I do like it when I am right. I even enjoy when I am right about our impending doom. Though maybe not quite as much when it involved standing at the gates of the underworld myself, even if just for a few moments…
But let’s start at the beginning. ‘It’s of the utmost importance to have an organised mind’ as the monks would say. The Wine Festival was quite the festivity, with lots of drunken entertainment. The highlight was that Helikaon (with his new billowing cloak) finally found his true calling in life in an impromptu moment of acting. And some admirers…
The next day we proceeded to track the missing youths, into the Oldswood. The same Oldswood where both my and Theo’s paths seem to lead though whether the information we are seeking lies in this or another corner of this ancient forest is unknown to us. The woods are a world of its own, with trees and creatures that have stood here since before dragons or gods were even imagined on this land. We must feel like insignificant ants traipsing around… let’s hope they don’t take issue with that.
Yet, it’s not the forest that wakes me from my reverie, but a young girl that comes running at us, crying in despair. Followed quickly by a herd of goatlings. I wish I could say more about what happened next, but all I remember is all of them coming straight for me, ignoring the rest of the group (and thankfully the girl) and blacking out after their attacks. I’ve seen death all around me all my life and I’ve faced it once or twice, but never this close. I would hate to admit but the darkness, cold and imagining Lutheria’s crystal scythe were far more unnerving that anything else I’ve ever felt. Let me be honest and, for once, not a diplomat: I was so scared! Luckily, Calliope was thinking on her feet and managed to revive me whilst the others dealt with the creatures. I owe them all my life, quite literally and I can’t possibly be more thankful!
Corinna, the girl, tells us that she’s fled the temple of Demetria where the others are held. She begs us to help rescue them. But also confirms there are more goatlings there. In any other situation, I would now flee, these creatures seem to be obsessed either with me or the fact that I am a medusa, and my life and self-preservation are more important than a group of silly children. But the name she mentions is the same that Versi gave me for the nymph that holds my prophecy. More importantly, I owe the others to help them in the fight to save these youths… and so much more going forward. And after today I am sure they will also do their very best to protect me as well. Only a week ago I could not have imagined these people coming to my rescue so quickly. How little did I know…
So just like I’ve been proven wrong on this, let’s hope our doom won’t come at Demetria’s temple. Let’s just hope we are lucky… at least for the time being…