Part 8
The Snake glanced at the girls. This was too amusing… apparently they weren't even thinking of running away! This was really the easiest prey it had ever encountered…
The two Amazons stood upright, like real Kuja-warriors. No matter how small the chances were, they would try to fight.
The Serpent darted at the young amazons, but the very same second its body was snapped back by an incredible force. It felt a hand grab its tail as its body was crashed against the wall. The Animal was puzzled by this sudden attack. Baffled it looked around, in search for the mysterious attacker.
Suddenly it spotted the small human warrior. The small black-haired girl had somehow managed to get up again and was standing in front of her sisters. She was rasping for air, her chest was moving up and down violently with every breath. Blood was flowing out of an enormous flesh wound across her chest and shoulder.
The girl was crippled by the venom and not even able to stand or breathe properly. But she still dared to oppose him. Again.
This was getting annoying…The snake didn't like to face more trouble than necessary. Once a victim was poisoned, fighting it any further was a waste of energy and time. Instead it liked to wait for the prey to finish its death-struggle by its own. But this one turned out to be extremely persistent. It was time to end it for good.
The snake launched towards her, Holding its mouth wide open. The girl didn't seem to even notice the attack. Her bleary eyes could barely focus the enemy; her body almost collapsed by its own weight. The serpent prepared to rip her into pieces. But suddenly its momentum was stopped.
The girl was holding its jaws apart with her bare hands; the poisonous fangs had shoved into her flesh. The Amazon was panting while she struggled to keep the snakes mouth wide open.
Slowly she looked up to the cold, amber eyes of the snake.
"If you touch them … I will kill you…"The warrior hissed through clenched teeth.
The snake was struck by an unexplainable fear. Even though the girl was on the verge of death, her words felt perfectly reliable. Where did this incredible confidence come from?
The warrior was pressing against the snakes jaws so tightly; it felt like they would be ripped apart any second. For the first time in its life the snake hissed in agony. Hancock pierced the serpent with her bloodshot eyes, breathing hard and fast like a furious animal herself. She wouldn't back down, no matter what.
The serpent had seen enough; it didn't want to risk any more. It was unbelievable, but her mere presence felt like a heavy unpleasant weight on the animals shivering body. Carefully it retrieved its fangs. Blood gushed out of the warrior's palms as the snakes fangs drilled out of her flesh. The young girl kept her eyes locked on the serpent, as it moved away further and further until it slowly disappeared into the shadows.
Then all the anxiety fell from her shoulders at last. Her body turned light as a feather. As her back hit the floor it didn't even hurt. Slowly the heat of the battle left her body and a freezing numbness took over.
Hancock felt a warm hand press her cold fingers eagerly; thin desperate voices were trying to break through to her. She wanted to answer, tell them that everything was fine. But her lips weren't able to form a single word.... She felt tired, so incredibly tired… she closed her eyes and finally allowed the darkness to engulf her… It was fine, as long as her sisters were safe.
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After what felt like a terrible dark eternity, Hancock finally returned from her nightmare. It was the sound of bright laughter, which woke her up from her sleep. It sounded like children were playing near by. The warm light of the sun tickled her skin. As Hancock tried to move she felt a blanket was covering her body.
Suddenly a tender hand touched her forehead and rested there for a moment.
"Do not worry. The fever is ceasing, the worst part is over." A raspy, old voice spoke quietly.
Close to her, Hancock felt somebody breathe out in relief.
"Thank god...I knew she would make it, she is a tough one after all…" A familiar voice answered.
Slowly Hancock opened her eyes and recognized a darkish face that had bend over hers.
It took a while until she could get a sharp picture but finally she could make out a worried scowl. In an instant the expression switched to the brightest smile. It belonged to her leader Dahlia.
"You little fool! I cannot tell you how relieved I am!"At once Dahlia hugged and squeezed the little body with such energy; Hancock thought she would be smothered any second.
"Let her go! She is still injured!" The elder warned loudly.
"Oh yes, I am sorry..." The leader took her arms of Hancock and patted her shoulder awkwardly. Her expression had turned perfectly serious again.
"What… What happened?" Hancock asked, she was still confused and tried to sort out her memories.
"Oh? So you do not remember your little excursion to the serpent's cave? It is probably because of the poison…Tulip almost cried her eyes out because she had let you pass. You truly must have been out of your mind!" Dahlia looked at her reproachfully.
"It is a miracle the three of you made it out alive!"
"The three of us…?" suddenly the memories returned.
"MARIGOLD, SANDERSONIA! WHERE ARE THEY?!" Hancock shouted out loud.
"Calm down …they are right here…" Dahlia's gaze turned to ground. Two figures where lying there, huddled up together. Her sisters were sleeping peacefully.
"They refused to leave your side; they kept guarding your bed for three days and nights. You will just wake them up if you keep yelling like that. Let them rest for a while…"
Hancock felt pure Happiness shower down her body; it felt like she was floating in a bubble. Her sisters were safe! There was nothing else she could wish for!
"Oh yes, before I forget it: the princess wants to see you when you are back on your feet... She returned yesterday, and seemed pretty displeased about this whole story…Do you want something to drink?"
The bubble burst with a loud *Plop*. Hancock was pulled back to reality with something that felt like a terrible punch to the guts…