Fisherman's Luck

Dragon's Wrath (II)

Something enormous flashed by their boat. Luc only saw it for a moment and couldn't make out any details about its appearance, but he did know that it was pitch black and could've stretched up to a hundred feet in length. When it passed, Luc felt a noticeable change in atmosphere, almost as if all of the rain droplets beating down on his shoulders had gained several pounds of weight.

As soon as the monstrosity shot away from their little fishing boat, Luc collapsed to his hands and knees, body heaving with exerted breaths. He tried to push himself up to his feet again, but he found that his hands were shaking too much for him to control.

Luc clenched his eyes shut and tried to calm himself, but his mind had long since lost control of his body's actions. He had no choice but to wait it out. Only after what seemed like an eternity did the weight of the ran recede and Luc gradually began to regain control of his body.

"W-what was that?" Luc asked, mouth dry.

"Uncle Varicar," River replied, eyes seemingly having returned back to normal. "I don't know why he let us free without punishment. Everyone always said that he always repays the favor ten times over."

"Well," said Luc, standing and grabbing the oar at the back of the boat. "Let's get the frick out of here."

For once, River didn't argue against him. Luc grabbed the oar and began dragging it back and forth, slowly propelling them through the water.

"Wait," said River, much to Luc's horror. "Uncle Varicar said he would take vengeance on those who feed me...you haven't fed me for several days."

"Are you kidding me?" Luc said. "Don't forget that loaf of bread you stole from me!"

"That's not the point!" said River. "That gentleman fed me today. The one with the red hair. The one who gave you this boat."

Luc scratched his head. He coughed several times and continued rowing, as if River hadn't said anything more.

"What are you doing?" River asked.

"We're going back to the docks, remember?" said Luc. "Can't be staying on the water in this storm."

"What about the man with red hair?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Luc. "It wouldn't really be a tragedy if something happened to him out there. We would be forced to take over his boat. Sure, it would be sad, but it wouldn't be anything personal."

"You can't do this!" River shouted.

"Just watch me," Luc sneered back. "Blaze has done nothing for me in his entire life. And that means I don't have to do anything for him."

River shut her mouth and was silent.

"Good riddance," Luc muttered under his breath. At least she was beginning to understand common sense.

Something hard bashed Luc in the head, but not hard enough to knock him out.

"What the frick?" Luc roared, spinning around.

River tried her best to hide the fishing rod behind her back.

"Put that thing down," Luc ordered.

"No," said River. "You've never done anything for me in your life. That means I don't have to do anything for you."

Luc chuckled sadly. He should've known that all of genius logic would backfire on him at some point.