The Tale of Carrot

Chapter 6

It's been three days since the Takers' last known attack.

Three days since the word of the Takers has been spread around the lake.

And three days since Finn was taken.

Carrot was absolutely devastated.

After finally finding someone who would actually interact with him, said someone was just taken away; just like candy.

Carrot blamed himself. He should have been more wary of his surroundings! How could he have not noticed a giant looming shadow? And Finn was literally hanging on to his life with a fin. At least Finn sort of lived up to his name.

Carrot's own fin was torn to shreds after trying to tug Finn out of the net. The damaged fin made it more difficult for him to swim around, as he would swim lopsidedly.

The torn up fin was like a tattoo that he regretted. Except he didn't want it in the first place. It served as a reminder on how he failed his one and only real friend. It would permanently be etched onto his skin.

This point of his life was at an all time low. Life went from the highest point to the lowest in a matter of seconds, due to his carelessness. Carrot didn't think he would ever be more miserable than when he was stuck in the bag of fish.

He was wrong.

He didn't think there was anything in his short life that could renew his spirits. His head turns to the ground at all times, never looking up. He barely ate and only ate enough to sustain himself. He had nothing to look forward to.

Just living life was like hell.

Fish were being taken 24/7. Day by day, more fish would disappear and never be seen again. Dead carcasses of fish trying to escape nets were scattered about in the lake.

Carrot tried saying a polite 'hello' but no fish would even look at him, despite Finn's efforts in the past.

Carrot grew more tired as the days went by slowly. He was full of self loathing, hatred and despair.

Desperation was an appropriate word for his predicament. Desperate for friends, desperate for happiness and desperate for a family.

Carrot put on a tough guy façade everyday while swimming through the lake, but in the inside, he was shattered and falling apart.

What had Finn said that was his motto? Oh right, move on. Finn had said that that was what he did when Meanie was taken and when his family was separated.

Carrot couldn't do the same as Finn did. He couldn't move on with his life. Instead, he spends it moping around with his head down all day. How could he even move on?

Finn was the only fish who understood his loneliness. Other fish would just scoff or swim away. Finn did not. He took the time to actually listen to Carrot's story, while also telling his own sad one. Carrot could not let go of his short father-son like relationship with Finn that easily. There was absolutely no way Carrot would ever move on.

A grim look and darkened expression was the only thing Carrot's face would show after Finn was taken. He tiredly swam to and 'fro everywhere, with his body sagging unhealthily.

Carrot wasn't paying much attention to where he was swimming and he rammed into a fish.

Just like what happened when he met Finn. Except the results were drastically different.

"Hey! Watch it!" a snotty voice yelled angrily and swam away quickly.

"Sorry..." Carrot trailed. He sighed. Things were back to the way it was a few weeks ago. He's still a lonely fish with no friends or life.