The Beasts Within

CHAPTER V: MYRINNA

“May I ask what exactly do you want from me, ladies?” the tree-woman inquires in her most smooth and sultry tone.

Ladies? Really, Amana? If those… those THINGS are ladies than I’m a bloody shapeshifting unicorn!

The pair of approaching potion buyers was about a few feet away from Myrinna and Amana when they both realize that something was extremely wrong. 

First off, the man and the woman who were wearing simple peasant outfits were also wearing terrified expressions on their faces. Secondly, they can smell the arrival of other creatures in the forest and they are familiar with such a smell. 

Gorgons: The reptilian race of magic users that populate the Western Kingdom. They have serpentine bodies when in beast form, and their hair is all made out of living poisonous snakes as well. Think of Medusa with an extra-large snake disguise that can fit a human body and you’ll get the idea. 

And like Medusa, they can use their gaze to turn their enemies to stone by sheer will! 

Good thing, they can’t use that power on her and Amana since they’re both immune to petrification magic…

”We have come for the medallion, you lousy excuse for lumber!” hisses the largest Gorgon among them, one of her sharp curvy swords aimed at the shaking husband and wife who were hugging Amana’s trunk as if their life depended on it. 

And it did, considering how easily they can be turned to stone if they locked gazes with the snake people

Amana uses some of her more leafy lower branches to shield the couple from the Gorgon’s view. “Why dear lady, I really have no idea what you’re referring to,” the tree asks even more sweetly this time.“What medallion are we talking about here?”

”Do not lie to me you century-old plant, or I will be forced to tear you down branch by branch!” snarled the fierce snake female. She stood as high as an adult giraffe, her huge serpent body not even fully extended yet. Her dripping fangs were at least one foot long each and both her swords were about five times longer. “We know you have that medallion hidden somewhere in this forest!”

As both shapeshifters continued their troubling and awkward conversation, Myrinna is busy sneakily counting the enemy and memorizing their positions. There are at least a dozen there surrounding them with five pet jaguars, ready to attack on command. 

Wait, I know these felines...

Still camouflaged and hidden from the Gorgons sights, she concentrates her full attention on the nearest jaguar and speaks into its mind.

Why are you working with these villainous killers, Giaru? And your children too? I find it hard to believe that you and your family would turn into cold-blooded traitors overnight and go against me!

Immediately, the sss hears her panther friend’s deep apologetic answer echoing in her brain. 

Please mistress, have mercy! Don’t be angry at us. The Gorgons have some sort of magical bracelet that can control us. We were the felines closest to them when they wielded the bracelet’s spell. Look, the leader is wearing it right now. And though our minds are still our own, we have lost control of our bodies. 

Myrinna immediately looks towards the Gorgon who is still conversing with Amana. There it was, glinting on the snake warrior’s right wrist, a thick silver bracelet with a large stone attached to it. Or is that a jewel? It’s hard to say but she’s sure that it is indeed the very same jewelry piece that the elderly jaguar has mentioned.

She mentally concentrates on the large black feline once again. 

I see it. Don’t worry, I will find a way for all of you to escape. The moment you feel yourself free of the enchantment, command the others to follow you and flee at once! Anyone who stays with the Gorgons will deeply regret it.

Giaru’s mental response was filled with excited expectation.

Thank you, mistress. Our hope lies in you now. Please… be careful.

You too, my friend.

The human she-hunter goes through the small number of options in her head and analyzes at breakneck speed which actions she can take to have minimal, if not zero, casualties for this problematic situation. Sure, she can go on a bestial rampage on the Gorgons and yes, she is capable of doing that…

However, there were the five panthers, the tree shapeshifter, and the other two humans below her - and who knows what beasts they shift into - who can all suffer fatal consequences if she made one disastrous decision. 

Meanwhile, the angry python female and saccharine-sounding tree woman were still at it with their unbelievably redundant and extensive babbling…

”Even if I knew of such a medallion, I don’t think it’s fair that you would just demand such a powerful artifact from me without any thought of payment, madame.” soothingly states the she-tree, playing the coy and clueless innocent. 

”So you do admit it’s with you, you irritating wooden furnishing! Let me have it this instant!” snaps the snake she-leader while slashing her swords in the air.

”I said no such thing. How could you assume that of me? You have actually hurt my feelings, Miss… uhhh…’ Amana places a twig/finger on her cheek/bark, acting as if she’s suddenly deep in thought. “What was your name again? I don’t think you mentioned it earlier.”

Good job, Amana, and good luck, Gorgon. I’d be the first one to know if my tree friend has such a necklace. But of course, she doesn’t have it and she’s just biding for time… which I really, really need right now!

Just then, Myrinna notices the five small animal carcasses hanging from one of the branches near her.

My catch! Yes, they’re still bloody so I can use them to… Yes, this just might work!

The sss reaches out excitedly to grab the leather strap that’s holding all of the small skinless dead animals together. She then starts murmuring a short spell aimed at the carcasses in her hand.

Thank the Divinities for Amana’s mentoring in magic! Good thing I am capable of using a few specific spells although none of them do work on me.   

”You know what, madame, if you don’t stop calling me names, I will just avoid talking to you. To be honest, I don’t like speaking with rude beasts like you anyway.” pouts Amana while placing her branches/arms across her trunk/chest in a mockingly petulant manner.

”Like I give a f*****g damn about your opinion of me, you unpalatable termite buffet! “ exclaims the head gorgon furiously, her tongue slithering and slashing violently across her blackened lips, “Give me what I want or by all that I hold holy, I will burn you and everything else that you care for to the ground while you watch!”

”Well, I doubt if you hold anything holy considering how impertinent and bossy you are. You can’t even say please when requesting for something! Some people, really! Tsk, tsk, tsk…”

Myrinna stifles her laughter just in time. Amana’s sense of humor when dealing with high-and-mighty villains is truly amazing. It’s really useful too since it’s buying her enough time to complete her list of to-do’s for her plan to save everyone. 

Even while the escalating argument of the two noisy shapeshifters continues, the human warrior now heightens her hunting senses to feel out the rest of the enemies’ numbers and their locations…

Some are hiding with the intention of using the element of surprise if things go wrong. I can hear their muffled hissing still though. Good job with that, Gorgons! And yeah, you should have taken a bath before coming here bitches cause I can smell where you all are even if you fall completely silent. 

Now that everything is in order, her left hand grips the hilt of her dagger, hard. The spear in her other fist is sharp and ready to kill.

All she needs is for one of those heartless, cruel fiends to attack.

Just at that moment, the Gorgon leader belts out a battle cry and raises her swords.

Myrina almost laughs aloud.

Two can play at that game b***h!

Another feminine but vicious warcry echoes from within Amana's higher branches. Then a large sharp spear is suddenly thrown straight into the snake woman’s mouth!

For a full five seconds, no one stirred or even breathed due to the shock of viewing the spear’s head peeping out of the back of the Gorgon’s helmet, her blood spraying everywhere and how fast all of that just happened.

And that’s when Myrinna made her move…