257 A Delicate Balance

|[You want me to give them names?]| I asked.

Arsinoe nodded.

The three serpents before me had their heads down, and although they had grown out of their black and white patterns, I still recognised each one as the nestlings I placed on Artemis's team.

Arsinoe was now a honey brown colour, with distinctive black spade markings, and when she approached me, her pink eyes shone with a rather unflinching gaze.

The two serpents with her were no different in size, but both were a solid dark blue colour, with a pearly iridescent sheen to their scales. Yet aside from her, none of them could look me squarely in the eyes.

It was almost admirable how big her courage was.

I didn't hold it against them, considering they'd all just been through a battle, but as I looked around me, I was amazed at just how colourful all the creatures were.