Chapter Twenty: Your Mistakes

You know, there's a benefit to losing. You get to learn from your mistakes.

-Megamind,

Incredibly Handsome Criminal Genius and Master of all Villainy!

xxXxx

The village girl stopped midway through making the interesting knots and held her hand out.

Bearskin silently handed her the second pale stone she had received from the unicorn, fascinated by the way the girl made a sort of net within the thin cords that was just big enough to slip the stone into.

Once the work was done, two charming necklaces had been made with the unicorn stones.

"Is this all right?" Diana asked while holding up her handiwork.

"These are perfect! You are an artist," she assured the girl while taking the smaller of the necklaces and tying it around Baron's throat.

It had the same effect as if he was given a collar, but he seemed to like it anyway. Bearskin tried to tie the second one around her neck, but she wasn't used to the strange angle.

"Allow me," Diana implored, getting up and around the trapper to secure the necklace. A gasp issued from her throat as the black thread turned white against the trapper's pale skin.

"Thank you again, Diana," Bearskin said while handing the girl two golden coins, the payment for making the necklaces. For some reason, it bugged her to leave the unicorn stones in the satchel with her other payments, and wearing them as necklaces fixed the problem rather neatly.

Diana beamed happily and gave her a strange bow before running home with the unexpected money. It was likely more than her family had seen in years.

As she ran, Bearskin couldn't help but admire the girl's dress. It flowed well and was made with what looked like a long strip of cloth held in place by a simple rope.

She shook her head while standing up. Fashion should be the last thing on her mind and even if she wanted to dress locally, the men around here exposed too much chest for her to be able to keep her secret. Dresses would have to wait.

"It sure is warmer in this country, isn't it?" she asked Baron as he walked by her side again.

He nodded happily.

"I think the snow up in Lutia was probably just rain down here. Ugh, remind me to start heading east instead of south. This bear cloak isn't doing me any favors in this heat."

Baron meowed sympathetically, brushing his side against one leg as they continued to walk down the road into town.

People were staring again, some with open mouths.

She kept walking, doing her best to ignore the fact that every pair of eyes was on her. 'Just keep walking, Bearskin. Don't acknowledge them unless they try to talk to you.'

She stepped into one of the large airy tents that served as shops and began buying the usual travel supplies. However, she deliberately bought only from the smaller and shabbier tents, since they were the ones who needed her money.

Fruit and bread. Needles and thread. Fabric for repairing shirts and leather for making moccasins. Nails and rope. Ale for curing hides-

"Bearskin?" one voice squeaked nervously, making her look over one shoulder with disinterest while paying an old woman for the three skins of olive oil.

An armored soldier with a strange helmet was giving her a nervous look. "I am to escort you to the capital and his royal majesty Amphitryon."

"Does he require my help?" she asked coolly.

"Er, yes. Yes he does," he stammered, his nerves betraying the truth.

Bearskin took a step closer and looked him square in the eye. "Inform his majesty that until Queen Blanche gives up the hunt for me, I will have nothing to do with royals. Care to try taking me by force?"

The man began trembling terribly in fear.

"I highly recommend you give him the message then. Good day," she wished him through a tight smile and threw her full bag of supplies over one shoulder to start marching out of the town square.

Baron walked by her side, perfectly in sync with her as people continued to stare at her. They did not lessen their pace until after the town was long behind them.

"So… how long do you think it will be before bounty hunters start coming after us?"

Baron meowed for a moment, his tone quite serious.

"Probably not long," she agreed, still using her man voice since there could still be people in the area. "We'll probably have to start avoiding towns again and just stick to little villages."

He purred his agreement, rubbing against her leg as they walked down the dirt road.

"Baron," she said slowly, realizing something important. "It's been over a year since we met, hasn't it?"

He nodded affectionately.

"Dang it. I'm sorry, I should have remembered sooner." She held a hand to her chin as he mewed comfortingly, perhaps trying to tell her that he didn't mind the slip. "Hey, I have an idea. Instead of eating out and risking a confrontation with soldiers, how about we celebrate by making a midnight visit?"

