"You sent rain to the wrong place, Snake God!" The headman's retort was quick, filled with anger of his own. It was easier to hide fear with loud blustering. He stepped forward, head tilted up to glower at the naga. "We gave him to you to do with as you willed. There were none in the village who wanted him." Sickly boy, not even one of their own really. Eyre had been foisted upon them by his traveling parents with stories of his adoption.

No one had ever thought to tell him the real reason why they shunned him so. "He wasn't even one of ours!" Snapped a woman loudly. Murmurs from the crowd supported her words. They backed away a little though. The people hunched their shoulders and waited for their god's verdict. He was the only god who would answer any of their prayers, the only one who ever listened anymore, even if he was intractable and rarely granted their wishes.

To the wrong place? Steth paused for only a moment. True, he had been distracted by the fact that these people---these humans, with knowledge of right and wrong---had given him one of their own---a human. Then he glared hard at everyone present, and as there came another vocal uprising, he grabbed the man around the throat and slung him into the air, slamming him against the nearest hard item---a stone wall, which made up part of his cavern. "Why do you come here?" He demanded. "When you exist, unmolested by anyone because they are too afraid to approach because of me. Why do you feel I am a god!?" He grabbed the terrified man again, tossing him into the crowd he'd led up. "You make requests by sending little trinkets or animals. You fear me yet you want things from me. Why should I bother with you? Why should I bother, when you sacrifce a human, one of your own kind, to a snake!?"

He slid forward, rearing up among gasps and backpedaling. "Perhaps now you have ruined what little good will I had toward you. Regardless of whether he was born within your village or not, he was a part of you, he grew up among you, and you simply tossed him aside in hopes I would... kill him. Like a wild animal." He leaned down. "Do you think I am a wild animal?"

They ran. Some fell, and were helped up by others. The villagers scrambled away without a care for who might be left behind, or any harm that might befall them along the way. Tree branches cracked, snapped, with their passage. Animals ran from the brush, disturbed by the people's flight. Leaves fell as they ran past, falling gently to the forest floor. Soon all of them were gone, leaving the naga alone.

Eyre's eyes snapped open. The commotion had woken him from his uneasy sleep. He felt refreshed enough to stand, and reached out with a hand to press his fingers against the rough cave walls. His eyes followed the blue ribbon the naga had hung up to guide Eyre. It was such a sweet gesture ... The young man smiled.

When he found the cave entrance a while latter, Eyre leaned against the cave wall for support. "Steth, what happened?" Wrecked branches, ruined plants, met his horrified eyes. The signs were obvious. People had been there, many of them, too many.

Steth was growling in frustration---annoyance. Humanity. The gods' plague upon the world in most cases. But he shook his head---he couldn't think that. Not all of them were so dreadful. He just had the terrible luck of being amongst those that would prefer to listen to stories and past recollections rather than understand that times have changed---he was not a murderer. Nor was he a god.

Steth was curled in a sitting position as something reached his ear, and he looked around. "Eyre, what are you doing awake?" He slid over to the human. "Simple matter of your little friends deciding they would petition me for the rain I must have sent the wrong way." He lifted a hand to the sky, bringing clouds down from the mountain and casting them over the blue expanse, and thunder started rolling. "There---they should have more than they need now." He shook his head, and looked back to Eyre. "It seems they tried to show strength, but a simple matter of words had them scurrying back home. They should... not know you are still alive, I think." If so, it would be a matter of bother for both of them.

Steth would be more often bothered, taken away from his work on some kind of mixture to take away Eyre's cough. "Are you well?" He asked, showing his soft heart. "I apologize if I woke you..."

The youth smiled, shaking his head. "They were never my friends, even if they are my family." He was sorry to see his only true friend so worried. Shaky legs were forced to move across the small distance separating Eyre from his goal. He was relieved when his hands met scales, coils he could lean upon slightly if needed. The fact that he could even do so ... It was so nice.

