Shadowed Scales

Chapter 8: Voices That Babbled Sense to The Heart

_CHAPTER EIGHT_

Voices That Babbled Sense to The Heart

As predicted, no one wanted to pair up with Sameer during marine language class. What's worst was that some of the marine animals were gurgling in their own tongues about him too!

He may not be fluent, but he could pick up a few words and phrases amongst the fish that were not nice to hear. Today's lesson was exchanging languages between land and sea.

The task for each student is to pair up with a marine animal so that they could exchange each other's languages in words. Sameer was left alone, unsure of what he had to do. Giving his teacher a pleading look, Sameer wanted nothing more than to be included.

His teacher simply rubbed a flipper across his tusk, pondering to himself. Then, he gestured towards the far side of the aquarium glass where a few jagged rocks and strands of frond were shown close to a small tunnel he assumed to be the marine animals' passage to other classes.

Sameer peered over the rocks, realising that an olive-brown head reared up to face him with those wide yellow eyes. Despite not having limbs like him, Sameer noticed his fins and the gill slits opening and closing every time he moved his mouth.

The both of them locked eyes, forked tongue slithering out while the other opened his mouth to reveal his maw.

"Ah, you finally picked Gurjin," the teacher nodded approvingly. "He's not the one to talk but I'm glad you found yourself someone to partner up with."

Like I have a choice, Sameer thought to himself, still miffed. Regardless, he was thankful not to be left out. He decided to use this opportunity to learn more about marine cultures and in return, he could teach him cultures on land.

"Pogora pogora!" he greeted the eel in marine language with a bow. The moray eel opened his mouth, before partially closing them. He slowly swam out from his hiding spot, revealing his length.

"H-hello! Hello!" Gurjin answered, in land language. Sameer smiled a bit, realising that maybe they might help each other out through their garbles and gurgles.

...

Sameer was shocked when he realised class was over.

He was having a good time chatting with Gurjin in-between their lessons. Who knew talking about their fangs and jaws could make the both of them get along!

Their exchange of mixed land-sea language became incoherent to the rest of the class but to the two limbless animals, it made sense. It gave the Egyptian cobra a sense of relief from his parents, the school and the amount of homework he had to do when he gets back.

Of course, his classmates may think of him differently, but he'll worry about that later. All he could dream about now was reading Mr Twilight in secret when he gets back. Since his parents has set up his after-school schedule, Sameer will have to be careful with his choices.

He doesn't want to do anything right now but spend more time with this moray eel. After learning about Gurjin's home and his favourite food, Sameer couldn't help but share his as well. That and their favourite book series despite the language barrier.

Since Gurjin had other classes with the marine animals, Sameer bids him goodbye before leaving. He learnt that moray eels have double set of jaws, one at the mouth while the other down the throat. In return, he showed Gurjin about his fangs where he will one day milk venom by the time he turned twelve and sell the bottle to a hospital.

The final class was history but even the Egyptian cobra wasn't feeling eager because of school, his parents and Arthur. In a way, today he was against the whole world, which was a common way to view things as a snake. Today, they were learning about the industrial era where machines and factories became the powerhouse of society.

"Now, can anyone tell me what was the purpose behind the rise of factories?"

The class was silent. In synch, everyone turned their attention towards Sameer, who was coiling himself in his seat. Everyone knew he was the top in history class, the same level as the dogs.

"Well...the rise in factories came because more animals wanted food," Sameer explained, his voice careful so that everyone could listen. "Since farmers grow the crops to make our food, the number of animals in the world increased. So to keep up with the numbers, factories were built to produce food faster than before?"

His teacher, an African elephant beamed. "Ah, so you were paying attention after all. I always thought the dogs were my only captivating audience."

"Sameer's a dog without legs!" one of his classmates, a Syrian hamster squeaked.

"Come on, fetch something for us!" another teased, causing a few of the boys to laugh.

Sameer wished he was in a cave already! Thankfully, the teacher's trumpeting silenced the class from making anymore comments. It was nice that they weren't talking about his brawl the other day but this one was making him uncomfortable.

Reptiles in general, are private about their lives with a few exceptions. Sameer scanned around the room, realising Arthur was not seated amongst his classmates. Pondering, he turned his gaze upwards to find a familiar figure hanging upside down like a fluffy coat.

Inwardly, he sighed in relief. He wasn't sure why but just knowing that Arthur attending the class was enough to sooth his worries. The only downside was that he knew Arthur may never wanted to speak to him again and he was alright with that.

Focusing his attention back to class, Sameer chose to drown out most of the noise his classmates were making to listen to his teacher's lecture. It was bad enough that he doesn't have ears like most animals, but his hearing was decent.

Since their homework was to present a topic of an ancient civilisation, Sameer was over the moon. He had so many ideas that the thought of saying it out loud might make him forget. When the bell rang, that was the signal to leave for the day.

Sameer slithered away, his head raised up while his hood was flattened slightly. He may have to experience this treatment in school and at home but deep down, he knew he would have to prove himself if he wanted to win back everyone's trust again.

"There's so much to do..." he murmured to himself, careful not to be stepped upon by larger animals.