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Welcome to Snakes and Starvation stream!

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Welcome to Snakes and Starvation stream!

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I will be posting new chapters as soon as I can get them out. For now, you can read the first chapters, or create your own character or idea and email me about it at rfagal@nilesadventistschool.org. Happy reading!

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This book takes place in the future, where colonies are already being made on planets that can support life. But a new, dangerous species was discovered called the Serpentine. They were much more powerful then the people, and waged war against them for centuries. But soon the humans brought peace to the conflict, and the fighting stopped.
But some people, like the main character, Ashland, were affected very badly by the Serpentine, and still hold feelings of anger and fear against them.

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A famine came to our colony, decreasing the income from the wheat fields, and soon we had to rely on storage. But it was not much, and our money was very limited. Our elders knew that our people would be reduced to poverty. The only other way to buy food was to the market that connects the other colonies on the planet Wentera. And me, being the youngest, and least likely to be picked for a robbery, was told that I would be the one to go down and find the best price to buy more wheat at. I had recently turned 17, and was not scared anymore of the surrounding colonies. I knew I had to see for myself what caused us trouble all those years.

After a short walk, at least an hour, I could see the marketplace, with several other colonies surrounding it. It was built in a large clearing in a thick dark forest, overshadowed by several towers built surrounding the town. Our colony was secluded from the others, mostly because of our continuous fear of the other creatures that lived in them. Even from this far away view, I could see what made a large fraction of the crowd: Serpentine. I felt dread well up in my stomach.  They were a continuous threat to us. Serpentine are a large, powerful race of humanoid snakes, with many different subspecies and rulers. In fact, to this day their leaders are in the power-struggle between all of the greatest kings of the scattered worlds. But here were only people who wanted to step away from the fighting, or were hiding from the kings.

I stepped down the hill between me and the town, and could now see that in relation to other people, Serpentine are actually quite large. I completely ignored all the humans around, not even very easy to be seen next to their snake-like neighbors Long thick necks, and scaly bodies, each with a small but noticeable pair of claws on each of their hands. They didn’t see me act so warily around them, not even regarding me as noticeable. I tried to do the same, pretending their presence didn’t make me want to cry.

But what confused me most, was the transition that came when I arrived here. As I continued to walk through the marketplace, I recalled the stories from our elders about them, how the Serpentine would often take terrible rituals where for the next day every living they saw, they would kill. I learned they used to be barbarians and war hungry warriors, stealing children for slaves, or attacking villages without taking any of their supplies, just for sport and blood lust.

As I continued, I could see the differences between some. Several of them had black and grey scales, with large jaw bones and muscles, and grey metallic spikes angled off of their bodies. These ones were some of the largest of the types, all of them possessing large muscles and thick bodies. Another type had white and red scales, with large fangs. Several of those snakes had two heads, and they made a smaller fraction of the Serpentine present. There were more types, like the light and dark green ones, which seemed to be the fastest and most active, and some of them were running just because it was faster than walking. Another type was blue, with yellow spiral symbols across their scales and cobra-like hoods. They had very deep eyes, the type that you could get lost in so easily, and you couldn’t find your way out as easily. Each of the types of Serpentine seemed to remain in their own group, only socializing with their own subspecies.

I continued walking, somewhat faster than before. I wanted to get away from these monsters as soon as I could.

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I walked across the town, suddenly realizing my brown coat was strange and foreign in relation to the other people’s clothes, decorated with ornate patterns and well blended colors. I felt like a drop of mud in an ocean of pure spring water. Not dirty, but different and uncommon. I started to like feeling it, making me seem different from the crowd.

Soon I started realizing how loud it was. People and Serpentine were both yelling, advertising their product, or calling friends or family. I was one of the few quiet ones, but not the only. I could see that between some of the larger booths, there were groups of Serpentine watching people walk by. I realized they were looking at me. I suddenly wished I didn’t look as out of place as I did. I continued walking.

Farther away from the yelling, I felt the feeling of dread slip away. There were less Serpentine here, and more people too. It was much quieter, with a much more serene atmosphere. Far away, I could see the people and Serpentine both working in the fields side by side. I sighed. They would soon see the truth about Serpentine, that they never feel kindness or human emotions. They only want profit, and will remove anyone in the way of receiving it.

I wished that I didn't feel so out of place. I was starting to get anxious, and fearful, knowing that no one from my colony would be able to help me if I got in trouble.

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I stood against one of the wooden buildings, catching my breath. It was a long ways across the village, and in my haste to leave the presence of the Serpentine. I took off my coat, realizing how much I was sweating. The earthy smell mixed with the constant heat made it feel like a desert. I looked again at the fields. The silhouettes of the farmers and workers could be seen against the continuous blare of the sun. I could now feel at peace, away from enemies and-

“Do you want some bricks?”

I looked to the source of those words, behind me. There was a much younger Serpentine, one of the black ones. He was much smaller than the adults of his kind, and his spikes that ran down his neck and back hadn’t matured yet. He had an almost human face, although it was clear that he wasn’t from the scales and radiant colors, and powerful jaw line.

“I said, do you want some bricks?”

I turned and faced him. “What makes you think that I want some of your bricks?” I said, and I admit, kind of meanly.

“Well, you are leaning against the shop. The sign above you says bricks. Want any?” I couldn’t see any emotions. He looked bored.

I decided to keep the conversation going, with nothing else to do. “Do you always ask people minding their own business if they want some worthless bricks?”

He didn’t seem insulted by my comment about the bricks. “I’m new at this, just holding down the fort for my brother until he comes back. You’re lucky he isn’t here, or he’d be yelling at you for touching his property.”

“So this place is owned by your brother?” I said back, actually finding interest in talking with one of the people our people hate.

“No, actually it belongs to my dad, but he acts like everything is his.” He didn’t even bother looking at me.

“Do you know where I can buy food?” I asked, not remembering to stay cautious.

He sighed, sounding even more bored than before. “You sure you don’t want any bricks?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I’m sure I don’t want any of your bricks. Go ahead and save them for someone else. But I really need to know where I can buy food. My whole colony could depend on it. Please?”

The Serpentine looked at me, then at the bricks, pretending to be reluctant to help me.

"Yes, they're over at the main square, take a left by the necklace booth." He sighed, then went back to his small pad of paper, and kept writing. I was curious about what he was writing, but decided to think nothing of it. I started walking back down the street.

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I need more ideas for this book! New characters, new creatures, new locations, anything you can think of that you might like added to this universe, just email me at rfagal@nilesadventistschool.org and tell me what your ideas are! I answer all of them personally, so don't be afraid to tell me your suggestions. Thanks!