Crimson Coils (The Snake Men Book 2)

Chapter 5

Rezran wrapped his body around Mari as they both crashed to the bottom of the tunnel, letting out a grunt as he did. He had flipped them during their fall so he would cushion Mari from the ground. He hadn't known that the tunnel was more like a pit, no doubt something dug up by a juvenile sand wyrm. They were just lucky enough to have one close by.

Small dust and clumps of dirt fell from the ceiling as the dragon outside roared, angered that it had lost it's prey. "Nice try, you fucking son of a bitch." he hissed, but smirked in triumph. He looked down at the small woman in his arms, shaking like the little rats that made their homes in the volcanic vents. While his arms supported her upper body, his tail had coiled around her legs to keep her still as they tumbled down. His gazed softened at the small woman. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Mari slowly looked up at him, her face having been pressed to his chest. "Y-Yeah." she said softly, her breath coming out shakily as she spoke. "And you?" she asked.

Rezran nodded, though hesitantly let her go, and carefully unwound himself from around her so she could stand once again. Once she was standing he began to search around, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness. There were two passages, though one was blocked by loose rocks and dirt. Wyrms hadn't been down these tunnels in a while, which was a great advantage on their part. "Let's follow this tunnel." he said.

Mari gaped at him. "Are you kidding? We already ran into a Greater Dragon, and now you want to follow a tunnel that could possibly have another?!" she demanded. She flinched when he whirled around to look at her, mainly because his eyes were glowing in the darkness. The sight was unsettling at the very least, another reminder of why the snake men were seen as monsters to her people.

He let out a hiss. "We're lucky to have found this tunnel. If we follow it in this direction, we'll be closer to my home," he explained. "Then we'll be safe." His tail thumped on the ground in irritation. "Now, let's go." he said, already slithering off in the direction he had faced before.

Mari certainly didn't want to be left behind, especially with the angry, hungry dragon outside; so she followed after him. They walked on in silence, even the roars of the dragon had eventually been silenced. While Rezran moved over the tunnel with ease, Mari tripped and stumbled over the tiniest rocks or the sudden change of the ground level. She fell multiple times until Rezran finally wrapped his tail around her and set her on the back of his tail, close to his torso.

"Hold onto me." he ordered. "I forgot that humans do not see well in the dark. I should've offered sooner." He continued on, his tail shifting underneath her as he carried her through the tunnel. She obeyed and gently wrapped her arms around his waist, keeping herself stable as they continued on. They were silent once more, before Mari broke the silence again. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For saving me."

Mari could see his golden eyes look at her as he turned his head. "It was nothing." he replied. There was humor in his eyes. "Though I doubt the dragon would find you very tasty." She didn't need to see to tell he was smirking, and she frowned for a moment. That is until she smirked herself. "I should consider myself lucky then."

He let out a soft hiss, almost like a chuckle. "Indeed," and she joined in with his laughter, relaxing at his small tease. As they continued on, she fell silent again, comforted at the gentle sway of his tail as they traveled down the tunnel. The tunnel was hot from being warmed by the volcanoes and the vents that were connected to them from underneath the ground. Mari felt herself break into a sweat, but Rezran felt cool to the touch. "Aren't you hot?" she asked.

His gaze turned to her once again. "No?" he said, his tone revealing his confusion as his gaze turned to her once again. "Why do you ask and- wait, why are you wet?" he asked, stopping to look at her.

Mari blushed at that and let go of him. "Oh, well..." she stuttered. "It's really hot down here for me, and when we get hot we sweat. "she explained. "It's to help us cool down, that's why I'm wet. "She quickly put her hands to her sides to refuse touching him again, feeling embarrassed for clinging to him while sweating like that. "I'm sorry." she apologized.

"It's fine." he replied. "I forgot that humans have trouble in the heat. I will get us out of this tunnel as soon as possible." he reassured her before moving once again. He moved so suddenly that she lurched forward and held onto him once more. "Once we reach my home you should start feeling better. We shouldn't be too far, if that damn dragon hadn't chased us, we'd already be there." he let out an angered hiss, the tip of his tail slamming against the dusty ground. He hadn't predicted that they would come across one close to his home, or if they did it would just be another pack of drakes. Instead, they had been spotted and hunted by a Greater Dragon, and a Bronze Dragon with a nasty temper no less. If he had been part of a hunting party, he could've taken it down with help. But on his own and protecting a human with no weapons would've killed both of them. They were just lucky that a wyrm tunnel happened to be nearby.

He sighed. At least the danger for the moment had passed, and soon they would be in his village – his home. He knew Mari wouldn't want to stay there, but it would be better than to leave her out on her own. She'd hardly survive a day at least, that was already proven with today's events. Still, he'd never seen a Bronze Dragon that close to his home. Territory disputes were not uncommon, and the losing dragon had to leave the territory it was trying to claim so that could be the reason why it was so close. He would have to consult the Elder-Scales about this matter, it disturbed him.

Mari was just as disturbed as he was. While traveling the caravan roads had their own dangers, even they rarely came across a dragon. On their worst days, they had to deal with bandits that wanted the crystals they harvested. Her father and many of the men and women of the caravan were powerful warriors, they wouldn't last long on the road if they were not. Though it didn't mean that all of them were such great fighters – Mari was walking proof of that. Though to make herself useful to the caravan, she became an excellent gatherer instead of a hunter or a fighter. That, of course, didn't help when attempting to survive on her own.

Her hands rested on his sides, and she sighed. If Rezran hadn't saved her when he did, she would be in the belly of very hungry drakes. Her family wouldn't have found anything left of her. Not that they would find her now that she was going to a literal den of snakes.

They seemed to be walking for hours in the darkness – well, Rezran was doing all the walking, or slithering, while Mari sat on his tail. She had tried to get off of him and walk on her own a few times, but he insisted for her safety that she would stay on his back. It was hot, like she was inside of a vent. She wiped a hand across her forehead, removing the sweat that was there. She hoped their destination wasn't much farther, she didn't know how much longer she could take it.

Rezran began to slow down as a warm light filled the area ahead of them, outlining his body with a golden glow in the darkness. Mari had to squint against the sudden light, blinking a few times until her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. She heard laughter, the sound of hammers against stone, the creaking of wood, and so many voices.

 Rezran looked back towards her, his golden eyes accented by the light before them. "We're here." he said.