And then they slithered away

Saracyn was frozen in place, almost hypnotized by the waving rattle of the venomous snake currently hissing and baring its fangs at him. He didn't know what to do, if he should move or remain still. Did he dare try to move faster and kill it first? No, that was a stupid idea. Fortunately, his words had caught his mother's attention, and she gave him a very clear and curt order—back away slowly and quietly. Maintaining eye contact with the snake the entire time, Sara slowly lowered his paw backwards and began to backpedal from the rattlesnake, moving a fraction of an inch at a time. The snake hissed again, its warning rattle continuing without end. Not once did Saracyn's eyes leave the serpent, and only once he was a few feet back from it did he dare to rise back up and breathe a heavy sigh of relief. The rattlesnake slowed its rattling, shifting its gaze from yearling to adult, then slithered off through the dry underbrush to find a new hiding spot. Sara blinked a few times, his nerves frayed and heart racing with adrenaline. "Fuck..." he muttered under his breath, trying to shake off his shock. "Should we go after it and kill it?" He glanced back to his mother, still trying to get his nerves back under control. They couldn't leave a deadly snake like that on the island, right?

"Saracyn Mendacium"