He was paddling out to sea, keeping close to shore, with enough depth beneath him that his toes - just - couldn’t reach the bottom. He dove beneath the shallow surface a few times, experimenting on his technique - using his wings like flippers on either side of his body.

When he rose to the surface next, a funny shape caught his eye. It was a big flat creature, with a long, thin tail. Strange. He wondered… what would it taste like? He pushed himself a little closer, and the creature's tail whipped about. He slammed on his breaks, but it still nicked him. It was sharp! Its strike had gone beneath his fur, and left a little blood.
“Hey! I just wanted to taste you!”

It was possible Naiche would never get tired of looking at the ocean.  Between something to enjoy looking at, and the fact it was near the area frequently used to find a good spar brought Naiche this way often.  This time approaching the shore he saw something unexpected.  How often do you see a giant wolf with wings swimming after all?

As he got to the edge with a paw feeling the slightest lick of the water he heard Mort talking to something below him. “Hey Mort, who ya talking too?” Wouldn’t wings just make him that much slower in water as they got water logged? Then again, some birds couldn’t take getting wet while others thrived in it.  Maybe Mort’s wings did well in water?  Naiche stepped further into the ocean until about half his legs were hidden. “You need help with something?
"Speech"

Still prancing away from the stingray, he found himself closer to shore. His paws easily touched sand now, though most of his body was still submerged. The funny creature was circling the water in front of him. He couldn’t tell if it was ignoring him, surveying him, or threatening him. He didn’t even know what it was!

At the sound of a voice, he turned back to shore, and found Naiche standing there, peering across at him. “There’s some flappy thing in the water. It struck me and drew blood.” he explained, turning back to watch the creature. One of its sides breached surface as it turned sharply in the water. “Think we should… kill it? I know someone who likes trying seafood.”

A flappy thing? What an odd description for a fish as Naiche just assumed that’s what it was.  Naiche stepped further into the water curious of what  a flappy thing would look like. “Well, you won’t know if it tastes good until you try it.  So, why not? I don’t think anything in here could be that dangerous.”  

Naiche moved up to where Mortis was looking down at it, perplexed by the sight. “your right, it’s a flappy thing.”  For a few seconds he just watched it circle. “I guess I could try and go around it and scare it towards you?”   That type of logic would work in water and on this thing also right?  Of course it had attacked Mort so who was to say instead of running it wouldn’t just attack Naiche. “Well, and if it attacks me like it attacked you then I guess you get an opening to attack that way.” There, it was a solid plan!

Naiche walked a ways from Mort staying even with the shore until he decided the flappy thing wouldn’t care if he moved a bit deeper in the water and back towards it.  “It doesn’t look like it has anything to strike with.” Mort hadn’t said bite so the smaller wolf assumed it had literally hit him and drew blood? But how? Admittedly the water blurred some of the clarity. “It’s so funny looking.”
"Speech"

He had hopped Naiche might know the name for it, but he was left just as clueless as Mortis. The boy shrugged, and together they dubbed it ‘flappy thing’ it was a good a name as any, right? “We can try that” he agreed, and Naiche was already moving further down the water. Luckily, Flappy Thing seemed fixated on the younger of the two, and didn’t follow Naiche into the water.

“It’s got some sort of spike on its tail, it's like a striking snake” he explained, having seen his own mother’s snake in action often enough to have an idea on what that looked like. When Naiche was in position, Mort tensed, prepared for the battle to play out. He didn’t know if he was going to be running away from a strike, or running towards it if it hit Naiche, but he was - he hoped- prepared for either. In his excitement, he moved his paws back and forth in the water. The stingray straightened up, looking at him. It swum a little closer. Uh-oh… ‘Naiche, now!” he cried, and darted back as it came for him.

Naiche had paused a short distance away from the creature, wondering how close it would allow him to get without reacting.  His best judge was comparing the distance it was tolerating Mort being near it.  Where was he suppose to bite flappy thing anyway if he needed too?  There was no actual neck to tell between head to body, it was just kind of all in one.  It was a body and a tail.  While he was working on this he saw a few things at once, Mort moved slightly, the stingray reacted and then Mort was calling him to action.

