Making Friends ( ͡ᵔ ︵ ͡ᵔ)

Faer landed in an ungainly heap of feathers with an "oomph." She blinked owlishly, large dark eyes swirling from the impact. Once, twice, long pale eyelashes fluttered and clarity came crashing back. The little harpy let a startled squawk, her feathered leonine tail swishing agitatedly as she regained her footing and vaulted into the air. Faer pumped her wings furiously, slowing down only when she'd reached the lower canopy of the trees. She landed delicately on a branch, talons sinking slightly into the wood as she crouched.

By nature, snakes were one of her people's natural enemies. So why let her go? The question burned away at her curiosity. It made no sense. What made her different? Faer was sure that others had pleaded and begged for their lives. Now that she thought about it, perhaps the snake was the anomaly here. Faer cocked her head to the side, large dark eyes blinking slowly as she watched the predator below.

Maybe there was an opportunity here. A chance for something else. It was a vague idea, but there was potential. Excitement coursed through her. Such an accomplishment would boost her standing within the clan. Faer adjusted her grip on the branch as she leaned forward. This could go downhill if her luck may give out. However, given the snake's unique actions, she knew that she'd regret it if she just left without trying to figure out why this one was different.

She slapped herself on the cheeks. Okay, and the worst-case scenario? A five-day buffet in one meal. Which Faer preferred to avoid. Best case? She'd found a snake who did not eat harpies. Faer frowned. Surely there would be more to it. The harpy grimaced. She'd hoped that she was risking her life for something more than just a snake that happened not to think of her kind as a delicious meal. Faer scratched at an itch on her neck, a leftover feeling from her encounter with the snake. This may be for naught and if she got closer, the snake may eat her this time. Faer shut her eyes tightly and gripped her head with her wings. Why did this have to be so complicated?

___

Max's head rested on a coil while she watched her tail flick back and forth. She wanted food ergo she had caught food. Only, it was not food. Max shuddered and shifted off a small sharp rock that had been jabbing her side while Max attempted to muster the will to power through this new trauma. Max knew she was being dramatic, but she almost ate a person. Sure, it had feathers, but it talked! It was a person... Ish, Max silently added on with an absent-minded nod.

She let out a gloomy hiss and buried her head under her coils. Surviving here got a lot more difficult if tiny people were running, flying, walking, or even swimming around. What if she ate one on accident? Another body-long shudder wiggled down her spine and Max winced. At this rate, Sage would either have to appear and unknot the black snake or Max was going to need to find a masseuse for snakes. Max snorted at her inner funny. Yeah, she'd have more luck with Sage.

"Oi, you there," a roughly accented voice interrupted Max from her moping.

Max jumped, her coils loosening as she searched for the source of semi-friendliness. She cast about for a scent and froze when a yelp sounded. Azure eyes narrowed and she let out an annoyed hiss. A squawk came from somewhere above and Max's eyes narrowed further. If you call out to someone, at least have the decency to not squawk at 'em when you get a response. That was hurtful, ya' know? Fine, Max could be the bigger snake here. She coiled back up and rested her head on the top coil and waited.

And waited. Max didn't know how long or what she could do to encourage whoever was there to speak, or even if they were even still here. However, the day was passing and Max needed to eat. She wasn't feeling sick, but she had yet to eat in this world, and that was probably not a good thing. Max knew snakes could go without for a couple of days, but when they ate, they looked like knotted ropes, and Max did not want to look like that.

She waited a few minutes longer in hopes whoever had spoken would talk, but the intermittent bird chirping was the only response. Max drooped. It would have been nice to talk to someone. Could she even talk to someone? Make a friend? Scales crinkled as she mulled this over. How would she do that? Could people understand hissing or were snakes capable of speaking human-ish? Max shook her head. That didn't matter now. She waited for her mysterious speaker and they were not speaking to her or they had left. She did not have time to dilly-dally all day. Mind made up, Max picked a direction and slithered forth.

"Hey, wait a moment!" A panicked voice called out.

