A Nagas tale

To my friend's child

For years I watched my people thrive. I watched over my children as they grew and produced more of my children. I gave them refuge from the world that seemed so harsh to our small tribe of Nagas. I agreed to the terms of the other gods to have my body sealed to save it from destruction. I did not refuse the seal created by mutilating my skin. All so I could protect my kin and this world they lived in. I watched them sealed away in this mountain. For millennia I greeted my sons when they came for pilgrimage. This cave once used to celebrate our flourishing home has now become empty once occupied by the cries of the devastated. In my sealed form I watched all. The person who pushed the destruction of my kin the jealous god of the sea. Giving the snakes false information that my kin's blood could grant them their lost Auras. They did not listen to reason even if my son disproved the information. After my son begged for my aid, as his dying wish. I decided this world was not worthy of the gifts Mother had given it. The destruction of this world has become my sin. This punishment falls on the souls that are birthed by the attackers and bystanders. Yet, In this cave, I still wait for the hope that descendants will come to offer me salvation. I noticed not long ago that a male Naga had been poking around my shrines around the area. He did not carry my blood but he was familiar. 'I want to know what happened if the ancestor can hear me... I want to learn your story. The story of this dying world.' My hope reignited when this curious child spoke to me. "Are you recovered?" I look at the little female naga. She seemed worried, this child whose blood is not mine. This blood I remember belonging to my old friend from Algaria. Her brown eyes watched me curiously. 'Yes, to this curious little one, I will tell my story.' I explain to her what came of this world. She did not seem to judge me as I told her my sin. A loud blast catches her attention. The sound comes one after another. She takes a step closer to the exit. "Get the Doc and Audrey out of here!" Some of the sinners shout. 'They have come to purge the Naga children!' I feel anger bubble up in my being. Brown eyes turn back to me "T... They!? Who are they!?" she asks. 'The descendants of the snake tribe.' I huff in anger. "Audrey!" The older Naga runs into the room wounds scattered on his body. A bullet hits Audrey pushing her against my fang. Her scream echoes in this hellish cave as the older naga pulls her behind my fang. These bullets once again create craters in my den. "Dad! What happened? You are bleeding!" she shouts in horror. He hushes her to try and hide them from being found. They spoke in our language as if they had the right to use our language. 'Little one! Be silent! I will try to hide you!' I instruct her pooling my aura to create an illusion. I do not want to witness another Naga die in this cave, not to those beasts. She falls quiet as my aura quickly starts failing me. I watch her take the gun her father had before running out from behind me. 'child!' I hiss "Audrey! We need to get out!" the older naga shouts trying his best to get up. He stumbles holding onto the large wound on his side. She hides at the bend waiting for them to get closer. I can see she is horrified but holding the gun tightly. "Audrey..." the Naga huffs trying his best to stay awake. "I can't let you die...not again." he huffs the will of a father to protect their young. I look at Audrey her brown eyes growing hard 'Ancestor, I refuse to die here, I do not want to make your home my final resting place.' She tells me. This cave I once thought of as a home is now just a prison for me. 'I agree.' I tell her not wanting her soul to become a prisoner to my home. I watch her flare her aura mixed with that gold aura of her partners sparks my old mind. I could provide a connection! 'there is a way to save you bold Little Audrey. 'We promised to always be connected even if one of us dies.' I close my eyes finding my good friend sitting in the void. His eyes fixed on the little naga and her father. "If you do this, You will be gone for good," he warns me. I nod "I will not let them die like this." I tell him as he looks at me. He nods "I'd like to speak with my child as well." he chuckles holding out his hand to me. "This might be the last thing I can do to try and save our kin." I speak regrettably. Feeling how weak my aura is I will probably not be able to hold onto it for long. "I will make sure your world will not be forgotten." He assures me. I flinch watching the little naga hit my fang with several bullets hitting her body. "I will have my children tell your history so it is not forgotten." he whispers as the gate opens. "Please don't let my cave be the grave for two more nagas." I beg as I push my aura into opening the gate. "Thank you for protecting my children." He offers me a smile as my mind fades into the void we were all born from. 'Hey hey! mister, can you tell me more?' I can hear the voice of a child a little boy. 'I never got to meet that living soul it seems.' I feel regret at not being able to see that living soul again. 'Ancestor, can you tell me more?' I shudder as the image of the little boy merges with the little naga. 'haha so it seems I did get to tell you more.'