Outside Influences

On the other side of the world from Bel, Crecerelle strode through the lively little hamlet with a bounce in her step. All the construction was new – less than ten cycles, she guessed – and laid out in a wandering spiral with arching walkways providing easy shortcuts between the major paths. It felt far less stuffy than the ancient towns she’d passed through, and was less cramped than life on one of the flying isles. She enjoyed the feeling of wind rushing through her snakes as she bounced up the path to the tall tower where her group had rented a room.

She burst through the door with a smile on her face. “Hey everyone,” she called, “I’ve got a great lead on a–”

She stopped when she saw that the rest of the gorgons were already gathered. They were packed too, and they all wore serious, possibly dour, expressions.

“Hey, what’s going on?” she asked.

Agrafe stepped forward. Crecerelle’s heart sank when she saw the faint sneer of superiority on the insufferable woman’s face.

“Cress. We talked while you were out doing…” She flicked her hands distastefully. “Doing whatever it is you do. We have decided that we will return to the last den.”

“We?” Cress asked carefully.

Agrafe gestured to the entire group. “All of us. They offered us membership, you know. As long as you aren’t there.”

Cress clenched her jaw. Sure, she’d pissed off some of the den’s leaders, but she couldn’t imagine them specifically excluding a fellow gorgon unless Agrafe had done some negotiating in secret.

“You never had to come with me in the first place, Agrafe,” she bit out. “If you hate me so much then why didn’t you just leave?”

“I came to keep my friends safe,” Agrafe replied. She placed a hand on Brebis’ shoulder. “Things just aren’t safe with you.”

Cress cast an entreating gaze at her childhood friend, but Brebis wouldn’t meet her eyes. Cress realized that she’d already lost the argument, but she couldn’t stop her mouth from moving. “That’s not fair – nowhere is safe in the underworld. There are bound to be deaths anywhere.”

Agrafe snorted. “But there are more deaths with you. You don’t really seem to mind though, do you? That just means more personal belongings for you to redistribute.”

Cress’ snakes hissed angrily and she stepped towards her fellow gorgon, barely holding back the urge to strike the hateful woman. “How dare you! I’m not getting people killed to steal their things! Besides, everything goes to the group, not to me!”

“Which is why we’ll be taking everything when we leave,” Agrafe declared.

Cress could feel her knees grow weak. How long has Agrafe been undermining me? Do the others really think I’ve been luring them from their dens with the promise of a brighter future just to rob them? Or are they just too tired speak for themselves?

She looked at Brebis once again, unclenching her jaw and loosening her fists into peaceful, open hands. “Brebis. You know me,” she pleaded. “I have only ever wanted to improve life for us and our fellow gorgons.”

Brebis finally looked up, revealing her moist, tearful eyes. “But what about Silva? Life isn’t better for her, Cress. She’s dead.” Brebis choked up, and Agrafe patted her comfortingly on the back. Crecerelle rankled at the possessiveness in the gesture and looked away before she completely lost control of her snakes.

She looked at the dozen other gorgons who filled the room, searching for any signs of doubt. Most wouldn’t meet her eyes, but those that did had no sympathy. It’s over.

Crecerelle glanced at her own travel bag. She’d dropped it when she came it, so its contents were untouched. Maybe her dream wasn’t over yet. She quickly grabbed it and slung it across her back.

“Where do you think you’re going with that?” Agrafa hissed.

Cress glanced back. “It’s my travel stuff, why would it matter to you? You’re taking everything else to offer to your new den, right? Or would you like to leave me naked as well? Beat me senseless and leave me in an alley, hmm?”

Agrafa held out her hand. “Give them up, Cress. The tokens aren’t just your travel stuff.”

Cress’ snakes rattled warningly. “Will you kill me for them, Agrafa? Because I would kill you before I let you take them.”

Her hand dropped to the handle of her heavy maul. The tension in the room rose instantly and a dozen hissing heads of snakes filled the air with their sibilant sounds.

Agrafa stared murder at her, but Cress held firm. The spiteful bitch would kill me in an instant, I’m sure of it, but I doubt the other gorgons are so completely on her side that she could get away with it.

Cress tilted her chin. “I feel sorry for that other den, Agrafa. They won’t last ten cycles with you poisoning their blood.”

Agrafa hissed, her lips skimmed back, her face stretched and ugly with rage. “Give me the tokens, or I will–”

“No,” Cress interrupted. “I earned these, through my own words and actions. Is this what you had in mind when you first joined the group? If that’s the case, then I’m sorry to disappoint.”

Crecerelle kept one hand on her maul as she felt for the door handle. She didn’t move her eyes from Agrafa as she pulled the door open and slipped outside.

She immediately jumped to the top of the building and dropped down the other side, where she pulled up the hood of her cloak and slipped like a fish into the bustle of the marketplace. She would have to leave town immediately, but luckily for her she’d just heard news of a trio of successful dens not too far away. Maybe they’ll be more open to my radical ideas.

She glanced behind her. Or, even if no one wants to follow me to a better world, I’d at least like it if they were friendly.

The new world was hell for gorgons, it was true, but vile worms like Agrafa who stabbed their own kind in the back only made it worse. I just want to make things better for my people. Why can’t they see that? One day – probably not soon – but one day, if I can just hold on, I’ll find some like-minded gorgons.

She grinned, a small bounce coming back to her steps. I’ll find some other gorgons who think like me, and then we’re going to change the world.