The Girl and the Naga

Chapter 15

I was out gathering some herbs for Alec while he was still healing. He had showed me some leaves from a special flower that could help heal wounds quicker.

I had almost finished gathering a full basket when I heard someone come up behind me. They moved smoothly and almost silently, so I knew they were slithering.

"Alec, I told you to stay in bed," I said, turning around to look at him.

But it wasn't Alec hovering above me.

A male naga with shoulder length black hair and a black tail was glaring down at me. The pupils of his green eyes were tiny and slitted, and a low hiss emanated from him.

It took me a second to react properly, but I was just able to scramble away before he dived for me.

I ran towards the tree line, hoping to get Leif to help me. I made it to the clearing where I had first met him and shouted out his name.

"Leif! Help!" I called.

"What's up?" he said, jumping down right in front of me.

"There's a naga chasing after me!" I replied.

"What naga?" Petal asked, hanging out of a tree.

"I don't know! I didn't stick around long enough to catch his name!" I retorted. "He's got black hair and a black tail," I described, hoping that would ring a bell.

Petal's eyes widened.

"Him," she said.

"Who?" I asked.

"Leif, don't take her into the trees, he'll just kill you before he catches her," Petal said.

"So you want me to just let him catch her!" he protested.

"No, just don't get yourself killed. Try and stall him if you can. I'm gonna go get Alec," she said, taking off in the opposite direction.

Just as she left, the naga came crashing through the trees.

"RUN!" Leif said.

I immediately ran off through the trees. I could hear Leif jumping through the trees beside me. It was reassuring to know he was there, but I was still more afraid than I had ever been in my life.

The naga was right behind me, and when I glanced back, I saw him reach his hand out to me.

But then Leif kicked him aside, knocking him over.

Leif rolled onto his feet and pulled a knife out. The naga stood up and they squared off for a moment. Before Leif could react, the naga swiped his tail at him and knocked him against a tree. He fell to the ground unconscious, his arm bent at a strange angle.

"Leif!" I exclaimed, running over to him despite the danger.

I heard the naga hiss above me. I turned around and stood up, standing in front of Leif to protect him.

The naga chuckled.

"Well, aren't you the brave one," he hissed, smiling in amusement.

I glared at him and continued to stand in front of Leif protectively.

In the blink of an eye, he had circled behind me and forced me away from Leif. Then he coiled around me, trapping my hands down at my sides. I struggled within his coils, but I couldn't move.

He stared down at me for a moment before he opened his mouth and dove for my shoulder.

I struggled even more, but he didn't budge. He continued to bite me for much longer than I thought was safe. I was already starting to fade before he drew away.

He released me and I collapsed onto the floor of the jungle.

My vision was losing focus, and I glanced over at Leif, who was still lying unconscious at the base of the tree.

He was the last thing I saw before I blacked out.