Completed The Boozy Wreckage

[Xen]

Spring 25th, 514 A.V.

‘‘There are a lot of birdss out today.’’


Xen scratches his head in confusion, why were there so many birds out today? He understood that it was spring and animals were gathering together to breed. But why were there so many ostriches birds out today? The question puzzles him to a strange degree until he notices three adult constrictors, one young adult and four snakelings slither pass him, donning armor and holding spears. Xen raises an eyebrow in interest and follows them and knowing that, as a viper, they would probably prohibit him from doing so. However, to his surprise the three adult constrictors did not care but the younger constrictors were interested in his presence.

Xen slithers in back of the group to avoid the young and suspicious constrictors. He had a bad feeling about them and suspects a few of these constrictors were up to something. Xen was a repeated victim of sneaky, underhanded tactics before but not this time! He developed distrust towards females and learned that spring was the season where his race was more… willing —if you know what I mean. Xen believes summer would be the same and would need to avoid females more often. He couldn’t go around breeding with every female that looked and blushed in his direction! That would cause problems and he did not want to deal with angry male giants.

Xen was bored out of his mind with traveling: he had been doing so for the last bell now. He could not slither in the jungle for another Bell or he was going to lose his mind. A squawk from the canopy catches Xen’s attention, freeing him from his boredom. The avian wonder, donning feathers like the rainbow, stares at Xen with its head tilted to the side. Xen wraps his arms and body around a tree and shimmies his way up the tree. The parrot stares at its dhani companion and flies to the branch of a nearby tree.

Xen slithers from around large tree’s trunk and lies upon its broad branches.The canopy was beautiful and the birds were too. He could tell they weren’t exactly fond of his presence in the trees and chirped amongst themselves, spreading the word of his arrival. Xen could sense the tension in the air but remains calm: to show that he was no threat. However, birds were cautious creatures and they kept their distance. The flocks of birds or parrots continued their activities while Xen observes them. He found them interesting to watch as they were small cures for his boredom.

The three adult constrictors noticed Xen’s absence and they all assumed that he went on to hunt for his own prey. In the vipers absence—the younger constrictors went their separate ways to hunt while under the supervision of the three adults. While the snakelings were hunting, Xen was sunbathing and studying the birds of paradise. The parrots were the most comical of them all, they brought a smile to Xen’s face. The way they chattered amongst themselves and scooted across the branches with their little feet, it was like they were miniature people. Xen found them adorable and admired their beauty.

A series of chimes pass and all but one of the snakelings: a male, had successfully captured and killed prey. Xen looks down to see the young male constrictor searching the undergrowth for prey, he was desperate and at unease. This snakeling was probably one of those dhani lacking a hunter’s intuition which made Xen want to help him. He looks around the canopy and saw nothing, only birds. Xen had to look a second time before he notices a slow moving creature climbing the other side of the tree he occupied. Xen flicks his tongue to smell the creature and grimaced! The creature smelled foul and its fur was infested with moths.


‘‘ A ssloth? Well, it’sss better than nothing. ’’ Xen thought


‘‘ Hey, ussse your sssense of ssmell and tasste! If you don’t put all your ssenssess to ussse, hunting will be difficult, you know. ’’

[Xen]

Spring 25th, 514 A.V.

The young male constrictor looks in Xen’s direction and turns his head immediately. He was not going to listen to some viper and especially since he failed to hunt and capture food. The young male wished to regain his pride and honor as a constrictor of Zinrah, plus he wanted to impress the females and hook-up with one of them later on. Xen shakes his head and places a hand over his eyes—facepalm. He was trying to teach his companion how to utilize his sense properly but as always, he gets stuck with the stubborn ones. Why fate, why? Xen looks to his right and notices that the constrictors had regrouped and were heading in his direction. He figures this constrictor would need to learn humility rather than how to hunt.

So, Xen remains quiet and watches the young male constrictor as he fumbles through the undergrowth and jungle, trying to find food or prey of some sort. A series of giggles startles as three large adult constrictors loom over the inexperienced male of their group, obviously disappointed. A look of shame appears of the young males face, as he lowers his head in silence. Xen knew and understood the young male’s pain and slithers down the other side of the tree to find something for him to eat. Xen could have allowed the young male to go home hungry but hunger coated with shame was too much.

