[Ding!]
The quiet morning in Mystic Ruins filled with a strange, cheerful sound, echoing through the trees as the first beams of sunlight streamed over the jungle. Big the Cat stirred in his hammock, lazily stretching his limbs with a relaxed yawn, his tail flicking as he glanced around for his favorite companion.
"Froggy…? Where are ya, little buddy?" Big muttered, still blinking the sleep from his eyes.
[Congratulations to the host for activating the Daily Sign-in System.]
"Who's that?" Big said, looking around, confused. He scratched his head, wondering if he was still dreaming.
[Unused Daily Sign-in Attempt noticed!]
Big rubbed his eyes, sure now that he was hearing something strange. "Uh… is that breakfast?"
[Signing in!]
[Obtained Hyper Growth!]
Big blinked, feeling a warm sensation flow through him as the words faded from his mind. He looked down at his paws, giving them a curious shake. Nothing seemed different—yet there was an odd sense of alertness, a strange feeling of energy thrumming beneath his calm demeanor. "Hyper… growth?" Big muttered, furrowing his brow as he spoke to himself. "I guess that's nice… but what does that mean?"
Big shrugged, quickly letting the thought slip from his mind. Complicated things weren't really Big's style. He'd much rather be fishing or relaxing by the lake with Froggy than puzzling over strange voices and fancy-sounding words. Today was supposed to be just another quiet day, and so, with his trusty fishing rod in hand, Big set off toward the lake to find his friend and start the morning right. As he walked through the jungle, he instinctively felt himself moving with a little more ease. It wasn't something he consciously noticed at first, but his paws found steadier footing, and he seemed to navigate around branches and rocks without stumbling. When he arrived at the lake and began casting his line, each throw felt smoother, the line flying further and the lure splashing down with more precision than usual. Big blinked, pleased but a bit puzzled.
"Fishin' feels easier today," he said to himself, giving the line another cast. The rod felt like an extension of his arm, and his mind seemed to focus sharper, honing in on each little tug and ripple on the water.
Just then, Froggy's familiar "ribbit" came from nearby. Big smiled, spotting his little green friend hopping toward him from the reeds. "Froggy!" Big cast his line again, and within seconds, felt a sudden pull—stronger than he'd ever felt. With surprising dexterity, he held the rod steady, with a quick tug, he pulled up a large, shimmering fish. He held it up, eyes wide. "Look,Froggy! I'm catchin' bigger fish than ever!" Froggy ribbited in reply, happily supporting his friend.
Big chuckled as he set the fish aside, patting it gently before glancing at Froggy with a contented sigh. The lake sparkled in the morning light, casting delicate patterns over the surface as if the water itself shared in his quiet joy. Big took a deep breath, savoring the cool, misty air. Yet, as he settled back into his rhythm, casting the line with Froggy beside him, he couldn't shake an odd feeling. With every flick of his wrist, every smooth cast and gentle reel, his actions felt... well, sharper. It wasn't like he was forcing himself to learn anything new, but more like the fishing rod had become a part of him—an extension of his hands, guided by an intuition he hadn't known he had.
Big shrugged it off with his usual laid-back smile. "Guess it's just a good day for fishin', Froggy," he murmured, patting his friend's head. He cast again, and the line arced perfectly, landing in a distant spot he hadn't been able to reach before. Big's eyes widened, a chuckle escaping his lips. He was beginning to feel like he could reach every inch of the lake without a second thought, reading the water's rhythms and every little ripple as if they were old friends sharing secrets.
"Pretty cool, huh, Froggy?" Big said as he held the rod steady, every muscle in his arm fluid and calm, reacting naturally to the slightest pull of the fish beneath. It was as if he could sense when they were about to bite, each little tug transmitting directly into his hand. This time, the line gave a more urgent pull, and with a gentle yet skillful movement, Big reeled in another fish, this one even bigger and more vibrant than the last. "Whoa," Big breathed, holding the shimmering fish up to the sunlight, its scales glistening like tiny jewels. "They just keep getting bigger!"
Froggy hopped in excitement beside him, his enthusiastic croaks bouncing off the still waters of the lake. Big chuckled, feeling a surge of joy swell in his chest. Fishing had always been his simple joy, a calm routine that kept him grounded and happy. But today, it felt different, as though he was uncovering a hidden talent that had been quietly waiting within him. Big decided he's caught enough fish for the day.
As Big lumbered back through the dense jungle, his massive arms cradled a hefty pile of fish, their silvery scales glinting in the dappled sunlight. Froggy sat happily perched on Big's head, his little legs dangling as they bounced gently with each of Big's slow, deliberate steps. The peaceful atmosphere of Mystic Ruins surrounded them—the soft rustle of leaves, the distant sound of a river trickling nearby. Big hummed a low, contented tune to himself as he thought about the meal he was about to prepare. "Mmm, gonna be a good dinner tonight, huh, Froggy?" he said, his voice rumbling up toward his friend. Froggy croaked softly in response, clearly just as eager as Big for the feast ahead.
As they neared Big's wooden shed, the thought of freshly cooked fish made his mouth water. His pace quickened slightly, his mind already drifting toward the simple, calming process of cleaning and preparing his catch. But just as he rounded a corner in the path, a sudden rush of wind nearly knocked him off his feet.
"Whoa!" Big exclaimed, stumbling as the gust swept past him, nearly toppling him backward. He wobbled on his feet, instinctively tightening his grip on the pile of fish to keep them from scattering. Froggy let out a surprised croak, his small body holding on tight to Big's head. "What was that?" Big muttered, blinking in confusion as he steadied himself. He looked around, wide-eyed and bewildered. The wind had come out of nowhere, a sudden burst that left the leaves swirling and the jungle momentarily unsettled. But as quickly as it had arrived, it was gone, leaving only the faint rustle of the trees behind.
Big scratched his head with his free hand, frowning in his usual slow, thoughtful way. "Strange… never felt wind like that before," he murmured. "You feel that too, Froggy?" Froggy croaked again, a little less enthusiastically this time, his small eyes blinking as if to share in Big's confusion. Big stood there for a moment longer, the fish still clutched in his arms, as he tried to puzzle out what had just happened. It hadn't felt like a normal breeze. Just as Big was about to dismiss it and continue on his way, a flicker of movement caught his eye. Off in the distance, he thought he saw something flash between the trees—two streaks of color, barely visible but unmistakable. One blue, one orange. The thought drifted away as quickly as it had come, leaving Big smiling in his usual carefree way. He had more important things to focus on right now—like getting these fish home and making sure they were cooked just right.
"Let's keep goin', Froggy," Big said cheerfully, setting off again with his heavy load. "Dinner's not gonna cook itself!"
With that, Big continued his slow, steady march toward his wooden shed, Froggy swaying contentedly on his head. The smell of fresh fish was already filling the air in Big's mind as he imagined the sizzling sound of the fire and the taste of the first delicious bite. He hummed again, his earlier encounter with the strange gust of wind already forgotten. The jungle returned to its peaceful rhythm around him, the sounds of birds and insects once more filling the air. Big was perfectly content to stay in his world of calm, where the only thing that mattered was sharing a good meal with his best friend. As they reached the wooden shed, Big paused, setting the fish down on a large wooden table outside. He looked around his simple but cozy home, a place where he could enjoy his peace and quiet. He grinned, already envisioning the fish laid out for cooking, imagining the savory aroma filling the air as he prepared the meal for himself and Froggy.
"Time to get these cleaned up!" Big declared, picking up the first fish and giving it an approving nod. Froggy croaked eagerly from his perch.