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The Cat and the Snake 9

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Chapter 9
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The night was peaceful in the village of Najalka as most of the villagers slumbered. However outside the chief's home a outburst from a young naga was heard as a startling secret was revealed to her...

Negeyari twitched as she stared at Enishi with wide eyes, her tail propping her up as high as possible making her loom over the cat girl who was still laying down. She pointed at her with a shaky hand and looked about to say something before she was interrupted as the bedroom door slid open quickly followed Kuela rushing in, "Whats wrong are you all right Nege?" she said as she paused looking at her daughter reared up.

The little naga blinked and blushed a little at her mommy, "Oh...ummm ahhh.....I was just surprised Enishi was sleeping next to me..... and ummm she was telling me some stories..." she said as she giggled sheepishly.

Enishi chuckled, "I apologize for that, I guuess my stories kind of surprised her." she said witha slightly apologetic look.

Kuela just adjusted her nightgown and sighed, "Must you overreact to everything Nege?" she said with a amused smile.

Negeyari just blushed more, "Ahh....sorry for waking you mommy....I'll be quiet....." she said as she fidgeted a little.

"My apologies as well Ma'am." the cat girl added.

Kuela just continued to smile at the two and slowly closed the door, "Its all right, get some sleep soon you two, we have a busy day tomorrow." she said causing the naga to blink.

Enishi smiled, but noticing Negeyari's surprised look she spoke softly, "Harbors closed for now, which means no fishing, so tomorrow we forrage in the jungle" she said causing the naga to slowly turn and look at the cat girl.

"O-oh..." the nervous looking naga said as she stared at the cat girl looking a bit
uncomfortable.

Enishi looked at the staring naga curiously as she sat up, "What's wrong hun?" she questioned.

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Negeyari twitched, "Ah... Ummm...." she then suddenly bowed apologetically causing the cat girl to get a incredulous look, "I'm so sorry I been rude to you! I had no idea that you were the same cat girl from the legend, in a way your the reason I'm here and your the one who saved Najalka, I... I can not thank you enough!" the naga blurted out causing Enishi to blush.

"You were right Nege, in how you acted. Over the years... I had forgotten much. When I brought those pirates..." Enishi began to say when suddenly the naga looked up sharply at her and promptly tackled the cat girl to the floor causing her to grunt, "N-Nege?!" she questioned as she started to struggle. Enishi then stopped as a tear hit her cheek and looked up at Negeyari with tears coming from her eyes, and looked about to say something but was cut off by the upset naga.

"Dummy! Dummy! Dummy! If you loved this village so much why did you have to do that?" Negeyari cried.

Enishi flinched having heard this before and drew the tearing naga into a hug, "I.. I am not really sure what I was thinking. I just... thought I needed what is in that tower, but hun... that no longer matters to me. I am just thankful none of the villagers got hurt..." she said as tears tears trickled onto her neck: the naga muttering, "Dummy..."

Enishi nodded, "Yes, but you made me smart again hun." she continued as she suddenly blushed as she realized their chests were pressed against each other. Negeyari eventually sat up wiping her eyes, as Enishi smiled at her. "You are really growing up hun."

Negeyari just sniffed again oblivious to what the cat girl meant, "I...I know....I can already feel my tail starting to get itchy again...." she mumbled causing Enishi to giggle.

Enishi then looked at Nege curiously, "Hun, when we get some time, do you mind if I give you some tests? They shouldn't hurt..." she questioned causing the naga to blink.

"Umm...what kind of tests? You won't give me a shot will you?"

The cat girl chuckled: amused by the child, "No hun, no shots, just a few magical analysis. I don't really know much about Nagas, and I just want to make sure everything is ok."

Negeyari nodded hesitantly, "Are you concerned about anything..?" she said with a questioning look.

"No, not really, I just want to be sure. Nothing to worry about" The cat girl replied, making a mental note to visit Gakiri about her suspicions.

