Snakes On A Plain

Dagrún bounded across the Range looking for something to do. It was a lovely fall day. The sky was blue with puffy streaks of white clouds running through a beautiful blue sky. It was unseasonably warm and there was a light breeze with just a hint of coolness so as to be refreshing when it struck one's face. She'd separated from her siblings after finishing lessons and her first though was to find some more sticks to make spears out of. She'd gotten it in her head that it would be really cool if they had a bunch of spears surrounding the den site. Or maybe she could put them in a pit and see if she could scare a deer or something to run into. Of course, she hadn't quite figured out how they would get the deer out of the pit but she was sure her mom and dad could figure it out if she managed to pull it off.

Sperla flew above her as she wandered and meandered. She just couldn't quite decide where to place her attention. She'd got done training and she didn't feel like doing more of that. As she rounded the barn she spied a pile of leaves drifted against the north face of the barn, likely blown there by he north wind that had gone barreling through days earlier. Well, what better way to spend a beautiful fall day then jumping in the leaves? With a joyous cry Dagrún hurtled toward the pile of leaves and leapt right in. The leaves crunched delightfully under her small frame and she laughed as some were pushed into the air. She bounded through the leaf pile then raced back across. Sperla settled on the barn and started to preen. She wasn't really the sort to frolic and considered this more of a pup's activity.

Soon, Dagrún started digging. She wanted to see how far the leaf pile went. Everything was going smoothly until she saw something move. Dag yelled and stumbled away from the leaf pile. Sperla quickly flew down to see what was the matter and if there was some threat that needed dealing with. While it was true that Sperla was small and not much of a threat against larger predators she could deal significant damage when she wanted to. Eyes and tender noses weren't safe from her sharp talons. However, she needn't have worried about some large beast snoozing under the barnyard leaf pile. It was only a bull snake. A very big and very grumpy bull snake.

Dagrún cautiously walked back over to the leaf pile with her fur standing on end. The snake coiled and hissed, doing its best to look threatening. Dag wrinkled her nose. "I wonder what a snake was doing in my leaf pile." She reached out with a paw to poke at the reptile, claws extended. The snake immediately tried to bite her and only a quick hop backwards saved her from being eaten. She didn't realize it but with her digging she'd covered its hibernation den and stirring the leaves spread away some of the last bits of summer warmth the snake had been enjoying. It looked like it wanted to fight and that was fine with Dagrún.

While she pondered the serpent, Sperla flew down and landed next to the pup. "It was probably warming up so it could do more hunting before it hibernates." Dagrún cocked her head at the bird. "Some animals are able to sleep through winter, its called hibernation." The kestrel kept her answer short and simple for now, not wishing to bog the child down with more information than she was ready for.

Suddenly, the snake lunged out and Dagrún yelled, just scrambling out of the way just in time. She faced the snake, fur standing on end and her ears pinned to her head. "Meanie!" She barked at the snake. It didn't have to try and bite her she was just playing and as she watched the creepy thing she decided maybe she ought to try and catch it. It would be interesting to show her siblings if she could figure out a way. Dagrún circled the snake, watching as it followed her every movement. She darted forward and nipped at the tail but was immediately forced to let go as the snake struck out at her. She didn't want to get bitten by the grumpy thing. It occurred to her that some snakes were poisonous. She'd heard about them in her mother's stories and she hesitated. Was this one of the snakes that could poison you? Probably not. She felt that if it was that dangerous than Sperla would tell her instead of letting her attack it.

Dag bounded forward again, her claws lashing out at the snake. She clipped its side and it stared to slither away. Hey! It couldn't decide to run now. She pounced on the snakes tail and it whipped around and dove for her. She slipped to he side and got away. Well she thought she had anyway. She yelped loudly as the snake bit onto her tail. She immediately curled in, her jaws latching onto the upper half of the snake. Her front claws dug into the serpent's body while her hind legs raked at it. The serpent twisted and twined itself around the pup and she shook her head violently. Blood went flying everywhere and still she shook her head. It just wouldn't stop moving!

"Dag! Dag, it's dead, let it go." Dagrún heard her kestrel's yell but she just wasn't quite sure. Eventually she heeded the bird and released the snake. She bounded away, whimpering at the pain in her tail. Despite being dead the snake's body still twisted and writhed. She shuddered. "Ew, that is really gross." She stared at it for a moment longer before debating if she could surprise anyone with it. She didn't really want to carry it in her mouth while it was still twitching so she asked Sperla to carry it for her. It wasn't easy for the little bird but she managed, half flying, half dragging the serpent's body along as Dagrún sought for someone's den to put it in.