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Richard had slept fitfully that night . Images of animals with human eyes had haunted his dreams. He woke up feeling very tired. He didn't want to think about the island anymore, it was just a circle of depression and fear.

So he resolved that today would be a day off. He'd go off somewhere and do something relaxing and not worry about things today. There would be plenty of time to think about schemes, escape routes and distress signals another day. He had seen a set of fishing rods and tackle boxes in the Rec room. He'd just go find a fishing spot where he wouldn't be disturbed and pretend that he had simply retired from reporting and was enjoying a long break.

Richard didn't really think it would work, but it was better than staring at the ceiling of his duplex.

So early that morning, Richard had aquired the fishing gear and set off in search of a good fishing spot. The lake didn't look too promising, being really muddy and reedy but the river...

Some distance up the River, Richard had found a perfect spot, a shade tree right by a natural eddy in the river. He sat there, prefectly still, waiting for a bite.

Richard hadn't been having much luck, which wasn't really that surprising considering all he had were the plastic lures that came in the box. He was thinking about using bits of the sandwhich he had grabbed from the cafetiera when he heard the sound of wheels on the path. A bike and a rider emerged, then stopped. A kid, a teenager perhaps, with a dolphin tail.

Richard looked at the boy, he studied the tail for a moment. He hadn't really wanted to deal with people today. Oh well, not like his thoughts had actually been clear anyway besides the kid looked upset already. Decision made, Richard's cautious look broke into a smile. "Hey, there lad. Out for a ride?"

Richard grinned at his little bobber swirling around in the eddy. "Not a single bite. Course that might have something to do with the fact I've just got lures and no bait."

Richard looks back at Cody, nodding at the tail. "Swimming eh? I bet your mighty good at that." Might as well focus on the positives.

Richard was happy for the boy that he seemed to be enjoying himself a little. He arch his brow at the boy when he blurted out his encounter with Gallen. Sighing a little, it was clear that the boy needed some one to talk to.

Patting a patch of grass next to him, inviting the boy to sit next to him, "No its not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong."

Oh Boy. This might take awhile. How to explain the concept of denial to one so young.
"What's your name son?" Gotta start somewhere, Richard reasoned. "And how did you get here?"

Ah, so the boy was at least getting something out of this. Richard wondered about his parents but avoided bringing it up. It was very likely to be a touchy topic.

Where to start. He picked up a small twig and flexed it experimentally. "You see Cody, this is the only place in the world where people grow tails. And most people don't know about this place so they believe such a thing is immpossible. Can you think of something that's impossible?"

Richard chuckled at the boy's example. "Thats actually possible, but don't do it, your eyes might fly out of your head from the pressure." Richard couldn't resist spreading that little myth.

"Anyway no you and me, when we see something that we thought impossible we say, 'Oh I guess that possible after all' and move on with our lives." Richard flexes the twig. "We bend but we don't break, much like this twig here. Some people are more like..." Richard selects a thicker, drier twig. "Are like this one." He snaps the twig in half. Guess what happens when people's heads break?"