The chore of waking up should not be taken slowly. One should wake up full of energy and ready to start the days hunt and perimeter check. One should not drag his tail through the mud and grumble and complain about his life otherwise life will provide said merperson with a real reason to complain. As such these rules go one should follow else they will end up with this happening to them.
After the frightening day I had yesterday I didn't want to leave my den at all. The comforting bark of the mangrove roots hide me well and I knew that the tangled branches would hold the humans off for good while. I could escape if any got too curious and tried to catch the "big fishy". So I stayed in my den flowing through the mangroves abandoning the days perimeter check and dozing off beneath the roots. When I was hungry all I had to do was pounce at a few mangrove crabs and satisfy myself. Of course that required me to catch lots, and lots, and lots of crabs since they were so small and offered so much meat. Sometimes if I was lucky a fish would stumble upon me and I'd snap it up in my jaws thankful for the more savory tid-bit of meat it provided. I was hunting a few more mangrove crabs when a flash of silver scales caught my eye. It was large fish I could tell you that much and it was hiding just a few swishes away(feet). I could easily fell the beast with a well placed bite. I lurked carefully making sure I was down stream and placed myself to where I could easily leap out and snatch it. I opened my mouth poised myself and launched at the large fish. Unfortunately I missed and ended up chasing it through the mangrove roots unwilling to let it escape my jaws. I hissed defiantly as it made a sharp turn through the roots. I followed it slammed into some kind of spider web. I hissed and twisted trying to untangle myself from the web but it only made it worse. I shrieked in defiance. I had lsot my fish and gotten caught! This couldn't get worse!