Thanks for all the comments I appreciated it

And now for the conclusion!

Chapter Nine - The New Paradigm

For once Joseph felt completely full.

And he was sickened by it.

It was always this way after the change. The Warg would gorge itself on whatever if could find and he, Joseph, would be full for weeks, not needing to eat, not needing to hunt, not constantly consumed by hunger.

And he would remember everything it ate. He wished he didn't, he wished that everything it did was consumed by darkness in his mind, hazy in his memory. But it was crystal clear in every detail. He couldn't control it, couldn't tame it, but he could remember that things it did, even if he didn't remember what went on in its mind, or was it his mind?

Why did it have to go an' eat Father Smith? Why couldn't I control it just this one time? Reckon it didn't need Smith, he was only bite so why? Joseph silently cursed himself as he came upon the scene of his rampage.

He had woken up as he always had after these rampages, in a knothole, a burrow, or a pile of leaves, some kind of cover his dazed body would crawl to after the change. This time it was a shallow burrow, likely dug by some manner of sentient given that there were shovel marks in the sides of the tunnel. Since then Joseph had made up all sorts of tasks, and jobs for himself, making sure not to let any of the time he wasn't starving constantly go to waste. He went searching for voidcaps, fire grass, and the other, lets call them 'solutions' that Felarya sometimes provided to help with the many problems that it always managed to supply.

But in the end he had to go back to the dimensional gate, to retrieve his duster, hat, and knife. Joseph had avoided it mentally as well, ignoring the guilt that always seemed to rise up in his belly. He was able to put it off while he was occupied with other things. But here, at the scene of the crime, it overwhelmed him. He knelt down, and wept for the priest and, as ashamed as he was to admit it, for himself as well.

This is why I can't leave Felarya, Padre. I reckon on other worlds I'd be a hideous monster, but here I just sorta fit into the background. I'm still a monster, but nobody really notices. Joseph thought for a moment, Mostly 'cause I end up eatin' 'em all. Point is I reckon I don't stand out. This is where I belong, with all the rest of the monsters, he thought bitterly.

After awhile Joseph got up and dried his tears. This was was no place to be unprepared and unaware, leastways if you didn't want to die. And for some reason he could never quite understand Joseph always seemed to push forward, even when he felt like dying.

Slowly he moved to pick up his effects. First his knife, as sharp as the day it was given to him. This was followed by his hat which he placed on his head. This managed to give Joseph some comfort, the familiar weight on his head as much a part of him as any part of his body. Finally he picked up his duster, and threw it over his shoulder. There was a thwack as something inside it hit his leg. Joseph reached into the coat and pulled the offending object out.

Ha my journal! I got some things to write in this thing! Joseph's thoughts where interrupted by a loud crashing sound, But I reckon I better do it somewhere else.

With that he took off across the clearing and jumped back into the trees, making his way back home.

=================================

Joseph landed next to Phil. He had made good time through the forest, as he didn't have to stop to find something to eat as he usually did. Also he'd only run into one predator on his way over, but luckily she hadn't seen him. Was one of them dridders too, Joseph always felt he was about to step on a web while one of them was around. He was glad she didn't see him, because until he was hungry again, he wouldn't be able to shift into the Warg even if he wanted to.

"Hey Phil how you been?" he asked, "That's good," he answered patting Phil as he walked to the entrance of his hideout and slipped inside.

Once inside of his hideout Joseph quickly took out the book, and set it on the ground.

This a world of monsters.

Felarya

It is a horrific world, filled with creatures that will eat a man as fast a look at him.

Joseph paused, "Well, what does that make me?" He asked himself before laughing, "Reckon I know."

And I, Joseph Stranger, ain't much better.

Joseph looked down at the page and shook his head in disgust, only to notice something, peculiar. He felt the surface of the page, and yes their were small, almost invisible grooves, as if someone had written on the other side. But I didn't write anything on the second page yet.

He turned the page and indeed there was writing on it. Joseph was surprised, but he quickly read the writing in disbelief, and following that he read again, and again, till he could be absolutely sure he wasn't imagining it.

Joseph,

I suppose I've know come to realize why you are so hesitant to leave Felarya, what with that...thing...you've turned into. I want you to know that I don't blame you for what you are about to do, I know that if you could control it you would. I ask you not to blame yourself, but I know you will, so I'm going to charge you with tasks to do as penance for your actions today, and those in the past.

