Zelgadis grabbed the handle of his sword and drew it, he was in danger and the treat was close. He looked suspiciously at the stone dog, was it just him or did it look different? Not wanting to take any chances, the chimera slowly backed away, blade ready to hold off any attackers. It was then that a large serpent head jerked out of the crumbling well, its tongue slithered outward, tasting the air and searching for any possible prey. Its scaled skin was black and dark green, with the exception of its belly, which was a dark yellow color.
The snake slithered out its tongue again, this man smelt different than those that it had seen before. The fear that he smelled wasn't like the fear of a normal human being, could it be that it was not the snake this man was afraid of? The serpent was very confused, yet very curious as well, what was different about this person?
" Perhaps we shall see if he tastes any different." Thought the snake to itself.
The chimera's eyes widened," How is it that you, a beast can talk?" he exclaimed, a look of confusion on his face.
At this, the serpent also appeared confused, it's head cocked to the side and it hissed. "What manner of human are you?" It thought. " No matter, you will be killed soon enough. There is no need for your kind here."
Zel stiffened almost as if the snake had wrapped its coils around him. How was it that he was able to hear this creature's thoughts? The snake seemed to climb into the air; it was now towering over him. Zel stood his ground; he was now studying the snake's body, looking for any possible weaknesses. The creature swayed back and forth its movement was hypnotizing. Zel's eyes grew droopy, he couldn't help it, he also couldn't move at all. He was beginning to think that he was surely finished, when there was a howl. His senses were dulled and he couldn't see or hear clearly. He couldn't tell what was happening, was he dead?
He blinked a couple times, breaking the spell; his grip on the sword grew ever tighter. He could see the snake now; it was covered in blood and lying on the ground, completely out of the well now. The unmoving body of a wolf lay not far from the snake. Zelgadis studied the two creatures; neither of them looked to be in very good condition.
Zel looked closely at the serpent, it was still, but despite appearances, it was very much alive. The snake's magic had to be extremely powerful to have paralyzed one such as Zelgadis for so long. Was this the kind of creature that the old man in Seyruun had warned him about? The serpent began to get up from where it laid, unfortunately Zel noticed the movement a little too late. The snake wound itself around the chimera, who hadn't had the time to defend himself properly. The snake proudly waved his head in the air, announcing that victory was his.
The serpent brought its head closer to Zel's face, as if mocking him. Its large maw was wide open. Its poisonous fangs were dripping with venom, which fell on to Zel's shoulder burned right through his cloak. Upon the venom's contact with his skin shrieked in pain. The poison moved fast and was already beginning to effect him.
His body shook as though it were extremely cold. " No, I refuse to die! Not like this!" he thought. He concentrated very hard, trying to keep from passing out. He had almost given up, when he looked at the creatures neck, there was the wound that the wolf had torn open. He knew what to do now. Focusing all of his remaining strength, Zel broke free of the serpent's hold. Then, taking his sword he thrust it into the snake's open wound. Letting go of the sword, Zel collapsed and fell off the snake to the ground. The serpent also fell; its large body tossed itself from here to there until it finally died of the pain.
Zel laid back on a nearby rock, his clothing torn and covered in blood. His eyes searched wildly until they saw the wolf. It was the same wolf that had once been stone. Zelgadis could tell, it looked exactly the same, just not, well, stone. The wolf slowly sat up and was soon on all fours. It approached Zel and sat down beside him. Zel looked at the dog, it had mostly black fur with a few gray strikes to it and its yellow eyes appeared to look strait through anything that they would focus on. As it looked at him, the words," Thank you for freeing me." echoed through Zel's mind. Zel then closed his eyes and slept.
The snake slithered out its tongue again, this man smelt different than those that it had seen before. The fear that he smelled wasn't like the fear of a normal human being, could it be that it was not the snake this man was afraid of? The serpent was very confused, yet very curious as well, what was different about this person?
" Perhaps we shall see if he tastes any different." Thought the snake to itself.
The chimera's eyes widened," How is it that you, a beast can talk?" he exclaimed, a look of confusion on his face.
At this, the serpent also appeared confused, it's head cocked to the side and it hissed. "What manner of human are you?" It thought. " No matter, you will be killed soon enough. There is no need for your kind here."
Zel stiffened almost as if the snake had wrapped its coils around him. How was it that he was able to hear this creature's thoughts? The snake seemed to climb into the air; it was now towering over him. Zel stood his ground; he was now studying the snake's body, looking for any possible weaknesses. The creature swayed back and forth its movement was hypnotizing. Zel's eyes grew droopy, he couldn't help it, he also couldn't move at all. He was beginning to think that he was surely finished, when there was a howl. His senses were dulled and he couldn't see or hear clearly. He couldn't tell what was happening, was he dead?
He blinked a couple times, breaking the spell; his grip on the sword grew ever tighter. He could see the snake now; it was covered in blood and lying on the ground, completely out of the well now. The unmoving body of a wolf lay not far from the snake. Zelgadis studied the two creatures; neither of them looked to be in very good condition.
Zel looked closely at the serpent, it was still, but despite appearances, it was very much alive. The snake's magic had to be extremely powerful to have paralyzed one such as Zelgadis for so long. Was this the kind of creature that the old man in Seyruun had warned him about? The serpent began to get up from where it laid, unfortunately Zel noticed the movement a little too late. The snake wound itself around the chimera, who hadn't had the time to defend himself properly. The snake proudly waved his head in the air, announcing that victory was his.
The serpent brought its head closer to Zel's face, as if mocking him. Its large maw was wide open. Its poisonous fangs were dripping with venom, which fell on to Zel's shoulder burned right through his cloak. Upon the venom's contact with his skin shrieked in pain. The poison moved fast and was already beginning to effect him.
His body shook as though it were extremely cold. " No, I refuse to die! Not like this!" he thought. He concentrated very hard, trying to keep from passing out. He had almost given up, when he looked at the creatures neck, there was the wound that the wolf had torn open. He knew what to do now. Focusing all of his remaining strength, Zel broke free of the serpent's hold. Then, taking his sword he thrust it into the snake's open wound. Letting go of the sword, Zel collapsed and fell off the snake to the ground. The serpent also fell; its large body tossed itself from here to there until it finally died of the pain.
Zel laid back on a nearby rock, his clothing torn and covered in blood. His eyes searched wildly until they saw the wolf. It was the same wolf that had once been stone. Zelgadis could tell, it looked exactly the same, just not, well, stone. The wolf slowly sat up and was soon on all fours. It approached Zel and sat down beside him. Zel looked at the dog, it had mostly black fur with a few gray strikes to it and its yellow eyes appeared to look strait through anything that they would focus on. As it looked at him, the words," Thank you for freeing me." echoed through Zel's mind. Zel then closed his eyes and slept.
