The Real Greek Life [.celestinal. x G.L'S]

[.celestential.]

Rianon stopped behind Keegan. She didn’t hear the first rustling sound, but she heard the second, and the third, and the fourth. They were surrounded, by gods knew what. She slowly pulled an arrow out and readied it. “I knew they wouldn’t let us just walk up to Soteria,” she said. “We can’t get a break.” She waited for the first creature to appear and show its head, not sure where she should be aiming since they seemed to be all around the two of them.

[G.L'S]

- K e e g a n -

They said nothing until the creatures lumbered out from the surrounding thickets. At first, they look like ordinary Buffalo simply moseying in the wrong place. They lowered their dagger and stared at the creatures with a an odd expression.
"What the-" they said feeling stumped until a harrowing thought cut them off, making them blanch in fear, "catoblepas."

__________________________________________________________

[.celestential.]

Rianon gripped her bow tighter at Keegan’s recognition of the creatures surrounding them. She instinctively stepped closer to them, away from the catoblepas, knowing that their breath was typically poisonous. “I know their heads are drooped,” she said quietly to Keegan, in an attempt to avoid provoking the beasts to attack them, “but don’t look at them in the eyes. They’re like Medusa.” She figured by the way that Keegan had reacted they knew exactly how dangerous catoblepas were but she reminded them anyway.

[G.L'S]

- K e e g a n -

"Oh I know, I remember," they whispered back, thinking of their first run-in with the enchanted wildebeests. Cursing to themself, they wished they had a long-range weapon that wouldn't mean death by bad breath. All they could think of was to attack with accuracy and hope for the best, "if you take them out, I'll keep them at bay."

__________________________________________________________

[.celestential.]

Rianon nodded in agreement with Keegan’s plan. She didn’t like the idea of them being left to defend themself against the breath of the creatures but she didn’t see much choice. She was only worried that her arrows wouldn’t do much against the massive beasts. She pulled an arrow and let it loose at the one directly in front of them. It buried itself in the creature’s shoulder, causing it to bleat in rage. She shot two more quickly after the first, none of them seeming to have much affect on the creature. “Um, we may have to rethink this plan,” she said nervously, readying another arrow.

[G.L'S]

- K e e g a n -

They cursed as her arrows planted themselves into the beast, aggravating it and all the others. Thinking fast, they knew they'd both be dead if they didn't come up with something. Dumping the contents of their bag in panic, they shuffled through their stuff and found a hand mirror buried amongst their essential magic items. Holding it up to one beast, they hoped the reverse Medusa effect would take hold.

__________________________________________________________

[.celestential.]

While Keegan searched their bag a thought came to Rianon. She drew a couple more arrows and readied one, aiming at the eyes of the creature to their left. She had to time it exactly right, otherwise they’d both be trampled to death, or turned to stone. From the corner of her eye, Rianon saw the first one start turning to stone so she shot her arrows in quick succession, landing them in the eyes of the beast and blinding it. It made an enraged sound and stomped its foot, preparing to charge. Without thinking, Rianon shouted “Move!” and tackled Keegan, pushing them and herself out of the way of the charging bison.

[G.L'S]

- K e e g a n -

They were caught off-guard as Rianon tackled them, breaking the link they tried to make with another bison. The hooves of the blinded one narrowly missed both of them and they sat up quickly, trying to encase another in stone.
"Are you crazy?! How are we going to kill it now?" they asked in a panic, glad that their plan was at least working. With the second one now a statue, they turned the mirror now in a circle, trying to nab the rest.

__________________________________________________________

[.celestential.]

“I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking about that, I was just thinking that if it couldn’t see it wouldn’t be able to turn either of us to stone, and that it wouldn’t be able to see us to attack,” Rianon replied, wincing at Keegan’s panicked tone. “It didn’t cross my mind that we wouldn’t be able to turn it to stone if it couldn’t see. I was just trying to do something helpful.” She felt terrible, having made the entire situation worse. “I’m sorry,” she repeated quieter.

[G.L'S]

- K e e g a n -

They realized very quickly that their tone came off rather harsh. Feeling guilty, they knew they had to make the situation better. The current one, however, was still rather lethal. They managed to freeze three more catoblepas before turning to look at Rianon.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said it like that," they offered sadly, "do you think there is another way?"

__________________________________________________________