Full Moon Fishing

Prompt from Daily Prompt.com

Everyone knew that the day of the full moon was the best time to fish. Luck was guaranteed. Only those the gods were displeased with would fail to fill their nets.

Stuart hadn’t caught anything.

As the day rolled on the camaraderie and banter petered out. The other boats drifted wider of him. Concerned or even suspicious sideways glances prickled his skin.

The fleet turned homewards when the sun began to set. Stuart lingered.

Just one more cast. No, the net was still empty, like the fish had swam right through it. Adjust his angle and try just once more. Just one more. Just-

Then it was too dark to see. To dark to row home. So he sat in the middle of the boat and hugged his knees, waiting for the moon to rise.

Racking his mind, trying to think what could possibly have caused this. What could he tell his family? His parents would be so disappointed in him. And Jane, sweet cheery Jane, would she still come boating with him after learning he’d failed to catch even a single full moon fish?

In this wet darkness tears felt natural. Just a few more drops of salty water on already coated cheeks.

The moon’s faint light left the sea opaque and gilded the fog silver. But he knew the heading. Should head home.

Stuart fiddled with the oar. Gaze fixed on the depths. As if there might still be-

A light was raising towards him. Not the silver of moonlight but blue like a midday sky. A wavering shining streamer swimming upwards. It was beautiful. Etherial. Mesmerising. Stuart didn’t think to grab for his net until it had breached the surface.

The… fish? It was more like a fish than any other type of creature Stuart had seen. The fish slurped air and sniffed at the boat.

Well, if it could breathe air, that was the last of his hesitation dispelled. Stuart flicked the net in a smooth cast and gently scooped the creature on board. It waggled and trilled as the net tightened but quietened once the folds loosened again.

Otter? No, it had a fish-like face and its limbs were fin-like. But it was warm and sniffing at everything. The net, the boat, him. Its glow cast his mundane goods in a magical light.

“What are you?” Stuart whispered. The creature didn’t respond.

He’d never heard of anything like this. Not in a single tale.

It had two tails? No, three; one where he’d expect and the other two where back legs would be. When he gently touched its front fin the creature grasped his finger, reminding him vividly of his little brother.

His parents were waiting at the dock when he rowed up. And, huddled with them, was… Jane! All so worried. They cried with joy on seeing him safe. Then gasped when they saw his passenger.

Stuart’s sea serpent lived a hundred years and grew longer than a sailing ship. But that’s another story.

Prompt was “A strange creature gets caught in a fisherman’s net on the night of a full moon”