The Serpent That Holds the Stars

Monsters were all lone wolves—or so I'd thought. Every one I'd met so far had been that way. But that was just prejudice, apparently. At least the ones here moved in packs. Primates banded together with their grasping hands, while the creepy crawlies stuck to their own kind. From the looks of things, the bug brigade had ambushed the hand-havers.

Luckily, the gorilla had slipped away in the chaos. This was war. And the Giant Centipede Matriarch seemed to hold executive rank in the bug legion.

"Kekekekeke!"

She roared, and the other bugs ignored me, streaming past. Thanks to her, I could fully savor my heartwarming reunion with Kkubugi.

White! You've evolved so purely white! Wonder who you take after!

Affection bubbled up inside me. Centipedes and snakes might be different species, but now Kkubugi and I matched in color. Weren't same-colored folks naturally bonded by the heart?

You're my son now.

-Hah, that color stands out like a sore thumb. No surviving in the wild like that.

Pellelian cursed. I tried ignoring him, but worry crept in. In the Great Forest, white was a huge disadvantage. Sure, with Centipede Mom here now, it was fine, but...

-One snake ruined my life.

"Eh, eat this and grow big and strong."

I quickly pulled a small magic stone from my subspace and fed it to Kkubugi. Pellelian screamed.

Head back now.

I didn't want to show favoritism in front of the other two siblings. Kkubugi chomped it down and climbed back onto Centipede Mom's back. Right on cue, spectacled monkeys leaped onto me. They clawed and bit desperately.

Pointless. My crystal-hard scales wounded them instead. Once the poison injected, it was over. They dropped like flies, and I dove into the full war.

Swinging my blade to slash monkeys. Breathing fire, shaking the earth. Physically stealing the hearts of charging snub-nosed monkeys. And the sage orangutan who'd ordered my death.

"Fall back! Re-treat, now!"

He bellowed. Obvious commander—staff in hand, ragged leather ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"clothes," lumpy sack at his waist.

Whoa, highest level monster I'd seen. Didn't look that tough, but with an epithet? Prime eating.

I slithered stealthily toward him. He didn't notice, just yelling.

"Ooh-! I called the boss—ooh! Fall back first!"

Boss. The silver-furred monkey. One of the Whites, technically. Probably strong.

"Kegekeke."

Then it happened. Giant Centipede Mom signaled retreat. I knew it instantly—bugs receding like the tide.

No you don't. The orangutan turned to flee too. Not letting you go.

I shot like a bolt. But he wasn't just some old ape.

"Eek!"

Sensing killing intent, he curled and dodged. Couldn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hit the heart anyway. I tore his stinky leather sack instead.

Riiiip!

It split, contents spilling: pretty stones, bananas, tree fruits.

"Nooo!"

Orangutan looked like he'd lost his kingdom. Understandable. Among the junk, I spotted the prize.

Silence fell. Me, orangutan, and a nearby tiny spider stared. I moved first—sucked both into subspace instantly. To him, they vanished into thin air.

"Nooo!"

Yes!

I spun and bolted. Fled with the bugs, hopped onto waiting Giant ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Centipede Mom. The three siblings welcomed me.

"Waaah!"

Orangutan's anguished cry echoed behind.

* * *

Once, a hyena pack roamed the plains freely. Fanged hyenas feared nothing in a group, led by their alpha. They were happy, frolicking.

But (former) Fanged Hyena Alpha (current) Dotbakyi's happiness shattered one day. Shadow fairies captured the pack.

In the cramped cage, horrors unfolded. Dotbakyi remembered every one: her pack dying gruesomely. She alone survived, awaiting death—until the white snake appeared.

Conclusion: Dotbakyi loved her current life. White Snake fed her well, let her run free. Merciless to disobedient monsters? Proper alpha trait.

Waiting on this plain per snake's order. Dotbakyi obeyed, digging fat bugs with her fangs.

Thud thud thud—earth shook, something approached. She thought: new master, white snake, returned.

No. Bug legion swarming from forest, Giant Centipede at front.

"Kiiing kyaang!"

Terrified, Dotbakyi whimpered. White snake entered forest earlier—eaten by scary bugs? She wailed, tried fleeing.

Then: white snake leaped from centipede's back, landed perfectly on her. No time to rejoice—tail tapped thrice: Run.

Dotbakyi dashed. Giant Centipede kept pace. Past monkey woods, swamp visible—snake halted her. Centipede stopped too.

