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Cod Ghosts Cryptid AU | Navigation
Why?
The question Keegan wants to reply with is 'why do you keep asking that'. You question everything, which is good in his opinion, but sometimes he wishes you would take him at his word. But you're young and curious so what is he supposed to do? Besides it's been beenficial. If he wants to prep you to become a ghost, understanding his trick of trade was important. Especially with what he was about to show you.
You and Keegan had gotten up early, which wasn't much of an issue with the jetlag, and were getting breakfast. He'd told you that you had to get breakfast and then go see Merrick. You asked why, as you often did. Keegan got you back in the vehicle, and told you it was a surprise.
You ended up sleeping in car on the way to Merrick, which meant Keegan had to get you out of the car, and into the old van. When you awoke you looked around a saw some odd devices you didn't recognize, and your father and Merrick in the front. Merrick saw you had woken up. Keegan got a quick check in, ensuring you hadn't gotten car sick, making sure you were comfortable, bathroom break, etc.
"Where are we going?" You asked. Keegan and Merrick exhcanged a glance at each other.
"A special fishing trip." Keegan replied.
"Why is it special?" You asked. Keegan gave Merrick a look of 'told ya'.
"We're going to the Loch Ness." He clarified. "Because I have something to show you there. I'll tell ya more when we get there okay?"
"Okay." You said staring out the window.
"Nosey little snot." Merrick muttered. Keegan shot him a look. That was his kid Merrick was talking about. Merrick wasn't entirely wrong, but still.
The morning was still dark, and by now you'd gotten plenty of food. Your father had the old van parked by a small wooden dock on the shore of Loch Ness. You had on a hooded flannel, and you were given privacy in the van to get into your wetsuit underneath. Merrick and Keegan were getting other stuff prepped along with a small rowboat. Once you came back out, you were called over to the dock, and helped into the boat.
Merrick handed Keegan a couple devices from the van, before Keegan started rowing away from the dock. The are was still, damp with mist. You could feel your heart beat, with only the sounds of the water around you to fill the silence. To Keegan's surprise you weren't asking any questions, only scanning the water around you. It didn't take too long for Merrick's sillhouette to vanish from view. You looked at your father, who kept a calm expression. You tried to stay calm yourself but it was a little hard, as you fidgeted in your spot. You couldn't see anything through the mist, and the water was dark.
You felt the boat suddenly rock, and you flinched, looking down and gripping the seat. Your father stopped rowing. He took one of the gadgets and lowered it into the water on a line, using a separate screen to view. You leaned forward to try and see, and could make out some bright colours. Something moved on the screen and you felt the boat move again.
Keegan put the screen away, reassuring you that everything was okay.
"Is it the monster?" You asked, your whispering frantic.
"It's okay. I need to tell you something but you have to keep this a secret." Keegan told you. You nodded. "You know how I leave for a long time for work? I fight bad people, that want to hurt other people. Good people. Something else I do, is uh... well I look for monsters."
You tilted your head. Keegan took as a chance to continue. "Usually I have to hunt the monsters, because all they want to do is hurt people. But some I leave alone, because they aren't hurting anyone."
There was a strange noise that seemed to come from all around you, and something broke the surface of the water close by. You were scared, so you hurried to your father, who didn't hesitate you hold you. He had expected you to be scared.
"Can we go back?" You asked him. He chuckled a little at that.
"I wouldn't bring you here if it wasn't safe." He said. Keegan sits you on his lap, while you heard another odd cry. You wrapped your arms around his neck, nearly choking Keegan from your death grip. "Sweetie, it's okay. You're safe. I promise."
You hear water's surface break again, and something approaching, You were shaking now, and Keegan had a hand on your head, hushing you. You whimpered, saying you wanted to go back over and over. It was getting closer and closer. You didn't want to die. Didn't want to be eaten.
"Hey hey hey, it's alright. It's not gonna hurt you. I promise. Don't fall short of my promises." He reminded you. "Open your eyes. She's just gonna say hello."
Very slowly and hesitatntly you peeled yourself from your father, and peeked. You returned to your first position out of fear at the foreign thing in your vision. Your dad continued to reassure it was safe, asking you to watch while he reached out to the monster. The creatures was a dark green, with a long neck, the rest of it's body submerged in the water. The eyes were shiny and dark like black marbles. The monster's nostrils flared, giving you a light spray of water. Teeth jutted out from it's jaws, as it made a softer cooing sound at Keegan's hand.
