The town slumbered beneath the pale glow of the moon, unaware of the danger slithering through the shadows. The night was warm, still, perfect.

And Kaa was hungry.

The great serpent had hunted here before. He had taken his time, studying his prey, learning their routines. The little ones were always the easiest—their parents tucked them into bed with false promises of safety, never realizing how fragile those reassurances truly were.

Tonight, a cub would disappear.

His tongue flicked, catching the scent of something new—a young fox.

Ahhh, yes.

This one was small, barely nine years old, soft-furred and unaware. A foolish little anthro fox pup, sleeping soundly in his cozy little bed, trusting the walls around him to keep him safe.

A mistake.

And one Kaa would take great pleasure in correcting.

His golden eyes gleamed as he reached the house, the window cracked open to let in the night air.

"Ahhh… how welcoming…"

With smooth, fluid grace, Kaa lifted himself from the ground, winding his thick coils around the sturdy tree beside the house. He slithered across the branch, peering through the opening.

And there he was.

The fox pup lay curled beneath his blanket, his bushy tail wrapped around his small body, his ears flicking occasionally in sleep.

So peaceful.

So unaware.

So completely defenseless.

Kaa smirked.

"Ssssso young… ssssso utterly helpesssss…"

A soft push, and the window screen bent easily beneath his strength. He poured inside, his thick body pooling onto the floor, his smooth scales making not a sound as he approached the bed.

The pup didn’t stir.

Didn’t know.

Wouldn’t know—until it was far, far too late.

Kaa’s tail slithered beneath the sheets, finding one of the boy’s soft-furred feet with practiced ease. The warmth of his small body sent a shiver of anticipation through the great serpent.

"Mmmm… already perfect…"

A slow coil looped around the foot.

Then the ankle.

The fox pup let out a tiny sigh, shifting slightly, his tail twitching.

Kaa grinned.

"Ahhh… do you feel it, little one? Ssssomething wrapping around you… ssssomething taking you…?"

Another coil.

His tail slid further up, wrapping around the other ankle, then twining around both legs, holding them snugly together.

Still, the cub did not wake.

Pathetic.

"You call yourssself a predator? Ahhh… what a joke…"

The snake slithered higher, his thick, powerful body winding around the fox’s waist, pinning his tiny body against the mattress.

Tighter now.

The pup whined softly in his sleep, his ears flicking, his nose twitching as if sensing something strange.

Kaa chuckled, bringing his snout close, his tongue flicking against the boy’s furred cheek.

"Ssssshh… no need to wake, little fox… no need to sssstruggle… jussst relaxxxxxx…"

His coils flexed gently, pressing the air from the pup’s tiny lungs in a slow, measured squeeze.

The child sighed again.

And went completely limp.

Perfect.

Kaa moved higher.

His tail curled around the boy’s chest, pressing firmly against his ribs, keeping him still. The small arms, once free, were now pinned tightly to his sides.

Another coil.

Up over his shoulders.

Around his neck.

Completely sealed.

Completely his.

"Ahhh, yesssss… no escape now, little fox…"

The great snake opened his jaws.

His tongue flicked out, tracing the small, soft pads of the cub’s toes.

A final taste of freedom.

Before he took it away.

And then—

He engulfed them.

Warmth.

Softness.

The tiny paws disappeared into his mouth, vanishing behind those dark, greedy lips.

A deep, satisfied hum rumbled in Kaa’s throat.

"Mmmm… yessssss… deliciousssss already…"

A slow, deliberate gulp pulled the cub’s ankles inside, his slick throat muscles wrapping around them, claiming them.

Another swallow.

The shins vanished.

The warmth of his prey slid deeper, deeper, deeper into the hungry embrace of his throat.

His belly purred in anticipation.

"Ssssuch a perfect fit…"

Another swallow.

His jaws stretched over the cub’s knees, his powerful maw expanding effortlessly to accommodate the small, delicate limbs.

His coils tightened slightly, pressing against the pup’s belly, ensuring his meal remained perfectly still.

The thighs slid past his lips.

Kaa sighed in absolute bliss.

"Ahhh, little fox… you thought you would grow big and ssstrong? Ahhh… what foolishnesssss…"

Another deep gulp.

The hips vanished.

The stomach followed.

His thick throat bulged now, stretching perfectly around the fragile frame.

Kaa grinned, his tongue flicking over the cub’s tiny muzzle as he swallowed again, feeling his meal settle deeper inside.

The chest disappeared.

The shoulders.

Only the small, delicate head remained.

The fox pup’s tiny mouth parted slightly, a final, peaceful breath slipping free.

Kaa smirked.

"No more hunting for you… no more play… no more future… only the wonderful warmth of my tummy."

And with one final, deep gulp—

The cub was gone.

A thick bulge traveled down Kaa’s throat, slipping further, further, until it settled deep in his belly.

The great snake let out a long, slow sigh of satisfaction.

"Ahhh… yessssss…"

His swollen stomach stretched perfectly, the soft outline of his meal pressing beneath taut, shimmering scales.

The fox pup lay nestled deep within his coils, helpless, lost, forgotten.

Kaa licked his lips.

"Sssssuch a pitiful little predator… never even knew he was food… Ahhh… how sssstupid…"

His golden eyes flicked toward the door.

His parents still slept.

None the wiser.

By the time they woke, by the time they screamed his name, by the time they searched every inch of this house—

Kaa would be long gone.

Back into the forest.

Back to digest… slowly… savoring…

The great snake lifted his heavy, stuffed belly, moving sluggishly toward the open window.

His engorged body dragged slightly as he slithered through the opening, disappearing into the darkness of the night.

By the time the sun rose—

The little fox pup would be nothing but a memory.