Monthly Quests - DoA: August - Fishy Hunts!

 

Although, when was she ever in the mood for anything other than doing what she wanted to do? 

 

She gave a gruff huff, her flippers slowly moving to push her forward through the water, rays of lights glimmering against her crimson and white scales, her neck stretched out as she pushed with those gentle currents underneath her. She made her way through the waving kelp as they were scattered one every few dozen meters, growing from between rocks, small, tiny fish feasting on their leaves. Although, she kept her eyes pealed, scanning both the kelp and the sand covered rock floor, attempting to locate a shell which a pup lost, they'd been wailing over it and begging anyone who was around to aid with a search. Unfortunately, this red aqrilon had been at the wrong place at the wrong time, meaning she was dragged down into this mess. 

 

But how could she say no to a pup?

 

Gruffly, and a little bit frustrated, she slapped a kelp nearby with her tail as she passed it, annoyed with her predicament, the plant swaying back and forth for a moment, before floating back up to its vertical position. Moments after she had done that, she froze up. Her luck couldn't be that bad, right?

 

Pepper heard something coming from behind her and she spread her flippers outwards, head arching as she slowed herself right up, moving to look over her shoulder, raising an eyeridge - although it was odd, it was still, for their species, somehow possible. A small aqrion managed to catch up with her, a pale green, with a large smile on her face. One of her flippers was raised, indicating a direction to the east, towards a denser group of kelp.

 

"There's a hoard of nearby fish coming!" She chirped in a delighted excitement, a wide smile spread over her face, "I've already caught myself a few! It's easy pickings!"

 

The larger crimson's attention was certainly caught at that and she turned herself around completely, now that was something that she'd much rather be doing! Her stomach was at the verge of growling in hunger. Inclining her head to the younger one, she spoke once more, "My regards, sounds like a rather decent meal for not too much work." 

 

Without waiting for a response, the piebald curled herself around, flippers cracking together as she spiralled down towards the area the younger one had indicated. 

 

It didn't take all that long before she arrived at the forest of kelp. Pepper was quick on her flippers normally, but when it came to the dense kelp she found herself at, it slowed her down quite a lot, especially someone of her size. Using those large, strong flippers of hers, she pried the dense kelp apart, squeezing through, but she could feel through the movements of the water that the large school of fish were nearby, likely hiding in there for some sort of protection.  She could practically feel how large they were by the faint ripples through the water. 

 

She gritted her teeth, feeling frustration build up in her chest, not exactly enjoying how long it was taking her to navigate herself through the water and this kelp forest. Having had enough of this nonsense, she inhaled a little, feeling her throat bubbling with power, before a roar of frustration burst from her maw, causing large bubbles to stream out of her maw. The shock wave from the cry ripped through the kelp, throwing them aside and even tore through some of the younger vines and leafage. Sand covering the rocks underneath her maw and in a perfect cone, was blown away with titanic force, rays of light dimmed from the sudden sand and debris in the water. Her frustration and hot-headed nature created a giant chasm of ocean before her, which had, coincidentally, only managed to push aside the kelp and some of the smaller fish.

 

But it left the larger fish stunned, spinning in the water, unable to see where they were going. They had no idea what was coming to them, what had happened and the shock wave made them so disorientated that they simply didn't have a chance with what was to happen. 

 

Seizing the opportunity that was suddenly given to her, Pepper dashed forward, her maw scooping up those delicious fish, teeth making quick work of them, swallowing them almost without chewing them. 

 

Those poor fish couldn't escape their fate. Even as they regained some of their senses, Pepper was quick on her flippers, snatching them up hurriedly in her maw. The piebald dashed through the waters, snatching those stunned fish up.

 

Fortunately for those fish, the kelp began to straighten again, Pepper's line of sight for them beginning to be blocked by those long, leafy strands of green and brown.

 

Pepper could have continued to have her feast, but within those short minutes that she hunted, she managed to snatch up quite the number of fish, enough to fill her stomach as well as having a few spare in her maw for a snack later on. She slowly pulled herself away from the closing kelp forest, plants, sand and fish returning to either their resting place or hiding place. A smug, victorious look was on her face as she carried them away.

 

Pepper was right - it was quite an easy meal, easy food and they were absolutely delicious.

 

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August monthly entry for DoA ^^

 

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18 - 909 words

6 - August Monthly Challenge

2 - Hunting

 

Pepper is a Starter - https://www.deviantart.com/aquella-imports/art/Pepper-0014-733013843