"Neither do I," Ghede admitted. "I've been around, to many places, but it was mostly performing my duties. My knowledge tends to center around the South."
He looked down, noticing the moving snakes for the first time. "Oh, delightful," he muttered. "I don't particularly want to find out what happens if a venomous snake bites a technically dead person. But I still want to get a closer look." He watched his feet, making slow, careful steps, as well away from the snakes as he could manage.
Just when he thought he'd gotten clear, his next step brought his foot down on a loose piece of driftwood. It cracked with an audible snapping sound, and the spirit turned and looked directly at him. Their gazes held for a long moment, before she turned into a white doe and vanished into the brush.
"Dammit," Ghede swore. "Apparently she startles easily."