He replied quickly. Fine, fine. I thought. Have it your way. I'm going to try my luck with the catfish again. I thought, sneaking off as easily as I could with a heavy iron limb. "Now, where are ye...?" I whispered softly as I approached the river bank, my eyes scanning the surface for disturbance in the water. I took a seat on the side of the river, tail wagging to the steady flow of the river. Come to the Captain. I thought. "Come on..." I said softly, furrowing my brows in intense focus. 

  My ears perked up at the sound of a splash to my right. It was the catfish. "Argh!" I whispered triumphantly. I crept up behind where it was on all fours, and drew a dagger. A silent snarl spread across my face, and I dove into the water after it, getting a face full of spines as I drove my blade into the fish, reddening the water around us, the fish and I. I swam up to the side of the river, laying the dead fish on the side as the blood trickled down the side of the bank, and a little bit from a small, fresh scratch across my face. I panted, staring down in victory  at the lifeless fish. I had caught us lunch. I thought. "Hey, deputy!" Called the voice of the Sheriff. "Where ya at?" he called. I grunted as I picked up the fish, and took it back to camp.