As quietly and smoothly as a stalking Cretan lynx, he moved to a low hung tree around which he had twined a length of strong coiled creeping vine. When he picked it up, he startled an olive green and yellow snake from under its cover of leaves. "Fortuitous this is," he whispered almost soundlessly to the serpent. It was nearly 200 cm and slim, draped across the tree branches. Surprisingly the snake did not flee but raised its head to him as he extended his hand and after a slight hesitation, slithered up his arm and draped itself about his shoulders. It was cool and soft against his skin as it settled languidly. He turned back toward his prey, went silently to the edge of the trees and found again the sturdy bough he had chosen to which to tie the long vine. Then just as silently, he reeled out the vine as he approached her, careful not to let his shadow come between her and the moon, and examined her. The serpent rested contentedly on his shoulders.
She was even more beautiful close-by. Her hair was beginning to dry and regain its fullness and close up he could see the small cavern of her navel and, below, the dark softness of her pubic fluff. His groin ached, and he measured his breathing slowly in and out to master it. Her features were delicate and kittenish, straight pert nose, fine cheekbones, small ears so fair that they were almost transparent, a treat and a prize worthy of the gods. And all for him. The serpent seemed to sense his arousal and stirred, beginning its journey back down his arm but he caught it and stopped its progress. He dared not speak so close that he could smell her, so he just draped the creature around his shoulders again and moved silently to one of her bare feet, laying his bow and quiver aside. He had planned to bind her hands as well without waking her, but now there would be no need. He had stripped the leaves from the vine earlier in the day so that he could slide the vine through the space between her ankle and the ground and knot it in a slip so that when she tried to escape it would pull tight. Even if she escaped his grasp, which she would not, she would get no farther than the vine would allow. She was his.
He stood again after slipping the vine almost tight and lifted the long snake from his shoulders laying it on the grass. It began to slither toward the delicious V between her legs, but he grasped its tail and lifted it off the ground, replacing it beside her. She was his hunt, his prize, his treat.
***
She was sleeping when first it touched her, undulating across her ribs and between her breasts. By the time she opened her eyes, it had whipped its coil around her neck. She panicked like a rabbit, pulling and twisting to no avail and discovered also the snare that held fast her foot. She squealed, and her hands went to the creature around her neck to try to pull it off, but it only closed around her tighter, beginning to cut off her breath.
Then the voice, a melodious voice really. "Hold still, and be silent before it strangles you." She ceased her struggle and looked toward her feet for the first time, eyes wide with fear. "Be still or i will leave you here like this, bound, for the satyrs. Their cocks are puny but long enough to tickle your womb with their little wet noses. And they are insatiable. They will fill you again and again with their brown come. Or," he continued, his beautiful eyes half hooded with lust, "l can save you from their ravening grasp."
When she ceased her writhing, the serpent loosened its coil around her neck, so she could speak breathlessly. "Please. Do not leave me to the satyrs." Her eyes were wide. "Who are you?"
"A humble hunter. My bow and quiver are nearby. I think you are a nymph, are you not? These woods are full of fair and foul creatures, but i have the fairest before my eyes. What is your name?"
The snake still held her throat in its grip, but she could breathe. She lay on her back, too afraid to move, He was, she thought, the most beautiful man she had ever beheld, like a honey golden dream. She answered softly in almost a whisper, "Danae." And then she added before he spoke again, "Please let me go."
"Danae," he repeated, and her name was like a song on the wind on his lips. Then he said more harshly. "No. Count your good fortune that my friend the serpent has no venom. But I am certain it will take great pleasure in strangling you if you do not obey me. Do you understand?"
She stared at him shivering.
"Do you understand?" He snapped. "Do not fail to answer me when i address you. Do you understand?"
"Yes!" She exclaimed.