"You woke me, yes. But there's no need to apologize." A cough wrapped around his lungs, squeezing the air from them without remorse. Once the feeling had passed, Eyre sighed. "I would have woken myself soon enough. I'll go rest again now.." If he could. It had been automatic for him to wrap himself up in one of the blankets to cover his nakedness, he held onto the material with his free hand while peering at the forest. He did want to sleep again. A yawn made the youth's lips open wide, and a half-comical sound escaped Eyre's lips. He smiled sheepishly.

Steth put out a hand automatically, in case Eyre was to fall. He had no shoes on, perhaps he would cut his feet on the sharper stones. Perhaps Steth should make some solid shoes for him... But first he had to finish his original idea---if Eyre just stayed in the cavern until he was finished... "Eyre, I am... working on something that will help your cough. I think it will make your weaknesses all the easier to bear. Or at least, I'm hoping it will." He lowered himself to the human's state, matching his height. "I hate to smell the blood and pain on you... Even water can't wash it away. Perhaps your lungs will heal, after that. And you will no longer dread the day."

He smiled, hoping it was reassuring rather than terrifying. The faint sour taste of venom had yet to fade away. "If you are weak, I can carry you back inside." He offered. The humans were all gone. They had ruined a good amount of life and caused a pretty obvious stir among the little animals. But soon enough that would be gone, and everything would be back to normal along the pathway.

Eyre smiled brightly upon hearing how hard Steth was working on helping him. He'd never have imagined such a thing possible, even though he knew nothing could help him. It was still a wonderful feeling to know that someone cared enough to try without the prompting of money. "Thank you. But Steth ... you've already done so much for me, I don't know if I can accept, when I've done nothing in return." He didn't dread the day, the coughs. Eyre had always hated being alone, without friends or anyone to rely on.

Now, with Steth, he was happy and finally felt like he was wanted. The human's lips quirked up again upon seeing the naga's expression. "Yes, please, Steth?" He was weak and his nakedness ... Didn't bother him so much when he thought of the fact that the naga was in the same state of undress. Still .. It wasn't like Eyre could even tell what was what, save for Steth's human half.

He smiled a little more this time, and scooped up the human effortlessly. He was small, in comparison to Steth, after all. And he was thin, frail, the poor thing. "I know it may be a lost cause, in your mind, to cure any of your illnesses." He admitted, sliding back into the cavern and absentmindedly following the blue ribbon. "But naga are rare, Eyre. As such, very few people are in possession of our scales, which hold immense magical properties that can be bound to any number of necessities. Growing, life-giving, healing---curing of illnesses. I do dislike giving up my scales, but they will grow back, and it will be all for the better. To make you just a little better."

And if Eyre bounced back... Perhaps he would be stronger. More lively. Steth didn't look at Eyre in a pitying way, though, as he set the human down in his cavern. "Do get some good sleep, Eyre. All will be quiet now." And with the lullaby of thunder and pattering rain, what could be better? The bubbling of the water reservoir in the little alcove in the room, the breathing of the earth itself. It had to be better than sleeping in the village streets...

He cuddled into the naga's chest, tilting his head just so to pillow it against the other man. It was so nice ... Eyre laughed inwardly at himself for always describing Steth and his actions that way. It was true though. Wonderful kindness, the thing he'd always been missing. "I just don't understand why you would go through so much trouble for a near stranger," murmured the blond sleepily. Steth's movements were lulling him to sleep, the soft pattering of rainfall, mingling with the sound of scales sweepings across the rocky ground, it had the youth's eyelids fluttering closed and impressions slipping across his mind.

The sensations felt so familiar, even though Eyre knew no one had ever held him so before. He wobbled when placed upon his bare feet again, clutching the blanket to his shape, Eyre looked up at Steth. Wordlessly, the blond moved forward to give the naga a quick hug. He knew his blanket fell to the floor, but he didn't really care. Quickly, the young man clambered into the bed, curling under the covers and closing his eyes.

Steth froze to the spot---he'd never really been hugged before, but knowing someone didn't fear him to that extent was beyond what he could have imagined. He was still buzzing when he left the chamber, drifting back to his work, to the boiling kettle. Stranger. He hoped that wouldn't be a word either of them would use in reference to them. Perhaps they could become friends. Steth couldn't remember having a friend. Let alone a human friend! He had to help this one. Had to help Eyre. If at least he got rid of that cough...

