𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 [ 𝑇ℎ𝑒100]

Chapter 3

Before long, we arrived at a clearing, and my breath caught in my throat. A shimmering lake lay before us, the surface reflecting the sky like glass.

"Wow," I breathed, taking in the beauty.

"Do you think it's deep?" Octavia asked, stepping closer to the water's edge.

I leaned forward, squinting at the surface.

"It doesn't look too deep." I glanced at her, and in that moment, as if she could read my mind, she began shedding her clothes. I followed suit, a grin spreading across my face. The rest of the group looked on in confusion.

"What are you guys doing?" Clark asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Taking a swim!" I replied, grabbing Octavia's hand.

We jumped into the cool water, laughter bubbling up as we splashed around.

"We can't swim!" Monty yelled, panic lacing his voice.

I laughed, splashing some water in his direction. "No, but we can stand!" I stood up, water cascading off my shoulders, and turned to face them, grinning. Octavia giggled and splashed me back, her laughter infectious.

"Octavia! Luna! Get out of the water!" Jasper yelled, his voice cutting through the joy. I turned, and before I could comprehend what was happening, something latched onto Octavia's leg, dragging her under with a ferocious splash.

"Octavia!" I screamed, my heart pounding in my chest. Panic clawed at me as I watched her disappear beneath the surface.

While the others shouted and waved their arms in a futile attempt to distract the creature, I scanned the shoreline frantically. My gaze landed on a large stone, and without thinking, I sprinted toward it, my heart racing. I hefted the stone and threw it into the water with all my might. The splash sent ripples through the lake, and for a moment, the snake released its hold on Octavia, turning its attention toward me.

"Get her out!" I shouted to the others, my voice cracking under the weight of fear. I ran back toward the shore, adrenaline fueling my escape as the snake lunged at me.

I scrambled onto the bank, heart racing, breath coming in short gasps. My mind raced as I reached the others, who were shouting my name, their faces twisted in concern.

"Octavia!" I shouted again, my eyes darting back to the water.

"Luna, she's okay!" Jasper yelled, pointing, and I followed his gaze.

Octavia surfaced, coughing and sputtering, but alive. Relief washed over me like the cool water that surrounded her. I rushed to her side, collapsing beside her on the shore.

"Thank God," I breathed, my hands trembling as I reached out to touch her.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded, her eyes wide with shock.

"I thought I was a goner," she said, her voice shaky.

"Thank you for saving me."

I took a deep breath, the weight of fear slowly lifting.

"I couldn't just watch you get eaten," I said, my heart still pounding.

The others gathered around us, their expressions a mixture of relief and disbelief.

"We should get out of here," Monty suggested, glancing back at the water. "That thing could come back."

"Yeah, let's not stick around to find out," Finn agreed, his voice serious.

We all nodded, the gravity of the situation settling in. As we started to move away from the lake, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that lingered. The world around us was beautiful, but it was also dangerous, and I knew that our survival depended on staying alert.

The laughter and joy that had filled the air moments before felt distant now, overshadowed by the encounter we had just survived.

As we walked, Octavia fell into step beside me, her expression softening.

"You really saved me back there," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I shrugged, trying to downplay the intensity of the moment.

"Just doing what anyone would do," I replied, though I knew deep down that I would have done anything to keep her safe.

Her lips twitched into a small smile, and for a fleeting moment, the fear faded, replaced by a warmth that spread through my chest.

But as we ventured deeper into the wilderness, I still couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. The trees loomed over us like silent sentinels, and the rustle of leaves felt like whispers in the wind.

We had come to explore and embrace the beauty of this new world, but now I understood its darker side. The stakes were higher than I had ever imagined, and I couldn't afford to let my guard down.

"Stay close," I said, my voice firm. The group nodded, a silent agreement passing between us.

We moved forward, the laughter that had once filled the air now replaced with a shared understanding. In this world, beauty and danger intertwined, and we would have to learn to navigate both if we wanted to survive.