The unnamed forests were quiet save for the sparse wildlife that roamed freely. Their guardian passed between the trees, silently and unbothered by any who would detect him. He'd been a fixture there for a number of years already and just about everything that lived there knew he was no threat. The massive snake man slid between the trees with a practiced ease. The path well travelled and worn down by his scaley underside. Every morning and evening the serpent made a habit of patrolling the lands. Ever since he was charged with protecting the lake within.
The sun was low with the sky turning violent shades of red and pink, contrasting with the vibrant green canopy a good 20 to 30 feet above him. The 90 foot long snake took a pause at a small clearing. Hoisting himself up to a 'standing' position a good 14 foot tall. Reaching into the single garment he wore, a tightly bound shoulder pack, and grabbing a bottle of water for a drink. He'd lived remotely for so many years that nudity didn't bother him. That and finding clothes his size was just unnecessarily expensive.
Not only that he took pride in his physique. A sleek torso leading down to a frankly astonishing pair of hips. If it wasn't for what was just below them, he wouldn't be surprised to be confused for a woman. But no, the absolutely massive bulge of his balls and the sheathe above gave that game away. The former looked to stick out a good foot or more from his waist, though it was pointless to measure them usually. As they tended to bulk and fill out rather fast.
Putting the bottle back he gave a satisfied sigh he went to turn around and head back, patrol complete, when a sound caught his senses. He froze, trying to understand what he was hearing. It was a high pitched whining, it didn't sound like it was coming from anything living. Getting louder somewhere off to his right way past the tree line. It began to get distorted, like someone was trying to find the signal on the radio. Crackling accompanying the ominous sound. Turning towards it, there wasn't a lot he could make out. Flashes of coloured light could just be made out reflecting off of some damp tree trunks but nothing more. Then it stopped.
All told it must have lasted only 5 or 6 seconds but the silence afterwards drew on so much more. He stood there, still frozen in place. Staring, unblinking, towards those lights. Every single sense pointed towards it, tongue flicking out to get a taste of the wind but caught nothing. Off behind him a ways he could hear the scurrying of something getting away but there was still nothing ahead. He dropped low and slowly slithered forwards. Much slower than normal, taking every care not to let his presence be known.
That silence was oppressive. Giving no much sought information as to what just befell his lands. This wasn't exactly the first strange phenomena to occur but that just made him even more cautious. It was only a few minutes before some things began to make themselves known. An odd coppery taste in the air. Some wisps of heated smoke passing by, not enough to signify a blaze thankfully. Some birds flying overhead caught his eye as none of them seemed to give a cry of alarm. Whatever this was, it did not seem aggressive or a major danger at the moment. Then he caught the first glimpse of the scene.
His eyes went even wider. He decided to stop approaching directly, instead circling around. Getting a look from every angle. At first glance it was a crater, but the more he looked at it the less that description seemed correct. There was a circular groove in the ground and trees were pushed away, but nothing looked violently disturbed. The moss on the ground was there as if it had always been there. Roots still dug into the ground with leaf litter undisturbed. The trees were all pushed back, glancing up he saw the gap in the canopy it had create. But there was no bark or splintered wood on the floor. Apart from it's un-natural arrangement it was as if this was how it always was. A perfectly circular groove looking to be about 20 foot across, side to side. If it wasn't for the slumped furred person in the middle of it, he'd be immediately up close taking a look.
The air above them seemed to shift, like a heat haze but without any warmth he could sense. They were laying on their front, still alive judging by the steady rhythm of their chest. As he circled the site, his eyes were trained on them the entire time. Studying them from every angle he could see from about 30 foot away. They were fairly large, looking to be between 7 and 8 feet tall. Thick legs leading to hooves, clad in a pair of slightly charred black slacks. A similarly broad torso in a white taut shirt. Arms covered in fur with splotches of white and brown for their markings. Hair looking to be about waist length and an almost fiery red colour. But that was all he could make out from his position. Hissing quietly, he considered his options. Normally he would call out to individuals in need and help escort them out. But there were two problems. First, it was close to night and getting to the edge of the forest takes a half day at best. Second, this person clearly had some ability or potential to be a problem. He had to lay low for the moment and assess the situation before making any actions.
It took a few minutes but the individual finally started to stir. A low mumble started to become a rather impressive string of expletives. Some of which were completely new to the snake which was a feat for sure. Slowly they began to pull themselves up. Revealing a couple details. Their red hair came down as they took a kneeling position revealing two horns, a few inches long and with dull points. Their face came down into a large nose and muzzle, definitely taking on a bovine appearance. And that lead to another point as two rather large breasts were pulling that shirt tight. With their stature, he didn't want to guess at their size. Easily looked to be a match for their head. Upon kneeling they took a deep breath of the air and opened their eyes. Taking in their surroundings while fumbling in their pockets.
Taking out a small device and seeming to compare it to another device on their wrist. Their brow furrowed before looking in exactly the huge snakes direction. Causing his own hushed expletives in turn. They called out in his direction. "Hey... I know you are there. Could you--ARGH... shitfuck... help please?" Their voice was gruff but had a feminine lilt to it. His cover seemingly blown along with the face she clutched her abdomen that he could now see was blood-stained, he started to come forward. Still slowly.
"Okay, I'm coming out. Please don't be alarmed" He calmly stated. Watching them with the same intensity despite their wounded state. One hand immediately going into his bag for some bandages as he began to slither into the light of the broken canopy. Standing tall and moving slow, so as to not spook them. Curiously, as they laid eyes on him they barely even flinched beyond the pain of having to look up with a stiff neck.
"Wh-why would I be alarmed? Huff..." They panted out, trying and failing to get to their feet. Causing the snake to immediately rush forward and try to catch them before the collapsed too hard. He didn't quite get there in time, causing a pained groan from the stranger.
"Don't move too much. You're wounded, let me treat it for the time being. Could you life your shirt a little please?" He asked while he started to work his long body beneath their torso. Easing them up onto the smooth scaled surface and getting out various supplies. A couple clean cloths, bottles of water and the gauze from before. They dutifully lifted the hem of their shirt, revealing a fairly deep cut but thankfully no exposed bone. And judging by the amount of blood, no major blood vessels were hit either.
As he worked on their side, cleaning the wound out and wrapping their abdomen in bandages, the stranger was mostly silent. Just some grunts from being treated and curses whenever they checked their devices. After a few minutes all seemed to be completed. He started putting things away as he looked up to their face and spoke quietly. Still unsure whether this was the right course of action. "All done. Should be a nice scar in a week or two. Now. Would you mind telling me who you are and how you did... whatever it is you did?" He folded his arms and stood up above them, still laying on his tail.
For their part, the glanced up and scoffed. Going to sit up before another wince of pain caused them to stay laying. Offering out one hand to the snake. "The name's Layla. As for what I did. Honestly I have no fucking idea. I was just demonstrating some transmutational magical theorem to my class. Derek was being a fucking chump and then I was here in bumfuck nowhere! Ack..." They hissed in pain as the exertion from chewing out whoever Derek was caused them to tense. The snake just listened and couldn't help but chuckle at the lively display. But he took their hand to shake it. Marvelling in that moment at their surprising strength in that moment. They huffed and looked up to the snake, expectantly staring up to them.
