Nessie had been eyeing the fisher for far too long as her friend- a river spirit shaped by a wisp of water- glided beside her in the late night. They were the only one who knew her secret. The river spirit chuckled as they prattled on about the affairs of humans, but one detail caught her full attention, "No, no. Trust me; it works. Humans love to take care of pregnant and baby things. I've even seen them adopt things they eat!" 

    "What about things that eat them?" Nessie's heart beat the closer the boat drifted. A black woman with long curly dark hair wrapped in a ponytail along her back sharply surveyed the waters; Nessie sharply surveyed the gentle eyes of the woman that had hooked Nessie for the past few weeks. Tonight, she wanted to get closer and fully grasp why this human had her so enthralled. 

    "Oh, humans like those best of all! So just go up and act weak, they'll take care of the rest."

    Nessie went for it. She strode over to the boat and whined. She drooped her head and feigned exhaustion. 

    Catilyn came out to seek the solitude of the night, the thrill of catching something big, and a sliver of adventure. Also something kept her coming back. There was something always lurking in the distance, watching, but never threatening.

     The stars were gorgeous; she caught a few brown trout and pike. When she saw the creature approach, she trembled in fear. The great Loch Ness monster was here. Near her boat. She could hardly breathe. She should haul the boat out of here. Except, the monster looked hurt. "Are you hurt?" 

    Nessie nodded convincingly. Catilyn reached out, and she brushed Nessie’s smooth, cool scales. "You're a lot different than I imagined."  

    Nessie made a noise that read to Catilyn as an agreement. The fisher smiled as they enjoyed the company of each other under the starry, unbelievably beautiful sky.