Medusa's Daughter

Rhya

The cold nipped at her hands as she ran silently through the snow covered forest. She didn't mind. The darkness surrounded her like an old friend. Inviting her deeper and deeper. Born from hate and revenge, darkness was a part of her. It embodied her and listened to her every request. She tamed the shadows and darkness like one may tame a young colt. It took her 100 years to control the chaos that comes with it. But she mastered it. Hades himself would be jealous if he knew.

The sound of screaming urged Ryha's feet faster. The sound was miles away. Being an immortal did come with some perks. Some being heightened senses, strength, and speed. Along with the gifts of her parents. Medusa left her the raven feathered wings and the power to tame the darkness. Her father.....well Rhya was unsure if he gave her anything. Her blood could heal or kill but she wasn't sure which that came from.

A second scream filled the air and Rhya cursed under her breath. She would never make it on foot. The sudden flash of pain erupted as her wings tore through her shoulder blades and filled the air behind her. She took several powerful thrusts into the sky until she was atop the canopy of trees.

"Show me the girl." she told the darkness. It hummed its response. Separating and creating a small light, like a beacon towards her prize. Rhya tucked her wings and soared towards the lights end. The wind bit at her cheeks as she maneuvered back into the forest and through the trees.

The trees seperated before her, revealing a clearing the size of a football field. In the middle stood a black figure. Over 10ft tall with claws for hands. Blood dripped from his mouth as he turned to see who was intruding upon his meal. Pointed ears and soulless eyes stared back at her. A girl lay before him whimpering. Her abdomen ripped open. She wouldn't last another 10 minutes. This creature was nothing like she had ever seen. Having lived her mother's life in her dreams, Rhya knew the evil that lurked in their world. But this one was different. His body was a black mass. No clothes, no nose...just a mouth full of piranha teeth and those eyes.

Ryha had to get to the girl. What she was doing out here in the middle of the night was beyond her.

"You will leave her be." Ryha commanded loudly. Her hand shot out and darkness followed. Engulfing the girl, moving her in the shadows until she was safely behind her before releasing her on the snow, now crimson with her blood. The creature looked at where the girl had been to where she was now and it instantly became angry. It let out a loud screeching noise. Rhya fought the urge to cover her ears. Drawing the blade she kept close to her side, she prepared herself.

"Help me!" the girl croaked as she tried to apply pressure to her abdomen. She was fading. Keeping an eye on the monster, who was still throwing his temper tantrum, rhya sliced her right hand and held it out to the girl.

"Drink." she commanded. Wide eyes stared at the gold substance coming from her hand in disbelief, but she did as she was told. Healing came with a price. Rhya could feel her energy depleting. Before she became too weak, she withdrew her hand and ripped the hem of her black sweater. She took the ragged piece and tightly wove it around the wound.

The air shifted and a burnt smell filled her nose. Rhya threw her sword up just as the claws grazed by her face. Blocking his attack. He had moved so fast, she almost missed it. She had kept her eyes on him the whole time. Barely looking away to tie her wound.

Jumping on one foot, she swung the other out in front of her to land a kick into the beasts stomach. Her foot went right through him.The creature grinned, showing his blood stained teeth. He grabbed her leg before she could think and swung her through the clearing towards the trees on the other side. Rhya twisted and opened her wings to slow her down. The shadows hardened in front of her allowing her to use them as a catapult for her own body. Her feet slammed into the darkness. She bent her knees and pushed off as hard as she could, tucking her wings to increase her speed, and aimed herself at the monster. The monster wanted nothing to do with her. He forgot she even existed. Thinking he killed her with his measly throw. He was reaching for the girl once again. She was passed out, her body healing from Ryhas blood. The darkness knew what she wanted before she even asked. It stretched over the girl, creating a shield just as the monster reached for her.

It screamed in anger and started clawing at the shield. It hummed at the impact but held strong. Ryha wasted no time slamming into the beast.....or through him. She aimed her sword for his throat and was pleased when she felt it connect. An agonizing wail erupted through the forest. Rhya landed in the snow and turned in a crouch to face it. There was no blood, no ichor coming from the beast. It grabbed its neck and turned towards her. It's soulless eyes now blood red. Her sword connected and it was still standing.

"What are you?!" she growled in frustration. In her 100 years of life, nothing has entered her forest like this. She led her quiet life. Protecting those who weren't strong enough. Thanks to her mom being mortal, she felt a responsibility for them, and she'd be damned if she let this beast ruin that.

The darkness felt her anger and whirled around her in pools. The light from the moon blinked in and out as it stretched overtop the trees in an endless amount. The monster looked around confused. She reached her hand out and felt the hum from the shadows as it circled her. One would think she's crazy if she told you the darkness had a chaos to it. A will or mind of its own...but after 100 years it had become a part of her. It moved with her, protected her, and responded to her emotions.

"Tell me my friend, this dark beast is not of your world, he is not made from shadows or darkness....what is he made out of?" The monster clawed the air and screamed as the darkness enveloped and moved through him, seeking answers. It pushed its way towards her in anger. Ryha was waiting. She connected when she stabbed its throat last time. There had to be a way to kill it.

"Smoke...ash" the darkness whispered in her ear.

Smoke? Rhya thought. No wonder her foot went right through it...

