The Snake Warriors

Chapter Eight

I sit down on the hill with the others. Spring, Foxtail, and Zadimus apparently all sit with Lotus up here. I guess she has a way of making them get along. Although I can't help but notice that Foxtail is eyeing Zadimus like I would assume foxes look at chickens. I wouldn't want to see them fight. I think Lotus noticed it too, considering she's sitting next to Foxtail. Lotus rolls her eyes and then jabs him in the ribs with her elbow.

"Ow! What was that for!?" Foxtail yells. Everyone up here looks at him.

"I think you know. At least try to act nice!" Lotus glares at him.

"Well, excuse me, princess! Not everyone is an 'oh-so-perfect-and-non-judgmental-Werewolf' like yourself! We can't all just shove our feelings aside as if they don't matter!" After a second, Foxtail seems to regret his words. Lotus's mouth is open. Spring gasps. Foxtail opens his mouth to speak, but Lotus punches him in the jaw. He gets knocked back, and Lotus gets up. She storms off into the forest. Zadimus pinches the bridge of his nose as Foxtail starts to get back up.

"You just had to take that route," Zadimus mutters.

"Shut up, bookkeep," Foxtail rubs his jaw where Lotus punches him.

"You know she's probably crying right now," Spring says.

"I know. Believe me, I know..." Foxtail stares at the bushes Lotus went through to go into the woods. A branch is still trembling.

"Should we go after her?" I ask.

"We shouldn't, but someone needs to go and apologize," Spring glares at Foxtail. He raises his hands in defense.

"I hear you, and I was going to go after her anyways," Foxtail suddenly stands up. He begins speed-walking the direction Lotus went. Once he's gone, I clear my throat.

"If I may, why did Lotus get so worked up over that remark? I understand getting offended, but punching him seems a little extreme," I say. Zadimus and Spring exchange glances.

"Mallorian philosophy and culture is about diplomacy, striving for understanding, and in Lotus's words, 'Striving not to push others down to bolster ourselves, but to bring others up with us.' Most Mallorians take great offense when that's mocked because they have great pride in what their path of peace has done for people," Spring explains. I nod. That makes sense.

"In actuality, I think I showed great restraint in just punching him," Lotus says from the other side of the clearing. What!?

"Hey. How is everyone?" Lotus's voice is lacking its usual cheer.

"How did you get here?"

"I teleported back around after I got far enough. What else would I have done?" Lotus deadpans as she walks to where she was sitting earlier. She sits down.

"Lotus, are you okay?" I ask. Her eyes glint dangerously as she glares at me for a second. Suddenly, she takes a deep breath in.

"Fine. Please avoid that question in the future, it annoys me. You can ask me any variation of it, but not that particular question," once again Lotus's voice is flat.

"Okay... may I ask why?"

"No. No, you may not," and with that, Lotus lays down on the grass. I look at Zadimus and Spring. They're just looking at each other nervously. This is great. Just great.