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You’d remembered being quite excited when you pulled up to that quaint little cottage nestled deep in the woods. It was a late birthday present from a dear family acquaintance, who said he had no need for it and wanted you to have it. It was a modest yet pretty thing, lovingly crafted white and light pink wood, antique floral furniture and complete with a garden in the backyard.
Your acquaintance informed you that it belonged to his late mother and he wanted no part in keeping it. You gladly obliged since it’d be a good escape from your life. Tucked away deep in nature, with only the noises of birds and trees swaying in the wind to comfort you.
Things had been rather stressful for you in the past few months unfortunately. Your job always managed to have you teetering on the edge of loudly sobbing, your partner ghosting you and only coming back when things got too boring for them. You figured that it’d be a lovely form of escapism, it would only be just you.
The weird, ominous noises started after a week. So far the adaptation was running smoothly, granted you spent the first few days dusting and doing minor maintenance but other than that it was heavenly. Nobody bothered you with stupid questions or nagging, the locals in the nearest town were so welcoming and polite.
You definitely had the most fun with the garden, usually by experimenting with the pomegranate, apples and cherries that grew there. Flower pressing was a relaxing endeavor too, granted it was a bit tedious but you preferred that to typing till your fingers wanted to fall off.
But then that sense of peace was cracked, not destroyed but challenged. It was three in the morning, you were dozing off in your bed. Sheltered with thick blankets and quilts, a loving breeze drifting into the room through the window. Then you heard it. A soft, eerie whisper that wanted to say something yet it was muffled.
You were baffled, wearily sitting up. At first you were only left with the faint noise of the wind chimes and blankets shuffling. Then you heard it again, a faint, melancholy noise that sounded like a person making a mumbled sound. It didn’t set off any alarm bells, in fact the second you heard it again it was like time slowed. Your joints relaxed, all previous memories seemed to slow and melt together.
You snapped out of it, looking over at your phone to read “3:05 am” on the screen. You blinked almost dumbly, it only felt like nothing had changed to you. You figured that you merely drifted off to sleep before snapping awake. You wrote off the incident.
A month of nothing but pure bliss and relaxation had passed. You were absolutely thrilled with how your life was changing for the better! Although you couldn’t help but wonder if the local wildlife had a more friendly relationship with humans than your acquaintance had let on. He assured you that animals rarely came around unless it was something like a harmless gardener snake or the birds who sang their morning songs.
So why the hell were you receiving random objects? At first it was stuff like fruit and herbs, smooshed wild berries, clumps of rosemary and sage, stuff like that. At first you assumed that it was a bird dropping their nesting materials. But then stuff like apples, crudely made flower crowns or even the occasional dead rodent was neatly placed on the welcome mat.
You had half the mind to leave or at least ask the locals if they had a hermit living here or something. So you did, striking up a conversation with a woman who was a close friend of the woman who used to own the home.
She assured you that it was probably some animal having the misfortune of dropping their stuff on your doorstep accidentally. For your own sake you agreed. What you neglected to mention was that the dead animals were killed not by mauling but by strangulation. All their bones were broken, shattered while two neat puncture wounds were adorned on their neck.
One night your partner called you, the conversation quickly derailed into something distressing. You were doing so good too, you knew better than to answer but you just wanted to share your achievements with them. Maybe even invite them over so you could share but of course it had to turn into something awful.
You wept silently in the garden, trying desperately to self soothe yet it kept getting worse with every thought that came in your mind. Then something strange happened, that odd humming noise returned albeit faint.
It was feminine, tainted with its own rough edge instead of the standard softness you expected. It was adjacent to a hiss that slowly fizzled to a whistle. It hesitated at first before getting audible when you hiccuped and began to weep. You felt very warm in that moment when it got louder, like it just bolted through your veins and blood. You sank softly into the porch swing, head laid back on the comforting pillows as the noise persisted. Then it ceased when the last tear dried on your cheek.
You snapped back to reality with a jolt and breathy gasp of confusion. Your eyes wandered to the sky, greeted with the orange hues of dusk. You smacked your dry lips, rubbing your eyes before walking back into your home. You were terrified yet comforted? It was weird.
