Pheagle felt a little unsteady on the pitching desk of the fishing boat in the bay, but he gritted his teeth and did what he could to adjust. He wasn't about to back down from the challenge. The old sea dog at the bar had called him out, and he meant to make the man eat his words. The helpful captain of the fishing boat he now piloted had been kind enough to give him access to his special bait, so catching the biggest one in the bay should have been no problem at all!
He held up a small tin can that contained the bait. It was a rather unassuming thing, but the fishermen at the wharf swore by it, so it had to be something special. Pheagle pulled the tab back to open the can and gave its contents a skeptical look.
"What are these things, some kind of shrimp?"
As he spoke, the smell of the bait hit his nose. It actually smelled pretty good, enough to make him wonder whether or not it was safe to eat. Then he felt a sudden tension—his body growing larger and straining against the seams of his clothing.
"Oh no, not now!" he groused.
Although he was transforming, it wasn't quite what he originally expected. His pants tore at the back, but instead of proud eagle plumage emerging behind him, a large, thick tail covered in smooth blue skin spilled out, growing so long in an instant, that it landed heavily on the wood of the skiff. The boards groaned as his shape continued to swell, but he was too far from the shore to hope to row back before the boat’s structure gave in.
But his shirt gave out before the hull did. His chest burst through as he packed on mass, his shirt shredding apart against the off-white ridges of his changing body. With a grunt, he fell forward, his landing causing the boat to bounce and rock wildly. The changes rippled up his body, his shoulders sliding back as his neck and face merged into a sleek, streamlined form. As he opened his mouth, what escaped was a low, rumbling groan instead of his usual voice. Then, to his surprise, a spout of water erupted above him, showering him with water, as his new blowhole appeared!
Though his shirt was mere threads, Pheagle’s fishing vest clung tightly to his body as it swelled larger and larger. It was all for naught, however, as the strong nylon vest exploded in a shower of fabric.
For a few brief moments, Pheagle’s legs kicked uselessly behind him. One of his boots slipped free, while the other one was torn with a rubbery squeak as his leg expanded. As the changes pressed onwards, his bare legs merged into his new tail, adding mass to the limb's already massive shape. As he flexed the muscles of his back, his trousers burst, scattering threads into the air as his tail arced overhead. Before he could take stock, however, the planks of the boat underneath him gave way! He was dropped unceremoniously into the water as the skiff snapped in half, his hat at last falling from his head to float, abandoned, atop the surface of the water. The last few scraps of clothing clinging to his growing body followed suit and were swept away by the water as he submerged.
At last, his grip on his fishing rod slipped as his arms folded back against his sides, a pair of flippers taking their place. He gave a high, warbling whale call as he sank, only just getting his bearings. The can of bait floated in front of him, and the new blue whale realized why the krill had seemed so appetizing before.
He may not be much of an angler like this, but at least he got a decent meal out of the deal! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pheagle went fishing in the open sea and got more than he bargained for as he transformed into a large blue whale, destroying his fishing outfit and his rowboat!
LurkingWolf
![Pride In The City [Anthrocon Edition]](https://va.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/4629/4629574_PheagleAdler_ac_final_ych_02_-_copy_2_.jpg "Pride In The City [Anthrocon Edition]")
