Thyssa and Merryway stood just outside the temple.
“Well,” said Merryway, closing up the flask, “I’ve got to get back home. Mom’s not gonna cure herself.”
“I hope she is well,” said Thyssa.
“She’ll be fine. She’s always been strong…and the Goddess is with us once more. Thanks to you.”
“Thanks to us.”
Merryway laughed. “Damn right. I was just being modest. We make a great team.”
“Never thought I’d hear that from a human. But we do.”
“Speaking of…” Merryway gave Thyssa a sly smile. “You want to come back with me? I’ll introduce you to the whole clan.”
Thyssa smiled. “That sounds good.” She sighed. “But…not yet. There is much catching up to do with my pack. With my mother.”
“Yeah, me too. I guess this is goodbye, then.”
“For now.”
“Yeah. For now.” Merryway sighed. “Welp. Time to get going. It’s a long hike.”
“WAIT.”
It was the Ogre Queen. She was using her loud voice – she only used the quiet one for Thyssa, and only when she was alone – but keeping her distance.
Merryway hid behind Thyssa. “Yes?” they squeaked out.
“YOU SAVED MY DAUGHTER. SHED BLOOD FOR HER.”
“I didn’t really mean to do the second one,” admitted Merryway.
The Ogre Queen laughed. She was not much of a laugher, but she was in a good mood, and today was a day for new things. “THIS IS THE FIRST HUMAN I’VE LIKED.” She looked to Thyssa with a smile. “OR, RATHER, THE SECOND.”
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“I’m honoured,” said Merryway. “But I really need to get home as fast as possible.”
“AND THAT IS HOW I WILL REPAY YOU. SKLEETH!”
A huge winged malform slithered out of the temple. Thyssa didn’t recognize the name, or the shape – a long, wormlike creature.
“SKLEETH WILL CARRY YOU HOME. YOU NEED BUT SHOW HER THE WAY.”
“Skleeth?” asked Thyssa, narrowing her eyes. “Is she new blood?”
“I am a proud malform of Cerberus Pack,” said Skleeth, in a very crisp, calm voice that really didn’t sound like it would come out of a wormy creature.
“DO NOT FEAR. SKLEETH WILL NOT EAT YOUR BELOVED. SHE HAS BEEN A LOYAL FRIEND, INSTRUMENTAL TO PEACE TALKS.”
Thyssa’s eyes widened. A loyal friend? From Cerberus Pack? The Ogre Queen must have been busy.
Merryway looked even more skeptical. They turned to Thyssa, and she nodded. “The Ogre Queen doesn’t give her trust lightly,” she said.
Merryway was still nervous, but starting to perk up. “I…I see. Thank you Skleeth. And thank you, Ogre Queen.”
They approached Skleeth, then stopped. “How do I…?”
“Straddle my middle segment – the one with the blue blotches - and hold on tight,” said Skleeth. “You shouldn’t have to do much. It’s really me that’s doing most of the work keeping you on.”
Merryway took a deep breath. “Alright, here goes.” They gingerly mounted Skleeth, whose body tightened around their legs and hands to give them a better grip.
“That’s a useful trick,” said Merryway.
“Isn’t it?” said Skleeth, very proud. “But if you think that’s impressive, wait until we take off. Hang on!”
And, with that, Skleeth leapt off the mountain as Merryway screamed – at first from fear, and then excitement, as they glided away. “Come visit sometime!” shouted Merryway. They said something else, too, something joyful, but they were already too far away.
“You were busy,” said Thyssa.
The Ogre Queen lifted her up into her hand. “I am glad you stayed. A lot has happened. There is much you need to hear…and much you need to help with.”
Thyssa beamed with pride, glad to be needed again. “What do you need?”
“An ambassador.”
“Hm. I could go ask Merryway.”
“No. I need someone with experience talking to malforms and humans. Someone to represent Grendel Pack in talks when I am occupied elsewhere.”
“Well, I can look,” said Thyssa. “But it’ll take me some time to find someone like that.”
“You won’t need to,” said the Ogre Queen. “I want you to be the ambassador.”
“Me? But I’m terrible with people.”
“You’re one of us, but human. You were taught all the miserable rules of human decorum. You look safe, but you are dangerous. You can avoid things going badly, and you can handle things if they do.”
“You’ll have to teach me.”
“I will be proud to do so.”
Just then, Vlila poked a mouth tendril out of the temple.
“I have captured the scientist.”