Years Later in the Toxic Bog…
The Serpentine of the Venomari tribe were collecting their harvest once again as the dawn was beautifully shining in the sky above them.
Acidicus watched his people enjoy the day as he kept an eye on them from his home that was on the highest hill. The village was a thriving one as many were happy while the children played their little games as their parents performed work for the tribe. Food was plenty as the crops and hunt here good in the bogs. Younglings were difficult to reason with and quite mischievous when they wish to be, but a treasure nonetheless. They played happily among the village as they wanted some fun and playtime while the few of the less than busy serpentine watching them.
Among them was the young and only human in the entire village, Lloyd, his beloved adopted son. The boy has truly grown up since he brought him into his tribe all those years ago. He was once a cute and giggly little toddler, now he was an energetic and adventurous young boy, who loves to swim in the bog and practice spitting poison since Acidicus inducted him into the tribe by creating venom glands into his cheeks. Not as powerful as the natural, but still effective when dealing with a nasty enemy or a hungry predator. Lloyd was also given clothing sewn by the materials found in the bog since he did not have scales of his own as well as little beads to his sword-cut hair to keep it bowl hair shaped.
At first, when the General introduced Lloyd into the tribe, his people were not thrilled about having a human about to join their tribe as one of them. But as time went on, they grew to love him, like the General has as they saw Lloyd as one of them, sheltering him, protecting him, keeping him from leaving the territory of their land as dangers lurked beyond their home. It was better if the human boy stayed here as they can better protect him.
The only Human that Lloyd had ever seen was his Uncle Wu, visiting him to keep his human culture and nature being taught to him. The elder human did not want his nephew to forget where he came from, even though he was happy where he is. Wu gave him treasures from the outside world, such as candy, comics, and other interesting things. Acidicus never knew why Wu even bothered since this was where Lloyd belonged, with his adoptive family.
Maybe the old man didn't want to let go.
"Hey guys, want to go Bog swimming again?" Lloyd wondered as the children were trying to figure out what was going on.
"We did that last time. Let's go lizard hunting!" One of the younglings suggested.
"No way our parents will allow us to keep them! They'll throw them in the pot or farm them for meat." Another youngling answered, "We could play hide and seek."
"Boring, there are no places to hide. We can play a board game." The third youngling hissed, "Or go into the echoing caves?"
"Kids, help carry the harvest!" The mother of the three requested as Lloyd was left alone to play by himself.
If they won't go Bog swimming, then he'll do it himself.
In the Toxic Bog…
To anything else that dared to dip into the bog, it was being swallowed by the acidic bogs to disappear forever.
But to those who have lived in the swamps for years and year on end, like the Venomari and their adopted human son, Lloyd, it was a perfect place to swim. Lloyd especially loved swimming in the bog since it was the closes place to the outside world and makes his skin so smooth.
Lloyd was always so curious to see the outside world and see other humans, see what they do. The young human wanted to know where he came from and meet other humans besides his uncle. But his Papa, his adoptive father told him other humans were dangerous and could not be trusted.
But how can a race that so many wonders be so bad?
Lloyd then heard a noise coming from the bushes and instinctively duck into the bog, only his eyes to be seen. Emerging, were two younglings that wore odd clothing. They looked like Lloyd and his uncle. They were humans.
"Man, I heard they were supposed to be here! We should have run into them by now." A dark-haired one whined.
"Can it, Brad! They could be anywhere. The Serpentine is supposed to be here." The ginger boy huffed in anger.
"Serpentine?" Lloyd spoke out loud then realized he spoke out loud.
"Hey, who's out there?" The ginger boy demanded as they looked around to find the voice.
They soon saw Lloyd's eyes peeking from the Bog as it caused the boy to dive deeper into the bog.
"Hey, wait!" The black-haired pleaded, "Are you a member of the Serpentine?"
Lloyd then stopped as he peeked out again.
"I mean, you have to be. I mean, only a powerful serpentine can survive the bog, right? Can you come out and talk with us?" The ginger-haired boy with glasses asked him.
Lloyd hesitated for a moment, then realized they were not going to hurt him, and this was a chance to meet other humans. He slowly stepped out of the bog as they were surprised to see the child.
"Wait, you're human?" The one called Brad gasped.
"Y-yeah and I'm also a member of the Great Venomari tribe." Lloyd answered as he presented his tribe's necklace, a toxic jade stone marked with the Venomari crest, "They raised me."
"Cool~. So, can you take us to meet your family? We want to meet them." The ginger-haired boy requested.
"Sorry, but my Papa said we can't bring outsiders into the tribe." Lloyd answered, "I'm Lloyd by the way."
"Brad Tudabone." The black-haired boy introduced.
"My name is Gene. Now that we're not strangers, how do we not become outsiders?" Gene asked.
"Sorry, but you are either with the tribe or not. They are only very few humans allowed into our tribe." Lloyd answered as Gene took some time to think of a plan.
"Really? That stinks. They can bring you outside into our villages-."
"Actually, the Venomari never leaves our territory. I'm forbidden from ever leaving to the outside world. Papa thinks humans except me, and my uncle are bad." Lloyd answered.
"Hey, maybe we should take you out and show you the sights of the human villages." Gene offered, grabbing him by the arm.
"But I'm not allowed to leave-." Lloyd began as Gene began to pull.
"I think your 'Papa' meant not to go out to the outside world… alone. But you won't be alone, we'll be here and if they get upset, we'll take full responsibility." Gene promised as Lloyd looked a little conflicted.
"Okay, but just for today, then I have to go back home," Lloyd answered as he followed the boys.
"So, what's the plan?" Brad wondered.
"We take Lloyd to a village, he uses his snake powers to show off he's from the serpentine and hopefully, his family will come to find him. Then we'll say the village kidnapped him." Gene explained, "It would be more than enough to start out candy raid."
The boys then laughed evilly as Lloyd looked at them oddly.
Did all humans laugh like that?
He did not.