A hunter and a hunted

That night was specially cold for Petra. Maybe it was the absence of Yun to her side in a bed with a blanket. She was worried she could lose her edge, making her vulnerable to bigger, more dangerous predators.

Then, a noise made her woke up.

The noise of a dry branch breaking in half.

That noise was more than enough to make any vulnerable animal, like deers, to run and hide in fear of a possible danger nearby. However, not knowing what was coming made Petra doubtful of what to do. So she quickly took a quick view outside.

Nothing... Maybe just some small critter that run away after simply hearing the noise he made?

And suddenly, everything went blank.

She did had lost some edge after all.

When se woke up, she saw nothing but darkness and felt some kind of thick cloth on her face. A blindfold of sorts? She also felt some bindings on her wrists, so tight she could have sweared that her blood was cut. Was she captured? This is bad. If by any chance

"I think it's awake, Tirian"

Oh no. The bullies from the village. Had they followed them to the forest?

"How can you tell?"

Was Yun safe? If he get into trouble for her...

"I saw it moving"

"Maybe it was just dreaming. Do monsters dream?" another one questioned.

"No matter, I think it has slept enough"

She then felt a hit of pain to her back. Some kind of whip of sorts. It hurt. How could it hurt, being how she was so resilient and her skin as tough as a lizardfolk?

"Rise and shine, monster! We have some questions, and you better answer them or you get the mythril whip"

An enchanted weapon? Now that's wicked. And they call her monster. At least she hasn't tortured anyone or retain it against it's own free will.

"Now tell me; how many of you are out there? What are your plans for our village? How did you get here all the way from the south?"

They think there's more of her. Makes sense; Gorgons always move in groups. In all history or knowledge, not ever a stray or an abandoned Gorgon has been met. She was the only one. Probably the last one.

"Answer me!"

A second whipping hit her back viciously.

"Maybe she can't speak, Tirian" another bully said, entertained by the spectacle.

"Nonesene. Gorgons can speak. I know because my uncle Gerry got petrified by one of them and his firends told us that he was following a pretty voice. It's how they attract they preys"

"I thought his uncle Gerry kicked the bucket for not paying the debt of a lost bet" one of the bullies whisper to another.

"He changes the story has he finds convenient"

"What are you idiots mumbling about?"

"Nothing. We just though that those where sirens"

Petra couldn't avoid scoffing.

"Sirens are sluts"

The group flinched in surprise, but they recovered their composture.

"See? This thing can talk"

Another hit. This one was stronger than the former.

"Now answer me! Where are the others?"

It was impossible for her to get out of this in one piece. Not even alive.

"There's none. I'm alone"

"Lies!"

Another hit.

"Where are your sisters? Where are they hiding?"

Now what? If she said nothing, she would be hit. If she said the truth, the would be hit. And if she lied, she would be hit. No matter the answer, she would suffer.

"Hey, Tirian. I don't think this is getting us anywhere. Are you sure this is going to work?"

"Of course it will! We'll find her nest, bring this one back to the soldiers and let them do the hard work of exterminating these pests. When we're back home, we'll be treated like heroes who saved the town from certain doom of these things! The mayor will give us a medal, everyone in town will invite us to anything we want, the girls in town will be dying to be with us...!"

"You mean Flore and the others?"

"No, you dimwit! I mean real girls! Real WOMEN, even! Young women that are still to be taken but old enough to be considered as one! Like Lola and her friends"

"Oh, I know Lola. Boy, I'll do anything just to hold her hand"

"I'll do anything to bury my face in her chest. Those juicy..."

Even blindfolded, Petra could imagine them drooling and smiling like creeps. The image of the three guys making disgusting faces makes her laugh.

"What are you laughing about, Gorgon?"

"The idea of you five getting an adult woman is simply hilarious. Because with exception of maybe your own mothers, not a single other one would dare to lay a finger on such creeps. Maybe some old ladies, wanting grandchildren to annoy"

She could feel the boys rage boiling. Then Tirian struck her again. And again. And again. Over and over again until she started scremaing in agony.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP, YOU STUPID SLUT!"

The hittings didn't stop and neither the screams. Tears started to flow from her face in pain.

"Like YOU would know what beauty is! Or love! Your kind are all whores that kidnap men to rape them and use them at will until they're pregnant and then EAT THEM! You're a monster! A pest! A DISGUSTING CREATURE THE WORLD WOULD BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT IT! The fact that you're still breathing should be enough for you to be greatful to US!"