Max paused and narrowed her eyes. Hey, you? She was not a 'hey you'. Irritated and feeling a little mean, she hissed menacingly. Max didn't care if whoever it was, flittered off. She was rewarded with another squawk. Hmph. Hope that scared you, whoever you are. Max griped internally as she slithered through the leaf litter. It wasn't like she didn't want to talk to them, but names were special and for the longest time she'd not had one. People had names and there was a period in her life when others had not treated her humanely. Max shook her head. Enough of that. No dwelling on the past for you.

"Wait! You understand me?" The voice spoke again. Max paused and glared upwards. She didn't appreciate the rudeness of the speaker, but they were talking to her. Other than Sage, no one else had even thought to talk to her like she was sentient. They may not have gotten off on the best foot when Max had tried to eat them.

Perhaps she could finally get some more information since Sage did not do the family starter pack edition for reincarnated OPs. Thunder sounded in the distance and Max dropped that train of thought. Best not to anger them too much. At least for now, when she was on the cusp of getting some basic information about this place.

Max looked up in the voice's general direction and hissed gently. It wasn't perfect, but she worked with what she had. Hopefully, whoever it was could carry the conversation. It would be awkward if they squawked every time she hissed or nodded her head or tail. Max had a limited amount of options here. The little snake brightened. Perhaps she could write her side of the conversation with her tail. The snake nodded and swept the leaf litter to the side.

Once she'd gotten enough space, Max carefully dragged the tip of her through the dirt for the initial run-through. Then she slithered back to the beginning and retraced, "Hi." When she finished, Max looked around excitedly. Here we go. Soon she'd have someone to speak with and finally get some more information about this place.

"Huh. Didn't know snakes could draw." That same rough yet feminine voice drawled. Max squiggled in excitement until the words sunk in. Draw… Ok, so this was unlike many of the books that she read. No automated translator. That was another thing on her quickly growing list of complaints for Sage the next time she saw them. It certainly complicated things, but this being was talking to her without even knowing for a fact that she could even under what they were talking about and that, she could work with.

Max looked up in the vicinity of where the voice was coming from and nodded. She'd done her best to look innocuous and even made a little heart shape with her tail as if posing for a child. This ought to do it, azure eyes twinkled in expectation as the little black snake waited.

"Maybe it's sick, and that's why it didn't eat me."

Max was floored. No. No, that was not why she didn't eat the harpy. Max slapped her forehead with her tail. Ugh. Great. Just great. That didn't work. Perhaps it was the heart. The voice had focused on that, completely dismissing the nod Max had given. Hmm. How to fix this then? The last thing she wanted was to add to the misunderstanding that was developing. Max straightened out and look up and shook her head slowly.

"Wait, did you just shake your head at me?"

Branches rustled, and Max caught a flash of feathers amidst the leaves and nodded, eyes glued to where she had last seen them. She'd hoped to catch sight of them once more, but no such luck. It was disappointing, but baby steps, right? Progress in easy tiny steps is best for long-term progress.

"Can't believe I am talking to a snake. My ancestors would beat me within an inch of my life, but here goes nothing. If you understand what I am saying, turn in a circle."

Max blinked and narrowed her eyes as she grappled with her temper. What part of my nodding do you not get? I even spun in a circle for you. Don't even ask me for another circle or I will eat you. Max, startled by that particularly brutal thought, paused. Yeah, maybe she should eat sooner rather than later. The last thing she needed was her inner snake coming to the front. Patience Max O'Malley. Patience. She chanted to herself, willing the unusual flare of homicidal rage away. She was not a dog, but this was important. Baby steps Max, she told herself. Baby steps. Eyes on the prize. Information and someone you can talk to. Er, someone that is willing talk to you. A snake. Someone that is willing to talk to a snake.

With her perspective adjusted, Max did the circle. The last thing she need was to be alone for long stretches of time. She had proven in her, um, previous life? Human incarnation? The B.A. or Before Arin period of her existence when she'd get into trouble for the fun of it. Breathe in, Max closed her eyes and hummed. Let all desires of fire-making and dancing around it flow away and breathe in like a river lazily drifting on an idyllic day. Ok Max, you got this.

"Ok, so you can understand me. Right?"

Max nodded.

"Did you let go of me on purpose?"

Another nod.

"Can you speak?"

Nope, Max shook her head.

"But you can understand me."

Nod.

"Have you always understood what others are saying, or did someone teach you? Nod once for yes, twice for no. Oh, can you even count?"

