The Serpent Curse - Chapter 2
#3 of The Serpent Curse
EXT. AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK - MOMENTS LATER
Kiah has made some ground, when Critter rushes to catch up, a few steps behind. As his paws hit the ground, vibrations enter into the Earth and radiate toward Kiah.
CRITTER: So what is this? Some sort of majestic voice on the wind, telling you where to go or something?
KIAH: Something like that. (Beat) Oh, by the way, Death Adders don't hear voices. We're Deaf Adders. We feel the vibrations through the ground.
CRITTER: So wait, the majestic voice is a metaphor...
AS HE SPEAKS, THE VIBRATIONS RADIATE FROM HIS THROAT, INTO THE GROUND, AND TOWARD KIAH.
Not responding AS THE VIBRATIONS RADIATE FROM HIS THROAT, THROUGH HIS BODY, INTO THE GROUND AND TOWARD KIAH, Kiah moves on. Suddenly, Critter's eyes light up.
CRITTER: So you can't here me when I do th-
Critter jumps, and his dialogue CUTS OUT as the vibrations are ripped away.
CRITTER (Landing): -s?
And KIAH'S ON HIM, a stern look on her face.
KIAH: Careful. I might think you're calling for help. I just might have to think about chowing down early before my protein bar makes a break for it.
EXT. AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK - DAY
Kiah and Critter make their way across the Australian landscape.
They come to a stop on a ridge, overlooking the Flinder's Ranges just beyond.
CRITTER: Wow, it's a nice view, isn't it? All the blues and the browns, merging together on the horizon.
Kiah is looking ahead in her snake vision, unimpressed with Critter's observation.
KIAH (Absently): Yeah... Blues and browns... Neat.
Critter stops, noticing Kiah's tone.
CRITTER: Oh yeah. You can't see colors right either, can you?
KIAH: Can't see colors right? Snakes see colors perfectly. Maybe it's you who can't see colors right.
CRITTER: I mean, we do get bright blues and reds over here. Seeing in only orange and purple and stuff... Sounds kind of creepy.
KIAH: Well maybe it's your vision that's creepy. Seeing everything in all those extra colors... Bright blues. Yep, I'm going to have PTSD. Now come on.
With that, Kiah continues her way toward the ranges.
CRITTER: Yeah, I guess only seeing in creepy colors would make one assume all colors are creepy I guess.
Quickly, Critter follows to catch up.
EXT. FLINDERS RANGES ROUGH TERRAIN AREA - DAY
They are traveling over rough ground, while Kiah struggles along, Critter skips from rock to rock, trying to maintain his speech for when he's down so Kiah can hear.
CRITTER: So... You can't hear, you can't see right-
KIAH: It's you who can't see right.
CRITTER: Okay, still... No arms, no legs... Wow, being a snake sounds like no fun.
KIAH: Being a snake is great. Or at least it will be. Soon.
Kiah pushes past one final rock, and the ground opens up, giving somewhat easier access here on out. Kiah SIGHS.
KIAH: There.
CRITTER: You know, if you're wanting to prove you're good and everything, you're not off to a good start, holding me off like some sort of protein bar hostage or something.
KIAH: There's nothing wrong with having a pet that you threaten to eat. Everyone does that.
Critter suddenly stops, his attention on a cricket sitting upon a branch, his eyes lighting up with bearded dragon excitement.
CRITTER: Wait, stop! I have to get this.
Critter steps toward the branch flicking his tongue in anticipation.
KIAH: What are you doing?
CRITTER: I'm getting something to eat.
Kiah looks from the Cricket to Critter.
KIAH: What? You're going to murder that poor innocent creature?
CRITTER: It's a cricket.
KIAH (Flicking tongue): And you're a critter.
CRITTER: I'm hungry. You know it's not the same.
KIAH: I suppose. Well then, just... be careful. That cricket looks mighty fierce.
Critter turns to glare at her, but before he can say anything, the cricket makes a move. Critter spins back on it, shooting out his tongue to catch it. An instant later, it's gone. Critter looks back at Kiah who has put on her most shocked expression.
KIAH: Wow! The violence of that scene... I just can't even.
Critter turns to move off the branch.
CRITTER: Let's go.
EXT. FLINDERS RANGES - MONTAGE
Kiah and Critter continue through the ranges, past towering bluffs, and into rocky ravines.
EXT. FLINDERS RANGES FLATLANDS - SUNSET?
They are traveling through the grasslands close to where Zoe had died, when Kiah suddenly stops, caught off by a glint of green just beyond Critter's branch.
KIAH: What's that?
CRITTER: What's what?
Without answering, Kiah moves toward the glint. Stopping before it, she discovers it's an amulet. Critter joins her a moment later.
CRITTER: What is it?
KIAH: I don't know, but it looks pretty cool.
CRITTER: Kiah, I wouldn't-
But before he can finish, Kiah maneuvers herself, fitting the amulet over her head. It slides to her neck, and holds perfectly into place.
KIAH: Pretty cool if I do say so myself.
Critter shrugs.
CRITTER: Your fashion.
EXT. FLINDERS RANGES VALLEY - NIGHT
Kiah and Critter are laying in a valley, the Moon a weak crescent overhead. All is silent. Then-
CRITTER: You know, in these kinds of settings, humans will sit around fires and tell stories, and I could play the banjo or something.
KIAH: Really? Well, we don't have anything to start a fire, unless you have a way to ignite yourself. But I do have a funny story to tell. Want to hear it?
CRITTER: Sure.
KIAH: Okay. Once there was an adorable bearded dragon named Critter-
CRITTER: Kyle.
KIAH: And there was a beautiful, amazing death adder named Kiah.
CRITTER: Oh great, it's a love story.
KIAH: Well, one day, they both thought to themselves, "I'm hungry." So, out hunting, Critter saw a worm in the brush, and was like, it looked "yum." Turns out, the worm was Kiah's tail, and Kiah ate him instead.
CRITTER: Okay, definitely not a love story.
KIAH: So, while Kiah was bloated for life, Critter starved to death in her tummy. The End.
CRITTER: You know, that wasn't really funny. Kind of insulting actually.
KIAH: Good. It's not real humor unless somebody feels insulted.
CRITTER: More like a horror story if you ask me.