Sun And Scales (open)

[Naga Riddell]

Naga glided across the grass-carpeted forest floor, barely listening to Ribbon's subject-less chatter as he rode along; curled up on a section of her back not too far from her head. His orange colours clashed with her dark brown, ebony and gold scales and his heat signature was different. Naga flickered out her tongue, sensing no other signatures besides a few very panicked squirrels and mice. Maybe one cat. It wasn't everyday a twenty foot long python slithered into the woods.

Now, the snake shifter wasn't stupid; she was in charge of the destination and so she made it a blunt point to head to an area were people didn't usually go. Whilst most were chilling near the grassy stretch on the other side of the lake; Naga had headed for a spot in the forest, near a grassy bank next to the lake. Ribbon wanted to swim and it also gave an excuse for Naga to get out of the house.

Flickering her tongue again, Naga scanned the bank for any harmful signatures. Unless minnows could eat an adult cornsnake, she doubted Ribbon would be in danger. "<Go on then>" She spoke to him, silent to humans but her ability to communicate with snakes meant that they could have 'conversations'. Ribbon slid off her back with an almost happy-like wriggle and Naga began to curl her massive body around herself under a bush, resting her head on one of her coils as she watched Ribbon slither in and out of the river bank. It was cute in a way. He shouldn't be in any danger. Cats, dogs, owls and other predators wouldn't dare come near since they would smell her nearby, though her scales blended into the bracken almost perfectly. Anything should be able to see her once it got close enough, most of her body sprawled out from under the bush and contrasted against the bright green grass.

Naga's concentration was focused on Ribbon's movement .Although she didn't like to admit it, Naga developed slightly severe anxiety problems after her mother died and she would usually have small panic attacks. Thankfully, when Ribbon was with her, Naga became loads calmer and was her usual self. A twig suddenly cracked, causing Naga to snap out of her doze. In a defensive reflex, she curled her head and neck into a tensed s-shape whilst remaining in her coil; her tongue flickering hurriedly to try and detect the cause of the crack.

[Cera Lamprey]

Cera sighed and tugged at the elastic hairband that kept threatening to slip out of her hair. She pulled it out, shaking her hair free, then determinedly pulled her hair back, hoping that this time it would stay put. 


And also that her ponytail wasn't too lopsided; she didn't have a mirror on her to check. She had, at one point, had a hand mirror in her purse, but the day before she had needed to find her chapstick, and she had taken everything out of her purse in the process. What she had not done was put everything back in again. 

At least she had her keys and her wallet; those were the most important part of leaving the house. 

The weather was in the fifties, which was not too bad. She was wearing jeans, but only because she didn't want her legs to get scratched up as she wandered through the woods. Her shirt, however, had short sleeves, because fifty wasn't especially cold to her. 

She had a picnic basket slung over one arm, with several PBJs, a pile of pixie sticks, one can of coke, and three enormous chocolate chip cookies. 

She felt a bit like little red riding hood, traipsing through the woods with her picnic basket. 

"I hope there are no wolves," She whispered to herself. 

Then she screamed. No wolves, but giant snakes. 

[Naga Riddell]

The sudden shrill sound of her scream caused Naga to bury into her scales; coiling her body back under the bush with her nose poking out from amongst the coils, her tongue still flickering in confusion and slight fear. Why she scream? Scream why? Oh my god, screaming scream. Oh wait, I'm a snake. Naga's thoughts were a torrent of pure confusion before she realised why the girl might have screamed.

Turning her head, Naga caught a glimpse of Ribbon near the shore. His red scales were blending in with some of the brick-red rocks and he simply lay in the shallows, only his head breaking the surface of the water. He was watching the girl, his fun broken by the sudden discontent.

Naga turned her head back around and slowly slithered out from under the bush, her eyes focused on Cera. The snake shifter recognised the bright hair, it was like a god damn flare signal, but she didn't know this girl personally. A basket? That would explain why she's far from the main path. Picnics were better in seclusion when you're by yourself.

Snakes don't have cute behaviour. A cat would have probably mewed and rolled on the ground. A dog would of barked and wagged its tail. A rabbit would've done... rabbit things. Snakes aren't known for their cuteness! Lost at what she should do, Naga lay across the open bank in clear view; her coils were relaxed and curved out behind her, her head facing Cera. Maybe a relaxed body language would cause relaxed...ness.

