the ole' fishing hole. (open)

[Deus Ex [Falx]]

Lucas


Lucas sat boredly on the rock sitting over one of the many District 4 lakes.

He had a net clutched tight in one hand, and a harpoon in the other. The rope tied to the harpoon made shark catching easy.

The sun was at a perfect spot on the horizon, not yet day, but not yet night. Sunrise was the best time of day. He glanced up at his cabin on the lake where he lived with his parents.

The sun reflected off the lake, making light dance across it like a school of fish. Without even taking of his shirt, he just made a flying leap into the lake, net in hand.
His Harpoon hit the water first, bobbing next to him.

Sunrise was also the best time to swim, and wrestle with the fish.

He took a dive under and opened his eyes to the beautiful blue water.

Years of experience meant the saltwater didnt sting his eyes anymore.

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Nathan

"Nathan, why are you up and where are you going at this time of the day?" It's Vanessa, the sister that rises with the sun and thrives in the morning.

I shrug. "I'm just going for a walk. Want to come along?" Her eyes light up as she nods.

"Okay. Have you eaten yet? Let's go." I grab a chunk of bread and close the door behind us. She pulls a bit off of the bread and walks along, eating as we go. I don't get to spend much time with a single twin at a time.

"So, is school okay these days?"

"Uh huh. I'm finally catching up with the curriculum here. They teach us so much about fishing and fish and the sea. It gets so boring sometimes, but it's better than learning about plants all the time."

We cross the District Square and head for the docks. It's my favorite place to go at this time of the day.

"Hey--have you learned how to fish yet? I don't think they'll mind if I show you a few of my newly acquired skills..." I grab a net that's been left out--one of the ones snatched away by the seagulls in the day, I'll bet.

We sit on the edge of the dock and swing our legs out over the sea. Vanessa watches, fascinated, as I tear a small chunk of bread off and put it in the net for bait before letting the net sink into the water. Then, a few minutes later, I pull the net up and find a single small fish lying in there, flopping around. Usually, the nets are for fishing on the boats out on open sea, but they work well enough here, too.

As Vanessa attempts, I scan our surroundings. There doesn't seem to be anyone here at this time of the day, but I spy a few fishing supplies laid out a few feet down. People should clean up their messes.

As I watch, a boy surfaces and swims toward the equipment. So we're not alone, I realize. I wonder who he is.

[Deus Ex [Falx]]

Lucas

Lucas treaded the water speedily, towards the too people. He held his harpoon in hand, with a freshly speared Catfish.

The fight had been big, and as a result Lucas sustained a cut above his eyebrow and a gash on his arm.

The water behind him turned red with blood.

"Hello there." Lucas said upon reaching the shore. "And who are you?" he asked

Lucas wasn't used to visitors on his dock. He took off his shirt, and wrapped it around his arm to hold the blood in.

Lucas casually sheathed his harpoon on his belt, and held his net in a combat position.

[gxk]

Naida

Naida sat by the waters edge at the lake. Her barbed fishing spear in one hand and a net by her other side. She looked up from the water and saw three people. I wonder what they're up to. She thought to herself.

Her trained eyes went back to the water. She took in a quick breath before clutching her spear and leaping into the clear water with barely even a splash.

She drives her spear through a small school of fishes, 3 fishes were now on her spear. Some blood came from each fish. She surfaced with her catch noting the good size of the fish. Naida puts the fish in her net hidden in some water plants by the shore. Her golden brown hair clung to her face and neck. She swam a little closer towards the 3 others watching them while staying well hidden. Her green eyes spotted the catfish that the one boy had caugh. Well I guess at least one of them is a decent fisher. Not a bad sized fish he caught either... Naida silently went back under the water before resufacing a little closer yet. I wonder why I've never seen any of them here before, different times of day maybe? She checks the sun's position in the sky, by the looks of it she guess she'll soon have to return home to make dinner for her younger siblings and then help her father get the boat ready for tomorrows fishing trip.

[Deus Ex [Falx]]

Lucas

Lucas's trained ears picked up the sound of swimming.

He spun around, and made a graceful dolphin-like leap into the water, leaving his catfish on the beach, but keeping his net in hand.

When he surfaced, he had caught a large sum of small fish in the net, and dumped them in a pile over the catfish.

I wonder who she is....Lucas wondered to himself. He picked up on the green shine coming from her eyes, and continued to net more fish.

[gxk]

Naida

Naida noticed the boy seemed to have caught more fish. With a flick of her wrist 4 fish were impaled on her spear. She put the fish with her others. With a quick breath she dove down before surfacing near the boy deciding to make an appearance.

"I've never seen you here before." Her voice held a tone of accusation. "You seem to be decent with that harpoon, can I ask you what your name is?" Naida kept a firm grip on her spear just incase the boy had the crazy idea to attack her.

Naida staying true to her name meaning water nymph as she treaded water easily with hardly any noise watched the boy waiting for an answer.

