“So,” Jaison said as he sat propped up in the bed. Kalani was pouring what looked to be a native tea into some clay cups, her tail meanwhile was preparing a new set of cloth bandages for Jaison's injuries.

“After I helped you, you went back to your village and learned to be a healer.” She looked over her shoulder to him and smiled.

“You inspired me to become one. I saw how you helped me even though we were complete strangers, it made me so incredibly happy to know that there are some good humans” She said as she turned back to place the cups of tea on a tray. Jasion looked down solemnly.

“Sorry about what happened to your village. It was our fault that you know…” A dismal mood swept over the room.

What had happened to Kalani’s village was devastating what we would consider being a war crime. When the amazons found out that Lamias were trading information with humans in exchange for medicine and clothes they had ransacked her village slaughtering everyone in the name of their bloody goddess. Kalani Had taken four of the youngest Lamias into the jungle to hide, Luckily the amazons had their fill of blood from just slaughtering their village and didn’t bother to come and look for them. Jaison Couldn't help but blame himself, even though he wasn't in charge of the army, and even though he wasn't the one to trade with them, he was still part of that army, and the fact that he couldn't save anyone slowly eating him up from the inside out. What made it worse was the fact that he knew there were injured Amazonians that were left behind in the camp, and despite him wanting to escape from them which in a way he had successfully done he still wanted to be able to go back and help them.

Kalani slivered over to his side placed the cup of tea too his dry cracked lips.

“do not worry about what happened to my village, it wasn't your fault there's nothing you could have done. And until you're fit enough to walk, I will keep you here I will nurse you back to health as you did to me.” he laughed slightly to himself as she said this, for whatever reason reminded him when they first met.

He could remember the day clearly rain mercilessly pound it down on the earth as the temperature of the air grew Tor deathly chill. Jaison was going for a walk through the woods to collect some medical herbs when he stumbled across the almost lifeless body of a Lamia. He learns in school that Lamias went into hibernation around this time of year, and to come across one was extremely dangerous as they may he's starving for food and lash out. But despite the dangers for whatever reason that day he approached her, peeled off his water overlay that was keeping his upper body dry, and placed it over her. He then returned to his camp and snuck out some extra blankets for “gathering food reasons”, it was a stupid excuse but Luckily the guards couldn't care less.

He snuck the blankets back to the injured girl and stayed the night to keep her warm. When she awoke the next morning, she was understandably startled to see this rare creature called a human gently rubbing her back with one hand simultaneously preparing a hot meal with the other. Her body was weak from lack of heat, but the smell of the cooking meal was enough to jolt her awake from her slumber. She was a bit hesitant for us towards her mysterious saviour, but the smell of delicious food soon overcame her she soon started to scoff up the food. After about a week of him coming back cooking meals, teaching her some English (even going as far as to gift her a dictionary), and every now and then spending the night to keep her warm, she was finally back in fighting shape and once their goodbyes were said she set off for her home. Who would have guessed that she will now be the one taking care of him? He's not out of his reminiscence though as he could feel the end of his tongue burning on tea causing him to recoil slightly.

“Sorry,” She said as she pulled the cup away and started to give it a few blows.

“Also sorry for the girls earlier. They haven’t seen a human before, all they had heard was that your bodies can give our tails great massages.” They sat there for a while in silence, sipping their tea and awkwardly glancing at one another every few minutes. Kalani’s ears pricked up, a sign of her having an idea.

“What have you done in the time I left you.” Jasion laughed slightly, wondering whether to tell her the hall truth. After all, who would believe that he was captured by a cannibalistic warrior princess, who just happened to be a person he had saved 3 years before when he tried to escape the camp, he was in was attacked by a dragon, and he was then saved and now was being cared for by a random Lamia he had saved as well around the same time he saved Pelana.

