"A ‘nothing’ in the jungle of planet Xren," I muse. “That would be a first.”
"You don't sound convinced."
"Possibly this is because I am sincerely not."
The water churns past us. Somewhere beneath its surface, something is approaching. And for the first time since reaching the island, the storm no longer seems like the most immediate problem.
12
- Morgan-
The thing surfaces again. For a moment I only see a dark shape rolling through the muddy water beyond the island.
Then lightning flashes across the sky and illuminates the river in stark white.
My stomach tightens. The creature is enormous. Its back breaks the surface first, covered in ridges that look more like jagged rocks than scales. The body beneath them stretches far longer than I expected. By the time the tail appears, the head has already vanished beneath the water again. The river carries trees. This thing looks capable of carrying the river.
Beside me, Vyrathion's posture changes. Most people wouldn't notice. I only do because I've spent enough time around him to recognize the difference between relaxed arrogance and attentive arrogance.
"Tell me that's normal," I say.
"It is completely normal. Every revolting thing is normal in this jungle.”
I glance up at him. "You looked at it."
"I’ll look at it as long as I please. There’s not much else to look at."
"You’re looking with concern."
He chuckles, a sound like icy water running over big silver bells. "I am physically incapable of concern. That’s how far beneath me I find such an emotion."
The creature surfaces again. This time it's closer. The head emerges first, pushing through the floodwaters with disturbing ease. It resembles a crocodile if a crocodile had been designed by someone who felt ordinary crocodiles lacked ambition. The snout alone is longer than I am tall. Dark eyes protrude above the waterline, fixed directly on our island. And on us. The river boils around its body as it turns.
"Oh," I say, pushing into him.
"If you insist,” the dragon rumbles.
For several moments nobody moves. Rain drums against the leaves overhead. Thunder rolls somewhere beyond the jungle. Clyde abandons his leaf arrangement and scurries behind my legs. I don't blame him.
The monster begins circling the island. It never fully leaves the surface. Every few seconds another section of its body appears through the muddy water before slipping beneath again.
It moves with patient confidence, as though it has already decided we're trapped and sees no reason to hurry.
The worst part is that it might be right. The river has become impossible. Water crashes around the island from every direction. Entire trees spin past in the current. Even if the monster wasn't there, I wouldn't voluntarily enter that flood again.
I fold my arms tightly across my chest. "We're stuck."
"Temporarily, perhaps." The dragon continues watching the creature. His voice remains calm, though his eyes never leave the water. "Everything is temporary."
"Some things are more temporary than others. Like this island." As if on cue, another chunk of dirt drops into the churning water.
“We shall enjoy this island while it’s here,” the dragon says. “I use the word ‘enjoy’ in the loosest possible sense, of course. No actual enjoyment is taking place.”
Lightning flashes again. The creature has completed half a circle around the island.
I follow it with my eyes. "Can you kill it?"
Vyrathion seems genuinely surprised. "Of course I can kill it."