Baron stared at her for a whole minute, a strange smile lighting up his face as he purred warmly.

"I thought you'd like that. We haven't been able to do that in a while; all those time-consuming jobs don't exactly lead us close to someone that could use a midnight visit."

He nodded enthusiastically.

"It's not normal to get long jobs like that, though. Usually they're pretty quick, barely more than a day. I don't care one way or the other, really, but-"

A rope with rocks on the ends suddenly swung around her ankles, binding them tight as Baron yelped in surprise.

Bearskin yelped as well, almost losing the manly voice as she tripped and fell flat on her face. Her supplies fell to the ground, allowing a skin of olive oil to escape the burlap sack.

"Got him!" a rusty voice laughed, making her look up sharply.

A filthy older man was coming out of his place behind a large stone, looked incredibly pleased with himself. "You know, I honestly didn't think catching you would be this easy."

Baron hopped in front of her, hissing and spitting dangerously at the man.

"Oh please," he laughed, kicking the tawny cat to the side.

The pale trapper's hand shot out, grabbing his leg as Baron yowled in pain. "Wrong move," she snarled, breaking the limb with one sharp movement.

He fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes, now screaming in agony.

To be sure that he got the idea, she gave him a good kick with her tied legs. "Never attack him again, or I'll break your neck." Now that her grandfather's blood had awakened, she was able to remove the ropes just by pulling her legs apart.

The man looked up at her in horror as she stood, gave him a death glare, and withdrew to Baron's side. As her hand reached out to touch his fur, her grandfather's blood reluctantly fell asleep once more.

"Baron, are you all right?" she asked, wincing through another migraine.

He mewed in a tiny voice and licked her wrist. Deciding not to take chances, she carefully eased him into one arm and put the olive oil back in the sack before swinging the sack over her other shoulder.

She glared at the man, who was still weeping on the side of the road. "Just for the record, I never got paid for bringing Queen Blanche back to her people. She might be equally forgetful to pay the unfortunate soul that tries to bring me back to her. Oh, and feel free to spread around what I'm willing to do to people that hurt my cat."

Baron hissed angrily at him as they left the road to disappear into the trees.

"Seriously, did he give you anything other than a bruise?" she asked her friend with a stern tone.

He shook his head and licked her wrist, making her hug him gently.

"Over my dead body is anyone going to do that to you again."

ooOoo

She bent backwards to avoid another fist, using the same momentum to kick her opponent in the face. Not hard enough to kill him, but just enough to knock him out for a few hours.

The random bounty hunter was out like a candle, which made it much easier for the trapper to use some of her rope to bind the man hand and foot.

"This makes the third one this week," she told Baron in an off-handed manner. "What do you think Blanche is offering for my return?"

The cat meowed seriously before hissing at the man.

Bearskin stood up, stretched her back once, and continued her walk through the Nexan woods. "I guess it doesn't matter. Whatever it is she's offering, it's enough to make people pay attention. I wonder how far her influence reaches," she couldn't help but wonder. "Do you think it's worldwide?"

Baron gave a sarcastic meow as well as a shake of the head as he walked by her side.

"Good. Let's go find a kingdom that-"

"Halt!"

"Oh great," she muttered under her breath, turning a little to see who was calling out to her.

He was a tall man with chiseled features. In fact, every inch of him looked like it had been carved by a master marble worker. His muscles were huge and his rich-looking attire left most of his rock-solid chest exposed to the world.

Bearskin suppressed a shudder from all that bare skin, even as she noted the gold band surrounding his forehead in a simple crown. "You called?" she asked in a bored tone.

"I Hercules, son of King Amphitryon, do hereby place you under arrest," he said arrogantly. "Doubtless you've heard of me."

Baron stiffened, but the trapper didn't notice.

"To be perfectly honest, no. I'm too busy for things like gossip," the trapper replied with a casual shrug. "And no."

