Marinus placed his sea horn on the ground and bowed to the Draconian anaconda. The serpent bowed back. A message appeared above the sea horn.

Bart, the Draconian anaconda would like to speak to you. Accept? Yes/No?

“I would be honored to speak with Lord Bart, lord of the sea and the tides.” Said Marinus, following the protocol of speaking with such a noble creature.

“Mari, why are you calling the snake that?” Asked Theanore. Text began to show above the sea horn again.

There is only one Draconian anaconda in a century, and we lay only a single egg before the end of our lives. I wish to lay my egg here, for the food is plentiful and your halls large.

“But you can’t flood the grotto. Do you see this sapling?” Asked Marinus, pointing at the apple sapling. “This girl is a nymph and linked to it. If it dies, she dies.”

Apologies, young man. I did not know. I will lay my egg inside the pool, if you would allow?

“Thea, once Bart lays his egg, he will die. Do you accept to take care of his child in his place?” Asked Marinus. Theanore blinked.

“What egg? Bart is a male name.” Said Theanore. Marinus smiled.

“Remember when I told you that male seahorses carried their babies? Well, Draconian anacondas are the same. For him to search for a nest, then he is close to dying.” Said Marinus. Bart leaned with his head near Marinus’ hands, and Marinus gave him a light scratch over it.

“Oh, no. How sad. Maybe if we give Barty a life-extending ring?” Said Theanore.

I have lived a century, young one. I have done all that one of my kind can do. My life is over and I am tired. To have my egg is the last great deed I can do. For the sea and tides must have a lord.

“Ok, lay your egg in the pool. Sorry for being frightened of you, Barty.” Said Theanore, ashamed with her reaction.

You reacted as anyone else might have. Now, I go to do the last thing I must. Once I die, chop up my flesh and turn it into mincemeat. Then spread it in the tunnels that I have ruined. Much and more will bloom in them.

“I’ll do it.” Said Marinus, knowing Theanore was about to protest. He knew of the reefs that grew from the corpses of Draconian anacondas. They were vibrant and nothing could kill them.

“Well, if that is your last wish.” Said Theanore, looking down at her feet. Bart nudged her with his big head and retreated to where he had come from. The two children followed him to the pool.

They saw him curl up in a giant ball, one which spilled out of the pool and into the cavern, and his face scrunched up. Blood began to color the pool, and Theanore placed her hand over her mouth. Marinus hugged her and began to pat her back.

Then, just as it had begun, it was over. Bart uncoiled from around a giant, purple egg with golden flecks that was pocking out of the pool, and then collapsed to the side. Dead and with unseeing eyes.

Theanore went and petted the serpent’s head and gave it a kiss.

“Go to a better place, Barty.” Said Theanore, and then she turned to Marinus.

“Mari, give me the sea horn. I will bury it again.” Said Theanore, as she extended her hands towards Marinus.

“Just a minute, Thea. I have to play a song for the egg, so it is healthy.” Said Marinus, and he began to play the sea horn like a flute. Draconian anacondas always searched for mermaids or mermen to lay their eggs next to. The protective spell of a sea horn’s song was the only thing that could help their eggs hatch and their children grow big and strong.

Potential mini boss mob detected. Make the Draconian anaconda hatchling into a mini boss of the mushroom pool? Yes/No?

Theanore was startled by Tania’s message. Marferik the cuddly was the boss of her grotto. The head dragon of her horde. Should she have another boss? And what if the serpent wanted to travel far and wide?

“No, Tania. If the baby wants to stay here, then fine. But I will not chain him to this pool.” Said Theanore.

The option stays open. Use mana to accelerate the hatching and make the Draconian anaconda faster or stronger? Yes/No?

Theanore looked to Marinus, who was still playing his merry tune. The merman nodded and Theanore clicked the yes. She immediately felt drained. As if her entire mana supply, all one million of it, was drained.

The egg cracked and an adorable purple snake with golden eyes poked its head out of the shell, looking around and tasting the air with its tongue. The serpent looked around, and it attacked a silver longtail.

While the new Draconian anaconda’s head was far smaller than Bart’s, its jaw managed to open far to compensate. It ate the entire fish and began to lap at the still blood filled water.

Marinus stopped playing the melody and went to stand by Theanore.

“He will stay with us for about five months. Then he will be as big as Bart and ready to travel. But I am sure he will come back here as many times as he can. What should we name him?”

“Ostrinus. But we will call him Ostry.” Said Theanore, remembering a story in which the people were from a place called Rome and the hero was named such.

“Ostrinus it is.” Said Marinus with a smile. “Ostrinus, do you like your name?”

The serpent looked at them with a tilted head and then dived back inside the water for another silver longtail.

“We will need to feed him with fish from outside the pool. Or he will empty it.” Said Theanore. Disgruntled that Ostrinus was eating her fish, but not wanting the baby to starve.

“And make sure that Bart’s body is put to good use. Thea, go bury the sea horn. I have a job to do. Ants, line up.” Said Marinus and Theanore rushed back towards the apple sapling, not wanting to see the bloody deed being done.