The monster charged, dragging her out of her thoughts. Its claws came for her head. Both hands moving as one to trap her. She instinctively ducked, narrowly missing and angled her sword straight up. Using all her force, she shoved her sword straight up into the creatures chin. But she didn't stop there. Using her wings to push her to its side, she angled the sword towards its neck and shoved again. A sickening wail filled the forest but ryha wasn't done. She whirled behind it, all the while dragging her sword through its neck. It's arms grasped air, desperately trying to reach her.

Rhya gave one last shove into the other side of its neck and grinned in satisfaction when his head seperated and hit the ground. It's body dissipated.....the smell of burning fire all that was left. It's head was still screeching. A forked tongue flicking it and out of its mouth. She walked over to it and shoved her sword right between its eyes. The sounds stopped and it became still before turning into a skull of ash. She sheathed her sword and watched as it too dissipated.

A small whimpering noise caught her attention. The girl was still shrouded in the shield. The darkness seperated as she approached. Revealing a young blonde girl underneath it. She was staring at Ryha wide eyed and shaking. Glancing at her wound, she was happy to see it had completely healed, leaving a small feather shaped scar in its place. The mark that she left behind. The girl was dressed in leggings, tennis shoes, and a thin tshirt, with a ripped jacket over her shoulders. What an impractical outfit to wear into the woods on a snowy night in January. Which brought her to her next question. This girl was miles from any town.

"Why are you out here? I need to know what happened." The girl sat up, pulling her jacket tighter and looked around for the monster before climbing to her feet. Her voice shook as she answered.

"He...he was a boy. He said he needed help. That his mom fell into a pit. I was walking home and there was nobody else. We made it to the edge of the woods and that's all I remember. "

So she was lured in here as that monsters meal. Ryha thought.

"I was dying." She stated as she looked into Ryhas eyes.

"You saved me. Who and what are you?" she asked. Ryha sighed. She tried to keep her wings hidden from humans. Kept things simple. But then again, this human did get eaten by a monster.

"My name is Ryha. I protect this forest. And I think it is time to get you home. What is your name?" The girl was going to catch some human illness if she stayed out here much longer. Such weak and feeble creatures.

"My name is Melody. Uhm...thank you for saving me. I will forever be in your debt."

Rhya just nodded before opening her arms. "Come on, ill take you home." Melody was hesitant at first before stepping into her arms. Ryha lifted her knees up and grasped her shoulders firmly. "Hold tight." Her hands tightened against Ryhas shirt and she closed her eyes.

Flaring her wings, she pushed off into the sky. The closest village was 10 miles away so she instinctively headed that way. The word village didn't even seem the right word to use anymore. Rhya came from a time of straw huts and lanterns. Now they were modernized with electricity and running water. Their gardens were inside dome houses and their population was growing like weeds. A part of her worried how long her forest would last in the years to come.

The icy wind bit into both of them.

"Are you human?" Melody asked with chattering teeth. Rhya glanced down at the girl before shaking her head no.

"What are you?" she persisted. Ryha had never told anyone who she was. She wanted her lineage to remain hidden from the Gods, should Athena ever get bored and decide to pass her mother's punishment onto her. Granted she was immortal and her mother was not, but Athena had years of battle experience. Rhya wasn't foolish enough to think she could take her on.

And she knew the towns and villages around here worshipped the gods. So a part of the truth would suffice.

"I am an immortal being....or Diety. In the sense that i do not die from illnesses, and I am stronger and heal faster than your species. Your kind know us as God's and Goddesses." She seemed lost in thought for a second before asking more.

"So...you mean like Athena and Zeus?! As in they're real?! We pray to them all the time in our village!" Rhya fought the urge to curse the God's. Instead she just nodded and said "They are all real. But it is important you understand that they are not your allies. They rule this world to better suit themselves. They control the earth, sea, sun, and night, among other things. Worshipping them and building temples gives them power, so they protect you all in a sense. But they will never go out of their way for humans. Your alls lives are merely a blink in ours." It was a little harsh but it was also the truth.

"But you went out of your way to save me." she stated matter of factly.

Rhya could see the lights of the village coming into view. The night was starting to end and the small pink hue of sunrise hinted in the horizon. She tucked her wings and slowly dropped into the forest. The last thing she needed was more humans asking more questions....or worse, chasing her with a fork and pitchfork. She laughed to herself at the thought.

"I am not them. I do not have a temple or purpose in this world. I do not control the sky, land or sea, nor do i march armies into battles. I simply exist. So if I can use my gifts to help those who cannot help themselves, then I will do so." Rhya stopped at the edge of the forest and slowly sat the girl down on her feet. The village sat just beyond the trees. The sounds of early morning routines starting to take place.

"I suggest you warn your village elders of the creature in the woods. Of the man who lured you in. There could be more so you all should be prepared." A hint of fear flashed in her eyes before determination replaced it.

"I will warn everyone and I will tell them of the Goddess who saved my life. You may not have a temple but you will have my prayers every night. Ryha the Raven. Protector of the people. Everyone I meet in my lifetime will know of you." Ryha was so shocked she couldn't find the words to say anything or tell her how crazy she would sound to her people. The time to say anything was gone as Melody bowed her head and ran off towards her village. Waving over her shoulder.