I slither through the grass, my emerald scales glistening to match the green of the leaves around me. I contort my body around the branches, the rough texture comforting against my body.
I hate hunting at night. My blood cools too rapidly for me to hunt easily, but its my only option. I'll starve if I can't find food in a few weeks. Living in this forest taxes my strength to its limits. Not exactly the lifestyle a snake hopes for, but I make do with what I got.
At least, I used to.
I slide down towards the ground.
The earth is cold, the breeze whispers its bitter embrace upon my thin, frail figure. I carefully flick out my forked tongue, feeling the air around me. There's one advantage to hunting at night. It makes it far easier to take in the heat signatures of the warm-blooded mammals.
I see it, clear as day.
The fiery colors are plain against the trees. A rabbit!
I'm careful to avoid hissing in delight. These scoundrels have a good sense of hearing. I have to be even more cautious in being slow. The slightest rustle, they'll run off. In my state, I can't slither fast enough to overtake them.
I'm not sure exactly how much meat this one has, but it doesn't matter. Anything's better than starving. My tongue feels around in my mouth, feeling the sharp points of my fangs. It's crouching down, maybe trying to get warm? Or searching for something?
Can it hear me? I pray to whatever gods I can still recall in my faded memories as I draw closer, my fangs itching to draw blood for the first time in ages. I must eat. Without food, I will die. I must seize the moment to feed whenever I can.
I approach, baring my teeth to strike.
A blur rushes past my vision. Another serpent?! I hadn't noticed it because of how cold it was. It seems to be near to my level, yet still clinging on to life. It bares its fangs, hissing violently. The rabbit jumps in fright, tumbling onto the serpent.
I shudder as it lets out a cry of terror. A sickening crack, and the rabbit is off. I stare at the rival, feeling only a pang of guilt as I open my unused mouth. The hinges of my jaw are still functioning, and I have a sufficient meal tonight.
Not what I planned, of course, but a snake's got to do what a snake's got to do.
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