World Snake Day - How you read that matters

[the_rebel_son]

They had come some time over night, or perhaps just appeared in the morning. On the outskirts of the plaza, a huge feathered snake lays drowsily in the first rays of the sun. Feathers, every color of the rainbow, cover its 4 large wings and the body instead of scales. A ruff of feathers around the neck raise and shake occasionally from harassing flies. As it stretches the tip of the tail flicks showing a iridescent fan of brightly colored feathers that reflect the sunlight. If the wings weren't odd enough, the snake also has short stout legs that are nearly masked by the raised feathers. Its eyes open to watch any who might approach, facet cut gem like eyes that show great age.

As impressive as the feathered serpent, who could be over 70 feet long, might be, there is an even larger serpent beside it. Glossy black scales, that shimmer with reds under sunlight, cover the body. Its head alone is large as a decent sized vehicle but it too slumbers. Ears, or fins, flick on the side of its head as it is also harassed by the summer flies. It bears small bat like wings instead of forelimbs. Whether it has hind limbs is hard to say. The bulk of this snake reaches off, from the several coils here, into the wilds. The size seems impossible, dragging on as far as the eyes can see into the trees. It was made hugest in its own place, and perhaps would be so here in the Nexus. All around them smaller snakes rolled about, slithering here and there. Some seemed to be normal snakes, others appeared like cobras with wings, or snakes with lion faces. Many simply lay coiled around the near by grass and brush sleeping lazily in the sun.

It's not words that come when someone approaches but a vague sense of questioning, as if the air itself bears the curiosity and the sound is not really there at all.

"What are you known by, what are you known for?" Though neither snake has moved the electric feeling in the air suggests it is the larger of the two that wants to know.

Comments

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

She blinks and tilts her head. "Ah well there..are the Pythias..or least that's what they called the Oracles." She murmurs and it had derived from Apollo's rival/deadly foe, Python. that he'd liberated the place from and had built things over the cavern and cleared the steams and pools of his polluting influence.

She nods, "Oh I see." She murmurs with a good-natured sound as she gently pets some nearby feathers and leans her check again him with a wolfish, soft of nuzzle. She was not surprised in the least about that.

She blinks at that. "Mmhm, ah thank you I'll keep that in mind." She murmurs and hums, "I know how that can be..Not many are calm or used to certain sorts or react positively to certain kinds. " She murmurs with a small sheepish smile. (fears of being bitten or worse was a legitimate safety concern/fear, alright?) Hence one of the reasons she often used a glamour of a dog over her true one in most places or if she did not know someone well at first etc.

[the_rebel_son]

"Yes, I have heard of the Oracles of Delphi." He does remember that though he never visited the place. He and Apollo were not on the best of terms because of personality clash on a very basic level.

He doesn't mind any checking or movement of his feathers. He knows just having her here is a big step. This was about helping Aal feel comfortable.

"Fears are built over time in cultures and societies." He can readily agree to that after so many being told about him over the centuries. "Is there anywhere particular you would like to go?

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

She nods softly. "Most have.." She murmurs softly in a statement of fact. "Though in some realms their fates vary." She murmurs probably something he'd be more used to than some of the usual folks. "Ahem, well according to family legend.." She softly preferences. "There was a time when a group of those who had the gift were transported to The Enchanted Forest..For safety and given a choice. "

She's very careful and gentle. She wouldn't want to accidentally pull any pinons or anything after all. Aal tries her best to ease a little she takes in and let's out several long and deep breaths.

"Indeed, of like learning no to eat certain berries when out in the woods..Which..to be fair there are many woodland areas back home." She murmurs slightly wry but sincere. There were magically inclined or..perhaps bred ones as well, two-headed (from Agraba) even. She thinks of several she'd seen in various ways whether from 'flashes/visions ' or medical and lore books.

She hums softly in thought. "Um,.." She tilts her head in thought. Perhaps some area that wouldn't induce a panic would be good. "Ah, not off the top of my head..any suggestions?" She answers and asks in return.

[the_rebel_son]

He sighs, even as a giant serpent. "In my creation I was unable to save them, the oracles and gifted."

He nods to her assumptions. "Yes, though it sometimes extends to where one poisonous red berry makes people fear all red berries. Then the fear becomes detrimental." That was how Lucifer saw the fear of snakes. It was something that had evolved from helpful to detrimental.

