Obsidian Scales

Chapter 10

 The trio went further into the forest, with the trees blotting out the sun even more. It almost looked like late evening, and Lily would've been fooled into believing so if not what light shined through didn't have the pinkish tint of a setting sun. Her gaze kept looking to the still figure of Silas on Veraldi's back. His tail didn't even sway as Veraldi carried him, and her worry grew. Veraldi sighed. "Would you relax already? I can smell your fear from up here and we're downwind." he looked back at her and frowned. She blushed and looked away. "I'm sorry, it's not fear of you but of what will happen to Silas." she said softly.

"He'll be fine. See? We're here now."

After passing through a dense treeline, they came to the village of the Hassan-Syn. The mere sight of it took her breath away. Trees, taller than she had ever seen, and about as thick as a small house towered above them. On the ground and in their branches stood wooden houses connected by wooden bridges and platforms. The Naga around them either climbed up the trees themselves or used rope ladders to descend from the trees and to climb back up. What was even more startling was the Nagas around them. Scores of them slithered about, going about their daily lives. Some women were gathered around and sewing clothes and armor together, while a man was off to the side, tanning the leather of a massive beast. Others were rushing between trees, while children rolled around on the ground, wrestling and playing with some oddly shaped toys. The scales of the Hassan-syn shifted from black, to deep bronze, to a dark green. She would've been mesmerized if she hadn't realized that a good majority of them stopped what they were doing to stare at her. Green, gold, red, and even purple eyes stopped to look at her, and she began to realize just how out of place she was. She clenched her fingers, growing nervous, until a shout sounded off next to her. "Where is Sivena? We have an injured Naga over here!"

Lily jumped at the sound of his voice, but then a woman pushed through the crowd. Her scales were a deep emerald green with a shade of black covering the top of her scales. Her underbelly was a slight yellow color, and her hair matched her scales. Her yellow eyes blazed. "What happened?" she demanded in a harsh hiss. Veraldi didn't seem too intimidated by her. "Manticore attack." he responded. She let out a hiss of words Lily didn't understand then gestured to a nearby building with her head. "Bring him in, now!" she demanded and rushed off. Veraldi slithered after her. "I'm fine too, thanks for asking!" he whined as he followed her. Lily looked back to Kess. "Are they...?" she asked suggestively, looking back to Veraldi and Sivena. Kess' eyes widened in what almost looked like horror, and he shook his head rapidly, as if the very thought of them being a couple was the worst thing she could ever mention.

She lifted her hands up in a calming manner. "Ok, ok I was just asking." Kess urged her forward to follow after them, and he followed close behind her as she walked to the house they brought Silas to. Inside, dried herbs hung from the ceiling in racks. Lily nearly ran into one cluster of them, and then nearly bumped into a table which held a mortar, pestle, and more herbs though contained in jars this time. Veraldi had set Silas on a bed – if Lily could really call it that. The "bed" was on the floor, and consisted of furs and pillows that were positioned in such a way that it almost created a sort of nest. Silas was placed in it, his tail curling around him in a sort of coil. His eyes opened slightly, as if it was so hard to open them. "Where am I...?" he muttered, barely making a sound.

Sivena spoke to him. "You're home, Silas. I'm taking care of you." she said with a bit of a softer tone. He mumbled something else, almost as if he was trying to say "thank you," when he began to stir a bit more. "Lily, where is-" He didn't have to finish as Lily came to him and knelt down, gently grabbing his hand. "I'm here Silas, I'm here." she said softly and smiled. His body immediately relaxed, his hand gently holding hers and he seemed to smile a little, closing his eyes again. Sivena gently rolled him onto his side so she could see the strikes on his back. Two, messy open wounds were before her, and she gave a soft hiss. Lily looked to her. "Will he be alright?" she asked.