Where to bite it? Naiche made a leap, paws landing near the odd creature, having to bet on its attention being enough on Mort to have just those few necessary seconds to get it.  Naiche’s head ducked under the water, eyes instinctively squeezing shut,  Fortunately they were in shallows so even as the eyes closed his teeth found the things head, or at least the raised portion where the eyes were.  Jerking his head up out of the water, digging his teeth in hard and giving it a firm shake.  It’s tail hit the side of his neck once, his dense fur coat made sure it was just a scratch. Luckily for Naiche its skin wasn’t all that thick so it seemed to die pretty easily after that one strike “Got it!” A moment of victory for them as he spoke a bit muted with the thing still in his mouth.

Naiche glanced back in the water, prize still in his mouth to see if there were any more of them.  He didn’t see any, but then again this thing was so flat it might hide easily. “Hope whoever it is likes it.  It’s got a funny scent,” considering Naiche hadn’t pulled any fish or other creatures out of the beach till now, a species with all that salt water on it held next to his nose was bound to smell different.
"Speech"

He backpaddled as quickly as he could, and then the older wolf was there. Plunging in for a killing shot, and taking the creature down. Turns out its skin must be pretty soft, judging by the ease in which Naiche had pierced it. Mort guessed its best defence was offense, with that nifty sharp tail.

“Hana, she loves seafood” he said with an easy grin, tail wiggling behind him as he jumped forward and stuck a cold nose into Naiche’s cheek. “Thanks for the save!” ... and then his eyes moved past Naiche, and to the creature cutting slowly through the water behind them. “Behind you, behind you!” he cried, pointing at the crocodile.

Naiche’s tail was swishing quickly back and forth with the prize in his mouth, nodding at his words.  So he liked Hana huh?  Naiche hadn’t decided yet what to make of her but if this guy liked her that said something in her favor.” Naiche was about to take the sting ray the rest of the way to shore when Mort cried out.  Naiche pivoted slightly to the right with a forward lunge.  Naiche could see some shape moving towards him but didn’t bother getting a close look till he’d gained that bit of distance.  The dead Ray was flung aside where it landed in the water next to the shore so that the waves would push it up on sand but then right back into the water.

“Ah shit,” Naiche stared at the crocodile.  This guy was bigger than the few he had seen prior.  Large and hungry, of course they always looked hungry.  Naiche had his feet spread out, pressing on the ground ready to spring as he glared at it. Where the heck was he suppose to bite it.  Showing the crocodile his teeth seemed rather flimsy when he looed at the croc’s teeth. “Mort? Ever fought one?” Naiche leapt back as the monster strode forward.  Naiche was trying to circle to the opposite side of Mort, refusing to let his gaze move from that wicked face.
"Speech"

Mortis was always on the lookout for ways to brighten the days of his friends. For Hana, that could be anything from a small gift of food, to dragging her away for a day of adventure. What about Naiche, what things did he enjoy? He hadn’t had a chance to get to know the man well enough to guess. And… now wasn’t the time to speculate.

“Once! With dad, and all his battle companions and our Reaper!” he yelled out, facing down the crocodile when he realised Naiche wasn’t running. He wasn’t going to leave his friend behind to face the danger. The flappy thing was all but forgotten now.

Naiche began to circle as the large creature slid forward. Mort began to circle the opposite direction. Not because he had any plans, but because Naiche seemed to have the right idea. Don't be directly in front of it, make it harder to hit them both at once. “Uh… If you… distract it… dad used his long teeth to break the skin, I can try that?” he asked, slowly, cautiously, treading water.

Oh great, Mort had fought one before with Sirius another wolf of high status and a bunch of companions.  They had two wolves and both young, it should be just as easy right?  Naiche’s mouth opened in a grin as his eyes remained on the crocodile.  Hopefully, they didn’t get killed but it should be a fun challenge. “If we leave toothy here it might run across another wolf who doesn’t spot it in time.”

