Every Rose Has it's Thorn

Pleased to Meet You, I Will Now Crush Your Windpipe

Rose really couldn't catch a break. First she gets thrown from a car almost getting run over in the process, then she was almost eaten by a hawk TWICE, ran into a stupid wall, and now she is being squeezed to death... All in the time span of 24 hours. Still out of breathe from her narrow escape from becoming a meal, Rose panted trying to get some oxygen. Of course it was a little hard when the devil eyed rattler coiled tighter around her, chuckling slightly.

"Well, well... What do we have here. You look to be a little lost darlin'."

Rose shuttered slightly at the deep southern voice. She tried to open her mouth and say something but couldn't spit out anything. This caused the male snake to narrow his eyes and loosen his hold on her slightly. As soon as she felt that, Rose took in deep breathes and coughed a bit. The rattler moved his head closer to hers, and when Rose opened her eyes back up after finally catching her breathe, she flinched at how close he was. "Now it's a bit impolite to run into a strangers home and not answer their questions. So I'll ask you again little girl, what are you doing here."

Rose glanced at the end of his tail that he brought closer to her face while he was talking. Shock coursed through her when she saw the rattle was replaced with what seemed like the end of a gun or revolver of some sorts. As she looked back into his hellfire eyes, Rose tensed up a little. She honestly had no clue what came over her but being called little girl made her a little...mad.

"Well, sir, you didn't ask me why I was here during your first question. You said, 'What do we have here.' So to answer that, I'm a desert rosy boa and yes I am a bit lost. My name is Rose so please refrain from calling me little girl. I'm sorry I came in unannounced but I had no other choice-"

She was cut off when the rattler tighten his coil. Rose clenched her jaws and felt fear flow through her like water at the look in his eyes. "Now I don't know where this bravado has come from, but I think I should remind you that you're in MY den. You invaded MY home so you don't get to come in here bossing me around and giving me lip. And quite frankly doll, I can call you whatever I want. Now, if you're done with your temper tantrum, I have a few more questions for you, understand?"

Rose flinched when the butt of his tail gun was placed under her chin and as he got almost nose to nose with her. She nodded and he simply narrowed his eyes before flinging her back into the back wall of the den. Rose groaned when she made contact with the stone and when she lifted her head, she froze again as the male invaded her space and put the gun facing towards her head again, "Now what did you mean when you had no other choice? And you better tell me the truth. I don't like liars, and depending on your answer is whether or not I kill ya."

Rose stared down at his gun before bravely looking into his eyes, " Well sir, I was running from a hawk. She bout nabbed me when I saw the opening to your den. I really didn't mean to barge in but I was just trying to get away. Please let me stay here until she leaves."

The snake stared at her for a few minutes before finally lifting his gun away from her face. Rose finally relaxed a little now that the weapon was no longer pointed at her. "Hmph. Hawk you say... That adds up. Belladonna has a taste for any living creature. Especially snakes...", He looks at Rose, taking in her appearance. She was smaller and more fragile than him, "I guess you can stay here until she leaves. She's pretty stubborn when she sets her eyes upon prey. But as soon as she's gone you're out of here, got it doll?"

With those words, the rattle slithered to another part of the den. Rose squinted in the darkness and could see what seemed half of a body of some animal. Oh so he was eating when she stumbled into here. But she was slightly confused at his sudden nonchalant attitude. She curled into herself a bit, "Can I ask for your name, sir? Also aren't you worried that I would attack you or something? Eating a meal in the company of a stranger could cause problems"

She watched as he gulped down the rest of the carcass before he turned to her. He looked waaaay more relaxed now that he had finished his dinner. "Well doll, you can just call me Jake. And I can tell you ain't venomous like me. You look like you couldn't harm a fly."

Rose looked down in embarrassment. She knew he was right. Even though her species should be able to hunt, her owners always gave her already dead animals. She couldn't even imagine hurting anyone.

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After and hour or two of silence, she settled down for the night. She could only tell since it was getting cooler in the cave. She dared not to go near the entrance in case Belladonna was waiting for a chance to grab her. She looked over at Jake to see he had curled up into a ball, most likely digesting his food. She thought he was asleep until the hellfire eyes of his made contact with her sunset orange ones. "What is it, girl?"

Annoyance flashed through her briefly before she sighed, "How long do you think Belladonna will stay camped out? And by chance... do you happen to know where the nearest watering hole is after I leave here."

Jake blinked at her before uncoiling himself. " Probably around noon tomorrow. She'll get hungrier and go bother some other poor victim." He studied her for a sec before giving her a small smirk. "You okay, darlin'? You're shakin like a leaf. Need me to come over and warm you up?"

Rose's tired eyes sharpened into a glare and forced her shivering to stop, "I'm fine. It's a little chilly but nothing I can handle."

Jake simply rolled his eyes and slithers to a rock that off the cool rock they were sitting upon. Near the entrance is a patch of sand, to which he settles, coiling up again, "I'm sure you can sweetheart. If you get cold you can just come coil into a ball with me. The rock you're on is a bit cooler since that other hole over there leads to an underground river."

"I will be fine right here!" Rose hissed. She did not appreciate his innuendo. She might be as innocent as she could be but she's not dumb as a box of rocks. She glances towards the other opening... It's good to know that water was nearby but she didn't know if she could trust Jake. Coiling tighter to keep out the cold, she felt her eyes water. Here she is in a sorta safe spot when she ditched the only companion she's ever known. Deep down she hoped Rango was at peace wherever he was.

But little did Rose know that the next day Rango would cause a series of chain events that would set off on a crazy story, that she would soon be apart of, even if it was character in the background.