The blue sun beat down on her as Anokhi stood on the edge of the chasm, which marked the boundary of the human empire. She wiped the sweat of her brow and focused her eyes across the canyon on the object of desire. The towering bones of the Naagdevs.
The deadlands, people called them, but she had to get across. She just had to. She peered over the edge and instinctively took a step back. The canyon went deep, hundreds of feet deep, with dangerous edges and rocks as sharp as daggers. It felt like she was standing on the edge of the world, because it was.
“First time here?”
Anokhi nearly jumped out of her skin. She turned quickly, ready for a fight and saw a teenage boy sitting under a leafless tree. He had crooked teeth, a wispy mustache and dirt all over his face, and bare, muscled arms. He wore snakeskin garments, except the scales were the size of his chest. It was Naagdev skin. He was about the same age as her, she deduced, perhaps a little older.
“I have nothing of worth.” She replied. Her instincts screaming at her to run. The boundary was not a place for a girl alone. Only criminals and the truly insane lurked this close to the Naagdev’s territory.
The boy raised his hands. “I don’t mean, you no harm. I promise.”
Anokhi eyed the sickle and hammer at the boy’s waist.
“These,” he patted them, “they’re tools.”
Anokhi’s eyes widened. “You’re one of the Abysswalkers.”
The boy smiled his crooked smile, “that’s right.”
“But you’re so young?”
“The old don’t last long in this profession. Do you want to be one too?” He eyed her up and down, “don’t see your tools.”
“I-I…” Anokhi had no response for him.
“I see, you’re one of the insane ones then.” He shook his head. “The hunger got to you or the sun?”
“What? No. I want –”
“A piece of the Naagdaitya bones to make a Naaga ring.”
Anokhi started at that. “How did you know?”
“I see a lot of your kind. No tools and no knowledge on how to get across. They just tumble on down and become food for the Naagdev.” He looked to the side, Anokhi followed his gaze and saw the towering gods coiling around each other on the other side of the human boundary. “At least you had the sense of picking the right time. The Naagdevs won’t be coming this way for another week unless they smell fresh blood.” He looked her up and down again.
Anokhi took a step back and crossed her arms. She did not like the look in his eyes.
“Don’t worry, I don’t harbor any ill will towards you. All I ask is that if you are going to be stupid enough to jump down to your death. Can you please not do that anywhere close to me? I happen to like my life.”
Anokhi frowned at him. “I’m not going to die. I’m going to make it across, find a ring and join the Ichadhari.”
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The boy whistled. “The Ichadhari huh?” he paused. He reached into his pant pocket and pulled out a bone white ring.
Anokhi’s breath caught in her throat, and jaw dropped. If her eyes were not playing tricks on her, it was a Naaga ring. Her feet carried her towards it. As she got closer, she saw it was bone white in color and about a fingernail’s length in thickness.
“How did you get this?” She asked the boy.
“I made it.” he examined the ring. “It’s the first one, I’ve ever made. I’m rather proud of it.”
Anokhi stared at the boy, wide eyed, who smirked at her. But then she straightened. “How can I trust that this is the real thing?”
The boy shrugged, “I am no Naag so it will not work for me.” He extended it to her. “You try it on and know for yourself if you have the gift or not. It will save you a trip, nonetheless.”
Anokhi frowned, “what if I run away with it?”
He chuckled and winked. “I’ll catch you.”
She took the ring with a trembling hand. It wasn’t polished like some of the other rings, she had seen on the Ichadhari. It was thick enough that it would only fit on her index finger. She noticed a sharp claw like hand etched into its inside. She looked to him with a frown.
“I took it from the bones of the claws.” He explained.
She knew what that meant. If it worked, it would give her…She drew a deep breath and put it on her index finger. At first, nothing happened, and her heart fell. She slumped her shoulders and tears began to well up, in her eyes. Her dream of joining the Ichadhari was finished.
The boy gasped as he got to his feet. His eyes widened. Anokhi frowned and then looked down to her right hand, except it wasn’t a hand anymore. Not exactly. She gasped, as she brought it up. Her nails had extended, protruding outwards like five swords made of bone. They grew out about three feet in length. The milky color of bone.
Anokhi twirled her hand around, in awe of herself. The claws, her claws were beautiful and sharp. She touched the end of one and came back with a pricked finger.
“I did it. I am a Naagin.” She exclaimed.
“That you are and not just that. I just found out that my ring works.” He extended a hand, “now give it back.”
Anokhi’s heart fell. “B-But—”
“But what?” he raised an eyebrow.
She sighed, “fine.” The ring was not hers to keep. If she stole it, the boy was within his rights to cut off her hand, and she needed her limbs to fulfill her dream. She touched the ring and pulled it forward and her claws were sucked into her nails at once. She took the ring off and held it out to the boy.
The boy rubbed his chin. “You can keep it.”
Anokhi’s eyes lit up. “Really?” Then she got weary of his intentions. “What do you want for it? I have nothing to give you and I’m not going to sleep with you.”
He laughed, “if I would be so lucky that a girl as pretty as you would ever sleep with me.”
Pretty? Me?
He shook his head, “no, the ring is yours, if you come with me on this trip. I’ll teach you to cross the canyons and we can find some more bones for you to make into rings. Whatever we take, you get to keep half.”
It was an offer of a lifetime, and she would be a fool to refuse. But could she trust this boy. He did call me pretty, so he could have other intentions towards me. “B-But this ring?” She looked at the ring in her palm.
“I said, you can keep it, and since you can use it. I’m sure, it will make you feel safe.”
“I’m beginning to wonder if you are the one who is insane. No one would just give someone they just met a Naaga ring. If you sell this thing, you could feed yourself for a month.”
“Two months, actually.” He scratched his head, “maybe, I am insane and just don’t know it. I mean, who in their right mind would cross that,” he pointed to the canyon, “for a bunch of bones and skin.”
Anokhi couldn’t help but laugh. “Fine. I’ll come with you, but you better not try anything.”
“On my honor, pretty girl.” He held up a hand. “By the way, I would love to call you pretty girl or beautiful but I’m sure you have a name.”
She smiled when he called her beautiful. “I’m Anokhi.”
“A pretty name for a pretty girl.”
She groaned, “are you going to be like this, the entire time.”
“Of course, I am insane, after all.” He gave her a mischievous smile.
The sun must have been getting to her. It was even hotter than a moment ago.
“Your name?”
“Oh, sorry.” He bowed his head, “this one is called, Amreek.”