So that's how Sleevish and I met. Love at first sight. How? Fuck if I know and to be honest we never really cared. We had this feeling between us that we both really enjoyed and neither of us wanted it to end. Where it would take us we never could have guessed and even looking back on the trials and tribulations that have come with having a lamia for a lover I wouldn't trade any of it for the world. But you didn't come here to listen to me gush.
The biggest problem Sleevish and I had when we first started seeing each other was deciding where to live. Obviously, as a human I wanted to live in my home in the nearby township. Sleevish wanted nothing to do with it for the most part. I decided not to press the issue at first, after all I was a hunter and spent most of my time in the woods anyway so why not make a camp site outside her den? It was fine for about two weeks but my trips back to town got more and more tense and despite Sleevish being wonderful I was starting to feel a little lonely. Sleevish didn't understand but she accepted the fact that I needed to be with my brethren and agreed to try and spend some time with me in town. Her wounds were fully healed (lamia heal fast) and she was eager to get moving. So into to town we went. If I said she got a warm welcome I would be lying. Villagers scrambled for cover despite the fact that she was slithering down the middle of the main street with a human being by her side. It was a scene as casual as casual could be but that didn't stop the Captain of the Guard from threatening to run her out of town. Grizzle and two of his oversized cronies surrounded us and demanded that Sleevish leave the township immediately.
"Hold on a second, what did she do?" I demanded.
"Follow orders hunter! Take this monster out of town now!" he ordered again. All three of them got their weapons at the ready. Sleevish jumped in front of me and hissed menacingly.
"Threaten me all you want but threaten him again and face my wrath!" she screamed at them. One of the other soldiers raised their sword and took an arrow to the blade knocking it out of his hand.
"Next time I won't miss!" I threatened knocking another arrow.
"You defend this creature?" Grizzle bellowed.
"Calm down everyone!" the mayor shouted. By now a sizable crowd had gathered wondering what all the fuss was about. "I'm sure the hunter has a perfectly logical explanation for why he brought this animal into town." Mayor Gregor said to the crowd.
"First of all your honor, Sleevish is no animal. She's a lamia and she saved my life. We get along quite well so I invited her to town. She's only curious about how we live, that's all." I reassured him.
"I assume this visit is temporary?" Mayor Gregor asked.
"None of your business!" a female voice shouted from the crowd. A tall woman hunter exited the crowd and stood between Sleevish and the guard. "And put those things away before you get yourselves killed."
Her name was Hera but aside from that I knew nothing about her. She came to town almost a year ago holding a rack of killed animals and a sword unlike any anyone in town had ever seen. It didn't take long for her to rise to prominence as the town's greatest hunter, a title she took from me not that I really cared. It wasn't like her to get involved in public affairs.
"This is not your affair hunter I ask..." Grizzle started.
"This is everyone's business! You made it our business when you got out in the middle of the road and started barking orders all over the place. Mayor, these two have done nothing wrong. She may not be one of us but that doesn't mean we can just toss aside our laws because a lamia rolls into town." Hera told him.
"I never should have come here. I should go." Sleevish whispered.
"No, stay please. We'll sort this out." I reassured her with my most energetic smile. She smiled back meekly and stared at the ground while her fate was decided by others.
"Our laws do not extend to non-humans Hera." Mayor Gregor told her.
"And why not? So what if she has a snake tail? Sleevish has just as much a right to be here as the rest of us." I added.
"Just because you say? And who are you hunter? The law is not yours to interpret as you see to fit your own ends. I care not for your relationship with this creature, my concern is for the safety of the people in this town." Mayor Gregor shouted.
"I'm no danger to you. Why would I walk down the middle of your street in broad daylight where the whole town can see me? Why would I walk with side by side with another human, a human you know well if I intended you some ill will? Every eye in this town is upon me and you all look at me with suspicion yet it is I who is most vulnerable. Any attempt made by me to attack any of you would result in only my death." Sleevish pleaded.
"Silence your pet Draven, I will not tolerate any more of it's insolence." Captain Grizzle roared stepping towards me. Hera grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him back with one hand like he was only a child.
"Grizzle stand down! I can't have this scene degenerate into violence!" Mayor Gregor ordered. Grizzle stood up and brushed himself off while his two guards stood next to him.
"My apologies for the Captain's behavior, he means well but that does not excuse his mistreatment of you fair lamia. Forgive me once more but for the sake of the people I must ask what your intentions are in this town." Mayor Gregor asked.
"I only wanted to spend time with Draven. If memory serves you would call him my 'boyfriend?' Is that the right term?" Sleevish asked me.
The crowd erupted in chatter. It seemed to be about a fifty fifty split of people who were both outraged and cheering. Hera herself winked and held her hand out in a fist with one her thumb pointed upwards whatever that meant. Judging by the look on her face I assumed the gesture was meant to be positive.
"Clam yourselves people! So you are romantically involved then? This is highly unusual but welcome! If it is love you seek dear lamia then I hope in this man you have found it. Feel free to stay with my blessing." the mayor bowed and several townsfolk cheered while others scoffed and walked away.
Sleevish and I received several handshakes and well wishes. During the congratulations I could clearly see her smiling and blushing but also cringing a little. She was happy to be well received but not used to the attention, the first of many adjustments she would have to make. In the end everyone dispersed except for Hera who walked with us as we went to my home.
"Okay love birds, first things first. You need to get some clothes." Hera pointed at Sleevish.
"Why?" she asked.
"Nothing fancy or elaborate, just something to cover your breasts should be fine. Humans get a little weirded out when we women walk around showing off the girls. If you're going to be staying here it'll help people get used to you if you cover those up at first. Eventually you'll probably be able to get away with not wearing anything." Hera advised.
"How about just a bra? It'll be comfortable enough and concealing enough. Probably a good compromise." I asked.
"What is... a bra?" Sleevish asked us both.
"Wait, better yet. I've got on old bikini top that should do just nicely. I'll have to make some modifications but otherwise it should do nicely." Hera offered.
"What's a bikini top?" Sleevish and I asked simultaneously.
"You'll see it when I get back. Have fun you two." Hera winked and wandered off.
