"Zendaya, Zendaya", Zaire called with excitement as he finally sees Zendaya sitting in front of the fire. It was easy to locate her as after they have met the lion, the lion just sniffed and led the way. While Zaire and Tom followed the lion, the eagle was looking from the sky. Just about an hour, they have already located her, with the help of both the lion and the eagle.
"Zendaya, It is me, Zaire", He continued to call but to his surprise, Zendaya stood up and ran away. He was expecting a huge hug from her, he thought that Zendaya would be very happy to see him. He ran after her still calling her name but she just kept running faster.
***
I running away from Zaire as he is continuing to call my name. I can feel that he is following me as his voice keep on getting louder and louder. This makes me run even faster.
I ran for a while and suddenly, I couldn't hear Zaire's voice. It seems like he has given up. I put a smile on my face as a sign of relief. I stopped running and started to stroll. It is really sad as I didn't eat my egg. I'm still so hungry.
As I sauntering, I see a cheetah from a distance. I stood for a while as I'm thinking. I'm so scared, I hardly breathe. Who knows what it will do if it sees me? I may not live to tell a tale.
The only thing that comes to my mind is Zaire. I wish I didn't run away from him. He is the snake but he didn't eat me. Maybe he would have protected me. I'm not saying a python can easily kill the cheetah, I know that it can give it a tough fight.
From where I was, l slowly turned away and started stride back where I'm from, to find Zaire. For while and I started to run faster while calling Zaire.
***
Zaire is very upset and a bit disappointed as Zendaya ran away immediately after she saw him. Why, How, and what happened, are all the things that drain his mind as he is thinking about Zendaya. He has already quit chasing her, and now he is strolling back to where he left Tom, together with the lion and eagle. He told them to hide before he started to call Zendaya. He didn't want Zendaya to be scared, but she did anyway.
"Zaire, Zaire" a voice called similar to Zendaya's. He first felt like he was imagining things, maybe he is thinking too much about her, that he just hear her voice. But as time passes, he can hear the voice becoming louder and louder. He turned around and saw Zendaya running towards him.
Before he could even utter a single word, Zendaya has already arrived and given him a huge hug. The hug he was expecting when he first saw Zendaya earlier. The one that says I'm glad you are here.
He didn't hesitate to wrap Zendaya with both his hands. He was glad she came back to him, no matter the reasons. Since he left last night, he couldn't wait to be with her again. In just a day, he already enjoys her presence, talking to her, even arguing with her.
***
"It's going to be alright, I'm here", Zaire said while l was tightly wrapped my hands on his waist. Somehow, I felt safe, despite the thought that he is the snake. He was all that I have in this evil forest. The relief of seeing him while I was running is beyond explainable.
" I know", that is what I just said, as my head was resting peacefully on his chest." I know who are you.",l said then slowly I unwrapped my hands from him as I moved slightly from him.
"What do you mean?", Zaire asked. He looked nervous about what I said. You could tell that the is something that he is hiding.
"I know that you're a python.", without hesitation, I clearly stated.
"What?A python. What makes you think that I am a python?" He asked, surprisingly with a more relaxed tone.
"Because I wake up on top of a python while I slept in your arms. Saw a python coming my way and then after it disappeared saw you. You didn't tell me where you are from and you wear fish textured clothes.", I explained while looking straight into his eyes.
"I hear your point but unfortunately, you're wrong. I'm not a snake", He said, so relieved that he used that irritating playful tone.
"Don't deny it", I furiously enunciated.
"I'm not a python, I swear with my life. ", he said almost lounging.
"That means you left me with that snake intentionally, right?"
He closed his eyes and slowly opened one as he said, "Yes", I did, but I thought by the time you wake up I would already be back."
"You are not denying It. How could you do something like that? " I fiercely asked.
"I'm sorry but Tom wouldn't have eaten you" He replied.
"Wouldn't have eaten me. How do you know? Waite a second, who is Tom?"
"The Python, please calm down."
" I'm calm, then tell me, where is the python?" l asked, still looking straight into his eyes.
"Are you sure you want to see the python? You could freeze."
"Of course, l want to see the python."
Okay, so follow me, and please don't fate when we have arrived."Zaire said with that, playful tone. He is so playful, even in the situation where one should be serious. I'm so angry and confused, but he makes it a joke.
"So, where did you go?" I inquired as I followed him to where Tom is. I wonder if he is a friend of this Tom or a master.
"To get some food. Don't you see?", he raises a net with fish that was hanging from his trouser, as he explained. I honestly didn't notice the fish before. l didn't even scent the smell. But now that I noticed the fish, I remember that I'm starving.
After following Zaire for a just few minutes, he
stopped before these bushy thorn trees.
" Tom you can come out now," Zaire said. He said like he was calling his friend or sibling. Not a master calling his subject.
I heard a whoosh sound. This confirms that something is coming. I looked straight from where the sound was coming and there was a python. It was undoubtedly the one I wake up from. Black and gold, with silver-colored eyes. I'm so scared at this moment, but I'm trying to be as calm as l can be.
Zaire looked straight into my eyes as if he is trying to see if I'm scared. He is smiling and you can tell that he is enjoying this moment. The snake stood right before me and look into my eyes. I'm breathing fast and my heartbeat is faster than usual.
"Tom, say hello to Zendaya", Zaire ordered the Python, but what shocked me is that the python replied with actual words.
"Greetings my lady, my name is Tom as mentioned. I will like to apologize for trying to eat you yesterday." He spoke with this slowly intimidating tone. I had no words. I just stood there and said nothing.
"Oh, pardon me. I'm so sorry, I forgot that you can not hear my snake language. Zaire, please be a gentleman and translate." The snake said but Zaire didn't translate. He probably didn't want me to notice that he can speak to snakes.
"Zendaya, why are you frozen. This is what you wanted. ", he said playfully while looking straight into my eyes and away from Tom.
" Why are you not translating? Oh, she doesn't know that you can talk to animals and you don't want her to know. How foolish of me, I should have realized. She looks scared if you asked me.", Tom said as he was busy slowly moving his head side to side and towards me."Hey, little Zendaya are you scared of me. Hahaha, I enjoy this, speaking but not being heard. It is like thinking."
"The, the snake, snake", I stammered.
" What? What does the snake do?", Zaire said playfully." You said you want to see, but now you are frozen. It's okay, it will not harm you", He stepped closer and pulled to hug me.
"Seriously Zendaya, it going to be alright", Zaire said, in a more serious tone this time. He has still hugged me, but the way I was so shocked, I couldn't feel its warmth.
"Hahaha!, seriously Zendaya listens to Zaire. He is right. I am not going to harm you. Ha hahaha!" The snaked added. It seems like it was enjoying this moment.
"The snake can speak " I mumbled.
"What?", Zaire shockingly asked as he unwrapped his hands around my shoulder and slightly stepped away from me.
"The snake can speak", I said with a slow and low tone. I was still not moving any part of my body.
"You mean you can hear what Tom is saying", Zaire inquired with a disbelieve on his face.