Chapter 134: The Queen of the MoonFins

The girl sighed. "I’m not sure they like us.

Sophia nodded. "Yeah..." Then she turned to Orion for help.

Orion sighed, half-smiling despite himself. "Fine," he muttered. "Move aside before you flood the stall."

He took a net from Jerek, who looked both nervous and excited. "Are you sure, Alpha?"

"Not really," Orion said dryly.

Sophia smirked. "Come on, then. Let’s see the great Alpha of Nightshade catch a fish."

He crouched beside her, eyes narrowing as he studied the shimmering water. "These little things move like spirits."

"Maybe you should talk to them."

He gave her a side-eye. "You’re enjoying this far too much."

"I am."

The crowd had begun to gather more tightly now, sensing something entertaining in the air. Orion dipped the net. The moonfins darted away immediately.

He tried again. Missed.

Sophia muffled a laugh. "You said I was scaring them but perhaps it’s the same with you."

"Quiet." Orion told her with twitching lips.

Sophia mimed zipping her lips and the little girl laughed as she watched their interaction. At least she wasn’t crying, Sophia thought to herself.

Orion tried a third time. Still nothing. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Even Jerek couldn’t help chuckling now. "You might need gentler hands, Alpha."

Orion exhaled, setting the net down briefly. "I don’t think they like me."

"They don’t know you yet," Sophia said movkingly. "Be patient."

Orion rolled his eyes. He was about to give up but with the way Sophia spoke, he wasn’t giving up again. Instead, he leaned closer, his hand steady as he waited for the right moment. When one of the glowing shapes rose near the surface, he dipped the net sharply and... lifted it.

A moonfin glimmered within the mesh, scales shining like pearls.

The little girl gasped. "You got one!"

Sophia clapped her hands together, laughing. "He did it!"

Orion arched a brow, clearly surprised himself. "Huh."

Jerek beamed. "Nicely done! You’ve got the touch after all."

But the game wasn’t over yet. Orion tried again, his motions smoother now, focused. The moonfins darted, but he seemed to anticipate their movements. He caught another. And another. The crowd’s quiet murmurs turned into cheers.

"Look at that!" someone called.

The little girl jumped in place, clapping her tiny hands. "Again! Again! Get the queen!"

Sophia grinned. "You heard her."

Orion looked at the water, spotting two larger shapes gliding deep below. The queen and king. He could barely make them out as they darted like threads of light through the others.

He waited.

Then dipped the net. Missed.

He tried again. Missed by an inch.

The little girl gasped in sympathy. "She’s really fast!"

Sophia leaned forward. "You can do it, Orion!"

The crowd started to echo her, laughter and excitement filling the air. "Alpha Orion! Alpha Orion!"

Even Jerek was cheering now, his voice booming over the crowd.

Sophia was practically bouncing. "Come on! You can’t lose to a fish!"

Orion shot her a helpless look, then focused again.

The queen moonfin darted close, a flicker of blue fire under the water. He moved his net with a fluid motion that almost seemed instinctive...a single swift scoop.

The bowl flashed with ripples of light. And when he lifted the net....

Gasps erupted all around. The queen moonfin glowed in his grasp, her scales gleaming with faint traces of silver and pale blue, brighter than any of the others.

Jerek laughed aloud, slapping the counter. "By the moons! He caught the queen!"

A cheer rippled through the crowd. The little girl squealed, bouncing up and down. Sophia threw her hands in the air. "He did it!"

Orion exhaled, a faint smile curling his mouth. "She was fast."

"She’s beautiful," Sophia said softly, watching the tiny creature twist and shimmer in the net.

Jerek reached for the bowl beside him and poured a little of the water into it. "Rules are rules and whoever gets the queen or king..."

"...gets the best gift." The crowd completed for him.

Jerek laughed then turned, lifting a small wooden box from behind the counter. Inside, nestled on dark velvet, was a delicate crown of woven silver twine shaped into arcs like waves. At its center rested a small moonstone that glowed faintly, pulsing with its own light.

The crowd leaned closer as Jerek presented it to Orion. "The Queen’s Crown," he said proudly. "Made from the first silver of the season. A symbol of fortune for the next year."

Sophia whistled. "That’s beautiful."

Orion studied it for a moment, then glanced toward the little girl standing beside him, her eyes wide as moons.

He crouched and set the small crown gently on her head.

Her mouth fell open. "But...but that’s yours!"

He smiled faintly. "Not anymore. You’re the queen tonight."

The little girl beamed so brightly that even her missing front teeth couldn’t dim it. "Really?"

"Really," he said.

The father looked almost overwhelmed. "Alpha, that’s...thank you. She’ll never forget this."

Orion just nodded, brushing it off. "It suits her better than me anyway."

The little girl bounced, clutching her small bowl of sweets. Then her eyes widened again. "Wait!" she said, rummaging in the pouch around her neck. She pulled out two tiny wrapped candies, carefully untying the strings. "These are for you!"

Sophia blinked. "For us?"

"My mama made them," she said proudly, handing one to each of them. "They’re moon honey. For luck!"

Sophia’s heart melted. "Thank you," she said softly, accepting it like it was the rarest gem in the world.

Even Orion took his with a small bow. "That’s a fair trade, I think."

The father smiled, clearly touched. Orion told Jerek to give them the fish and the father bowed his head, thanking Orion and Sophia who receieved a hug from the little girl before leaving. The girl waved until she and her father were out of sight. Around them, the crowd began to disperse, laughter and talk still carrying through the air.

Jerek was still chuckling behind his counter. "I’ve run this stall for years," he said, shaking his head, "and I’ve never seen anyone catch the queen that fast. You’ve got a knack for impossible things, Alpha."

"Pure luck," Orion said dryly.

Sophia elbowed him. "And skill. Don’t be humble."

Orion gave her a long look. "I thought humility was attractive."

"Not when it’s false," she shot back, smirking.

But he wasn’t lying. That was pure luck.

Jerek leaned forward, still grinning. "Keep the fish if you’d like. We can grill them for you...a bit of lemon spice, some salt."

Sophia’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Of course. Consider it my treat. You’ve made the whole square laugh again tonight."

As Jerek set to work cleaning and grilling the small fish, the air filled with the scent of salt, citrus, and smoke. Sophia and Orion leaned against the table, the night air cool and filled with chatter.

Sophia took a small bite first, her eyes going wide. "Oh...Orion, this is amazing."

He tasted his own piece, raising a brow. "Not bad."

"Not bad?" she echoed incredulously. "It’s incredible."

He smiled slightly. "You said that about the pastries this morning."

"They were incredible. I’m allowed to have high standards."

"High standards and blue tongues."

She groaned. "You’re never letting that go, are you?"

"Never."

They ate in companionable silence for a while, the noise of the festival weaving around them, the laughter, the music, the scent of grilled food and spice. Lantern light flickered across Orion’s face, softening the usual sharpness in his eyes.

Sophia watched him for a moment, warmth rising quietly in her chest. He caught her looking, one brow arching.

"What?" he asked.

She smiled faintly. "Nothing. Just... you look like you’re actually enjoying yourself."

He paused. Then, for once, didn’t deflect. "Maybe I am."

"See?" she said softly. "The festival isn’t so bad."

"Come on," she said after a moment, brushing her hands. "We’ve still got stalls to explore. And I saw something that looked suspiciously like a fried pastry mountain."