The Serpent and the Lioness

Preface

Author's Note: This is a SEQUEL, it should not be read alone. Please read 'The Power of Pain' if you want to know what is truly going on.  It's going to be slightly different from before, with time jumps but rest assured, more will be explained. Thank you, everyone. Happy Reading. Kind Regards, R

The Serpent and the Lioness

A long time ago, there was a lioness and a serpent. Both creatures were proud and strong in their own special way. And even though their lives had taken different paths, fate would see that one day they should meet. Not too long after a great and noble battle was won, the lioness fell very ill. Her pride leader was so disheartened that she didn't know where to turn. She searched and searched for someone to help her cub.

Then, one day, she found the serpent. The one spoken of only in hushed whispers. For you see, he was a very powerful serpent but his skills and talents did not always appease those of the kingdom. The pride leader knew, however, that the serpent was a great healer. But he had also been betrayed many times. As such, the mighty serpent had hidden himself away vowing never to use his magic ever again.

When the pride leader finally tracked down the mighty serpent, they dragged him out of his hole. She begged and pleaded with him but to no avail. Finally, the pride leader was about to give up, when an idea struck her. She knew the serpent valued his secrecy and in return for his services she promised to hide him away even better than before. The serpent considered her offer and told the pride leader, she had three days to deliver her cub.

The mighty pride leader knew that if she were to ever reveal her secret that the serpent would hide away and her cub would be lost. So in the middle of the night, she snuck out. Taking her cub to the serpents den. The serpent wasn't kind to the pride leader but he accepted the cub anyway.

Time passed and the serpent worked and worked trying to find a solution to the cub's ailment. And when all seemed lost. He finally succeeded. The cub, who had fallen into a deep, deep sleep, awoke! She was so grateful to the serpent for his kindness but no matter how much the lioness tried to show him. The serpent just couldn't see.

Together, the lioness and the serpent went out in search of the evil monster that had cursed her. Their journey took them near and far. All seemed lost until that fateful day when both the lioness and the serpent decided to use their combined talents together instead of against the other. Against all odds and even their very different natures, the lioness and the serpent were able to smite the mighty monster!

The serpent had delivered on his promise. But the battle had been a hard one and when the pride had realized all that had happened. They took the lioness away, far away to keep her safe from the believed the evil the serpent still had inside.

The lioness felt so confused and hurt. She searched endlessly for the serpent. Day after day month after month she searched for the serpent because she knew, that no matter what anyone said against him, that he was a mighty healer. Finally one day, the lioness stumbled across his den. He too had been taken into the company of his own kind.

She waited and waited for him to make himself known. But by the third day, he had not emerged. Growing impatient the brave lion went into the den. It was a very dangerous move because even though the serpent was a great healer he was also very dangerous. For he had felt betrayed once again. He was no fool, he knew that the lioness wasn't of his kind. Even though they had shared a mighty journey, his old nature had returned. However, the lioness had waited long enough and she grabbed him by his tail and pulled him out! The serpent was so angry and ran away again. Leaving the lioness sad, but determined. For you see, the lioness was very clever, she had found him once. She'd do it again.

Three times the lioness chased the serpent from his den, and each time the serpent refused to hear her pleas. Until finally one day, the lioness trapped the serpent, not with a cage but with her mind. She had given him an offer he couldn't refuse. She promised him, that if he would let her stay in his den for three days and still not wish her to stay then she would go and never bother the serpent ever again.

The serpent believed himself to be more clever than the lioness and agreed to her terms. But on the evening of the last day, the lioness did something that the serpent could never have expected. So taken aback the serpent allowed the lioness to stay one more day.

One day turned into a week, a week into a month, a month into a year and slowly, the lioness and the serpent were no longer apart. The fates that had brought them together sealed their bond from the heavens and the lioness and serpent lived happily ever after.

But like all fairy tales, there is always more to the story.