> bubbling swamp > by SilverHoof1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Bubbling Swamp > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A single sickly green bubble slowly expanded on the surface of the murky swamp water before popping, a new bubble forming a foot away. The tall, sweeping willows dipped their ends into the water as creepers snaked up their branches, reaching desperately for the sunlight they hid so well. A venus fly trap snapped shut on unsuspecting prey while a brown, slimy newt swam across the water, sending ripples as it looked for food of its own. The sun was peaked in the turquoise sky, dappling the swamp floor with shimmering bits of gold and green as the trees greedily lapped at the offered rays. Then in the middle of it all, a single pair of eyes slowly rose on a bulbous head from the water, the newt quickly swimming away as it began to move for the water's edge. The closer it grew to the edge the more defined the creature became, its head shrinking to a more oval shape as features defined themselves on its face. Its body formed under it as well, taking a humanoid shape as it slid across the water... then it started to shuffle... before finally walking onto the shore, its body forming into a feminine form. For being made of water her features were surprisingly firm and petite, sitting around 5'5 with only average curve and bust, although her body was devoid of any type of gender-based parts. So far she had only proceeded off instinct, something pushing her out of the water, to contort the nearby muck and water into this body, and which now had her take in her surroundings to find the best way out. Only moments later though, as she began to form for herself organs, a mind developed accompanied by a beating heart, letting her take her first breath. Her first breath came more of a loud gasp as it was, her newly created mind racing to set the nerves and survival instincts through her body as she went from the spectator to the driver, clutching at her chest with a hand as she properly caught her breath. Who... who am I? In a world full of hybrid races, curiosities of nature and even some figures who could be seen as gods, one of the many races that lived under the all-encompassing sky were slimes. Most other races called them slime people, a curious race that not many knew about. Most lived by themselves near bodies of water, their hue is often taken from the water that formed them while they lived a relatively peaceful life. They had no reproductive organs since they were formed from water, and many lacked specific details or anything resembling organs - a watery mask resembling a face that simply absorbed sunlight to survive. This one though was not, like other slime people. Her lips pressed into a confused line as she looked around, eyebrows knitted in thought as she tried to figure out where she actually was. It was strange, despite only just coming into existence her mind was already fully adapted - the nerves and systems forming with the rest of her to give her basic knowledge of things with no actual memories attached to them. I'm somewhere in a swamp... my last memory is taking a breath and swimming... she reached down and squeezed her waist, the pressure indenting her watery flesh for both her side and fingers. And I appear to be made of some sort of goo... so either I'm an amnesiac, or I was just born... "Testing testing, one two three," the figure called out, her firm, factual voice ringing out as she tested her voice, curious of what she sounded like. Hair began to form along with her head while the green of her 'skin' began to turn a pale peachy color, eyes a bioluminescent mix of green and blue while her hair matching her eyes, falling just over her left eye in a short pixie cut. Then with a final look around, she began to walk out of the swamp, mosquitos buzzing near as they watched the curious slime girl leave, leaves crinkling underfoot as she walked. An hour of walking later she began to emerge from the swampy forest, the willows and elm trees giving way to tall maple and oak, the sunlight illuminating her lone figure as she trecked forwards. Turning her head to the side, looking deeper into the woods, she noticed something metal and glinting resembling the general shape of a sign. Curious she quickly jogged over to peak at the sign, reading out loud - if only to warm up her vocal cords. "Warning, beware of... beware of bears," she read slowly, drifting off near the end as it sunk in. Bears... it's a good thing I haven't run into any so far, that could be a problem to deal with. Despite her developed brain, the slime girl still hadn't gotten the gist of 'jinxing it'. Almost as soon as the thought crossed her mind she heard the sound of running footprints rushing toward her bounced off the trees toward her, seeming to appear out of nowhere. Her body almost immediately tensed as she snapped her head from left to right, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound. There was a bad taste in her mouth as she guessed what it was from the pace, the sound getting closer and closer till a black figure became highlighted in the sunlight. It was large... with shaggy black fur and four huge paws, jaws open to reveal sharp white teeth as it panted. "You know... I should have expected that," the girl commented before immediately turning around and bolting, her arms pumping to try and lend her more speed. She could tell she was losing ground from the way the sound only got closer, so instead of focusing on running she began to think... and think... and think. She could see a town a good distance away, but she wouldn't make it there before the bear caught her. I could fight it, but I don't know how to fight really, so I would be winging a fight... against a bear... with giant claws that could rip me apart... sounds 'fun'. With that final thought, she skidded to a stop and turned, watching as the bear closed in on her. She waited till she could see the hot breath coming from its mouth - in all honesty, way closer than she preferred - before springing up with all her might, the bear skidding to a stop as she soared over its head, looking back to see it quickly turn and charge again just as she hit the ground. She was only just landing as it was on top of her, rearing up on its hind legs with a roar. "... Well, shi-" the bear crashed down on top of her, cutting her off as its weight crushed her underneath it - but it didn't hurt. Instead, she felt herself compress and squish into the ground, splatting and sticking to the ground as a sticky hand would to a wall. It was a weird feeling, her organs compressing and... stretching, yet they were still functioning just fine, her heart continuing to beat despite being a pancake in her chest. She looked up at the bear - which was currently staring at her with equal parts confusion and fear - as she willed herself back together, splattered body forming under the bear as she slipped out from under it and vaulted onto its back. It roared in confusion, rearing again as it tried to throw her off only for her legs to walk under her, stuffing her arm directly into its open maw as her other hand covered its nose. Its jaws snapped shut at the intrusion, but her hand simply split from the rest of her, reaching back to clutch at the bear's tonsil as it began to run out of air, the slime girl pressing tight against the bear as it bucked like a kicking bronco. It felt like an eternity before it finally went down - although it couldn't have taken more than a few minutes - before the bear finally toppled over, the girl jumping off before it fell ontop of her again, pulling its jaw open to fix her arm. It came out covered in saliva and a bit of foam, but her own gelatinous features simply absorbed the moisture, her hand looking good as new in seconds. "Well well, quite the good show!" a voice called from behind her, the girl turning to see a black shadowy figure standing 10 feet directly behind her, hands tucked behind its back. "Thanks, although it wasn't meant to be entertainment - just survival," she commented, checking to make sure the bear was still breathing - only being knocked out from the asphyxiation. "Ah true, although I must wonder who might you be? A naked stranger capable of shoving her own arm down a bear's throat, only to knock it out," its voice was both feminine and masculine, and the slime girl couldn't quite tell which they were. "Hmm... call me... Biovera"