The Leviathan

For other uses, see Leviathan.

"The Leviathan" is a short story that was published in the Target-exclusive edition Myths & Fables. The story was written by George Mann, illustrated by Grant Griffin, and published on August 30, 2020.

Plot summary

Legend tells of a young curious Mon Calamari named Carus that felt driven to explore the oceans of Mon Cala, including the Great Ungeness Trench. The waters of the trench were cold, dark and deep, and many who ventured too close would never return. Carus would often talk to his friends Athbrin and Surack about his dreams of exploring the trench and much more. One day, Athbrin challenged Carus to actually look into the trench, thinking that the sight would scare him into more realistic dreams. The three swam the five kilometers from the city to the trench. As Carus approached the edge of the trench, fear began to overtake him, but, determined to prove his friends wrong, he swam out over the edge before returning to his friends.

However, for the next three nights, Carus faced nightmares fueled by the fear he experienced at the edge. Determined to conquer his fear, he decided to return to the trench. With his friends watching, he dove down into the trench. As he made his way into the depths, he noticed a faint glowing yellow orb, but before he could discover what it was, he was attacked by a Keelkana. After breaking free from the Keelkana, Carus swam towards the surface where he told his friends what happened. After seeing his injures and hearing his tale, his friends said that they would have nothing further to do with his explorations.

The next day, Carus returned to the trench without telling his friends and armed with a torch and harpoon. He was desperate to discover more about the glowing orb he saw and to have his name know. He dove down and eventually he saw the orb again. It was at the bottom of the trench and Carus reached for the sphere, but it flinched at his touch. The orb was connected to an enormous tentacle. Panicking, Carus swam to the chasm wall, but the wall was in fact part of the creature, and its giant rock-encrusted eye opened next to him. He was unable to escape the creature and for the next month it shook the depths before finally returning to its hibernation.