The endless length of salt water body reflected off the bright moonlit sky above as the cool breeze flew across the water's surface and to the sandy shore.
Leviathan stood silently at the edge of the water, staring far at a distance; His long tousled raven strands waved haphazardly by the strong ocean breeze.
His lucid crystalline eyes slowly dragged over the imaginary borders of the ocean, taking in the refreshing scent of moist air.
Distant snap and crack sounds of branches and bushes suddenly echoed from behind him.
Leviathan instantly clinched.
The loud grunt of a wild cat reached his ears as a beast sprung out from the woods.
"Leviathan!" Kamyla's irritating voice pierced the air.
He dropped his brows, letting out a sigh as he slowly turn to face the two behind him.
Kamyla quickly leapt off Rhou's back. "What the hell are you doing!?"
Leviathan blinked dully at her.
Kamyla frowned, taking a few steps forward, "And how did you even get here so fast?!"
Leviathan then asked, "I thought you said it takes three hours to get here. So why are you here in less than one?" He crooked a brow.
Kamyla continued to glare at him, having her chest heave rapidly with uneven breaths. She then took in a deep breath, responding, "I said three hours on the footpath! Not a tiger's back!"
Her frown deepened. "Besides, I took the shortcut through the forest! Because of you! Do you know how dangerous it is in the woods after midnight?!"
Leviathan stared boredly at her before slowly turning away. "Tsk!"
Her brows shot high. "Excuse you! Did you just tsk me!?"
Leviathan didn't respond, stepping away from her and closer to the water.
Kamyla scrunched her eyes. Was he being serious right now!? She narrowed her eyes. How dare he and his crude attitude!
Kamyla took another step forward, "Hey! I am still talking to you!"
Leviathan ignored her.
"Hey! What the hell is wro—"
His coat suddenly fell off his body.
She froze.
Standing in a pair of black pants and long sleeved turtleneck, Leviathan slowly pulled off his top, exposing his arms.
Kamyla's brows raised slowly.
From his left shoulder down drew a long black marking on his skin. The markings resembled a long three headed dragon with a scorpion sting for a tail, drawn around his arm's full length to end at his wrist.
Kamyla's tongue tied, staring bewilderedly at the strange-looking tattoo.
With Leviathan still facing the opposite direction, Kamyla's eyes instantly widened at the sight of his bare back.
Alongside the disturbing tattoo coating his skin were dry rock-looking scales that scantily originated from the side of his neck underneath his hair; trailing down to his shoulder and upper back to then disappear into his skin.
Her lips gapped slightly, unable to blink away from his inhumane features. She then noticed his hands slowly drag to the waist of his pants.
"Stop watching me strip myself", Leviathan said abruptly, causing Kamyla's eyes to blink.
He then gazed over his shoulder, "If not, you won't be able to hold yourself any longer".
Kamyla instantly frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Leviathan returned his gaze forward, "It means you shouldn't be drooling over a demon's body at this time of the night".
He unbuttoned his pants. "It is believed we look more insidious at night, easily turning the holiest person like you into a pervert".
"Did you just call me a pervert!?"
"More like you proved yourself to be one. Watching me undress. Such a pig", he pulled down his zipper.
Kamyla clinched, clutching her fists. "First of all! How dare you? I am not that petty to drool over a rude creature as yourself!"
"Rude is the new sexy".
She crossed her arms, popping her hip to the side. "Besides, what do you think you have that I haven't seen before?"
"Ouu. You didn't strike me as a pro in male genitals".
"Oh please! My lust has better taste than this. Than you!"
Leviathan froze for a moment, taking a few seconds to reprocess her sentence. "Is that so?"
Kamyla threw her eyes to the side to let out a tut. "You think too highly of yourself for someone on their first day".
His lips cracked into a smirk. "Hm", was all he said, before slowly tugging his waist to pull down his pants.
Kamyla immediately turned away to face Rhou, widening her eyes in surprise. "Wait! What the hell are you doing!?"
"I want to swim", he pulled off his pants.
"Must you be completely naked to do that?!"
Leviathan tossed them to the side. "No. But I want to".
Kamyla scrunched her face.
Was this demon man okay in the head? Swimming at such a time?... Why!? Didn't he know that marine spirits and witches were most active at such hours? What if they lured and entrap him into their abyss!?
