The Serpent and The Konti (Savi)

[Nira'lia]

41st 512 Summer The Konti had not been to a lot of different cities in her life, but she could definitely say that Syliras wasn’t one of her favorites. Syliras seemed so stuffy, with its high walls and strict laws. It didn’t make her comfortable. While it also said she was safe here, it also made her wary of her every movement. On the morning of the fourty-first, she gave herself an excuse to leave its walls. She told herself she wouldn’t wander too far for her own safety, though she did strap her suvai to her back just for good measure. Nira’lia knew that there was a vast wilderness just outside the city, and she hoped she would be able to find some wild herbs that she could put to good use. ‘If I stay real close to the city, I’m sure I’ll be safe…’ she told herself. The Konti knew that most wild animals stayed away from humans, after all. Nira’lia walked along the exterior of the wall. There was a light expanse of greenery along it. Plants and weeds grew on the path, although there was nothing that would be useful—so she continued to walk. There were trees as well but they were scarce, though most of them reached high. ‘Yarrow!’ she realized, as she saw a thin patch of disc-shaped flowers. Yarrow was one of the more common herbs, and as such the Konti wasn’t surprised to see them here. Nira’lia rushed to the patch and leaned down, and then she started to pluck them.

[Savitaire]

Because the trees were scarce it gave plenty of sun for grass to grow tall in places. Nearby where the woman was picking the plants a silver and black python lay coiled up soaking in the sun. The grass was about waist high and perfect for concealing the forty five foot long Dhani that lay at rest not too far from the woman. The serpent stirred, his head lifting and his forked tongue flicking out as he felt the vibrations of movement as well as tasting the heat of living flesh. He uncoiled silently, moving in for a closer look, as he moved closer the grass grew shorter, but since he wasn’t coiled up he had no fear of getting spotted if he moved quietly. Humans didn’t come out as deep as this one had, it made him curious, as a snake he didn’t see her as he would have if he was in his human form. However this didn’t make him change his course to move away to change back, he had the option of doing so after he had a closer look.

He moved a small portion of his upper body in to the patch, she’d spot his head and part of the rest of him, but not much to really see how long he truly was. He was thick around, she could probably hug him and not touch fingertips. Yet for all his size he didn’t appear aggressive, one might get the sense he was just interested in what was going on. His scales had a shiny healthy sheen to them, he was a perfect specimen for his species. His head was bigger than hers and she’d get a good view of one silver grey slitted eye as well as seeing the flicker of his blue black tongue as he inspected her quietly.

[Nira'lia]

The task of plucking stem after stem was incredibly mundane. As she went about it, Nira’lia let her mind wander. Her stomach grumbled and she couldn’t help but think about what she would have for lunch that day. Perhaps the marketplace of Syliras would have something nice to offer? Blinking, she heard the grass rummage before her. It was a very slight sound but it didn’t get past her. She turned her head and looked puzzled. Then, she saw it… the head of a serpent. She could only see its head and part of its body, but it didn’t take a genius to realize that it was a massive creature. The Konti shrieked and put her arms up in panic, and the plants that she had been collecting were discarded to the ground. Nira’lia fell on her bottom and attempted to scamper away. She had no way of knowing that it was a Dhani (nor did she know what a Dhani was), and thus she was terrified at the fact that a large, wild serpent was staring right at her. She fumbled for her suvai. Soon, she held the three-pronged weapon and shakily pointed it at the snake as she slowly attempted to get to her feet. Nira’lia knew nothing about snakes—were they intimidated by blades?

