Exploring the Marshes

Curious to test the legitimacy of the whole ‘monster hunting’ thing, you were drawn to the marshes. Given their non-pseudoscientific biodiversity, if there’s any place to run into strange, gruesome creatures, it would be a swamp. Grinning to yourself, you eagerly followed after the pack!

Humidity permeated the air, as if the whole environment were waiting to pounce upon you as you encroached on the soggy ground. With a grimace, you felt the mud seeping into your shoes… Wiping your brow, you trudged on, determined. Carefully parting the dangling tendrils of a weeping willow, you peered ahead, out into the scraggly mess of roots and wilted vines.

The only light besides the moon was that of your guide, a golden, bobbing lantern just feet above the water. “The thing hunts like an alligator…” He guislessly warned, “Go for the nose.” 

Wet sounds of mud sucking boots to the ground mingled with a chorus of hisses and croaks from the scaly, slit eyed varmint that lurked among the tall grasses. But nope, no piscine, amphibious humanoids to be found… 

Sweet rot from wilting orange blossoms tempted your senses as you trailed close behind, keeping a keen eye for any ripples on the surface of the murky water. Part of you knew this was stupid- if it was real, it was stupidly dangerous. But you remained unconvinced.

Distracted, you didn’t notice the person in front of you froze until your face smushed against their back. You bounced off of them, scowling. Before you go off on them, your attention was drawn to the shriek that howled from the head of the group. Wait, what’s going on? By the time you could peer around, all that was left of the unfortunate hunter was a puddle of mucky foam and a bobbing lantern…

That was your guide. That was your light. 

You could feel your heart rate pick up a little now. It was creeping on you- that realization that this might be more than a game. Judging by the darkening blotch in the water, he didn’t seem to be resurfacing any time soon… Clawing at some semblance of sense, you composed yourself and wrote it off as war reenactment style special effects. Nonetheless, you were looking for the shore.

Without the guidance of the light, the group fractured. Some got to the shore. Some didn't. “Hey!” One of the unlucky ones who wandered deeper called out, “Hey, what’s-“ Gone. Before he could scream, the guy was underwater. At least, that's what you assumed with all the splashing. Oh shit. Okay, so there's an alligator. But ooking at how fast they were dragged under, whatever it was seemed stronger than an alligator...

Breath picking up, you scrambled backward onto where you felt the water getting shallower, feeling for anything you could use to defend yourself. It was hard to tell with all the panicking and the splashing, but you had a sinking feeling that whatever was in the water, it was getting closer.

What do You Do?