Deep in Amethyst's swirling dreams, she felt like she was walking through wax and honey while at the bottom of the ocean. The crushing feeling mixed with her inability to breathe properly was only exacerbated by the difficulty of each step. She was a smaller version of herself, maybe even a child. She had become lost in a forest that looked like a painting half finished on a black canvas.

The trees were dark shades of grey and black mixing and blending together. Her mind told her that the trees were impassable, and that to go backwards was to meet some inexplicable monster which her dream eyes had yet to conjure. Dull orange and yellow flickering signaled an escalation in her nightmare.

As she noticed the flames, she also heard the cries of a small boy. It took her mind a long and excruciating moment before she realized that it had been Sven. She couldn't see him, but his agonized screams were like those of the pain of his headaches before he passed. Though his screams were quickly joined by a multitude, she could clearly still tell his voice apart. Another set of voices rose above the chorus of suffering songs above all except for Sven's.

It was Tenya and Ebba, they were pleading with Amethyst to move faster. She needed to save Sven, but the world remained fast while she was slow. It wasn't just her steps now, her whole body was moving through the molasses of stygian mist between her and the ward she needed to reach.

Her grandfather walked up beside her. He was moving without any impediment. Amethyst could hear her voice leaving her mouth. "Please, you must save Sven!"

He took his time lighting his pipe, while Amethyst continued her futile struggle. The pipe had been hand carved and had the smell of a sickly sweet flower. He had always called it his "Honey." But it hadn't made him any sweeter. With a long drag and an even longer exhale, he shook his head vigorously. "Once again!" He shouted, "You are doing it wrong!" His hand connected forcefully with her cheek. The pain felt familiar to her, It's sting both nostalgic and infuriating. "They are burning because of you!" He broke into a coughing fit and faded to the back of her attention.

In her grandfather's place, her mother looked at her with unblinking wide eyes. The emotionless void that was her gaze pressed down onto Amethyst as her mother started to grow. Amethyst felt like she couldn't breathe at all. Her mother grew and grew until she was a towering figure eclipsing all of her vision. "Such a disappointment, you should have been a boy. I would have loved you tenderly then." Amethyst's mother then had a look of disgust and malice form, which had grown like a blooming flower. Her face started reshaping itself in a ghastly way. Like wet paint running down a canvas, the features of her skin melted, leaving only a dark skull behind.

Amethyst turned her head away in horror. Her eyes were back to the fire. She saw that Ebba was burning. She was right in front of Amethyst, just out of reach. But Ebba was just smiling with her eyes missing. Amethyst reached her hand out and tried to grab Ebba and also Sven, who was like a gray shadow that had appeared without warning. Although their screams pierced her mind, they made no effort to reach out for Amethyst's hand. Amethyst then felt her shoulder being grabbed hard and she was spun around against her will. She had come face to face with Tenya.

Everything had gone totally silent. Amethyst gazed into Tenya's eyes. They were red, and tear soaked but was as void of emotion as her mother's had been. Like a mirror, Tenya moved her head from side to side following Amethyst's lead. They sat still for a moment before one of Tenya's eyes watered up with blood. The tear streaking red down her face. In Tenya's most gentle voice, Amethyst heard her say. "You just aren't good enough." Then her mouth widened, her jaw unhinging so that all Amethyst could see was an inky abyss.

Amethyst's eyes shot open, she was still in her bed. She had expected to be covered in sweat from her fevered dream, yet was as dry as a bone. She looked over at Tenya, who was still asleep and sighed. She wanted to go and wake Tenya up, but couldn't bring herself to even get up. She reflected on what little of her dreams she could recall. The events moved back and forth like an ungreased hinge. Tenya's bloody face still morphing on the backs of Amethyst's eyelids as she blinked.

Tenya stirred. She mumbled something and then turned to face Amethyst. Amethyst couldn't tell in the dim light whether Tenya was truly awake or not, so she remained still and quiet, holding her breath for good measure. Soon Tenya's steady breath told her that she wasn't getting up quite yet. Amethyst rolled onto her other side. The relief of switching from her left to her right made her feel much more at ease, even if it meant that the tip of her tail would be hanging over the bed's edge. Her eyes closed all the same.

§

A gentle prodding that was followed by light rubbing sensations on her shoulder alerted Amethyst. She didn't move hastily, but slowly started to stretch a little while turning to face the touch. Tenya was peering down with warm eyes.

"Breakfast is about ready and Stochastís is itching to leave right away." Tenya's face was relaxed. She wasn't smiling, but she also didn't look sad. After she saw the mild confusion on Amethyst's face she smiled a little.