One, no more killing sentient beings unless you have to. I know on this world taking the less violent path is not always an option, but I urge you to take it whenever you can. I think you'll find that in the end it is the better way.

Two, help others as you have helped me, help travelers lost in Felarya and predators if they need it, even if its hard to do.

Three, Joseph I don't know if its possible, but search for a way to control the change. I know you probably have already and come up with nothing, but still you never know what's out there. In the meantime try not to skip to many meals.

Well that's it, make sure to do those three things and I know I at least will forgive you for your past. I thank you for aiding me Joe, you may have given my world the chance to undo some of the consequences of mine and others misdeeds. Remember you can't change what was done in the past, only what you will do in the future.

–Father Smith

Joseph put his journal down and thought for a moment, I...I reckon I better do what he says. It was strange, he never got a letter from somebody he was about to eat. He'd expected more curse words.

A sudden creaking all around him interrupted Joseph's musings and informed him that Phil had caught something, Wonder what it could be? he thought as he climbed out of his hole. He was surprised when he found out just who it was.

Andry was gripping a nearby tree with both her hands desperately trying to pull herself forward. One off Phil's long tendrils had wrapped itself around the middle of her tail and was trying to pull her towards its maw. Andry had her eyes closed as she struggled, to preoccupied to notice Joseph at all. She was actually doing rather well considering how strong Phil was.

Well, I guess I better help her then, like the Padre asked, Joseph gulped nervously, Hope she ain't too angry about the whole tying her up thing, he thought as he approached the struggling naga.

The tendril around her a tail was taught as a bow string, and not to thick. Joseph knew that while the tendrils of a Hydra tree were extraordinarily strong and tough, stretched out like this it would be fairly easy to cut through. He pulled out his knife and sighed, "Sorry Phil, can't let you have this one," he mumbled.

With a few well placed strokes the tendril was cut, this caused Phil's tendril to fly backward smashing into the trunk. Andry's tail performed a similar function spring forward and smashing her headlong into the tree she was holding on too. Instinctively she wrapped her tail around the tree trunk with such force that it caused the bark to splinter. She opened her eyes and saw part of Phil's tendril still gripping onto her, she blinked and looked around until her eyes fell on Joseph, at which point they stopped moving entirely and stared him down.

Well good deed done better skedaddle, thought Joseph as he slowly backed up. There was a sudden and very loud thud behind him, as Joseph backed directly into Andry's waiting hand. Her fingers grasped around him, gently enough that there was no pain, but too firmly to leave any hope of escape.

Aw hell!

They stared at each other for a few moments. Neither one betraying any emotion, faces like stone, and eyes locked, no motion and no sound just silence.

And then Joseph broke it, "Uh howdy?" he said attempting to wave only to remember that Andry had his hands clamped to his side by Andry's fingers, "How you been Andry?"

Andry continued to stare for a few moments, at a loss of what to say and then...

"You!" she said suddenly, "You are going to teach me!"

"Teach ya?" asked Joseph, confused. Andry nodded. "Teach ya what?" asked Joseph, "How ta' speak properly?" he hazarded.

"What? NO!" said a frustrated Andry, "How to hunt!"

Joseph thought for a moment, "Reckon that makes sense," Joseph admitted, "Yer a piss poor hunter."

"Am not!" Andry responded, "I just...need a few pointers, that's all."

"Well why should I?" asked Joseph.

Andry suddenly brought Joseph towards her till his head was almost touching her lips. She opened her mouth slowly, letting him see its detail entirely. He could she her red tongue, the walls of her mouth, and of course the glistening white teeth which suddenly snapped shut with large clacking sound.

Joseph shook his head, "Nope, that ain't gonna cut it," he explained, "If I teach ya how to hunt like me, ain't gonna be a man, woman, or child safe in these woods, and that'll be on my conscience, "I'll only agree to teach you if you promise never to eat anything sentient again."

"Fine," Andry grumbled, "Deal."

Alright I guess I better go along with her, until I can reach my...wait a minute, she AGREED?

Joseph was dumbfounded, "Okay then, I reckon I'll teach you," he said suddenly, without even realizing it.

