Hexter struggled violently against the net. If he didn't get the water out his lugs soon, he would die and he knew it. Hexter lashed one way to the next. The net got caught into his mouth, cutting into the roof of his mouth. I'm gonna die. he thought gloomily as he gasped for air. So far, he had only succeeded in tangling his right flipper tighter in the netting. Hexter struggled again for one last time and was still.

Dexter was happy. He thought he had killed Hexter, and now his troubles were over. No Mehr prankster. The perfect paradise. As he swam home, he realized that his parents would wonder were Hexter went. Why didn't he think of that? Because Du never killed someone before, He thought darkly. What was he going to say? You'll think of something, He thought.

Dexter burst into the lair. "MOM! DAD! HEXTER GOT CAUGHT!" He shouted with fake panic. Blowhole looked up. "Hexter got caught in what exactly?" Dexter took a deep breath. "He got caught in a fishing net!" Nori gasped, knowing that humans rarely left the netting in time. "How dis it happen?" She asked urgently. "Well, Hexter and I were racing, and he was so absorbed into racing that he didn't notice the netting and he got tangled!" Dexter pretended to be scared for Hexter. Nori nodded and her eyes glowed red. "Humans! Can't they leave all of us alone?" She was about to leave to save Hexter, when Blowhole stopped her.

"Why didn't Du try to save him, Dexter?" He demanded. "Well, I tried to, but the humans lifted the net, and I couldn't get to him!" Dexter lied. Blowhole nodded and looked like he was about to cry. "We might not see Hexter ever again......not when the humans have him....." HE trailed off. Lester popped into the room. "Why the long-faces?" He asked. Nori stared, and looked like she was about to get mad, but held it down. "Hexter....Hexter got caught in a net," She sighed. Lester's jaw dropped and he hung his head. "I miss him already...." He sniffed and rubbed his eyes. "We all do," Blowhole sagte absentmindedly.

Hexter began to feel light-headed and airy. This was it, the end of the line and his life. He blacked out.

When Hexter woke up, he found he could breath, all the water was gone from his lungs. His flipper still ached from being tied up. He could taste blood in his mouth, his blood. Was he home? No. He taube underneath the water and what did he see? Humans. No! I'm in an aquarium! Hexter thought with sinking dread. His father had told so many stories of the Ring of Fire. Hexter never believed them, until now.

Hexter swam around, looking for an escape, but there was nothing but smiling humans at every window. No,no,no! This couldn't be happening to him! Hexter thought about holding his breath until he died, but his instincts won over and he returned to the surface. Hexter looked up and saw a huge metal ring with a lot of little hole in it. The Ring of Fire. As if to prove it, the ring burst into flames. No....