We're back with some more Sassy Snake! Just like last time, she's joined by her snake friends, Dash, Ozzie and Ozzie's friend "Hudson" with the multiple names. Just like before, it's a very solid piece.

It's also a nice reintroduction in particular to "Hudson" as she's calling herself right now.

 
Serpentina lovingly uncoils around my leg and we make our way down the stream. Rounding a large bolder which the snakes use for a marking point to the start of the mountains that divide the desert and the snake's areas, I look up and am somewhat startled to see two figures engaged in action. They're soon joined by a third figure who seems to want to stop the fighting! I think about my crossbow and sling, but they are moving too quickly for me to get a good aim on them.

Serpentina also sees them and asks whether she should get help. Good idea. The three figures move closer running pell-mell down the mountains and closer to me. I see two men and a woman. I recognize the men from my dream; the banker and Prince Charming! Oddly, Prince Charming and the girl seem to be fighting over the sword.

Where I am standing, I can see he's out of control. There's a glazed look in his eyes. The woman reaches for something on her belt pouch so fast it is a blur, but Prince Charming moves even faster, knocking it from her hand. They start to struggle in earnest now; one of the Prince's hands is pulling and yanking on her hair trying to force her down.

I hear a noise behind me. Serpentina glides in to my sight. I say, "Can you and the others stop that man from hurting the lady there?" Serpentina says, "Yesss, sister Sassy." She lunges forward with a motion that I barely see and heads for the prince as ten other snakes circle from different directions.

The Prince now has the lady on the ground and is hovering over her when he sees a blur of silver, turns his head and swings his sword, hilt first, toward Serpentina. At the same time, the lady punches him solidly in the shoulder and three snakes entwine and wrap themselves around his legs, dragging him down. The Prince still tries to fight as the snakes slither over his arms and legs and one very large one circles around his neck to keep him down.

I walk over and pick up the sword the Prince has dropped. I look down at him and the glazed look seems to have faded somewhat, though I daresay that his anger still burns. He does seem to be calming down, now that he realizes he is pretty much without options. I bend over him, look carefully in to his eyes, and I touch his forehead. There is no fever, but my touch is cool on his skin.

I turn to the woman and ask whether she is hurt; she says no. She's filthy and her clothes are worn; I presume she must have been travelling for some time. I think that introductions might be in order now, so I make a low curtsy and begin to speak. "My name is Sassy Snake and I am a healer and musician of sorts. I realize that we have not been properly introduced, but I felt it best that my friends and I interfere before the lady became hurt in any way. I take it that this is your sword, sir?" I turn to Prince and hold out the sword which he instinctively tries to take but my friends won't allow that.

"You can have it back once I am sure you are calmer and won't be doing any mischief or damage with it." I walk over to the rocks and gently place the sword on them. "If I were sure that you were able to control yourself, I would have my friends release you. I think that this is necessary as a way to begin to show you that you can trust me."

The others hear her hiss something that they can't understand, but the snakes obviously do because they release Prince Charming; right away, he heads for the rocks to retrieve his sword.

I thank Serpentina and the other snakes and they slither away in to the brush. I look down and see some plants I recognize. I take out a knife from my belt pouch, pull up a few plants and cut off all but the roots and put the roots in to my belt pouch. The lady helps. "They'll be some good eating tonight, folks! Can't believe my luck to find those. They are rare for this time of year and in this climate or so I have been told." She licks her lips at my comment and says, "Cakeroot! Yum, yum!" We select a few more plants and take their roots, putting them in the pouch as well before we put our knives away.

"So," I ask, "can you tell me who you are and how you came here and why Prince Charming here wanted to kill the lady so badly?"

The man just stammers at me, hands wringing, and the scruffy woman slaps him on the shoulder. "Don't mind 'im, darlin'," she says to me, "Cat gets 'is tongue around... well... everyone." She looks over at Prince Charming. "The cutter was just so chuffed to get 'is sword back that 'e got overcome wiv joyous emotions, ain't that right, Sebastian?" she calls to him, before turning back to me and leaning close. My nostrils confirm what my eyes already told me; she hasn't bathed in quite a while. "Much obliged fer the save there, miss, if you don't mind me sayin'. Captain Conversation 'ere is Ozzie," and she nudges him again, causing him to fumble and drop his glasses, which he'd been polishing. The woman extends a filthy hand towards me. "An' my 'andle's 'udson." A frown crosses Ozzie's face and without even turning to look at him, Hudson replies in a quick and quiet tone, "Shut up, Ozzie."

Prince Cha- I mean, Sebastian is just kind of starring into the distance, like he isn't even here. I'm not really sure what's going on with him. It's almost like he's having a vision. I turn my attention to the lady instead.