"Great," said Andry.

Well I'll be a bloodclaw's uncle, I guess the Padre was more right then I knew...

"Of course when I say I won't ever eat any intelligent lifeforms, I meant the good people, I still maintain the right to eat the bad ones," Andry said suddenly.

"Now hold on just a minute..." started Joseph.

"Oh come on you gotta give me the murderers and rapists and whatnot!" said Andry.

"...Fair enough," said Joseph, "But nobody else got it?"

"Yep!" said Andry smiling smugly.

"Also ya gotta start wearing clothes."

"Why?" Andry asked.

"Believe me, you'll need 'em."

"Alright...but only if you shave more often, oh and bathe."

Ugh, maybe I should just let her eat me.

=================================

This a world of monsters.

Felarya

It is a horrific world, filled with creatures that will eat a man as fast a look at him.

And I, Joseph Stranger, ain't much better.

But I'm trying to be.

Good story...We hear the Characters thoughts...thats nice

Good continuation. I liked the added comment at the very end.

I do always wonder, though, how morally-inclined predators think they can recognise murderers and rapists wandering around...

i wonder that too!... wow....a naga persuaded to wear clothes AND not eat humans (except bad ones...which brings us back to snack's question...how does she know who is good and who is bad?

Thanks for the comments! I'm glad you all seemed to like the ending! I wanted to end on a cheery note after the downer that was the previous chapter.

French snack wrote:

Good continuation. I liked the added comment at the very end. I do always wonder, though, how morally-inclined predators think they can recognise murderers and rapists wandering around...

Well I'm sure Andry will be able to find a plethora of them somehow...

Though there are plenty of bandits wandering around, the process of Andry not eating certain people might need some fine tuning. I guess it will depend on how the next story works out. It certainly isn't as straight up as she says, and Joseph might have to stop her from trying to sneak a bite or two.

timing2 wrote:

That was an unexpected ending and excellent ending! I like how things turned out, though it seemed a little too convenienient for Andry to show up and be caught by Phil that easily. Maybe he was hiding his true range from her all this time, hoping she'd wander too close? Still, the scene worked well and I'm happy to see Joe & Andry together after all that. Father Smith would've been happy, I think. I do hope Andry does her best to make sure Joe stays well fed. After some intense training by him, I don't think that'll be too much of a problem. Now, if only they can keep from getting on each other's nerves...

Andry got caught because she has a tendency to think of herself as invincible, when she really isn't. Giant Naga's are impressive even by Felaryan standards, but that doesn't mean there aren't things that can be dangerous for them. Andry forgets this fact sometimes, say doesn't pay as much attention to her surroundings as she should, (Which is part of the reason she is such an abysmal hunter.)

This will be more apparent once Joseph starts to instruct her.

EliteCreature wrote:

i wonder that too!... wow....a naga persuaded to wear clothes AND not eat humans (except bad ones...which brings us back to snack's question...how does she know who is good and who is bad?

Well some of that stuffs still in the debate process, the main reason that she'll be wanting to wear clothing will be protection, and to carry tools/weapons.

Well now that that story is done I got the first chapter of another one, ready to post.

This one will be shorter, and detail Joseph's attempts to teach Andry how to hunt "proper."

Disclaimer: Felarya, and all related characters concepts, etc, belong to Karbo

Hunting 101

Lesson 1 - Choosing your Prey.

There are three rules to surviving on Felarya.

Keep your eyes, ears and nose, if possible, open at all times.

Stay in cover as much as possible, avoid being out in the open.

And don't be fooled by a pretty face.

That last one is really important.

–Felaryan Adventurer's Almanac Volume 23

The naga slowly ran her tongue over the little human in her mouth. He squirmed and struggled and cried out, but to no avail. Her saliva washed over him, soaking his clothes and causing him to slip and slide across the mouth. He hung onto one of the long fangs jutting up from the front of her mouth, hanging on to it desperately. The tongue pressed into him, breaking his hold and moving him backwards towards the the throat,. This was it, he was going to be swallowed, he was going to...

"ANDRY!" roared someone the outside of the Naga's mouth, "What in the Sam Hill do ya think yer doin'?"