Snake stood before Giant Centipede, conversing confidently. Dotbakyi realized: Master conquered even these bugs.

Remembered snake returning atop Giant Centipede. Bug legion's power here. That centipede an exec. Huge deal. Deeper loyalty bloomed in Dotbakyi.

Eh? What? I'd just thanked Giant Centipede Mom deeply, tail wagging—and bam, messages. I get it. Impressed I'm buddies with mighty Centipede Mom. I'd be too.

My inner rating of her rose again. Tough, gentle, great mom to three siblings—known. But leadership too? Exec in bug legion opposing primates.

She didn't recruit me, though. Can't be helped—I'm Crystal Double-Horn Python, not bug.

"Kke kke."

Monkey chat ended quick; asked her unanswered questions. Drew complex picture on dirt—my old hobby, easy to read.

Drew unique snake—not me, from Deshunan's log. Tiny snake beside: me. Pointed snake-to-snake, siblings-to-Giant Centipede Mom.

This snake my dad. Seen him?

-As if she'd understand.

She did.

-She understood?!

Centipede recoiled, claws clacking nervously. Stared, nodded. Gazed east—rugged rocks.

There?

Nod. Excitement sparked. Found Dad at last.

Mom was vicious Medusa Serpent, pulping disobedient kids. Dad different. Duh—Medusa Serpent not him.

Shocking realization: "Medusa" from hair-snakes, her own spawned kids. Female face. Only females exist.

Biological dad: serpent, not Medusa. Cooler name. Wanted to meet for that species too.

-First I'd heard; unique species.

Pellelian explained: unique ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠evolutions off standard trees—new species.

-Don't overhype. Not all uniques strong/superior.

Still, wanna see. Got Borrowing Horn—Deshunan's log said Dad had special skill. Lucky, maybe borrow.

Was bidding bug legion farewell.

-What's that? Gross.

Swamp bugs crawling out. Welcome party post-fight? Felt off.

All spiders.

Varied sizes, but all spiders. Especially lead big one: human face on abdomen.

...Dangerous. Locked eyes with abdomen face.

"Kkekkeok!"

Giant Centipede menaced, shoving me: Go!

"Saaak!"

Called Dotbakyi, hopped on. Headed to rocks.

"Kyang!"

Dotbakyi barked, sprinting. Distanced bug legion. Glanced back: Giant Centipede vs. face-spider glaring.

Bad blood? Tense. Eh, looking at me. Face-spider's grin creepy, eyes on me. No good spider history.

Shook off gaze, urged Dotbakyi faster. Noticed oddity entering rocks.

-Spiders everywhere.

Pellelian warned. Rocks spider-unfriendly—jagged. Yet fist-sized ones circled me. Damp moss in cracks, but not spider habitat. Long past centipede/face-spider range.

Not coincidence?

-What you think?

Couldn't track from swamp.

Spiders orbited ten steps out, watching. Alert, searched for Dad—no snakes but me. Huge serpent impossible to miss.

-Find shelter first, not dad.

Dusk fell. Fleeing on Dotbakyi tricky in rocks—she couldn't speed. Spiders blocked paths, tightening noose. Now dog-sized.

One-on-one, no threat. But clinging rocks, advancing slow. Eight eyes each—hundreds red in dark, all on me. Herding prey.

Mocking me.

"Kyaang!"

Dotbakyi screamed—fist-spider lunging bite. Leaped, crunched it vengefully. She growled, wary.

-Dangerous. Quite.

Face-spider's doing? Knew I took fruits? No answers thinking. Time to show power.

Or... for Ouroboros, face-spider should've come herself. Drew sword, breathed fire, splashed water. Earth-shake via soil magic too.

Runga goblins trembled at this. Rumble rumble—

Worked. Approaching spiders hesitated.

Rumblierumble—Beginner Elemental Magic this strong? Near-quake.

Then, moonlight blocked—huge shadow engulfed me, spiders. Realized: someone behind.

Not fleeing because of me?

Turned. Ah. Where hiding? Sleeping under rocks from start?

Me and spiders playing ring-around-rosie—on sleeping snake's body maybe. That massive.

Thud, boom. Rocks tumbled roaring. He appeared.

Thrill. Scales white like mine—no, starlight. Star-holding serpent gazed down, Polaris eyes.

Tentatively: ...Dad? Or Father. Eyes met.