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Post by Xentus on Aug 28, 2023 22:32:25 GMT -6
Adopting:
Void Salaves (Regrowthed) - 10 Posts
> Xentus, accompanied by...
Young were best raised with a friend. A companion, a friend. While Haru would ideally be like an older brother to the young Primeria, the leopard had the feeling there was no real kinship from him to her aside from the fact they were both his wards. He didn't want to force a relationship that wasn't there. Then there was the idea that Prim could befriend one of the many animals of his menagerie.. Yet many of the beasts were either far too dangerous for a tiny harachiu to play with or too attached to the leopard. So it was decided a new friend was to be made. One that Prim chose for herself.
The APAA hosted a variety of animals looking for their forever homes. Some were rather dangerous, like an entire pliathor, which was entirely out of the question even if the harachiu somehow found herself in favor of it. Others were rather docile, like vulticus.. A find choice, but not one the child was drawn to. No, her choice was a snake.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 28, 2023 22:38:56 GMT -6
The salaves had black scales just as she had black skin. And though her wings were yet to grow, he knew they would be purple like the serpent's patterns and eyes. A somewhat interesting match, he thought. And from what he knew of this breed, it would eventually grow intelligent enough to speak just as the harachiu could. The concept was one he could agree with, aside from the part where this was a snake that would reach several times the size of the fae once fully grown. The thought of the serpent turning on her was a nerve-wracking one.. But, it was young just as she. And if they grew up together, they'd certainly become close.
The child reached toward the snake with a chubby arm poking out from between the man's fingers. The fact she seemed fond of the thing already was something he couldn't overlook.
"Alright Primeria. No grabbing, just look, yes?", the man muttered gently to his hand.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 30, 2023 12:46:56 GMT -6
Tiny fingers reached and grabbed at the air, ignoring the man's rules entirely. A gentle claw pushed the offending arm back between the gap and the whole affair was brought closer to the salaves. Compared to Xentus, the serpent was quite small, though compared to the young Primeria, it was a monster that could certainly swallow her in a single bite if it so desired. The snake reared up and spread its webbed arms, trying to make itself look bigger and scary to the strangers that approached it. Xentus grimaced and retreated. He wasn't expecting for it to be friendly or curious, but the defensive posture wasn't a good sign. A whimper sounded from his palm - he might've also grasped the tiny fae a little too tightly within his hands to protect her.
"Apologies, Prim", the man hushed, loosening his grip. The harachiu wasn't crushed, though her hair was ruffled and poking up here and there.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 30, 2023 13:05:42 GMT -6
Let's look from a safe distance, yes? It seems the snake would appreciate the space[/b]", he told the child gently and scooted away. His palm opened flat so Primeria could see the nursery room in its entirety. It was a pale blue shade with rainbow and cloud decals. Littered on the floor were some toys suited for creatures, along with a couple of hides and food bowls. A fairly inoffensive environment for meeting a young animal for the first time. Xentus was fairly anxious to interact with the salaves, but it seemed it needed more time to get accustomed to their company. He decided let the harachiu crawl onto his lap as he sat cross legged on the floor. " There. A little easier to see now", he murmured to Primeria. The young fae nestled herself in a fold in the man's pants, keeping her eyes on the serpent as much as she could. There almost seemed to be a sparkle in them.. 4
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Post by Xentus on Aug 30, 2023 14:17:33 GMT -6
Clearly she was enamored with the snake for some reason. Xentus couldn't quite figure it out, but as long as she was happy, he was. The salaves, on the other hand, was not so keen on making friends. It kept its sights moving, flicking about the room now that the man backed off. It was brought here from the safety of its dark hide, thrust into brightness and strangers. Its posture relaxed slightly once it had been given some time and space. The serpent's eyes eventually fell back onto the man, then to the small child in his lap. Their eyes locked.
