I'd walked a long way from my village, climbing the mountain trail into the next valley looking for the herbs and roots I needed for my spells and cures. When I saw the narrow waterfall spilling down the cliff into the sun-warmed pool below I couldn't resist; I was hot and dirty from the climb, and the water was too enticing to pass by. I stopped and listened, but heard nothing but the reassuring sound of the falling water and the far-away calls of the forest animals; I was alone.
Stripping off my clothing I left it piled at the pool's edge along with my knife and gathering bag, walking slowing into the clear blue water. It was deliciously warm against my skin, refreshing and clean. I spent more time that I'd intended swimming, washing, and just floating on my back with the sun shining down on my face. Finally I pulled myself out of the water onto a warm, moss-covered rock that slanted up out of the water at the deeper end of the pool, the muted roar of the waterfall raining down lulling me to sleep as I lay back, the air and sun drying my skin.
Something roused me sometime later; an odd gurgle in the water, the silence of the many sweetly calling birds that had accompanied my frolics in the pool with their songs. As I struggled up from sleep I felt it; the cool wet sliding of scales against my leg. My eyes flew open, wide and horrified as I saw the largest snake I'd ever see slithering out of the water onto the mossy rock where I'd been sleeping. Its head was easily the size of a large man's, teeth like daggers and flat black eyes that -- did I only imagine it? -- seemed to be filled with a terrible knowledge and cruel delight. Quicker than a thought it struck as I screamed - unable to help myself so overcome with terror I was -- its teeth biting into my shoulder as it flexed its muscular body and began winding me in its thick coils. The snake was both long and heavy, the coils tightening around me until I could barely breath, pinning my arms to my sides as it wrapped around my torso. I kicked and screamed until my lungs burned and my limbs grew weak, but the snakes smooth cool scales continued to slide over my skin, enmeshing me further in their embrace.
Finally the serpent seemed satisfied that I was helpless, retracting its teeth from my aching shoulder as its head reared back, black tongue flickering over my face as I cried out again and turned my head away. Another powerful contraction of the snakes body rippled around me as it shifted, wrapping my torso from just below my breasts to my hips. I was on my back, completely ensnared, looking up at the snake's flat black eyes -- just waiting for it to start to devour me. But, it seemed, the strangely intelligent seeming creature had other plans for me.