“Fuck, where do I start,” He said as he recounted the entire story, smiling every now and then at her cute, surprised expressions. Once his tail was finished Kalani fell back onto the bed, dumbfounded at how he was still alive and breathing after everything that had happened. He couldn’t even blame her, he himself didn’t understand how he could be so unlucky and lucky at the same time.

“Those dumb amazons, they are all just savages who don’t deserve your skill,” Kalani said as she sat up off the bed. Jasion couldn’t help but find it funny that a low-level medic like himself was being praised so highly. They sat and talked for a while longer. As they talked Jasion noticed 4 pairs of eyes peeking around the doorway at him.

“So, who are those lot,” He said beaming a smile towards the 4 girls. The girl who had been sleeping on him earlier, he thought he heard her name to be Ulana, popped around the corner and hissed at him. Kalani angrily yelled something at her before using her tail to smack her on the head.

“Sorry about them, they are little mischievous brats towards strangers, but they will be more friendly over time.” The four girls slivered into the room and to the end of the bed.

“Jasion, the girls, girls Jaison” she introduced them.

“Jasion? That doesn’t look like what a pale redhead would be called?” One of the girls said. Kalani was about to deliver some punishment but Jaison quickly calmed her.

“When I was young, I saw it on the side of a foreign boat. At the time I didn’t have a name, liked the sound of that one so I decided that Jaison would become my name. I think it means something like a healer. SO, I think it suits me well” despite his explanation Kalani gave each of the girls a slap on the head.

“Sorry Mr. Human,” They said in unison. Kalani patted them on the head with the tip of the tale, before speaking.

“Is it alright that they ask you a few questions?” Kalani asked. Jaison didn’t really want to talk anymore, and would rather sleep and regain his strength, but the pleading eyes of the young girls pulled on his heartstrings. He nodded reluctantly and Kalani organised the girls to ask one question at a time. A Lamia with short green hair and dark scales as well as soft-looking skin was the first to speak.

“Is it true that humans only have one stomach?” She asked, her eyes ablaze with curiosity. Jaison smiled to himself, he only just realised that he wasn’t talking to a human.

“Yes, we also only have one heart.” The next few questions the girls asked were about the human body and how it functioned. The hardest part of this was him having to explain what a dick was. What made it even more awkward than it already was where the fact that despite them probably being around 30 years old and having the physical maturity of a 30-year-old, they all seemed to have the minds of a 16- or 17-year-old. Jasion cringed at what a terrible person he had to be to have to explain what a dick is to a 17-year-old that looked to be in their 30s.

“How do your kind detect animals or enemies? You have no tail to feel their vibrations in the ground with and your ears are really small so you probably can’t hear all that well and…” Jasion quickly cut her off before she could say any more. He felt as if she were just going to be listing of, he can’t do and that would just make him forget the question she originally asked.

“We don’t have to hunt for food, and we have long-range weapons called guns to kill our enemies before they can even reach us. Thus, why we don’t need big ears or tails.” He spoke. The girl’s eyes all widened with amazement. The questions carried on for another 3 hours or so. Kalani could tell that Jasion was quickly getting tired and made an excuse for the girls to all go and get dinner ready.

Jasion turned and looked towards Kalani as she watched the girls happily sliver away off into the cave. Her expression was one of pride, like that of a mother that was watching her children slowly take their first steps. Jaison couldn’t help but smile fondly along with her.

“They are good girls. You should be proud. I don’t know many human women at your age that would be able to survive their village getting burned down as well as taking in 4 young, orphaned girls.” Jaison set placing a congratulating hand answer her shoulder, she blushed slightly in turn to him slightly panicked, but her expression soon turned to one of thanks as she moved to sit in front of him.

“What will you do once you can walk?” She asked. Jasion thought for a second turning his eyes to the ceiling.

“Probably try to make my way back to my camp and join up with the rest of the army, and from there on I will try my best to look after the soldiers there. If you like….” He said, not sure if what he was going to say next would offend her. Kalani leaned closer, her ears pricking up slightly.

