The water erupted.
A wall of black lake water surged upward, crashing outward in every direction. Waves slammed against the shoreline, flooding the ground beneath Mirage's hooves. The horse braced himself, his legs locking against the sudden tide.
From the center of the upheaval, it rose.
The first head broke the surface. Massive. Scaled in dark green so deep it was nearly black, each scale the size of Moon's palm.
Before the first could fully break out, the second head emerged beside it. Then the third. Then the fourth. The neck was thick as a tree trunk, corded with scales as it lifted higher. Water cascaded off its massive body pouring down the sides like a waterfall in reverse.
Four skulls, each one armed with a jaw that could swallow Moon whole, rose above the lake on four necks that swayed independently of each other. Their eyes were pale yellow, slitted, and every single one of them was locked onto Moon.
