As with several big holidays, the students of Pi Eta Tau returned to Lyre for the celebration. There were less complications as Easter Sunday meant no classes that day. Several students, like Tiffany and Princess, were using this opportunity to visit their families. Some, like Maddie, were checking on recently-made friends.
But some were just trying to get some alone time. Sylvia wasn't antisocial, though when a room got too crowded, she tended to leave. She wasn't sure if she was always like this. Maybe the rattlesnake's solitary nature was affecting her preferences. On the other hand, who wouldn't want to get away from loud college kids, especially when you have to balance getting a law degree and being the treasurer of your co-ed fraternity house.
Fortunately, there was one place Sylvia knew where she could get away. There was this large rock in the park that was the perfect size and shape for a snake Animalian to bask in the sun. There weren't any trees close to it so the shade wouldn't block the sun and it gave a clear view all around so a snake would know someone is coming. Sylvia slithered to that rock and curled herself up on it. Letting the sun shine on her scales, she idly looked through her phone's pictures. She had taken quite a few during her Egyptian winter vacation. The Egyptian snakes were rather friendly with her and showed her around. She also had a few picture from ASM's photoshoot, though Sylvia's pictures were more conservative, showing her as more of a tourist than anything else.
Sylvia was just thinking about unbuttoning her shirt and letting the sun shine on more skin when she noticed someone coming. She curled herself up on the rock, much like a feral rattlesnake. Whoever was coming was another female snake Animalian. But where Sylvia was fair-haired and dusty brown, this newcomer was dark-haired and bright green. Sylvia wondered how well she blended with the rock she was on. True, an Animalia might be able to detect her more easily, but she wanted to put it to the test. Sylvia waited until the other snake was close enough before letting her tail rattle. Being far bigger than a normal rattlesnake's, it made a bigger noise.
The green snake jumped (or more precisely, jerked back) in surprise before looking around. "What was that?" she asked.
Sylvia lifted herself up and said, "That was me." She lifted the end of her tail and shook it again.
"What are you wearing on your tail?" asked the green snake.
"I'm not wearing anything," said Sylvia, "I'm a rattlesnake, this is a part of my tail."
"Oh, so that's why they're called rattlesnakes," said the green snake, "I thought it was just specialized hissing."
Then Sylvia got a good look of the other snake and recognized her. "Hey, aren't you Muxing of the Five Elements?" she asked.
The green snake nodded her head and said, "That would be me. And you...I think I've seen your face somewhere..."
"Well, I'm Sylvia Rattlerton," said Sylvia.
"Oh, now I remember," said Muxing, "You're one of the first volunteers at Project Phoenix, weren't you?"
"Well, I wouldn't say the first, but I was one of the earliest ones," said Sylvia.
"And you became a snake to escape oppression, right?" asked Muxing.
"Er, not quite," said Sylvia, "My parents were wanting to me a figure skater even though I didn't really like figure-skating that much. My car accident cost me a leg and when my parents pushed me to enter Project Phoenix to go back into figure-skating, I became a snake instead."
"That's quite inspiring," said Muxing.
"That means a lot, coming from you," said Sylvia, "What are you doing out here anyways?"
"Getting away from the clamor," said Muxing.
"Me too," said Sylvia, "Slither up next to me."
Muxing looked the rock doubtfully. "Is there room?" she asked.
"Let me move my coils," said Sylvia, letting her tail go over one side of the rock. There wasn't real room for them to both bask all over, but there was enough room for them to sit together.
Muxing sat next to Sylvia and said, "So, if you are not going to be a figure skater, what are you going to be?"
"A private attorney for a wealthy Texan oil tycoon who will eventually notice the sexy snake working for him," said Sylvia. Muxing raised an eyeridge at that. "Ok, just a lawyer right now, but a girl can have her fantasies."
"Well, I suppose that isn't particularly impossible," said Muxing, "I just hope that doesn't cloud your reason. You don't need a man to make yourself happy."
Sylvia had heard that the Five Elements have been captives of a cult that was little more than a prostitution ring. "And you don't have to close yourself off from others," said Sylvia.
"Well, I do need some alone time, now and then," said Muxing before grumbling, "And I think that stupid spring fever is starting for me."
"I get it," said Sylvia, "Though I go into season in the fall."
"So you're not concerned with getting a mate right now," said Muxing.
"Even if I were in season, I'm not," said Sylvia, "I'm more focused on my career right now."
"I can respect that," said Muxing. There was a lot about Sylvia she liked. While she had a strong connection with her sisters, it was good to have someone she had much in common with.