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Heavy snow fell over the mountain, the vast majority melting as it touched stone. The peek was always a funny sight to newcomers. In the summer lush green surrounded its outer edge, while the stone crater in the center stayed bare. Winter was just as odd, the outer edge stayed covered in slow, and the hot geothermal center refused to stay covered. Snowmelt flowed into streams and creeks, either running into waterfalls and flowing off the steep edges of the peek, or collecting in the large lakes and ponds near the middle. For travelers that made the climb, they often described it as a year round paradise. Although the peek rarely saw visitors, its treacherous cliffs made the joinery early imposable for most.

Deep I her cave Oona stayed warm, curled around a limestone pillar that vented steam to the surface. Acting like a pipe, this pillar was constantly hot to the touch, and was the sinter piece of her new bed. Different shades of fur pelts, all sown together took up one corner of the Naga's cave. One of many new additions to Oona's dwelling in just the past few weeks, her dark and dank den had blossomed into cozy home. Across the cavern the scratchy sounds of quill on paper echoed around the room. Arden's desert design made him expectable to the cold, when the winter turned ugly; the mongoose was forced to take refuge. He had expected setbacks like this when he left his desert home, but this mountain stood between him and the next species on his list.

Arden had only planned to spend a night or two on the peek, but bumping into a fascinating discovery had set him back. His eyes drifted from the paper, over to the nearby slumbering snake. Three weeks had passed since the two had met, and still Arden was learning more about this interesting breed every day. Already he had written three chapters about this Naga, but there was still so much he wanted to know. Where had she come from? And where were the others? Oona had explained how she was hatched and raised by wolves, but the wolves in question had past long ago. Oona had shared her theory that she had come from somewhere else, carried up the cliffs by the wolves, but Arden had his own theory. The snake was perfectly built to live in this environment, and in his journeys Arden had never seen a habitat like this one. There was no doubting that she had evolved to thrive on this peek, but that raised the same question, where had the others gone? The answers Arden sought would take more research; luckily he had plenty of time. The climb down the steep cliffs couldn't be made until the snow had all gone, and the strong winter winds had died down. The mongoose didn't mind this setback at all, in fact he couldn't think of a better place to be snowed in.

The quick strike of a match illuminated Arden's face for a moment, his eyes locked on the Naga as he pondered. The flame touched the tip of a hash pipe, and the mongoose took along drag as he though. The flame soon flickered out, causing a thought to click in Arden's head. Quickly he spun around in his crude chair fashioned from bits of wood, and rope, his quill once again met paper. Mumbling to himself as he wrote in this journal, the writer documented his newest finding.

" as earlier noted, Oona has labial pits just like that of a viper or python, these pits allow the snake to since the body heat admitted from prey, but unlike a viper or python Oona has very keen eyesight. So why have both? Oona doesn't hunt at night, and from what she herself has told me, she relies completely on her eyes and nose when hunting. So why have it at all? Until I arrived Oona's den was completely void of light, and to her the idea of adding candles and torches seemed strange. I though little of it at the time, but this might explain the need for labial pits. Perhaps her infrared vision isn't for hunting use at all, but instead for navigation. More than half of this mountain is a thermal hot spot, and Oona spends more than 3 quarters of her time underground. I believe Oona's infrared vision allows her to navigate in complete darkness, underground. I cannot call it yet, but I'm willing to bet this will help explain where Oona came from. Perhaps Oona's for runners lived not on the surface of this mountain but deep inside it, deeper than Oona herself has ever explored"

After placing his quill back in a vile of ink, Arden made his way to a small fire pit. A simple hole knocked into a hallow pillar, this was one of many additions Arden had made to the cave. Three weeks of being trapped inside, had forced the mongoose to keep himself occupied. Cabin fever would have taken him long ago, if he didn't have a slumbering roommate to study, and tons of repairs to complete. Oona's sleeping patterns had been changed slightly, unable to keep her normal pattern due to Arden, but she still slept for days at a time. In the time Arden had spent with the snake, he had developed more than his normal amount of affection toward his snakes. He considered Oona a close friend, and enjoyed speaking and spending time with her, just as much as he did writing about her, But Arden had one fear. The Naga had become friends with him as well; it was evident that Oona was starting to see him as more than a friend. Not that Arden objected such behavior, but in his eyes the book came first. When spring came he would head down the mountain, and begin his search once again. Leaving behind a broken hearted Naga is one thing he wanted to avoid, but each day this became harder.

A clank echoed around the den, as Arden placed a log into the small fire place, casting light around the dark cavern. With a long moan the Naga stretched, her green eyes opening for the first time in four days. The mongoose cast her a soft smile as he returned to his chair, sorry that he had woke her, but glad she was awake. Oona uncurled from her warm pillar, and rolled over exposing her belly as she stretched and jerked around. It always took her awhile to fully come too, but Arden always gave her time. The Snakes soft belly scales touched the warm stone floor, and slowly she made her rounds. Things were always moved, shifted, added, or removed, this had taken her a while to adjust to, but she didn't mind. It had only taken a few hours for Oona to decide that she wanted the mongoose to stay, a few kind words, and a few good charming sessions, and Oona knew she never wanted Arden to leave. The Naga could have never called it, denning with another living being, but so far she had enjoyed every moment of it. Over the curse of three weeks, her knowledge of the outside world had tripled. She loved Arden's stories and tells, and often begged to hear a new one. Not only had she discovered she enjoyed good company, Oona had found a new hobby. Before meeting Arden, Oona had never experienced the power of music or dance. She truly loved dancing, talking the mongoose into a session every chance she got. But Arden's flute was the last thing on her mind at the moment; a loud growl emitted from her stomach let both snake and mongoose know what time it was.

