Chapter Text
Dirt and grass crunched under your feet with each step that took you further into the woods. It was about mid-morning and the weather was just right. Occasionally, you made stops to snap photos of interesting looking plants, or a nicely composed landscape shot. You’d been hoping to improve your environment drawing skills and needed some references. Pretty conveniently, you’d moved into a house on the outskirts of a heavily wooded town about a year ago.
You continued forwards, hearing the distant rushing river mix with the rustle of leaves in the wind. Already you’d collected a decent amount of photos, but it was just such a nice day out. You didn’t want to cut the trip short too soon.
A nice little clearing came into view and you took out your phone again for a few more pictures, but as you looked at the screen, something in one of the bushes caused a lens flare.
You stepped closer to investigate. Was it some kind of litter? But how would it have gotten so far out when you hadn’t seen any trash on the trail here?
Upon closer inspection, it was snakeskin. A long, shed, snakeskin was tangled in the bush branches, and for some reason it was super shiny and, like, iridescent ? Which was weird. Because you were pretty sure most snakeskins were kinda dull and pale.
Carefully, you freed the snakeskin from the bush, making sure not to tear it. In addition to its bordering-on-magical shine, it was incredibly long. Probably around 7 to 8 times the length of your body. Did normal snakes get this long? Was there a snake this large roaming around?
You did your best to fold up the snakeskin into a manageable size and slipped it into your bag. Scary snake or not, it looked pretty cool and you wanted to keep it. Maybe you could find somewhere in your house to display it?
Excited with your rare find and a little worried about running into whatever produced it, you decided to head back, even if just to drop off some stuff at home and come straight back. You could refill your water and grab some snacks while you were there. Maybe also grab something for protection in case you did run into any unfriendly wild animals.
After a once-over check that you had all your things with you, you turned and got on the path to head back. Pulling out your phone, you began to sift through the photos you’d taken, looking for the best ones you’d want to start with later.
And there was a loud snap of a branch.
You stopped and your head whirled around. Everything had seemed to go quiet. Even the rushing water seemed quieter, and the leaves had all but frozen in place. But you saw no movement. You stood there, eyes scrutinizing the area for even the slightest disturbance, but there was nothing.
Slowly you turned back to the path, still on alert, and resumed walking. You listened for any more sudden noises but no more came.
It was probably nothing. Just your ears playing tricks on you.
You took in a shaky breath. Calm down and just get home. Everything was fine.
And so you continued home, blissfully unaware of the golden eyes fixated on your receding figure.
The next day, around early evening, you returned to the same spot as before, to resume taking photos. Some of the same spots as before but in different lighting might be nice. Helpful for working on color-picking.
If you were entirely honest, there was also a small part of you interested in looking around more for another find like the snakeskin, though you’d rather not encounter the thing it came from.
You continued past the area you found the skin in before, arriving at the bank of the river. A ways up the water you’d been told there was a waterfall. That could be a prime photo taking opportunity. You walked along the river, heading upstream, but were watching the treeline, looking for anything interesting or colorful that stuck out.
The water flowing next to you was quite loud, but it was rushing water after all. It was bound to make noise.
Although… was it supposed to sound like that? There was suddenly some splashing in the mix, a disruption to the regular flow of the river. You slowed almost to a stop and turned.
You didn’t know what you were expecting to see, but in no universe was it a giant, almost 20 meter long, half-snake half-human creature. Its piercing golden eyes fixated on you, seeming to look you up and down as if examining prey. A forked tongue flicked in and out of its mouth.
Posture stock still, you were locked in place.
Fuck. Wasn’t the saying fight or flight? Your body picked the stupid secret third option to freeze?
The giant snake man slithered closer, predatory gaze never leaving you. He circled around you with a seemingly endless tail trailing behind, and his scales shined in the sun. Iridescent scales.
“You like my scales, yes?” His voice came out in a hiss. “My skin as well.”