The next few weeks passed without incident, yet you felt weirdly lonely. You couldn’t understand why, just a month ago you were basking in your solitude but now… now you feel more alone than ever. It was so confusing, what did you truly want? After you let go of your toxic relationship, you figured that explanation was plausible. But an instinctive urge to find someone settled in your bones. Not find just any person but a specific one, you didn’t know who. All your mind told you was that it couldn’t be just a stranger.
It was the last day before summer. You were in your living room, buried deep in your book as the clock ticked. It was 12 AM, nothing was wrong.
And then you heard it. It wasn’t aggressive or predatory, but welcoming and oozing with a deep sense of yearning. The type of yearning that had people on their knees and weeping, pleading. It excites you deep down.
‘Drift.’ That’s all it was to you. And that’s all it took. Robotically you stood up, neatly setting down your book on the couch as you properly put on your robe and slowly slipped your slippers on your feet. You walked casually to your door, shutting it closed before heading off into the almost welcoming maw of the forests.
It was notable for being absolutely massive, spanning acres. You’d always meant to go for a nature walk there using the trails at some point. Leaves crunched underneath your feet, the breeze providing a soothing solace that kept you grounded. Then you walked off the path, strolling with that sense of knowledge of knowing where you needed to go.
You were in a clearing now. Surrounded by beautiful pink flowers and accompanied by rushing waters from a nearby stream. Your eyes were glossy, spaced out. Irises expanded as expectation swelled in your heart. Then you heard it, a complete sentence.
“I’m so excited to meet you!” There she was, perched high up in a tree. She wasn’t anything like you had seen before, not human but not completely animalistic. Yet she was so beautiful. You got closer to her, which she smiled at.
She was a lanky creature, completely nude. Wild cerise colored hair adorned with stray flower petals, black tear tracks that marred her face and manic yet kind eyes gazing upon you sweetly.
The most noticeable part was her body, which was serpentine. It was beautiful, rich and vibrant pinks and black popped out from the lush green leaves of the tree. They looked so comforting to your hazy mind.
This beautiful being seemed to be on cloud nine when she saw you had no reaction to her form. She got closer, with you closing the gap between you both. “I’m so glad you’re here, doll.” She welcomed you with a loving peck on the forehead, getting you to practically melt.
Her warm palms held your cheeks, clawed thumbs rubbing against your face as she looked over every crevice of your appearance. Her eyes sparkled, a large, almost comical grin spreading across her face. A low purr rumbled in her throat as she nuzzled your face. You were reciprocal, shutting your eyes and murmuring softly.
“I didn’t know what I was expectin’ when I saw ya come ‘ere but my stars am I glad that I scoped ya out when I did!” She enthusiastically told you, pulling you into an embrace. “My name is Spinel, what’s yours toots?” She introduced herself. You swished around her name in your head, lips parting to repeat it back.
“Spin… Spinel?” You drawled her name, more specifically the L. Spinel giggled with amusement, her voice a hearty cackle as she nodded eagerly.
“Mhm! Spinel, not too much on the L though sweetpea.” She tenderly corrected. You smiled, nodding sluggishly. Spinel beamed at your expression. “Did ‘cha get my gifts? I noticed that ya only had two legs and I can’t have my mate starving to death can I?” You would be confused if you were internally adoring her care for you.
You nodded stiffly, giving her a sweet kiss of gratitude. It was proper mating etiquette after all, you’d be a fool if you didn’t tell her that you were grateful. Spinel blushed a deep fuchsia, a loving noise leaving her.
“Oh I’m so glad I chose ya as my mate, we’re gonna have so much fun togetha’. I’ll treat ya way better than that biff who was yelling at cha on that rectangular watchamacallit.” Spinel promised. Her long, thick tail slid off the spiraling branches before a section of it gently pulled you in closer. Her face went firm, almost offended on your behalf. Naga were naturally protective of both their nesting territories and their mates.
If your partner showed up in the flesh then Spinel would’ve probably sparred with them to showcase herself as the better option for your heart. Even if Spinel would’ve made melted flesh out of their being and used their bones as home decor. “Pft, who did they think they were? Treatin’ my pretty doll like trash, ooh the nerve.” She growled quietly, unknowingly digging her claws into your flesh. You whined, getting her to back off.
