Mosi the Maker had brought her here to this place that he called home. She couldn't be with him all the time and so the little anaconda had begun to explore. To this place and that she slithered, her movement creating a constant, whispering hiss. The heat sensing pits on her face alerted her to the presence of other creatures. They had alerted her to the very fat rat that now lay within her stomach.

Into a new area she moved, careful of her dark surroundings. After a time, the girl bumped into a cold slab of stone. Upwards she went until she was coiled upon a flat stone slab with another slab vertically at her back. Oswego coiled in the center of the slab, her chin rested upon one of her own coils.

As she lay, a strange sensation came over her. A wash of images and feelings drifted through her mind. Strange animals with no fur or scales. Many different animals seated upon the same stone that she now rested in. The vision ended with a gasp and the snake shuddered involuntarily. She would have to tell Mosi. He would know what had happened to her.

Another thought dawned on the girl. She now knew what light was. She had seen it in her vision. Oh how she hoped that light would come again some day. It would be good to know the face of her Maker.

Confident in my abilities, I was able to leave Eridanus and travel far and wide. Every part of the cave I traveled to seemed to be void of light, but I was able to navigate fairly easily. As a chick, I had been to just about every part of the cave. My memories would suffice in this time of need. Besides, it caused for my other senses to become hyperactive, and when the scent and sound of a slithering little snake registered, I had to investigate. By the pure sound of her alone, I could discern she wasn’t fully grown. Why not try and see the girl? While mid flight and still a distance away, I mustered my energy and attempted to cast a bolt of lightning, though I wasn’t going to hit her. Or at least, I’d try not to. I aimed it to go to the side, its main purpose to only shed a flash of light so that I might locate her properly.

Long, powerful wings rushed a gust of air as I expelled the bolt spell, and a small strip of lightning struck the cement flooring a yard or two from the snake. It lit up the area around with a pinkish flash, sending me the glint of her scales and small gem before it went dark again. The action caused for a loud crack to echo through the area, and the spot upon the stone of which it struck was left fried and blackened. I circled up high a moment, then moved to land. Weapon like talons clicked against the cave’s floor, and I hopped whatever distance was left. Even still, I remained silent. I didn’t show signs of aggression yet, though. She’s a baby. What has she done? Besides, when Clover found me, she could have easily stomped me out. But no, she showed me mercy, love, acceptance. She’d want me to do the same here. The mere thought made a sneer spread my beak, but the darkness concealed it.

The pouch I never left home without was snug and secure. I reached into it with my beak, then placed its contents between us. There was but one item within this pouch, and it was a pearl-escent stone, forever infused with Clover’s light. It glowed brightly, casting a bit of light on my face and her body. I lowered, roosting so that she could see more of my face. Azurite lenses looked upon the creature, ivory skull tilting to the sides in rapid movements as I observed her. After the longest time, I finally spoke.
”Child,”
It was meant to be a greeting, a ‘hello’ of sorts. But what I could muster was the simple utterance of ‘child’. My voice was hoarse, unused and cobwebbed. It wasn’t deep, nor was it high pitched, somewhere in the middle. It seemed odd I remained or even came down to see her, but in all honesty, I had become very lonely, and needed some type of company. She was the first I’d seen. She’d do.

Sounds from above. A concern for any reptile. Oswego drew into her own coils, protecting the back of her skull. How she knew to do this, she couldn't say. It was a good thing that she'd done so, too. As it was, the flash of light blinded her single, seeing eye. Long lungs flattened, expelling a warning hiss of alarm. The young snake was confused by the light. She hadn't even noted the feathered beast when the cave was illuminated. Unable to close her eye against the light, sight had been temporarily stolen. Gradually the spotty vision faded. By then the bird had settled itself, placing a light producing orb between them. This orb bathed them both in a soft light that sent the ruby in her eye socket a'glitter. The bird's voice crossed the distance between them. Child, he called her, and he was not wrong. The world was new to Oswego. Every experience taught her something new. This experience taught her that the feathered fellow was a Maker of light just as Mosi was a Maker of stars. "Ssssalutationssss," the glistening reptile hissed. Slowly she withdrew her head from within her coils and rested her chin upon the edge of the stone throne. The bird didn't seem threatening and so she would be at ease until the situation dictated differently.

She greeted me back, and it satisfied me. Shifting in my roosted position, wings unfurled only to fold comfortably once again.
"what's your name?"
It was probably apparent I was practically fishing for conversation, something I hadn't done before, but it was needed. After so long alone and in the dark, one's psyche gets a little fried. Even assholes like myself.
"my name is Ambrus."
I still knew manners, however. Mother always tried to instill it, with her gentle ways. She was the example I should have followed, but I took a different route. Even still, she loved me.


Pushing stale thoughts of Clover to the back of my mind, I waited for the young snake's response. Clearing my throat with a chirp, I followed up with:
"Not to worry. I've come only to chat."
Certainly she was worried I wanted to eat her, or perhaps it never crossed her mind. Either way, she now knew my intentions - or lack thereof.

Oswego was practically mesmerized by the glowing orb that sat between herself and the bird. The soft light glinted off of her gem filled socket. The reptilian lass only looked up when the bird asked her name, then offered his own. "Osssswego," she replied softly, forked tongue flicking out of the small opening between upper and lower jaws. "Niccce to meet you, Ambrussss." It was impossible not to hiss her S's. She was a snake, after all. A bit of tension left the girl as the eagle admitted that he only wished for company. He could have eaten her. She wasn't that big yet. Only a hatchling of three feet. Oswego snuggled into her coils, relaxing even more so than she'd appeared before. Snakes always looked relaxed, however. Head dipping over the side, she motioned towards the illuminated stone. "It'sssss pretty. Isss it a sssstar?" A slight tilt of her head was given as she asked the question, the movement making the ruby in her skull glint. The shining stone was indeed pretty. The stones around it... not so much. Their presence detracted from the shining ones presence and so Oswego had the urge to move them. One of the larger pebbled rolled away and out of view, clearing the snakes field of vision between herself and the glowy. A whispering, childish chuckle of glee left the girl, her head bobbing gently with the motion. She was pleased with herself.

Oswego’s interest in the stone my mother enchanted for me was refreshing. It was impressive for a gemling her age to be pulling off such a spell. She shooed the other rocks away from mine, and I merely watched with hushed enthusiasm. Yes, my rock should be praised and complimented. I couldn’t help but to smile. Her inquiry as to it being a star, I let a chirpy chuckle escape.
”The best star there is.”
I confirmed.
”It’s a star of love.”
I touched it gently with an unfurled, large mocha wing before retracting the appendage and folding it once more. I had never told anyone of how I got it, so this was special to me. Peering down at the little snake, the smile did not fade as I began to speak.
”When I was just a chick, my mother found me. It was dark, but not like this. There was still mild light in the cave then,”
A bone white skull shook with the thought of being so dang old.
”Her magic was special. She plucked an ordinary stone from the ground, one she’d chosen herself. She enchanted it with an eternal light, just for me. For when it is dark, she is my light. When my days are so dreary, she is my star.”
Oh no. I was getting deeper into my feelings with each passing second. Who could have known a baby snake could possibly give me this type of feeling? Reminiscing hurt, and I willed the pain away.
”I keep it in my pack here.”
I patted my pouch with the ‘shoulder’ of my wing. There wasn’t much else to explain about it now, so interested in her response, I remained quiet as my eye often drew to the glint of her gem, which happened to be some type of red stone replacing one of her eyes.

@Oswego