Signs of Life

Chade was fairly close but relatively busy when Ava called for the pack.  The large blue wolf was in the ocean where his feet touched the sand and yet move a bit forward and he was suddenly having to swim.  In his mouth was the fin of the largest fish he’d ever seen.  It was a monster, the body as long as Chade and that wasn’t including its tail or the absurdly long face.  Its face turned into a beakish blade not dissimilar from the swords he knew some wolves used.
 
Chade may have not known what a swordfish was but he did know this one wasn’t going to get away from him.  The battle had already been going on for 10 minutes and they weren’t really any closer to shore but the swordfish’s thrashing was starting to become more sluggish and inconsistent.  The fish was already injured before Chade got to it so this should have been easy!  Bite marks of some other fish had damaged parts of the body and Chade would have thought it weakened but it was as if the fish were pure muscle.

Chade rolled his eyes back as if he could see the meeting circle from his spot in the ocean.  He had to hurry!  Hey, he had lunch for everyone after!  Chade reassured himself that since he was close there should be time.  

After another 10 minutes shade had managed to pull the fish to shore where the sand was dry.  Its tail still slapped occasionally but its life was clearly fading.  Chade left his catch there, something to get back to after the meeting.  He was tired from the fight, soaked through and through with all that extra mane weighing him down but he was still grinning as he approached.  A respectful bow of his head was offered to Ava before sitting next to Ry and nudging him with that sloppy wet shoulder. “Wait till you see what I caught this time.  I have no idea what it is,” Chade added with a soft laugh in his breath.  This pack had not only given Chade and Ricin the ability to live but given them a joy with that life.

"Chade"