The Tunnel Snake

Writers: Stasha
Date Posted: 18th December 2007

Characters: M'delon
Description: Madelon and his friends go on a hunt down the corridors for a tunnel snake.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 9 of Turn 4

The passageway was long and dark, with only the faint glows lighting the path beyond them. Only their cautious footsteps rustled down the corridor, that, and Nicalos's nervous breathing. "Shhh!" Madelon whispered over his shoulder attempting to silence his friend.

"What?" Nicalos hissed back. "I can't help it!"

"Quiet Nicalos!" Raset sided with Madelon. "They'll here you!"

Nicalos was about to protest, but Madelon heard the swift thump of Raset elbowing Nicalos to be silent. He found himself wishing that Enrad was with him. At least he knew the importance of silence when hunting tunnel snakes. He continued down the corridor until it parted three ways. He peered through the darkness, studying the location. This would work he thought to himself. He motioned with his hands for Nicalos to set up in the crook between two of the forking tunnels. Raset was to stay in the tunnel they had just come from.

"Wha-" Raset and Madelon cupped Nicalos's mouth, and emphasized the need for silence as they placed a finger over their mouths. **Quiet!** His motioned demanded of Nicalos. He was new at hunting tunnel snakes, Madelon had to remind himself, but maybe his friend should have stayed in the kitchen.

Nicalos made a rude gesture at the boys.

Madelon and Raset shook their heads as they began to focus on their task at hand. **Hook?** Madelon made a hook like shape with his finger.

Raset pulled the hooks out of the bag. They were knotted with the strong hemp of rope. Madelon made the next signal for meat, so Raset pulled out the portions that he managed to get from the kitchen. They baited only one of the three hooks and placed it in the center of the four-way corridor.
Madelon took the rope with the baited hook, while Nicalos and Raset took the clean hooks. They settled into position, Madelon hiding in a grove between corridors much like Nicalos. They hid the light of the glows.

Hunting, now Madelon enjoyed this. It took his mind away from all the stresses in his life, like the hatching. B'shen taught Madelon, when they were younger, that he had to put all his energy and thought into the hunt or else he would meet the sharp claws of the tunnel snake again. Madelon had forgotten that once during a hunt, and his torso was ripped open by the claws of a rather large tunnel snake. The injury granted him a trip to the healer, and a week of bed rest as the wounds healed. That would not happen again, he reminded himself.

Wait, Madelon concentrated. The scent of meat was floating down the corridors now, attracting the tunnel snakes that hid in them. The scratch of claws on stone began to echo down one of the corridors. It was a large one, Madelon guessed from the heavier tones that the tunnel snake made, and it was coming up the corridor that rested between him and Nicalos. They sat there patiently waiting. Madelon felt his own breathing quickening, but he did not dare to allow any sound to escape him. His heart was pounding so loud that he could hear it, and was afraid the approaching tunnel snake could hear it too. **Calm down** he reminded himself.

The large tunnel snake scuttled past them diving at the meat from the corridor. A hiss escaped the creature before he bit into the tender morsel. Once Madelon felt the pull on his rope he cried out "Now!" His arms tensed as he yanked the rope, attempting to have the hook catch the inside of the tunnel snakes mouth. It worked!

The snake hissed as the glows were uncovered revealing its giant mass.
It was as big as he was, Madelon thought, while the adrenaline of excitement began to rush through him. What a beast! And he was a fighter too!

"By the egg!" Nicalos screamed in fear.

The lights confused the snake at first, but he quickly saw Madelon and began to rush him.

"Nicalos!" Raset attempted to snap the fear out of the candidate. Raset swung the hook over his head before tossing it at the snake. He pulled hard at his rope, the hook sinking deep into the beast's flesh stopping the beast's charge towards his friend. It dug into the tunnel snake's hip joint tearing a second protesting hiss from it.

The tunnel snake made a second attempt to move towards Madelon swinging one of its sharp claws at him, but Raset's hold prevented the creature from moving anywhere.

It had some spirit! Madelon thought as the creature hissed more in anger than with fear. Another claw swung out dangerously close to him. The tunnel snake tore its focus from Madelon to Raset, but they both pulled hard on the rope preventing it from attacking either one of them.

"Nicalos!" The two boys called out to their friend.

Nicalos finally reacted. He pulled out his own hook, throwing it at the tunnel snake and hooked him mid torso.

The hit made the creature attempt a roll, but the hooks fought his demands. He hissed, his claws and tail flying around wildly, his torso twisting, his eyes flashing in dangerous shades of red. He made it clear he would not go without a fight.

Nicalos ran towards Raset, taking the smaller boy's rope. Nicalos was strong enough to hold onto both ropes while Raset rushed back to the pack that they brought and pulled out the long spear for the final blow.

"Careful Raset!" Madelon cautioned his friend.

Claws swung out to the small boy, but he was able to avoid the creature. He aimed the spear before he jabbed it deep into the tunnel snake's chest.

The creature gave them one more fight as the blood began to drain from its fatal wound. Madelon and Nicalos held onto the ropes as the snake attempted another roll. It hissed out, its tones more desperate now as it attempted to wriggle free. Raset pulled the spear out from the snakes chest, increasing the flow of blood now. It was not long before the tunnel snake became exhausted and weak. Its struggles became more pathetic, while its body began to rest on the floor. It was almost over.

"Raset," Madelon motioned for his friend to give the creature the final blow.

As Madelon watched Raset walk towards the tunnel snake, he found pity in his heart for the creature. He knew it was nothing more than a pest, but watching it fight, he knew it was so much more than that. In its last moments, Madelon found his respect for the creature. He fought well today, Madelon thought.

Raset took his spear and thrust it through the base of the tunnel snake's neck. It was quick and painless for the creature, its body becoming immediately limp.

The boys' breathing was heavy with exhaustion.

"Let's get it back to the kitchen," Madelon motioned as he caught his breath.

They agreed. As they dragged the beast back to the main weyr they remained silent. Madelon new that their silence was not because they had nothing to say. There was a lot to say and brag about from the hunt. In reality their silence was meant for something deeper that had just happened. It was a silence of respect for the great beast they just fought, and for the valiant battle it gave them.

Last updated on the December 23rd 2007

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The Tunnel Snake