The beast rested in a thoughtful daze under the cold waters, contemplating his hunger. He wasn’t underwater for too long yet, and still had a fairly fresh supply of air in his lungs. His lungs were full, but belly not! He was indeed hungry, as he had not feasted in a strangely long amount of time. Most of it was due to his very large size, since it is hard to catch bite-size prey when one is so big. He instead survived on bigger opportunities, when they came knocking on his front door. And today, it knocked in the form of claws on his broad flat head. The time was right. Let it begin.

Tick. Tock.

Not wasting a moment, the maw of his shot up, managing to grab onto something: testicular glands and all that was attached. This reptile never quite liked those! With a puff of oxygen escaping his nostrils, he twisted his body and tail in a barrel roll, ripping the chunk of excess meat off and sending it drifting upwards while the wolf, as it was now clear that it was a wolf, drifted a bit deeper into the waters. Blood infiltrated the hunting grounds in wisps from the canine’s undersides as it convulsed in pain and shock. With a hole so big in his underside, the male would simply bleed out in a matter of time. But the reptile was hungry. No time to lose.

Tick. Tock.

With a smirk, the reptile glided over to him, maw at the ready. Thrashing paws pummeled his eyes and head but there was nothing they could truly hurt through his armor-like skin. Squinting, the alligator aimed and latched onto the throat of his feast. This skin was thicker and stronger, so when the hunter rolled the prey came with him in an underwater wrestle. Faster and rougher he thrashed until the hide began to rip and tear and at last, his throat was separated from his body and the pool began to take on a truly red haze. It would take days for the water to clear again, but only minutes for the meal to die.

Tick. Tock.

No time to left for the poor bloke. The reptile took his victim by the scruff and pulled him to the shore, exhausted by the lack of air and commotion. The meal began to choke and gargle in its dying fear, but it could not move. In fact, by this time, it probably couldn’t see. Too late, too late. “You shouldn’t have swum in my waters, wretch. Too late to save yourself.”

Tick. Tock.

The warmth of the body would begin to fade with the ending beat of its heart. Meals were meant to be hot, were they not? Feasting time! The alligator tore into his haunches, which twitched and wriggled, and snapped up the chunks of meat whilst listening to the pained last wheezes and gasps of this fellow here who had become the entrée. “Oh poor soul. It’s okay, you’ll die. You’re dead! Just give it a few seconds,” he hissed unsympathetically. He didn’t lie though. He never lied.

Tick. Tock.

He’s dead.