alone with the moon [descendants vs mutts; day 2]

Hunger gnaws.

They are just shy of that realization, on the precipice of understanding just what it means to starve.

That pain runs deeper than bones, into spongy tissues and firing neurons and it is all encompassing. The Lake does not envy their impending discovery, as it is agony. How long until they succumb? The longer they fight, the sweeter the meal will taste - it's often worth playing with your food. They don't know that yet, but The Lake knows.

Fay likes to think he has found a way to make it small and containable. The Lake lets him maintain that illusion of control solely for the sake of entertainment. When one has lived for as long as it, existence becomes dreadfully dull. Frankly, if all that Fay promised comes to pass - it can't imagine a better way to spend its time than watching these fascinating little creatures become the worst version of themselves.

It exists everywhere all at once but for just a moment it hones in on a pinprick of warmth. Of heartbeats thundering beside it as it laps at a shore of blackened sand. It holds its breath - the lake stills, a mirror reflecting the cavernous maw of the overcast horizon - and it watches. Thefirst holds their head high as they shoulders struggle to bear the weight of the blood running freely through their veins, their face suits it's corpse's visage - breaths coming slower as they have not yet realized she barely needs to fill their lungs at all.

One boy has already stirred, feral before they injected that serum into his veins. It has not unearthed the impulses he was never taught to suppress, it has sharpened them to a deadly point. He will hurt, surely, but the Lake does not fear pain. For feeling anything at all is quite honestly a blessing.

Lastly, the sleeping boy. Fay holds a fondness for him - the Lake remembers hearing that because it hears everything. So wrapped up in their own suffering, the others do not notice until it's too late that the lake has crept over to him. would you like to know... It's breath comes out in a gentle hiss, like sand slipping through the gaps of clenched fingers. It trails a touch along Nicoli's cheekbones before slipping into the space between his parted lips, what it's like to drown?

They notice then - oh they notice - and it spreads out to encompass them all. It's laughter is loud, all tender care abandoned as it rears back to strike pretty, pretty little prey. try a little harder, you don't want to know what happens when I grow bored of this game.

It smiles at them, a thousand lips parting the darkness surrounding them. From all angles bared teeth bore down on them, gnashing and grinding together as it tries to taste.

[the lake attacks ace - knife]
ReAOi6uzEoknife
[3.5]

[the lake attacks fenrir - knife]
knife
[3.5]

[the lake attacks nicoli - knife]
knife
[0.0]

ok bullet points for ya

Each mouth begins to speak to the tributes individually

The ones that made contact drip blood between their teeth

They’re gonna start needling, bringing up deep dark thoughts or unpleasant memories

Are they your own thoughts or has the lake placed them there?

[attacks ace]
NXJyJnm0o8knife
[result]

[attacks fenrir]
knife
[result]

[attacks nicoli]
knife
[result]

Doin this from my phone sorry if it’s wonky

ok bullet points for ya

frustration begins, its red eyes begin to glow

its whispers get slurred, you might mistake it for fear if that smile didn't stretch wider

it's strikes are almost loving, whispering praise with every blow

won't be long now...

it won't be long now.

but it's begin to retreat, sinking back into the eerily still water

[attacks ace]
SeHML33lz2knife
[result]

[attacks fenrir]
knife
[result]

[attacks nicoli]
knife
[result]