Naiche kept to the side but he focused his gaze primarily on the croc’s face, trying to piss it off even as he kept a gaze out of the side of his eye for its shoulder muscles and front legs hoping for signs of fast movements.  Naiche snarled loudly “Come on toothy, or you too scared” the insult jab, snapping his teeth in the air to piss it off.  It worked! Naiche leaped backward, and then again and again before it seemed to feel it was giving him enough distance.  It was fast but it didn’t seem to want an all out chase so Naiche just needed to keep an eye on how much room he had when pissing it off.

Naiche wasn’t looking at Mort, he would have to trust the wolf to do his job.  If the wheat-coated wolf messed up on his job one of the two wolves would die.  This guy wasn’t the sort to leave one with an injury, he was the sort to steal the last life breath from its victim fast.
"Speech"

Naiche made a good point, and one that wasn’t in favour of abandoning the crocodile and running. Worst part was, Mort was foolish and big headed enough to agree and wanted to take on the big creature, just himself and Shard.

Shard grabbed the crocodiles attention and held it. It gave a chance for Mortis to paddle quietly up behind them. He disliked not having the advantage of solid ground beneath him. It made it harder for him to get ontop of the crocodile. Unless… maybe going up was the wrong choice. Mortis took in a deep breath, and plunged under the water. His eyes opening wide, ignoring the sting of salt. His wings helped to propel him quietly forward, as he moved under the crocs stomach, and towards its neck. The water was still semi- shallow, and his paws touched the ground, he bunched his muscles and threw himself upwards, grabbing the crocodiles neck with his elongated teeth, and scratching what he could reach of its belly with his cat-like claws.

It responded instantly, its sudden and violent movements dragging him out of the water, still holding on to its neck. He was able to get a breath of air, and then he was slammed into the water. He almost lost his grip, and he definitely lost some air. He could only hope Naiche would take advantage and try attacking from above.

Naiche hadn’t expected Mort to go under the water but there really wasn’t any time to talk strategy. Maybe they should have done that a little more first? There was no doubt the moment Mort sunk his fangs into the crocodile as it rolled itself around from pain or anger or whatever. Naiche knew he should help but hell if he knew how! The thing was scaly all over! Well, there was one spot! Naiche darted to be slightly behind the face and lunged in so that his fangs found its upper face and felt the satisfaction when a tooth went into something softer than the scaley exterior. He had managed to puncture the crocodile's eye. The beasts had would twist around in a painful rage to attempt to bite its would-be attacker but if Mort still had a bite on its neck that would likely tear it open farther right? It couldn’t focus on Naiche for long when it still had Mort on its neck, and Naiche was ready to lunge in the moment he saw openings. Speech:"Live to fight" Think

He felt it jerk suddenly, and could only assume Naiche had done something above. He was running out of air, he needed to work first. He finished twisting, so all four paws hooked into its belly, holding onto it, and keeping the boy securely in place. Holding himself upside down, his head was now free to find its best mark on its neck. Naiche had succeeded in distracting it, but Mortis was dealing it a lot of pain with his claws right now.

He found its neck again, and lunged, dragging his elongated teeth across it. It tried to snap its head out of the water again, but Mort’s weight dragged it back down. Air, he needed air!

His teeth went against across its neck. The water was thick with blood now, and he could barely see. The crocodile jerked again, and then went still. It began to sink. Mortis managed to get his head up high enough around its body, grabbing in a lung fill of air, and Help, i’m stuck!” and the weight of the dead crocodile dragged him down agan.

