My eyes snapped open, the mental spheres broke instantly. I stood and moved to the edge of the lake where Finn pointed as fast as I could, his face pale with alarm.
"There." he whispered. "Under the surface. It's silver, but… wrong somehow."
I saw nothing at first, just the impenetrable blackness of the water. Then, a flicker of movement, a ripple that didn't match the natural flow of water, a disturbance that seemed purposeful rather than random.
"Everyone back." I said, my hand already finding the yo-yo in my pocket. "Coco, finish with the canteens, get ready to move."
Coco nodded, his hands working fast as he closed the canteens. Kira and Phinyx retreated several steps, positioning themselves behind me. Finn was already running away from the lake.
"It's coming closer!" he yelled. "It's… huge."
The surface of the lake broke, and a silver sheen made itself present. The first thing we saw looked like an insect's head, chitin mandibles and segmented eyes that gleamed.
