It lunged toward the rock instead, snatching the fallen algae in its maw.
Its jaws opened wide, snapping down with a crunch. The glowing green strands vanished between its teeth.
With a greedy sweep, it devoured the glowing strands, then pulled back, its long body undulating with the water as it sank beneath the surface.
As the beast slithered back into the water, Iris's breath hitched as she noticed something extraordinary.
Her eyes tracked it, catching the way its dark scales shimmered faintly as they knitted back together, old wounds closing in real time.
Glowing light traveled across its wounds like threads stitching a tapestry. Within seconds, the damage was gone, replaced by gleaming armored scales.
"The algae…" Iris whispered, her eyes widening. "It heals wounds."
She slowly scanned the pond once again, this time noticing what she had missed before.
Shadows lurked just below the surface. Sleek fins. Slithering tails. Brief flashes of light from the abyss.