[Cera Lamprey]

If asked what she was afraid of, Cera would not have listed snakes. She didn't mind stumbling across tiny garden snakes. She didn't mind putting her face right up against the glass when looking at snakes at the zoo. She even didn't mind if someone was displaying a snake and asked her to touch it. 

Unexpected, enormous snakes right in the middle of her path however? Yep, this was not something that had ever crossed her mind.

She clapped a hand over her mouth, stifling her own scream, and then inhaled deeply. Screaming around wild animals was probably the wrong reaction. Fortunately the snake didn't seem perturbed by the sound. It simply...stared at her. 

Should she be worried by that? Was it trying to hypnotize her? She wasn't an expert (or even really an amateur) when it came to knowledge of snakes. 

She decided that the best way to respond was to back away slowly and hope that it wouldn't strike. 

[Naga Riddell]

Naga flickered out her tongue and stifled a chuckle at the slow backing away. Could she even chuckle in this form? Probably not. Swivelling her head, Naga turned to look at Ribbon who was slowly edging out of the water. She had no clue how to show she wasn't a threat. She couldn't roll over or let out a cute sound. Hissing wasn't exactly a cute noise, especially when she has to bare her fangs to do it. "<Do you know how to calm her?>" Naga asked Ribbon, slightly confused on what to do.

"<Breed with her.>" Ribbon flickered his tongue out cheekily as he slithered towards Naga; his bright red scales almost glowing against the grass.

"<That is horrible Ribbon, not to mention disturbing.>" Naga hissed at the approaching snake, baring her fangs at the mere one metre male and coiling her body slightly. She forgot how filthy Ribbon could be sometimes, he probably messed with her mind on purpose. Bloody snake. Ribbon simply flickered his tongue again at Naga, pausing his movements in the grass as she hissed before continuing his slither towards her. Even snakes know not to mess with irritated females. Especially when they are loads bigger.

Naga turned her head towards Cera, hoping she hadn't run off when she lost her temper. Ignoring Ribbon as he climbed onto her and rested his head on top of hers, the snake shifter flickered out her tongue and kept it sticking out of her mouth. Seriously, how on earth was she meant to show she wasn't a threat?

[Cera Lamprey]

A snake slithering on top of another snake was yet another mark in the definitely freaky category. She didn't know if this was normal snake behavior, but it was definitely intimidating. 

Typically she had very good control over her powers, but occasionally she slipped. The fear of being confronted by an enormous python wrested control from her, and she suddenly sprouted several more inches. 

This additional height did not make her feel any braver, however, and she continued to back away further...and further...until a twig poking her in the back alerted her to the fact that she was about to back herself all the way into a tree. 

"Ummm....niiiiiice snake?" She whispered, wondering if she could run and keep an eye on the snake's location all at the same time. 

[Naga Riddell]

Now, Naga was used to things like people growing wings, being able to control fire and yes, even growing a few extra inches. Sadly, Ribbon still wasn't. The second he saw Cera sprout like a weed, he went into a wriggling fit and flipped off of Naga; hitting her with his tail on the wait out. "<It grew! RUN! It's gonna squish me!>" 

Naga ignored the rest of his uncontrollable ranting but watched him in silence as he flipped about on the ground, looking like an electrocuted worm with a face. Glancing at the lake behind Ribbon before turning back to glance at Cera, Naga flickered her tongue again as she came up with an idea. An idea to show she was friendly. If the girl perceived it as a friendly notion, that is.

Moving slowly, Naga slithered down the bank, past the panicking Ribbon who had slowly settled down into a slight wriggle as he tried to stare at both Cera and Naga. Still keeping quiet, Naga slithered into the shallows until her entire body was resting in the cool water. Curling her body into a tense c shape, the snake shifter remained motionless for a while.

Twisting her head to face Cera, Naga thrust the curved edge of her body forward simultaneously; causing a large splash to erupt from the water and splatter the bank. The muscle power in her body and the speed she moved should have caused a wave large enough to at least splash Cera's legs. Flickering her tongue again, Naga exhaled in short bursts; making a breathy, almost laugh-like noise.