Finally, Tirian got tired of hitting her and stopped. The blindfold slipped just a little to let Petra see from her left eye. She could see the cuts and bruises in her skin. Bleeding out.

It hurts... Stop...

"Say it!" the boy grabbed her by the hair snakes she had while using a metal glove "Say you're greatful for still living until we say so! Say it! You pest!"

I should have never had you. What did I do to have such a useless offspring as you?

She didn't want to remember that. Why was she thinking of her right now?

"Hey, Tirian" one of the boys claimed "Slow down. If she dies before she tell us anything, forget about the medal"

"And Lola and the hotties!"

"I don't care! This thing has dared to mock me! Us! This thing of all kinds! I won't stand it!"

"Seriously; chill. This is like when Flore's cat scratch you and you almost beat it to death"

"It's not like anyone is gonna miss it in the world!"

"Maybe not, but we still had a plan..."

"What are you all doing?"

The sudden appearance of a sixth voice made everyone jump on their seats. Petra could see from the hole in her blindfold that it was a pale blond guy with cloudy eyes and a staff.

Yun...

She almost slipped her voice.

"Oh, it's just you" everyone relaxed "What are YOU doing in here?"

"I asked first"

"I don't care. Get lost"

Maybe he didn't hear them. Maybe... Who is she kidding? He's not going to take such a bet for her. Noone would. Plus, it's not like he could see her.

"When you let go of her"

What?

"Let go of who?"

"Her" he points at Tirian and the Gorgon.

The boys looked at Petra and later at Yun simultaneously over and over again. Then burst into laughter.

"Her, he says!"

"Like it's a girl!"

"It's hilarious! Really!"

They kept laughing for a while

"Wait, wait. Shut up!" the gang listened "Why do you care? Oh, I get it. Since your blind, you can't understand..."

Play dumb, Petra thought Play dumb. Carry along. Please...

"She's a Gorgon. Yes, I know"

You idiot! What are you doing?

"And still you defend her?"

"Yes"

"Why?! I mean, I know you're blind, but I didn't expected you to be THIS stupid!"

"Because she's my friend"

Everyone got silent for another minute. The guys laugh again to Yun's words, but Tirian is not laughing. In fact, he's pretty serious.

"Shut up. Be quiet already!"

"Come on, Tirian! This is hilarious! A human, friends with a Gorgon! I'ts insane!"

"I said ZIP IT! Let me enjoy it"

An evil grin formed in Tirian's face. Oh, no.

Suddenly everyone stopped lauging. Then Tirian stare for a while at Yun and simply scoffed, unable to stop grinning like some kind of maniac.

"As mother, as son, I guess" he finally complain "It was to be expected that could only have been a matter of time for this to happen. You, son of a woman who fornicated with a demon, to be engaged with monsters. But Gorgons? Of all the creatures in the world, you had to choose the ugliest of them all..."

"Are you finished?"

Yun's tone sounded very threatening, but the bullies didn't seem to get it.

"Are you seriously THAT dense? You've been found laying with a Gorgon! You're the one who's finished! More than dead! Doing such things by free will is a capital punishment both by the Gods and the law!"

"I didn't lay with her. The Gods can judge me when I die. And the law can go to heck for all I care. It never defended me before. As far as I'm concerned, neither me nor my family is allowed to live in this world by both their standards"

"By family you mean that whore you called mother?" Petra saw Yun's left hand clutching in a fist "Who knows? Maybe the single guys in town would take turns to get laid with her. She's still pretty young and beautiful... Though it would be disgusting to put it were a demon has lay its dick on"

"Tirian..."

Yun's tone change of the same he used against the bully the day before. His cloudy eyes suddenly matched with Tirian's once again and he remained still for a few seconds before laying his head to the right. The guys shuddered in the vision.

I was like he could see them.

"You know, I think I've finally got you: you're not a bully, nor a thug. You're a little bedbug that considers himself to be in the right just because he says so. Because his father beats him up for considering pathetic. Which he is. So he takes it on others, mainly those who can't defend themselves, just to blow some steam. And the others tag along because noone else want to be with none of you because you either too weird, too different to fit with anyone else or simply didn't want to be bullied by you like you do to me"

The guys weren't laughing anymore, as expressions of rage mixed with some fear formed in their faces. Like he could...

