Ophidia

CHAPTER TEN ( The Njoka's unlikely welcome.)

    When Mpamvu kicked down the doors, her and Mupo were greeted with a loud cheering coming from

outside the temple.

    He was able to see Pythons, Vipers, Taipans and the owners of Skalia, the Cobras.

Every kind of Ophidian was in the temple yard. It was the one place and time where they put aside

their differences and joined together to see the Njoka. It was like there was this field of energy

around the area, that stopped them from fighting.

Since the Cobras own Skalia, they're always careful whenever other Ophidians visited Skalia. The

same went for The other tribes. The Pythons were the most welcoming Tribe. The least welcoming were

the Vipers. Quite alright there were peaceful. But since they were not the strongest Bunch, they had

to be careful.

    The Pythons were were the most welcoming,because they knew they wouldn't loose a fight in their

homeland. The only the easiest way to best them in battle was strategy.

When Mupo and Mpamvu left the Temple a man stopped him to take a look at his armour. It went

quiet all of a sudden, then the man dropped a flag with the Cobra symbol on it and everyone cheered.

The Cobras obviously Cheered the loudest.

    "I really wanted it to be a Python, we haven't had a Njoka Python five times in a row." Said one of

the male Pythons.

    "Most people don't get to see the Njoka,let alone live amongst him. You should grateful for being

able to feast your eyes on this wonderful moment." Replied a female Taipan.

Mupo was so happy and so scared at the same time. He was worried about not living up to what the

Njoka is supposed to be."So that's the Njoka?" Said one Ophidian

    "He's so handsome." Said another.

He rode Mpamvu on a path that the Ophidians cleared for him. He wasn't sure where he was going but

he wasn't going to stop and ask for directions.

    The path lead to the Skalian fountain, but to Mupo it was just a regular fountain, since that was

his first time in Skalia. The fountain was behind these gates it was at the center of this beautiful

garden. He entered the garden and just before he could admire it's beauty, his head was covered with

a sack and tied with ropes.

    "I'm being ambushed." Mupo thought. Then he tried breaking free from the ropes, but it was no use.

The more he struggled, the tighter they became. So he just stayed put and thought of escaping later.

"I should've known, the Njoka should never let their guard down."

    He then felt himself being picked up from Mpamvu and carried to a carriage. His arms were tied

up but his legs weren't, as soon as he was put in the carriage, he kicked the person who was carrying

him in the gut. The person grunted a little, but it wasn't enough to knock him out." He must be wearing

armor. Whoever has kidnapped me came seriously prepared."

    The carriage started off and left, Mupo heard the Ophidians voices shouting in confusion, wondering

where the Njoka was and why the ceremony was cut short. They started suspecting the carriage that

had just left and no sooner did that happen than the carriage started moving faster.

Mupo had no choice but to stay put. After a bumpy trip he was lifted and put on a Zebra. The Zebra

moved steadily, it felt as if he was the only one on the Zebra.

He moved for a short distance and then the Zebra stopped. He was then lifted off and carried.

He heard a door creaking open and a voice say." I'll take it from here." The person then gave Mupo

to another person.

    Mupo tried breaking free again, but the ropes became painfully tight.

    "Ahh!" He yelled.

    "Relax, we're almost there." Said the man who was carrying him. It felt like they were going up some

stairs. After walking up the stairs he heard a door opening.

    He was then set down on a chair and the sack was removed from his head, but he was still tied up.

When his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw a man sitted on a throne he looked about 29 years old, he

had short dreadlocks just like Mupo's and a goatee. He was dressed in a green long sleeved top and

black trousers,with brown sandals on his feet.

    "Please untie him....we can't be treating our visitor like this." He spoke with his voice sounding a

little bit squeaky. Someone came from behind and untied Mupo. He felt much better, he could finally

breathe again. The pain almost went instantly. Since he's the Njoka now his pain heals a lot faster.

"Visitor?!" Mupo touched the side of his leg. "Where's my sword?" The man on the throne snapped

his fingers and someone slid his sword to him. Mupo got up from the chair and grabbed it. "Where's my

Zebra?"

    "She's safe in a stable waiting for you, she'll be well fed and you'll see her soon. Oh I haven't

introduced myself, my name is Mingo and I'm your knew chief. My ceremony took place yesterday

and I require your assistance."

    " You just capture me and you expect me to help you?!"

    "Sorry about that."

    "Sorry? Ohh yeah that makes it much better. "

    "I'm the chief, so it's important that no one knows where I live, for my own safety."

    "So why didn't you just ask me?"

    "I'm sort of running out of time and I needed you immediately."

    "What in Ophidia do you need me for?"

    "I need you to protect me from Scourge."

    "Who?" The chief looked very surprised.

    "From Jackandi, the Chief murderer."

    "Never heard of him." The guards looked very surprised too.

    "Anyway....I need your protection Njoka."

    "And why should I help you?"

    "You're the Njoka aren't you?"

    "You captured me."

    "It was for my own safety." Mupo just rolled his eyes.

    "I have to go and see my parents now. So I'm not protecting you. So if you'll just show me the way

to my Zebra, I'll be on my way."

    " I'll pay you."

    "I don't want your money."

    "What do you want, you seem to be fond of Zebras. I'll get you as many as you'd like."

    "I don't want your gifts." The chief got up from his throne, walked to Mupo and knelt down.

    "Please.....I am begging you, I really need the protection."

    "You have hundreds of Guards, why don't you just use them?"

    "Large numbers aren't enough to stop this man, he is fast, skilled, relentless, agile and strong. He's

managed to kill nineteen chiefs and one Slitheranek king and I'm next on his list according to the

pattern in which he attacks. He's taken down the strongest chiefs and faced hoards of guards and

soldiers, he works alone and yet he still comes out victorious. "

    "Ohh thank you chief, you're too kind." Said Jackandi. He was crouching on a window sill,smiling and

his hair was cut short "Who's your friend?"