A Slithery Companion - By Zane van der Linde

Written By: Zane van der Linde

Category: Short story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In "A Slithery Companion," Zane van der Linde invites us into a richly woven short story submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Set against the backdrop of a family camping trip, this narrative explores themes of family bonds, the wonders of nature, and unexpected friendships. As part of this prestigious competition, Zane's story stands out for its ability to blend adventure with introspective moments, leaving readers pondering the delicate balance between man and nature.

About the Work

Zane van der Linde's "A Slithery Companion" juxtaposes the innocence of childhood curiosity with the harsh realities of the natural world. The story's vivid imagery captures the reader's imagination, while its narrative arc creates a poignant exploration of love, loss, and learning. With a focus on the relationship between a father and son, and the snake that becomes their unlikely bond, the story delves deep into themes of survival and understanding.

A Slithery Companion

Original Submission by Zane van der Linde

A Slithery Companion

The rain falls heavy on the leaves while the thunder roars in the distance. It is a cold and red sunrise, as beautiful as can be. A boy and his family are on a camping trip in the middle of the forest.

The boy and his father go out to search for firewood to make their morning coffee. The father teaches his son the dangers of being out and how to survive on his own. They find the wood they need and head back to camp, where the mother prepares breakfast.

Out in the wild they’ve encountered all sorts of animals. The birds chirping and waiting for their mothers to feed them. The deer’s keeping their distance and eating the freshly grown grass. So, they decide to go for a walk and see all the animals the boy wanted to see.

Unfortunately for them, they encounter a rattlesnake laying on the path. The father acts quick and manages to catch it. He is very experienced with snakes and shows his son how beautiful it looks. The father teaches him a few things about them, while the mother does not want her son to become friendly with it and orders him to kill it. Not wanting anyone in danger, he does what any man would do and kills it. The boy feels sad and asks why it needed to die. The father tells him it was for their protection and that he’ll understand one day.

They continue down the trail and watch the wildlife. But with the heavy rainfall last night and everything already so wet and cold, they decide to head back to camp. The father makes a big fire to keep them warm while the mother prepares their brunch.

The next night comes by faster than they think, packing up and getting ready to go to bed. The family was tired after a long day and was able to sleep easily. But the boy didn’t sleep, he kept on wondering why that poor snake had to die. He had to use the restroom and quietly slipped out of the tent. After he is finished and almost went back, he spotted something creeping in the night. It was a baby gaboon viper.

The boy took it to the campfire and used the lessons his father taught him to keep it warm. The snake sensed it was not in danger and trusted him. The boy tried to feed it, not knowing that snakes don’t eat like humans do. Luckily, it saw a small rat and ate it. The boy now realised how snakes eat.

The fire faded and warmth died out, so the boy took it inside with him. Hew tucked the little snake in beside him and put his warmer next to it, not understanding that he just saved the snake’s life.

The next morning arrives; clouds cover the sky and mist slips into the tent. The mother wakes the boy up in horror upon discovering the snake. She screams like the rooster crowing in the morning. The mother and the boy rush outside while the father catches the snake.

Just like the previous time, the father gets excited and preaches all about their species. But the mother was too scared to care and just wanted the father to kill it. The boy stopped them and told them that he had made friends with the little guy. The boy got sad and didn’t want his parents to kill his friend, but they knew it was too dangerous. The father, eager to tell his son more about them, decided to let it go instead.

This would be their last day on the trip, so they decided to go hiking. After breakfast, they gather their supplies and head toward the mountains. They see the monkeys, swinging in the trees. They make a fire, eat, and head back to camp just before the sun sets.

The boy later finds his friend again behind a log. He keeps the snake a secret. They all tuck in for bed and get a good sleep. The next morning, they enjoy their last breakfast, pack up and hit the road. It feels as if they have left their second home as the nostalgia kicks in. They reminisce about their trip on the way home.

At home, the boy goes outside with his little friend in search of food. His mother gets worried and goes to check on him. She finds him with the snake in his hands and hurries to get it away while yelling for her husband. Within the mother’s panic, the snake senses danger and curls up, ready to strike. As the mother grabs her child, she gets bit.

The father takes control and takes his wife for professional medical care. A little more than three days go by, and the boy keeps trying to convince his father to let him have the snake as a pet, but the father must hear from his wife first. The father and son get to the hospital to visit her only to find that she passed.

In complete shock, the father now must take care of the bills and his son. At home, the father can’t help but think about the snake his son wanted, he saw an opportunity to teach his son everything he knows about snakes so that the boy can to understand the dangers of the wild. The father agreed to keep the little viper in memory of his loving wife.

The devastated father and son now has a slithery companion.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a distinguished platform celebrating the art of storytelling and poetic expression. It brings together a diverse array of voices from around the world, offering writers the opportunity to share their unique perspectives and narratives. This competition is a testament to the power of words and creativity in connecting people across cultures and experiences.

We extend heartfelt thanks to Zane van der Linde for sharing "A Slithery Companion" with us as part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. His narrative not only captures the beauty and challenges of the natural world but also offers a touching exploration of family and friendship. We look forward to following Zane's future literary endeavors.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.