The next morning, Alex woke up to the smell of roasted something-or-other and the feeling of a very heavy, very warm snake tail draped across his legs like a living weighted blanket.
"Morning, little mate," Naga rumbled, already awake and staring at him with those intense emerald eyes. "You slept well. Good. Strong cubs need—"
"THREE STONES RULE!" Alex yelped, sitting bolt upright and nearly head-butting Naga in the chin. "We agreed! No baby talk until three stones!"
Naga's tail tip twitched in annoyance, but his lips curled into that fanged half-smile. "Fine. Today we go to Tiger Tribe border. Golden stone. Leo will not give it easily."
Alex pumped a fist. "Road trip! Quest progress! Let's do this!"
[System: Translation: Let's watch your snake husband commit felony assault for a shiny rock. Popcorn ready.]
An hour later—after breakfast (more dire boar, plus some sweet purple fruits that tasted like mango and bubblegum)—they were on the move.
Naga carried Alex again, princess-style, because apparently "sore mate = no walking" was now law. Alex had given up arguing. It was honestly kind of comfy, and the view from up high was great: endless jungle, giant flowers, birds the size of hang gliders.
They reached the border between Serpent and Tiger territories by midday. A wide, sunny savanna opened up beyond the tree line—golden grass swaying, acacia trees dotted around like nature's umbrellas.
And right in the middle of the border was… drama.
A huge white lion surrounded by seven regular golden-furred lion beast. The golden ones were circling, growling, tails lashing. The white one stood in the center, back arched, claws out, but he looked exhausted. One of his hind legs was bleeding profusely, and his breathing was heavy.
Alex's heart did a little flip. "Oh no. Poor guy. He's outnumbered!"
He looked at Naga for help ( because apparently only a giant snake can out number a bunch of majestic lions) but Naga looked nowhere near interested in helping. In fact, he even adjusted his tail to relax and enjoy the view.
" You are not gonna help? " Alex asked.
" Why would I? It's not my business who dies or live as long as it's not my mate. " Naga replied. His tone flat.
Alex stared at Naga like he'd just announced the earth was flat. "Not your business? There's a lonely lion getting mauled by seven angry lions and you're just gonna... watch?"
Naga shrugged, scales rippling. "Beastmen fight. It is natural. The weak fall, the strong survive."
"That's the most Disney villain thing I've ever heard you say." Alex squirmed in Naga's grip. "Put me down."
"No."
"Naga—"
"You are not fighting lions."
"I'm not fighting! I'm... mediating!" Alex wriggled harder. "Come on, we need that golden stone, right? He might be able to help. "
" Fine. " Naga groaned. Then he gently put Alex down. "Stay. Here. Do NOT move.",
" Never have I thought I'll be helping that bastard. "
" Huh? You know him__" Before Alex could finish his words, he slithered forward with terrifying speed.
His tail whipped out like a bullwhip, smashing into the nearest golden lion and sending it flying into a tree with a sickening thud. The other six immediately stopped, heads snapping toward the new threat.
"Serpent!" one snarled. "This is lion Tribe business!"
Naga's expression was bored. "And yet you bore me with your noise." He coiled protectively between the white tiger and the golden lions, rising to his full height—easily twenty feet of pure muscle and scales. "Leave. Or become fertilizer for my mate's garden."
The golden lions hesitated, hackles raised, growls rumbling in their chests. Seven against one massive snake was… not the easy win they'd planned for the day.
The biggest one—a scarred golden brute with a notched ear—stepped forward, trying to look tough. "This traitor challenged the tribe! He—"
Naga yawned. Actually yawned, fangs glinting like daggers. "I do not care. You have ten seconds to run."
Alex, safely behind a tree as instructed (mostly), peeked out and whispered, "Ooh, dramatic countdown. Classic."
The scarred lion snarled, "You can't just—"
"Ten," Naga started.
Six of the lions immediately backed up. Smart.
"Nine."
Two more started edging sideways.
"Eight."
Scar-ears held his ground, roaring a challenge.
"Seven… six… five…"
Scar-ears finally noticed he was suddenly alone. His pride lasted exactly until Naga's tail lifted threateningly.
"Four—never mind." Scar-ears bolted, tail between his legs, vanishing into the tall grass with the others hot on his heels. A cloud of dust was all that remained.
The savanna went quiet except for the white tiger's heavy breathing.
Naga turned, coils relaxing slightly, and slithered back toward the injured beastman. "You owe me now, Leo."
" What???? That lion was Leo?? " Alex screamed louder than a full blown microphone inside his head.
[ Yeah. One and only white lion of the lion tribe. ] System chimed in.
Leo panted, golden eyes wide. His fluffy white mane was sticking up in every direction, and there was a new bite mark on his shoulder. "You… saved me… why?"
Naga coiled smugly, still cradling Alex like a prize. "My mate has a soft heart. He insisted."
Leo's gaze flicked to Alex who was hiding behind a giant tree, nostrils flaring as he scented the air. His ears perked straight up. His tail, despite the pain, gave one slow, curious swish.
" You have a mate? "
" Wait?!"
" Is that a male???"
" You took a male as your mate??!"
" And...a weak at that! "
" Didn't knew you swing that way. " Leo shouted despite his pain.
" But he smells good like a...female? "
" Did he just called me weak? A lion who can't even raise his head properly without thumping it on the ground called me weak?! " Alex gripped onto tree bark like he's about to pull someone's hair out, ignoring the 'smells like female part.'
[ Well, technically you're the weakest creature in this whole forest so he's not wrong. ]
" Don't you dare! " Alex shouted and grabbed system's whiskers, trying to pull it off its snout.
[ Ow.Ow.Ow. Leave me alone. ] System screamed as it fight back in defense.
Meanwhile, two beastmen where staring at Alex make bizarre gestures and talk to air.
" What is your mate doing? " Leo asked.
" He's talking with spirit. "
" He can talk to spirit?! Isn't that only tribe saintess can do? Why didn't you tell anyone about it? "
" Never. He's staying by my side forever. He only needs me. " Naga answered, not hiding his jealousy and possessiveness.
" Tsk. Snakes and their possessiveness! " Leo said, turning his head back towards the little Alex who was still fighting with system.
" So tell me why did you really save me? "