ŕźşA Monster in Mirkwoodŕźť
âŁOne could easily assume the enormous, sharklike creature was far from his normal habitat. And whoever one was, they would be correct. Bruce was the farthest from home that he had ever been in all of his Cetus years. But the concept of home was very little on his mind, currently, for one way or another the creature was lost. It had been simple enough to follow the Forest River. Simple, as it was, indeed, a very expansive river. However, never in his years had he imagined that he would have taken a separate route and diverged to the wrong outlet, his internal compass failing him and the skies cloudy enough to block the sun, and further obscure his bearings.Â
Thus, the titanic creature trudged along the Mirkwood Forest, the leaf litter scattering as his webbed claws kicked up the decaying matter and his talons like meathooks scraped the earth. Out of the water and his main element, Bruceâs speed appeared greatly reduced.. After all, Cetuses were not referred to as âsea monstersâ for no reason. Luckily, his bearlike gait and appendages, and set of strong lungs allowed the sharklike creature to travel on land, for as long as he preferred.Â
And it appeared as though he would be doing just that, as the sound of running water had long left his ears.Â
A snap of twig caused the twenty-footer to halt suddenly, sharp snout pointed towards the source of the noise. A sniff of the air bestowed nothing than the decay of the leaves and the thickness of the humid fog around him. No... not entirely... He picked up something in the quiet, unsettled wind which only graced his presence for a moment every hour.Â
Something else was near him.Â
Bruce arched his back, lowering his soft, vulnerable underbelly to the ground as he crawled forward around the bend of knotted tree roots and ageless stones. As he neared the corner, the Cetus slowed to a stop as a stranger finally came into his sight, oblivious to the enormous monstrosity a few meters away.Â
This was no elf. Wood elf, or otherwise, it was far to short. Too beardless to be a dwarf. With the few near run-ins with orcs, Bruce could gather from scent alone that the creature was not one of them, either. Curiosity got the best of the giant sharklike being and he crept forward, round pupils in his blue beady eyes dilated with interest.Â
The creature was barefoot, with a head full of curly, wispy hair, and pointed ears protruding under the locks. So short in stature was the creature, Bruce was certain that he would have almost missed it had it not been for the Cetusâ incredible sense of smell and detection.Â
As far as sight went, the Cetus couldnât spy any weapon on the otherâs person. Granted, that didnât make the situation completely safe, especially if the weapon was concealed, but it gave Bruce a slight ease of mind. As the creatureâs back was turned towards him, the Cetus advanced forward, careful of his steps. It wasnât until the giant sea monster was right behind him that Bruce finally voiced a greeting.Â
âAnd who might you be, lilâ morsel?â The words came out in a noise more like a growl than an actual voice. Following the greeting, the Cetusâ lips parts, displaying a myriad of serrated pearly whites, flashing with such white lethality, it was a wonder that the other wouldnât see his own reflection in them.Â
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