Negeyari just looked at Enishi oddly, before she sighed and laid back down on her futon, "Still... I can't believe your the same cat girl that was in the legend... do you not age or something..?"

Enishi also laid back before smiling cheerfully "Sure don't." she said bluntly to the naga causing her to open her eyes wide in shock. But before she could reply: the cat girl held up a finger. "Actually, it might not be a bad idea to keep that to yourself hun." she continued.

"You can count on me! I won't tell anyone!" Negeyari said with almost in a military fashion.

"Thanks kiddo, I am just not sure if anyone would believe it, and even if they did... I would prefer to be just the odd cat girl, rather then some walking mythological figure."

The naga giggled, "Lucky you, I don't think I have a choice. So we're going into the jungle tomorrow? That sounds fun, as long as I don't run into any wild pigs again..." she said frowning a little at the memory.

"Should be quite a few of us, and armed with guns and harpoons, we should be able to keep them away from you." Enishi said as she ruffled the naga's hair.

Negeyari blushed a bit then smiled once the cat girl stopped, "Well lets get back to sleep...all right?" she said as she closed her eyes again.

Enishi nodded, "Good night Little One..."

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Early the next morning: The two were roused by Kuela, "Time to get up you two, almost everyone is all gathered in the plaza." she said with a hint of concern, the little naga just groaned: It was obvious she got little sleep after hearing Enishi's secret. While the cat girl next to her opened her eyes looking alert before she sat up and stretched her arms.

Negeyari sat up sluggishly and rubbed her eyes, "Is it morning already?" she whined before looking to the window in the room noticing the faint light in the sky.

Enishi duly rose from her futon: straightening her clothing and buckling on her gun belt. She then let out a wide yawn as she stretched some more. "Does seem kind of early..."

Kuela ruffled her sleepy daughter's hair, "Better be prepared, I don't want what happened last time to happen again. On top of that I don't want that Gakiri giving you anymore 'pain killer' remember that gave you such a bad headache." she cautioned.

Negeyari nodded to her mommy right away after hearing what she said and quickly slithered to the wall and grabbed her staff which is leaning against it. "Doesn't seem like a very useful weapon for hunting..." the naga mumbled.

In short order everyone was gathered in the town plaza, Negeyari was quick to notice Siena and Jiru together and slitherd up to them with Enishi in tow. "Hi master Siena! Sorry I haven't been practicing lately I promise I'll start coming again tommorow!" she says looking a little apologetic.

Siena just looked down at the naga and with lightning speed grabbed her by the checks and pulled on them, "You think I'll forgive you that easily kid?" she said seething with malice, as the little naga got a frantic look. She then smiled and let go, "Don't swet it, not like it hasn't been busy around here as it is..."

Negeyari just rubbed her cheeks and whined, "That was mean!" causing Siena to laugh and Jiru to shake his head. The naga's stomach then suddenly growled and Siena grinned, as she reached into her pouch and handed the naga a rice ball, "Your appetite hasn't changed I see....here... pickled plum rice ball..." she said. The naga never heard of such a thing before but was quick to take a bite into it, suddenly she squinted her eyes and twitched, "Sour!" she squeeked as Enishi giggled at the poor naga but ignored her own stomach growling.

Siena just laughed some more, "Don't worry I have other kinds with me too, I just sorta wanted to give you that one first." she teased as she naga decided to just swallow the rest of the pickled plum rice ball followed with a sigh. Then in the blink of a eye she gave Enishi a Glare, "As for you. I'll deal with you later." she said harshly as she turned away with a frown on her face.

Enishi stood there stunned for a moment before mumbling, "Good morning to you too..." with a nervous laugh. As the little naga looked between the two with a worried look on her face.

