literature

The Cat and the Snake 1

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Chapter 1
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      The Sea Wraith moved silently in the waters surrounding Najalka village. The village itself soon came into view. It wasn't long when the sound of alarm was heard coming from the shore as the ship grew near, a repeated *Clang clang* coming from the docks.
      
      A large gruff man stepped up next to the cloaked figure standing at the bow, "Seems like they know we're here.  What will you have us do if they resist, miss?" he said with a grin on his face as the villagers began to amass near the docks. It was clear that some of the villagers were armed.
      
      The cloaked figure leaned over the rail, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. Without looking at the large man, she spoke in a low, steady voice that still somehow managed to easily be understood... "Remember that the tower is our goal. I want the damage to be minimal, and no one harmed unless absolutely necessary. Remember, there is to be no pillaging. I have more then paid for your services... Just leave the villagers to me... unless they get stupid"
      
      The large man sighed, "Peacekeeping ain't our strong suit, but if that's the word..."
      
      The cloaked figure nodded. "We have to get estalished in the tower quickly, unless you fancy your chances with the Einurian Navy. Once inside... they will have no choice but to negotiate."
      
      The man nodded. "As you say, my job is to keep these other louts in line..."  He gestured to the pirates already armed on the deck, two of them manning a deck gun behind them.
      
      The cloaked figure lowered her voice to almost a whisper. "Let's just hope no one gets stupid..."

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      Nahal scowled as the ship comes into view clearly identifying itself as a pirate vessel. "Kuela, get the women and children to shelter, you know where to go..."
      
      Kuela blinked as she looked at her husband with sadness in her eyes. "What will you do...? We don't stand a chance against pirates..."
      
      Nahal stared at her, the seriousness evident on his face. "We'll see what they want, but I'm not about to have the helpless at their mercy..." he replied as he hugs her, causing Kuela to tear up. He promptly pushed Kuela way from him, "Now go, make sure everyone is safe, and don't let them find Negeyari."

      Kuela just nodded, almost overwhelmed with sadness she silently turned and ran towards the rear of the village where the women and children had been gathered.
      
      She looked over everyone with a grim expression. "All right, everyone, we're taking shelter in the cave.  Let's get moving right away!" she said as she looked around the group of women and children. Panic was evident immediately on her face as she quickly questioned, "Where is Negeyari? Why isn't she here?!"

      One of the women looked sadly at Kuela.  "She wasn't in your home when we looked... we still have some people looking for her..."

      Kuela was clearly scared that the little naga might be discovered. She quickly turned to search for her. "Head to the caves now and hurry! I'll look for the Serpent Maiden!" she said as she started running back into the village before anyone could protest.

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      Nahal waited at the shore along with the village men, most armed with the harpoons they used to fish with, a deep frown frozen on his face as the sailing vessel arrived at the docks. The gangplank was hastily lowered from the ship as it pulled up next to a dock, its anchor plunging into the water and impacting into the shallow harbor with a thud.
      
      The cloaked figure deftly lept to the dock as the pirates finished tying up the ship to the dock, her tail swishing back and forth behind her still visible form beneath her fluttering cloak. She whisked her hat off and bowed with a flourish, her cat ears twitching. As she straightens back up, her stunning green eyes, flawless tanned skin, framed by silky red hair. She speaked in a clear voice of a professional orator that, while soft, can be clearly heard by everyone present. "Good day to you all.  I am Enishi Nigousan. I am sorry for disturbing your peaceful lives, but I find myself in need of access to your temple. I would prefer to get my business done without bringing harm to anyone..."
      
      Nahal eyed Enishi as roughly twenty pirates began to disembark behind her. "I am Nahal, chieftain of this village.  What business do you have in our temple that requires pirates? There are no riches there for you."
      
      Enishi chuckled softly with her eyes dancing merrily, "It isn't really what is in the temple, but what is under it I am after. You see... I am quite familiar with your history, and the wizard that once dwelt here."
      
      Nahal just scowled slightly as the village men begin to murmur behind him, "How do you know this? The story has never left this village..."
      