The man found himself suddenly flung into a cheek as the naga spoke. The chattering of the teeth next to him caused a shiver of fear to run up his spin.

"What's it look like I'm doing? I'm eating," The naga known as Andry replied simply, "Why do you got to make a big deal about it Joe?"

"Andry, don't ya remember that little promise ya made? The one about NOT eatin' people?"

"Hold on I" Andry paused as her captive wailed loudly, "Quiet you!"

"Fer cryin' out loud Andry, let the poor guy out!"

Andry complied spitting the man out onto her hand but still holding him tightly. He looked around and saw the huge naga still grasping him, and the man below them, looking up at the naga accusingly. It was quite a drop to the ground, he'd break at least a few bones if he fell that far. The closed his eyes and whimpered softly to himself.

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted!" began Andry, glaring at the offending man in her grasp, "This guy here is bonafide monster!" declared Andry, proud of her discovery, "And I've got proof!"

"What proof?" asked Joseph, crossing his arms.

"This!" Andry twisted her torso around, and with her free hand picked up something. She turned to face forward again, and dropped something to Joseph. He caught it and inspected it.

It was a sword, one of the mass produced ones you could find in the shop of any weapons dealer in Negav. Joseph drew it from its hilt and discovered to his shock that the sword was...completely spotless, not even a speck of blood. He sniffed it, and not only was their no scent of blood or flesh or other gory bits. Heck it even had that new sword smell, the kind you get right of the shop. Joseph looked back up at Andry.

"Ownin' a sword don't make ya a murderer Andry," said Joseph shaking his head, "'Cides this thing ain't even been drawn more than once or twice, let alone used on anything."

Andry looked confused, "But he told me he had slain thousands with his skill... Didn't you!" she snarled at the little man, bringing him up to her face.

"I...I lied," gasped the man as Andry's breath washed over him, "I was hoping you'd get scared and leave me alone if I said that, I've never even been in a fight...PLEASE DON"T EAT ME!"

"See," said Joseph, "He ain't a mass murderer."

"Well, he's still I liar, so he deserves whatever he gets," reasoned Andry, raising the man above her mouth and preparing to drop him back in.

The man screamed again.

"ANDRY!" growled Joseph.

"Oh...fine," grumbled Andry as she placed her captive on the ground. "Don't you go lying to people anymore, understand?" she scolded him, wagging her finger warningly.

"I won't I promise!" he said, as he took off running. He couldn't believe he was alive, he was sure that naga was going to swallow him whole! Well that was it, no more adventuring for him, he was going to run all the way back to Negav and never leave again. The world was so beautiful, the air was so fresh.

"Wait kid, stop!" cried Joseph, but the former adventurer was having none of it, he certainly wasn't going back to face that naga, he was home fr–

Suddenly he found himself pulled skyward. The world dropped away from him, as everything on the ground became smaller, and smaller. He looked up to see a humongous talon grasping him, and further upward to see a harpy eyeing him hungrily. He began shivering again.

"Say goodbye ya little squirt," she laughed as she tossed him skyward. The man screamed one last time as he was thrown up into the air, and then came back down. He fell into her mouth, she held him there for a moment as he struggled to climb out. Just as he was about to reach it the harpy closed her mouth, shutting out the last light he would ever see alive.

=================================

Both Joseph and Andry heard a loud gulping sound above them, followed by giggling.

"An' that's why I never run out into a clearin' like that," sighed Joseph, his hat placed on his chest and his head slowly shaking.

Andry looked thoughtfully upward, after a few moments she replied, "You know Joe, you should've just let me eat him. He got eaten anyway, at least I wouldn't have been hungry."

"Aw quit yer whinin' and follow me," growled Joseph placing his hat back on his head and trying to ignore the growing pain in his own stomach, "There's some duikers half a mile that way," he said pointing, "We can get 'em if ya hurry up."

"Fine I'm just saying..."

"Shhh! Ya gotta be quiet remember?"

For once Andry simply nodded, as she slithered quietly after Joseph as he lead her through the forest, intent on getting something to eat.

I still think he was a mass murder!

well i like this! Plz keep writing!

Hehe, I liked it. It was short, but that's not a problem.

You took a common situation in several other stories and turned it neatly upon its head. "A bonafide monster!" Andry just knew she had caught a real bad one.