The jungle was brimming with life but Xen was not going to pursue the birds. He needed something slow and sluggish: like the sloth from before. That’s right—the sloth from before! Xen turns to find the creature had disappeared: it probably noticed him and decided to go elsewhere. He knew how incredibly slow the creature was and it would only be a matter of time before he stumbles upon it. Xen places every aspect of the jungle under scrutiny, especially the undergrowth which he occupied.

The chimes pass and Xen finds what he is looking for: a creature moving slowly, on all fours, across the ground. He wastes no time in pouncing on the creature and ends its life by grabbing the head and snapping its neck with a quick flick of the wrist. This wasn’t the best of hunt he’d ever partaken in but it was something. Xen slithers back to the group that were, to his surprise, waiting for him. He tosses the dead sloth the young male and they all slither back to Zinrah: a trip Xen was not looking forward to. This time he slithers in front of the group with the three adult constrictors, who still did not show attention to his presence.

He couldn’t understand the three, did they enjoy his presence or simply tolerated him? It seemed like he would never know as he dwells on this question while the time passes him by. A yawn escapes Xen’s mouth, his torturous trip continued through the jungle. He picks up a branch of a fair length off the ground and starts peeling back its bark. The branch had a few flower buds sticking from its sides but Xen removes them and continues to shape this branch into something of his liking. Xen was peeling away at the bark and notices that the branch was sturdy, enough so to become a blunt weapon.

The branch was wide but the tip and end of it had a slight curve. He breaks these imperfections and turns this skinned branch into a walking cane of sorts. The members of his group laugh as he struts with his cane in hand. Xen was annoyed by this until a smile creeps across his face—amused by his actions. In time the group of dhani find themselves in front of Zinrah’s cave entrance, two guards greet them upon their arrival. Xen makes eye contact with one guard to his left: a young one, sweating and shaking—obviously nervous about something.

A wild mischievous grin appears! Xen points at the young guard’s foot and his eyes widen in mock fear and astonishment. He was trying to fool the young guard, thinking his constrictor pals could use a good laugh after their little hunting trip. The guard starts jumping and kicking at nothing until he realizes the foolishness of his actions. Xen’s own laughter was drowned out by group laughter, as they pass by the guard—now embarrassed and enraged by Xen.


‘‘Don’t be so embarrassed, it was only a joke.’’


Finally! Xen reaches the steam baths and he sighs in relief. The day had been busy for him and a good bath would soothe his tired muscles. He slithers into the warm water, allowing his body to be held-up by the liquid awesomeness. While floating carelessly in the waters embrace, he could feel ripples brush against him. Xen slithers through the water and into the center of the pool to avoid touching scales with someone or disturbing them. The more he swam away from this person—the more the individual crept closer to him. Xen turns to find that he was being followed by the young male constrictor he helped earlier.


‘‘Oh! The young constrictor from before, what’s up? ’’

‘‘Nothing… I just wanted to say thank you, viper.’’


The young male slithers closer to Xen. Xen didn’t see anything wrong with this until he notices the intent within his companion’s eyes. That’s when he dives into the water to avoid the males embrace and resurfaces with a look of shock. Xen always knew that the constrictors were a sensual bunch but not to this degree! He wasn’t into males and believed it to be unbeneficial to his species. However, there were many questions Xen could have asked, if it were not for the incessant giggling from the female snakelings lingering near the pool.


‘‘I’m sorry, it’s that I only court with females.’’


That’s when Xen felt a weird and soft sensation on his back followed by arms laying over his shoulders and touching his chest. The only thing he could do was pause and to try to comprehend what was going on. He could feel someone’s breathe on his neck, which sends him over the edge of anxiety. Xen keeps quiet and looks for a scapegoat…or scapegoats. He could only think of the adult constrictors, who were too preoccupied with relaxing to relieve that he was in a bind. Xen’s cheeks turn bright red, as pair of legs wrap around his body and hug him tightly.


