As Rift waited for the cobra, he had time to think. Lots of time to think. And time to try moving his friends again. This time, he tried to move the leaves instead of the roots and actually got them to move. He watched as the leaves waved in the windless sky and as branches leaned down to touch his pelt. It was an extremely mystical moment. He had never gotten his friends to move before. And the vines that hung from the branches reminded him of snakes and he realized that he had been way too presumptive when it came to the baby cobra. He quietly thanked his friends as he released the magic and they slowly went back to their original places.

He waited in silence, surrounded by the friends he had grown earlier, waiting for the cobra to return from wherever she had went. He caught sight of her immediately - white wasn't hard to distinguish in the forest, even in the dark. He dipped his head when she got close and shook his head at her words.

"No, it's okay. I trust you. I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to be so rude. I just kind of freaked out and I hope I haven't offended you too much." He bowed his head and got down on the ground to show his shame. In the back of his mind, however, his instincts were screaming for him to get up and now give himself up to the snake.

___________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: here
notes: here

Winter stared at him with surprise. Why was he giving up his pride so easily? Why was his mind changing so quickly? At first, she thought that she would forgive him, but then an unexpected spark of anger lit a flame in the back of her head. She hissed lowly, her hood inflating. "Just like that, your mind is so easily change? I don't believe you. You still fear me. You still hate me. Don't try and pretend like you haven't insulted me."

She didn't know where this sudden rage was coming from, but, for some reason, the cougar trying to undo his actions was infuriating. She hated it. She hated him and she didn't know why. The tip of her tail began to last furiously, beating on the ground with anger.

When I speak.

When I think.

Rift's head immediately shot up at the sound of the snake's hissing and he instinctively took a step back. He cringe, knowing that he had probably made a huge mistake - a move like that would certainly give away the fear lingering in his subconsciousness.

But it seemed she had detected it already. Her sudden anger surprised him, but when she started yelling his faults, his pride was bruised and his own anger filled the space. He growled, his body lowering in case she decided to attack, but something held him knowing she wouldn't. He pushed it away in favor of lashing back at her insults. "Of course I do. You're a snake. Everyone knows not to trust a snake. You'd all be better off dead." He snarled as he spoke, his claws sliding out and sinking into the earth.

But then he realized what he had just said and he regretted every word. But there was no backing down now. The damage was done.

___________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: here
notes: here

Winter certainly did notice his small step back and did the equivalent of an interior eye roll. "Like I said, you liar," she sneered. "Why say anything anyways?"

But then she felt her insides freeze at his final words. However there was no time to show that it had gotten to her. She would not let this cougar have the satisfaction of landing any more emotional blows. She stood up tall and spit at Rift, showing her teeth. "How dare you?! Never in my life have I met any gembound as horrible as you. I hope you die as well."

She gave him one last seething look and a hiss before turning around and slithering off. Her hood wouldn't deflate as anger surged through every bone. How dare he have the audacity to speak to her like that?! How dare he treat anyone like that! She hoped that nobody she ever cared about ever met him.

And as she slid away, his words followed her, pounding in her ears and bouncing through her head. She could not stop hearing it. Was she untrustworthy? Should she be dead? Just because she was a snake?

*exit

When I speak.

When I think.

Rift watched after her, horrified. How could he have been so mean? Why had he been so mean? He didn't even know he had the capability to be so mean. Some instinctual part of himself had thrown him into saying such things and feeling such disgusting hate. He didn't hate her, but he did. And he wished that he didn't have to let her know.

It was like a thorn to his heart, knowing how hurt she must be. And the plants seemed to sense his anger - when he tried to raise them from the ground, they were merely sprouts - no flowers, no leaves.

He turned and ran, as if he could escape what he had done. He needed to push them away, get his happiness back. He needed to forget the things he said. But how could he?

*exit

___________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: here
notes: here