“Would you like to come back to the camp with me? We could keep you and the girls safe and warm until we find another Lamia village for you all to live in.” She looked down and thought about his words, a look of sadness in her eyes.

“Sorry, I would love to, but I don’t think I can bring myself to risk the girls being captured by Amazons let alone being killed by a dragon.” She looked back towards Jasion and gave a forced gentle smile.

“But I will help you as much as I can before we go, I can even train you to kill Amazons” He gulped and shook his at hearing the word kill leave her lips.

“I haven’t ever killed anything before, not even a bug. And I couldn’t bring myself to hurt an Amazon.” She sneered slightly.

“Amazons don’t deserve to live. And if you don’t know how to kill, I doubt you know how to hunt right?” He nodded shamefully; he had been made fun of in the army for his overly kind demeanour. The soldiers at the camp would often bully him into making pastries for them and being the overly soft and kind person, he was he gave in quickly to their demands, not wanting to disappoint any of them.

“No sorry… But don’t get me wrong I can run away well when I want to, so I won’t have to fight if they can’t catch me.” She leaned forward seductively pressing her chest against him.

“Ww…...W…W” He stumbled just to be cut off by a loud thud sounded out as she recoiled and smacked him on the head.

“Listen, idiot, you will not leave my care until I have taught you how to hunt, and to at least defend yourself,” She said sitting back smugly, her arms crossed across her chest.

“But aren’t Lamia not good at fighting?” Kalani narrowed her eyes at him and before Jaison could react another thud sounded out as she bumped him off the head with her fist.

“Well done you have been demoted from human to idiot and now idiot to big idiot,” She said raising her hand to hit him again.

“FINE, fine okay I will do what you say. Hitting a physically broken man like me… Meany…” He murmured to her.

“What was that you little shit?” She asked raising her and higher.

“NOTHING” he yelled and with that, his Jaison was now the apprentice of a Lamia, a Lamia that was going to teach him to survive.

Back up on the hill, the Amazonians were doing their best to regain their losses. The dragon was lucky slain by Pelana before any serious damage could be done but there were around 20 dead and 50 with serious burns on their chest, legs, and or arms. Tanua had her hands full with treating the injured, Jenkari was taking what warriors could fight and were trying their best to dispose of the dragon’s body before it rots away and causes a disease to spear through the warriors. Then there was Pelana, she mostly sat by the edge of the hill, staring down into the abyss trying her best to think of ways to get down there and save her precious pet. Tanua had just finished healing one of the wounded warriors when she saw her princess.

“I have never seen her like this. I don’t even think I have seen her upset.” The warrior Tanua was treating said gloomily. Tanua couldn’t disagree, despite being her childhood friend this was the first time she had ever seen this upset. Tanua finished rapping the cloth bandage around the warrior’s arm, she then stood up and strolled over to Pelana.

She moved to her side and patted her on the head. Like a child would pet a sad-looking puppy.

“Cheer up, Jenkari and some of the other warriors are near finishing moving the dragon corps before it rots, so soon they will be able to go with you down there to get our pet back,” Tanua said as she embraced her friend. Pelana only sighed and slowly walked back to her tent.

“I can’t sense him down there anymore; I think something has taken him. If something has taken him, it will surely die soon” Those were Pelana’s last words before she walked into her tent, her killing intent almost breaking out of her body.

Jasion had been in the care of Kalani and the girls for about 1 month by the time his body had healed. But rather than celebrating his recovery and going on his way to attempt to find his fellow humans, but now he found himself without his jacket, without his case but instead a bow, a handful of arrows, and an angry Lamia trying to convince him to help her kill a large fury green dear like creature that slept about 5 meters away from them.

“Look just kill it already, it won’t feel a thing,” Kalani said as she gripped his arms and positioned him in a way that he could easily kill the creature.