You peeled yourself away again, and stared as it stared back. Your dad was gently stroking the creature as it eased itself closer towards you. Very slowly, you reached out to touch it, and it gave another puff of air through its nose making you gasp and giggle.
“This is Nessie.” Keegan said. Your eyes lit up looking at him. He already knows what you’re going to ask. “Yep, that Nessie.”
“Hello.” You said to the plesiosaur. It made a noise in greeting, which made you jump again.
“Nessie is a friend. I have something called a bond with her. It lets us understand each other and we can tell if the other is in danger or needs some help.” Keegan exclaimed.
“Do I have one?” You asked.
“Not yet. Maybe when you’re older, we can talk about it more.” Keegan told you. You smiled and nodded. Nessie let you pet her some more before returning beneath the surface. Your father then asked if you wanted to go with her. At first you were nervous but then you nodded. Keegan would hold your hand the whole way if you wanted. Now you knew why he told you to get in your wet suit.
Keegan got down to his wetsuit, making sure you were ready. He helped you with your oxygen tank as well. Nessie got up alongside the small boat, her larger, thicker body like a small island. Keegan got out first, before helping you out. Nessie kept the boat steady for the two of you. You stabled yourself on her slick back, on your hands and knees. Her skin was smooth, like a whale's and had dark spots. Keegan sits down before sliding off Nessie's back.
When you don't follow him, adjusting yourself in the same position s he had, Nessie raised her head out of the water again. It was a little spooky without your dad around, and the morning was still cold. The water was gonna be icy, you could feel it splashing up a little at you. Nessie turned her neck and head towards you, cooing again. You reach out ot her nose again, hand shaky. Nothing to fear now. Your father came back up holding on to Nessie's body.
"You can do it." He tells you. You nod and slide in. Keegan follows you into the dark and cold waters. As you look around you panick. There is nothing around you. You see dark shapes, and everything around you is vast. What is out there? Is Nessie the only one? Is something beneath you? What just moved?! You hurry back up to the surface, your father coming with you. You try to get back on to Nessie but she's too slippery. Your father is trying to calm you, hearing you panting and gasping, kicking wildly. Nessie let's him hold on to her neck while he holds on to you.
"Hey hey! It okay!" He tells you, unsure whether you're trembling or shivering. "You're okay, I got you."
"Whats in there?" You asked, through chattering teeth.
"Nessie is the biggest threat out here, and she won't hurt you, I promise." Keegan said. You need a minute still to relax. "We'll take it slow."
Your father keeps hold of you, as Nessie starts moving. The water pushes around you as Nessie pulls you and your father along. Nothing touches you below except your dad's legs. Nessie holds back on her speed, able to tell you were afraid. After some time of Nessie circling the boat, getting you acclimated, Keegan shows you what to do next.
Nessie goes below, once again, and your father shows you where to hold on to her, at the base of one of her flippers. She moves a little faster, gliding through the water. It was dark all aorund you, but you were next to the two biggest threats in the water. It was safe. You don't know how long you had been swimming with them, but eventually the water became easier to see through. There were fish darting around, avoiding Nessie quickly.
At one point Keegan pulled you aside, letting Nessie go up ahead. Nessie disappeared into the green of the water, where you can just barely make out some movement. Keegan kept you close, while you watched the still. Suddenly there was a burst of movement, and a haunting cry. Your heart skyrocketed, seeing Nessie's massive shape darting around, and fish fleeing in different directions.
Keegan gave Nessie a chance to swim with you by yourself. Two pats meant go, let go of her to stop. Nessie lead around the Loch, letting you try stopping and going with her. She was gentle, more gentle than you'd heard. The Lochness monster was something you'd been learning about on your own for a while. Keegan would often voice doubts about different pieces of ibnformation you'd heard. That's probably where you got all the questions from.
Around midday, with the light gray clouds in the sky maintaining the chill, Keegan got you back in the boat and on shore while you piled on questions. Some he answered, some he left alone, wanting to tell you when you were older. When you reached the dock and Merrick helped you out, you got to tell him everything with a lot of excitement and detail.
You would never forget this trip, and Nessie would never forget you.
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