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STARS DANCED IN FRONT OF HER EYES when Joan and Aura knocked the backs of their heads together. It all had happened so fast. The giant serpent had fooled them with a mock charge, only to swing its tail around and wrap them into a deadly embrace. Joan had just had enough time to think to herself that a beast of this size shouldn't be able to move this fast, when she already found her arms pinned to her sides and slammed back first into her new ally, Aura Lockhaven. Both women gave off a groan when the snake tightened it's grip, squeezing them hard. Try as she might, Joan couldn't move an inch. Behind her, Aura tried to struggle free herself and failed just as much. Somewhere from a corner of her mind the information reached Joan, that snakes couldn't move like this! Couldn't move their tails in such a way! Apparently this snake had never gotten the memo. The monster snake now lowered its massive head towards them, hissing menacingly. But it made no attempt to eat them, it just glared at them ... almost as if it was taking offense at their attack. A moment later, Joan found out ... that was precisely what it was! Because from somewhere, like a rumbling thundercloud, a voice like brittle glass sounded in her mind.
"How dare you?! Ssssssssssssssssweaty, puny humansssssssssssssssssssssss! You dare wake usssssssssssssssssssssssss? You dare prick usssssssssssssss with nassssssssssty, pointy arrowsssssssssssssss and tickle magic?!"
"Tickle Magic?!", Aura blurted out.
So she had heard it, too. And she seemed offended, that this was how the monster would describe her spell. The snake growled.
"We hate arrowssssssssssssssss! We alwaysssssssssssssssss hated arrowssssssssssssssssssssssss!"
"Sorry?", Joan tried.
The snake paused. It turned away from them, looked around. It seemed confused and agitated. Then, it turned back to them, inspecting them first with one eye, than turning its head to do so again with the other. Rearing up, hissing angrily, it continued:
"What issssssssssssss thisssssssssssssssss? What have you done to our home? Intrudersssssssssssssssssss!"
Both women groaned as the monster gave them another squeeze. Then, as breathing became harder and harder, Joan managed to press out:
"What are you talking about?! Krysta is our home!"
Just when she thought she would pass out, the snake suddenly stopped squeezing. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then ...
"Ssssssssssssssssssssay what now?!"
The change in tone confused her for a moment. The monster snake now looked at them, curious. Tasting the air twice with its huge forked tongue, it seemed to test the validity of her words.
"The air here tassssssssssstesssssssssssss funny ... Krysssssssssssssta you ssssssssssssssssay?"
It lowered its massive head almost down to eye level.
"We are curiousssssssssssssss, how do you ssssssssssssssssssay we came here?"
Joan's thoughts raced. Where to start? How to explain to a giant monster the ways of interdimensional travel and convince it they ment it no harm ... and should not be eaten!
"You came through a portal! I do not know from where! Do you know what a portal is?"
"You think ussssssssssss an imbecile?!", the snake thundered.
"I think you're scary!", Joan replied dryly. "Very, very scary!"
The serpent made a funny sound.
"Flattery will only get you sssssssssssssssssso far, pipssssssssssssssssssssssqueak!"
It did seem to loosen its grip, though, if slightly. Very slightly. Joan and Aura managed to exchange a glance and Joan attempted a smile.
"I think you have become the victim of the same dirty trick, someone keeps playing on us here! It was not my intention to insult you, truly not!"
"Forsooth!", Aura said. "We are not your enemies, mighty serpent! Nobody here wants to fight you!"
At exactly that moment a battle cry sounded somewhere to their left.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Into The Multiverse: Page 9
NEXT PAGE: Into The Multiverse: Page 11

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Quick Info:
Why yes, the snake is a character, too.

Art by
Aura Lockhaven belongs to
Joan Dackord belongs to me!

Description
STARS DANCED IN FRONT OF HER EYES when Joan and Aura knocked the backs of their heads together. It all had happened so fast. The giant serpent had fooled them with a mock charge, only to swing its tail around and wrap them into a deadly embrace. Joan had just had enough time to think to herself that a beast of this size shouldn't be able to move this fast, when she already found her arms pinned to her sides and slammed back first into her new ally, Aura Lockhaven. Both women gave off a groan when the snake tightened it's grip, squeezing them hard. Try as she might, Joan couldn't move an inch. Behind her, Aura tried to struggle free herself and failed just as much. Somewhere from a corner of her mind the information reached Joan, that snakes couldn't move like this! Couldn't move their tails in such a way! Apparently this snake had never gotten the memo. The monster snake now lowered its massive head towards them, hissing menacingly. But it made no attempt to eat them, it just glared at them ... almost as if it was taking offense at their attack. A moment later, Joan found out ... that was precisely what it was! Because from somewhere, like a rumbling thundercloud, a voice like brittle glass sounded in her mind.
"How dare you?! Ssssssssssssssssweaty, puny humansssssssssssssssssssssss! You dare wake usssssssssssssssssssssssss? You dare prick usssssssssssssss with nassssssssssty, pointy arrowsssssssssssssss and tickle magic?!"
"Tickle Magic?!", Aura blurted out.
So she had heard it, too. And she seemed offended, that this was how the monster would describe her spell. The snake growled.
"We hate arrowssssssssssssssss! We alwaysssssssssssssssss hated arrowssssssssssssssssssssssss!"
"Sorry?", Joan tried.
The snake paused. It turned away from them, looked around. It seemed confused and agitated. Then, it turned back to them, inspecting them first with one eye, than turning its head to do so again with the other. Rearing up, hissing angrily, it continued:
"What issssssssssssss thisssssssssssssssss? What have you done to our home? Intrudersssssssssssssssssss!"
Both women groaned as the monster gave them another squeeze. Then, as breathing became harder and harder, Joan managed to press out:
"What are you talking about?! Krysta is our home!"
Just when she thought she would pass out, the snake suddenly stopped squeezing. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then ...
"Ssssssssssssssssssssay what now?!"
The change in tone confused her for a moment. The monster snake now looked at them, curious. Tasting the air twice with its huge forked tongue, it seemed to test the validity of her words.
"The air here tassssssssssstesssssssssssss funny ... Krysssssssssssssta you ssssssssssssssssay?"
It lowered its massive head almost down to eye level.
"We are curiousssssssssssssss, how do you ssssssssssssssssssay we came here?"
Joan's thoughts raced. Where to start? How to explain to a giant monster the ways of interdimensional travel and convince it they ment it no harm ... and should not be eaten!
"You came through a portal! I do not know from where! Do you know what a portal is?"
"You think ussssssssssss an imbecile?!", the snake thundered.
"I think you're scary!", Joan replied dryly. "Very, very scary!"
The serpent made a funny sound.
"Flattery will only get you sssssssssssssssssso far, pipssssssssssssssssssssssqueak!"
It did seem to loosen its grip, though, if slightly. Very slightly. Joan and Aura managed to exchange a glance and Joan attempted a smile.
"I think you have become the victim of the same dirty trick, someone keeps playing on us here! It was not my intention to insult you, truly not!"
"Forsooth!", Aura said. "We are not your enemies, mighty serpent! Nobody here wants to fight you!"
At exactly that moment a battle cry sounded somewhere to their left.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Into The Multiverse: Page 9
NEXT PAGE: Into The Multiverse: Page 11

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quick Info:
Why yes, the snake is a character, too.

Art by
Aura Lockhaven belongs to
Joan Dackord belongs to me!