“Can’t you just use that weird hermitizing thing you Lamai’s do?” she shook her head and instructed him on his posture and how to aim the bow without her assistance.

“I won’t be going with you, so you will have to learn to kill on your own.” She said as she handed him an arrow. Jasion shakily loaded the arrow and prepared to fire. He took in a deep breath and narrowed his eyes.

The twang on the bowstring sounded as he released the arrow. To the surprise of both Jaison and Kalani, the arrow struck, but not in the way intended. Jaison had wanted to give the creature a quick death but instead, his shaking hands had caused him to hit the creature in the side, causing it to scream out in pain as it tried to get to its feet.

Seeing a good teaching opportunity Kalani grabbed him by the arm and yanked him over to the distraught creature. She whipped out a stone knife that she had been carrying in her leather satchel and handed it to Jaison. He tried to step away from her as he realised what her intent was.

“Don’t be such a little weakling about this, it's just a Tonhgla, the Gods put them on the earth for us to eat.” She said as she overpowered him and placed him by the paralyzed creature’s side. Jasion stared down into the creatures agonizing eyes causing him to tear up slightly.

“Please” He begged but before he could continue his plea Kalani smacked him on the top of his head with her tail. She gripped his hand tightly and forced him to stab down the blade into the creature’s neck, Jasion watched in disbelief as the blood-spattered across him and the Tonhgla’s life drained from its eyes.

“I… I’m sorry” He said as he sat back, examining the bloody knife that he gripped tightly in his hands. Kalani dipped her fingers into the blood and gently smeared some across his hand.

“You should get used to the feeling if you are going to survive.” She said as she began to skin the Tonhgla.

“come, I will teach you this as well.” She said as her tail wrapped around him, lifting him over to her.

She forced his hand to plunge the knife into the belly of the creature and started to pull open its stomach, the wretched smell of guts making him gag. He screwed his nose as he coughed slightly. Seeing that maybe she was pushing him too far by making him cut the animal open, Kalani used her tail to lift him again. Still holding him she slivered over to a near my tree and gently placed him under its shade.

“Wait here, rest,” She said as she went back to dismembering the animal. Jaison sat there for a while staring at his blood-stained clothes and hands. His pristine white shirt was now covered with little dots of crimson blood.

He felt ashamed, but at the same time oddly proud. He felt as if he was no longer the weak boy all his fellow soldiers painted him to be. But at the same time, he felt as if he had somehow broken the Hippocratic oath, let alone his own moral code. It was just a meaningless animal, he knew that, but he could understand why he felt so depressed as if he had killed a person.

Kalani had just finished skinning and gutting the animal, she had tied it to her tail. She glanced over to see Jaison's gloomy eyes gazing down to the ground in a trance-like state. She understood what he was feeling, she felt a similar way when she first had to kill to eat. But with enough practice she knew she could make him into a decent hunter, the first big obstacle though was getting him over his fear of harming any other living creature. As she gazed at him, she started to consider if she should have made him finish it off. She shook the thought from her mind as she slivered towards him, the sternest look she could make on her face.

“You did well for your first time, I will teach you further for as long as it takes to make you a decent hunter.” He didn’t respond, she sighed and leaned down to look him in the eyes.

“I understand how you feel, trust me you will get used to it.” This didn’t cheer him up, but it seemed to snap him out of his daze. He nodded and stood up.

“Sorry, as you said I’m weak,” He said his eyes still looking downwards. He flinched as she raised her tail, and as he expected she gave him a gentle but stern smack on the head.

“You are not weak, just too kind. You are a good boy I see why Amazonians want to make you into a pet” He smiled and looked up to her. She leaned closer a devious smile across her face.

“Mabey I will keep you for myself” She teased, she burst out in laughter at the sight of his terrified face. She took his bow as well as the arrows and placed them into her satchel. He gave her a childish hit in the arm as they started to walk home.

