It was sleeping.

The huge white snake was far below us. Near a large lake. One being fed by a large waterfall.

It was that waterfall we were near, and why we didn’t need to worry over the snake hearing or smelling us.

“I must say… I’m very excited,” Witch said as she stared down at the snake.

Excited…?

I didn’t share that sentiment. The huge waterfall nearby was loud, so likely hiding our voices and us walking, but…

What about smell…? Sure the waterfall had a strangely strong smell, thanks to all the water turning into mist and stuff, but…

“Mighty big trees here in this region. Where I’m from they’re all scrawny,” Witch then said as she tilted her head and crossed her arms in amusement.

Right…

I nodded as I studied the snake, and the tree it was coiled around. I couldn’t tell from this angle if it was on the bottom of the tree’s trunk, or half way up it, but it had wrapped around the tree several times. Coiled around it, un-moving.

It was scary to think how right she was. That was a larger tree. Its limbs and branches were a little bare, but something told me it wasn’t because it was old or sickly… It was likely because as it had coiled around the tree it had shaken all the leaves off it.

“So uh… Witch… how are we going to do this, exactly?” I asked her.

“With a lot of effort,” she said.

Right. Effort. Okay…

My tail twitched as I wondered if I was going to die here.

I didn’t want to, of course… but… well…

At least I’d gotten a few moons of enjoyment before I did.

Witch and I have been traveling together for several moons now. I no longer worried over my older brother showing up in the middle of the night, to wring my throat. And I no longer doubted Witch in any form.

She had taught me a lot. About the world. The humans. Herself.

Although I’d never asked her what a friend was… I was very confident that I could describe it now.

She was a friend.

And I’d like to be a friend to her.

Which was why I was willing to help her, if I could.

Witch stepped up to the end of the cliff, and knelt down. I studied the way she did so, and went to copy her. I placed one knee right at the edge, and leaned forward just a tad.

Upon doing so I found I was able to lean over the ledge, and look all the way to the bottom, and not outright feel like I was going to fall or tip over. All of my weight and momentum was firmly placed on my knee.

“If it’s sleeping… that means its either hurt, or full,” she said.

“Doesn’t look hurt,” I said. Even from here its white scales were rather bright and imposing.

Probably why it was sleeping around the tree like it was. The thing really couldn’t hide. At least not well. Particularly not in this dense green forest.

Though…

I glanced up to the cloudy skies, and noted the faint chill on the breeze that was pushing them around.

Winter was coming. And with it, so too would the snow.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“I have bad news, or good news depending on how you take it, Rennalee,” Witch then said.

“Hm…?” I glanced at her as she gestured to the snake.

“She definitely ate your elder.”

Looking back to the snake, I frowned and wondered how she could tell. “You sure…?”

“Absolutely. Not only is she bigger than I saw her last time, I now sense you within it. Your bloodline,” Witch said.

“Huh… well… I suppose it is what it is,” I said.

It was a little concerning to learn that even the elder couldn’t face and kill the snake… but… well…

Learning he was dead was not going to either make me happy, or sadden me. He had never been outright cruel to me, but he had also like the rest of my family sat back and allowed the abuse.

Abuse which I now knew full well was wrong, thanks to my new friend.

She had been abused too. By her own family.

Which was why she had so readily noticed my own, and thusly accepted me.

“I’m to assume that means she’s stronger now,” I guessed.

“Yes. She will be.”

Great…

“But no matter how great a creature… none can survive my touch,” Witch said as she raised a hand and clasped it.

I wasn’t sure yet if her words were bravado or not, but I wanted to believe her.

“So… do we just… walk up and touch her?” I asked.

Witch chuckled at me and shook her head. “No. I need to place a full hand on her, just as I do when healing you. And I’ll need a few moments as I do so. If she moves or kills me before I can do that, then…” she shrugged, not finishing her statement.

Just wonderful…

I could see myself accomplishing it. Leaping on the snakes back, behind the head, and holding my hand against it long enough to do that… but her…?

While traveling I’ve come to learn she really was just a human. Even if she had magic and glowing eyes, she was weak and frail.

I could probably snap her arm with my tail alone.

“Well… You’ve been hunting her for years… so I’m sure you got a plan, yeah?” I asked.

“I do. And with you it’ll go even smoother,” she said.

Good. Glad to hear it.

“But…” Witch then leaned back, away from the ledge. I turned too, since she faced me as if to address me.

“But…?” I asked worriedly.

Witch studied me, and I noted the way her eyes dimmed a little. It was interesting that although… different, we were so similar.

Just like my tail and ears, her eyes made subtle little movements and changes to tell me what she was thinking or feeling. Great emotion? They got brighter. Dimmed a little? Deep in thought.

“What will you do? Once the deed is done?” she asked.

“Shouldn’t we worry about that after…?” I asked back. Something told me our odds weren’t that good.

Witch smirked and shook her head. “No. Take it from me… having a dream helps in moments of greatness,” she said.

“Dream…?” I wasn’t following. What did dreams have to do with this?

She was long used to me not knowing certain words, or understanding certain concepts. She gestured lightly at me and smiled. “What do you want to do, my friend? After tonight?” she asked.

Tonight…? So she planned on attacking once the sun set…?

Risky, but I wasn’t going to voice such a concern right now.

“Well… can’t I stay with you?” I asked.

Witch blinked, and for a tiny little moment… I saw the worry and doubt on her face. It disappeared quickly though, and her smile returned. “You can. As long as I’m still around, at least. Is that what you’d like to do? I can teach you a lot, if you’d like. As much as I can while I can, at least,” she said.

Hm... She was speaking oddly again.

I nodded though, and smiled back at her. “I like being your friend,” I said.

She nodded slowly, and then reached over. I took her hand, and after a few moments I felt it get warm.

I hadn’t felt hurt, or needing healing… but she still did it all the same. “I know you don’t care for vengeance or anything… but let’s kill her all the same,” she said.

“Sure,” I nodded.

“I’ve been hunting her for years,” Witch whispered.

“Hm,” I nodded. Felt like we’d been hunting her together for a year or so too, already. Though I knew it’s only been a few moons. Or months. She called them months.

“So… with that being said… Know that I’ll save you, and it’ll be okay.”

“Hm?”

Then the warmth from her hand filled me… spreading throughout my body with a rush. My ears and tail twitched, but I didn’t allow myself to panic just yet. After all I knew her warmth wasn’t a bad thing. It meant she was healing me or…

“Trust me. So I can trust you,” Witch then said, and then pushed me.

For the smallest moment I couldn’t comprehend anything. Her words. Her actions. The world…

But then before I could wrap my head around any of it, I fell on the sharp and hard rocks at the bottom of the cliff.