Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 131 - Underwater Hijinks

Chapter 131: Chapter 131 - Underwater Hijinks

I found a suitable area and brought out the shipping container, positioning it where I could easily get back in and dry off - once I retrieved whatever technology the hunter had stashed underwater. The man had rambled in his notes about why he chose to do it this way.

Writing of [EMP attenuation], [Faraday Cage], and a lot of other scientific terms I had to look up - only to then end with a much less formal description of [the big boom]. The old hunter didn’t seem to like ’new tech’ much, but still thought some was worth protecting from a ’nuke’.

The gear was supposedly in a plastic bag, and the PVC cylinder’s interior was coated with glued-on ’aluminum foil’. Paint layered on the outside was done with a [conductive metallic epoxy] before a matte gray that matched local stones.

Altogether, like with all of these caches so far... he went to a weird amount of work. In the same situation, I might have just been done at the waterproof PVC container step... or not even put electronics underwater at all!

> At least this time it’s a slightly more voluntary swimming experience than the river. You know, I’ve been so busy but maybe I should find a pool in the city? Some of those places she suggested I stay mentioned them. That could be relaxing. <

Stripping down to my skin... and absolutely not thinking about playing in the water with a certain Alpha, I folded my clothes carefully while breathing in cool air. The water would be colder - probably enough to raise goosebumps.

But not so much colder than I was in the river... and at least I have towels to dry off with in my things. Glad I bought that. Wet fur takes forever to dry, but the thick hair Helene had isn’t much better!

I’m less worried about the skin itself, as this body’s unique constitution handles the temperature better than a human... and even better than a canid shifter from my world would. At least without magic involved.

Wading in slowly, testing the bottom with each bare step... I feel smooth stones and thick mud squelch between my toes. The water was almost shockingly cold as it moved up my legs, making my back tense and shoulders pull in.

By the time I reached chest-deep water, I... still had not gotten used to it. But waiting around wouldn’t help. Taking a deep breath, I dove under to begin the search.

The pond was dim and murky with sunlight that made it through creating wavering patterns. Running my hands along every rock formation that seemed large enough to potentially be the disguised cache took time.

Solid stone greeted me again and again - dense, unmovable, clearly natural when I placed one palm and rapped my other hand’s knuckles along them. The old coot had been clever about his camouflage, I can say that much.

I had to surface twice for air before I found what I was looking for.

A distinctly hollow thud was felt when I struck this final ’rock’ - unmistakably different feeling than the others. Running my hands along its surface, I could feel the too-straight seams where PVC pipe had been fitted with end caps.

> Got you. <

| LIMIT: Feet Not Touching Ground |

Even trying again with soles planted in the muck hadn’t worked! I surfaced for another breath and ’cursed up a storm’ in my native language because of the failure. The clouds overhead seemed to foresee my ’request’, as it had started lightly drizzling while I was down there.

"This won’t ruin my mood. I have money now, sort of, of my own! I’m financially invincible!"

The cache was heavier than expected even with the partial shift towards hybridization enhancing my musculature. Not just from water displacement making it a literal drag, but from whatever pieces of technology were sealed inside.

Lifting it was manageable but awkward - and maneuvering the cylinder shape made me think it might have been better to bring a rope and tie around it instead. Pulling and kicking along the basin until I could finally stand was challenging.

I was almost to shore when something very large... brushed against my legs. The unmistakable feel of fish scales sliding across my skin made me immediately release the PVC and turn my head to look down.

This wasn’t pond vegetation - this was something substantial and animal. Probably tasty! I make out a massive ’pike’ gliding through the murky water below me, easily three feet long. With the thick, predatory build of a mature fish.

And I wanted it. Enough that I didn’t care that the dropped cache began to roll back under water and start to disappear - I was already taking a fresh breath and diving after that food!

The fish was unsurprisingly fast in its element, but my willingness to charge it right down clearly wasn’t in its plan for today. The pike tried to dart toward the deeper center of the pond, probably a hiding spot, but I angled to intercept its path with powerful swimming strokes.

When it doubled back toward the shallows, I was ready for the direction change. My arms wrapped around its thick body, pulling it tight against my chest as it thrashed with strength. But not anything like werewolf strength.

The fish was even heavier than I’d estimated - lucky for me! - and its powerful tail beating against my ribs as it fought to escape... was an unwelcome feeling. I found my footing on the muddy pond bottom and kicked upward with everything I had.

We broke the surface in a spray of water and I didn’t pause to consider technique or grace - I simply hurled the big meal up and out of the pond in a high arc. It landed way back from the bank with a solid stunning thump, flopping twice before going still.

In my mindscape, Vrika stared at me with what I could only interpret as lupine bewilderment. My wolf sent impressions of its confusion for whatever switch had flipped inside me... mixed with mild concern about my frantic and strange hunting methods.

> What? Why shouldn’t I have chased it? It clearly wanted me to eat it if it bothered to alert me to its presence. I was leaving its territory! <

My wolf’s tail gave a tentative wag, accepting the explanation of purpose even if my technique itself had been... unconventional. I think the spirit is just disappointed I didn’t make more use of the bestial traits and try and chomp it in the water.

But swimming in the pond was one thing, and gulping its water down while attacking a fish? No thank you. Dropping into the mindscape next to it as Helene, I mimic the partially shifted hybrid arm that I’d seen... someone do before.

> Ah, I guess I could have gone full hybrid and speared our claws into it like this... but then that might have wasted some of it if I broke it in half, right? We have a whole fish here! Is that not more brilliant just for a little- <

It snorts and turns its head away before laying back down lazily. Leaving me with a twitching brow and a huff as I return to the reality of wading water.

"Yes, you stupid wolf. Brilliant except for how I have to find the cache again."

Why isn’t it happier about getting food? I’ve seen wolves in my world stalk rivers and ponds in springtime... and I know the Duskpaw Omegas would catch fish for consumption even if it wasn’t an everyday thing.

Well, no matter. I’m happy about it and that’s all that truly matters.

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