Read their souls.

Was that how they actually were inside? Then... They weren't so different of Yun.

"I'm not gonna ask this again: let her go and leave or suffer the consecuences"

"Consecuences? What consecuences? You're BLIND! You can't even know where you're going without that stick of yours tied to your hand! How are you even...?"

Suddenly, Yun throws his walking stick aside.

"Now it's gone. So what are you gonna do now, you sad excuse of a scumbag?"

Tirian got red of anger and tighten his hands alongside the whip, tempted to struck down Yun with all the might he could get from his arms.

"Shut up! You cursed child! Dead weight! Trash!"

"And now you recur to insults when things don't go your way. Later would get physical, I suppose. Doesn't it, kid?"

The tone he mimicked was almost the same he already knew pretty well. It take him by surprise enough for him to pull back. I was enough to sent him to his edge, as Tirian finally rose his hand, ready to struck. Yun moved towards him and hold his right wrist, where the whip was being hold, right at the moment he was about to struck  and twist it counter-clockwise. Between the lack of stability and the pain of his wrist being crooked, Tirian let go of the whip. Taking his chance, Yun kicked him with his knee to the stomach and unseathe his sword from his back to cut his leg. The cut was soft, but efficient in his mission: to make him slower. As Tirian fell to the ground and hit a rock on his way against the floor, he shouted of pain.

"He cut me!" he yelled "He cut me! That trash cut me!"

The rest of the gang weren't laughing anymore. They were as shocked as Petra, as the blind boy standed there, short sword in hand and his arms crossed.

"What are you witing for, idiots?! Get him! Kill him! Come on!"

The gang proceeded to jump over him, as one threw a rock Yun inmidiately respond throwing it back to the sender with a swing of his blade, hitting him in the head and making him lose his balance. He fell backwards and hit the ground.

The other two attacked at the same time, throwing punches and using Yun's abandoned staff as weapon. He easily dodge an inmediate punch from the first and made him trip, falling right into a puddle of mud. Then blocked a hit right towards him with the sword to kick his attacker right in the gut, making him kneel over to the ground. The one who fell to the puddle then stand up quickly and draw a sword he had hiding under his belt.

"You little...!"

But he didn't even had a chance to use it; Yun quickly made him lose his sword from a slash to the blade, which caused it to fall to the ground. The blind boy then made use of some incredible acrobatics and speed to grab the second sword and point them both to the two defeated boys' throats.

Amazing...

She never expected for him to be so strong...

Yun finally hit the two thugs with the handle of both swords, making them fall to the ground in pain.

"Go back home"he said while dropping one sword and seathing another in his belt "Tell everyone that some bandits try to stole from you but leave the second they discovered you have nothing of value. That you ran away the moment they weren't looking"

"That will make us look like cowards!"

"Noone in town will let us forget it ever again!"

"Not my problem"

"You're not getting away of this!" Tirian yelled as he grabbed his wounded leg trying to stop it from bleeding "We'll tell everyone! We'll tell our parents! We'll...!"

"Do what? Are you going to tell all in town a blind boy beat you up? All of you, together as a team?" Yun approaches Tirian's face while making a smug "Go on, by all meaning. Be my guest. Noone is going to belive you"

"We don't have to tell the TRUTH! The second we mention that senile old man and that you used dirty tricks, you're done for! And...!"

But the boy's voice diminished the second Yun punched him to hard with the back of the handle of the sword that a tooth fell over his mouth, spouting blood everywhere. Before he could stand, the blind boy pointed his blade towards him.

"I told you once that next time you dare to insult my mother again with that disgusting pig-like mouth of yours that you'll lose a tooth. Try again and I'll cut your tongue right out of it to teach you manners, kid"

Tirian peed himself as he ran away in fear, crying.

"And the same goes for the rest of you, lot"

The others got startled as he turn towards them.

"If I heard anything about a Gorgon in town or something related to what has just happened here from anyone, next time we see eachother will be the last" he points the sword to them "Because I'll poke all of your eyes out and THEN we will all be useless. Together the same"

The bullies run away in fear, screaming like they saw a dragon in the woods. Yun simply laugh, entertained.

"Good scared children. That would make it more convincing. And avoid questions"

Yun then walked towards the Gorgon and untie her while holding her hands.