Max nodded one time. For this to work whoever was asking the questions was going to have to ask one question at a time, otherwise, there'd be no telling what misunderstandings would occur. On the bright side, while she may not have understood the vegetable crew, but there didn't seem to be any issues understanding whoever was talking to her. The voice interrupted her thoughts once more.

"Let me level with you here. I don't want you to eat me. So, if you can truly understand what I am saying, turn in a circle three times and touch your tail to your nose. This will be the last time I ask about the circles. I get that if you comprehend what I am saying, it is probably annoying, but I really, really don't want to die." Nervousness tinged the voice, and Max could feel the anger leaving her. Yeah, Max supposed she was being a bit irritable. It wasn't like she didn't get it. When she'd been human Max would have never considered giving a snake an opportunity like this.

Max opened her eyes once more and almost lunged at the vision in front of her. It was only through sheer force of will that Max, did not sink her fangs into the source of her surprise. Just within her striking range stood a feathered humanoid. Instead of arms, the slender form had two wings covered in feathers, a mixture of gold, white, and grey. The feathers covered their chest, lower stomach, and hips. Below the knee, the human legs transitioned into avian with raptor-like toes. Their skin was tan, and they had white hair peppered with feathers with tiny carved stone circles as accessories.

Max felt an intense and irrational urge to swallow the little being in front of her and squeezed her eyes shut as if it would block out her instincts. This was not good. They were the first person to talk to her and she wanted to eat them. There was a sense of irony here that all they wanted to do was talk to her, but all Max wanted was to eat them. Ugh. Max kept her eyes shut until a feather brushed her scales. Didn't they remember Max had tried to eat her? The feathers brushed across her scales again and Max's eyes opened in surprise.

"Wow, you're really smooth and you don't feel slimy or anything. The elders were wrong about that. When they tell us all about how slimy you are and that it dampens our feathers which makes it hard to get away and that is when you catch us, bite us, and swallow us down whole."

Max looked at them, flabbergasted. Where was your sense of caution? Even if she was sapient, she was still a predator and her snakey side insisted that this bit of feathers was prey. This was just ridiculous. What if she'd been playing along to get a snack? Max felt a twitch developing. This humanoid didn't appear to be quite a child, nor were they an adult. Then again, Max could be completely wrong, but there was enough human to them to give weight to her belief that this being was a young teenager or on the cusps of being a teenager.

"I am Faer. Do you have a name? Did you know your eyes are pretty? They even glow a little. Hey, do you live around here? How old are you? Have you eaten other harpies or did you let them go too? I haven't heard about a snake letting anyone go, but maybe the elders said nothing because they were concerned that someone would just walk up to some random snake and strike up a conversation like it was nothing."

Max stared at the harpy, and Faer blushed. "You are different. You didn't eat me, though many of my people are eaten by snakes. Hmm..." The little harpy scratched her chin, "Maybe someone just trained you really well. Ouch!" Faer grabbed her forehead, a little red marking appearing from where Max had flicked the harpy with her tail, and glared at the little harpy imperiously. Trained my belly plates. I get what you are saying, but there's something to be said about talking to your natural predator. That's like a person walking up to a t-rex to have tea together. I mean who does that?

Faer looked away and cleared her throat and scratched at the pale feathers atop her head. "Look, I know that this may not be how you thought today was going to go down, but erm, for me it's kinda' monumental. You could really help my people out. Maybe I dunno' talk to other snakes about eating us?"

Max started at Faer, eyes wide. Kid, we can't even talk to one another. I mean I understand what you're saying, but that's more due us both being sapient. After all, that dogosaurus did not catch the memo that I wasn't food. Max's eyebrow scales crinkled and the little black snake let out a long hiss of a sigh. She didn't know whether the little creature should be applauded for her bravery, or if she should have a babysitter.

Hm. Max tapped her jaw with her tail as she thought. Maybe she could help her? Max let the idea bang around her mind for a moment and as it settled, she couldn't help but appreciate her ability to multitask. Max made a friend, a normal one and not some guardian deity that flung her around like frisbee when irritated. Yep, she liked it, and Max could help deter other snakes and her new flighty friend could teach her about this place. Talk about a triple-win.