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Chapter 4

"I can't leave it here to die."

I walked towards it and lifted the snake, trying not to harm it any more. It moved as if it were telling me it was still alive. It was so small that it easily fit in my palm.

"Let's go, Dea before a big wild animal comes here to drink water," I said while I looked around to see if any predator was hiding in the woods to attack us. With a cautious gaze, I started walking with limping feet. As if Dea understood what I was saying, she followed me. I took every step with caution. Trying my best to not make any noise to attract the sleeping, hungry creature towards me. It was the last thing on my list. We both walked towards where I left my wood. I dragged the wood with one hand as I was holding the small snake in another. I didn't want to hurt it, so I kept dragging the woods, even though it was hard to carry them this way. It took my last bit of energy too. As if Dea understood my struggle, she helped me by pushing it with her head. We both managed to get out of the forest as the wind guided me back to where I entered the forest.

"You can go back now. I will manage from here," I said as I was standing on the outskirts of the forest. As soon as I said those words, she looked at my palm, where the small snake was resting.

"Don't worry, I will take care of him," I promised with a smile on my lips. She looked at us for a few seconds and then grunted, negatively shaking her head. Then she started pushing the woods again.

"As you wish, don't blame me when your family comes to find you here. I won't mind if they do, I would love to meet them," I said as I took hold of the rope and started dragging it again. This time, it was not as hard as in a forest to pull the logs because the land here was mostly flat. Dea followed me to my house, which was not that far from here. I looked at the snake, which was resting in my hand, but he was looking forward with his head up.

"We are almost there, my little friend. Hang in for a little bit more," I said breathlessly as I saw my house in the distance. I was trying to push ourselves only a little bit until we reached the hut. I let go of the stack of logs, making my chest fall as I exhaled in exhaustion when we reached. My hand stung as a huge bruise of rope formed on my palm because I dragged the huge stack of wood here. I lifted my hand and wiped the cold sweat beads that formed on my forehead with the back of my hand, ignoring the pain. I looked at the snake to find it curled up in pain. I walked towards the hut with the snake still curling up in my hand.

"Hera, what are you still doing here?'' My little brother came running to me with a confused frown on his little eyebrow as he saw me walking into the house. I understand his commotion because I was never home at this time, but today was an exception. His frown deepened as he saw a small snake in my hand and Dea following in.

"Helio, go and bring the healing plant leaves," I said as I put the small snake on the small piece of clothing. His eyes still held confusion, but he followed what I said and went to bring the leaves. I had planted the tree in the back of our hut as I often get injured and we don't have that kind of money to go to the healer, and even if I had money, they would refuse to treat me. Dea was looking at us with her big doe eyes, following what I was doing carefully. Helio soon came back with a few leaves.

"Here," he said as he handed me it and sat beside me as he looked at the small, curled-up snake. Dea followed his action and sat beside him, as she, too, was tired from walking this far. I took the small stones, which I used to smash the leaves.

"He is so small. Where did you get him?" Helio asked as he kept looking at the injured snake. I could sense curiosity in his voice.

"Yeah, I know. I have never seen such a small snake before," I said in astonishment, as I had never seen such a small snake before. I tried to dodge his second question as I kept beating the leaves.

"But where did you get him? It doesn't look like a snake, which is found in Nemoria," he again asked with more curiosity. My brother was smart. He knew I didn't want to tell him.

"He was lying at the shore of Noyyal wounded, and Dea took me to him," I said as I bit my lower lip and continued to make the paste of the thick leaves.

"You went to shore," he said in his little, surprised voice. His eyes were wide as the bright sun.

"You promised me you wouldn't go there. What if a wild animal was there and he had tried to attack you like last time? '' he said in his fearful voice, making me bite my lower lip in distress. I knew he would react like this if I told him. Once I went to shore, the wind took me towards it without me knowing it. I only realised I was at the shore when the cold water of Noyyal touched my feet. As soon as I was out of my daze, I saw big fluorescent yellow eyes looking at me, making me run for my life as they tried to chase me.