Primeria seemed entirely enamored by the salaves, her pupils wide as if in awe. The serpent's gaze no longer strayed. It relaxed its limbs further and raised itself as much as it could with what little body length it had. Xentus, watching this interaction thought one of two things.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 30, 2023 14:29:42 GMT -6
Either this was love at first sight, or the salaves saw a potential meal. While he hoped dearly for the former, the man wasn't too well learned on salaves and their behaviors.. Any mammal would be far easier to read. Reptiles had different body language to be read from their posture and sights. Snakes were in another league of their own when it came to reading them and figuring out their intent, aside from hissing, rearing up, and striking. He knew not of how to tell apart a happy snake from an excited one, to a hungry one.
Primeria clambered forward on the man's leg, crawling up a wrinkle in the fabric to get a slightly closer look. The serpent was interested in her from the looks of it and too slithered toward them. Xentus was rather apprehensive, fearing it might truly be acting out of hunger. He watched intently, supervising the both of them and ready to intervene should danger show.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 30, 2023 14:34:31 GMT -6
The question that danced in his mind was whether or not he was faster than a young serpent striking... While he liked to think he could rely on his feline reflexes, he wasn't entirely confident. The blink of an eye was all it took for a snake to strike. The impact of a bite alone would be far more than enough to kill young Primeria, given her delicate nature. His resolve: a guarding hand between the two, with enough space between the fingers to let vision pass through. And maybe a chubby harachiu arm.
Primeria whimpered slightly with the protective gate now between her and the snake. Her arms proceed to push at the finger gaps, trying to widen the space as much as possible. Xentus reluctantly relented. And the snake slithered slowly closer. Its eyes remained locked on the harachiu, wide and watching. It hardly paid the mammalian any mind.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 30, 2023 15:07:48 GMT -6
It bumped up against his leg and slithered along, before it began clawing its way up the silk fabric. Its scales alone got no traction. Xentus did his best to remain as still as possible, and wondered whether or not the serpent was venomous only now. His innate knowledge of animals failed him. All he could recall was that it was a talking serpent of shadows. Still, not something to take lightly.
The snake's legs gripped him well, letting it climb onto his lap with ease. Here, it slowly crawled toward his hand barrier, eyes still locked onto the harachiu behind it. The child babbled cutely, still reaching for the shimmering black scales that drew ever closer. A forked tongue flicked out from its mouth and tasted the air mere inches away. If the mammalian had to guess (and he dearly hoped he guessed correctly), it was curious about the fae in return.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 30, 2023 15:20:12 GMT -6
It wasn't coiled and ready to strike. It was rather relaxed, especially compared to minutes earlier when it flared up out of defense. The flicking tongue took in the child's scent, seeming to try to analyze it before slithering right up against the man's hand. It pushed against the digits, nosing at the openings, crawling along them.. Try as it might to get around the barrier, Xentus was far too protective to allow it. With the snake as close as it could be, Primeria babbled with delight. Her fat little arms reached and touched the sleek scales, patting at them with the softest little smacks. Xentus might have been imagining things, but he thought it was even leaning into her touch. Maybe that was what he simply wanted to see. That his thought these two formed an instant bond over this meeting. That they would truly be able to grow up with each other as friends.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 30, 2023 15:28:07 GMT -6
"Xentus thinks the snake likes you, Prim", the leopard said gently to the young fae. She quickly babbled back, "Sss... Snake!" A delighted hum sounded from the mans throat, impressed that of all the words he'd said to her, snake was the one she repeated. The affection the harachiu had for the serpent was clear. On the salaves' side of things, it was deemed curious by the man. It eventually stopped trying to gain direct access to the fae and instead settled against the leopard's hand, letting the child pet its scales as she wished. The sight settled it. He'd raise the two together. And he'd need to think of a name for the serpent. And figure out exactly how one cares for a snake, and how to read their mood. There would be a lot of learning ahead of them, but it would be well worth Primeria's happiness. Whatever it was she wished.
10 - Done
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