Its presence wouldn't have bothered me so much if it wasn't in my home. It being here violated my sanctuary, my feeling of safety. It wasn't a cute creature nor did it appear weak so I couldn't dismiss it as not a threat. It was large and frightening. What scared me most was how it appeared to try to relate to me, sharing similar eyes and face. And its smile, how it grinned at me with those creepy teeth as if it was trying to connect with me, to show it was friendly. It was possible that it was genuine, that it meant no harm. I couldn't guarantee that was the truth though and my safety was in jeopardy. If it got any closer, I could be in real danger. I had no choice. I had to scare it away. Hopefully that would work, I'd hate to harm an unknown creature, even if it scared me. But I would kill it if I had to protect myself. I know we are technically predators but usually I don't feel that way, normally I don't kill. In moments such as now though, I remember that we are predators, that there is a reason the eyes are on the front of our head and not the side. Rising up to show my full size, baring my teeth and rattling my tail, I hiss as loud as I can. The terrifying creature scrambles away on its two legs. I smile in relief as it goes. How ridiculous, I think to myself, that it tried to relate to me and yet it runs? No elegance of our natural slither. No grace. The creature is nothing like us at all. And yet it tries to relate with those eyes and that smile. That smile with those creepy flat teeth. Hopefully I'll never have to deal with such a terrifying creature again. -- Inspiration: Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes…the concept that the world is seen from your eyes only and that everyone sees the world that way. What we find terrifying and abnormal is comforting and normal to another; what we find comforting and normal may be terrifying to another. It is all about perspective and this story explores the idea that because reading this we are projecting our own perspective onto the story it is surprising that the terrifying creature is in fact us humans rather than the humanoid snake. -- First image is my final sketch with added colour in Photoshop. Second is my original hand-drawn sketch. -- Story was a honorable mention in Renderosity's 2023 Writers Contest. Thank you so much! =) Hope everyone enjoys the story.