| 12.
Pitching Bites |
Deciding
to square off against the cobra and determined not to let it intimidate
her, Rosella looked around
for something to use as a weapon. After picking up several little stones, scrutinizing them with a wrinkled
nose, then tossing them aside unsatisfied, Rosella’s hand came upon a seemingly appropriate specimen. The
rock was about the size of her balled fist, and had a nice heavy weight to it she though with an approving
nod.
for something to use as a weapon. After picking up several little stones, scrutinizing them with a wrinkled
nose, then tossing them aside unsatisfied, Rosella’s hand came upon a seemingly appropriate specimen. The
rock was about the size of her balled fist, and had a nice heavy weight to it she though with an approving
nod.
Holding it
awkwardly above her head in one hand, she sneered at the snake that
remained coiled, passively
swaying up until this point. It appeared uncomprehending of the princess’s violent tactics ahead. With a
deep breath, Rosella pitched the heavy stone with her tiny might. The princess was not a very good athlete.
In her defense, she was a lovely young girl, graceful even in her role of royalty, but certainly not a good
athlete. She missed her mark, failing to scare the snake. She did, however, succeed in stirring the snake’s
aggressive temper. Reacting to the perceived attack, the snake came quickly uncoiled, slithering angrily
toward the immediately sorry princess.
swaying up until this point. It appeared uncomprehending of the princess’s violent tactics ahead. With a
deep breath, Rosella pitched the heavy stone with her tiny might. The princess was not a very good athlete.
In her defense, she was a lovely young girl, graceful even in her role of royalty, but certainly not a good
athlete. She missed her mark, failing to scare the snake. She did, however, succeed in stirring the snake’s
aggressive temper. Reacting to the perceived attack, the snake came quickly uncoiled, slithering angrily
toward the immediately sorry princess.
Instead of
running away, Rosella stood there frozen in place, her
knees girlishly turned inward, whimpering as she watched the cobra
come for her. Just before it was upon her, she arched back on one
foot, drawing her other leg up defensively cringing away. The strike
was quick, and felt like a tiny hot pinprick on the big toe of her raised
foot. Rosella let out a terrified squeak and then nothing at all. Her
mouth remained open wide in silence to match her terrified blue eyes.
All the critters of the swamp could see her turn a bright pink,
followed by orange, and finally a dark purple as the princess felt her
blood catch fire. Rosella’s skinny legs gave out on her, as she
slumped to her hands and knees, holding that position for as long as
her trembling arms could bear before slumping onto her stomach,
cheek pushed into the damp moss.
knees girlishly turned inward, whimpering as she watched the cobra
come for her. Just before it was upon her, she arched back on one
foot, drawing her other leg up defensively cringing away. The strike
was quick, and felt like a tiny hot pinprick on the big toe of her raised
foot. Rosella let out a terrified squeak and then nothing at all. Her
mouth remained open wide in silence to match her terrified blue eyes.
All the critters of the swamp could see her turn a bright pink,
followed by orange, and finally a dark purple as the princess felt her
blood catch fire. Rosella’s skinny legs gave out on her, as she
slumped to her hands and knees, holding that position for as long as
her trembling arms could bear before slumping onto her stomach,
cheek pushed into the damp moss.
She pulled her
knees up close to her chest, as her fingers pulled at the nylon that
covered her toes where
the poison had entered her blood. Rosella had a while to ponder her mistakes, as she died a painful death
of snake poisoning.
the poison had entered her blood. Rosella had a while to ponder her mistakes, as she died a painful death
of snake poisoning.
-The End