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Eventually the villagers were organized into groups by Nahal: Some of the more experienced ones being armed with firearms from the new armory, while the majority still used harpoons used for fishing or volunteered to be porters. A Einurian marine was posted to each group for protection by a commanding officer. In short order the groups began to fan out into the jungle or along the outskirts, the hunting expedition has begun. The lead group consisting of Nahal, Kuela, Siena,
Jiru, Enishi, Negeyari, several porters, and a Einurian Non-commissioned officer named Hans: made its way along the trail they traveled with the young naga in the past.

Nahal and Hans made small talk, mostly about the terrain of the island and the usual sweltering heat. Jiru and Siena moved ahead of the group to scout, being a excellent shot with his breech loading rifle Jiru was instructed to look for large game. The little naga excitedly explored as the group traveled, clearly overwhelmed with curiosity. Enishi being more in her element began
forraging more at a distance, eventually returning with a couple wild quail she ambushed like a predator. Eventually a small squeek was heard as Negeyari rose from a bush with the end of a rat hanging out of her mouth.

Kuela sighed, "Don't stray too far Nege. I know your curious, but it can dangerous out here." she said as she beckoned her daughter over to her.

Negeyari blinked looking over to her mommy then swallowed her meal followed with a sigh, before she slithered closer to her. Enishi just chuckled as she smiled warmly at the two before falling in line behind them.

Soon after: a loud shot was heard ahead of the group. "That sounded like Jiru's rifle, looks like he found something." Nahal said, as he led the group toward where the shot came from. Hans and Enishi with her tail swishing back and fourth: had their firearms ready in case it was something else.

After a walking a good distance, Jiru was seen on the trail with his breech loading rifle rested on his shoulder, and Siena with her arms folded next to him. "Made a good find, forest Ox." Jiru says pointing with his thumb at a dead forest ox a ways off the trail as the group approached.

Nahal just smirked, "We just started and you find a ox?" he said with a amused tone.

Siena grined at the chief, "Well... we are the experts after all..." she boasted.

"Huuuuuuhhh... so this is a forest ox? Its just like the ones in the village... do they taste good?" Negeyari said as she examined the ox carcass carefully, "The ones in the village really scare me..." she mumbled causing Enishi to chuckle.

Kuela let out a sigh, "We come all the way out here, and we have to head back already? Think we can take a break?" she said causing her husband to laugh making her get a flustered look on her face.

Nahal smiled at his wife, "A short break might be good, why don't we have some of the food we brought along?" he replied as he sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree.

As the group began to relax: Siena smiled as she unpacked the rice balls she prepared. "So Nege which one do you..." she then trailed off as she noticed the little naga staring at one of the wild quails a porter had much to his amusement. With a irritated look she sighed, "Guess it can't be helped you little predator..." she muttered as Jiru snatched one of the rice balls. "Uh you know that's a hot pepper rice ball right..."

Jiru raised a eyebrow at his wife, "You can be pretty evil you know..?" he smirked as he started eating the rice ball quite used to her food, causing Siena to grin mischiviously.

Kuela giggled slightly as she saw her daughter was clearly interested in eating one of the birds, "Go ahead Nege, I'm sure you want to try one..."

Negeyari let out a squeal of glee as she picked up one of the small birds and stuffed it in her mouth with a odd expression about the taste of feathers. Enishi then pointed to herself, "Mind if I have the other one?" she asked causing Kuela to blink.

"Eh? Well... I guess you are half cat and all... okay." she said as Enishi picked the other one up and started plucking the feathers from it causing the naga next to her to blink.

Enishi smiled, "I do give into my primal needs every now and then, I'll eat it somewhere else though. You might loose your appetites." she said with a giggle as Negeyari followed her.

The little naga after tasting the bird for a while swallowed it, then continued to watch Enishi until her bird was completely featherless. "Hmmm they look weird without feathers..." she began to say as Enishi suddenly bit into the bird causing the naga to reel back in horror. "H-how savage!" she exclaimed.

Enishi with blood around her mouth just smirked at the horrified naga, "This coming from someone who swallows things alive..?" she replied causing the naga to blush.