The croc was thrashing around like crazy.  Whatever Mort was doing was having a great effect.  Naiche was having a hard time getting in close the way it seemed to be spazzing about and twisting as if in death throes, maybe it was? The water was turning red and it was either the crocs or Mort’s.  Considering the state of the croc it seemed the most likely.  Mort had been under there an awfully long time.. The croc was sinking, then there was Mort’s head and then he was back down after an ominous message.  Stuck? How the hell did he get stuck? It hadn’t been in the creature's mouth but clearly he was doing down with it somehow!  Naiche reached his head underwater grabbing for any part of the monster and finding one of its now limp yet still thick legs.  Naiche braced himself and started pulling to shore worried at firsts it would be too heavy, and it was true the thing was still trying to sink, but it was also moving towards the shore and they hadn’t been far away.   It didn’t take too much time at Naiche’s hurried pace and with the help of the waves till the crocodile's body was partially out of the water and gave Naiche a better idea of Mort’s problem.  If it wasn’t so serious it would be funny.  They’d have to remember to laugh later!  Even if Mort was having a hard time getting his claws out, he was in shallow enough water he could twist his head to grab a breath. “Good kill, but when we tell the story lets not mention this part.”  Naiche walked around to where Mort was to see if he still needed help getting his claws out since the water would no longer be sucking him down. “You did that you realize, I had a pretty minor part.  You killed a crocodile!” Speech:"Live to fight" Think

The crocodile began to move again, and for a fleeting heartbeat, Mortis thought it had somehow been brought back to life. Oh, he was so dead. He needed air so bad his head was starting to get thick and fuzzy, and he was worried he would accidentally suck in a lung full of water.

As the smooth motions of the crocodile continued to shore, he realised what Naiche was doing. Guiding the sinking beast onto the sand. They reached the point where the large dire wolf could lean over and suck in a breath of air. He did so gladly, taking in a partial mouthful of water with it. He hacked for a moment, then just took a moment to breath. Once that was done, he used his fangs to score the flesh around his hooked claws, and pulled them free.

He was shaking a little from the adrenaline rush, and his eyes were wide. He still felt the urge to hack, and his mouth tasted like blood and salt water. “Couldn’t-” he gave a hacking cough, throwing his sentence off, before starting again. “-have done it without you”

"Speech"

Naiche grinned at Mort’s statement and giving him a moment to recover, “Alright then, we did it.” Looking to where he imagined the croc was now under the water before walking towards where he had dropped the stingray and searching the water.  Obviously, Naiche hadn’t time to drop it onshore where it would have remained safe. “It couldn’t have swum off so your gift to Hana should still be around here somewhere.” How far it could it have gone? Drat, it was a color that would make it near impossible to see unless they were right on top of it.  “We might have lost it though.” Still, Naiche hadn’t given up just yet, walking along the water where his paws could easily touch land, glancing farther out. “After all that not to sure I feel like going out farther,” said with a soft chuckle. “Who knows what the next monster would be to show up the way things have gone.” Fighting creatures was fun, but two in a row was a bit much to ask for.  In reality, while they had won and Naiche would proudly feel they could do it again if need be, Mort had nearly died by lack of air.  It wasn’t the sort of trouble to go seeking for kicks. Speech:"Live to fight" Think

Mortis was still climbing to his feet, his throat a little raw from swallowed water, and his paws tingling from the weird way they had been held beneath the giant creature. It had been… well… an experience. A lesson learned. But they had won!

As he finished the near impossible task of climbing to his paws, his mouth snapped open in surprise. “Hana’s gift! The flappy thing!” he said in distress. After all that, had they really lost the gift?

He wobbled after Naiche, sniffing at the water, and poking the sand, his wings hanging limply at his side in dejection. Of course, he was definitely going to carve off a piece of crocodile to bring home to Hana, but he was going to be mighty disappointed if they had actually lost Flappy Thing.

"Speech"

“Would the waves be bringing it closer or would its body flow more back out into the water?  Maybe its heavy enough its just sitting in place and the water?” Naiche stuck his head under the water around the area, trying to see what was below but with the sandy grit and his eyes wanting to close with the salt Naiche jerked his head back up. “We aren’t in a rush, right?  As long as it didn’t go out to deep we should be able to find it.” Naiche would haven given up on it quicker but Mort seemed so worried about it. “If for any reason we don’t find it, well we can just find something she’d like even more with a bit of work.  Worst case scenario you have a great story to tell her about.” Naiche questioned if the thing was really worth all the effort, but Mort was too friendly to just let down when he was so concerned about it. The salt was irritating to his nose and now his eyes after tossing his head down there, how the heck hard Mort managed it for so long? “How are you by the way? I didn’t see any injuries on you.”   Speech:"Live to fight" Think