Page 74 of Return of the Nine

She grabbed a mask, snorkel and set of fins before setting outdown the smooth wood of the dock. Her holding line was coiled neatly on the last support. She tied it to the edge of the support, removed her outer clothing again and walked down the steps to affix the fins on her feet.

She prepped the mask, and Rivvin sat next to her. “What are you doing?”

“The mask helps me when I am actively fishing. It increases my ability to see what the heck I am aiming at, and since you are going to be in the water with me, you really want me to see what I am doing.” Em slid the mask on her head and grinned in the peculiar way that folks in masks always grinned. “Ready when you are.”

He blinked at her, and with a smile that showed sharply pointed teeth, he dove into the water, leaving no trace of him on the surface.

Shrugging, she tested her snorkel before she followed him into the waves, her spear at the ready.

Emharo used her fins to slowly make her way into deeper water. Her breathing was loud in her ears as she used the tube to keep her head aware of the predators around her.

Rivvin was slipping through the water at the edge of her vision. Her senses told her that he was fishing successfully, the talent that drove her out into the wild to collect samples told her when there was something nearby that she wanted.

Despite the fact that Rivvin was not on her shopping list, Rivvin lit up with a hot blue pulse. It was not the colour that her mind associated with prey. Edible fish were bright gold, toxic fish were red-black and vegetation that could be eaten by Gaians was an electric purple to her senses. Medicinal items were a variety of colours across the rainbow.

Hot blue was not a colour that she had ever run into before.

A fish darted past her, but it was too small to pursue. She continued her slow exploration while keeping an eye out for bothRivvin and other predators.

A sudden rush of gold caught her attention. Huge, fat fish swam toward her, and she struck out with her spear, catching two of the fish before quickly backpedalling to get away from the large predator that had driven the fish toward her.

Stubby legs, a huge jaw and flat black eyes, the beast came toward her, following the flapping of the fish on her spear. It was three times her length, and its jaws could snap her in two.

She sighed, preparing to give up her catch.

A flash of light skin moved between her and the beast, and Rivvin took a defensive posture between her and the animal that wanted her kills.

He stabbed at it a few times, and the beast turned on its tail with blood streaming from small punctures around its head.

Rivvin turned, grabbed her around the waist and swam back to the steps. He took her spear from her and chucked the fish onto the dock, striding out onto the steps with her tucked under his arm.

Irritated, she blasted water out her snorkel. She spit it out and said, “Put me down.”

“Not until you are safe.”

He set her down on the dock, and she took her flippers off with disgusted movements. “You didn’t need to do that. I would have lost my spear but that would have been it.”

She ripped her mask off and scowled up at him. His hair curled on his cheeks and clung to his chest.

He growled. “You are not fast enough to hunt in the water.”

“I have done it so far, and I will continue to do it long after you are gone, so get used to the idea.”

Rivvin’s mouth opened and closed with a snap reminiscent of the predator she had just faced. “We have enough for today. Come on, back to the lab so I can discuss a few things with your parents.”

She got to her feet, gathered her clothing and grumped, “Since you are so keen to do the heavy lifting, bring in the fish.”

He reached down, and his arm flexed as he pulled up a truly spectacular haul. He lifted her two fish and added them to the stringer, carrying the whole works over one shoulder.

She didn’t bother getting dressed, merely stowed her gear and stomped into the habitat wearing her swim gear. Em paused and pointed. “The kitchen is down there.”

Rivvin opened his mouth to speak, but she slipped through the habitat doors and closed them behind her. Emharo sighed and clenched her hands into fists. “Damn it.”

“Em, precious? Why are you here in your swimsuit?” Her mother was coming toward her with a stack of journals.

“My collecting was interrupted by Rivvin getting between me and a predator. I didn’t want to stop to change.” She stalked to the steps that led to her temporary quarters.

Her mother was looking up at her in surprise. “I have never seen you this rattled.”

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