‘‘Wait a minute! No, stop! ’’


Xen thrashes in the water, trying to free himself from the nude woman’s grasp. He could tell that this person was female because… you know why! I’m not going to explain such embarrassing details. The woman held onto Xen despite his efforts to throw her off of him and blows her breath onto Xen’s neck to fluster him further. He manages to reach the edge of the pool and flops onto the moist stone floor—tired and exhausted. When he’d finally calmed down, he looks up to find his assailant: the female young-adult and the other female snakelings pointing and laughing at him.


‘‘ Females, why do they always pick on me? ’’ Xen thought.


Xen lowers his head in embarrassment, why did they all have to be in human form? He couldn’t mate with any other females, it wouldn’t be right for his mate: Aka. Xen didn’t want to court with anyone else and have them bare his children. Yet he finds these situations happening to him all the time, having him repeat himself over and over again. Xen slithers back into the water and turns his head away from the bullying females to find the young male slithering towards him. He was preparing to leave the water until the male floats next to him with his head lowered towards the water.


‘‘Awww~ look at the happy couple.’’

‘‘B…be quiet Sesssayvenna!’’


Xen quickly found his little corner filled with females and rubs down his body, knowing that he wouldn’t be able so alone or in peace. In ten chimes Xen and his group of constrictors left the steam baths and were heading down an unfamiliar tunnel. He wasn’t sure of the place he was heading but the three bigger and much older constrictors seemed to know.


‘‘Hey, Sesssayvenna, where are the adults taking us? ’’ Xen asked.

‘‘It’s a secret! Okay, the place is cool and quiet.’’


Before Xen could ask a chair flies pass his face and crashes into the wall. The object shatters into pieces and falls to the floor. A brawl between a few constrictors was going on and there were some people trying to stop but they too inevitably fought. Xen and the young male constrictor grab a chair and sit down at a table. He could tell the male felt awkward around him and attempts to break the ice.


‘‘When fighting an opponent like these guys, you have to be on your toes or creative. Okay, look at how that guy uses his tail to beat his opponent. He makes that possible by turning his waist and using the momentum of his rotation to lift his heavy tail and swing it through the air. I haven’t done that yet but now that I see it. I’ll try it someday. ’’

‘‘I’ll try to! Mr. Viper. ’’

‘‘Call me Ksssen, not Mr.Viper! Though, that name is cool. Oh, I almost forgot and like with hunting as well, you need to be more aware of your surroundings! If you’re having trouble with sensing your prey, you have to utilize all your senses and focus on the emptiness around you. I think you know what a living creatures presence feels, so when focusing on that emptiness try to find a presence within it, you should be successful, if you play your cards right. ’’


‘‘ Hmm… this shows I won’t be an expert hunter anytime soon.’’


Xen, as he finishes his explanation, was starting feel a bit dizzy. The air in the distillery was soaked with the scent of alcohol, something his acute senses did not agree with. He almost stumbles from his chair in an attempt to remain stable but finds the scent of the alcohol too overwhelming. Xen sits in a half drunken state and observes the fight in front of him. Xen grins as he stands to his feet and wobbles over to a table next to the brawling constrictors. He climbs on top of the table and jumps off as he shouts.

‘‘My special move: flying viper body slaaaaaam!? ’’

Xen slams into both of the constrictors, forcing them all to land hard on the tables and chairs conveniently staked beside them. The only image he sees is the young male constrictor shaking him to wake up, as two unconscious and heavily drunk constrictors lied underneath him.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Skills:
Observation : +2
Hunting: +1
Teaching: +1
Swimming: +1
Brawling: +1

Lores:
Courting: Jealousy of other Men
 Falyndar Fauna: Parrots
Hunting: Not Everyone's Got the Instincts
Falyndar Fauna: Sloth
A Sloth's Distinctive Smell
Hunting: Use all Your Senses
Loyal to Aka
Catching the eye of another man: No thank you!
Special Move: Flying viper body Slam!
Dhani Combat: The Tail and Momentum
Hunting: Focus on the Emptiness and Presences will Stand Out

Notes:
None!

If you feel like I missed anything you earned or have any questions about the grade, then don't hesitate to pm me!