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It was funny but after everything he had seen Jim thought nothing could surprise him.
Turns out he was wrong.
And that river monsters were apparently a thing.
He had taken to patrolling the edge of the troll's camps since leaving Arcadia. It was hard to relax after the battle against Gunmar and Morgana only a week before and he found it helped him sleep to know everyone was safe. He had stumbled upon the river and it had been peaceful and quiet, a small waterfall had been bubbling and birds singing overhead. He had taken a sip of the cool, clear water and smiled at a cute frog before turning to return to camp.
And then the frog had been snatched off it's rock by a tentacle.
He had summoned his sword as the birdsong abruptly fell silent. And stared, frozen in horror as the . . . thing rose out of the water.
It hadn't been a tentacle, it had been a tongue. The creature was big and angry, responding to his greeting and attempted apology by lunging forward. If it wasn't for Jim's quicker troll reflexes he'd be being digested right about now.
Jim dodged claws nearly as long and wide as his body, leaping back and crouching low on a rock that was jutting out of the river. He struggled to catch his breath as the large creature roared in frustration. Where were the others? Surely they had heard how this thing was carrying on? It wasn't exactly being quiet! “Look.” He said to the large terrifying creature that had been trying to eat him for the last twenty minutes. He didn't want to kill it if he didn't have to. “I can assure you I don't taste good. I haven't had a bath in like a month and I've been wearing this armor for the same amount of ti – WHOA!”
He leaped into the air as the creature's tail lashed out at him, dodging the muscular appendage as it sliced through the space where he had been seconds before.
But he wasn't able to dodge the claws this time.
He cried out as the river monster's paw slammed into his breastplate, knocking the wind out of him and sending him flying through the air.
Jim hit the water with a thunderous splash that left him momentarily deafened, black spots exploding across his vision. Everything had gone silent and he could no longer hear or see where the river monster was. Underwater an oddly peaceful respite from the chaos of the last few minutes.
He quickly blinked his eyes, forcing them to focus, and swam towards the surface.
Or he tried to.
He frowned uncertainly as he continued to sink. He looked down in concern, expecting to see something weighing him down, pulling him into the depths. But there was nothing there but the normal things one expects to see underwater.
Jim moved him arms in powerful, well-practiced strokes, legs kicking to propel himself to the surface. His descent slowed to a stop and he hovered in place in the water. He kicked harder, desperately reaching for the surface as a horrible realization dawned upon him.
His new Troll form was made of stone. Heavy stone clad in metal armor. He was too heavy, no longer buoyant.
He couldn't swim.
Terror filled him, adrenaline lending him movements greater force. He kicked wildly, arms slicing through the water at a frantic pace.
He didn't rise so much as an inch.
Jim stared at the surface of the water, vision blurring as he grew light-headed. His chest burned and if he wasn't underwater tears would be steaming down his cheeks.
He didn't want to die like this.
It was so cold.
Please. Someone. Help . . .
Jim's eyes fluttered shut, movements stilling. His body began to sink once again, dropping into the dark depths. His lips parted, sending a thin stream of bubbles towards the surface.
The red and gold glow of the Eclipse armor flickered and seemed to pulse in time with the Trollhunter's heartbeat.
The amulet dimmed as the seconds passed.