[Freja Helt]

Freja lifted her little summer hat and wiped some sweat off her brow as she continued to hike up the trail. She was carrying the bare essentials for her little expedition. A backpack with some emergency food, a fishing rod tied to her back and her newly improved support gear bat by her side. Just in case she came across a bear or something like that, and she absolutely needed to defend herself. So, why had she come all this way out into the forest anyway? Well, she was still practicing her aim and while practicing with the fishing rod, she had actually really started to enjoy fishing. She had done plenty by the Tokyo Bay already, mostly because that was just the closest option, but she had started to wonder how fishing in a river, or a lake might differ from the raging waves of the sea.

She had been a little nervous about going, she was a city girl at heart and the size of the forests in Denmark where she grew up weren't anything compared to Japan. Not to mention there was actual wild life out here that could harm her, like a bear if she got really unlucky. Despite all her fears and worries, she still went. That was what heroing was all about, right? Not like she could be a hero and help people if she was scared of walking into a forest and being cut-off from civilization.

''Woah, this lake is huge!'' She beamed, running up towards the water to put her backpack down and feel how cold it was by sticking one hand down to feel the water. ''So cooold. ~'' She blinked her eyes and tried to peek beneath the water's surface. Surely a lake this big had to house some fish for her.

king

[king]

The water was one of the few places untouched around here, the fish were fat and stupid. Lazy and carefree. Easy hunting for someone like him who could float through the water and chomp up a fish that wasn’t paying attention. But today he was more like a gator floating through the water, enjoying the pressure and the sensation of the water against his scales. His eyes were closed and he was using his ears to gentle steer his body along by pointing his head this way or that.

But the silence of this lake and the stupid fish was interrupted by a voice that cut through the area like a knife to him. His eyes slightly cracked open and his head slowly lifted to the crest of the water. Peeking out of the water he was gifted with the sight of… A younger human woman. He’d exhale slightly from his nostrils.

She wasn’t in his territory, hell he wasn’t even in his territory technically. The lake was just a mix for everyone. Plenty of animals came here to rest or to drink; hell even he was here to do one or the other. Deciding that she wasn’t worth his time unless she decided to make herself a problem king slowly found his entire body cresting at the top of the water, making him look like a really strange log.

What was it with humans coming so deep into the forest lately?

[Freja Helt]

''Almost makes you wanna take a swim, if it wasn't for all those bugs.'' She mused to herself, setting her backpack down next to the water. ''Anyway, fishing time.'' She put her bat aside and whipped the fishing rod around. This place was nice and serene, it almost made her want to come and visit more often if it wasn't such a hike to get here. Maybe once she got in a better shape she could take some of her friends out here with her.

Throwing the bobber into the water, Freja watched it patiently while glancing around at the surrounding area. That was when she noticed the log and an idea crossed her mind. She had been working pretty hard lately. Not as in, working a paid job, but working out and improving her physique. She even dared to think she might have put on some muscle. Meaning, she could probably throw the bobber past that log if she really tried. With a smile on her face, she quickly reeled it in before ever getting her first bite. With her sights set on passing the lodge, she took a big step back and prepared herself for a big throw. With a whip, the line soared through the air, guided by the bobber as it danced in the gentle breeze, before bonking the 'log' right on the top of his head and falling into the water next to him.

''Ah- that was so close too!'' She pouted, maybe if she had released it earlier?

king

[king]

King wasn’t going to bother with the human that was fishing; they weren’t bothering him very much and this drinking grounds was often somewhere where his prey could find themselves at ease. Attacking at the watering area would end up making it so that prey wouldn’t stick around and he’d slowly close his eyes. Enjoying the basking sensation from the sun and the coolness of the water against his scales. Made it easy to doze really.

However this changed after a little bit, the whistle of something that gently tapped off of his head. Drawing his attention; blinking slowly his eyes opened up and slowly looked about before locking onto the lure. Tracking the line back to the owner; a fair young woman that had a fishing pole. She looked to be pouting and his eyes went back to that lure.

Adjusting with the use of his tail he slowly drifted towards the edge of the water. THe closer he got the more he’d have to switch to his legs, first the front. Then the back. Slowly he’d ease out of the water; right in front of the other; his baleful green eyes full of curiosity of the smaller human. She was as normal as you could get; much like those villagers that had once so wronged him.