He smiled joyfully to himself, he knew he was lucky to have been taken in by such a gentle soul. Something felt wrong though as if there was an invisible dagger creeping closer and closer to his back. He looked over his shoulder, nothing, not even a bug. He assumed it was just his nerves as he carried on walking alongside his scaly friend.

They walked for about 10 maybe 20 minutes until Kalani came to a sudden stop. He caught something out of the bottom of his eye that caused him to glance downwards. Kalani’s tail was wrestling furiously across the floor a sign that she had detected something that she deemed to be hostile.

“What is it” He whispered, but before he knew it her tail was tightly wrapped around him and they were both darting through the forest. He was terrified but he had to admit she was incredibly fast.

Jaison soon realised why she was so panicked. There were large groups of people darting through the tree line after them. It was almost like time stopped as an arrow hit a tree that was near to his head, he noticed the arrow had green feathers at its end as well as a single half red half orange one. This signified that the arrow was Amazonian as well as a tranquilising arrow. Kalani and Jasion seemed to not be the only ones that were out hunting that day.

Volley upon volley of these tranquilliser darts sank themselves into the ground around them as they darted through the thick underbrush of the forest, yes again Jasion couldn't help but be amazed by Kalani as she expertly dodged induct every shot as well as a tree branch or piece of foliage. Despite their speed, though the amazons were soon approaching, he could see some even getting cocky enough to jump out from the trees and to start chasing them down the path that Kalani’s tail was paving.

He wiggled his arms out of her coils and grabbed the bow and an arrow from her satchel. He fondled around until he had loaded an arrow. He aimed it towards the feet of the amazons, not wanting to hurt or kill them, rather he just wanted to try and make the trip. Even if they were only on the ground for a few seconds those few seconds could help them escape. Jasion was about to fire when he realised that one of the natives had green paint on her skin like the other warriors but unlike them, she had large red feathers in her hair was running alongside them. She had to be the leader, so stopping her would mean they could escape. He turned, aimed the arrow just in front of her, and fired. The arrow landed onto a tree just in front of the woman, luckily, she wasn’t quick enough to doge and found herself running into the base of the arrow, smacking her in the neck, winding her.

The leader dropped to the ground, holding her throat. Jasion sighed in relief, he was lucky that the tip of the arrow hadn’t hit her.

As Jasion had expected, the amazons stopped to assist their leader, giving Kalani just enough time to climb up into the trees. She weaved her way through the treetops before stopping and examining a nearby tree. Jasion eyes widened as she pulled open a person-sized hatch that had been carved into the tree. Kalani reached into her satchel and took out a large bottle.

“What’s that?” Jaison asked as they climbed into the tree hatch.

“It will hide our presence.” She said as she poured the mixture over herself as well as Jasion. They fell quiet as Kalani shut the hatch door, giving the appearance that they were just another part of the tree.

A loud thud sounded as the amazons descended onto the area they had previously stood. The girls seemed confused about where their prey had gone, which gave Jaison a slight bit of hope. The warriors yelled and talked loudly in what was probably anger as well as confusion. The leader in the red paint soon appeared, and Jasion’s heart skipped a beat as he recognised who she was. Pelana’s eyes were ablaze with fury as she scoped around the area where he had vanished.

“That sly Lamia,” She said as her eyes set ablaze with white fire, causing Jasion to jump slightly. Despite her being a good 4 maybe 5 meters away he could still feel the intense heat of the flames.

Almost as quickly as the warriors had arrived, they were gone once again, but to Jaison and probably Kalani as well it felt to be an eternity. Carefully and cautiously, they opened the hatch door and crept outside.

“I can’t sense anything with my tail.” She said as she relaxed slightly.

“What about the girls,” Jaison said as his fear quickly returned. Without a second thought, Kalani gripped him with her tail and they darted off towards the den. They soon arrive and snuck their way through the hidden entrance.

“GIRLS!” She yelled, as soon as she yelled the girls soon appeared, worried looks on their faces. Ulana was painted in red war paint. Her eyes filled with tears as she wrapped her arms around Kalani.

