The Snakes Purpose Revealed

"Did you hear that?" She asked Fred.

"Hear what?"

Before she could reply, something odd happened. The snake finally moved. It uncoiled itself and slithered off her leg. It turned to them, tongue flicking in and out. Astra stared back, before asking " Was that you?"

There was a moment's silence before Astra heard the voice again. Yesss. It wasss me. The Ssspiritsss have sssent me to guide you.

Why didn't you tell me before? Astra thought back. Instead of just coiling around my leg?

Yesss, well. The snake almost seemed to be embarrassed, if indeed such a thing was possible. I fell asssleep almossst asss sssoon asss I had coiled around your leg.

Astra gave a mental sigh then asked, What were you saying about the meat?

The snake appeared to brighten up a bit. Ah, yesss. I sssaid that you could eat it raw and it wouldn't harm you. I know you humansss like your food cooked, but it'sss perfectly harmlesss.

During this time, not knowing about the conversation, Fred stood silently by. He was torn between asking Astra what was going on, or keeping quiet. He eventually chose to keep quiet, feeling that Astra would let him know in due course.

Astra looked from the carcass of the wildebeest, to the snake and then back again. The idea of it made feel a bit queasy, but... Okay, she thought. So be it. You're not going to coil around my leg again, are you? she added.

No. I'll ssslither along behind now, the snake told her.

She turned to Fred, who frowned. Astra smiled at that. "Don't worry," she said. "I'm not mad. I had a 'talk' with our snake friend here."

"Talk?" Fred queried.

"Yes. The snake's telepathic. It told me that it's to be our guide."

Fred thought a bit before replying. "Our guide, eh?" He finally said. He gestured to the carcass. "That's to be our next meal?" When Astra nodded, he said. "Are we to eat it" - he gave a slight shudder - "raw?"

Astra nodded again. "It's that or go without, I guess."

1. Fred refused to eat the raw meat. Astra tried to change his mind.
2. "If's that's good enough for that lion, then it's good enough for us." Fred said.

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