"But look, I'm fine, and Dea was with me. I was not alone." I tried to defend myself in my small voice, as I knew he worried for me more than I did.

"Who is Dea?" he asked with a confused look on his face. I gestured with my eyes to the deer sitting beside him. He looked at her, and as if Dea knew I was introducing her to my little brother, she started lovingly caressing him with her snort, making him laugh.

"I like her,'' he said as he caressed her on her back and head.

"Hello, Dea, I'm Helio'' he introduced himself as he continued to pat her. I smile looking at them. I was done making a paste, so I took it in my hands and turned to look at the small, injured snake. He was already looking at us with his head raised.

"Hey, you are awake," I said in my cheerful voice, getting the attention of Dea and Helio.

"Once I apply this paste to you, it will heal you. I don't know if it works on animals, but it has always worked on me," I said in the same cheerful voice to cheer him up. I know his wounds must have been hurting him badly, as they were big for his small body. I started applying it to his wounds, and Helio kept watching me.

"I know it must be hurting, but don't worry, you will be completely healed in no time." I again tried to cheer him up as he rested his head down with closed eyes because of the pain.

"His wounds are deep. Who did this to him?" Helio asked in a sad voice as he looked at him with sorry eyes.

"Maybe some bird," I said with pity as I applied the healing leaves paste to his wound. The snake looked at me as soon as I said those words. I was done applying the ointment.

"Little guy, you will be healed soon," I said as I rubbed him under his chin lightly with the back of my forefinger, making him close his eyes as he enjoyed the rub.

"We should name him," Helio says in his excited voice, getting my attention as well as his. He opened his eyes to look at him.

"What should we name him?" I asked as I looked at him with a raised, excited voice.

"Titchy," Helio said with a bright smile on his face. Making a smile at his excitement.

"Titchy is it then? It suits him,” I said, matching Helio's smile.

"Do you like your name?" I said as I caressed his head with my forefinger. I looked at him. But my gaze fell behind him, and my eyes were wide in realisation.

"Oh God, the sun has risen," I said as I stood up in horror.

"I need to go to work," I said in a hurried voice as I washed my hands and ran out of the house.

"Will the head worker allow you to work?" Helio shouted from the door, with Dea looking at my running figure with her doe eyes as she again tilted her head. Maybe in confusion.

"I will request him to let me work,'' I shouted as I turned my head from them to the road. I was running with a limp leg. In all this, I forgot about my work, and now the sun was shining high on my head. I just prayed to the goddess of the old temple to let headwork pass me this time. When I reached the field, the workers had started to come to work. I tried to slip in between them so the head worker didn't notice me. I was breathing heavily as I tried to take the basket and go to the field without him noticing me.

"You stop there," the head worker said in his stern voice, making me stop in my tracks as I bit my lower lip in resentment.

"You have passed the deadline. You are not allowed to work here," he said in his harsh voice, making me look at him with pleading eyes.

"Please let me work, or else I won't have money to feed my little brother," I pleaded in my small voice.

"If I allow you this time, you will do it again. This is your punishment for breaking the rules,'' the old landlord said, looking at me as if he were the justice of this world. I wanted to roll my eyes at him, but I couldn't. If he sees me disobeying him, he will not let me work here again. He has an ego bigger than the sky.

"Please let me work here. I promise it will never happen again." I begged him again that I needed money to feed Helio. He looked at me with his old, lust-filled eyes, moving them from my toes to my head, making me feel uneasy in his gaze.

"Ok, I will have mercy on you, but you will get half of what you get paid every day," he said, making me look at him with wide eyes. He stood up from his chair with the help of a cane and a smirk on his face.

Half of what I get paid.

"I already get paid half from everyone else," I said in my protesting voice, as it was beyond unfair. He raised his eyebrow at my tone, not liking it.

"Take it or never come back to work here," he said as he was giving me the penalty for my tone. My shoulder slumped, even if it's unfair. I have to do it. At least Helio will get food. This brought a small smile to my lips. I will drink water again.

"I will do it."

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