Curling around his work again, Steth focused. His scales. They shone gold. He didn't want to give up any of them---perhaps that was his selfishness coming out. But he gritted his teeth, painfully pulling a few of the paler scales from near the top of his tail, and grinding them in a mortar and pestel. The powder he added to the rest of the mix. If he did it right... If he did it right, it would turn clear and have little more taste than water beneath a flowering tree: Slightly earthy, slightly sweet. He waited, and gasped inwardly when it finally turned. "Yessssss..." Steth pulled a dozen bottles of the stuff out. One would be enough, perhaps, but he didn't want to waste any. And if Eyre drank more than one over a course of a few weeks---a month, perhaps---then... then maybe he wouldn't appear so frail. He'd have a little more muscle and be able to move about easier. But he didn't want to go that far yet.

Steth extinguished the fire, settling the warm mixtures on a shelf but keeping one with him for Eyre, when he woke. But he wanted to see the human---watch him sleep. Steth slid into the room again, curling around the human with the bottle under ihs chin.

Dreams didn't visit Eyre, but even so his sleep was a peaceful one. It was easy, really, when he was so comfortable to drift off into unconsciousness. He didn't know how long he remained like that, or when Steth returned. His body moved automatically towards the naga, shifting to curl up against Steth.

That was how Eyre found himself when his eyes fluttered open. He blinked few times, yawned and coughed. It was a normal routine for the youth, but he tried to stifle it by stuffing his hand between his teeth. He didn't want to worry the naga overly. Once it had passed, the young man sighed with relief.

Eyre smiled. "Good morning, Steth. It's ... kind of nice waking up like this." Someone else so near, curled around him to keep him safe .. Eyre adored the feeling that gave him, of warmth, of being wanted.

Steth was glad to see Eyre awaken, though less glad when he woke amongst a coughing fit. He sat up a little. "I am glad you slept well, Eyre." He smiled. "And while you slept, I finished my creation. I... I am sure it will do enough for you for the moment. I know it will take away your terrible cough." He slid the bottle toward Eyre, hoping he would accept it. Why wouldn't he? He had to be tired of his illness, namely, the coughing. The coughing that made him smell of blood.

"I also believe it is afternoon..." He mentioned. "You slept quite a long time, but it gave me some time to finish my work." Though the rabbit he had caught for Eyre the previous day would be bad now. Maybe something else. He had to have human food somewhere. The kind of human food that lasted a very long time. His hoarding tendencies were difficult to overcome, really.

Eyre reached out to accept the small vial. He didn't question what lay within, nor did he wonder what it might do to him. Steth had given the youth every reason to trust him, and so Eyre would do just that unwaveringly, blindly. With some difficulty, the frail young man pulled the stopper from the glass bottle. At last he could tilt back the container, letting the sweet and earthy liquid slip past his lips to cool his throat in a way he'd never thought possible.

Tears welled at the corners of his eyes. He could breathe, freely! There was no telling how long the concoction would last, but the relief, no matter how brief, was more then Eyre could have ever asked for. The human flung his arms around Steth, and placed a small kiss upon the other man's cheek. "Oh you really are a god! Steth ... I can't thank you enough for everything .. I wish I could do something, anything ..." All he could do was show his appreciation, which wasn't nearly enough.

Steth laughed, the sound a strange combination, low, like shifting rocks. "Take it easy, Eyre---we don't want you to expend all your energy." He put a hand on the human's shoulder, settling him. "It should do well to keep your cough at bay, let you breathe easier. And you won't wake with a cough anymore, I should think." He smiled. "And in turn, I ask only that you remain my friend. I feel it's a fair trade, don't you?" To have a friend. A human friend, but a friend nonetheless. Such a kind young man---he looked to have been created by the sun god himself. Even in the relative dimness of the cavern, lit though it was by the cavern's glimmering walls, his hair shone like the sun itself.

