The Wild (2)

Ahcehera hurriedly retreated, her heart pounding. She ducked behind a cluster of thick trees, her breaths measured and silent.

From her hidden vantage point, she peered back toward the river. The whirlpool churned violently, revealing a massive creature at its core.

Is that... an octopus? No, that's not right.

The monstrous figure emerged further. It had the general form of an octopus, but its grotesque details made her stomach churn.

Its glistening, slimy skin reflected the faint sunlight, and at its midsection, where an ordinary octopus would have a soft body, there was an enormous, gaping maw lined with rows of sharp, jagged teeth.

An octopus with a mouth on its waist? That's just... unnatural.

As the creature seemed to realize no prey was nearby, it let out an ear-splitting scream.

The sound wasn't just loud, it was razor-sharp, slicing through the air with a force that rattled the surrounding trees.