"These beasts, I swear. Does it hurt very bad, Petra? I can get you some healing potions and..."

But then she pushed him away. None of this made any sense.

"Why...?"

She was angry at him.

"Why did you do that for?! Are you stupid?!"

"Petra..."

"Now they're never going to leave you alone! And it's all my fault!"

"Petra, calm down"

"I can't! You just made enemies in your home and can't live calmly anymore! You know they'll take revenge sooner or later! And it's all my fault! So why...?!"

Suddenly, Yun put his hand against her cheek.

"Petra, you're my friend. That means more than anyting else"

"Yun..."

"I have no remorses, even if it costs my life"

The Gorgon started to cry and hugged him tightly, a gesture he returned.

"I...! I'm sorry...! I'm so sorry...! I was so scared...!"

"Shh. You have nothing to be sorry about"

Minutes later, she finally calmed down. Her face was still covered in tears, which she desperately tried to wipe away.

"That was pathetic. A Gorgon crying her heart out..."

"It's fine. You're still a girl, nevertheless"

"I'm not a common girl"

"You are for me"

Petra was glad Yun was blind, or he would have seen her face red.

"Petra? Is something wrong?"

"No. Nothing. Nevermind that, what now? Should you go home right away or...?"

"I wouldn't recommend that"

In shock and startled, the friends flinched in surprise. Was someone else there? How? And who follow them? Wait, that voice...

"Grandpa?!"

"Ey, Yun"

Petra's heart was racing like crazy. Her mind became completely blank. Her first thought was to lower her sight.

"You can look, it's fine"

"But..."

"It's fine, I say. Look"

She slowly raised her eyesight to see a pendant in the elderly man's neck resembling a sigle opened eye with a long sharp pupil, like a cat's eye.

"That's..."

"A Protection Charm, yes. It'll make your curse ineffective for twenty-four hours. Now..."

The man stared at his grandson.

"Yun, explain yourself"

The aforementioned grabbed the Gorgon's hand, determined.

"This is my precious friend Petra. They were being mean to her, so I protected her"

"Is that so..."

There's no way this is going to end well, the Gorgon thought to herlsef. Just by looking at the stern sight the man was giving to her, it was impossible.

"Yun" he sighed "I'm proud of you that you're defending your friends, but this... This is something completely different"

"No, it's not"

"Yun, she's a Gorgon"

"I don't care"

"But the others do"

"I don't give a damn what the others think. Neither the rest of the world"

"Language, young man. Look, normally I respect that determination of yours, but the girl is a danger to both herself and others"

"She never ever killed a human. Or have you found any petrified people around?"

"Well, yes. But that's more probably to be related to her need to not call the attention or the soldiers nor the citizens"

"Even though..."

"Yun, listen to me very well: the girl must leave now. Even if Tirian and the others don't say a word of this incident, it's only a matter of time before anyone else does so"

He was absolutely right. She knew this time would come anyways.

"Yun, it's fine" she said "I've had a great time and I'll treasure our friendship forever, but your grandfather is right"

She just never expected it'll be this hard now that she had met Yun and made a real friend.

"I have to go. I can't stay. Go back home, forget this. Made some actual human friends..."

But he didn't budge. He tighten his grip even more.

"What friends? Tirian and his gang? The other kids that consider me a cursed boy? The whole town that despise me for being alive?"

"Yun..."

"I... I know a way to fix this"

"It's impossible..."

"No, it's not. There's someone who can fix anything"

"What?"

"We're going to the Iron Spire"

The old man then exploded, his face a mixture between fear and anger.

"YOU FOOL!"

The scream was so sudden that Petra juped right out of her seat. And that expression! If there was something in this world to be afraid right now was absolutely that face. Fortunately for him, Yun was blind. But even the simple sound of the man's voice was enough to made him tremble a little.

"Have you forgotten how your mother ended up like this?! Do you want to DIE?!"

"But he can do something"

"What are you going to do? Bargain with the Lord of the Spire with someone else's soul? YOU IDIOT! Don't you see it won't change a thing?"

"I may be an idiot, but I'll still be honest to myself!"

"Your own mother gave up everything for you to be born! You have to be greatful and...!"

"AND WHAT?!"

Yun's voice was definately lower than his grandfather, but the surprise didn't come in the anger or the rage in his words.

