chapter 2:vow

20years later.

A beautiful lady was plucking apple skillfully on apple tree. Suddenly, she heard hissing sound behind her. Instead of her to be scared, a joyful smile appear on her lips and she calmly turn around. 

"did I disturb you? Mother". She asked the huge gangetic black coloured snake.

The ancient snake raise her for over 19years, taking care of her. She has regarded her as her mother even if she is not the one that gave birth to her, she has tried her best and she deserve the title 'mother'.

Surprisingly, the snake only shake it head and hiss.

Living in the forest for over 19years, Luciana could communicate easily with different animals. Even, her behavior, preference, style, character is not different from an animal at all. It was as if she was born by an animal.

Luciana pout. "i am now twenty, Mom... Can I go out?". She look at her mother eagerly, waiting for positive answer.

The ancient snake hiss dangerously, clearly showing her opposition, she was even ready to leave but Luciana next word stopped her.

"what if I insist, and vow.. will you let me go?".

the snake turn around and stare at Luciana seriously. The vow is not something the a person could bear. By doing this vow, if a person did not die, then, the person cannot be count as a human anymore. If Luciana do the vow and succeed,no matter how sweet outside forest was, she will always be bound with animals and nothing can separate her and them.

Before the snake could reject, Luciana quickly speak with tears formed in her eyes. "mom, you won't reject me,will you?". She hug the serpent large body.

"just let her go, don't be selfish. Little Lucy really wish to out and you know that this not her first time repeating it, don't let her find her way herself,it will be bad for all of us and good for the haters. You know what I mean". Dorny, a 6 tailed fox, Luciana closest friend arrived all of a sudden and talk sense into Luciana mother's head.

The snake is not a fool, she understands dorny words and the meaning behind it. Luciana is a human, and human has the other side of them that scream for 'freedom' and Luciana is of no exception. She might not have the heart to betray them but if she was kept in the forest forever with no freedom to explore the world, then that means they inprison her in the forest even if they don't mean it. The huge snake hesitate for a moment before finally agreeing and supress her painful heart. She hiss, agreeing to give Luciana freedom. after all, every daughter will leave their mother one day or every mother will leave their daughter one day.

Seeing the snake agreed willingly, Luciana was over joyed. she tighten up her heart, ready for the vow.

The snake hiss nervously, warning and telling Luciana the dangers in vow making, she even suggest to dismiss the idea of making vow but Luciana insist on making it. By making this vow, she will always remember that she still have a 'family she left behind'.

Snake watch the stubborn girl helplessly and tighten up her heart. "i won't go easy on you". She warned and after getting a nod of approvement for Luciana, snake hesitate no more and wrap her hard scaled tail all over Luciana body. Suddenly,a loud painful cry echo throughout the wilderness, scaring little birds away. Sounds of bones squeezing could be heard follow by Luciana painful cry. This scene was so scary that dorny take a few steps back out of fear.

After screaming out her lungs, Luciana voice died and she look weak. The snake gentle put her down and stare at her with worried expression 

"will you skip the last ritual?". Dorny asked the snake, worrying for Luciana.

Before the snake could reply, Luciana shake her head in rejection with great difficulties, she seems to be very determined.

The snake breath in and out, she control her emotions and wickedly bite Luciana on her neck, leaving two thiny holes on her neck.

Luciana fainted immediately and everyone breath hung afraid to breath out.

After 3 days.

Luciana woke up, feeling sour yet energetic all over her body. She get up from the grass bed and walk outside to look for her mother and surprisingly, she found almost every animal in the forest at the entrance.

"em...?". She was surprised and did not know what to say.

You are really alive!

How did you make it?

The easiest suicide is to allow snake beast to complete a vow for someone, did you really do the vow?

O my... No one dare to make a vow but you... you really make it seems to be easy.

I can't believe this.... our luccy really did it!.

questions climbing on questions, each animals give Luciana a admire gaze. Some even refuse to believe the truth. Everyone wants to know if Luciana really break through the curse of vow.

It's a little rowdy and Luciana is not used to it. Snake is a kind of animal that live alone in a quiet place. Luciana was raised by ancient beast snake and she is used to silent and less people places. A lot of different types animals gather themselves in front of Luciana and her mother's house. Their noise makes Luciana head ach.not only that, she also have this fear that if snake arrive,no one will leave without being injured if snake did not want to kill them. Thinking about this, Luciana tries to send them away but the animals are too selfish that they turn a blind eye to Luciana good intention.

"since when have I become thiny and a little beasts that other animals dare to provoke?".  Luciana mother angry hiss echo allover, successfully cooling the crowd. 

"mom". Luciana called nervously. "they just want to know if I successfully complete the vow". She tries to erase her mother anger.

"out!". She ordered and all the animals scattered. In just a blink, only dorny was left behind.

The huge snake move closer to her daughter and could no longer hide her excitement. "how do you feel now? Tell me, tell me immediately, do you feel strange energy in your body? Do you...do you...do you.....".

She shower Luciana questions as she roam around her continuously.

"mom". Luciana called stopping the snake from her crazy behavior. She was already speechless as to why she did not hurt the animals but now, seeing her mother excited, she understand why she did not hurt them. It's because she was also curious of the result. "i don't feel anything, I only feel my energy boosted, nothing more". She was embarrassed to disappoint her mother.

As expected, the snake happiness died down but she quickly put herself together. "it doesn't matter, you are fine anyway. That's good, it's better". She speak happily.

"so... are you leaving us now?". Dorny asked Luciana unwillingly.

Luciana smile. "i will stay with my mom for the remaining days. I will go when the next full moon arrive".

"that is good to hear, come, I made a special cloth for you, I made it with my body hair, am sure it will be useful for your journey". Fox speak and lead the way excitedly.

"Mom..."

"Go ahead, it's a gift from your friend". the snake nod her head in approval.

Luciana smile and follow dorny by climbing trees skillfully.