None of them could talk to him. Most of the woodland animals were terrified of him, while the larger, more dangerous predators had actively tried to eat him when he was small. So, he had spent almost his entire existence hiding in the dark dirt, completely alone.
He had never had a name. Not until a few years ago, when a group of strange, two-legged beings—beings just like the woman standing in front of him—had accidentally stumbled upon him in the woods.
He distinctly remembered the way they had pointed their fingers at him, their faces pale as they screamed at the top of their lungs: "Snake! Snake!"
Because they were the only creatures he had ever encountered who could actually speak with words, he had naturally assumed they were addressing him directly. He had carried that title with quiet pride ever since, genuinely believing it was his name.