“We saw the amazons, we thought they had gotten you.” Kalani took some time to relax the girls before sitting them down to discuss what they will have to do next.

“There are multiple dens that we have across the forest, the amazons probably haven’t found them yet, so if this place gets found we will need to evacuate to them.” The girls nodded and started to pack their things in case they get found, and they would need to run. Jasion couldn’t help but feel guilty that they were having to go through all this just because of him.

“Sorry.” He said as he packed his medical case. Kalani placed the tip of her tail gently on his shoulder.

“It’s not your fault. We usually move like this when the Tonhgla migrate.” She said as she handed him a knife.

“Keep this, you might need it” once they were all packed the girls alongside Jaison, alongside the girls cooked and then ate the meat of the Tonhgla they armed themselves with makeshift spears and bows. Their plan was to move at night.

They had been sitting around a small fire, ready to move at any moment. Every single sound that came from the entrance made them jump or jolt. Soon night was upon them and they made their way to one of the cave's many exits. Kalani was the first to step out, using her tail to check the surroundings for movement. Her large elf-like ears were perked high as she listened for the Amazons. Once she had deemed it to be safe, she gestured for the rest to follow her.

They walked for a while, no one keeping track of how long they had been walking for, their minds all concentrated on their surroundings. Ulana without warning turned, swinging her tail swiftly and violently into the air. A loud thwack sounded out. Everyone turned to see what had happened. Ulana had hit an amazon into a tree. War cries and sounds Rang out as the group started to Sprint, the pattering of the Amazonians as they carelessly charged after they sounded through the forest.

Kalani looked to her left as two amazons jumped out towards her. She smacked one to the side with her tail as she caught the second by her neck, then slamming her into the ground. Several more tried to ambush her from behind. She turned and her eyes were ablaze as she used her hypnotism to make them unconscious. She drew a large stone dagger and deflected an arrow that had been fired toward her head. She threw the dagger into the shoulder of a charging amazon, simultaneously ripping the spear out of the hands of another. She used the butt of the spear to knock out the original owner of the spear before turning to carry on her fight.

She wasn’t the only one putting up a fight though, each girl was holding off a small group of amazons on their own. was even starting to pile up a small number of injured Amazonians next to her. He spotted Pelana, she was sitting back watching the fight. Ulana She noticed him and gave a small wave. Kalani seemed to notice her though as she used her tail to grip a nearby rock, she flung it towards the cocky amazon making her leap out of its way.

Jaison could feel a sense of hope as she fought but that little flame of hope was soon snuffed out as she seemed to stop in her tracks, he could see the glowing red eyes of fear being used on her by a nearby Jenkari. Suddenly a large green feathered tranquiliser dart found its way into her neck, ending her rampage. Her body slumped to the side. Jasion tried to run to her side but a similar dart found its home in his neck.

Despite the effects of the drug her managed to pull out the knife that Kalani had given him. As the shadowy figures of the amazons surrounded him, he lunged towards one of them, he wasn’t sure what he was trying to do, he didn’t want to kill them, yet at the same time, he could bear to live with himself if they killed the Lamias that had saved his life.

His knife was slapped out of his hands as a pair of warm arms absorbed him into their grasp. He felt his face sink into their chest as the gentle familiar voice of Pelana spoke into his ear.

“Don’t worry, your safe now. Those filthy creatures can’t keep you as their slave anymore. They can’t hypnotise you. I love you” he felt dread overcome him. If only he could have become stronger quicker. He drifted into a deep sleep as the effects of the darts overcame him.

Pelana smiled happily down at her prey. The feeling of his warm touch was something she had missed, missed so much that she felt as if it was driving her insane. She planted a kiss onto his sleepy, adorable face before lifting him over her shoulder, and making her way back towards the camp. The next day she planned to have Lamia for breakfast.