In the pond, the koi swim, unconcerned with the world of stag and fawn. Their bodies eternal, their purpose menial, they drift in their shimmering schools, pecking the pond floor debris and whatever may find its way into the emerald waters, often going unnoticed; not that it matters any to them.
As their bodies, bright and pale, drift under the crystalline surface, something unseen stirs them.
They scatter, leaving behind a murky cloud of pondfloor debris, and as it settles they slowly approach, cautious of who-or-what-ever it may be.
The cloud fades, and from it emerges a large form, easily twice the size of any fish in the pond and pitch as charred earth, scales and fins velvety solid black. Its movement is sluggish, its long, torpedo body snaking lazily over the pond bottom.
The school, no longer curious, return to their own devices and, as though it was the way of the world, the massive black koi joins them, just as unconcerned with the world above- though not likely as unnoticed. . .
I n t e r a c t ?
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watching.
waiting.
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listening.
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Interacting. It is within the
There are several reasons that Sumias hates this pond; it seems so calm, so docile on it's surface. She knows better, though; she knows that there are all manner of horrors lurking beneath it's mirrored surface and when she spots something, something that does not match with the pretty bits of white, little pieces of filthy paper? Well, it was impossible not to investigate.
Of course, when you're tiny, it's hard not to drown. Thus, the tiny doe, white as snow, lingered at the water's edge. Lips peeled back from her teeth, the flat, shark-cruel black of her eyes slit, staring at a point in the water not like the rest.
. . . R i p p l e s . . .