[color=#445544]"I'm holding a class on snakes."

It was all Cleo extended as she sat down, a well-concealed sigh drifting from now parted lips as the many snakes wrapped around her body disembarked and settled upon the ground. Only Eshe remained coiled around the bengal's neck, observing her kin through glowing golden eyes, a forked tongue escaping as she tasted the air. This was the first time her entire collection of various snakes would be revealed to her clanmates, boa constrictors and cobras alike all resting within inches of the undersized bengal. She'd pat one of their heads gently, a strangely affectionate gleam dancing within her sanguine gaze before she fixated her attention ahead.

Not many were fond of snakes, that much was true, but she hoped to perhaps shed a light on their more... gentler nature via means of this little class. She also had with her an abundance of dead mice, ideal food for her precious companions that would hopefully reveal that they were relatively low maintenance and caring for them was painfully simple. Snakes were good creatures that received the short end of the stick, Cleo was convinced. They did not at all harbor any sort of evilness to them nor did they carry an ulterior wickedness and lust for mayhem. They were merely snakes, misunderstood, beautiful snakes.  Cleo intended on showing her clanamtes just that.

Eshe had had her reservations towards all of this because, well, of course she did. She was not fond of interactions between feline and snake, wanting nothing more than to keep Cleo from her family and clanmates the best she could. It was why the captain's daughter was so withdrawn and quiet, always preoccupied by her dedication to the one snake that was relatively high maintenance. Cleo was so young, so easily manipulated, that she hadn't the faintest of ideas that Eshe was turning her into something vastly different than her divine intention, corrupting her very soul the more time they spent together.  It was a damn shame that they were inseparable.

Little mamba, Eshe hissed through their bond, that inexplicable dark feeling engulfing Cleo for a brief moment, Do not let any tragedy befall our family. A solemn nod from the bengal followed her snake's warning, a shaky breath inhaled the moment she realized that Eshe meant the snakes- not the Typhooners. [color=#445544]"Of course..." She whispered in response, [color=#445544]"I'll protect them... just like you taught me to."

Rosemary never put much thought into keeping pets, but - as it seemed to grow in fashion - an increasing number of her fellow pirates claimed at least one cute bugger to their name. Rosemary, herself, was no exception to this; she got one of Kal's hatchlings, though she often left the piebald crocodile to bask in her treehouse during the day. She learned, through owning such a pet, that her academic knowledge didn't fully transfer to making her fit as a caregiver. While she knew what Eri needed, she didn't quite know how to deal with his emotional outbursts or her own desire to connect with him.

So, hearing Cleo's announcement for a class on snakes, Rosemary became interested; more knowledge can't possibly hurt anyone, and she needed to know more about reptiles, anyway. Flicking her forked tail, she wandered over and sat in front of her niece, though at a distance that put her out of striking range for any defensive snakes.

Her orange-amber eyes look at the various species, recognizing a boa constrictor or two, though she couldn't begin to guess all of their species or how they hunted. She had never bothered to learn too much about reptile species until she needed to, like when she got the tegu egg gift for Roxanne or decided to take a saltwater croc as a pet. Eventually, after she got a good look, her eyes drifted back to Cleo as she wordlessly waited for the bengal to start the lesson.

//do mind me i got a little... exsesive. Last two paragraphs are important! //

Argus was actually very knowledgeable about snakes. In that one of their old... acquaintances used to favor them greatly. Like most animals they could bee seen this or that way. Cold blooded creatures that liked sunbathing and curing deep under the wings of Argus' form just to stay warm. In fact too they were glad that the gaping hole in the center of the chest wasn't an problem then, just thinking about it now gave them violent shivers. Still, the scent of scales was unmistakable to them. And the encroaching scent of it near camp had been alarming slightly at first. Giant anaconda's were common in the area and a very horrid way to die for any of their smaller classmates. It was only meeting cleo that kept Argus from investigating it further- hunting and killing whatever it was they found. Cleo was fond of them, and while Argus wasn't going to favor the child if they were a threat so far no missing animal reports were made yet so argus assumed they were cleos.

While yes- snakes were innocent little creatures when they were feral- very docile and more likely to run than they ever would attack. They were still dangerous, very much so. Argus had grown up next to cottonmouths and pitt vipers all the same. Rattlesnakes biting at their heels was the first kind of enemy they faced at four moons old, and the first actual meat they ever ate when abandoned at the age. They learned how to suck the venom out of their bites and create anti-toxins from venom until they needn't to anymore. Till their venom was as lethal as two pinpricks on an ankle and they could hunt without fear. They could eat a snake hole without worry of the venom dissolving the back of their throat. Yes- eventually that included black mamba's, and the only reason it took so long to get used to the venom was the fact of how rare they were in the desert Argus was born into.

There was a reason snakes were seen as sly and silver tongued. They lie in the shade and wait to strike, curling around their prey like a constrictor holding it secure and snug into it's victim realized it was choking. They swim in the shallows and wait for paws- their fangs were barely detectable until the venom was in you and you were already dead by then. Snakes were docile and mellow, unless they were on the hunt. Then they were as dangerous as any lion or tiger, and twice as swift- twice as lethal. There was a reason so many people compared other's to snakes. Lethal liars with venomous words. Sly speaking until they tricked you into doing their deeds.

Argus had companions, two badgers fully grown and rabbid with every fiber of their being. Furry little monsters, but they were with Argus sense they were kits. Now fully grown- they were more distant than usual, which was fine. They hunted on their own and they gathered things for Argus in return of more exotic tastes. They were more companions than anything. It would be sad if they left- sure. But argus didn't need them, and they didn't need argus. So they stayed out of sight and out of mind unless Argus had a task for them or they were running low on food and came to beg. Until they were dead that was the way it would be. Argus would not stand to have "pets" similar to the way others would. They would be useful or they would be trophies. They were argus' pets, and they could stand no other crewmate. They did not curl and cuddle when argus needed it- they did not whisper protect protect protect protect u s.

Unlike caesar, Argus had always been aware of aura's the way most people weren't, not just the aura's but the souls that they surrounded. It is what Argus kept eyes on- what changes with influence. Pincher's body was not the only change since he came back from dying, and it did not suprise them at all when someone so close with snakes- smelled like them and always had one near them would have the same aura of one. Closely bound- entwined closely with their aura. It wasn't strange, if it was a little troubling. Because companions were not meant to communicate with their masters. And intelligent snakes were snakes in ever sense of the word. They were manipulative on a keener level than argus was now. SO something to keep an eye on, at least.

Dull red eyes watched the group gather with a blank expression. Their posture and emotion fixed on cleo- on her companion in an unnerving way that was meant to unsettle. Something that only ever really happened with Luca's joining or... what did dimitri go by now? Kazutski? There wasn't any amusement or good natured humor in the quartermaster's tone that was usually there when they spoke.  "Hmm, I'm familiar with them, what is your favorite breed of snake, cleo?" Argus asked, a humm to their tone that sounded droll to their own ears. "Used to live with a bunch of them, when i was little. There isn't any shortages of the lethal one's in the desert."