Chapter 7: The Rabbit and the Snake:
Tuzi's POV:
I have always been a winner and unlike that hare who just let the tortoise get past him, I am going to win this race!
I then stepped on something. "OW," says She, "hey, watch it!"
"Sorry, but maybe you shouldn't be on the ground," I said.
"I'm a snake, that's how we travel," says She, "we don't all have legs."
"Speaking of which," I said, "we should probably move before the others trample over us!"
We then saw the others coming. We then jumped out of the way.
"Great, everyone's ahead of us," says She.
"What," I said, "I will not make the same mistake that dumb hare did!"
"You mean the one who tried to make that girl his bride," asks She.
"No, the other hare," I said.
"Well, we better get moving," says She.
"Feet, do what you do best," I said.
. . .
She and I were both trying to get back in the race. "Try to keep up, Slowpoke," I said.
"Are all rabbits like that or am I just lucky," asks She.
"At least I don't shed my skin," I said.
"At least I'm not prey," says She.
"Fair point," I said.
We then stopped. "Great, there's this rock in our way," says She.
"It's in your way," I said. I then hopped up the rock.
. . .
I then got to the other side of the rock, but I found She. "How'd you get here," I asked.
"I stlithered around the rock," says She, "try to keep up." She then slithered ahead.
I was wondering about the logic, but I decided to just go with it and continued hopping.
. . .
We then continued. "I can't believe this," I said, "I'm supposed to be the best!"
"Why is this so important to you," asks She.
"Because being in the Zodiac would be the big time," I said, "imagine, a year named after me. The year of Tuzi!"
"I think it would be your species," says She.
"Oh," I said, "that makes more sense. So, what about you?"
"I don't see how it's any of your business," says She.
"Typical snake," I said.
"What makes you think you're even going to win," asks She.
"For one thing, I have lucky feet," I said.
"I don't believe in luck," says She.
"And for another thing, I'm a natural athlete," I said.
"And a natural braggart," says She.
"Hey, you got something on your foot," I said, "oh wait, you don't have feet!" I then started laughing, but then I hit a rock. "I meant to do that."
. . .
We then reached a fork in the road. "OOOOooookkkkaaaayyyy... this is a problem," I said. I then looked at the ground. "Oh, we're in luck, look, it's their tracks. We got this."
"Hold on," says She, "I may not have feet, but I do know them. Yes, there are dog tracks and tiger tracks and chicken tracks, but last time I checked, the other animals did not include a lizard."
"Maybe the lizard's a late entry," I said, "see ya!"
. . .
I then got to that path. "There's the lizard," I said, "so, you in this race too?"
"What race," asks the lizard.
I was then faced with a wolf, a lion, and a turkey. "Run," says the turkey.
"Looks like we got another snack," says the wolf.
I then realized what trouble I got myself in.
. . .
I then ran back to She. "Let's go the other way," I said.
. . .
She and I were looking for the others. "I can't believe this is happening," I said.
"So much for hitting the big time," says She.
"Okay, what is your reason for being in this race," I asked, "what could a snake possibly gain..."
"That's the problem," says She, "when people think snakes, they think vile creatures or horrible monsters ever since the whole incident with Adam and Eve! We're animals just like anyone else, we just happen to be poisonous! But if I were in that zodiac, people would see that snakes are more than just something to be terrified of. They wouldn't treat us like evil demons anymore."
"That's... a better reason then what I said," I said.
She looks. "I think I see the others," says She, "let's go."
"Right," I said.
We then got back to the others.
. . .
We then continued, but She fell down a hole. "Give me your hand," I said. I then realized what I said. "Okay, that was not me trying to be funny, that was legitimately me being stupid."
"Just get back to the race," says She.
I then saw a stick. "Grab onto this stick," I said, "you are getting in that zodiac even if you have to do it instead of me!"
She then grabs onto the stick, and I pull her out. "Thank you," says She.
"Hey, you gotta show people what snakes are really like, right," I said.
We then looked at each other. I don't know if it's the heat or the adrenaline or the fact that she almost stayed in a hole forever... but we kissed.
"That was... kind of nice," says She, "except now I just poisoned you!"
"What," I asked.
"I'm kidding," says She, "I only do that through bite. Typical rabbit." She then slithered back to the race.
"I love this girl," I said. I then hopped back to it.
To Be Continued
In the next chapter, Gongji learns to face his fears.