But there was a sense of purity here that wasn’t present there. A sense that she didn’t mean to get his attention but she had gotten it anyways. He stared at her for what seemed to stretch on and on. Eventually he’d say something; his head cocking to one side. He didn’t feel threatened and he felt like she’d probably… well feel exactly opposite. He wasn’t hungry either so there was no chase in his future. Not to mention the fish out of the lake had been his meal earlier so…

”Who?”

[Freja Helt]

She looked back down at her backpack for a moment. ''I wonder how easy it would actually be to catch something here if I used bait.'' A round or two of fishing with actual bait wouldn't hurt, especially since she wasn't in a rush to get home and the weather was great today. When she heard something rise out of the water she turned to look back at the shadow that was now being cast over her, eyes going wide as she dropped her fishing rod and immediately reached for her bat. She didn't know what was scarier, the fact that King had managed to sneak up on her, or that he was just sitting there, staring. Was he assessing whether he was going to eat her or not? Was he one of The Spiders? Her mind raced with all the possible negative scenarios as she held her bat firmly.

Eventually the silence was broken by a single word.

''Who?''

Oh my god he spoke. Of course he spoke why wouldn't he? She was scrambling to compose herself, the fear on her face was probably clear as day. He hadn't even done anything to harm her but based on appearance alone she one hundred percent considered this to be another run-in with a deadly villain already. ''F-Freja..'' She said cautiously, keeping her bat raised as she took a couple of steps back. ''Who... Are you?'' She wanted to run and hide, but she had never really been face to face with anyone this big before. Heck, she thought the biggest thing she might run into out here was a bear.

king

[king]

King stared, quietly. Thoughtfully at this child that was in front of him. He wasn’t afraid of this being, more curious. The lure had hit him unintentionally but they were… afraid. Understandably so. He’d narrow his eyes a little bit and ease his head down to inspect them. He didn’t get the feeling that she was going to attack unless provoked and even then. He felt like he could easily just swat her attempts away. The voice that she spoke with was halting; afraid, cautious. Like a rabbit caught in a trap; at least to him.

Her name was simple; easy to take in and even easier for him to remember. It wasn’t one like any of the others he had come across. Seeing that bat raised, his eyes flicked to it and then back to her. It wasn’t a threat and they both knew it. Who was he? First…

”...Bat… won’t… Help.”

Cutting or slowly burning his flesh away was probably the best way of dealing with him and even then; it’d just end up regenerating somehow eventually and just muck with his body even more. His voice rumbled again and a single word to answer her question came forth.

”...King.”

His answer was simple and his eyes shifted to the fishing pole. Seeing what she was here for he’d look a little further down the way. If she intended on fishing here there was a better spot since he likely spooked all the fish here.

”...better spot.”

He’d motion with his head and gesture with a foreleg towards where he knew it’d be likely to yield more fish. She wasn’t going to cause him issues and he was already full from his own ventures. Hell he was just here to bask and if she wanted to fish? Well he’d just bask on the side of the lake rather than inside of it. Good way of drying his scales out honestly…

[Freja Helt]

Freja didn't let up one bit. She held her bat firmly and as King eased his head down her body only tensed up more. She didn't attack, though. She didn't dare to as she knew exactly how that would end for her. A chill travelled down her spine as he said the bat wouldn't help. Did that mean she was basically left at the mercy of this monster? She wanted to turn tail and run for her life, but that probably wasn't a wise decision either. ''K-King...'' A surprisingly normal sounding name. For some reason she was expecting something a lot more intimidating.

''Better?'' She blinked her eyes and looked in the direction he was looking. ''Better spot to fish?'' She lowered her bat a bit and carefully picked up her fishing rod. If King wanted to eat her he could certainly have done so already. Did that mean he was friendly and just trying to help? She didn't want to risk upsetting him so she just went along with him for now.

''Can you...'' Her heart was still pounding out of her chest. She hadn't been this afraid in years. ''Can you show me? The better spot.'' What in the world was she getting herself into, talking to a big scary monster like he was some forest guide?

king