Rain of Snakes

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The rain of snakes echoed throughout the camp. Some landed on the tents, others on the knights.

BISHH

One snake dropped straight into the fire, burning instantly. Its body only became visible after death.

Fuck.

I grabbed a burning log from the fire and swung it wildly around me. At this point, I didn't bother looking at the trails in the dirt. The snakes were everywhere.

My gaze flickered to the knights—they were still fighting off the endless waves of serpents. The healer from my tent rushed between them, casting buffs to enhance their speed and strength while tending to the bitten. Evan, however, was nowhere in sight.

Shit.

Three snakes shot toward my feet, leaving rippling trails in the dirt. I leaped back before they could strike and broke into a sprint—heading straight for Selene's tent, where Edric, Ranald, and Garrick were cutting down the snakes with swift, effortless strikes. Yeah, I despise them, but I know my priority: survival. Only then can I seek revenge

"KYAAAAA!!!"

A piercing scream behind me made me flinch. Instinctively, I turned my head just in time to see the healer girl charging toward me at full speed.

What the....

I didn't care. Not my problem. I kept running. I didn't even have power to protect myself. If she wanted to die by ghost snake bites, that was on her.

"WAITTTT!!!" she screamed.

Nope. Not today. I wasn't dying like this.

I dodged another falling snake, swinging my burning log to clear the way.

"HEYYYY!!!"

Still not looking back.

"HEYYYYYYY!!!"

Her voice grew so loud that, against my better judgment, I slowed down and turned my head.

Big mistake.

Her tear-streaked face was inches from mine, her blonde hair a wild mess.

What the—how did she catch up so fast?!

Before I could react, she lunged.

"HIEKK!"

I barely had time to inhale before she threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck.

And then—she jumped.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" I shouted as she latched onto my back, locking her legs around my waist in an iron grip.

"GET THE FUCK OFF ME!" I yelled, thrashing.

"NOOOO! There are snakes on the ground!" she wailed.

This bitch—

I drove my elbow into her ribs, but she didn't even budge. Instead, her grip tightened.

"ARGHHH!" I groaned. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU EAT? WHY DO YOU WEIGH SO MUCH?!"

"STOP TALKING AND RUN FASTER! THEY'RE CATCHING UP!" she shrieked.

I sucked in a breath, gritting my teeth.

Haa… My life…

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

More heavy impacts sounded ahead, forcing me to slide to a halt.

Fuck.

HISSSS. HISSSSS. HISSSSSSS.

The ground writhed with movement.

I was surrounded.

Gripping my dagger in one hand and the burning log in the other, I swung the log in a wide arc toward the ground.

For a brief moment, the trails in the dirt stopped.

Then, all at once, the snakes lunged forward at full speed.

"What the hell? These snakes got no chill!"

"KYAAAAA!! THEY'RE BEHIND US TOO!!"

I swung the log backward, but it hit nothing.

Fuck.

They must have jumped again.

I ducked and threw myself to the side, changing direction—only for my movements to be slowed by the deadweight still clinging to my back.

Thump.

Something long and thin dropped onto my shoulders.

"HISSSSSSS!"

A loud hissing sound heard next to my ears. A sharp chill ran down my neck.

Fuck.

I hurled the log at the ground and instinctively grabbed the snake, yanking its writhing body away from me.

"KYAAAAA!!!"

This fucking woman was still screaming in my ear.

I need a new plan.

Gritting my teeth, I took off toward the river.

"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?! GO TO THE KNIGHTS!" she shouted.

I barely dodged another falling snake.

"THEN GET THE FUCK OFF ME AND GO YOURSELF, BITCH!!"

"BUT THERE ARE SNAKES EVERYWHERE!!" She waited clinging tighter.

I gritted my teeth, "THEN SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!"

My breathing turned ragged. My pace was slowing.

This won't do.

I swerved toward the nearest tree trunk and slammed her against it.

"WAIT, WAIT—WHAT ARE YOU—ARGHHH!"

"GET OFF ME, YOU LEECH!!" I rammed her back into the trunk again.

"NOOOO!"

She tightened her grip around my neck.

Choking me.

"GAHHH—"

I staggered but pushed back again, ramming her against the tree a second time. The tree shook visibly.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

More heavy impacts hit the ground around us.

Ten. Twelve. Maybe more.

I'm fucked.

"YOU IDIOT!!!" she shrieked.

"KYAAAAA!! SOMETHING FELL ON MY HEAD!!"

"YEAH?! JUST GET BITTEN AND DIE ALREADY!!"

Without thinking, I leapt off the edge of a landslide leading down toward the river, sliding fast.

