Black and Gold I

I descend the shallow slope from roadway into canyon to canyon bottom. Hills of golden grasses cover rocks sloped steeply up, up hundreds of feet. As I begin my journey, I think for a brief moment and take a couple calculated steps. The air is soft and cool, its still early enough I though. I climb a few more meters in elevation, finding open areas amidst the caotic placement of hardwood trees. But, there were several such places, spread out among the rocky canyon slope. I hike along the thermal side, as the sun danced along the grasses the air warmed slowly. Short on breath I found the elevation to be demanding but not cumbersome. Walking further up I made a short pass towards the canyon floor. On the way down I noticed a quite patch of open slope just ahead. Carefully and slowly as I processed the ground I made my way back up. Looking between rock and grass, and leaf litter and rock, I carefully searched for familiar shapes. My eyes tingled for a moment, I looked back. A couple coils of golden scales lay exposed at the base of grass; camouflaged to perfection, a wonder it caught my eye. As the whole image processed, a quiet assurance came over me. Black and Gold, this creature lie unaware of my presence. The head was protruding from atop of the grass clump, resting in the early morning sun - taking it all in, digesting progression. It was his season, the season of the monsoon. The air turned warmer, his tongue flickered but still, not the slightest of sound was made nor motion. A few minutes later an awareness of his observer was made, movement was stirred, he caught me; still not a sound was produced from his lovely rattle.

Another was spotted as I walked the rocky shallow cliff of the canyon's waterway. As I step over a missing boulder my eyes drop down, another splash of Black and Gold awakens them. Basking on a 8 foot ledge is another, in perfect coil as it spins out of it in response to my movements. Tongue flicks, and movement.

Crotalus molossus