He had no specific ideas either. "We can walk or if you are feeling up to it we can visit with some of the others." it is a gentle nudge to move past her fears because Lucifer knew that none of the snakes here would harm her.

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Her face and shoulders fall softening. "I'm sorry to hear it." She murmurs and reaches out to gently try and stroke him in a comforting gesture feeling a bit of grief and guilt. Even if they weren't her kin by blood she felt a bond with any of her 'sisters' regardless of realm and origin. She leans forward to try and lay her check upon his head in lieu of a hug.

"Most powers go after the servants to strike at their more powerful masters." She states a soft edge of a growl in her tone even if it's a statement of a cruel fact. A bully was a bully anyway you sliced it. She felt most keenly for those caught in the crossfire. Who oft suffered most.

She hums and nods a little. "That is true." She knew say some venom and such could be used for medical purposes within reason and carefully. But you would not be finding her doing the milking.

She hums and glances slightly down out of the corner of her eye. As she ponders. "We er..could visit." She murmurs softly back reluctant to leave her perch now that she has it. For a number of reasons.

[the_rebel_son]

Lucifer reads her body language and adjusts his body so she can comfortably move without feeling like she might pitch off onto the ground. "I feel for them but we did all we could for those God came for."

The truth was that they were outnumbered two to one against the host of heaven. With God being involved things got very dangerous and only so much could be done. It was the true brutality of genocide and war, the ones looking to save the attacked could never save everyone.

"Or children and families." Lucifer adds with tangible sadness.

He is happy to hear her willingness to try and glances back at her. Though a serpent mouth wasn't the best for a smile the twinkle was certainly in his eyes. "Do you wish to start with the small children or their mother?"

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

She smiles softly and gratefully, "Thank ya kindly." She murmurs softly with a soft nod. Her face softens quite a bit. Again that sounded like a very cold and cruel world and thing to live through as well as with.

"Aye," Aal murmurs softly trying to nuzzle him with her check in the way of canine comfort. She sniffles a little, wee ones and packs were precious precious beings. Trying to pet his nape feathers or tween his shoulders.

She tries her best to give a small smile. That she hopes is more hopeful than sheepish. She could have her skittish moments but she was trying to put on her brave face. "Mmmhmm." She hums softly twitching her nose in thought. "Well, I wouldn't want to be disrespectful." But working one's way up also had it's good points and merits.

[the_rebel_son]

Lucifer started walking away from where Leviathan laid and toward another tree. Beneath it there was a larger snake but it would be within reason for a wild snake on Earth. When it raised up to look at their approach there are wings. Though the mother isn't what he is going for, but the tiny ones with the downy wings. These are only about 2 feet long and all cuddled up in a pile in the sun.

"How would you feel about visiting with the hatchlings?"

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Aal blinks and half tucks her chin close to his head or neck as he does so. She swallows softly but hugs and tries to hold on tight but doing her best to not make him uncomfortable. Her eyes widen a little but she'll not be dismounting from her new perch anytime soon. "Well um, I suppose we could say hello." She murmurs compromising manner yes, a safe distance and looking should be fine. She thinks even though she shivers a little. Though she's also semi reminded of drawings etc she's seen of occamys.

[the_rebel_son]

He feels the shiver race through the woman on his back and slows to a stop while turning his serpentine neck to look at her.

"We can stop here and wait to see if one is adventurous enough to join us." They were still quite a few feet away from the hatchlings when he lowers his body to the ground. "You are safe here."

He folds and shifts his wings to create a sunshade for Aal while she remains on his back.

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Aal hums softly half uncertain but then blinks a few times and stills as he does so tilting her head in a canine manner to the right. "Oh, um whatever you think best." She murmurs diplomatically and softly following his lead. After all, he would know them best.

Her tummy clenches as she stills as he does so yet trying to move with as she would on her beloved steed. She glances tween him and the wee ones a little warily but swallows thickly. Mentally she was inclined to think 'I'm holding you to that.' Physically she was going a little cotton-mouthed again.

She then blinks and looks up in pleasant surprise. "Oh..thank you." She murmurs warmly at his thoughtfulness and eyeing his very pretty wings.