"BAM!"

A snake slammed into my face.

I ripped it off and flung it away.

As I landed on river bank, my boots sank into the wet mud. I barely caught my breath when something shifted beneath me.

Hissssssss. A chorus of hissing rose around me.

I froze.

Then I looked down.

Oh.

Oh no.

The entire riverbank was moving under the dim moonlight.

A writhing, slithering nightmare.

"It's over. We're done for," the healer girl muttered, her body trembling. "I told you to run toward the knights. Just—just tell me this is a bad dream. I shouldn't have come here…"

"Shhh!" I missed silencing her.

I froze.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, a memory surfaced—a scene from a movie. Snakes won't attack if you don't move.

Holding my breath, I stood completely still.

The first snake coiled around my foot. Then another. And another.

One. Two. Three. Four—I lost count as their shifting bodies coiled and slithered over my skin, confusing my senses.

A cold shudder crawled up my spine.

Then—

TWIP! — CHINK!

Pain exploded in my thigh.

"Fuck!!"

A snake sank its fangs deep into my flesh. A burning venom surged through my bloodstream.

Fucking movie bullshit. What kind of idiot was I to think that would work?!

Gritting my teeth, I tightened my grip on the dagger and slashed downward with all my strength.

SLASH.

One snake's body split apart. But the blade stuck in another, its writhing form ripping the weapon from my grasp.

"Fuck. I'm weak."

This won't work.I staggered forward, dragging unseen, coiling bodies with me.

The ground was already muddy, but now—now it was slick with scales and slithering bodies, making every step treacherous.

Slipping here would be the last mistake I'd ever make.

Each step sent new fangs piercing into my legs. Pain—sharp and hot—stabbed into me again and again.

My body grew numb.

"Hey, KOALA! What the hell are you doing?! Heal me fast!"

"I'M DOING MY BEST! JUST KEEP MOVING!"

A warm, golden glow flickered at the edge of my vision as her hands pressed against me, trying to mend the damage faster than the poison could spread.

But my legs were getting heavier.

The snakes coiling around me doubled—tripled—dragging me down with every agonizing step.

And then—finally—

The river.

A raging current, deep and fast. A death sentence in its own right.

Not a good option.

But my only one.

No choice. No time. I clenched my jaw—my body already sluggish from the venom—and ran straight for death itself.

With the last of my strength, I staggered forward and fell into the water.

"HIEEEKKKK!!"

The damn girl still wouldn't let go and fell with me.

Does she plan to drown me to death now?! This bitch is definitely a koala in human form.

As we hit the rushing current, the snakes finally released their grip, torn away by the force of the river.

Blood seeped from my wounds, the cold water stinging as it rushed into every open bite mark.

My vision blurred.

The river slammed against me, dragging me deeper.

I struggled—kicked—reached for the surface.

But my body gave out.

The current swallowed me whole as my vision darkened.

———

Selene stood behind Edric as he swiftly swung his sword, his movements precise—each strike cutting down the snakes before they even hit the ground.

Her violet eyes glowed, as she was seeing the vision of Nathan as he jumped into the river.

Through the eyes of her ghost puppet, she watched him struggle against the river's pull.

Then, with a single blink, the glow in her eyes faded.

"Sir Edric," she said, her voice as calm as ever. "Let Ranald and Garrick handle this. You go—help the healer and Nathan. They're in the river."

Edric stiffened, his grip tightening on his sword. He wanted to argue—but he knew better.

Selene never changed her mind once a decision was made.

With a sharp nod, he rushed toward the river.

From the rise's edge, he saw them.

Nathan, struggling against the current, the healer clinging desperately to a rock, holding onto his motionless body as the water threatened to pull them both under.

Even in the chaos, her hands glowed gold, healing him without pause.

'Why is she so desperate to save him?' Edric wondered, but there was no time to dwell on it.

Without hesitation, he slid down to the riverbank, his sword slamming into the earth. The ground cracked open, forming a temporary pathway through the rushing water.

He dove in.

The current fought against him, but he was stronger. Grabbing hold of Nathan and the healer, he hauled them out of the river and onto solid ground.

Nathan's legs were drenched in blood, red pooling beneath him.

"Thank you, Sir Knight. We… we would have died there… haaa… haa…" The healer gasped between heavy breaths, still clutching onto Nathan.

Edric said nothing. The snakes dared not approach him as he released an intimidating aura.

Then, suddenly—

Nathan stirred, his body shifting in pain.

A weak voice escaped his lips.

"Momm…"

Edric's eyes widened for an instant.

But just as quickly, his expression hardened.

Without another word, he turned and carried Nathan toward the tents.