"You don't have eyebags. You have eye-suitcassse under those eyes of yours"

East side huh? Not too far, he could patrol it from the trees to be more silent and swift...

He cracked his knuckles "You stay here, let me handle it. I'll help you rest great"

And here we goooo~

"I've not slept well in years, I've tried many things. It's alri-... why are you cracking your knuckles?" Herish reached up and eased the tail from around his shoulders, was Kalyan going to punch him? He'd tried that before, it resulted in a terrible headache.

Oh no.

Poor fellow. He needed so much help right now and the Naga would gladly help with it.

Before moving on with action, Kalyan kept his eyes closed for a second while smiling.

You know. For dramatic effect.

"Then allow me to give you the besssssst sleep of your life"

He opened them, revealing the cascade of colors and his magic flowing from his pupils.

"Ssssurpriiiise~!"

He blinked and leaned over with concern

"You don't seem in the conditions for patrolling..."

That yawn and expressed tiredness, not to mention he had found Herish asleep under the tree.

He had an idea "I can take over your job and you sleep here in my nest. Please, I insist. I patrol everytime!"

It was no big deal "Jusst tell me which places were you patrolling and I'll do it while you sleep"

"I couldn't ask that of you! I'm alright, its only the east side of the forest." Herish said, trying to downplay his tiredness. He'd flown galaxies in a near starved state before, he could handle sleepiness... maybe.

@raktanag

"You don't have eyebags. You have eye-suitcassse under those eyes of yours"

East side huh? Not too far, he could patrol it from the trees to be more silent and swift...

He cracked his knuckles "You stay here, let me handle it. I'll help you rest great"

And here we goooo~

"Oh Nagaraja Shesha help me"

He kneeled with a friendly smile "It's all right, I'm not going to hurt you"

What a lovely looking fellow, and his laughter was soothing yet happy! Yes, he had the confirmation his niece took something after her grandfather, for sure.

"Hm-mh, noted. I am used to tigersss walking around, so i will leave him alone and pay him my resssspect." The coils all unwrapped except for one around his shoulder, like an arm, his way to show friendliness with his tail.

"Can i get you sssomething?"

He was free to move again, the tense nature of their conversation in the past as she smiled brightly, "Oh no, you're fine Kalyan." Herish said, only pausing to give a yawn and shake himself a little. He hadn't slept much in the last few days, but he had better things to be doing. "I should get back to patrolling, I could of missed something with that little power nap." He lifted the coils from around his shoulders, starting to get back up again.

@raktanag

He blinked and leaned over with concern

"You don't seem in the conditions for patrolling..."

That yawn and expressed tiredness, not to mention he had found Herish asleep under the tree.

He had an idea "I can take over your job and you sleep here in my nest. Please, I insist. I patrol everytime!"

It was no big deal "Jusst tell me which places were you patrolling and I'll do it while you sleep"

Another sneak peek. As a treat

NEW ANIMATIC WIP THIS IS NOT A DRILL

EHEHEHEHEEHHE

Alexander's offer made him smile.

Yeah, why not? He could show him his temple, the sacred place he grew up in, and the resting place of its inhabitants.

"I agree, I'll show you"

He didn't know if his brother knew the exact coordinates, but maybe conjuring a portal where they met for the first time?

A nice trip down memory lane, yaaaay~!

Alexander claps his talons together, thrilled and pleased that his bother was accepting to company. He never got to explore a jungle before or truly see his home, so now would be an opportune time to do so.

Cromwell was present, already knowing his task while the king was away and there to reassure Alexander that all will be well upon his return.

“Very well then, let us waste no time. I don’t know where your home is but I remember where we first met so we shall start there.”

And with talons aglow, Alexander tears a rift open into the space fabric. A pathway into a lush and humid jungle welcoming them, and he beckons Kalyan to enter first. “After you~”

The first thing Kalyan did after crossing the portal was taking a deep breath and tasting the air of the place he called home for so many years.

Home sweet home.

His eyes filled with nostalgia and emotions as his reptilian eyes scanned the surroundings.

"Waaaait, is this where we met? Ah, good times. I was terrified of you at first." He chuckled "Who knew we'd become brothers?"

His tail tip gestured to follow him "We have to move up the mountain over there, my temple is located partially inside"

Kalyan's hazel eyes narrowed and he leaned forward.

"Not until you ansssswer a few questions"

His tongue flicked out to double check... Yes indeed, Hannah's scent was on this particular individual.

"I am Kalyan, the Snake with Man's Face. Caretaker of these woods, acquired brother of Lord Alexander and thereby Princessss Hannah's uncle"

He leaned closer "Her scent is on you. Why? And don't lie, I recognize liars"

Herish blinked, tilting his head slightly as he stopped squirming. "... Oh! So you're Uncle Kalyan. I'm her grandfather, Herish." He said, "She's mentioned you, I didn't know what she meant when she said you were a snake man. Now I do... its kinda comfy when you get used to it. Like a weird hug."

"Sorry again for falling asleep at your tree, must of dozed off from exhaustion... don't tell Cromwell, he'll force me to sleep."

Kalyan's tongue flicked out andblinked a couple times. Only then, his eyes dilated, the coils loosened and the lips turned into a smile

"Shesha be blessed! It's sssso great to meet more family members!"

He helped Herish sit up, his demeanor now happy and polite

"I believe you, and now that I look at you... yesss, she carries something after you" he then scratched his head with an embarrassed, sheepish smile

"Pardon my behavior. I watch out for possible threatssss"

The soft coils that could become steel-hard reached his chest, slowly enveloping him while inspecting him throroughly. Indeed, that wasn't a human scent, and those hair? Skin? Nope, not a human... A deeper flick of his tongue caught the scent of Hannah...

Hm... Now that was a change for sure...

At last, the coils pulled the man up among the branches and laid him into the nest, still wrapped up, just in case

Herish's hair moved... unnaturally. As if the man was underwater, the rules of gravity not fully applying to it. His skin seemed to shimmer a little in the sun, as otherworldly and fantastical as he looked... he was still slack jawed in dreamland.

The twitter of birds did make him stir, face scrunching for a moment before his eyes cracked open. Glowing baby blues, his pupils being a brilliant gold. He blinked tiredly, staring at the canopy before he realised he couldn't actually move. Confusion crossed his face and he looked down at himself, eyes meeting Kalyans. "....... ah.... uh.... this your tree? I can uh... go?" He started to wiggle, hoping to work his arm loose.

Kalyan's hazel eyes narrowed and he leaned forward.

"Not until you ansssswer a few questions"

His tongue flicked out to double check... Yes indeed, Hannah's scent was on this particular individual.

"I am Kalyan, the Snake with Man's Face. Caretaker of these woods, acquired brother of Lord Alexander and thereby Princessss Hannah's uncle"

He leaned closer "Her scent is on you. Why? And don't lie, I recognize liars"