I look the lady in her eyes and say "I thought I heard Ozzie there yell something about Dash when he came running to you. Who is Dash? Why does Ozzie look surprised to hear the name Hudson? Does he know you by another name? Are you the only one of you three that can talk?" I giggles and stare at each of them. "I am sure that Ozzie can talk because he was yelling as he came down to us. So, what's up Ozzie? Are these friends of yours?" I take a look back to mark where my snake brothers and sisters have slithered to and can barely see a shimmer of silver in the brush and that comforts me a bit.

The man identified as Ozzie picks up his glasses and replaces them on his head at a slightly odd angle, and tilts them around as he speaks, apparently trying to get them to lie straight. "This is Mr. Sebastian Dash," he explains, then turns to him and adds with a small wave, "Hello, Mr. Dash. Oh - where are my manners? I am Ozymandias Whelk, at your service, miss."

Sebastian's eyes are closed, like he's napping although he clearly isn't asleep. He seems comfortable so at the moment, I don't see a need to disturb him.

Hudson throws an arm around Ozzie's shoulders, and with her other arm, holds it out as if drawing the Prince close too - even though he's several yards away. "We're all mates here," she says with a sly grin which I'm not entirely sure I can trust.

"Would I be in the wrong to ask you three what you plan to do and if any of your plans involve me? I am concerned about Sebastian and Ozzie here. Do any of you need healing? Would it be a safe or smart thing to follow you, knowing that you are strangers to me?"

I feel like I am talking a bit too much and rest to give them each a chance to get their thoughts in focus. I look around and find a few more little plants that I collect in my belt pouches. I clean my knife as best as I can and return it to its scabbard on my belt. I slowly walk over to Sebastian and offer him my hand in friendship, doing the same thing for Ozzie bug giving him a friendly hug in the bargain. He looks like he could use a bit of fussing over and caring after. I whisper to him that if he is feeling upset or nervous that I might have something to soothe him, if he wants.

Sebastian, however, ignores the handshake. I don't think it's rudeness; his eyes are half open now, but he still seems out of it.

I walk slowly back to Hudson. "Hudson, can you tell me why Sebastian wanted to hurt you? What did you do to upset him?"

Suddenly, Sebastian's head snaps as he looks at me and the other two, seemingly puzzled for a second. Only a second, however. Then he speaks. "No.. that was my fault. I think I've been poisoned, or maybe cursed. When I saw my old sword in her possession, I kind of.." He pauses, looking for the right word or words. His voice sounds somehow familiar; when he stares into me, it's like someone starring into my soul. Okay, okay, it's cliche, I know, but that's honestly how it feels! He continues speaking. "I kind of lost it, regretfully. It's one of the few things I've had since I set out on my own and it's been stolen one too.. but listen to me making excuses."

He turns to her with a regretful look on his face. "I'm sorry I attacked you." She shrugs and says it's fine, although her eyes disagree. My heartbeat rises slightly as he then turns to me and apologizes, hoping he hasn't hurt any of my 'pet snakes.'

I'm not happy with them being referred to as 'pets,' but I suppose I understand where he's coming from.

I don't bother to correct him. Instead, I walk closer to Sebastian and look him carefully all over. "Poisoned? How do you feel now? Have you ever had this happen to you before? Do you know who poisoned you or how it was done? Forgive my curiosity, but I have studied poisons quite a bit in my healing courses. It might be that I may be able to help you if you want me to." I turn to Hudson and Ozzie and say "Are either of you poisoned?" I look at Hudson for a while and finally ask, "How did you get the sword that Sebastian prized so much?"

It's a wave of questions, I know, so I stay silent long enough for them to answer them all, or at least the questions they feel like answering. Sebastian is the first to speak. "First, a proper introduction." He stands up, though it's clear he doesn't have his bearings. He seems off balance. Nevertheless, I can't help but smile as he does a fancy, sweeping bow, smiling despite obvious pain. "Sebastian Dash of the Loathing Kingdom, at your service."

Loathing Kingdom doesn't sound very pleasant. I know there's a Kingdom to the north, but I always heard it had no name. Maybe it finally got one? I'll just ask him straight up.

"So you're from the north?" I ask. For some reason, I'm worried this might anger him. He seemed so much more pleasant in my dream-vision of him!

"Yes, but.. no," he answered, agitated. He turns to this 'Hudson.' "It's a bit complicated. I'd like to hear how you ended up with my sword, ma'am."

