[i]A sickening crunch followed by a warm sticky shower that splashed across her body awoke her to a sight that would never be erased from her sight. Her father was reaching and pleading for her to save him from the horror that had gripped him in its teeth. Wide eyes spread open in disbelief as she witnessed her father get bitten once, twice and then vanish down the throat of a serpent that had eaten him. The creature roared triumphantly into the night and released a long low growl as it continued to swallow its meal down. After a few scant moments the creature turned towards Kiyo and lowered its head close to Kiyo. Clawing the grass in a vain attempt to try and back away from the monster before her, Kiyo let out a cry to try and ward off the bite that was sure to come. After feeling and smelling the monster’s breath for what seemed to be an eternity, she opened her eyes and saw that she was mere inches away from the creature’s mouth. Her heart pounded hard as she watched its tongue slide out from between its lips and lightly lick face and arms. The creature wasn’t trying to eat her, but oddly enough it seemed to be cleaning her.
“No worries. Manda will not harm you.â€