“Yeah, Yeah, I know you’re tired, come on I’ll carry you on my back” the cub needed to rest after running for hours through the enormous branches of the trees.
Their journey wasn't without its challenges. Traveling from one colossal tree to another, they traversed thick leaves that offered a sturdy ground-like surface. The forest's vastness seemed to unfold endlessly, and encounters with various creatures became a common occurrence. Some creatures paid them little attention, while others attacked on sight, driven by their own instincts.
‘I wonder what Aqua’s doing. Maybe he’s found a beautiful girl here. Nah that’s impossible, he couldn’t be that lucky’ Shio was distracted thinking about his brothers’ whereabouts and almost missed that the scenery had started to change.
The leaves beneath them were gradually curving upwards, and lakes were forming on their surface. Waterfalls fell from the skies from one leaf to another, making up the already beautiful scenery almost unreal. It seemed as if he had entered a painting and was living inside of it. The pristine lakes shimmered with light and within the lakes nenuphars and other algae had started to grow out.
Navigating this enchanted waterworld presented a new challenge. The lakes had grown vast enough that circumventing them was no longer feasible. Shio and the cub faced the task of diving into the water itself. Approaching the edge of a particularly expansive leaf-covered lake, Shio addressed the tiger cub, "Hey little fella, we need to dive into the water."
The cub responded with a groggy nod, slipping from Shio's shoulders into the water with a small splash. The two submerged themselves, greeted by a vibrant underwater realm teeming with life. A myriad of Common Creatures, colorful fish, darted through the waters, creating a vivid and lively spectacle.
After half an hour of swimming through the lake, they found their first foe in the water. It seemed to be the apex predator as the other creatures were avoiding it like the plague.
Amidst the shimmering underwater world, Shio and the cub came face to face with a creature unlike any they had encountered before. It was a creature of elegance and power, an embodiment of both beauty and danger—the Azure Serpent.
The Azure Serpent glided through the water with sinuous grace, its blue scales reflecting the hues coming from above. Its body was a mesmerizing blend of deep blues and iridescent greens, the colors shifting and rippling with every movement. Long, slender fins extended from its sides, providing both stability and propulsion as it effortlessly navigated the aquatic realm.
Sharp, intelligent eyes, glowed like jewels, fixed into Shio and the cub. The serpents aura commanded respect as a general who had entered the battlefield. Silence surrounded them, neither the cub nor its master dared to move.
Though the Azure Serpent radiated beauty, its predatory nature was undeniable. Razor-sharp dorsal spines lined its back, ready to fend off any threat. Its movements were calculated and deliberate, exuding a controlled energy that hinted at its remarkable hunting prowess.
Shio and the cub found themselves in a delicate dance with this underwater monarch. It seemed uninterested in their presence, focusing on its own mysterious objectives beneath the water's surface. Yet, Shio couldn't shake the feeling that a single wrong move could trigger a display of the serpent's power—an exhibition of strength that could remind them of the unforgiving hierarchy of the enchanted forest.
As they observed the Azure Serpent, Shio couldn't help but marvel at the intricate balance of beauty and danger that defined this realm. The encounter left an indelible impression on him, a vivid reminder of the wonders and perils that awaited within the heart of the jungle's depths.