The woman clears her throat. "I 'appened upon the sword at a market I frequent. Well, clockin' it as a right fancy piece, the sort wot often gets nicked from upscale residences by rotten scoundrels, I endeavoured to purchase it with the intention of returnin' it to its rightful owner. Doin' me civic duty, see? I took it to the authorities and my good friend Ozzie recognised it as belongin' to our ole pal Sebastian, an' surmised - correctly, as it 'appens - that Sebastian would never willingly part with this fine sword, an' that he must be in a right ole pickle. We hastened to his place of residence only to find him gone, but there's signs of a fight y'see, an' blood on the floor. The sword and the blood together... well, I'm no mage, ma'am, but soon as they got within a few feet of each other they done something right peculiar an' no mistake. Next thing we know - would you Adam an' Steve it! - Ozzie an' myself find ourselves here in this place, with Sebastian himself over the next hill." Ozzie has been tapping Hudson's shoulder all the way through this, but only as she finishes speaking does she jam a heel back into his shin, making him double over. Despite kicking her friend, her face remains sunny and bright (or what would be bright if not for the dirt).

"So you're from the Kingdom like Ozzie and myself, then?" Sebastian asks, sounding quite pleasant and cordial.

Hudson's amiably impassive face doesn't change, but it takes her a moment to answer. She shrugs, looking back at Sebastian and saying, "Oh, I'm from here an' there. All over the place, really."

"I lost my sword overseas, in Honorburg," Sebastian said in a more serious tone. "I suppose it could have mysteriously gotten overseas and into whatever marketplace just in time to meet your shopping needs. Who am I to say?"

She scratches her chin thoughtfully, looking into the distance. "Could be, could be. The fates work in mysterious ways, so they do say... maybe they wanted me to get that sword knowin' I'd be able to get it back to you."

I try not to giggle at the scene but I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't think she's very trustworthy. But Sebastian had said something about being poisoned, so I say (in snake tongue so only she can hear), "Serpentina, are you still nearby and can you hear me?"

Serpentina answers, "Aye sister, I can both hear and see thee and the others."

I say to her, "One of these men has shown regret that he had to fight you and the others and has expressed his hope that he has not hurt any of you."

Serpentina says, "Be ye careful, Sassy. It is nice that he asks about us and it is good that he is sorry for what he has done, but be thou mindful of who ye trust."

I say, "I will, sister. I had best talk in their tongue now, so that they don't feel slighted or put out."

I turn to Sebastian and assure him that all is well with the snakes. "If you are truly poisoned then they gave you a rather large dose of it, which makes sense because you are a rather big man. Might be a bit difficult to cure. Of course, if you are felling better and in control of yourself, there would be no reason for a cure." I begin to muse and think to myself as to what kind of poison could be used and how it would have controlled him and who would want to do it to him in the first place.

Realizing that I will have to wait for some of the answers anyway, I find a small clearing nearby and set up a camp building a small fire so that we can roast the cakeroots that we found earlier. "They are better baked, some say, but they are pretty delicious roasted as well. I think you will enjoy them very much."

Ozzie pores over the roots. "Interesting. I've never seen this particular species of cakeroot in any of my encyclopaediae." Sebastian's eyes unfocus and he stares off into the distance like he's trying to figure where he's at, while Hudson scratches around where her kidney would be. She swigs something from a flask, then belches, before asking "What's interestin' about that?" Ozzie just looks at her confused, as if it's self-evident.

I gather some sticks and take my knife out and sharpen them. Next I peel the outer skin of the root off and put the root on the stick. I hand one to each of them. As I hand one to Ozzie I say, "I do assure you, sir, that they are not dangerous or harmful. It does indeed strike me as strange that they weren't in your books, but maybe the writers either forgot about them or didn't know about them. Takes a long time to write and compile and they might have missed certain editions." Ozzie nods.

I say to Sebastian, "We used to eat these all of the time at home, so I know that they are safe." I slowly turn the root so that the root can roast evenly.

I turn to Ozzie. "I am sure that you have a lot of questions to ask me. For instance, the snakes?" I look for a response from them.

Ozzie just continues to look at me in his way which reminds me, just a little, of a frightened rodent. Perhaps the snakes are making him nervous? Hudson sighs and looks up from oiling and tightening a long knife. "So wot's the crack wif the snakes then?"

"Well, they have treated me very kindly since I have come here. I don't know if I could have survived without their help." I shiver as I think about that time, was it only just a day or so ago? "I have learned how to talk to them and they are my friends." I turn the root again, noticing that it is almost ready to eat. I roast it over the fire for a short bit longer, then take it from the fire and let it cool a bit before taking it from the stick. "mmmm! Oh yes, I knew that it would be good! Haven't had one of these in a while and it really takes me back! The last time I had one of these, I had gone on a camping trip with some other students from the school. I remember how bright the moon was that night! I remember that night very well, because that was the first night that a boy kissed me." I sigh and then I giggle, and then I snap out of my memories and finish eating my cakeroot. "Now, what was I talking about again? Oh yes, that's right, the snakes! I will miss them very much when I have to leave this ridge."

