10 I'm your brother!
Chapter 10: I'm your brother!
At the far ends of the cave, Regalus and Zethus could faintly hear the soft stifled voices coming from Nemus' chambers. The burst of pheromones in the air instantly spread through the enclosed halls of the cave, drawing the two snakes out of their nests.
Driven by the spur of curiosity and instinct, the idea of mating set their huge bodies to slither away toward the source, not expecting to bump into each other along the way.
"What are you doing here?"
Regalus was the first one to react when he saw his usually nonchalant sibling.
"For the same reason that you are here, of course."
Zethus replied as a matter of fact. Regalus clicked his tongue not wanting to have another exchange of nonsense with the thick-skinned, icy fellow.
The two snakes strolled together in their half-beast form to fit in the 'narrow' path of the cave. They both came to a halt at a distance before the black snake could sense their presence.
The siblings sneakily spied on the pair like some teenage boys who are out to explore their adolescence.
Resembling the black beast's previous reaction, their eyes widened at the sight of the female's white jugs. Regalus' hands involuntarily rise like some kind of old perv wanting to feel them in his palms.
"Damn that Nemus!"
He blurted out quite resentfully while staring at the black snake who was now squeezing the female's melons and sucking her cherries with his tongue.
Zethus also clenched his jaw and swallowed hard at the lust-inducing sight of the female, but the fact that she was making those noises in the hands of another man made him uncomfortable inside.
However, he chose to remain silent unlike the shameless gold snake on the side who's throwing punches in the air and looking as if someone scammed him off his riches.
Contrary to his brother's whimsical act, he had a subtle change of expression. Quite after, Zethus started to ponder on the female's reaction. His face turned a little red while picturing her inviting image in his mind, but it was strange that she didn't feel repulsed being touched by a feral.
Is it because of the elapid's fluid? Nemus hails from a species that possesses venom that contains a high volume of toxicity even among snakes. His saliva and blood can be used in many ways such as an aphrodisiac.
Did he or did he not?
Zethus was conflicted, but looking at how tame she was without exhibiting any form of struggle or sign of abhorrence, he let go of the idea of Nemus forcing himself on her.
Once again, Zethus' mind was filled with her pair of ample chests, trying to deduce something. Not long after, Zethus cleared his throat before voicing out his assumptions.
"Judging by her form, the female must be a heifer."
Regalus stopped at his brother's words. It was still a mystery to him how this youngun could remain calm under such a heated scene. The corner of his mouth rises unknowingly.
"She does look sensitive around her bosom."
Regalus commented while nodding at himself as he practically watched the female's live show without any kind of reservation.
"Hers would be extra sensitive, especially since she…"
Zethus' words trailed off; an idea that never crossed his mind popped like a bubble and dawned on him. His serious gaze fell on the female's body which didn't appear to have any marking.
'No way,'
"That female, she doesn't have a spousal mark."
It wasn't a question but a statement. He was sure of it. Regalus uttered the words which made the two of them fall into dead silence.
How could they not realize it sooner?
A lone female suddenly shows up in a predator's lair. Only a half-wit, ignorant plant-eater would be so stupid as to prey herself without realizing. Although the female oddly doesn't possess any beast semblance, judging by her exceptional pair of mammary, Regalus can only think of an animal that possesses them.
Cows.
Although hers were a little small compared to how big they typically grow on adult females, there's no mistaking it!
"She must be a minor who got separated from her herd before migrating to Seto."
On the far south of the Ilhu Mountains, there is a wide fertile grassland that serves as a refuge for many warm-blooded beasts during the winter. Seto is a small part of the central plains that is bound to the city of beasts, Graneia.
It's typical for grazing animals to migrate for hundreds of miles during winter to search for food and water. The snakes recognize the possibility that her herd must have passed this part of the mountains and accidentally left her behind.
For a large group that's rushing through the perilous mountains full of savage beasts, it's no surprise that they didn't stop to search for her even if they did realize her absence. Since they will only fall prey to the predators if they delve deeper into the mountains by deviating from their normal course.