Eyre's smile turned sheepish. He'd been quite overly exuberant, but ... he'd never really had the chance to be that way before. Coughing would always stop him from doing so, but this once it hadn't. "Of course I'll remain here to be your friend! It would be silly if I wasn't your friend ... And sillier to need a bribe to be one." The young man had very definite ideas about such things. He'd had a while to think about it, watching others and wondering about their relationships.

It was nice, to hear the other man laugh because of him, something he'd done. That was more rewarding then anything else he could think of.

Steth shook his head. "I would never bribe." He promised. "But I did tire of smelling blood on you. and seeing you in such discomfort. Of course I wouldn't mind if you would want to leave after that, as it was my pleasure to help you. But if you do wish to stay, I should begin hanging some lights on the ceiling in the walkways so you can see during the nights and the darker days." And he knew just where to get them. of course he had plenty, usually to see in the pitch black forests without a moon or stars to guide him or the smallest of light source to glint off his eyes. Maybe he had enough already in stock, among his other hoarded items.

"Anyway... Since yesterday you ate very little I must assume you're hungry? I believe I stole away with some salted meats before last winter... And jarred vegetables. Not much, I'm sure..." He didn't like taking a great amount at a time, just a little, if he could. To ease the impulse to find everything he possibly could and cram it into every cavern his home offered.

The explanation seemed reasonable enough. Eyre found himself smiling at the prospect of staying with the snake man. It was what he'd wanted after all, to stay with Steth, and it seemed like the other man wanted that too. "Lights? Honestly, that would help a lot, since I intend to stay here for as long as you'll let me. It's ... nice, having a friend." Not being chased away, or ignored, was so wonderful, it was such a relief. The positive regard couldn't be competed with by anything else.

Eyre felt a blush rise to his cheeks when his stomach rumbled loudly. Now that he didn't feel so ill, he didn't have anything to distract him from his hunger. "Yes, very." He grinned. "It's still more then I've had in a long time. I'd be glad to accept your generosity."

Steth laughed, still finding the sound odd to his ears. It had been so long since he'd really had a reason to laugh, though. "I see. Well, Eyre, my generosity is limitless, I assure you. Come along with me, I'm sure you'll find something of interest among my stock." He slid forward, around Eyre and to the mouth of the cavern, then on as Eyre followed along. This time he branched off to the left, and into another pathway that made a sharp circle, and opened up into a new cavern. This one was lit with piles of brightly glowing stone he had collected over time, along with the bags he'd organized after 'finding' them. The stones he would be using to light the caverns.

"Go ahead and find whatever you like." Steth said, waving Eyre toward the bags on the floor, hanging from hooks, and leaning on ledges. Steth, in turn, went to the piles of stones and started using a spare bag to collect them and bring them out to hang up.

Eyre felt his eyes widening, mouth falling. He'd followed the other man into the cavern, and now could find no words. Stones glittered, scattered about. They glowed with their own light. There were so many colors and shapes! A few steps took him within the cavern walls. Soon he too had grabbed a bag, once it was empty the young man found himself at a loss. He liked them all, those nice colors, the warm and cold.

After a while, he bent down to palm a nice rosy hued stone. It was an odd color.. Eyre gravitated towards amber stones, orange ones and yellow. Here and there, he slipped a white stone in, or a blue. He wondered if he could keep one with him always. They were so beautiful, but too big to wear as jewelry.

In the cavern hallways, the tunnels that led from room to room, Steth began to hang the glowing stones. He used pale yellow ones, which would light the way and, a the same time, be easy on his own rather sensitive eyes. He hung them in fishing nets, things he tore to make smaller so they would hold the stones snugly, and keep their light true, rather than smother it like any other cloth would. He hung them from sharply jutted stone hooks that were generally natural, through sometimes he had to dig a little to get a sturdy hold for the net. He spaced them gradually, where one pool of light ended another would be hung just some ways further. As he moved about, Steth kept an eye on the ground. It was smooth everywhere he went, from his years of sliding across them. It wouldn't call for shoes to protect Eyre's feet from injury, but it was rather cool on the bare stone.