Before Kamyla could think of another nag to hit him with, the sounds of splashing footsteps in the water echoed.
Kamyla furrowed her brows, wanting to look over her shoulder but quickly holding herself at the thought of seeing him naked.
She then said, "Wait a minute. Stop!"
Leviathan didn't listen nor answer, padding calmly into the water as it finally reached his knees.
"Wait, Leviathan! How long do you plan to stay in the water?"
"For as long as I wish".
"What's that supposed to mean? We have to return to the village before sunrise!"
"Then hope I return before then". Leviathan submerged his entire body into the water.
Kamyla then snapped her head over her shoulder. She scowled deeply, "Really?! Again!"
She let out a loud groan, slapping her forehead in frustration as her shoulders dropped. "What sort of stubborn devil is this!"
Kamyla sighed heavily, pinching her forehead for a few moments longer before raising her gaze to look up.
Rhou sat on its behind, staring with pitiful eyes as it watched her exhausted demeanour. Kamyla's expression dropped.
"I'm so freaking tired, Rhou..." She pursed her lips.
Rhou chuffled, dilating its crystal eyes as it lowered itself to the ground.
It stretched out its body, making a place for Kamyla on its ventral side. Kamyla smiled.
"Aww..." Kamyla strode forward, turning around to lie flat on its abdomen. "Thanks, Rhou".
Rhou groaned, raising its tail to wrap around her like a blanket. Her smile widened.
Resting comfortably on her tiger's body; seconds gradually turned into minutes and more, with no sigh of a ripple on the vase water surface Leviathan had sunk himself into.
Her brows furrowed. "Rhou?"
It turned.
"Why hasn't he come out to breathe yet?"
Rhou shook its head.
"What if he is dead?"
Rhou groaned.
"Hm. Good point. It will probably be a win-win situation so need to fuzz". She then raised her hands to place behind her head, relaxing back to watch the ocean.
"Let's see how long before his dead body floats back up so we can return home early..."
Rhou rested its head down as well.
Kamyla exhaled loudly, shutting her eyes with a smile. "... I should be able to get an hour's sleep before then at least".
Rhou hmmed.
• • •
SPLASH!
A sharp cold sensation enveloped Kamyla 's entire body — she jerked up from her sleep, letting out a gasp as her eyes bulged out.
"What the hell!!?"
The bright morning sunrays instantly rushed into her eyes, causing her to scrunch her face and look away. She quickly ran her palm over her wet face, feeling the cold drips of water from her body and hair.
She suddenly plummeted to the sand and off of Rhou's side, hearing Rhou grunt in agitation as it began shaking its soaked body — sprinkles of water flung off its wet fur coat.
She then snapped her eyes forward, sighting Leviathan by the shore.
He was dressed only in his pants, having his body still trickling with water as he gazed down at his remaining clothes on the sand.
She scowled, quickly pushing herself off the ground. "Leviathan!!"
Leviathan looked up.
"What the fuck was that for!?" She roared.
Leviathan crooked a brow, tilting his head to the side. "What?"
Kamyla clenched, pointing at herself, "Why did you do this!?"
"Oh. That?"
He dropped his gaze, stretching down to pick up his top. "It was just a little wake-up shower".
"What!!!"
"I couldn't let my babysitter sleep on her job so I decided to intervene".
"Are you out of your devilish mind!? Why didn't you just tap me to wake up?!"
"Unnecessary body contact", he pulled his top over his head.
Kamyla then snapped her eyes at the water, realizing the moderate distance between her and Rhou's previous location. A small wave couldn't have hit them that far from the shore.
She looked back at him. "How did you even get the water all the way to us!?"
He shrugged. "A speciality".
"Pouring water on people in their sleep? What is wrong with you! Just look at Rhou! He's covered from head to toe!" She pointed at her beast.
Rhou growled spitefully at Leviathan, narrowing its eyes.
Leviathan glared at it and back at the fuming girl. He then picked up his coat, dusting it lightly before pulling it over his shoulders. "Every cat hates water. He should stop being dramatic".
Kamyla's eyes slitted.
Leviathan clipped his coat around his shoulders, letting the thick fabric shield his entire body to his toes.
He then looked up at her. "So are you going to keep whining like a baby or are we returning to your village?"
A vein popped on her forehead.