"I..." Amethyst yawned deeply and rolled her upper half to be fully facing Tenya. Audible pops left her feeling less tense. She squeezed herself like a rag until there were no more pops. "I must have fallen asleep again." Amethyst muttered mostly to herself.

"You were very much asleep." Tenya giggled as she walked over to the trunk that had been holding all of Amethyst's clothes. Amethyst continued her morning stretches on the floor after rolling over and off the bed. Tenya collected and laid out Amethyst's favorite adventuring outfit.

In a soft silence, Amethyst and Tenya wandered over to the guest dining area. Most everyone was present except for Nuru, who had left earlier that morning to go and visit Bontu. Wa Chini seemed to be in no hurry as he let one grape drop into his mouth at a time and sleepily poked at the meat in front of him.

Ebba was devouring her meal. The plate was mostly empty by the time Amethyst sat at the table. When her plate was empty, Ebba started digging at the shared ham, which she cut large uneven chunks out of. She didn't bother using her utensils and instead ripped the pieces apart and stuffed them into her mouth, leaving little time to chew.

"Slow down child, the food is not going anywhere." Busara was smiling as he attempted to reason with Ebba. His efforts were in vain as she tore a large chunk into her mouth, chomped twice, then swallowed hard, all while making direct eye contact with Busara.

Tenya tried convincing her as well but Ebba simply wasn't listening. Suddenly she stood from the table and announced she had to get to learning, then bolted off through the door, leaving a large half finished chunk of ham on her plate. Tenya took the large piece and offered to split it with Amethyst who accepted the burden of another meal.

Shaking his head lightly, Busara laughed a hardy laugh. "The girl is growing quickly." He looked at Wa Chini for reassurance. Wa Chini smiled, then went back to poking at his food.

"She is!" Tenya heartily agreed. "I hope the manners will grow at some point too." Tenya took a large bite, much too large to chew comfortably. Amethyst and Busara smiled. Tenya looked between the both of them. "What?" She couldn't quite pronounce the word correctly.

"Oh." Amethyst grinned. "It is a wide wonder as to where she got her manners from."

"Or lack of." Busara smirked.

Tenya chewed loudly for a long time, all the while Amethyst and Busara smiled at each other. Tenya swallowed with a loud gulp. She let out a loud breath as she looked between them confused. Then a look of realization stretched across her face. Busara and Tenya broke out in laughter once more. Wa Chini looked at the laughing group and smiled widely himself, though it was clear he had no idea why everyone was in such a way.

§

Busara chose to remain behind. Aside from the grueling walk up a mountain, which was sure to see him aching for days, he had already made plans with Íroas. They had bonded over the collection of spears that Íroas had and now planned to go look at the Museum of War. According to Busara, they two had hit it off with stories of battle as soldiers. Though the scale had been different the heart was the same.

Wa Chini had chosen to go with Amethyst, Tenya, and Stochastís to find Sofía. The four walked along the old road to the old temple, which wound along the cliffs until the ascent up the mountain took the road away from the sea. Stochastís, who had not been known for his overeager behavior before, was marching at a quick pace. Wa Chini seemed to have little interest in conversation and was focused on the multitude of birds and small creatures that the group crossed paths with.

Stochastís equally seemed to have no interest in conversing. His single track of thought was simply to move forward fast. The march had left Amethyst's calves and thighs burning. She hadn't been through this much exercise since the incident with the Kraken. Although Nuru had told her she was going to be alright, her body protested her moving at such a speed anyway.

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All the same, they held the course following Stochastís, who did at least, stop to wait for them to catch up. Part way up the mountain, still with at least two thirds of the distance remaining, Amethyst started to have a mild coughing fit. Everyone stopped to wait for Amethyst, who decided it was time to sit down and rest for a while. Stochastís sat on a rock a little ways up the trail, just out of earshot. While Wa Chini said he was going to see if he could procure a small snack for himself. He offered the same for them, but was politely turned down.

Amethyst and Tenya were left as close to alone as one could be. From their resting place, the two girls could easily look over the ocean. They could also see clearly the city of Neopolis. The distant city looked almost small. They were very high up and Amethyst was feeling dizzy as she looked down at the far away sight.

"Are you going to make it?" Tenya's worried voice surprised Amethyst, who had still been feeling weird about Tenya after her dream.

"I'm tough." Amethyst affirmed. "I just need to catch my breath." Amethyst's lungs had started to burn and her legs were slightly swollen. She felt betrayed by her lack of endurance, but resolved to be as patient as she could with her healing body.