Abandoning a single female would be a better choice than endangering all members of their tribe in a futile attempt to search and rescue her.
The two snakes instantly regretted their reluctant behavior when they first met the female. Due to their hesitation and overthinking, they had let Nemus, that possessive brat, take care of her.
Did he know about the girl?
Zethus shook his head. There's no way that stubborn fool would know beforehand. He's just way too straightforward about his feelings.
"Damn it!"
Regalus cursed in annoyance. He had been waiting for so many years to find a mate and as the oldest, considering his seniority, he should be the first to get a female of his own, right? However, due to a simple misconception, it appears that their youngest would beat him into it.
Zethus patted his brother's shoulder and lightly snickered.
"There, there,"
"Shut it!"
"Pfft!"
On the outside, Zethus might have been a little playful, but he also feels a little disappointed. Knowing how possessive that black snake is, it would be very tough to get a piece of her.
That being said, it would still be good to have a female around even not as a mate and learn from her how to woo other females. That way, even if she doesn't accept him when the stars align and he meets his own female, he will do his best to gain her affection without forcing himself on her.
That is what Zethus thought not knowing that the cosmos seal had already entangled his fate to someone in the corner of the universe.
They were both busy with their thoughts when they suddenly heard Nemus' anxious voice for the first time in years. Seeing the female lose consciousness in his arms, the other two rushed over wanting to check on her.
The quick-witted Zethus stopped in front of the entrance with caution however, before he could stop the other from entering the lair, Regalus had already proceeded without realizing what he had done.
Sensing the presence of another adult beastman entering his territory, Nemus morphed into his black serpent body and flared up his neck trying to intimidate the intruder. His eyes didn't grow any softer when he saw one of his brothers in his half-beast form looking towards the unconscious female.
Everyone knows that it is taboo to enter another beast's territory that houses a female without permission more so during the period of mating. Stepping into one is akin to an outright declaration of challenging the female's husband or husbands.
Nemus had already marked his lair with his pheromones to warn any intruder from setting foot inside, it is also the reason why the two snakes chose to stand and watch from afar. Alas, due to worry, their body moved thoughtlessly, and now here's Regalus facing the menace of their dear brother.
A beastman's instinct doesn't discriminate be it a family or a foe. Nemus hissed at him and hid the girl behind his back in a very protective manner. He glances at Zethus threateningly, warning him to not meddle before turning to Regalus ready to launch his attack anytime if he ever makes a move and tries to snatch the female from him.
"Hey, relax! We're not here to take the girl."
Regalus carelessly exclaimed making him sound more defensive in the process. Zethus cursed him for being so indecisive during urgent moments.
'Stupid.'
Zethus quickly backed away from Nemus' range after sensing the slight change in his stance, not wanting to be the object of his wrath. Just as he expected, Nemus swiftly flung his huge body to launch an attack towards Regalus who was standing within his striking distance.
The powerful impact caused the cave to shake. The dust on the ground rises, creating a smokescreen and blurring Zethus' vision.
"Older brother, are you still alive?"
Zethus shouted from the corner with his usual nonchalant attitude. When he saw Regalus emerge unscathed he clicked his tongue disapprovingly as if wanting him to suffer a little instead at the hands of their youngest.
"Damn you Zethus I heard that!"
Zethus shrugged and continued to watch the other two thrashing each other. Regalus' pair of powerful hands gripped the terrifying jaws of the black snake. Every cord of his muscle starts contracting as he gathers his strength trying to push its mouth away from his body.
Nemus hissed and bared his fangs above, wanting to sink them into the beastman's chiseled skin. His sharp, pointy teeth move inch by inch closer to his enemy's face. In no time, it produced a colorless substance that almost fell on Regalus' head had he not let go of him and evaded it in time.
Nemus' venom trickled down and as soon as it made contact with the ground, small bubbles and steam formed and began eroding the part where it dripped on.
Regalus' face was filled with horror after witnessing the corrosiveness of the serpent's venom.
"Oy, oy! I'm your brother!"