If only the guy had survived, I'm fairly sure he would've never lied again in his life.

I also liked how Joseph turned even the last bit into another lesson. Good work!

Awesome job dude! One of my favorite stories about Felarya was just made better! Please keep it up!! CHOO CHOO!!

Thanks all.

I suppose I'll just keep writing this story then.

Well, that certainly answers my earlier question. Andry can easily find proof of a human being a monster.

I'm not sure what kind of lesson she'll have learnt from this, though. "If I don't eat him, someone else will" ?

Good continuation, anyway. They're already making an interesting pair.

hehe funny chapter ^_^
I laughed at the mass murderer part, it gives a good glimpse at how Andry think and act, and it promise lot of akward scenes to come

Also I would like to add the little quote from the almanac if you are ok with it

Here's the next chapter. I've decided that this story will be from Andry's perspective.

Lesson 2 - Finding a Safe Place to Rest

Andry slithered as quietly as she could after Joseph. Apparently it wasn't quietly enough as Joseph kept turning around and gesturing at her to be quieter. But that was hardly fair! How did he except her to be as quiet as he was? Its easy for Joe, he's tiny! I on the other hand am normal sized, so its not my fault if twigs and so forth always break when I move!

They finally came upon a clearing in the undergrowth, and sure enough it was littered with duikers, calmly eating the succulent grass that grew in the clearing. The light streaming through the break in the trees fed the grass, as did a small trickling brook that meandered its way through the meadow, where a few of the duikers were drinking between mouthfuls of grass. Truly it was an idyllic scene, the kind explorers would trek for months through dangerous territory to catch a glimpse of.

Andry licked her lips as she stared hungrily at the duikers, saliva running down the sides of her mouth. So many tiny little treats all in one place, and she was so hungry. Andry slowly slithered around a nearby tree, quiet as she could and prepared to pounce into the middle of the biggest group, but she paused, looking around for Joseph, to see what he was doing. But where was he?

Why does he always disappear all of a sudden? Oh well, guess I'm just going to have to handle it myself, alright duikers prepare to be eaten!

Before Andry pounced however, something dropped from overhead, landing onto the duiker furthest away from her. It quickly snapped the beasts neck and roared. That's where Joseph went! I thought he said to be stealthy...

Andry's thoughts were interrupted as all the duikers started to run away from Joseph, and towards her! Quickly she grabbed up as many of them as she could stuffing them into her mouth hungrily. Andry managed to catch six of the tiny things before they started flaring off her, running in different directions. Those duikers were incredibly fast, and even a giant naga would have a hard time keeping up with them when they were at full speed.

Andry finished swallowing the last of the duikers she had caught, rubbing her belly contentedly, "Ah that hit the spot," she sighed, "There's no better replacement for lost food then even more food let me tell ya." She looked down at Joseph, hoisting two duikers on his back, one bleeding profusely from a hole in its throat. "You kill your prey before you eat it, that's so," Andry thought for a moment as shivers ran down her spine, "Creepy!" she decided at last scrunching up her pretty face.

Joseph gave her a long look, and then shook his head, "Reckon it might seem that way," he admitted, "From yer perspective, but I can't just shove 'em down my throat ya can at yer size," he explained opening his mouth to drive home the point. His elongated canines gleamed in the sunlight. Andry had to admit, they were kind of cute, tiny as they seemed from her perspective.

"Anyhow, I reckon we better be moving on, still got more stuff to move outta Phil, and into your place.

Andry grunted in response, I hate that stupid tree.

=================================

"I hate this stupid tree!"

"He ain't stupid," muttered Joseph, "Yer gonna hurt his feelings."

Andry glared at 'Phil' as Joseph called it, stupid, stupid hydra tree! It was huge, many times larger than Andry herself, and covered with all manner of branchlike tendrils, ready to grab up an innocent and unsuspecting giant naga and mercilessly devour her over a period of days! The very thought of it filled Andry with dread.

To Joseph though, Phil had apparently been a safe haven, big enough to house everything he had collected over the years. It was capable of warding off almost all predators, with the exception of fairies of course. He'd lived there for years in the knowledge that he was protected from most monstrosities, pretty or not, and that he could handle the rest if he had to.