Tenya was looking out over the water, her curious eyes flitting back and forth. The powerful winds could be heard along with the faint crashing of waves. The birds along the path sang a beautiful melody that mixed poorly with the clumsy screeches of the sea birds. That being said, Amethyst really did think that all together, this mix was a pleasant one given the circumstances.

Amethyst hesitantly placed her hand on Tenya's. "I know you have trouble with your self confidence when it comes to your children."

Tenya turned, her stunned face told Amethyst she had hit a sore subject, but she had known that before uttering a single syllable. Tenya opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She reopened her mouth a couple times, but each attempt failed.

"I mean, you had it rough while they were growing up." Amethyst pondered her words while Tenya's brow furrowed in the uncomfortable silence. "You have the chance to start again now. You can still be her parent even if you are scared to be." Amethyst took in a shaky breath. She had suddenly become nervous, worried that she may be making statements that were too bold.

The shade of Tenya's words pitched into Amethyst's mind. "You just aren't good enough." She could feel her breath hitch as she continued to force herself to ignore the words of a nightmare and focus on the real breathing woman in front of her.

Amethyst let her breath out and continued. "You are not alone, they say it takes a village to raise a child." Amethyst pursed her lips and nodded a couple times, signaling she had finished.

Tenya didn't hesitate, she threw herself around Amethyst's arms. She whispered, "Thank you." Amethyst and Tenya embraced for a quiet moment. Wa Chini announced himself by walking loudly through the brush and Tenya pulled away slowly, wiping tears away, her lips turned up into a little smile.

§

The hike to the temple was difficult, but Stochastís agreed to slow down and go at Amethyst's pace. They moved away from the cliffs around to the eastern side of the mountain's face. The foliage along the pathway grew denser, and more challenging to traverse. Fallen trees and collapsed ruins of stone archways slowed their progress. The sounds of the harsh winds and constant cacophony of clashing bird-speak had entirely melted away, leaving only the gentle melody of the song birds along with other woodland creatures.

They had fully entered a forest, many of the tree's leaves had shifted to hues of reds and yellows. The ground was covered almost entirely by decaying leaves. When disturbed, a sweet smell pleasantly tickled their nostrils. The light shuffling sound was a music Amethyst hadn't heard since she was a child. Memories of running through similar forests raced in her mind, distracting her from the difficulty of the climb. She wished for the childlike endurance she once had.

The temple at the peak of this mountain was not simply a singular building, but the remains of an old stone village. The walls remained up, but the roofs had collapsed and had been worn away or were far along the path of decay. The road had been entirely covered with leaves, but still had a certain definition to it. Small stone walls and old braziers outlined the edges.

Walking through the ruins blew Amethyst's already sparked imagination into a fire. She could see children running around, adults calling after them, telling them to be careful. Men hauled up the catch from the bountiful sea, while women sorted the edibles they had found. Neopolis was beautiful, sure, but the charm of this quaint mountain sanctuary made Amethyst's heart yearn for the simple existence she might have had. But the feeling was short lived as the vile memory of her grandfather arguing with her father cut her gleeful imagination to shreds. Instead she started to fester on the man she had called grandfather, and the passive existence of the woman she called mother. The thoughts were spurred along by the memories of her rotten dream.

The entrance to the temple had been built up into the mountain. The stone façade looked to be made in the classic Melydaesian style. Large rounded columns holding up a triangular roof. The stone work was definitely added onto the mountain face, but was done so in a very pleasing way aesthetically. Vines and shrubs were growing out from and over the entrance doors. The doors themselves were open, but only a little. The bottoms of the doors were well buried but It was more than enough for everyone to slip through, Though they couldn't be shoulder to shoulder.

The light from a lantern which Stochastís had brought illuminated the walls around them. Infrequent beams of daylight peered through little crumbling portions in the temple's ceiling. collections of flowers and weeds were growing along the trails the light made as the sun passed over.

The intricate decorations mirrored those in the temple of Neopolis, though the depictions varied greatly. Here were the images of gods and men Amethyst hadn't seen before, which wasn't to say much considering she hadn't been in Melydaesos long. But the garbs they wore and the weapons depicted were unlike any she had seen in any land she had visited so far, depictions of a time long ago.

Her attention was ripped away as a crashing noise of collapsing rock echoed from the darkness. Tenya drew her weapon and Wa Chini's fur was fluffy. Stochastís put his hand out from his side as a gesture to keep calm and wait. He took a few slow steps forward letting his hand decline before stopping.

