[Jaykobell]

Surely the people of the town will be grateful for our contribution to their problem, Heulog added, and considering what they had just talked about, she stood up. Shall we go look for such a boat, then? she asked, her tails flicking slowly.

"I don't see what else we can do," Sergio agreed, and he turned to Clovis and Hark. "Let's head back towards town and see if we can't find a boat to rent for cheap." They didn't need anything fancy, but something more than just a tiny sailboat. Surely, it would be easy enough to find in this town.

[Jaykobell]

"I hope so," Clovis said with a small frown. "We don't have that much money." While they could afford to spare a bit for a boat, spending too much could prove difficult for them to afford basic necessities afterwards. He hoped Sergio's assumption was correct, and that this fishing town had its fair share of rental boats for cheap.

"Regardless, we don't have a choice," Hark pointed out with a shake of his head. "Worst case, we start haggling a little bit." Of course, if just plain old haggling didn't work... There were other ways.

[Jaykobell]

With the group all agreeing on their next course of action, the four of them ahead away from the beach and back into town.

The ocean stretched for miles on end all around town, going further than the eye could see. It was undeniable that this town made their entire livelihood out of fishing and seafaring. For that reason, they were all rather confident that finding a boat would be an easy task.

Finding a boat that was for rent and also cheap to rent, however, would be a completely different story.

[Jaykobell]

They found a rental place almost as soon as they had stepped away from the beach. Being so close to the said beach, however, it was mostly a tourist trap. The boats were nothing to write home about, and the owner was charging an exorbitant fee to rent one of them. And truly, it was good foreshadowing for what was to come.

Walking further down proved no more successful. Even when haggling and pointing out that they needed a boat to handle the problems out at sea, no one was willing to dock their price on a boat.

[Jaykobell]

This went on for about an hour, if not longer than that. Place after place refused to haggle their price for a boat rental. Some weren't all that expensive, but if they could bring the price down just a little bit, they would be able to keep enough money to their name to survive a little bit longer on this journey.

After a long, unsuccessful hunt, the group stopped by a small park to sit and rest.

"I can't believe these stupid people!" Clovis cried out as soon as they had settled down, his idea of "resting" involving complaining.

[Wild Pet Found]

[Jaykobell]

The heat seemingly forgotten, Clovis only got more agitated as he remembered the arguments they had had with all those boat rental businesses along the edge of the ocean. If they weren't rude, they were completely incompetent; and at worst, they would resort to insults.

Sergio sighed. Although much more patient than Clovis, even his own patience was starting to show. "I suppose I can't blame them," he said as he ran a hand through his hair. A few drops of sweat were flicked away.

[Jaykobell]

"They are trying to run a business," he continued, and he turned around to look behind them. "And a really competitive one, from what it looks like." The fact they had encountered so many different boat rental huts was probably a reason as to why none of them had been cooperative. Every single one of them was probably on high alert as they tried to cash in on the summer season while it lasted.

"There won't be much business if that monster keeps killing people off!" Clovis snapped.

[Jaykobell]

"Don't they get it?" he asked, giving Sergio no time for a counterargument, or for anyone else to interrupt. "We need a boat to get rid of that thing terrorizing people!" In his anger, he started to gesticulate. "How are we supposed to do that without a boat?!"

"It sounded like that was actually why they didn't want to let us rent one," Hark chimed in, rubbing his chin while deep in thought as he recounted the events of the last few hours.

[Jaykobell]

"Their attitude usually shifted the moment we mentioned what we need a boat for." He looked down at Heulog, who was lying down by the bench quietly. "They also didn't seem to fancy the fact Heulog is an animal," he pointed out, and he tapped the tails of the Fenling with a foot lightly.

Heulog's head snapped backward in the blink of an eye. Her fur bristled just ever so slightly. I am the least of their concerns, she countered, a hint of anger in her usually flat telepathic voice.

[Jaykobell]

Hark was unfazed by Heulog's visible upset. "Oh, I completely agree," he said in his defense, although he made sure to take a few steps away from the bristling Fenling. "But clearly, these humans have had bad experiences with allowing animals on their boats."

Although her demeanor didn't quite change, Sergio could pick up on the fact Heulog was getting more agitated. "Now's not the time to point fingers," he said in response to Hark's argument which, in the grand scheme of things, was pointless to discuss.

[Jaykobell]

"Heulog," Sergio called out, and he looked down at the Fenling, "couldn't you just communicate with them when they say things like that?" he asked. "You might be using the form of an animal, but you're not just an animal." Perhaps unnecessary to mention that Heulog was a god, but certainly important to tell those boat owners that she wasn't a simple feral Fenling.

Presented with a question that had value, Heulog calmed down a little. I refuse to entertain these simpletons.

[Jaykobell]

Her voice, while almost back to her usual tone, still had a certain amount of upset to it. I will not waste my energy making them understand.

"I don't want to deal with those idiots either," Clovis groaned in agreement. He slouched against the bench and crossed his arms. "But what now?" he asked the others. "What are we supposed to do if we don't have a boat?" He scoffed, and sarcastically, he added, "Are we supposed to walk on water?"

[Jaykobell]

There was a bit of silence. Eventually, eyes still on Heulog, Hark tilted his head. "Well..." He grinned a little. "Maybe we... should adopt a different approach." Realizing his words, he clarified, "Instead of renting, I mean."

"And do what, instead of renting?" Clovis asked. "Steal one?"

His suggestion had been meant as jest — a snarky response to a questionable statement. But he frowned when Hark didn't correct him. "Well, maybe not quite stealing one..." he said as he trailed off.

[Jaykobell]

The group looked at him all at once. Heulog glanced more so than turned, but her attention was still on Hark and his ludicrous idea.

"What do you mean, 'not quite'?" Clovis challenged.

"Do explain, please," Sergio added, and he already looked ready to disagree.

"Relax!" Hark said, putting his hands in front of his chest. Of course, the grin never left his face. "Listen, all I'm saying is..." He glanced at the Fenling. "We could borrow one for a little bit. For free."

[Jaykobell]

"Sergio." Hark turned his attention to the priest. "Heulog can rearrange matter, can't she?"

Being brought up this way, Heulog got up on all fours. Sergio, looking back at Hark, blinked in surprise. "Yes," he answered tentatively. "And?"

"Well," Hark resumed once he had received an answer, "how about we just..." He trailed off as he tried to look for the right word. "Displace," he finally said, "a boat?"

There was only silence for a response to Hark's ludicrous suggestion.