"Did you hear that?" asked the boy.

The man, focused on his work, hauled a net into the boat. It was empty, again. "Did I hear what?"

His son turned a sunburnt ear towards the fog. "It's almost like thunder. Listen and you'll hear it..."

"Nicholas, please," Jothan said with an exasperated sigh, wishing his son would focus on the task at hand. "The nets, please...the day is almost done."

The daylight was fading, the sun nearly kissing the horizon.

"Fine, fine..."

Together, they pulled up the last three nets. It was a measly catch: two catfish, three tiny quints, and a single squid.

Jothan threw his hands up. "Have you ever seen such a pathetic haul?"

"Pa!" Nicholas exclaimed, pointing at the water. "Look!"

Jothan followed his son's gaze. A lone fish floated on the water's surface, belly-up.

Another surfaced. Then another...and another.

Jothan's eyes darted to each of the dead fish as they appeared, but he could barely keep up. Soon, their boat was surrounded.

"What in the..." Jothan muttered.

Then he heard it: click click click.

The sound echoed from beyond the dense fog.

Goosebumps prickled his skin. "Son," he said quietly. "Get behind me."

"Why?" Nicholas whispered, but he obeyed, retreating towards the sheltered wheelhouse.

Jothan didn't respond. He was transfixed by a shadow in the fog: a massive, looming shape.

Without warning, a jolt rocked the boat, causing it to teeter and sway in the water. Jothan grasped desperately to the vessel's railing, just before it was pushed forcefully upwards.

Nicholas let out a yelp from the wheelhouse.

Jothan gripped his way over to his son and held him tight, shielding him. He'd been a seaman all his life but had never experienced anything like this out of the blue.

They waited, frozen in place, until the boat stopped rocking. Finally, when the water was still once again, they looked up.

A great whale floated beside them, dead.

The shadow pressed against the fog: CLICK CLICK CLICK.