"Sofía?" His confident voice echoed back a couple of times. "Sofía are you here?!" The stronger reverberation caused Amethyst to flinch. Stochastís set the lantern down and stepped forward.

"Stochastís?!" Amethyst called in a hushed yell.

He raised his hand again, he looked back and made a shushing gesture and he hunched slightly, then crouched to the floor. The group followed his lead. They knelt onto the ground and waited for his next move. He grabbed something from the ground. Then started to move backwards towards the group, keeping himself low. She showed what he had found, A scale, like one from The Serpent Guards, but much larger.

Looking at it was mesmerizing. There was the primary emerald sheen, but with hints of purple rounded the edges like a rainbow made of two colors. "Is there a serpent here Stochastís, or is this a different creature?" Amethyst shyly inquired.

"This scale belongs to a viper, though one of great size." He researched the scale in greater depth. "The color is not one I am familiar with."

"Are we sure Sofía came to this place?" Tenya asked calmly.

"I am confident." Stochastís was still absorbed by the scale. "The scale looks relatively new, not a lot of damage." He dropped the scale and returned to the lantern.

They stood, but remained slightly hunched as they continued deeper into the darkness. There was evidence of more scales along the ground, like a bread crumb trail. They led deeper into the temple, where there was no light from the sun to be had at all. The light from the lantern did little to illuminate the grander chambers as the group pressed through.

A short, but pronounced his stopped Stochastís. He looked around, like he was trying to find a ghost. Amethyst and Tenya looked around with Stochastís, their weapons fully unsheathed and poised to strike.

"Sofía?" A soft whisper from Stochastís. The chamber remained quiet. Stochastís raised his lantern higher, and could see the statue of a large boar. The details were immaculate. "Think Stochastís." He said softly.

As Stochastís pondered, Amethyst looked at the boar. The level of detail was beyond even the grand statues that guarded the bay of Neopolis. She noticed below it small scratches in the stone. The notches were even and spaced apart in a pattern which rippled from behind the boar. Amethyst secured Stochastís's attention. Once Stochastís studied the scratching, his breath stopped and he looked around.

"Everyone, hide your eyes and put on a blinder, or blindfold. " Stochastís ripped a piece of his cloak and used the tatter to cover his eyes.

Though confused, Amethyst followed suit, and made sure both Tenya and Wa Chini did the same.

"Follow me, we must leave."

Amethyst grabbed his cloak, while Tenya grabbed Amethysts and Wa Chini Tenya's. They slowly retraced their steps. Before they had left the chamber, there was the sound of clapping which echoed behind them.

A deep but unmistakably feminine voice reverberated against the walls around them. "Good job, Stochastís."

They all stopped. Stuck in place by fear. Amethyst was shaking, and she could feel Tenya gripping her arm tightly.

"Sofía?" Stochastís shuttered.

"Yes." Her sultry voice came from beside them.

There had been no sound indicating movement. Amethyst jumped and let out a little squeak.

"Did you find some new friends?" The voice asked in a coy tone.

"Yes, friends of mine."

"Don't!" She yelled. "Leave here, and leave your eyes hidden."

"Please, let me see you."

"Impossible." Sofía's voice was smooth and moving around them, like she was circling them.

"You are not in control?"

"A matter of how you look at it, Stochastís."

"What happened?"

A deep rumble came from Sofía. "I was stolen from my bed, held underground." Her voice circled again moving in and out as she spoke. "Cursed."

"I see." Stochastís answered her unquestioning tone.

"Do you now?" The inflection hinted at a smile. "Think of your answer, you only get one guess."

With no hesitation Stochastís responded. "You have become a Gorgon." Slowly Stochastís took a step forward and the group followed his lead,

"Yes, well done. Now go and do not return."

"How do I help you?"

"You forget about me. I am now as legend had portrayed." The amusement in Sofía's voice had wavered. In its place sounded resignation.

"Where were you cursed, I shall find a cure there."

"You don't like the way I look now?" laughter split Amethyst's ears.

"I'll take this off and look now if you like?"

"Prove it then, I was taken under the city, to the old city. There I was kept by creatures of Awful origin. The Witch spoke from a book, the cover bore that of a... snake" Her laughter was maddening.

"I will fetch this and return to you, can you break the curse with it?"

"Yes, but I will not be who you once knew, You should forget me Stochastís. Be with Mágissa instead."

"I will return for you!"

Her voice now distantly behind them. "We shall see."