Your mouth remained set only slightly open in a mix of fear and awe, unable to form any full, coherent response.
“A stunning sight, I know. I have this effect on most things.” Suddenly the voice was coming from right behind you, cold breath brushing against your ear.
A small noise of shock escaped you and you flinched, stumbling forward, only to fall against the tail winding around you. All of a sudden, it closed in, dense cords of pure muscle constricting you, unable to make even the smallest of movements.
And only then did you regain control to start struggling, when it was no use.
You could feel the vibrations of laughter radiate down the creature’s tail. The human portion of him rounded to your front, his hands coming up to cup your face, and he let out what you assumed to be a hiss of pleasure. “Your skin emanates a warmth just as lovely as the rest of you. What luck, for you to have found my shedding.” His eyes narrowed into thin slits. “So adorable, I could eat you up.”
Your brain was racing. Fear clouded your every thought, muddying what little of the stories you’d remembered from the townspeople. The ones you’d always thought to be myth. They’d spoken of a horrible creature, a cold-blooded predator that lived in a cavern near the water, one that waited in the shadows until you unknowingly crossed into its territory and then went in for the kill.
But, being in the clutches of the very same creature now, you knew that anyone who’d made it back alive to tell that tale had escaped only by its mercy.
If this, naga they called it, had wanted them dead, it would be so.
Words had begun tumbling from your mouth before you could stop them. “I-I’m sorry! I hadn’t meant to trespass! I didn’t know this was your land and I didn’t mean to take your skin! I can give it back! It’s still all in one piece, no damage at all! I’ll go back home and get it!”
Another laugh from him. “Shush, little mouse. I am not angry about my skin, or about any trespassing.” He curled another loop of tail around you. “In fact, I’m happy you accepted my skin. It means this was meant to be. I couldn’t ask for a better match.”
“A-A match? Meant to be?” Your voice shook.
“Yes, my sweet. We are a match. You accepted my skin, and you admire my scales, and so you have invited me to begin courting. You even returned to seek me out again. It could not be any clearer.”
An incredulous scoff left your mouth. “What? I did no such thing! I just came to take photos!” You struggled again, though it was in vain. “And you can have the skin back! I don’t accept it anymore! I-It’s-” you hesitated for a brief moment, “It’s not pretty! In fact, I don’t like your scales at all!”
The naga’s smile only grew wider. “You don’t mean that, little mouse, I can tell. The way you gazed at my tail only a moment ago, your actions betray your words.” He leaned in closer, his tongue flicking out to graze your neck. “And your decision to accept is final, there is no going back.”
Your arms, from your elbows down, were locked tight against your sides and it felt like there was only room to take short breaths. You felt helpless. There was no way you were going to overpower this creature, and he did not seem receptive to reasoning. You were running out of options.
“B-but I’m not like you! I’m totally, 100%, human! How could… how would that work? We’re not compatible!”
His tail constricted around you in a gentle but tight squeeze. “Nothing to fret about, dear. I assure you, we will be perfect together.” His hands strayed further down your body, taking their time and enjoying the feeling of your warmth. He planted a kiss on your cheek, his tongue darting out after to lick the same spot.
What little hope you had left came down crumbling. It was over. You were trapped.
“Please,” your voice broke, “please… I-I’m scared.”
He shushed you gently. “It’s okay, dear. Everything will be okay. I will take good care of you.”
You felt his grip around you shift and he began moving. He was taking you somewhere.
“Where are we going?” You grasped desperately at the tail constraining you, trying to push yourself free. “Stop! Let me go home!”
His tail loosened, and for a brief moment you thought you were about to be free, before you were transferred to a secure grip in his arms. You laid against his chest, feeling him press a kiss to your temple. “You are going home. To our home.”
Tears burned in your eyes and a weak sob fell from your mouth.
“Don’t cry, little mouse. I will make you happy,” He cooed. “We will be happy. Together.”