Chapters/Chapter 2

## Chronology

### Followed by:

Chapter 3

**Chapter 2** is the second chapter in *What Lurks Beneath*. The cover features Trout, and the chapter is told from her point of view.

## Detailed Plot Summary

*Below contains an in-depth summary of the chapter. If you're looking for a shorter summary, please click here!*

Trout and Skua are chasing a chicken through hunting grounds. Trout calls Skua's name, and he leaps out from behind a tree to catch the chicken. Trout congratulates him on the catch, and he humbly replies that he was only able to catch it thanks to Trout's plan. Trout laughs and calls him a goof, before commenting that they were going to eat well tonight, and that the chicken was enough to share with Hake and Sturgeon.
Skua begins to speak, though trails off and excuses himself, admitting that it wasn't his place to say. Trout encourages him either way, stating that he'd gotten her curious, so Skua gives in and suggests that he and Trout share the chicken together instead. Trout considers the offer, but says that the chicken was far too much food for just the two of them, and that it wouldn't be fair. Skua jokingly asks her to remind him to hunt a mouse next time they go out.
Further along their walk back to the beach, Trout spots several fallen mangoes below a mango tree, and excitedly picks one up. Skua asks if it was a gift for The Tide, which Trout confirms, mentioning that he loves mangoes and that he'll be very happy. Skua light-heartedly comments that Trout spoils The Tide, and Trout replies that that's why she's his favorite. The two of them enter the caves together, and Trout asks Skua to bring the chicken they caught to Hake and Sturgeon, and that she'll join them after she visits The Tide.
Skua complies, and she thanks him. Trout walks through one of the cave tunnels towards The Tide's den, and pauses when she sees Fangtooth by the entrance. Fangtooth greets her, and Trout asks if Sturgeon had posted her to guard The Tide, and Fangtooth confirms that she had, saying that it was an honor to be doing so. Trout passes her, giving her a distrustful side-eye before slipping into The Tide's cave.
Trout greets The Tide and tells him that she's brought him a gift. The Tide peeks out from underneath a nest of large leaves and begins eating the mango that Trout had brought him as Trout speaks to him. Trout crouches down and asks if he was happy, and if he'd got lots of gifts today. The Tide continues eating the mango, and Trout asks him if he needs anything. Trout receives no response, and after a moment of watching him continue to eat, she gives up and states that he looks very busy and that she'll leave him be.
Trout stands up and leaves the cave, telling Fangtooth to keep up the good work as she passes her. In a different cave, Hake and Sturgeon are discussing an incident before Trout interrupts them, the littermates greeting each other. She plops down beside them, and she wonders why they haven't eaten the chicken that Skua dropped off.
Hake tries to keep Sturgeon calm as they gather to have dinner, though Sturgeon brings up how small the chicken is. Trout, just now noticing this, agrees and questions Sturgeon further on the topic. Sturgeon starts to argue with Trout about the low population of the chickens. Before Hake thanks Trout for the meal, Sturgeon snarkily thanking her for leading them into a promising future, setting Trout off. Hake hurriedly tries to interrupt the twos bickering and suggests they should eat the meal, though Sturgeon continues before Trout gives up and walks away from the den. With Hake shooting an angry look at Sturgeon as she walks off.
As she enters the area, she starts getting questions from cats of The Family if everything's alright. Trout smiles and says that everything was fine, though the rest of the family seems to not believe this. She is followed by Hake with the chicken, entering the den as she rests in her nest. He softly calls out to her before they start eating the meal together.
Hake tells Trout that she knows how Sturgeon is, struggling to find the words. Trout interrupts him, commenting that Sturgeon is mean. Hake corrects her, saying that she's certainly blunt, but that she's just worried. Trout tells him that it isn't Sturgeon's job to worry, to which Hake agrees, adding that it's Trout's job to worry, but that she spents every day out on the hunting grounds. He gently tells her that she needs to take her role as Queen more seriously, pointing out that The Tide chose her.
Trout asks what she's supposed to do, since they can't just stop eating. Hake suggests the possibility of cutting back, but that they'd never be able to monitor the Daisys. Trout trails off, adding that it'd be easier if there weren't so many of them, mentioning how they don't respect their laws or The Tide. She wonders if she should assign more Enforcers to help keep the hunting grounds well protected, but Hake shoots down the idea, reminding her that cats will starve, and that the Daisys are her subjects, too. He tells her to have a chat with The Tide, and that he might have some guidance. Trout hesitantly agrees to the idea.
Hake adds that she had Skua, her Lionheart, bring them the chicken earlier, pointing out that she needs to keep her Lionheart with her at all times. Trout defends her decision, saying that Sturgeon had her's guarding The Tide earlier. Hake sternly reminds her that Sturgeon knows how to defend herself, and that she doesn't. He tells her to keep Skua close, as she needs his protection. Trout says that she will.
## Characters

### Major Characters

All major characters that appear in **chapter 2**, listed in order of appearance.

* Trout
* Skua
* The Tide
* Hake
* Sturgeon

### Minor Characters

All minor characters that appear in **chapter 2**, listed in order of appearance.

* Krill
* Wahoo
* Veta
* Kelp
* Mollymawk
* Fangtooth
* *See more...*

## Trivia

### Interesting Facts

* Hake and Trout's markings have darkened since the prologue.
* Before the spelling is altered later in the comic, Lionheart is spelled as Lion-Heart.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Revealed in **chapter 2**, page 11
2. ↑ Revealed in **chapter 2**, page 20
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Revealed in **chapter 2**, page 24
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Revealed in **chapter 2**, page 17
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Revealed in **chapter 2**, page 18
6. ↑ Revealed in **chapter 2**, page 19
7. ↑ Revealed by ArualMeow in the DeviantArt caption for **chapter 2's** cover image
8. ↑ Revealed in **chapter 2**, page 25
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Revealed in **chapter 2**, page 36