Once again, I’m slithering under the stars, the moon bright though waning. Tonight, I’m trying to concentrate on improving my “Mind sense” and “Mindwave sight” abilities. After weighing all the options, I do not believe “meditation” will be enough to deal with the advanced mind’s defense. 

Mind’s defense: -10.8/10

It’s getting closer and closer to completion. I haven’t seen shedding in action yet, but I suspect it also involves improvement to some skills, and if Mind’s defence gets to 10.9 by the time I have to change my skin, as I expect it to, the skill will most likely undergo a forced evolution.

Another thing I hope to slightly improve, is my fear resistance. The sense of impending doom attacks me every night, before falling asleep. It affects my mental state, which in turn causes me to have nightmares every other night, which makes my mental state the following day even worse.

So I decided to fight. 

“Three rats face a rat-catcher dog in a dead end hole. Both equally scared. Second, freezes in fear. The other, panicked, blindly jumps to bite the dog. The third sneaks out when the second fights. You aren’t brave, just because you are aggressive.”

“Thank you, Me, that’s why we are trying to do something clever instead. But it’s hard to have a plan when you can’t see, can’t hear, and are lost”

I slithered closer to presumably my oldest brother “grass”. It was harder to see when he was all curled up, but he was definitely bigger than me “ssssss”, and his scales seemed to be richer in color. And all of that “smell hunt”, while sleeping most of the time. I wonder if they also need mother to bring them easy prey, or do they hunt with her?

My sisters were nearby, “bug” for whatever reason preferring to sleep rolled up “fight” on the root-branches surrounding us. 

I made a plan to walk around him, as close as I could without it affecting my movements (“affecting them too much” “coward” “safe”). Making a plan ahead, made it possible to act under meditation, as long as nothing unexpected happened. While it made it nearly useless in a fight, what could happen during a safe walk (“SLITHER!”)? All emotions? To the ball (“core?”). All movement? To the snake. Slither left. Slither right. Slither clockwise. Closer. Closer. His dream emotions? To the ball. Him slithering around? To the snake.

Him suddenly realising you are there and seeing you? Seeing “real” you as part of his dream?

Shit.

Reisinling

Small chapter to at least partially fulfill the promise from a few hours ago.  If you feel it's too short, and you want something else to occupy you, instead of going to sleep, here, some high art:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TdPBB9Z_cs

I nearly titled this chapter "Mr. Sandman" because of it.