The Snake Warriors

Prolouge

I sit down in my rocking chair as the kids begin gathering around the firepit. Whose horrible idea was it to make grandparents the town storytellers? I'm way too old for this. At least now that I'm by the fire the breeze isn't bothering me as much. I sigh. Maybe I can enjoy a few seconds of comfortable and warm silence before they sta-

"Tell us the story of The Snake Warriors again!" Lyndis screeches.

"Yeah Grandma, tell us again!" my Cace joins in. He's the oldest of these kids and yet somehow the most immature. All of the kids join in the requests. I can't even tell who's saying what at this point.

"Alright, alright. But this is the last time this week," I surrender, holding my hands up. The kids shriek in delight.

"Gather round, gather round, those of you that wish to hear. For this a tale of heroics, duty, sacrifice, and friendship." A hush falls over the kids. Well that's a first.

"This is not a tale for those faint of heart. You have been warned," I look over the kid's faces. They're all mesmerized by the story, as usual. They've heard it so many times it's a miracle they don't shout out what happens at every single pause next like they usually do with the other stories. Instead they shout at just some of the pauses.

"Once upon a time, long before anyone would have guessed they'd be called The Snake Warriors, there was a group of six mighty warriors. Hankoris Faralei; The Fire Snake, Natalia Wysaphine; The Whispering Snake, Mirage Lyndis; The Lost Snake, Sidrol Dragonstone; The Giant Snake, Blues Bones; The Water Snake, and Conaire Sharp; The Snake Slayer. They traveled the kingdoms, fighting evil and saving lives. One day, a mighty snake by the name of Struvks took over the kingdom of Mallor and drove the people of the land out. Not a snake that was giant, mind you, but a snake that could still bite off your limbs. And a snake so evil, it was said that one bite from it could curse you to an unbearable afterlife; one glance could stop you dead in your tracks; one touch could kill a man." I stop, knowing what comes next.

"But not The Snake Warriors!" Sorcha says from the back. She loves this story more than anyone else. Not surprising, given her parentage.

"Indeed little one, not them. But not because they were immune to fear, but because they knew how to shove it aside; they knew how to hold their ground and fight. They knew they couldn't let fear win over hope. Hope that the next day would be better." Finally, the kids shut up without any outbursts.

"One day, the mighty warriors were approached by the former ruler of Mallor, Lyric Vixaski. She asked for their help in slaying the snake the plagued her homeland. The warriors agreed, and so they and the queen began their treacherous quest through the ruined kingdom; which by then was referred to as The Land of Struvks. They traveled all over the rainforest where Struvks was said to spend the most time. They even went outside the lands, searching and searching and searching.

"After months of looking, their search ended. They found Struvks. He was by Genesis and Amaya Falls. Natalia got his attention by striking him with her silvery whip, and so the battle began. The mighty warriors and the queen fought tooth and nail. The queen, however, had been nursing an illness and sadly perished from exhaustion. She was the first to fall. The Warriors pressed on, and as they fought, they slowly pushed the snake up a hill. This was not a coincidence. They had planned to drive him up to the top of  Genesis Waterfall. They planned to weaken and kill him with the fall. As they pushed him up, the snake managed to bite them, one by one. All of the warriors save for Conaire and Hankoris fell to the bite. Not dead, but incapacitated nonetheless.

"Conaire and Hankoris fought tooth and nail. Conaire kept firing on Struvks with his giant guns, while Hankoris drove the snake on with his mighty fire sword. As they neared the top of the falls, Struvks managed to graze Hankoris with one of his venomous fangs. The half-elf swung one last time at Struvks before falling to his knees. As Struvks approached Hankoris, Conaire shot at the snake. 'Twas a mighty blast that knocked the snake off the waterfall. It fell to its watery death. Conaire rushed to his falling comrade, he noticed something odd. Hankoris' s skin was turning... scaley. That was when the two friends realized Struvks's curse. His bite turned the victim into a snake. As they realized this, a hissing noise came from down the hill. They turned and looked. They saw four snakes, each of them the fallen warriors. Well, the fallen warriors in form, but in mind they had succumbed to the snake.

"As they approached, Hankoris turned to Conaire and said, 'Go. I'll hold them off.' Hankoris slowly came to his feet, leaning on his sword. Conaire started to protest, but Hankoris raised a hand and motioned him away. Conaire reluctantly left, but as he turned away, he promised to return. To free them. And that's why we know of this tale. Conaire told everyone he could to try and convince them to help save his friends. Alas, no one helped. The five warriors still roam the land of Struvks to this day. One day, however, people say that The Kingdom of Mallor will be rid of the snake curse by the heir to the throne of Mallor, with the help of new heroes. Whether it's the mindless chatter of idle tongues or a prophecy, I'll leave up to you," I finally finish the story. The kids sit, awestruck for the moment. Wait for it. Cace starts clapping. Good grandson, appeasing his grandmother. The others start clapping as yell. I hear some more people join in... but all the kids are clapping already. I look up. Some passerby stopped and listened. Hey, there's Sorcha's mother among the clapping adults. Here to pick up her kid I suppose. I glance from her reddish-brown haired mother down to her black haired daughter. Her mother's hair is curly, and her daughter's is straight. Both are pale, although the mother has a wave of freckles across her face. Ciara has green eyes, and Sorcha has brown eyes... just like her father. Oh little Sorcha, you have no idea who you really are, do you?