[attr="class","spiral"]Plank goes a whole thirty seconds before she starts kicking her feet again. She can't help it!

So, naturally, her fishing turns up nada. The ripples she's sending out every second, the loud splashing, it's enough to keep any pokemon with a concern for their well being far away. But it does work out in a strange way.

Bilge is swimming out deeper in the water. A few feet away from shore. So, as pokemon flee Plank's position they naturally pass Bilge. And Bilge is one hell of a gatekeeper.

Every pokemon passing the bulky gator is met by some kind of aggression. Buffeted by his THRASHING limbs, smacked across the side by an AQUA TAIL, or if they're not quite in reach -- spooked further by his frustrated, SCARY FACE.

Most of his victims take their lumps and move on, but one decides it's had enough. An Arrokuda, upon being slapped, rounds and rushes at Bilge. It throws its dartlike body at the Croconaw at high speeds. Every time it passes it chances a PECK. It aims for a death by a thousand cuts. Little does it know its punching above its weight class.

The PECKS are frustrating, stinging blows, but Bilge can take it. He tanks them and watches the Arrokuda's passes with a predatory gaze. All he needs is one good hit to win the fight, but he wants two for good measure. After a few more passes and a few new bruises the chance shows itself.

Arrokuda comes in for a PECK but is intercepted. AQUA TAIL cancels out its attack and then some, sending the fish spinning back. In that moment Bilge takes his turn to charge. And when his shadow stretches over Arrokuda he does more than PECK his vulnerable victim.

An onslaught of blows, SUPERPOWER, pummels the Arrokuda. When the attack is done its target is limp in the water. Not dead, but unconscious and floating towards the surface. Bilge hastens the process by locking his jaws around the wild pokemon and swimming towards shore.

"Ya got somethin' for me?" Plank shouts, seeing his shadow approach. When he surfaces with his catch between his teeth she whistles. Impressed.

"Well damn, ya sure do. Drop it on shore," she demands, giving Bilge a short pat on the head as he does just that. Plank pulls out a pokeball with a grin before dropping it onto the Arrokuda.