Something Spicy

Chapter 5

A/N- picture above is Nagi's father (fill in what YOU think he should look like from there)

Narrator/third POV

At the entrance all the Nagas gathered with a few tiny scratches here and there but no real wounds. The encampment was now silent with bird's song filling the air not matching the situation. Kevin had paralyzed due to the poison and resided as a warm lump in Navi's arm  having a difficult time not drifting to sleep even in thos precarious situation. His father seeing Nagi gestured for him to join him with a nod eyes on the bundle. A few others paused in their discussion of how to split the territory flicking the air with their tongues, their eyes also moving to look at the bundle.

One of the nagas moved closer curious speaking in the sudden silence, "Is that..a human? *Sniff sniff* It smells like goblin but it still smells good." Another naga moved closer wanting to peek in the bundle, "Are you gonna eat it," it asked with a hungry look. Nagi pulled back slightly his hands tightening, "No, I want to keep it," he said with a firm look. His father slid over hanging an arm over his shoulders," That shouldn't be too much of a problem." Nagas weren't against eating anything just like orcs and goblins. Humans actually viewed naga meat as a delicacy and orc meat as delicious as cow (besides being a little tough). Orcs normally avoided nagas as it was rather difficult to fight against their poison and ambushes but they would settle for the occasional human, as long as they weren't in a group. Humans had an advantage in numbers and could simply wipe out the orcs or nagi in the area without too much of a problem if a formal expedition is set out.

The other nagas slithered over with unpleasant looks. One of the larger nagas, his tail the size of a log, with an uncontent tone," We split all the spoils even." All the nagas were rather on edge as what interaction occurred among their own kind was normally not very pleasent. Nagi paused and nodded his head," I will give up my part of the territory." A few Nagi recoiled surprised. Territory for a human? A thin naga narrowed it's beady eyes along with the others. It stepped, well slithered, forward and asked what they were thinking," What's so good about the human, so what if it smells good?"

His father recounted with an unhappy expression by Nagi's side," Why does it matter? He found it first and it willing to give...his territory," he said hissing in unpleasure when mentioning the loss of the territory. The thin naga lifted a finger in the air and with a sly grin said," I have an idea. How about we all see it first THEN we decide." Nagi glanced nervously at his father. His father only shrugged, he told Nagi he would have to fight for it.

Nagi hesitantly looked at the bundle in his arms clenched his teeth and grudgingly pulled back the pelt revealing Kevin's dazed face. His clear light copper skin glowed in the sunlight contrasting against the dark purple pattern that traced the sides of his face and dissapeared into the pelt. Downy black hair hid his closed eyes and parted mouth that was slightly drooling. The thin nagi's face was full of greed looking at the cute human. For many of the naga it was the first seeing one. "It's not bad looking," one remarked. "I expected humans to have pig snouts." A few nagi hissed in agreement exchanging looks. They had heard of a few myths of a naga raising a human but it didn't often end well with either the naga accidentally killing the human or vice versa but not accidentally. 

The large nagi paused when he saw it's face. The idea of having it as a pet wasn't too bad and the idea grew on him. "I'll give you my territory for the human," he said in a commanding tone. Nagi, shook his head quickly, "He's not for trade." The large naga pulled itself up looming over him, Nagi holding back the instinct to shrink back hissed in anger. The thin naga pulled the larger naga back with a bony hand and whispered in his ear. The large naga glanced at Nagi and backed away. The nagis all watching on edge were still wary of potential conflicts but slowly relaxed. 

Occasionally odd glances were sent at Nagi's father by the group. Female naga never stick around their mate partner and not unlike snakes they do not create family bonds. It's not uncommon for siblings to help raise each other but the parents never stuck around. Since all of them were solo with Nagi and his father an exception they were wary of the two. Even though Nagi was a young adult he was a healthy 6'4 male. 

The discussions of territory splitting continued to dusk and they all went their different ways. Nagi finally signed in relief as they put distance between themselves and the others. "You were right, father. What a bloody bunch!" he said loudly angry. Father smacked him in the head hard making him drop the human. "Father!" Nagi shouted worried as he rushed to pick up the bundle patting it off and making sure it was alright. His father smacked him in the head again this time harder," What do you think you're doing, be quiet! I can't believe you did all of this for a hooman!" Nagi cracked a grin, "Its h-u-man, father." Father hit him once again, "How unfilial you are! Here I'm chastising you and you talk back!" 

"Fatttherrrr," He said in a pouty tone rubbing the back of his head with a hand, "I'll start losing hair if you keep doing this!"  HIs father only snorted smiling, "Well, you might listen to your father next time!" Nagi coyly went to his father and entangled his tail with his father's, rubbing shoulders,"But you still love me righttttt." His father patted his hair looking down at him,"And if I say no?" Lifting a brow just as coyly. They broke out in laughter and continued the long trip to their burrow. 

The screech of an owl was the only warning of the attack.