It would have been a lie to say it was an otherwise calm day, with forecasts already calling for choppy weather around the city. Not that it stopped anyone from fishing; a group of people gathered on the pier with their lines cast, aiming to either catch a meal to sell or eat or simply as a recreational activity.
The Capitola Wharf was well known in the Bay Area for its decent variety of fish, and while that fact alone wouldn’t bring out as many people in this weather, a sense of obligation compelled the rest to want to support the area after eleven months of closure from storm-related damage. And since fishing was only just now allowed, the occupants of the pier hoped that their diligence would net them a good prize.
So why did it seem as though nobody was catching a thing?
Sure, the storm would likely cause some disruption in people’s ability to fish, but even seasoned veterans weren’t even feeling the indication of a single bite! By the time midday rolled around, those who arrived at the pier first began to pack up their things and admit they would have better luck elsewhere when, out of nowhere, the ripples that coated the rain-soaked waters began to expand into foaming waves, as though something massive was emerging from the ocean.
This close to the pier, it was too shallow for even a submarine to be hiding without being visible to the fishers, so when the waves broke to instead reveal what looked like tufts of golden brown fur, confusion and alarm were rampant among the pier’s patrons.
Further lifting from the surf, it became increasingly clear that this was a living being, albeit one too large to possibly exist. Massive, red goggles were perched at the crest of this Kaijus head, supporting three tufts of hair, which alone easily dwarfed any of the people still staring in awe.
As more of the body emerged from the ocean, it became increasingly clear that they showed similarities to an otter, anthropomorphic in stature and exhibiting the normal traits of a lanky chest and a proportionally long tail, one that could be laid lengthwise across the entire pier with room to spare. Much like the goggles on their head, their lower half was similarly clothed, with a pair of blue swim trunks able to obscure genitalia that would otherwise dangle over those still at the edge of the pier as the beast loomed over them.
Most humans were stuck in an awestruck gaze as the otter similarly observed them, mere insects to someone of their size. Was this why the fish had all disappeared? Of course, that was a far less immediate or urgent question than wondering if the giant, currently licking their lips, was about to make the humans into a meal, but who could blame them after having their minds scrambled by something that should be utterly impossible?
Finally, having finished rising from the water, the otter was an imposing 150 feet in height. But even that seemed like an underestimation, with much of their legs still hidden beneath the waves, seemingly appearing from nowhere as the shallow depth should have already made their appearance impossible. But here they were, their face contorted into a smug grin.
Not giving any of the people time to prepare, it was only when those beneath the otter noticed a large shadow appearing under them that they were able to dodge out of the way before a massive brown hand slammed down onto the pier. Still already damaged from the storms, wood cracked and beams creaked from just the weight alone, as the slam had almost knocked it from its foundations altogether.
Waiting in bated breath for whatever this giant would do next. Nobody expected them to speak. “Anyone got a big catch?” It was in a mocking tone, just as smug as their expression implied. As if to make it even more obvious, a loud growling, buried deep within the otter’s chest, was heard by all those on the pier, explaining exactly what happened to all those fish that should have been swarming around the pier.
Said grumbling was easily subdued by the otter heavily banging the fist not resting on the dock upon their chest, causing any excess air to escape from their gut and into the throat, letting out a loud belch. Warm, humid air was blasted onto whoever hadn’t yet run from the sight of the giant. It reeked of fish, and one soul unlucky enough to dodge out of the way was knocked off her feat by a loose drop of spittle, twice the size of a bowling bowl.
Satisfied with teasing the populace, Otter simply giggled to themselves before turning around and walking back into the waves, disappearing from view. Those left on the pier simply stood in stunned silence. Did this really happen? Of course, nobody bothered to take pictures or videos of this impossible sight, leaving it to fade into the realm of urban legend, only remembered as a story by those not there on that fateful day.