A man walks along a trail, following the signs to the hot spring. The night air was chilly and there was a lot of thick steam everywhere. He  put his bag on the ground, stripped down and wrapped a towel around his waist. As he approached the water he could make out a figure in the water.

Man: "Hello?"

a female voice responded.

Woman: "Hello. Why don't you join me? The water is incredible tonight."

Man: "But you don't know me. It's very careless of you to invite a stranger to bathe with you"

Woman: "Is it now? Well what's your name?"

Man: "Man"

Woman: "My name is Woman. Now that we know each other, why don't you come in."

The man tied his towel tighter and stepped into the water. He sat down on the opposite side of the spring. The woman slid herself over until she was beside him.

He looked her up and down and blushed. She had  large golden eyes. He copper colored hair hid parts of her face and flowed over her tanned shoulders and covered her bare breasts and disappeared into the water.

Woman: "So, Man, tell me more about yourself"

Man: "W-what do you want to know"

Woman: "Were you born in this village?"

Man: "Yes, I was born here. But I moved to the city beside the sea" He was beginning to relax."

Woman: "How interesting. Why did you move?"

Man: "I went there because that city has the best fishing fleet on this side of the sea."

Woman: "Do you enjoy your job?"

Man: "Yes I do. I always wanted to make a living on the sea"

Woman: "So what brought you back to this little village?" She cuddled closer to him.

He was completely relaxed now and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

Man: "The ship I'm working on made port here for the night, to replenish some supplies and increase the crews moral."

Woman: "Well that's nice of the captain, to let you enjoy yourself like this." She looked at him through the corner of her eye. "Your wife must get worried when your gone so long."

Man: chuckles. "Oh, I'm not married."

Woman: "A girlfriend than?"

Man: "Nope"

Woman: "It must be lonely"

Man: "It's not so bad. I've got my job and my health"

Woman: "Well than" she said in a seductive voice. "How would you like to come to my place for a drink?"

Man: "Really?"

She sat up and winked at him. He stood up and adjusted his towel.

Man: "I'll go get my clothes and you can lead the way." He climbed out of the water. "I don't see any other clothes up here, would you like my extra towel to dry off with?" He called through the steam.

Woman: "No thanks. I live near hear, and the cool air feels good on my skin."

She slipped below the surface and approached where she heard him last.

Man: "Is there something wrong?"

Woman: Emerges from the water at the bank. "I'm coming"

He sees her slender silhouette in the steam approaching him.

Man: "ah, there you are."

She didn't respond, she just stood there.

Man: "Woman?"

She came forward out of the steam. He was frozen with fear at the sight before him. Her hair was swept back behind her shoulders and her face was exposed, she had a hungry look in her eyes. She had black markings along her face and body and scales reaching up to cover her breasts. From her waist down there was no legs, but the mottled brown and black body of a snake. Her mouth was partially open, showing her long slender fangs and to allow her tongue to flick in and out.

He dropped his clothes and turned to run into the jungle, but she struck and brought him to the ground with ease.


The next morning the fishing vessel departed from the villages pier and headed back out to the open sea, with one less crew member.