Cimmeron wept bitterly as she rocked back and forth with her hands clasped around her legs, hugging them close to her chest. Why did everyone have to be so mean to her? She’s tried to be nice, but everyone seemed to hate her. Even some of the adults were a little rude to her. As a teenager of 18, she tried to just suck it up and deal with it like a grown up, but she could not handle it anymore. She wished with all her heart that just one friend would be there for her. Just one friend would make her happy. Anyone…
“Why, my dear! Whatever issss wrong?” a voice asked, startling her a little. Quickly, she wiped away her tears and turned her head away, not wanting to let whoever it was see her cry.
“It’s nothing,” she lied, hugging her legs closer.
“Are you sssure? Perhapssss you would like to dissscusss it with me?” the smooth voice asked. Cimmeron’s eyebrow raised a little at the strange lisp in his voice, but she still did not lift her head to look at the stranger.
“I just had a rough day, that’s all,” she said, looking at the rain that seemed to be weeping with her. “I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Are you ssssure? I’m all earssss. Well, hypothetically ssspeaking anyway, ssssince I don’t have earssss to begin with,” the stranger chuckled.
“I do appreciate your kindness, but I don’t really wa—” Cimmeron paused suddenly, straightening up. “Wait. What do you mean you have no ears?” She finally turned her head to look at the voice, and looked into the amazing golden eyes of an enormous python, its face very close to hers.
“WHAT THE—!?!?” She screamed, scooting away, her head and back slamming into the trunk of the tree. Cursing, she rubbed her head, her skull pounding with pain.
“I’m very ssssorry. I didn’t mean to sssstartle you. Pleasssse, don’t be afraid,” the snake said soothingly, coming closer to her.
Cimmeron backed up into the tree as much as she could, her heart slamming in her chest. “Y-y-you can talk??” she squeaked, her eyes wide as saucers.