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After a brief pause: Nahal stood up, "Well. Lets get going, this will take some time to bring back..." he said as everyone began preparing the transport the large creature.

Enishi interjected, "With your permission I might be able to make the task easier. Combine earth, and fire, then add spirit and the body grows stronger temporarily..."

Nahal nodded, "By all means, we could definatly use it while carrying this."

Enishi suddenly began to dance, gyrating as she chanted in an obscure language. The dance seemed to emphasize her feminine curves. The wind then began to pick up, and she dipped her hand into a pouch at her waist, scattering a glittering dust. Each of the observers began to feel heat building inside them as her chant continued. Enishi finally built to a crescendo: her fingers dipped into another pouch, this time a white liquid sprinkled by her shaking fingers. Combined with the rainbow dust it settled to the skin of the everyone. Enishi then finished kneeling down prone: her breathing was deep and ragged, a thin sheen of sweat covered her skin.

Siena just frowned upon the cat girls sensual dance, "Show off..." she muttered to herself.

Nahal then coughed, "Interesting way of casting a spell, but thank you." he said as Kuela looked at him with a hint of jealousy.

Enishi raised her eyes: still breathing deeply, "Thank you..." she said softly as she stood up on her unsteady legs.

Suddenly a thin tree began to crack as Negeyari squeezed it with her tail, "Raaaahhhhhh!" the tree then gave way and toppled over, "Wow this is amazing! I feel really strong!" the little naga beamed as the rest of the group looked at her with stunned silence.

Enishi eventually smiled still trying to calm her breath, "That is very impressive Nege"

Nahal just let out a exhasperated sigh, "Figures you would do something useless after having this cast on you." he said as the porters hoisted up the ox with relative ease.

The little naga blushed and got a apologetic look, "Ummm sorry daddy I couldn't help myself..."

Enishi giggled, "Don't worry Nege you can still do something useful!" the catgirl said as she climbed onto the Negeyari's tail placing her hands on the surprised naga's shoulder.

Negeyari let out a gasp, "H-hey!" she exclaimed causing everyone to chuckle. The little naga looked a tad annoyed by carrying Enishi but didn't tell her to get off at any point. Kuela just looked at the irritated naga with a proud smile, knowing that her daughter was putting up with it. Several gunshots were heard in the distance along the way, evidence that the other groups had some luck in the hunt as well. It wasn't long with the strength spell still in effect that they reached the village.

Enishi leaned to her mount's ear whispering, "Thanks kiddo, to tell the truth: that spell had taken much out of me, you really helped me out..." the cat girl said as she stepped off her tail. "You know... I could get used to that..."

"Glad I could help... but don't expect to ride on my tail all the time..." the still somewhat irritated naga said as she glanced at the cat girl who just giggled.

Siena whispered into Nahal's ear. After the chief let out a sigh he ordered the porters to move on to the village. Siena then turned and pointed a accusing finger at Enishi, "For your crimes against the village: I challenge you! If you win I'll accept you as one of us. However if you loose you'll leave..." she paused as she saw Nahal shaking his head. Getting a frustrated look, she turned towards the farmland, "Either way we're fighting, come with me. Nege please give her your staff."

Enishi was surprised by the woman's sudden challange: she then let out a sigh with her tail swishing back and fourth, "Siena, I respect you... but you do not understand who you are challenging..." the cat girl said with confidence.

Negeyari looked a little flustered looking between Enishi and Siena, "Umm umm...." it was evident she didn't quite know what to do.

Nahal scratched the back of his head, "Magic won't be allowed during this duel, it will be fought with staffs." he said as he took the staff from his confused daughter and held it out for the cat girl. Nahal looked at Siena as she continued walking towards the farmland, "Sorry, having to kill during that night has really gotten to her. This was bound to happen eventually..."

