The snake struck.
The snake lunged, and its fangs sank into the fabric of Logan's pants, missing flesh by mere inches. He stumbled back, dragging the snake with him as it clung.
Jean screamed, "Logan! Oh my God!"
With reflexes sharpened by adrenaline, Logan kicked, trying to shake it off. The snake hit the ground and recoiled, hissing and rising again for a second strike.
This time, it aimed directly at him.
Without thinking, Logan grabbed a fallen branch beside him and swung hard… once, twice. The viper dodged the first blow, but the second strike landed squarely, knocking it back.
It slithered quickly into an aggressive coil, tongue flicking as it prepared again.
Jean grabbed a sharper stick nearby. "Move!"
She tossed it to Logan, and he caught it just in time to parry the next strike. With a grunt, he jabbed forward, landing the sharpened tip against the snake's neck.
The creature writhed, twisted, then finally stilled.