With a light chuckle, Arden spoke. "Morning friend, rest well?"

"how long?" not fully awake, and a little parched the Naga spoke with a raspy voice.

"Four days, sorry I woke you"

Moving gently Oona slid a coil around Arden's chair, while rising up on her tail to give him a stiff hug. "It's fine hun, I need to be up any way" another angry sounding growl ended the hug. Oona chuckled softly as she reached for Arden's water Skin, she gave him a quick glance before rising to container to her lips, she knew he didn't mind, but though she should ask anyway.

Arden nodded, as he spoke. "heading out?"

Oona returned the nod and allowed the cool liquid to enter her empty stomach, placing the water skin back where she had found it before she slithered away, preparing for her next hunt. The Naga rarely wore clothing, but made exceptions due to her visitor. A tightly stretched leather tube top now covered her breasts, and a boiled leather belt served the purpose of bottoms. From a stack of leather near her bed, Oona retrieved a pair of gloves and set of cuffs. More for protection than warmth, these were one of many gifts she had received from Arden. After gearing up, Oona turned to see a fully clothed mongoose, strapping on a back pack. "What do you think you're doing?"

"going with" Arden shot back with a smile

So far Oona had yet to let Arden follow her on a hunt, and she was still against the idea "but you hate the cold"

"I'll deal with it"

"You will slow me down" Oona crossed her arms.

"Now you're just lying, and you know it" the mongoose smirked as he spoke.

Wearing a frown Oona stared at the floor. "I have let you into my life in every other way, can I not keep this to myself"

Head tilted slightly to the side, Arden stepped close, and gently a Paw under Oona's chin encouraged her to make eye contact. "You know if you had no say in the matter, we would already be gone, and you would be none the wiser it was against your will or not..... That's not what I want, I simply want to watch"

Slowly Oona looked into the mongoose's eyes; they remained sky blue, evidence that he spoke the truth. "I am well aware of this, and I didn't mean that in the wrong way, I'm completely happy with you presents here, there are just something's I would like to keep privet"

Without missing a beat Arden tossed a snappy remark. "There was nothing privet about the day we met"

The Naga's frown turned into a smile, and she lightly punched him on the arm. She hated to talk about that day, but he had a point. "Still Arden, I'm not comfortable with you watching me"

"it's nothing I haven't seen before, I've seen it hundreds of times, and I can assure you nothing will change the way I think of you" a gentle caress to her cheek followed his words.

"I can't explain why I'm shy, or why it makes me nerves, I just am. And you don't understand why, do you?"

"Of cores I do, I understand completely, but that's no reason to hide it from me.... Oona you're a great person, and an amazing hunter. You have nothing to be ashamed of.... Besides it will benefit the book greatly, I can't pass this up; a 3rd person view of a kill will make the perfect intro to your 4th chapter"

The Naga smiled at Arden's kind words, he didn't need to be a snake charmer to get what he wanted, and she should have known this by now. Pausing for a moment, Oona stared blankly at her friend. "Four chapters? How much did you get done while I slept?"

Arden laughed softly, "around thirty pages, I can't help it, you're the perfect topic"

Oona joined in with his laugh, as she spoke "your sweet Arden.... But I'm leaving now follow me if you will, but don't stay too close, I can't have to spooking prey"

Arden began dashing around the den gathering supplies, as he spoke "don't worry about me, in fact don't even think about me.... I'm not even there, all you worry about is getting yourself fed, I will take care of myself"

The Naga giggled at the sight of a mongoose, bundling himself in layer after layer of fur clothing "very well, just please do get lost again, I did hate for you to freeze"

Like a bat out of hell, Oona shot from her cave, her powerful tail carrying her quickly over the smooth rock crater around her den. Keeping up wasn't too difficult for Arden, even in his thick cloths. With in only a few seconds the two had hit the first patch of pine and were waist deep in snow. Moving in to forested areas, meant trudging throw snow, it gathered anywhere, where the ground wasn't stone. The Naga did a good job of sticking to the rocks, only moving through snowdrifts when there was no choice. She tried to keep her mind on the task at hand, but couldn't keep herself from glancing back at Arden every so often. The forest floor was dotted with rock spines jutting through the earth, the snow stayed back a few feet on all sides of each. Thermal heat flowed from deep underground, making perfect pit stops for Oona. Resting only long enough to heat her body back up, the two made great time, reaching one of Oona's favorite hunting grounds in under an hour. Arden watched closely, at the beautiful sight before him. The snake was built for this; every aspect about her person fit the land she lived in by design. As the snakes pace slowed, Arden noticed a change in temperature; This area was much like the area around Oona's den. Large rock walls rose on either side of them, as they entered a canyon. A truly crazy landscape began to form, the tall rock ledges heated by the earth kept the snow confined to the center of the trench. To clear trails on both sides ran the length of the canyon making travel easy. Suddenly Oona halted, her gaze locked on the ground as she sized up at set of tracks. One final glance over her shoulder at Arden, and she was off.

