Her breath caught, and she did not dare move even a fraction more. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of pale movement sliding through the mist-covered ground.
A white snake.
Its scales were bone-pale, patterned with thin, irregular black markings that ran along its length. Its body was thick, far thicker than any ordinary snake she had seen before, and it moved with slow, deliberate control. Its head lifted slightly, tongue flicking as it tasted the air.
Lavayla's heart slammed hard against her ribs.
It was close.
She tightened her hold on Vai without thinking, instinctively shielding him as her muscles locked. Her mind raced, but her face remained still, careful not to draw attention. She could hear her own pulse roaring in her ears.
The snake's eyes shifted.
They were not dull or mindless. They were alert and assessing.