Enishi blinked "Ok... that makes it harder, but really... " she sighed accepting the staff, "Well, maybe we can finely get unpleasantness behind us after this" the cat girl muttered as she tested the staff.

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Siena picked up her own staff leaning against a tree as she walked past it, in the usual field just beyond the crops. She turned and waited, staring at the arriving cat girl as everyone else watched from a distance.

Enishi hefted her staff once more, then her eyes narrowed, "Really? No other way huh?"

Siena just stared silently at Enishi as Nahal looked at the two before frowning. He then raised his hand, "Begin!" as soon as this was said Siena sprung forward with a quick thrust at the cat
girl's abdomen.

Enishi blocked the thrust and attempted to counter by swinging upward towards Siena's head: which in turn was blocked by the middle of her staff. In the blink of a eye Siena spun and caught the cat girl hard in the ribs, knocking her aside a little.

Enishi grunted, and for a moment she couldn't take a breath. She hopped back using her natural dexterity to disengage the fight, then slipped in again, feinting toward the woman's head, then dipping the staff to try and sweep her feet.

Siena brought her staff up to protect her head, and grinned as the cat girl brought hers down to trip her. She quickly swung the bottom of her staff hitting the cat girl in the stomach while letting herself have her feet knocked out from under her, but hopped back to her feet in short order.

Enishi coughed once, but was able to draw a ragged breath. With a agitated look she spun gracefully whipping her staff around to hit Siena's side: sweat flicking off the cat girl's face.

Siena blocked the spinning strike, but Enishi instantly did a counter spin catching her on the opposite side. She cringed slightly and knocked the cat girls staff away, before swinging her own staff down at her shoulder which was quickly blocked. Ducking under a counterattack she pegged Enishi square in the chest with a smirk, "Not bad..."

Enishi gasped, looking for a moment at her chest, "Hey! No fair. Those look fine just the way they are!" the cat girl protested: her voice exploding from her lungs. None the less she continued her graceful dance. Swinging the staff at Siena's shin, then shifting her weight, trying to ram the end into her gut, and finally whirling overhead trying to bring the staff down on her head.

Siena blocked the swing to her shin, and side stepped out of the way of Enishi's thrust, she then braced herself as Enishi leaped overhead and blocked the staff being brought down on her but had to move her head slightly as she got hit hard in the shoulder. With a scowl she then spun her staff as the cat girl landed and hit Enishi square in the side of the side of the head.

Enishi stumbled as she was suddenly surrounded by stars, her vision flickering. She again disengaged, raising her hand to the side of her head and feeling a wetness. She sighed hoping this will not leave a mark. Whirling the staff in her hands, she charged in again, knocking Siena's staff aside, then swung at her stomach dancing by the woman.

Siena gritted her teeth as her staff was knocked aside and spun it knocking the cat girl's staff upward. Turning towards her shes too late to block as Enishi made a second attack and caught the tip of her opponents staff in the ribs. "Why you..."

Negeyari winced as the two traded blow after blow, they had been at it for nearly thirty minutes now and by now a sizable crowd arrived to watch: Many of the Einurian marines placing bets on who would win. "When are they going to stop? Haven't they fought enough....?" the naga demanded in a panicky voice.

Jiru had a serious look on her face, "Siena won't be satisfied until one of them them can no longer fight..." he said as he sighed.

The two duelists stared at each other as they caught their breath. Siena couldn't help but smirk, "Your pretty tough for a magic user...."

Enishi chuckled as she swayed slightly on her feet, but her voice was still defiant, "I was just going to say that for a warrior, you move pretty good..."

Siena continued to smirk: wiping some blood off her mouth with her thumb and takes a stepped forward with her staff pointed at her opponent. "Lets finish this shall we?"