The mongoose got the message, and slowed his pace, creeping along the wall as Oona crept close to the ground a few yards ahead. Slow, but dead silent, she stalked her prey. Black scales blending into the night. Arden would have lost her if he didn't know what he was looking for, Bit by bit, he lowered himself as well, until he too crawled behind the Naga. Oona's tongue tested at the air, the musky taste of her prey was thick in this Canyon. The tracks she followed were very fresh, a hit of the animal's breath still hung in the air. A strong gust of wind began to blow through the trench, just the cover Oona had been waiting for. With a quick burst in speed, Oona shot forward toward her target. Closer and closer she crept, and soon the blurry form of a lynx came into view. Alone he walked his head down out of the wind. As Oona drew near, her feelings about Arden watching her hunt drifted away, completely covered up by her hunger. She could already taste her kill, feel its nourishment, and within seconds it would be hers. One final adjustment in speed and the Naga was within striking distance.

Fifteen feet behind the cat, Oona's tail formed an S. there was no sound, complete silents as the Naga lunged forward. Tail uncoiled and straightened, arms out reaching, Oona landed a dead on hit. Griping the lynx's fur with both hands, as her fangs priced its lower back. Holding for only a split second, the snake released it prey, fangs slipping from the wound as she slithered backwards. Oona knew better than to attempt to constrict the cat, not yet, she would simply wait and avoid injury. The dead quite was shattered by the lynx's squeal, it spun round bearing teeth, and claw. Both hunter and prey stood their ground, waiting for the next move, but the cat never got its chance. His back paws gave out, and the Lynx lay belly down collapsed in the snow.

Oona's venom worked quickly, first shutting down the nerves and muscles around the wound, and then quickly spreading. Only twenty seconds after the strike, the fight was over. The Cat felt very little pain, the Naga's venom numbing all nerves in its body seconds after injection. He lay in the snow, eyes wide and dilated, breathing slow and shallow. Slowly Oona approached her prey; softly she slid a coil round him, gently stroking his fur with her hand, as she prepared herself. Oona had always done her best to calm and comfort her kills before they were completely gone. By this point it was a painless process, but there was no reason to cause her prey any more fear that what had already been done. Arden watched closely as Oona whispered into the Lynx's ear, gently stroking his fur as she added a few more tight coils around his middle. The lynx took a few more short breaths, while Oona moved into position. With her entire tail coiled around the kill, she softly closed the cat's eyes, as her maw opened wide. A slight pop echoed around the canyon, as Oona's jaw dislocated. Head first she swallowed her prey, slowly inch by inch she went to work. Guiding him along with her hands, she kept limbs folded neatly to the cat's body. Her fangs walked across his back, helping to get him down. As Oona consumed more and more of the lynx, she moaned softly, her skin stretched, a cat shaped lump slowly moving deeper. Oona thought of Arden a few times, still worried about how she looked with Lynx paws sticking out of her mouth. She tried her best to put these fear away as she ate, focusing on the cats musty but pleasant taste. Twenty minutes past and finely the Cat was past her upper body, moved into her lower body, the base of her tail. Oona rolled over, a long moan escaping her lips. She held her belly, as her muscles worked one by one, forcing the cat into her stomach. The Lynx gave a random kick here and there, but for the most part he went quietly. Now completely inside Oona's stomach, her muscles contracted, closing around the cat, and forcing out the excess air. This loud hiss was Arden's single that she was done; slowly he stepped close, and took a seat beside the satisfied snake.

Oona lay on her back, holding the large lump in her form. Eyes closed, and a smile on her face, the Naga was truly full. A soft touch to the cheek alerted her of Arden's presents, and she blushed deeply. The Mongoose gave her a soft smile as he shook his head "no Oona, that was beautiful, thank you for letting me witness"

Still deep red, Oona shared a smile with her friend "I'm glad you enjoyed, Arden"

The Mongoose lay back on the stone floor, as he smiled over at the Naga. Slowly as if testing her limits, Arden's paw moved to Oona's belly, he rubbed for a moment, before coming to rest on her soft belly scales. Again the snake blushed, but she didn't mind Arden's touch. In turn she rolled over to her side, very softly her tail coiled round his legs, as she leaned into him. Arden wrapped his arms around the Snake, and on the warm stone floor, they rested. Arden drifted off to sleep in Oona's arms, with a slight chuckle, Oona rested her head on his chest. The constant thump of the mongoose's heart keeping her company as she digested her meal.

(thank you for reading, i hope you enjoyed. pt 3 will be done soon, if you wish to contuniue the story. please feel free to post questions, constructive criticism, or any thing you would would like to see in the next part)