[Cera Lamprey]

Neither of the snakes attacked, although one of them jumped around in a manner Cera was fairly certain was atypical. Was it a snake with rabies? Could snakes even get rabies?

Then the other snake began splashing around in the water, and she decided that this was not the ideal location for a picnic after all, and also that running was a much better idea than watching the snakes. If she was watching them, she wasn't leaving. 

She turned and ran, picnic basket dropping unnoticed as she crashed through the underbrush, shoving tree branches out of the way. 

[Naga Riddell]

Naga slithered back out of the water with a silent sigh as the pink girl simply turned and crashed back through the forest. She knew snakes could be scary, heck, she has a four inch jagged scar across her neck from when she was bitten by one of her dad's snake. That was a stressful day. But oh well, you can't change some people. 

The snake shifter curled about on the grass for a couple of minutes to wipe off any droplets clinging to her scales. Ribbon had finally calmed down and simply lay on the grass as Naga shuffled around; once she had dried herself, he slithered back onto her head and lay coiled up in a circle.
"<That was rude..>"
"<Some people are afraid of snakes Ribbon, I can't help that.>"
I"<Why? Humans are a lot bigger.>"
"<Because you're danger noodles.>" Naga said with a slight smile.

When people got scared of snakes, it did upset Naga. Not because that they don't share her interests but because it made her feel as if they were scared of her as well. The snake shifter hated having people scared of her. She had been petrified of her brother fearing her, especially since she had almost ripped off one of his arms when she first transformed, she didn't want other people being scared as well.

With saddened thoughts in her head, Naga began to slither back out of the grassy area when her nose bumped into something absent-mindedly. Flickering curiously, Naga sniffed at the object; it had the girl's scent on it. She must have dropped it when she ran.

Falling still like a statue, Naga pondered for a moment before brushing past the basket. After she had past the basket; Naga wrapped the end of her tail around the bottom of the basket and began to drag it along behind her. Wriggling her body as she moved, Naga managed to worm the basket upwards until it balanced on her large back. Thankfully, she was muscular enough in this form to provide some sort of scaly platform for the basket.

Turning her head around slowly, Naga quickly picked up Cera's trail and began to slither with surprising speed after the girl; keeping her body almost invisible by hiding amongst the darkened bracken and shadows of the forest foliage.

[Cera Lamprey]

Cera was not an athletic girl, and although she was thin this was largely due to a combination of youth and not really eating many calories in a day. A few pixie sticks a day and no breakfast and only maybe lunch didn't amount to a whole lot in the long run. They weren't healthy calories, but that was another matter entirely. 

If she were in better shape perhaps she could have continued running, but as it was she began to flag very quickly. She doubled over, rubbing her aching side. Ooooh, she wasn't used to strenuous exercise. 

But at least the snake wouldn't have followed her. She was sure of that much; maybe some predators would have run after her, but she was fairly certain that wasn't a snake like behavior. 

She allowed herself to rest, breathing deeply to return oxygen to her body. The leaves rustled overhead; birds and squirrels twittered and shook tree branches as they caused shifting weight. She dared one glance behind her, and then...wait....was that her picnic basket moving towards her? That wasn't possible. It shouldn't be possible. Unless there was a meta nearby animating it, or using telekinesis on it or...

okay, maybe it was possible she admitted to herself grudgingly. 

[Naga Riddell]

It was completely silent as the meta's scales glided over the crunchy bracken of the forest floor, following the scent trail of Cera as well as the noise she was making. Naga flickered her tongue out again, tasting the air, as Cera's scent became stronger. Her slitted gaze scanned the thick forest in front of her before latching it onto the girl. It wasn't hard to see her, bright pink didn't exactly blend into the greens and browns of nature. Unlike her own gold and black scales. 

Stopping her slither, Naga halted her movement before Cera could see her. Well, she probably already had; the picnic basket wasn't very stealthy. The snake shifter scanned the green bushes alongside and in front of her before spotting something that should help her. Since the girl was clearly disturbed by her snake form, Naga would have to sacrifice her dignity.

Turning her direction, Naga shuffled under one of the large bushes. The leaves were very thick and large, circular in shape. She didn't know what kind of bush it was but she didn't really care. It wasn't on her list of priorities at the moment. Once her body was fully hidden under the bush and the basket was under the leaves with her, Naga concentrated on shifting back.

