Original script by Akuru

A Cold Heart

A young traveler named Alan was walking along the path near a running river. Seeing as it was midday and the sun was beating down on his back, he stopped by and sat under a grove of pear trees. Unloading his back pack and laying down his weapons, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Alan: "Whew! It's about time for a break. Walking that far from the city in this country land really takes it out of you."

He took notice of the large pears that grew above his head and decided to try one. He knocked one down with his longsword, catching it with his other hand.

Alan: "Gotcha!"

Sitting under the shade, a light breeze began blowing through his tossed hazel brown hair. The running river was a beautiful sight, despite the lack of vegetation of the plain-like terrain. River trout were swimming in place waiting for a passing bug to drop in. There were birds nesting in the cool of the trees, chirping to one another and feeding their young. Alan gave a sigh and smiled.

Alan: "Thank you my Maker, my God for giving me beautiful sight and this delicious food."

As he finished up his light snack, Alan began dozing off.

Alan: 'It's so nice…'

The feel of the cool breeze in the shade and the sounds of nature surrounding him began to ease his mind and soon he fell asleep. Little did he suspect that a pair of venomous eyes locked their gaze upon him. From under the same tree stealthily slithered a rather large figure, looming just above him. The figure held a large pointed dagger in hand ready to plunge it into the young travelers heart until…

BAM!

Alan: "Wah!"

Alan woke with a start, not even catching a glimpse of the fiend who nearly robbed him of his life. The figure slinked quickly back up into the tree.

CLACK!Clack, clack.

Across the river came the noises of a pair of rutting bipedal drakes. Alan had never seen these creatures before and decided to take the moment to sketch the scene. Pencil in hand, he began drawing.

Alan: "Oh wow! This is a rare sight!"

The larger male locked it's spiked, dome head with the other in somewhat of a headbutting sumo match. Smoke began sizzling from their nostrils, making them look fiercer and enticing to the nearby herd of females.

Alan: 'This is so cool.'

While enamored with the spectacular brawl, he failed to notice the figure slinking back down the tree ready to kill him. While feminine in appearance, the figure was nonetheless threatening. Suddenly, it caused an unnecessary amount of rustling and that got Alan's attention.

?: "HAAAH!"

Alan: "Woah!"

As the figure thrust the large dagger at him, he quickly grabbed his sword that laid at his side and locked blades with the murderess.

Alan: "Whew, you almost got me!"

He locked his somewhat frightened gaze with her fierce catlike emerald eyes. Her young, youthful face, though had a few cuts and a scar on her right cheek, was contorted into an angry scowl as she clenched her teeth. However, that was the least thing that caught his attention.

Alan: "Pardon me, miss."

She growled, increasing the pressure on her dagger.

He took a good long look at a large, serpentine tail that sagged behind the girl. He then noticed that the tail was fused to her hips.

Alan: "Y-you're a-!"

Lamia: "HRRGH!"

Alan parried the dagger and stood to his feet.

Lamia: "Who are you, thief?!"

Alan: "Thief? Ah, uh… I'm just passing through."

He sheathed his sword. He obviously meant no harm, despite nearly being killed by this unusual beauty.

Lamia: "No, YOU are trespassing! And those are MY pears you're eating!"

As she finished her retort, she lunged at him with her dagger. He instinctively dodged. Alan had faced enemies like this before, but given his current circumstance, he wasn't accustomed to fighting women. Often the chivalrous type, he chose to spare lives rather than take them. Just the same, she then tripped him with the extension of her tail in a sweeping motion.

Alan: "Oof! Touché."

Lamia: "I don't take to kindly to your people."

She pointed the dagger at him.

Lamia: "I'm afraid I have to kill you now."

Alan: "W-wait miss!"

He put his hand up in a surrendering pose.

Alan: "A final request before I die…"

Lamia: "Oh, fine."

She let out a begrudging groan before rolling her eyes, looking away for a split second.

Lamia: "Well, what is it? I don't have all da…"

It was just the window he needed. With her sudden carelessness, Alan grabbed his bag and bolted past her.

Lamia: "H-hey! Get back here you!"

Alan had run a bit of a distance before she caught up to him. For a girl with no legs, she was surprisingly fast.

Alan: "Huffhuffhuff…"

He came to a suddent stop as her tail lashed out on front of him, causing him to jump over it. It missed. She swiped at his feet again. He stumbled a jump and accidentally stomped her tail.

Alan: "Ah!"

Lamia: "EEE! Ow! You jerk!"

The snake girl reeled her tail back. Alan tried scrambling back to his feet she was once again looming over him pointing her deadly blade at his neck. He gulped as a trickle of sweat ran down his face.

Lamia: "Go ahead. Run. Run all you want. I know this area and there's nowhere you can hide that I can't find."

She donned a rather sadistic look to her seemingly innocent visage. Her smile turned into a venomous grin as a pair of fangs peeked out. Staring death in the face, Alan had an idea.

Alan: "Ahem, my apologies."

He scooted back, standing up to his feet.

Alan: "It was wrong of me to run from a lady."

Lamia: "…Excuse me? Lady? Are you out of your mind?"

Alan: "Uh…"

Lamia: "I am a lamia. A monster. I and my kindred are shunned by the world you relish in. Frankly, I enjoy the solitude.

Alan: "But… you're a girl."

Lamia: "Well said, captain obvious. There are women like me as well as men."

Alan stood there for a moment. This was new territory for him. He stood quietly and looked her over. She was obviously attractive and seemed to have a figure close to his own age. However, coming across a girl with a snake body for legs was not your average encounter. She intrigued him, though his fascination was not well reciprocated. She felt disturbed by his gazing and shouted.

Lamia: "What?!"

Alan: "It's just…"

His next movements were the most baffling thing the girl had ever experienced in her life. Alan walked up casually and took hold of the wrist with the hand holding the dagger. Shocked by this behavior, she unwittingly dropped it. Alan looked at her with kind eyes.

Lamia: "Wh-what are you?!"

Alan: "Just… hear me out. I think you look just fine. Look."

Alan took her hand and put his palm to hers in a comparative way.

Alan: "We're not so different. We have the same hands. You're not a monster at all."

She snatched her hand back. A slight irritated breath escaped her nostrils.

Lamia: "The heat is obviously driving you mad. However, since you've managed to amuse me, I'll give you a chance to escape with your life."

He had forgotten about her tail. He was trapped in the circle of her immense tail, like a scaly arena. She picked up her dagger and took a swipe at him.

Lamia: "If you manage to kill me, I'll let you go."

Alan: "Ah, well… I don't… Hmm. Alright."

The lamia retracted her tail back to her, sitting up in traditional cobra-like fashion.

Alan: "However, I am more partial to using a staff."

Lamia: "Granted."

She threw him a nearby staff as she brandished her other matching dagger. Alan caught the staff and readied his stance.

Lamia: 'This will be fun. I'll give this idiot a slow and painful end!'