But all that changed when he and Andry had made their deal. If Joseph was to instruct her, he couldn't be doing it from within such a horribly dangerous predator as Phil now could he! And so after a very long argument involving multiple debates, agreements, going back on previous agreements, alcohol, pages worth of statistics, at least one color coded chart, enough cursing to make harpy blush, and one very confused slug girl now suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, Joseph conceded that he would have to leave Phil for the time being, and instead migrate to the next safest spot, for his pupil's sake. Which as it turned out, meant he was moving in with Andry. This also meant that he and Andry, but mostly Andry would have to move much of what Joseph kept in the big tree to her dwelling, which was quite a trek to carry so many items. Andry hadn't complained however, as she was willing to agree to anything so long as it meant that she wouldn't ever have to see that accursed tree again.

Phil had almost eaten her a few weeks before, and if Joseph hadn't saved her...Andry shuddered at the thought. I should light a fire and burn the thing down, burn it to the ground! Andry smiled at the thought, Yeah, that would show that pile of bark whose boss! Andry could already smell the smoke...Wait a second.

Andry took a big sniff and realized she did in fact smell smoke. She looked down, and saw Joseph roasting the duikers over a fire, they smelt delicious. She remembered how good the ones that Father Smith had given her were. The priest had been a nice man, much nicer than Joseph that was certain. Andry had asked Joseph about him, which resulted in him staying silent for a whole day! That meant he must have been eaten, but Andry was confused as to what could have possibly done it, and Joseph had refused to answer any of her further questioning either. It better than have been one of those two fairies!

She looked back at the duikers, their juices just starting to rise through the meat and her mouth watered. Suddenly, Joseph's method didn't seem as creepy as he had at first thought it to be. She needed to test out this hypothesis, maybe she'd just sample one of them and then she'd make her decision.

"Hey Joseph, what's that?" asked Andry pointing off in a direction behind him. He turned to see what she was talking about, "No, no the other thing," Andry continued as the end of her tail slowly moved closer and closer to the duikers roasting over the fire. She could feel the heat against her scales telling her that she was close to the delicious prize. If she could just grab it...

"Get away from there!" roared Joseph suddenly, as one Phil's tendrils lashed out to grab the end of Andry's tail at incredible speed. Andry remembered her experience a few weeks ago and for a moment she froze watching as the tendril came closer and closer. At the last possible second, Andry came to her senses and flung the end of her tail out of the way.

Its intended target having escaped, the tendril flailed against the ground, knocking over one of the roasting duikers and causing it to fall into the mud. The carcass rolled for a minute and stopped in front of Andry, well within arms reach. Andry took no notice of this prize however as her attention was currently focused elsewhere.

"That horrible tree almost ate me again!" Andry roared, "That's it, that thing is firewood!" she declared, grabbing a nearby branch and jabbing the other end of it into Joseph's firepit. After a few moments she pulled it back out of the fire, the end of the branch now firmly ablaze, "Ha ha ha," the giant naga cackled, "Now you burn tree!" she said as she threw the branch at Phil.

The flaming branch bounced off of Phil and fell in the mud where to Andry's disappointment, the flame died. She scratched her head puzzled, "Why didn't it burn?" was all she could say.

"'Cause, ya nitwit," Joseph began, "Its too green, ya need a lot more fire to burn down livin' wood. Anyhow why'd ya gotta go and try and burn down ol' Phil anyhow?"

"Because he tried to eat me!" Andry yelled back at him, "Do you have any idea what thats like?" she asked.

Joseph just stared at Andry incredulously for a few moments, his mouth opening and closing but no words coming out.

Andry realized what she had said, "I mean besides you know," the end of her tail squirmed uncomfortably, "Uh, anyways, do you mind if I borrow this duiker?" and with that Andry bent down and picked up the duiker that had fallen into the ground and wiping it off. With a quick toss she threw it into her mouth, savoring its flavor before swallowing the thing whole. Finished, she licked her lips, "Thanks!" she chirped, before eyeing the second duiker hungrily.

Joseph, having snapped out of his stunned state, ran so fast he seemed to blur, tackling the cooking duiker to the ground, and devouring it as fast as he could, ripping pieces off barehanded and stuffing them into his mouth.

"Sheesh," Andry murmured, "No reason to be so greedy."