The next fish she swam past, however, she didn't get so lucky. The magic failed her, the fish quickly escaping as she got too close. She paused and watched it go, realizing a moment later that perhaps, well, this wasn't the smartest idea, going after only one fish at a time.

An idea came to her head. By the caves, it was reckless - she wasn't actually adept much at the spell, but, if it worked, she could get a whole host of fish at once. She'd just have to focus and make sure she did her best. For Mother.

Lamia swam until she was in a deeper part of the lagoon. There were a lot of fish swimming around her now, taking a wide path around her, but she knew that it was futile - as long as she did this right, of course. She threw her arms to the side and focused. The gem on her chest seemed to weigh so much more now as she focused on the water all around her, connecting its movements to her own. It was easier to do here, where she was fully submerged and where she didn't worry about lifting it all over into the air, so when her arm twitched, the currents followed suit.

She was all connected now.

She started off close, using her tail to swing herself around in a circle, the currents beginning to swirl around and above her. As she picked up speed, so did the undertow. The fish around began to panic, trying to escape the whirlpool she'd created, but most of them, especially the schools of smaller fish, found themselves hopelessly pulled in.

Once she'd caught enough fish, before the magic raced out of control, she raised a fist that had a clot clenched within. Offering a quick apology to Mother for destroying a piece of her, she crushed it as best she could, opening her hand to let the spores catch along with the waves, to touch and invade and infect the fish she had caught in the torrent.

She did her best to keep it up for a while, but, eventually, she felt the magic spiraling out of control. It was utterly exhausting her at this point and eventually released it, freeing the (hopefully) infected fish back into the lagoon. She had no idea how many of them had received a bit of Mother's offering, but she very much hoped it had been enough.

She took a moment to take a breather, watching as the fish frantically dispersed. That took a lot out of her and hunger was beginning to pang at her stomach. She wanted nothing more then to keep following Mother's orders, forget her own wellbeing, but a soft compulsion from Mother reminded her that to help the hive she needed to help herself first.

It wasn't hard to catch herself a fish - she was a good hunter now, especially with her magic, and snagged the fins of one some ways away - one that definitely had not been caught in the whirlpool - and ate it in a few ravenous bites, leaving the bones to drift to the bottom of the lagoon.

Now...back to the task at hand. Creating that whirlpool had really given her a new perspective on how to focus in more places at once. Connect to the water, become one and her magic would flow easier through the waves.

A different area, populated by fish, and a quick flash to freeze stopped many of them in their tracks, streaks of ice through the water grabbing a hold of a number of them, quickly sinking them down. Lamia darted between them, pressing the fungus against their gills until they inhaled the spores. The last one she killed quickly, an offering for Mother, and swam back to the cove where the new hive was forming.

Once she was next to the writhing mass of fungus, she hauled the fish onto Mother so she could feel. I did my best to bring you to the fish around. Did it work? Are they connected to us now?

@Game Master Dark

Her question was answered not by Mother, but by the links of the Hive itself. Slowly, one by one, like stars winking on in darkness, senses opened in her mind. Another viewpoint--the bubbling of water, the flash of light glinting in from above, Lamia's own aqua scales shining-...

And another. And another. And another...

Fourteen in all. Fourteen new minds, their perspectives open and blank, what little fear they could grasp melting into peacefulness. They stopped struggling; they began to swim with the whirlpool current, drifting contentedly along.

"Well done, child." And love came with it.

@Lamia

Lamia hummed with content. She could feel the senses opening up in her minds as the fish became one with the hive. There were still more fish in Pisces - and perhaps those she'd brought into the fold would spread Mother around as well, but for now, Lamia was tired. The spell had taken a lot out of her and all she wanted to do now was rest. She resisted for a moment, wanting nothing more then to go out and get more, but Mother's gentle reminders to take care of herself came back and she allowed herself to stop for now.

With a soft sigh, she sunk back into the water, drifting down to the floor of the cave's little pool. It wasn't ideal - not dark or deep enough, but she was close to her Mother and her body was exhausted enough as it was.

Consciousness quickly gave way to a sleepless dream as she planned for the next day.

*exit