[Savitaire]

If Savitaire had had the ability to chuckle he probably would have, the sight she made even with a serpents heat vision/taste was enough to bring him humor, till she brandished a weapon. The shine from the blade reflected the heat and turned white hot to his senses, he moved back a little unsure. Did he attack and risk injury or did he do nothing? Her fear made her body temperature rise, he hadn’t meant to scar her. He lifted his head from the grass bringing a portion of himself to about her eye level, his head tilted a bit to the side as his tongue flicked out a bit more rapidly. His body weaved a bit from side to side, but again he didn’t do anything aggressive. A pile of plants picked from the ground lay near him and he gingerly moved his tail near it. It took dexterity to coil the tip of his tail around as much of it he could, some fell out, but when he lifted it towards her she’d see him trying to give back the plants as an apology. This of course was not natural behavior for a snake, it marked him as a sapient being for it was clear he understood he had startled her.

His whole body was pure muscle, from snout to tail, he was used to doing complicated movements to get where he needed and while it was a bit clumsy, he had managed to pick up the plants. He certainly hoped she got the message and didn’t try attacking him, he really didn’t feel like bleeding over a misunderstanding. Besides, she was much too small to be a proper meal, hardly even a snack, so why go through all the trouble? Much easier if he did his best to befriend her instead, one could never have too many friends, especially when he would eventually change to his human form and properly apologize.

[Nira'lia]

When the snake raised its head and moved forward, the more Nira’lia felt terrified. But it didn’t move towards her… instead, it was moving towards the plants. Startled, Nira’lia watched him, though she still had her brandished weapon in the air pointing at him. ‘Do snakes… eat yarrow?’ Her confusion was evident in her expression. Perhaps the snake was angry because she had invaded his territory? She was just content that it wasn’t making any sudden movements to attack her, and as such, she kept her ground as well. It took her a while to realize that he was attempting to pick the plants up. And when he made the gesture to give them back to her, she recognized it. Though she was still wary, Nira’lia placed her weapon aside. She realized that it wouldn’t be wise to be aggressive if he wasn’t. After all, the snake obviously had the upper hand when it came to physical stature. It was best not to anger him. “Are you a kelvic?” she inquired. The Konti tilted her head in puzzlement. If this snake was a kelvic, it would make sense to her. Nira’lia still wouldn’t take the flowers from him, even if he was offering it to her. She was not yet fully convinced that she was safe.

[Savitaire]

It seemed she still wasn’t convinced he wasn’t going to hurt her, he tried to think of what he could do to set her at ease. Then he had an idea, a silly one, but if it went over well she’d probably relax. He moved the plants close to his face gingerly taking two plants in to his mouth before turning his head totally upside-down and making his tongue stick out. It was a very silly gesture, he wasn’t totally pleased about it either, but if she’d put the weapon away he’d be much much more at ease. The plants tasted vile, he wanted nothing more than to let them drop so he could get rid of the vague taste in his mouth. He was a predator, not a grass eater, but a sacrifice to one’s pride had to be made in the face of danger.

[Nira'lia]

Nira’lia burst out giggling. Oh, yes, this wasn’t just an ordinary snake. He was evidently going through the effort to make her feel at ease, and that had done just the trick. All wariness aside, Nira’lia continued to laugh. It wasn’t as much as the creature’s silly expression but also the gesture itself. It was either a Kelvic or a very intelligent snake—a snake which could actually converse with people. “Thank you!” she said when she finally controlled her laughter. She was showing her gratitude towards his gesture of picking the plants back up. Nira’lia reached out to take back the plants, all her previous inhibitions gone. As the Konti reached forward, she couldn’t avoid brushing her fingers against his scales. She did it almost on purpose, just to be able to finally conclude if he were a Kelvic or just a snake. Touching a Kelvic (or a Dhani) would cause her to have a vision about his most precious moment, while nothing would appear if he were just an animal. It was strange, but her Konti gift didn’t work for normal animals. The moment she would touch him, she would find out what he really was.

