The scent of blood drew her like a quiet invitation.
Selina slowed her movements as she stepped into a small clearing, her tongue flicking instinctively to taste the air. The metallic tang was strong fresh , warm and impossible to miss. Beneath it , there was something else....a steady presence, thought faint.
"Well.... that's definitely not something small", she murmured, her voice soft with curiosity. Her lips curved slightly as she moved forward, her long tail gliding silently behind her." Please don't disappoint me".
As she pushed past a low branch, her eyes landed on him and she stopped.
The beastman lay at the base of a tree, his body partially turned to the side, one arm slack while the other rested near his deep wound on his ribs . Blood stained on him dark and spreading , but his chest still rose and fell in uneven breaths.
"Oh...wow" she whispered, taking a few slow steps closer. "Now this is what I call a good find".
Her gaze lingered shamelessly as she approached , taking her time to look him over properly. His features were sharp , his build strong even in his current state , muscles still tense as if his body refused to fully relax.
"Mmmm...you are actually really nice to look at " she said softly, crouching beside him. " And here I thought today couldn't get any better."
She reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from his face, her fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
"Unconscious,too..."she added , tilting her head slightly."you really picked the perfect position for me to admire you".
A quiet laughed escaped her ,light and teasing.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything...yet," she murmured, though the playful glint in her eyes said otherwise.
Her attention shifted to his wound, and her expression softened just slightly.
"That's....not great", she admitted, gently pulling back his fabric near his side. The cut was deep , still bleeding slowly. " You really went through something, didn't you?".
She pressed lightly around the injury, testing. His body reacted faintly a small shift , a weak breath but he didn't wake up .
Selina sat back slightly, her tail curling loosed around her as she thought.
"So... what do I do with you?"she asked aloud, glancing down at him. "Leave you here ...or take you with me".
She tapped her cheek lightly, pretending to consider it seriously, though the answer was already obvious in her expression.
".....yeah, no"
She decided after a moment. "I'm not leaving something this interesting behind."
She leaned forward again, her tone turning lightly playful.
"Congratulations," she said softly , " you have officially been claimed by me."
Her tail moved .
Slowly.
Carefully.
It slid beneath his body , lifting him just slightly from the ground. Selina adjusted her position, making sure his injured side wasn't pressed too harshly. Her movement were deliberate, surprisingly gentle for someone so openly mischievous.
"Don't complain later", she murmured as she worked. " I'm being very careful with you".
With a smooth motion, her tail coiled around him, supporting his weight along it's length. She tightened it just enough to keep him stable, her muscles flexing subtly beneath glossy black scales.
She paused once he was secure, glancing down at him with a small, satisfied smile.
"Mmmm....not bad "she said. " You fit pretty nicely".
Her tail adjusted slightly again, setting him more comfortably. "Try not to die while I'm carrying you," she added casually
"That would be very inconvenient for me."
She straightened slightly, preparing to move then suddenly froze. "....Wait "
Her eyes narrowed.
Then she slowly looked around the forest.
"I don't have a place ", she said flatly.
Silence followed. Then she let out a quiet, disbelieve laugh .
"You're kidding me", she muttered." I just picked someone up and I didn't even have a cave?"
Her tail shifted slightly, tightening unconsciously around him before she relax it again.
*This is what happens when you act first and think later" , she sighed."Really, Selina.... good job."
"And snakes aren't exactly popular in beastworld..."she murmured"at least not the feral types "
Her lips curved again after a moment.
"But at least snake females are tolerated " she added slightly. " So I guess I'm not completely unlucky ".
Her gaze lingered on his face.
"Mmmm....you really are lucky," she said softly"if it was someone else, you might've been ignored or eaten".
She shifted her weight and began moving, her tail carrying him securely as she slithered forward through the forest.
"Alright ",she said quietly, scanning her surrounding."let's find something that looks like a decent place to stay"
The forest stretched endlessly around her, filled with shadows and quiet movement. Selina moved carefully but confidently, her sense guiding her as she searched for anything that could serve as shelter.
"A cave ....a hollow.....even a decent overhang would work" , she murmured "I just need somewhere safe enough so you don't die on me,"
Her eyes flickered down to him again , and her smile returned slow and amused.
"You're really making this complicated, you know that?"she said . "First day here and I'm already carrying a man through the forest ".
She paused briefly, then added with a soft laugh,
"....Not that I mind"
Her tail adjusted again, shifting him slightly as she stepped over a fallen log.
"Careful..." She murmured. "If you fall , I'm leaving you there . I'm not picking you up twice."
A faint breeze passed through the trees , rustling the leaves around her. Selina stopped for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the area ahead.
"... There" she said after a second , spotting a darker formation between a cluster rocks . " That's looks promising".
She moved toward without hesitation, her pace steady, her tail maintaining it's careful hold around him.
"Hold on," she added softly almost absent-mindedly. "I'm taking you somewhere better".
As she approached the rocky area, her expression relaxed slightly. It's wasn't perfect but it was enough. A small cave opening, partially hidden, dry and shaded.
"Mmmm...not bad", she said. "I can work with this".
She stopped at the entrance, glancing down at him once more .
"You're staying with me for now" she said lightly "so try to wake up soon ... I'm getting curious".
Her tail loosened just slightly, still supporting him as she prepared to bring him inside .
"And when you wake up...." She added,her smile turning just a little more mischievous