Years of training and almost constant practise allowed Naga to shift into her human form in a few quick, agonising seconds. Now she was hunched naked in a bush. Oh well, clothes can't shift with her form so she would just have to shift back later. Thankfully, the bush hid her from view. Straightening her back, Naga poked her head out of the bush and stared at Cera; quickly flicking a few leaves from her short blonde hair.

"Hey."

[Cera Lamprey]

She was seeing things, Cera decided. One moment her picnic basket was there, then blink! It was gone. Obviously seeing a python in the middle of Vermont had so upset her she had begun to hallucinate. Was that even possible? It must be, because it was happening. 

And then, out of nowhere a bush sprouted a girl's head. 

That was it, she was never trying to have a picnic in the woods ever again. 

Then the head that was on the bush talked to her. 

"H...he....hey...." She panted, still short of breath. Was the head part of the bush? Was the bush really a girl? That would be a kind of cool power, like being part dryad or something. There had been a student who could turn into a vending machine back when she was at Hammel, so she supposed dryad powers wouldn't be any stranger than that. 

"D...don't...don't go...to the lake...there's...a...a...a....big...snake." 

[Naga Riddell]

Wow, that was adorable. Naga raised an eyebrow and smiled; a hint of concern to her expression. The girl must've been really freaked out by her form. Thankfully, she didn't seem to realise that Naga was the snake. That would probably either freak her out more or make her more relaxed. Great, now she was in a dilemma.

"Yes... giant snake." Naga glanced downwards to see Ribbon curled up on her lap before turning her head back up to face Cera. "Surely it can't of been that scary?" The snake shifter asked, genuinely curious about what the girl thought. Maybe she had just ran because the sudden predator had spooked her. That's what she likes to believe anyway.

Naga rubbed the back of her head with a hand, stroking Ribbon's scales with the other. The cornsnake moved and began to slither up her back, coiling around her neck with a lazy-like body language. He didn't look at Cera, knowing all too well how some humans reacted to his appearance. <Is she still freaking out?> He asked, Naga responding with silence and a light pat on his side.

[Cera Lamprey]

Cera ran a hand through her hair and shook her head, "Sure, if it was someone's pet or at the zoo or something it wouldn't be scary! But stumbling upon Nagini in the middle of the woods unexpectedly?" 

She wrapped both arms around herself and shivered. It might be poisonous! Or squeeze her to death and eat her. It had looked big enough to do something like that. Or it could be a horcrux, no, okay, that last part was completely unlikely. But still, giant snake. Neither tamed nor appropriately caged. 

"If you're going that way I won't stop you, just....be careful." 

She might not know the other girl, but she didn't want her to get eaten by a snake. If the snake could even eat her; could snakes eat bushes? It could probably eat her head, if it was one of the ones that could unhinge its jaws (was that every snake? Who even knew.)

"I mean, if you can move. Can you move while you're a bush?" 

[Naga Riddell]

Heh, Nagini. If only the girl knew. A grin grew across Naga's face as she watched Cera from her comfortable bush with an expression you might give a pet or child. A slight shiver crept up her spine, her body responding to the cooling temperatures even if her powers limited her biological ability to feel heat and cold. Ah right, she was still naked.

Naga continued to stroke Ribbon's scales as he coiled on her lap; him not having a problem with her nudity and her not having a problem with him all up an' on her nudity. A relaxed nature is both a blessing and a curse, hard to anger but also hard to shame.

"If you're going that way I won't stop you, just....be careful."

"D'aw. Thanks for worrying, but snakes aren't dangerous." Naga said, leaning backwards slightly as she planted her hands on the dusty ground by her back, her grin slimming to a friendly smile. Time for a biology lesson! "If they got thick bodies and broad heads then they're constrictors and pose no threat. Narrow ones you gotta be careful for, there's venom in those ones." With a shrug, Naga ended her lecture and leaned forward again, careful to avoid flashing any... bare necessities.

"I mean, if you can move. Can you move while you're a bush?"

Naga blinked very slowly, struggling to comprehend what the girl said. A bush? What was she- Oh. Ooh. A quiet chuckle bubbled in Naga's throat as she grinned up at Cera. "I'm not a bush! I'm just naked."