[Deus Ex [Falx]]

Lucas

"My name is Lucas, but I get called Luke sometimes."he said, diving back down and pulling his harpoon. He impaled a fresh lobster, and but him on the dock.

"I love nothing more than fishing in the morning.... or what time is it anyway?"he asked.

[gxk]

Naida

Naida looked up at the sky and checked the sun. "Well Lucas it's just about noon, give or take a few minutes. My name is Naida by the way. I'm here catching fish to feed my younger siblings, it was my oldest brother's job but it has become my responsibility."
She tried to keep her family matters as vague as possible.

Naida swam a small circle, dipping her head under water to wet her hair again.Ilayda and Raviv will be expecting lunch soon, since mom and dad have been in a depression since Raiden died... "Why do you need to worry about the time, in a rush to be somwhere?" Naida asked.

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Nathan

"Nathan," I manage to say before the guy dives back in the water. A girl shows up and swims just as well. Vanessa and I watch in amazement.

I've never actually met these people before. Did I go the wrong way? This is the ocean, right?

"I want to learn how to swim, too. Can you teach me?" my sister asks.

"Sorry. I just got here, too, remember? Haven't had the chance to learn yet." I sit at the edge of the water. Small waves tickle my toes. Vanessa follows my example.

I strip off my shirt and slide into the water. "Don't follow me yet, Vanessa. I don't know what I'm doing."

Under her attentive gaze, I copy the movements the other two are doing and try to swim. No luck.

"Sorry, Nessa. I don't think this is the type of thing I can just learn. I keep sinking."

"Ooh! Let me try!" She slips into the water just like I did and mimics my flailing movements. She's actually succeeding, a little. She slowly makes her way out from the shore.

Suddenly, she seems to lose control. My amazement turns to horror as I realize that she's sinking. Her flailing about becomes more panicked. I slip into the water and try to walk my way to her, but halfway there, the floor disappears from underneath me. I paddle, but I'm going to slow.

"Help!" my sister yells.

[gxk]

Naida

Naida noticed the girl sinking then looks at Lucas, "Excuse me for a second."

She swims over to Vanessa and helps the poor girl back to where here feet can touch the bottem of the lake. "Are you alright?" Why she was out that deep and not able to swim is beyond me but anyway... Naida floats on her back enjoying the warmth of the sun while waiting to make sure the girl is ok. She looks over at the boy approaching the girl slowly. "Hey you over there, do you know this girl?"

Naida swam back a little to give the two some space. Her spear was still in one hand as she eyes the fishes swimming around her legs.

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Nathan

"Hey you over there, do you know this girl?"

"Yes. She is my sister." I say, paddling closer to shore. "Neither of us know how to swim because we just moved here a few days ago and haven't had the chance to learn. Thank you very much for saving her." The girl floats away. I'm not sure she hears my thanks.

I turn back to Vanessa. "Hey. You okay?" She nods, still a little frightened, but she seems fine. I sigh in relief.

"I guess I should just stay in this part of the water where my feet can reach the floor," she says hesitantly.

"Good idea." My heart's not in the words, though. I want to float through the water just like the two out there are doing. I won't be able to survive in this district if all I can do is plant seeds and climb trees. I make a resolution to learn, somehow. For now, I suppose I could watch...

[gxk]

Naida

Naida swam in closer after hearing their thanks. "No problem. I guess because I've been able to swim my whole having been born here, I never imagined meeting someone in District 4 who can't swim." She gave a slight smile. "It's not that hard really." Naida swam a small circle around the two. "Just practice, stay in the shallow just to be safe. Move your arms and kick your feet." Naida demonstrated once more. "Once you can do that you can learn more strokes and learn how to dive. Fishing is the other thing everyone here knows." She showed them her spear. "I use this to impale the fish, but a lot of people just use rods or nets."

Her expression suddenly changed to one of pain and slight fear. "I have to go now, maybe I'll see you here again sometime." She swam to the shore, grabbed her net from the water plants and jumped onto the grass slipping her shoes on. Naida bolted away in the direction of a small fish shop. Ilayda and Raviv must think I forgot about them!

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Nathan

"Thank you," I find myself shouting after her again. Then, Vanessa and I take turns following her instructions. For once, Vanessa seems to be learning faster than me. I can't manage to stay afloat.

After a few moments, I can paddle around without sinking. I try mimicking one of the girl's earlier strokes. It's not that bad, really. My arms get a little tired after a while, but that only means I need to practice more.

I glance over at Nessa, who seems to be faring just as well, if not better. That's what I like about her--she nearly drowned, but she's willing to take on the challenge even more; she won't let the water beat her.

Finally, I haul myself up on the dock and grab the net. Nessa sees me and paddles over.

"Do you want to try the net?" I ask.

"No, thanks. I'd rather stay in the water. I saw a fish."

"Wait--you opened your eyes? In the water?

She nods. "It hurt a little at first, and I can only do it for a little while at a time. The water makes things blurry, but it's not too bad."

I'm tempted to jump back in the water, but my limbs are sore. I let down the net and wait for the fish to come, watching Vanessa get better and better.