But rather that tone of anguish.

"This...! This isn't life...! I thought I could do it, but...! Living like this...! How long before you left me, grandpa? How long before mom left me too? How long before I'm left alone in a city that hates me and make me leave or worse?"

"Yun..."

"I can't do this anymore! I can't keep going like this! I can't be who your or mom want me to be! I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS! I CAN'T!"

He was crying. Or fury and pain.

"If my only two alternatives are to die now or in a couple of years, I'd rather die doing something I won't regret! Wasn't the same for you back then?!"

The vision of the blind boy was too heartwrenching even for the old man, who clenched his teeth and his fists before punching a tree so hard it break in pieces.

"DAMN IT!"

After a minute or so, the man relaxed his posture.

"Very well"

Yun raised his head.

"But you have to promise that you'll fight. Fight with all your will against your fate, Yun. This is... As much as I can give to you"

"Grandpa..."

The elderly man turned towards his grandson and hugged him tightly.

"If this is really what you wanted, I'll respect it... But..." the man started to "Be sure... That you'll do everything in your power... To come back... Son..."

Yun let go of Petra for a moment to hug his grandfather. They both cried their hearts out for a while as the little Gorgon watched in impotence. Something really bad was happening. Should she just...?

"Petra"

She raised her face. Yun wiped his tears away.

"Don't... Run..."

"But..."

"We're doing this"

"No. No wait! I... I can leave and..."

"Then I'll go right behind you. And hunt you down"

"Yun, whatever this is, if it's going to cost you your life...!"

"I'm gonna die anyways. I prefer doing it for something worth it"

"Yun, that's not...!"

"I want to do it. I'm going to do it"

He grabbed her hand again.

"Rather you like it or not. We'll find a way to get out of this together"

"But Yun...!"

"My whole life has been survival as well. This might be the most important thing what I've done in my life before"

She didn't knew what to answer.

The next day, they were both prepared to leave to their first stop.

"I have a friend called Ona that runs a traveling circus. By this time of the year, she should be somewhere near the next village. Go to her and ask to be taken to the capital. From there you'll find your way to the Spire. And Petra, here"

He gave the girl a mask.

"What's this?"

"A Concelment Mask, a present from another friend of mine. It'll help you hide in plain sight and look like a human. It'll also help you hide that curse of yours. But be careful: you have to let it rest at night or it's magic will banish for good. So when you sleep, make sure to take it away and be compeletely alone"

"Yes, sir"

"Thank you, grandpa"

"Don't thank me. This might be the last time we see each other"

"You should come, but... Mother..."

"Precisely"

The boy hugged him tightly again.

"I promise that I'll do everything in my power to break this cicle. Tell mom that I love her... And that I'm sorry. For everything"

The elderly man returned his gesture, separating from him after a while. Petra put the mask and a rare sensation of warmth filled her.

"Did it worked?"

The elderly stared at her surprised.

"It did, I assure you"

Petra ran to look at herself at the nearby lake. It was incredible! Like she just had turned into a real human! Her eyes were green and the former nest of snakes that was her hair now turned into a long bush of black hair. It was still messy, but she didn't mind at all. She realised she could change her hairstyle by moving her snakes.

"You look cute" the man said to her.

"FWAH-?!"

She covered her mouth, surprised and embarassed. What was that?! She never ever made that sound before!

"That definately sounded cute" Yun said. The girl inmediately started to softly punch him with her face fully red.

"Don't mock me!"

"Sorry, sorry"

The grandfather laughed.

"When you're done, come back" he said to Petra "And you'll have a place here if you want"

"Eh?"

"If you rather not, then I'll get you somewhere to go. It's the least I could do"

"But... Why?"

"You're the person Yun is going to risk his life for. How could I not? Plus, someone must come back and tell me all your adventures"

"Mister..."

"Call me Kern, Petra. I'll see you when you're back. You've got to be back"

The Gorgon was about to cry again but she refrained and simply bowed towards him.

"Yes, sir!"

"Good girl. Be seeing you too, Yun"

He smiled.

"You too, grtandpa. Say hello to mom. Tell her... That I love her. And that I'll make her proud"

The friends say their goodbyes and retire waving their hands towards him.

"You already have, son" he said "You already have"

So the travel to change their world started... And nothing will ever be the same again.