Blackfoot Forest snakebed

@Hyacinth

He was darkness incarnate; the slippery shadows of the night that sang of monsters hiding in the dark. The canvas of midnight twinkled with effervescent solar balls of fire far above, intermingled within the various galaxies of the universe. Oh, and how the moon laughed upon the mortal plane of which it spied with so much jealousy.

The breeze crept low, slithering across the landscape in chilly notes that caressed the branches of the trees, their leaves quivering in the nighttime air as they looked on at the devilish monster that crawled beneath their watch. He weaved, body twisting and turning in near unnatural angles. His form that of a starved beast, his ribs and the bones along his spine pulled taut against the dark flesh, peeking up against his unclean fur. The black tresses were clumped together with blood and mud, no longer the silky seal-like fur they previously were.

Blood, the crimson liquid that Snake usually craved and longed for, dribbled from his lips. The white 'v's that crawled across his chest were stained red with his life liquid mixed with saliva. His head hung low enough that his onyx nose nearly dragged across the ground, his jaws parted and splattering pools across the ground when the droplets fell from the bloody foam at his lips. The devil looked mad, eyes glazed, wandering mindlessly. For once, no jack-o-lantern grin split his muzzle impossibly wide. No crazed, euphoric cackles dragged themselves up from the depths of his chest and ripped from his vocal chords.

The silver-tongued snake was silenced.

 

Her travels had brought her upon many others, wolves that were friendly and civil and gave her hope that these new lands would bring good things instead of bad. She had even had good luck in hunting for herself, a miracle for the woman who was graceful up until she had to do any physical activity. The rabbit she had caught had been buried when she'd parted ways with Blondine but she had uncovered it and carried it with her not wishing to waste a meal. Just because she had caught something once did not mean she would have the same luck again.


She traveled around, finding a meadow beginning to blossom with flowers. Amongst the colorful blooming foilage she found herbs she couldn't resist to avoid. She grabbed yarrow, a plant with clusters of small white or yellow flowers, poppy, and Marigold leaves. Carrying this bushel of plants and the rabbit was hard and she was so focused on not swallowing the poppy that she stumbled over her own paws many times. What exactly she would do with these she had no idea but fresh and newly grown herbs was too good of a thing to pass up.


The scenery changed as she entered a dark forest, passing by a den that reeked of blood and other disgusting and troublesome things. She passed it by rather quickly and in her haste to get away almost passed the frothing bloodied brute nearby. It was the scent, the tangy and metallic scent of blood that made her pause and turn. Her eyes widened and she stared for a moment before dropping her food and herbs, gawking with concern. "Pardon me but are you alright sir?" she asked her drawl full fledge in her worry. She cringed and flicked her ears before shaking her head "Of course not. You're bleeding." she answered her own question and simply stared with horror as his blood and spittle dripped to the ground. Why was he just standing there, was he ill in the mind too? The thought made her draw back a step but as she eyed the way his bones jutted out from his pelt she doubted he would waste his energy trying to attack her.