He had to return several times for more bags, but worked very quickly. There was no shortage of yellow stones, as they were the most common and often found where volcanoes used to be. Rose, lavender, ivory, and emerald toned stones were more rare, and more difficult to acquire. They were used in jewelry though, broken into pieces that shone even brighter than the stone as a whole.

He hung two stones on either side of the main entrance of the cavern, side-by-side, and nodded to himself. They were out of his way, and would light the path for Eyre in the evenings, nights, and darker days. Steth could already see a difference. He quickly slid back to Eyre, peering into the cavern. "I've finished." He noted. "If you'd like to let me know how well you can see."

He watched the naga go back and forth, taking the bags Eyre filled and doing who knew what with the contents. When the naga returned, Eyre was in the process of filling yet another sack with stones. Steth was done already? The young man stumbled when he tried to move to the other man hastily. "Ah ..." He coughed, the strange sickness wrapping up his lungs and squeezing, squeezing tighter then ever before.

Eyre couldn't breathe! He writhed on the floor, fingers scrabbling against the ground. Pitiful grunts and groans escaped his throat as he tried desperately to find air.

Steth's brow furrowed, then a sense of urgency set in when it became obvious that Eyre was struggling to breathe in. What could he do? What would solve this? It wasn't like before, which had been settled for a good long time. What could he do...? Eyre was suffocating... couldn't breathe in. Breathe in...? Maybe that was the problem. He lurched forward, grabbing Eyre's hands forcing him to roll over, pinning his arms to the ground. "Breathe out!" He growled. "Out. Breathe out as hard as you can!" The way Eyre was trying to gasp, it sounded like... something was there. Inside. It sounded wrong.

Whatever the sickness was, it had to have collected. It might have blocked his throat. Feeling as if one couldn't breathe... it felt like their lungs, their heart were constricted as if in a thick rope, or a snake's tight bonds.

Strong arms flipped him over like a doll. He couldn't move, could only stare up into the naga's eyes and gasp. And then he tried, he really tried to do what the naga asked, but he couldn't. Eyre's throat was stuck. His eyes fluttered, his chest heaved. Then a small puff of air left his lips, and another. It wasn't nearly enough to make that constricting feeling away, but at least it had eased a little. Enough that Eyre could recognize he wouldn't die, not just yet.

Eyre's breath hitched as he gasped a little, groaned. At least he could make sounds now. It was so much better then before.

Well, it was something at least. Steth nodded. "Good, good... Stay there." He slid away, darting across the room and to some higher bags, dried herbs and powders. Eyre couldn't stay awake like this. If he forced it, he'd not be able to breathe at all. If he tried to cough it off, it'd get worse. That was increasingly obvious and to stave off panic, Steth had to put him to sleep for a time. Just for a while. So he could find something that would be sweet to drink and, at the same time, clear the feeling. Something that cleared the lungs. Healed the heart. The poor human... Such a weak and fragile thing. Something had to be done. He had to eat well, and sleep comfortably, and take medicines. If Steth was correct, he had some tomes on obscure and common illnesses, and their treatments.

Finding a sprig of tarra root, he kept it away from his nose and brought it to Eyre. "Breathe in..." He whispered, holding it under his nose. He had no choice, really. It would put him to sleep for an hour, and he would wake without that panic. He could breathe now, but Steth had to have a moment's fearless peace to read. Read and find at least a list of symptoms that compared.

Trustingly, he did as he was told. He waited, not breathing in but forcing air from his lungs and welcoming what entered in return. Eyre's eyes fluttered, and some of the resignation he'd gotten used to when he had been given forth as a sacrifice returned. But now, it was tempered with joy. The naga cared.

When told to breathe in, he stared up at the other man with trust filled eyes. Eyre pulled in air, forced himself to take it in. Then felt his whole body ease and relax, no .. It was his mind that relaxed as his eyes fluttered closed. Darkness enveloped him, folding Eyre into a dreamless sleep, punctuated by his labored breath.