"you are right about the swamp snake retreating to the deeper depths of the swamp to escape from the heat. But if it does that, then it no longer is a swamp snake".
"soooo...., are you going to explain why you said that? Or do you just plan on saying it without an explanation as to why it is".
Orun wasn't content enough with the Wyvern leader giving him half baked of the story. There had to have been a reason for why a being running for its life make a difference on the name it is known by.
"swamp snakes are known to be very vicious and aggressive in nature. They don't run from attacks, they face it head on. And when they feel themselves being threatened in their territory, they do whatever it takes to rid themselves of the intruder, even at the cost of their lives".
"are they crazy? Why would they do that".
Orum believed it to be ridiculous that there is a race that would go so far as sacrificing its own life just so it can keep its territory to itself.
All life is precious, that is what Orun has always based his belief on.
One should always value one's life above anything else because when one's life is taken, that is it, no do over or a miracle falling from the sky and coming to their rescue like a damsel in distress.
When something other than a life is taken, there is always a second chance, a probability. The word opportunity comes but once, is a lie because as long as one is still alive, there is always going to be available opportunities going forward.
A fact he forgot when he once lived his life as a human back on earth.
A monster sacrificing its life just so it can protect its territory is nothing but a repulsive and selfish creature to Orun, and he loathe such creatures.
Why give your life for something so simple as a territory when you can just move out and find yourself another territory to invade and make your own, and if that territory has someone stronger than you, then just find another, that is how wide and vast the world is, a world filled with places waiting for someone to come and own it.
Orun will never understand, and frankly, he doesn't want to understand nor justify the actions of such ignorant beings.
"they do it because it's in their nature. That is how they were built".
"no, they were built wrongly, and they are stupid for ever living such a life".
Orun says, with a disgusted expression as he stares down at the swamp.
"How long will it take before the swamp snake comes out".
Hia tone serious, and his gaze still on the swamp.
"once it feels threatened enough, it will come out of its own accord".
"and exactly how long is that".
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"It will take a while for the fire to completely heat up the swamp".
"we don't have a while to give such foolish beings".
Orun stood on his two feet, still on the back of the Wyvern leader.
"what are you doing".
The Wyvern leader could feel Orun moving on her back, and so she asked out of curiosity for what he is up to.
"turning your, a while, into right now".
He stretched out his right hand, placing it directly above the swamp, and raised his head upwards before raising it back down again.
The swamp started boiling up, with bubbles appearing at its top and bursting up like it's being cooked. It did not take long for the swamp to start releasing steam into the air, and the Wyvern pack could feel their scaled skin getting slightly scorched by the heat.
The Wyverns could only watch as Orun set a swamp on fire, like literal fire burning itself at its top.
"when it comes out, will you guys take care of it, or do I have to do it myself".
"we have it under control, just lure it out with whatever it is you are doing".
The monster lurking beneath the swamp, like the Wyverns had predicted, got angry that its territory was being invaded by an outsider, and sprang itself out of the swamp.
A snake long enough to coil its body around a fifty-seven storey building and still have its remains stretching out, jumped out of the swamp, and straight at the Wyvern leader.
It's target wasn't actually the Wyvern leader, but Orun was is responsible for majority of the damage caused, and is taking refuge on the head of the Wyvern leader.
Before the swamp snake could get to Orun, he had already controlled the trees on the ground, sprouting out vines from them, lengthening them enough to wrap around the swamp snake.
"what do we do now".
Orun asked, not sure of what to do with it.
The Wyvern leader watched as the swamp snake had its body all tied up by the vines, a situation she has once been in, unable to break free with every struggle proving pointless.
"now, we feast".
.
.
*BURP, BURP!!!!!!!!!!!*
"hey, will you guys keep it quiet down there. Some of us are trying to think".
Orun's voice raised high enough for the Wyvern pack who had just finished eating and releasing gas from their stomach through the mouth.
When he caught the swamp snake, it was handed over to the pack members to carry, and then they all met at the location the pack resides in, which is at the top of the highest hill in the forest, a hill so high one could see the layout of the forest from its peak.
Together, they feasted with the swamp snake laid flat, and the pack standing on each side along with Orun joining them. When they were all done eating the final piece of the swamp snake, they laid down on the ground to rest with their heads facing the sky.
"wbat are you thinking about".
The Wyvern leader laid beside Orun, saw that his eyes were fixated on a particular spot, courtesy of him being in a trance.
"just thinking, what do I do with my life now".
"i have been in a position similar to being in a cave where my actions are restricted, but now, I am out in the big world with not a clue of what to become".
He has spent his time growing up and surving through the harsh conditions around him, fighting and killing everything he came across.
His only leeway out of that life, required him to trap himself in sleep mode for years before he wakes up. Now that he has woken, everything feels so foreign to him.
With the power Orun is now equipped with, he has no reason to keep fighting and killing just so he can be sure of living through the next day.
He now considers his life to be without meaning and purpose.
Waking, feeding, sleeping, waking, feeding, and sleeping is the only thing he does on a daily basis now. The thrill and excitement that comes from fighting opponents while risking his life for it, is no longer there.
The world to him now, seems like a big ball or boredomness.
"if you don't have anywhere else to go, you can always stay in our pack".
Meeting the Wyvern, is one of the fun thing that has happened to him after his awakening, but at the same time, he does not want to make them uncomfortable by overstaying his welcome.
"i don't know, we don't really have the same body constitution to having me living with you all".
"we are monsters, body constitution does not matter. What matters, is what the other has to offer, and from the looks of it, you have a lot. With your strength, we can solidify our hold on our territory, never having to fear an Invasion from other monsters".
"so you are saying you want to use me for my powers".
"in return, you will have a place to stay, and something to keep your life from being boring".
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe Wyvern leader quickly made it known to him, that she isn't the only one who is going to benefit from him agreeing to stay with them.
"that does not sound bad, but I have an even more intriguing idea. I could forcefully have your pack become submissive to me, taking over your territory and claiming it as mine".
The Wyvern leader's face turned sour when it heard Orun's word. If Ourn wanted to, he could do what he proposed without any of them having the might to stop him, and that thought, terrified her.
"relax. You don't have to look all serious, I was just joking".
Orun said, easing the mood and putting the Wyvern leader's mind at peace.
"i believe this isn't the first time you will be hearing this, but your jokes are a little too extreme".
"it's a good thing I know that now. I haven't really being surrounded by people I could openly make jokes with".
Orun scoffed, staring at the stars with his lashes blinking. He raised his hand, reaching out to a nonexistent figure.
"but, perhaps, staying with your pack is just the right stuff I need to get some fun back into my life".
"does that mean you are staying".
"It means, I won't be going anytime soon".
"that is good to know. I am sure the rest of the pack will be excited to welcome a new member".
"you can tell them later. They have all passed out from exhaustion caused by overeating. I can see their bellies all pumped up".
The pack after they were done eating, all laid down on their backs with majority of them falling asleep while snoring.
Orun turned his head back to the Wyvern leader, wanting to ask her a question.
"i am curious, are you a male or female".
The Wyvern leader before she could answer him, stared at him with a, why are you asking, expression.
"what do you think".
"well, your voice does sound like a female's, but your appearance and attitude however makes it hard to tell".
Orun who knows nothing about how to differentiate female monsters and make monsters apart, had a hard time deciding which one the Wyvern leader belonged to.
"so, which category do you fall under".
"don't know. You are going to have to figure that out yourself during your stay with us".
She said, diverting her gaze away from Orun, and turning it in the direction of the sky.