I Just Want A Friend

Another failed attempt.

Didn't even make it 5 seconds. You'd think such a large animal would last longer. King of the jungle, my ass.

I slink back to my den to sulk. Why do they always insist on looking into my eyes? I tell them not to. How am I supposed to hold a reasonable conversation with a corpse?

I have needs too, you know. It's lonely when your mere gaze kills anything in sight. I could go mad with only my own thoughts for company. Maybe I already have, I think as I catch sight of my dinner table.

The table is laid with a splendid purple cloth. Plates and cutlery of gold sit atop it, gathered from a forgotten kingdom. My guests sit still and calm, waiting for the banquet I promised. They exhibit varying degrees of decay. The sickly sweet smell of rot causes my stomach to grumble. I haven't eaten for a month; guess it's time.

No sense in letting fresh meat go to waste. I retrace my path back to the hill.

Vultures have already arrived, picking at the abandoned bounty. I hiss a warning as I approach, trying to give them at least a chance. The stupid things look right at me and immediately drop dead.

I sigh. What a waste. I'll never be able to eat that much, and I won't need to eat again for at least a few weeks. And I'd never invite such filthy pests to my dinner party. Guess their own kind will feast on them, I think as I see shadows circling overhead.

I hunker down next to the tawny carcass and stretch my jaws wide, wrapping my tongue around the remains to drawn them into my gullet. This will take awhile. More time for quiet contemplation. Hooray.

As I slowly consume the great beast, I cast my eyes to the heavens. What I wouldn't give for a friend. Or a mate, that would be even better, someone immune to my gaze. Too bad no one has seen another of my kind for centuries.

Could there be anyone more forsaken than the Serpent King?

******

Link to the Challenge: Inside the Animal's Mind [an unofficial challenge]

Author's Note: Since Belle said it didn't have to be a real animal, I decided to play with the idea of the mythological basilisk. Hope you enjoyed it!