Coils of a Snake
Written by: Maria-Griffon
 
Timid, silent, a mouse peered from behind a towering fallen log with beady blue eyes that shimmered with welled fear. Her heart thundered a million miles a second from how it felt against her breast, silver-white fur bristled as though charged with static. In moments previous she recalled how close she had come to being plucked from the ground in the talons of a avarian, to be dined upon and forgotten as though she had not a sentinent mind - though in truth, she could not speak the tongue of man, no animal of the forest could - but they had their own methods and language of communication. Curious since the silence and peace seemed to have returned with the gradual descent of the amber sun, Tessa leapt down among the grass and sniffed, head atilt with ears perked. Listening ever so carefully. It seemed the green light was confirmed for safe leave. In lightened steps she scampered over the ground, not daring to cease for more than a few seconds until she leant with her back against the smooth, warmed surface of a boulder. A sigh of relief, and Tessa managed to break a tiny smile. "Phew... I should be fine to make it back to the burrow..." She muttered to no other than herself, calming down her shaking nerves. In truth it seemed about the normality, until a smooth voice broke through her thoughts and near caused her to blanch.
 
"Well now, what might a cute mouse as you be doing out alone this fading hour?" She did not want to turn; did not want to meet the sight of what could be her final. In the end though, she had no choice and squeaked in alarm. Sapphire blue eyes met a pair of chocolate-brown that twisted and turned like mixture spun rapidly with a wooden spoon, for reared up and towering above her was the flattened head of a satin-scaled serpent, adorned on the underside with a line of dimmed scarlet. A red belly black, she was certain. Trembling, shaking on hands and knees with her pink tail tucked up beneath her belly, Tessa whimpered.
 
"P-p-please...d-don't...." Words she could not force from her stuttering lips.
 
A raised brow, and the reptile would flick out a gray tongue, teasing the molecules in the air around them, keeping in tune with the warmth of what would be common prey. "Don't?" At first it did not compute and Jason did not understand. Though it was soon painfully obvious. "Oh! Oh! You think I'm going to eat you?" Silence that all but confirmed his question. It humoured him. "No no, I've already had my dinner this evening."
 
Words proven with the distention beneath his scales midlength down, she would inch back, torn between some minor relief and terror. The general direction from which he seemed to be slithering was the same as her home and small clan. Hopefully her mind was leaping to a false conclusion. "Then...then what do you want?" Some summoned bravado within her tone, Tessa panted, breathing in and out, even though it did begin to ease. Until she was startled with the coils that encircled her form in seconds, faster than she could blink and clear her dizzied vision. Instinct, and she began to struggle and squeak, until hushed with the sensitive surface of the warm, squishy tongue as it licked against her teary face. Admitted, the pressure was firm but it was not constrictive. And he'd not bore fangs to taint her blood with venom, if he had any, that was.
 
Jason actually wasn't all that sure, or why he had bothered to open his mouth for conversation in the first place. He never had any other time. So what was it about this one female mouse that held his interest so? "I do not want anything, and please take my word for that if nothing else. It's perfectly normal to fear your natural predator, after all, and to consider each spoken word from a snake is often a lie. Would you feel better if I told you my name?" He questioned with a soft curl of the lips?
 
"...I, would feel better if you let me go." She answered, only taking note to half the previous question. Reluctantly though she would respond with a small swallow, to gain and straighten her voice. "I'm Tessa."
 
"Name's Jason." From the trees lingered a chilled breeze that descended and spiraled, bringing the realisation that night was on the fast approach, and the forest floor would become much more dangerous. He knew where she dwelt - her kind were well known for being soft and tender, a good mouthful but still quite filling... No. Focus! Shaking his head a few times, the cold blooded creature would smile broader, hinting to the darker confines of his mouth. "Listen, it's getting dark and...it really is quite dangerous for you to make a dart and dive back to the mole hills. And...I would..."
 
Such a pause and hesitation was unnatural, and Tessa blinked, waiting.
 
"I would like to look after you; for the night at least. You'd be free to go and return home once the sun was up. Be quite a shame to know you were harmed because you got lost with the pond flooded. Or worse." He chimed, honestly concerned that she might not return to her loved ones - loved ones that he might have, he suddenly thought, devoured for the course of a single meal. The chances were not that likely though. Silver Furs were hard to catch when adults, after all. Trust issue aside, he did patiently await her choice.
 
A choice that was flattering, confusing and quite suspiscious. Snakes ate mice, and if she agreed he could turn on her any second. Thinking on it this way, he never had to go to all this trouble if that was all he wanted in the first place. "I..." She smiled. "I think I'd appreciate that." With this answer Jason grinned as broad as only a snake could, delighted. Though he could not lead her to his den - he would have to carry her - and with a lack of limbs, that was all but impossible. Oh, he had one idea, one that would not settle well considering an ounce of trust had at last been shown.
 
"I am glad to hear that Tessa," he hissed, leaning his snout down and offering a tender, affectionate rub against her head; a touch and affection that she found herself willingly leaning up into. "Allow me to point one thing out, and do not take fear to what I say soon enough. It is hard for one with limbs to make it to my home without some danger from other reptilian hunters. The only safe way to get you there....is offering a snake skin cover for the journey."
 
Blue eyes widened, and her mouth went dry. "Snake skin!? You...you're... If all you wanted to do was eat me then why drone on the act of kindness!? Have some mercy and get it over with." She called and demanded and in a bitter, sour tone, betrayed and wounded. How foolish, to begin to feel for the forked words of a deceitful snake. Served her right. Contrary to her belief though, Jason too seemed wounded - as though he had abruptly been slapped across the bridge of the snout.
 
"Tessa..." It was useless; she refused to look up at him, and to listen. The best thing to do, was leave. Uncoiling from her heated form, the red belly sighed and resumed on his way without so much as a look back towards her. What would it matter. No sooner than his tail was gone from sight Tessa turned with a tear in her eye, hands drawn up to hug herself.
 
"...Jason..." Tessa whispered, though when the hoot of the awakening owl sounded unto the melody of the environment she turned heel and made over the small rise of a grass-mud hill. Making for home. Oblivious to her knowledge though, the serpent had poked his head from the bushes, watching her leave. If she wanted to go and risk her life then fine! ... If that was the case though, why did it bother him so? No. He couldn't possibly dwell on negative thoughts. Being a predator, he knew what kind of dangers would lurk and stalk around the home of one considered prey, and he'd never live it down if she ended up in such a horrible fate. Distanced, he began to follow her, tracking her by scent.