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It had been years since Ashosz had been banished into exile. By his standards, at least, he had adjusted well to his new life. But the many different mammals around him ... well, that was still a challenge. Overall, their relationship had become somewhat more relaxed - no longer did every mammal assume that the cobra would devour them without any warning - but his new profession as the town's executioner, certainly didn't make him a welcome guest. However, there were the market days. The entire city was decorated in a colorful way, full of visitors and their offerings. And the approach to him was usually a bit friendlier. These were the few days of the year when there was at least a little variety in his daily routine. Not that dealing with the mammals was particularly important to him, but getting out of his hut and observing the life around him was a pleasant change. Besides, it was a good opportunity to pursue necessary errands in the city.
As Ashosz was getting ready to leave for the city, there was a loud knock at his door. He looked over at the heavy wooden door thinking. In his hand he held his black executioner's mask. Was he supposed to put it on? No, this was still his realm. And according to the law, he was not on duty today, after all.
He opened the door and was about to greet the uninvited guest the way his customers were used to be greeted by him: a silent and intense cobra stare.
This time Ashosz also was staring, but for a completely different reason. In front of him was ... another naga. A different one than him. It had horns, and the head reminded him of those tales from another land where dragons were still a very common sight. But no matter what the other serpent looked like: It was another naga standing here in the entrance of his hut!
Ashosz heard the snake in front of him say something, but he didn't hear it. His tongue flickered with excitement. He was not aware of it, it just happened ... unconsciously. Something stirred inside him. Something long forgotten he had thought.
He indicated with a movement of his head that the gray-scaled guest might come into his den. The available room was already very limited for one Naga, but if now two ... But for what was just forming in his thoughts, they would not need much more space anyway.
How long had it been since he had sensed someone of his own kind. The scent he picked up with his tongue was blurring his mind. He could feel a single drop of a slick, gooey fluid already making its way from the slit near his tail to run down his scales.
Slowly and cautiously, he followed the gray snake. But the moment the other naga turned to him and Ashosz was looking into the eyes of the other snake, something snapped in him. The cobra-naga took in every detail of the grey serpent before him like the world was moving in slow motion. How his mane followed the turning of the body, but also how the whiskers of the naga moved as the head moved backwards and away from the executioner.
The cobra pressed against the naga in front of him, his hands placed against the wall to the left and right of where the naga’s head was, while his own head obscured any view with its wide hood. Ashosz was flickering his tongue very slowly. His breathing was heavy and deep. And each breath seemed to be taken with great attention. This was more than just a little variety of his daily routine.
He was going to teach this naga what it meant to have entered the lair of the cobra.
Drawn by
\n\t\t\t\t\tnitrodsVulniir (Naga) (c) by
\n\t\t\t\t\tgrey-dragonAshosz (Cobra-Naga) (c) by
\n\t\t\t\t\tPattarchusIf you like this piece of art or if you want to share your opinion, please leave a comment! :) Comments are very appreciated.