*Perch*

A larger, two foot perch was floundering in the shallow water near the shore. She was mostly on her side and going in circles, more or less. Her gills and mouth flapped open very rapidly and every now and then her body covulsed with quick twitches.

Soon, the apparently ailing creature was is such shallow water that she couldn't swim in circles anymore.

Maura

this was odd....fish didn't just beach themselves. Maura lowered her maw towards the prey. she wasn't going to eat it though. it seemed a useless cause to take somethings life when it was useless. she liked ones that fought back instead.she nudged the fish back towards the deeper water again so it could get air and sat down to maybe help it. odd for a wolf really.

*Perch*

The perch thrashed suddenly, thinking the wolf was coming to eat her. She still floundered in the deep water, keeping mostly to her side and near the surface. Around and around she went, slowly drifting back towards the shore. She seemed to be trying to say something to Maura, but what ever the words were, they were not in the launguage that most mammals here spoke. It was a strange language most of the fish used.

Maura

is something wrong with the water? *Mauras red eyes changed to confusion at the fish. she layed down in the water to get a better hearing of the fish. if she tried hard enough maybe she could unerstand what it was saying*

*Perch*

The words seemed desperate, but they could not be deciphered by a wolf. There was no wolf who knew this strange language. Still the perched drifted in endless circles, moving closer towards the shore again.

Maura

*she fgrowned andwhined in helplessness. something was wrong and she couldn't help. fish wouldn't want out of thew water.....* i got an idea. if you can under stan me then..............splash the water at me with your fin. *she placed her head infront of the fish so it didn't beach itsself.*

*Perch*

The fish didn't respond. It's glistening eyes would look fleetingly at Maura, and if a fish could look desperate, this one did. She seemed at least a bit releaved that this wolf stopped her from drifting towards the shore. But still she floudered to try and get herself upright in the water. This perch didn't smell odd or seem to be injured, but there was something terribly wrong. The effects were begining to ripple out from species to species; she wasn't the only one sick. And the lack of communication made it impossible for her to tell this wolf what she knew. There might be another creature that could speak the fish's language as well as the wolves... it could be the first step in finding out what was wrong.

Maura

*she couldn't communicate with this fish. she couldn't leave her either or she would drift to shore to die. an idea popped into her mind. she pushed the fish farther out following her. she mad e all the splashing she could to bring crocodiles towards her. they might be able to help. she couldn't go to galars marsh withut letting this fish die so this could be her only hope.*

*Perch & Cotton Mouth*

No crocodiles came. This time of year, they were out in deeper water where they could get away from some of the cold. But, another sort of water-dwelling reptile responded to all the splashing. It was a cottonmouth snake.

The darkly-colored serpent slowly glided through the water, staying near the shore. Every now and then he would scrape the side of his mouth against a rock or branch, as if something were bothering him. Soon enough, the five foot long creature came upon Maura and the ailed fish. He seemed to be breathing rapidly. "Whhhat are youuu doing? Youuu make alllot of noissse." he commented, not afraid of the wolf because he was well equipt with venom.

Maura

*at least one came that could talk her language came.* I wish to know what is wrong with all the animals in the water. *she kept the perch from drifting to shore.* and i couldn't understand the fishes language. its a language i do not know.

*Perch & Cotton Mouth*

The snake rubbed its head against the ground again before speaking, "I don't ssspeak their lllanguage, I'm sssorry. I knoww there are othersss... othersss speak fissh and our language."

The venomous serpent paused again, flickering his tongue out, "I do agreee withh yyyou. There isss ssomthing... my mouth and stomach burn... it isss verrry irritating."

Maura

could yo uget one of these swimming animals that speaks two tounges? I feel the need to help out all of you to find out what is wrong.*she kept herself afloat with slight paddles though stayin one place.*

*Perch & Cotton Mouth*

"I do not knowww them perssonally... I've just hheard of them." he coiled up slightly and again rubbed his jaws against the ground, "I believe..." the cottonmouth trailed off a moment in thought, "some sort of bird... yesss, there are a few birdsss. I'm sssorry I can't be of morrre hhhelp. The birdsss sstay awway from me, yyou sssee. But find the right onesss, and they may be able to hhhelp."

The fish stopped struggling so much now, although her mouth and gills were still working feverishly to draw enough water in to 'breath'.

Maura

thanks. do you know what they look like though? i don't have good favrs with birds all ready.....i got this huge one really angry earlier......as long as it isn't him i'm fine..

*Perch & Cotton Mouth*

He thought for a moment, "There is one kind, withhh cressts on their heads. Mostly blue in colorr... they catch small fish. The other one hassss very long legs and a llllong neck. They dance alllot. Mostly... tan colored." he raised his head up hopefully, wondering if she knew what kind of birds he was describing. He didn't know what they were called though.

Maura

I'll search for them*the descriptions planted in her head. she began to paddle off with the fish she was protecting to find these birds.*

*Perch & Birds*

A very swift, agile bird darted over the water, turning this way and that picking insects out of the air. The underside of the bird was light, and the top was blue. But, the bird had no crest on its head. It would be like searching for a needle in a hay stack unless you can learn just what kind of birds you are looking for, and where they live.

The perch babbled on, speaking the strange language. On the bank not too far away, there were two dead bluegill, nearly beached on the shore.