[Savitaire]

The brush of her fingers on his scales wasn’t anything he’d ever felt before, no one had ever touched him in his most natural form, ever. Even as a child his mother hadn’t really given him much contact, no more than necessary as she was none too pleased about having her last child be a male. He didn’t know she had a gift in to seeing the things he cherished, but what she would feel is her fingers brushing over his scales and the odd pleasure it gave him. Nothing more than that, a sign one might take as whoever he was, was a person who hadn’t had things he truly treasured. Yet despite this he was friendly, one might not expect that if they truly knew about what he was and what his race was normally like. However that was just typically him, while he was most certainly capable of great savagery, it was contained within him for those times he truly needed to unleash his fury. It took a strong will to control such intense savage instincts, but he felt he was better off doing so.

He moved out from the grass fully, coiling loosely around her, she’d see how long he was and if she wanted free she could simply step out. The sun turning the black of his scales like ink, while the silver to a shimmery polish; even the grey of his belly was glossy. Yet just as he seemed to settle he was slithering off back in to the grass, while he wasn’t as fast as a Viper, he was certainly faster than one might expect from something his size. It didn’t take him long to find his bag, change to his human form, dress and make his way back the way he had come. He didn’t sneak up, but he didn’t tromp through the grass either. When he was close enough he bent down to pick up the rest of her herbs holding them out grinning warmly at her “Sorry for startling you miss…”

There was a hint of a hissing pronunciation to his s’s, but it was faint and you had to pay attention to catch it. With how quiet it was around them she’d probably hear it, but in a crowded city? Who knew. As a human he stood at six foot four and weighed at a lithe and stocky one hundred and ninety five pounds. He was much taller and built more solid than average, his black hair reminiscent of the ink black of his scales and his eyes a silver grey like his scales with a hint of softer grey like on his belly. He was dressed in loose tan pants, leather sandals and a long sleeved cream tunic. “Its easier to talk in this form than in my other, I trust I am less intimidating now?”

[Nira'lia]

Nira’lia had expected a vision from his past, but instead, what had happened was entirely strange and new to her. Nothing in her surroundings changed, though she did feel happiness well up inside her. And she saw a very quick image of… herself? It was as if she was coming from his eyes, right at that moment. His most precious moment was that moment right there? She certainly had never experienced something like that before. Blinking, she watched the snake coil itself around her. The Konti put her hands on her lap and watched him, still puzzled. And soon enough he left her there, and she was completely lost. Dazed, she just stayed there. After a few moments, she contemplated getting up and leaving, until the tall grass rustled once more and a man emerged before her. It was a tall and stocky man, and the Konti looked up at him curiously. It wasn’t until he spoke up that she figured out who he was. There was an odd difference to the way he spoke, but Nira’lia didn’t think much of it at that moment. Nira’lia chuckled and grinned at him widely. Nodding, she said, “Yes! Your Kelvic form is very grand, but it’s also very intimidating!” She still thought he was a Kelvic. Gently, she took the plants from him with appreciation. “What are you doing out here…?” the Konti asked.

[Savitaire]

He shook his head “I’m not a Kelvic, I’m much more…” He looked a bit sad “I really didn’t mean to frighten you, people usually don’t come out this far so when I heard you I got curious. I’m glad I changed forms, with these eyes I can see you much better, we have scales in common it seems, though mine are in a different form.” He’d never seen a human race that had scales, just another reason why he was glad to explore, so many interesting people in the world. “I was basking in the sun, I like getting away from the city, it’s a bit…overwhelming with all the tastes in the air, besides that I am positive the people within would be none too pleased to find they share their nest with one like myself so its good to be free of this skin every so often.”

He studied the herbs in her hands curious, he wondered if she’d mind explaining what she was collecting the greenery for. “So, why are you gathering plants? I don’t think those are edible, as little as I tasted in my other shape it still tasted awful, though as a snake I don’t generally eat green things, just things that eat the green things.”

By asking he was sure he’d learn something new, he certainly hoped she wouldn’t mind a bit of company. Her pale hair and scales fascinated him, as much as he was an oddity it seemed to him she was the one that was more exotic between the two of them.