I am startled slightly as I hear a voice near me. I recognize Serpentina at once.

Serpentina asks, "Who was it who kissed ye, sister Sassy? Didst thou enjoy it?"

I respond in snake talk. "Oh yes, I enjoyed it very much!" I giggle. "It was another student from my school."

Serpentina asks, "And what happened to him?"

"I don't know. I am sure he is doing fine. He sure could make a girl feel good!"

Serpentina says, "Aye, sister, I doth remember how it was for me, before the hatchlings came along."

Something occurs to me. "Should I have asked your permission before taking these roots and cooking them?"

Serpentina says, "Nay, Sassy, ye are welcome to whate'er ye find here."

I look around to see if the others have started roasting their cakeroot or have eaten them. I look at the others and realize what an unusual assortment they appear to be. Sebastian, tall and almost thin but more strong and graceful; Hudson, wiry, agile, an unwashed social outcast; and Ozzie, worried and haggard but kind of cute and cuddly in his own way. I do wonder what they are thinking of me. It will take some time to get to know them and I shouldn't be too hasty with my first judgments. As I watch Prince Sebastian, I suddenly realize to my great delight where he is looking at! Before I can share my excitement, he asks me, "What exactly is in that direction, anyway? It seems like it might be woods, but it's too far away to tell. Maybe if we had a better vantage point.."

"Those must be the Closeby Woods! I hail from there," I answer. I'm excited as I realize that he's right. We must be very far south, indeed.

"They remind me of the woods I saw from Mountaincenter," he says, obviously weighing his words. His voice is low; he's struggling for control. I can tell it just by how tense he is.

"It's directly to the north, I believe." I think that's right. I know the mountain's visible from most of the woods, including my home.

"We should get there," Sebastian says, frowning. His hands are shaking. "Hopefully Lady Whiteclaw can help us.. and help me get the last of this poison out of my systems. I'm sorry; I tried the cakeroot, but I can hardly taste it for how dry my mouth is. It's like sand.. I don't think a common cure is going to do much for a tailor made drug."

I notice that at the mention of the name Lady Whiteclaw Ozzie raises a confused eyebrow. Miss Hudson doesn't have any particular reaction; she just continues slicing out lumps of cakeroot with one of her freshly-cleaned knives. She looks up, frowning, then spits out a seed into the fire. "Which mountain's 'at, then?" she asks, scanning the many peaks on the horizon.

"There should be a solitary, larger mountain to the far north," Sebastian answers without hesitation, though he turns to me for confirmation. "Sound about right?"

"Yes, the mountain would be easily the most visible from my home region," I reply.

I look for the solitary mountain but I can't see it perhaps because of the distance. Since my home is near where they are going, I may as well join them in their trek. I look to Ozzie who so far, hasn't eaten the cakeroot. Even Sebastian seems to be slowly nibbling on his. I roast a perfect one for him, let it cool and offer it to him.

I say to Ozzie, "You know it isn't poisoned since I have had one and the others too. Come on, you have to eat something and this is really good! Please believe me, I mean no hurt or harm to you nor any of your companions."

He looks up at me, a blank expression on his face for a moment, then shakes the daze out. "Oh. My apologies. I... generally don't eat much." He tries the cakeroot, shrugs, and starts to eat it absently. I give him an encouraging smile. "See, that wasn't so bad now, was it?" I pack up my things and prepare to leave with them when they leave.

All things considered, I have made a few snake friends and three human friends. I have learned more of the geography and herbology of the mountains. I smile as I consider what else we may find on the way to my home.

I turn to them and I say, "Okay! I am ready to travel when you are." Miss Hudson nods and pokes Ozzie, and they start readying their packs.

I ask Dash, "When we arrive at Mountaincenter, perhaps Lady Whiteclaw would not object to me seeing how she cures you? I am greatly interested in that and it would please me to know how she does it. I have been thinking about it and have some ideas, but I am sure that she would know better than I what to do to help you."

He doesn't give any facial reaction at all. "We'll have to see. Assuming she can help me."

I assure him she will. Then, I say my final farewells to Serpentina and premise to return some day before setting off with the others to find Mountaincenter. As I walk off, I reflect on the sad look she gives me as I leave. I wonder how long it will be before I can return here.

That was fun. We got to learn a lot more about Sassy Snake as well. She's setting out with the others for adventure, due north. Remember when Dash seemed out of it? We'll explain that in our next part!