As Igor and Falco approached the glistening waterfall, the sound of rushing water grew louder, creating a soothing yet invigorating atmosphere. The air was crisp and filled with the scent of pine and fresh earth, mixed with the mist rising from the waterfall's base. The sun cast shimmering patterns on the water's surface, creating a scene of serene beauty and hidden danger.
Igor was brimming with energy as he and Falco neared the edge of the waterfall, where the river flowed into a large, deep pool. Falco, gliding gracefully above him, was scanning the water with his sharp eyes, eager for the fishing to begin.
"Let's see if we can catch some of those rainbow fish today," Igor said, excitement evident in his voice. The thought of the fish, with their iridescent scales, made his stomach rumble even louder.
Falco let out an enthusiastic screech in agreement. "Screech! Yes, those fish are delicious! We'll have a feast!"
As Igor approached the riverbank, he noticed the clear, icy water was teeming with life. Schools of vibrant fish darted around, their scales reflecting every color of the spectrum. However, it wasn't just the fish that caught his attention. There was a ripple in the water, as if something large had disturbed the surface. Igor's curiosity was piqued.
"Do you see that?" Igor asked Falco, pointing to the disturbance.
Falco squinted his eyes and focused. "Screech! Yes, I see it. It looks like something big is moving beneath the water."
Igor's eyes narrowed with determination. "Let's find out what it is. Be careful, though. We don't know what's lurking down there."
Igor rolled up his sleeves and waded into the cold water, his movements precise and deliberate. Falco perched on a nearby rock, watching intently. As Igor moved deeper, he felt the water growing colder, but he pressed on. The disturbance grew stronger, and suddenly, a large shape emerged from the depths.
It was a massive, scaled creature with glowing eyes and long, flowing fins—a Water Serpent. The serpent's body was covered in shimmering blue-green scales that reflected the sunlight, and its eyes held a mysterious, ancient wisdom.
Igor stood his ground, awe mixed with apprehension. He knew the Water Serpent was a formidable guardian of the river. Despite its intimidating appearance, the serpent was not necessarily hostile unless provoked.
"Greetings, young one," the Water Serpent spoke in a deep, resonant voice that echoed through the water. "Young one, What brings you here again?"
Igor cleared his throat, trying to appear confident despite the serpent's imposing presence. "Hello, Aelion. We've just come to hunt for fish and play around. We didn't mean to disturb you."
Aelion's eyes softened, and a ripple of amusement passed through the water. "You're quite bold to venture into my domain again and again. Many fear to approach, but you carry a spirit of bravery. What is it you really seek in these waters?"
Igor scratched his head, trying to find the right words. "Nothing! I'm just here for a meal and perhaps a bit of fun, Nothing else. The fishes in these waters are really extraordinary."
Aelion's serpentine smile widened. "Hm, very well. I grant you permission for hunting fish if only you promise to never hurt the non-aggressive ones. Can you do that?"
Igor nodded and answered with reassurance, "I promise, Aelion. We would only hunt the aggressive ones."
Aelion seemed satisfied by the answer. "Then you have my permission, young one. You may proceed."
Saying that, the guardian serpent dived into the water once again, leaving Igor and Falco looking at each other.
Afterwards, Igor and Falco continued to explore the riverbank, their senses heightened by the promise of a bountiful catch. The water was alive with movement, and the vibrant fish were more abundant than Igor had ever seen. Unfortunately, he couldn't eat any of them as per his promise.
Moreover, the idea of killing innocent, lively fish didn't sit well in his mind.
So, he decided to dive into the water to find some wild fish that they could eat.
"Falco, you look out from above. I am going down to find some rainbow fish," Igor said, readying himself for diving in.
Falco nodded and became vigilant while Igor began to remove his animal skin outerwear, leaving him with just underwear. Human settlements were really far away from this wilderness, so he wore this kind of clothing made from animal skin and furs. But, they were really comfortable because the Evergreen Tree personally made those with care, just like how a mother does for her own child.
After removing his clothes, Igor's well-sculpted body of hardened muscles was revealed to the world. Even though he was just 13 years old, his build was like that of a 16-year-old boy.
Igor was approximately 1.5 meters in height, with bright red hair, fair skin, and pupils dark as void. The combination of these made Igor look very unique.
"Swish!"
Without wasting any time, Igor dived into the river water like an expert hunter.
As Igor plunged into the clear, icy waters, the temperature shock quickly dissipated, replaced by a sense of exhilaration. He swam with powerful strokes, his eyes scanning the underwater world teeming with life. Schools of fish darted around him, their scales reflecting the sunlight filtering through the water's surface, creating a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of colors.
Igor's keen vision, honed through years of exploring the wilderness, allowed him to pick out individual fish among the clusters. However, he knew he needed to find the right prey—aggressive enough to justify hunting, yet not too dangerous to handle alone.
As he swam deeper, he noticed larger shadows moving in the distance. His pulse quickened. These were no ordinary fish. He was entering the territory of the rainbow fish, known for their size and ferocity. The deeper waters were their domain, where they ruled as undisputed predators.
Igor paused, treading water as he scanned the depths below. His eyes locked onto a particularly large shape moving gracefully yet menacingly among the rocks. The creature's scales shimmered with iridescent hues, reflecting a spectrum of colors. This was it—a massive rainbow fish, easily twice his size.
"Hehe, sorry buddy, you're going to get inside me today." Igor salivated inwardly.
The fish noticed him almost immediately, its eyes narrowing as it assessed this potential threat in its territory. Igor steeled himself, knowing this encounter would be a test of his strength and skills.
The fish lunged at him with astonishing speed, its jaws snapping shut inches from his face. Igor twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the attack. He countered with a powerful kick, aiming for the fish's side. His foot connected with a satisfying thud, but the creature barely seemed fazed. It circled him, its movements fluid and predatory.
"Not enough!" Igor focused and increased his strength.
With concentrated strength on his leg, he unleashed a powerful kick at the rainbow fish. His kick instantly caused a water whirlpool inside, sending the rainbow fish upwards into the sky with a powerful force.
Above the surface, Falco watched with keen interest, his eyes tracking the struggle beneath the water. However, as soon as he saw the rainbow fish appearing on the surface, he screeched with encouragement, flapping his fiery wings in excitement.
He opened his mouth and attacked the fish with a fiery breath. The large rainbow fish got badly burned and because of the residual force of the fire breath, it crashed on the riverbank, thrashing wildly.
"Phew!" Igor came out from the water, sighing in relief. Seeing the large rainbow fish in front, his eyes gleamed with excitement and his stomach growled with hunger.
After a few moments of struggle, the rainbow fish died because of Falco's fire attack.
"Good job, Falco! Now, let's cook it. That way, it's gonna be even more delicious," Igor said, licking his lips.
Falco nodded eagerly, also looking forward to tasting the large rainbow fish, licking his beak in anticipation. "I can't wait to taste it. Let's get started!"