[This is a short story I did recently. Started out as a contest entry, but learned the rules didn’t permit violence or even implied violence. Their policy was so overbroad that I knew the story hadn’t a chance of winning. So, I did it anyway, just for fun. I had to follow a couple rules, …
I landed on top of that snake. I’m sure it was as startled and frightened (assuming snakes can be afraid) as I was and I have no doubt that the force of impact drove it to the bottom of the river.
As that flesh beneath my foot spread out, I felt it almost immediately constrict and harden. In that flickering second, I realized the snake was reacting to the sudden trauma it had received an knew that it’s deadly fangs were reaching for my bare leg.
I heard a noise, looked up and saw a dog near the edge of the woods, snarling. White foam dripped from its mouth, which meant absolutely nothing to me.
I was in CIC (Combat Information Center) and was in charge of directing the boats to the coast for a landing exercise on the beach.