      "Really?" Enishi said as she chuckled again, "I think it has left the village... once before. Not that anyone would really remember. Lets just say... I had an acquaintance, who knew someone, who knew... well, you get the idea, it eventually leads back to someone that was there"
      
      Nahal noticed Enishi's ears, then managed a grin. "I see..."
      
      Enishi blushed then coughed uncomfortably, "Well...at any rate, I do know the story, and... I really need what is in there..."
      
      The pirate boss shouted, "So let us pass if you know what's good for you!" His men joined in with threats with their own jeers.
      
      Nahal just frowned deeply again. "I'll show you the way..."
      
      A couple of the villagers walked towards Nahal as the chief turned towards the temple only to be blocked by Enishi, "Not you, just him. I do not want the added chance of... misunderstandings"
      
      One of the villagers looked sharply at Enishi, "You expect us to leave our chief with you-"
      
      Nahal cut him off.  "Its all right, I trust that she wont bring any harm. Stand down."  The two men looked at Nahal for a moment then nodded silently as he began leading Enishi and five pirates towards the temple.
      
      Enishi quietly mentioned, "You must be very good at your job to be so well thought of in this village"
      
      Nahal just kept a neutral expression on his face as he led them. "I try.  I hope you hold to your word if you can't enter the tower..."
      
      Enishi giggled, "Oh, I should be able to enter it... I did my research after all," she said as she looked about the village, losing herself in thought.
      
------

      In a narrow corridor between two houses, armed with her staff and sporting a cooking pot on her head, Negeyari sat perfectly still, her tail coiled as she sensed a group growing closer. "...Bad people, are they pi..." She thought for a moment, "... pi-rats?" her stomach suddenly growled as she thought of rats, "Shut up, stomach... I just fed you..." she mumbled, flustered.

      The little naga's ears twitched as she heard the faint sound of talking as she barely peeked around the corner seeing her daddy being escorted by a group of dangerous looking armed men, and a woman in a cloak and wearing a full brimmed hat. Her eyes widened. "Daddy... no...." she whispered as the naga quickly got out of view, her breathing taxed. Her face hardened with resolve as she coiled more tightly and held her staff firmly.
      
      "I have no intention of harming you or anyone else... to be honest, I like this village and the people in it. It is just bad luck that you are in my way..." Enishi said as she sniffed the air, mumbling to herself "It can't be... after so long... I must be getting antsy, finally being so close to my goal..."
      
      As Nahal and Enishi continued on their way, the cat girl's ears perked up as she turned just in time to see Negeyari springing out from hiding. "Let go of my daddy!" she screamed swinging her staff towards Enishi's head!
      
      Enishi gasped and quickly ducked under the nagas staff and stepped back, her hand dipping for her pistol "Naga? Here? Impossible!" She raised the revolver, then saw the face of her adversary. Her eyes widening in shock as her grip on her revolver slackened, her pistol clattering on the ground "S... Sera?" was all Enishi said.
      
      Nahal put his hand over his face as the scenario worsened and took a step forward, "Negeyari, stop-"

      He was then cut short as one of the pirates pistol-whipped him in the back of the head causing him to fall to the ground. "An ambush!  I knew he couldn't be trusted!" the pirate shouted.

      The pirates looked at the small naga and began to murmur. "Wait... that's not a mermaid..."
      
      Negeyari eyed Enishi, then gasped in horror as Nahal got pistol-whipped.  "Daddy!!"  She returned her attention to Enishi and coied back slightly, hissing at at the cat girl. "Get out of here and leave us alone or..I'll bite you!"
      
      Enishi shook her head, "Wait!!" She exclaimed as she stared at the small naga, with such a familiar face. "N... not Sera? What is a naga doing here?"
      
      Negeyari scowled at Enishi and immediately lunged towards her, her staff in a defensive stance and her mouth wide open revealing her fangs.  Enishi rolled to the side, leaping to her feet and quickly snapped her hand out at the naga.  A cumulus haze began to form around Negeyari as Enishi spat a single word, "Quiesco!!"
      
      Negeyari looked about to lunge again, but then her eyes went wide and desperate, struggling to continue forward. "Wh-what..." She managed out before she abruptly collapsed to the ground with her eyes closed, the cooking pot on her head clattering onto the ground. Negeyari was suddenly in a deep sleep.
      
