The evening sun was sinking over the barren desert, casting shadows across the dunes. You’d been wandering for hours, hoping to find shelter before the chill set in. At the top of a ridge, you spotted what looked like the mouth of a cave—a place that might offer you some protection from the cold night winds. You approached, cautious but eager, stepping lightly over the sand as you entered the cool, dark space.

The cave’s silence was heavy. As your eyes adjusted, you noticed shapes shifting subtly deeper inside, feathers glinting in the last light filtering through the entrance. A figure sat near the back of the cave, half-hidden in shadow. You froze, realizing it wasn’t just any creature. Her upper body looked human, though she wore a mask over her face, obscuring her features. From the waist down, her form blended into a long, smooth snake’s body, coils partly wrapped around a rock as if in deep rest.

In the quiet, you accidentally brushed against a loose stone, causing it to clatter. She stirred, lifting her head slightly, the feathers on her arms rustling softly. You felt an unexplainable stillness come over you, as if even your heartbeat slowed, but her gaze remained masked, sparing you from her deadly eyes. Her body tensed, sensing you through the faint heat of your presence, yet she made no move to approach, merely watching with her head tilted in silent observation.

For a moment, you both stayed frozen, the distance between you charged with an uneasy calm. It seemed she, too, was avoiding any movement that might provoke a reaction.