[backdated prior to Interview Time but after Old Friends wish]
Talking to Onyx-Three had made Alek realize he was out of practice. Even with hunting, he was used to hunting in the somewhat limited swampy waters of Cetus.
But Alek was a large underwater predator, and he needed a large domain to practice his skills.
As the water's of Fornax had been a perfect hunting ground for his stone's source, they were now to become his hunting ground for practice.
He slipped into the water, focusing on the most basic of stealth to be unnoticed. No particular tactics, just the focus of the importance of stealth for an underwater ambush predator.
Alek slinked into deeper waters, his eyes working well in this element of darkness.
He was made for water like this. Now, the next step was to find prey. He swam around, his movements fluid yet subtle, his underwater gaze keen.
Glowing beasts, like him but smaller, caught his gaze. His predecessors.
Yes, these would be his prey, Alek decided. He would prove himself the apex predator compared to these fish he had come from.
Alek would try to start with a weak one of these fish, he decided. One with damage, or otherwise weakened in some manner.
But he could not tell. They were all tattered. Still, his stealth persisted as he swam in wide circles, trying to decided whether to try again or simply strike while they were unaware.
It would be best, he thought, to try again.
They had not noticed him yet, and they were not likely to notice if he did not swim closer.
Which one of these fish were the weakest of its brethren? Which one would become the prey of Alek?
He still could not determine. Mentally, he began thinking on what land prey showed as weaknesses. If his stealth was not so good, he could not keep waiting, but as it had been, he continued his wide circling of potential prey.
Tatters did not necessarily mean weakness, he thought. Instead, it showed what the fish had survived. Size, perhaps, would be a factor, most definitely. Visible injuries, as well.
This time, now with the factors fresh in his mind, he found it. It was injured, swimming in a different manner than the others. Crippled, perhaps, from a fight.
And it was a distance away from the main group. Perhaps he could pick it off, then return to his circling of the group.
Yes, this one was his prey.
Having already undertaken stealth, Alek swum closer, gradual yet predatory. He was unnoticed, thus far.
Perhaps, he could practice another tactic of his upon this fish, he decided. To incapacitate it before the kill, while he normally would be indifferent, would allow him to practice incapacitation in general.
It almost noticed him, but almost was still too late. The fish was unconscious, and he grabbed it to drag it away into the shadows. He swum back up to the surface, fish in his mouth, and then bit down nearer to the surface. It would not do to alert the other fish with the smell of blood.
That done, he consumed his incapacitated fish.
Once he was sure he was clean of blood, he dove back into the waters, not where he had last seen his prey exactly, not wishing to risk giving away his location if they moved, but still, down in the level they existed at here.
The shadows accepted him as if he was one of their own, and he lurked with even greater skill now. He swum around, circling, circling, looking for his prey.
His gaze alighted upon some, and he grinned with sharp teeth.
He studied the fish, trying to discern which should be his next prey. There was one, he thought, that might potentially be weaker.
It was smaller, though that might make it faster, he realized, as well. Still, he was in full stealth mode right now.
Alek could sneak up on it like this, same as he had done for the previous one.
It was time, yet again, to put his skills to the test. The shadows of the water hide him well, and he swam slowly closer.
He went for a sudden lunge when close, to work on incapacitating it. But it failed, he missed. The fish became aware, and it hurriedly swam away, its smaller body giving it speed.
Alek's only relief was it did not swim in the direction of the others, therefore startling them. But they may have noticed him as well. He would need to redo his stealth, by faking an exit.
Alek swam away, as if giving chase to the fast fish. But he was not, not truly, at least. He went in the same direction, yet he only followed to a point.
Then he shifted direction, intending to resume his circling. But the fish had fled. He would need to find them again. Apparently, this time he was not stealthy enough.
But he would work on that.