Judas sank deeper into the pond, allowing the cool water to claim him up to his neck. It was the onset of summer, and the air had grown heavy and stifling.
The temperature outside hovered near thirty degrees Celsius, a humid blanket that made the atmosphere shimmer.
In contrast, the spring-fed pool offered a frigid sanctuary, stealing the heat from his skin in a refreshing shock.
Beneath the surface, tiny movements tickled his legs. Curious fish swarmed his submerged limbs, their small mouths nipping away dead skin with gentle persistence.
It was a peculiar sensation, hovering somewhere between a massage and an itch, but he remained still, letting the aquatic creatures continue their work.
On the grassy bank, two small shapes lurked. Nibble and Nubble, his bonded beasts, crouched with predatory intent. They watched the water with unblinking eyes, waiting for a fish to stray too close to the surface.