      As Enishi caught her breath, shocked by the sudden appearance of a young naga, she quickly ran over to Nahal to check if he was still alive.  She sighed in relief: the village chief fortunately was only rendered unconscious.
      
      The Pirate Boss stepped up examining the sleeping naga. "Not a mermaid eh? What exactly is she?" he said as he crouched looking at the pointy eared naga.
      
      "A creature not of this world. She is called a naga," Enishi replied as she stood up.
      
      "A naga you say...?" The pirate boss lifted the naga's primitive fin. "Kind of like a mermaid, one might say, except I never seen any striped mermaids before..."
      
      Enishi walked over and retrieved her pistol that was laying on the ground. "Just be glad she is a small one. Nagas can become... very big, and very dangerous. I will take care of her though. She is no doubt very important to this village, and to harm her will make them fight"
      
      The pirate boss grinned, "The village protecting this freak of nature? That's hard to believe..."
      
      Enishi looked at the pirate boss sternly. "You don't understand this village.... It is not important though, for now, just leave her to me."
      
      The pirate boss abruptly laughed. "Sorry miss, but she's coming with us.  She'll fetch a grand price when we sell her.  Hear that, boys?  Looks like there's treasure here after all!" he said turning to his men.
      
      Enishi gasped in horror. "Wait... that wasn't what we agreed on!" She pleaded.
      
      The Pirate Boss continued to laugh. "Well, things change when something like this presents itself!"
      
      Nahal finally stirred as he slowly got up off the ground while the pirates were distracted by Negeyari.  He saw his daughter laying on the ground and was filled with rage as he drew his Einurian-made pistol. "Get away from my daughter!" He shouted as he aimed his semi-automatic pistol towards the pirates.
      
      Enishi continued to try and reason with the pirate boss, "Look Captain, she... she's just a kid" her words were suddenly startled quiet by Nahal's actions.
      
      Some of the pirates turned towards Nahal, drawing their own pistols and swords "Sorry, chief, your freak daughter's coming with us!" One of them said with a smirk.
      
      The Pirate Boss grinned as he stood up trusting his men to handle the situation with Nahal "Doesn't matter to me.  A treasure is a treasure.  Now don't interfere!"
      
      Enishi began to grow angered by the pirate bosses actions, "This is really too much, Captain. I have already paid you, and the agreement was no harm to this village. They will fight to the last to save her. Stop this now!"
      
      The pirate boss laughed darkly, "I couldn't care less about this village!  They're friends with those damn Einurians! You have your temple, and now no one will get in your way!"
      
      Enishi was growing desperate, "B-but you can't..." She managed to say as she trailed off looking around at the pirates, the Chief, and finally the sleeping Naga as tears crept from her eyes. Finally she sighed deeply, slapping her hands together, her eyes flashing angrily. "Release!!"
      
      Negeyari's eyes opened wide as she immediately sensed that she was surrounded. The pirate boss barely had time to look down as the little naga sprang up at him and sank her fangs into his arm, causing him to yelp in pain.
      
      He kicked her in the stomach with full force, sending the naga flying into one of the houses, where she collapsed. "You wench! I told you not to interfere!" The pirate boss spat at Enishi as he drew his sword.
      
      Enishi grinned darkly as claws extended from her hands. "You broke your word Captain, so our agreement is nullified... It was nice knowing you..."
BEHOLD! The begining of the second part to Negeyari's story!
The Cat and the Snake!

A sailing ship in the night brings ominous visitors to the peaceful village of Najalka!

EDIT: Revised to a new format!
© 2008 - 2024 Tora044
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Shady-Knight's avatar
It's Typo Time!

(Nahal scowled as the ship comes into view) It should be "came". Switching from past to present tense is jarring.

(he replied as he hugs her) Same as above.

(she wont bring any harm) Misspelled "won't".

(her attention to Enishi and coied back) Misspelled "coiled".



Now this is mostly my biased view and it's rather unfair as it's not your character, but Enishi, as a mage, seems to be also athletic. To me, while I can accept the non-squishy mage, being both a strong caster and a strong skirmisher is a bit shaky. I like to give characters an evident weakness to show that they can't excel at everything. But that's just me. I don't have much else to say aside that.