Enishi smiled: Having watched her opponent carefully during the match. As she took a step forward she shuddered as pain erupted from her ankle. Trying to ignore it she lunged at Siena and did a series of quick spinning strikes with her staff. Siena braced herself as Enishi spun her staff, blocking most of her attacks but getting hit in the side. Enishi kept up the momentum and reversed swinging for Siena's head but blinked as she saw her opponent's staff coming for her own
head at the same time. Both contacted each other at the exact same time. The two stood there motionless, but managed to exchange smirks as they both fell over, Siena hitting the ground first followed by Enishi. The duel finally came to a close followed by cheers of the onlookers.

Negeyari gasped in horror, "Enishi! Master!" she called out as she slithered towards the two laying on the ground, followed by everyone else.

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Eventually Enishi regained conciousness, by being shaken gently by a worried naga. A battered Siena with her head being propped up by her husband laid across from her, "Finally awake eh?"

The cat girl cracked open her eyes but couldn't resist an ancient joke, "Anyone get the number of that truck?"

Negeyari blinked, "Whats a truck? Are you all right...?" she questioned.

Enishi giggled slightly, "Surry hun, just waiting for the stars to clear... Did I win?"

Siena sighed, "Its your win. You put up one hell of a fight."

"If I won, how come I feel like I lost?" the cat girl whined.

Siena laughed, "A hard won victory is sweeter than a easy one in my book. Ow. Don't make me laugh." she said as she held her side.

Nahal just shook his head, "So are you satisfied now Siena?"

Siena just looked up at the chief and smirked, "She passes."

Enishi weakly raised her arm, "Hooray!" she said before passing out again, causing the naga to let out a sigh.

Later that day Enishi woke up in the familliar sight of Negeyari's room, the little naga sleeping on her own coiled tail next to her. With a good amount of bandages wrapped on her: she attempted to sit up but groaned as the pain hit her causing her to lay back down.

Negeyari's ears twitched, as she slowly opened her eyes blinking a couple times, "Huuh? Are you awake Enishi?" she then uprighted herself and lets out a small burp before covering her mouth, "E-excuse me, I patrolled the fields a little while mommy dressed your wounds..."

"Ah yes, I am awake now. Thanks to your mom I feel much better." the cat smiled reassuringly at the naga.

Negeyari smiled, "Sorry you had to fight Siena... it was pretty painful to watch..." she said as she uncoiled her tail and laid close to the cat girl, her stomach still somewhat swollen with field rats from her earlier patrol.

"That is ok hun, sometimes the only way to get to know someone is through confrontation. I do not look like much of a guardian after all. Siena and I know alot about each other now, and I think you will find things more pleasant now... once the two of us recover." Enishi replied.

Negeyari smiled sheepishly, "Its sounds silly, but it is kind of true I guess... She knows I can't fight for long when I'm hungry...."

Enishi nodded, "Yea, I get the same way, luckily I had that bird earlier..."

Negeyari smiled, "Those were good but....I didn't like those...feathers..."

The cat girl giggled, "You're supposed to pull them out first silly. Besides, feathers are useful for making pretty decorations..." she replied causing the naga to blush. "I will make you a dream catcher later hun."

Negeyari yawned loudly revealing her fangs, "Dream catcher....?"

"It's a cute design decoration that was popular on the world of my birth. You can decorate your room with it." the cat girl continued.

Nege smiled suddenly looking sluggish from digesting her meal still, "That sounds nice.... something that catches...... dreams....." she mumbled as she laid her head on Enishi's shoulder.

Enishi cringed but tried to bear it, not wanting to disturb her friend. "Geesh Nege, injured person here..." she whispered.
Graaahh! Chapter 9 finally, stupid writer's block...

Anyways this was kind of a failure as I wanted to release chapter 9 and 10 at the same time, I'll try and get 10 done sometime this week though.

And a important thing I learned, describing duels in a story is kind of a pain in the ass! =P

As for now... I sleep!
© 2009 - 2024 Tora044
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kyu1412's avatar
I can just imagine this but i think ever guy from Einuria have a german name.