“Oh! My bad suga’, these grabbers aren’t exactly the gentlest after all this time.” She apologized, you merely got closer. Your hands gently took her own, even going as far as to place her clawed hand on your cheek.
‘Mate wouldn’t hurt me, she loves me.’ The soothing mantra echoed in your head. Every concern and fear was wished away with every breath you took. “S’okay.” You slurred, voice cracking slightly. The tail rubbed against the side of your body as you blinked tiredly.
Spinel softened her facial features, relieved. “You’re so sweet to a mean ol’ thing like myself.” She remarked, smelling the crook of your neck before pulling away. The primal urge to scent you coursed through her scales, how else would people know that you were no longer single? Better yet, some useless broad might get dibs upon your poor soul!
“Enough of me bumpin’ my gums! We need to get this ritual on the road like now!” She announced, you couldn’t help but agree.
‘Oh please claim me, I need you.’ Your hazy mind begged. Spinel eagerly took you into her arms, her bare breasts pressed against your body as she peppered your face, neck and head with obsessive kisses.
“Mwah, mwah, mwah. C’mon darlin’, return the favor. Can’t let anyone else think that I’m up for grabs either.” She ordered. You opted for weak little nuzzles, rubbing against her upper body like a housecat eager for affection. Spinel looked over your face, cheeks coated in a faint blush that gave off the assumption you were tipsy.
Tipsy off Spinel’s love that is. ‘Heheh, if this is what ya look like off a few smooches then you’ll be a riot when we’re pitching woo.’ She thought. You sighed wishfully, moaning quietly when Spinel captured your lips in a more passionate kiss. “I wanna know how you feel when you’re all wrapped up in me.” Spinel declared.
“Ya always looked so comfy with your lil blankets and I wanna make ya feel better.” She admitted. You nodded, flattered by her cute admission. Spinel was such a sweetie, even more so than any of your partners. “Up we go now, baby-doll.” She said gently, wrapping a cool around your waist and hoisting you in the weeping willow tree.
Safe from any prying eyes and inferior mating options. Spinel smugly smirked to herself, look at her now! Going from a sad, naive lil worm to getting a pretty mate! And to think those fools tried to be rid of her, ha! You turned your attention back to Spinel, murmuring something softly.
“Sleepy…” Was all you uttered, rubbing your eyes. You had half the mind to wander to your bed before being reminded there was no bed in sight. Naturally your reprogrammed mind looked to Spinel for guidance. In naga culture and standards, it was only natural for you to look towards the dominant one in the relationship.
Spinel gently unwrapped her tail from your waist, leaving you to sit and minorly sway on a sturdy, thick branch. “Let’s see ‘ere.” Spinel knew that humans had a natural fear of serpentine tails since they jumped to the conclusion of murder. She took advantage of that fact when she was taking care of unfinished business but she didn’t wanna scare you. It made her sick!
Spinel propped up your face with her finger, looking you over. You looked like you ate an ungodly amount of fermented fruit, your eyes glazed over. “My stars I didn’t even know my voice would even do this much to ya.” She murmured. At least now she had an easy way to call you back if you tried to leave her. ‘Hopefully you don’t get too silly from this.’ She hoped.
Spinel pulled away before gently brushing your hair from your face before smiling warmly which got you to relax.
“Alright now, I’m gonna make ya feel good but first I’m gonna need ya to be calm.” She stated firmly. You nodded slowly, your chest rising and slowly falling. ‘Calm, calm for mate.’ Your mind repeated. Spinel nodded, slowly pulling away before letting her long tail wrap around you.
The sensation was a strange one. Spinel’s scales were soft, the strong muscles adding a sense of security. Your arms were trapped to your sides, your robe and nightgown peaking through the thick loops as Spinel observed your body language like a hawk. You enjoyed it quite a bit actually, even making you feel special.
This mythical, all powerful beast who could easily tear your throat open and shatter your bones was instead choosing to protect and love you. While the others couldn’t even bother to use their voice to tell you that they loved you. Spinel’s scent provided a nice soothing feeling to it as well, faint wild berries and wilted flowers.
Once you were completely bundled up in the thick, loving coils, Spinel slithered towards you and gave you a soft kiss on the cheek. “My pretty mate, you’re my pretty mate.”
You were so glad you listened to her voice.