Hercules blinked twice. "No?" he asked curiously.

"No. Queen Blanche has no appeal for me and she really will be happier with someone else, namely anyone but me. Why don't you go try your luck?" she suggested while suppressing a smile. "Her majesty seems to have a thing for strong men."

The prince made some outraged sounds. "I am already married to the most beautiful woman on the planet!"

Bearskin took out her notepad and put a small mark on it. "That makes five women I've heard of that are supposed to be the most beautiful. Someone really should set up a contest and decide things once and for all," she said in a bored tone, tucking the paper back into her satchel.

Baron was meowing worriedly and pulling on a pant leg with his teeth.

"You… You…" Hercules stammered in a fit of rage. Then he ran at her, faster than most people were capable of.

Thankfully, the trapper's body had been trained to move instead of wait to be hit. She sidestepped his path and knelt down to avoid his fist.

He ran right past her, accidentally hitting a tree. The wood nearly exploded on impact, almost as if it had been hit with a cannon ball instead of a human hand.

Bearskin's eyes widened as she swept Baron into one arm. 'He's as strong as I am! Maybe even more so!' "So who cursed you?" she asked casually when he wheeled around with an angry snarl.

"What curse? This is a blessing!" He once again ran at her, but this time she was ready.

She took off running deeper into the woods, keeping Baron in one arm as he mewed worriedly. "Curse, blessing, call it what you will. Who did it to you?"

"Zeus himself!"

"Oh. Who is he?"

That question made him stop dead in his tracks, which in turn made her stop, although keeping enough distance in case he started running.

"You don't know who Zeus is?" Hercules asked in horror.

"I already told you, I don't have time for gossip," she explained patiently.

"Yet you have time to cover yourself with womanly trinkets?" he sneered.

That made her pay attention. "Excuse me?"

"That necklace you and your cat wear are something a woman would wear."

'Oh, if he only knew!' She looked at the man coolly. "I am secure enough in my masculinity to wear whatever pleases me. It's not my fault that you aren't."

Baron was almost choking, as if trying to hold back a laugh.

"Mascul… what?" he asked, completely confused.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Was that too big of a word? Allow me to rephrase; I just insulted you."

"What, how dare you!" he yelled indignantly.

"Hmm, you expect me to surrender without a fight and you're surprised when the answer's no. Plus you don't even know what the insult was over."

"I've been insulted, that's enough!" He ran at her again, which made her resume the exercise herself.

"You know, we could be at this for months," she called over one shoulder as she expertly wove between tree and stone.

"Then surrender! I hate getting all sweaty!"

"Oh for crying out loud! Stop for a second!" she yelled while coming to a stop.

The Nexan prince had slowed down a bit, but came to a sudden stop when his body collided with her outstretched hand. He fell to the ground from the impact, but she also stumbled backward from the force of his body.

But at least she was able to stay on her feet, although Baron looked scared now.

"How dare you strike a prince-" Hercules began to yell, but she raised her hand to stop him.

"Let's cut to the chase; I want my freedom, and you want the reward for bringing me to Blanche."

Hercules sniffed in a disdainful manner as he got to his feet. "I just want people to stop thinking that you're better than I am. I already have plenty of gold; I don't need your weight in it."

"Is that what she's offering? No, deal with that later," she scolded herself. "Let's face facts, this Zeus gave you superhuman strength which has also effected your speed, and I'm about the only one on the planet that could challenge you?"

"The only one," he scowled. "I don't like people thinking that there's someone that can challenge me. I'm meant to become the greatest hero that ever lived, not you."

"… You followed me all the way out here for your reputation?" the trapper summarized disbelievingly.

"Of course! Image is everything, and nothing will prove that I'm better than you than to personally deliver you to the queen of Thegui!"

Baron hissed, making the prince glare at him.

"Don't even think about it," she snarled while turning her friend away. "Your fight's with me, remember? Or my reputation, at least."

"… Whatever. So, do you give up, or are you going to make me mess my hair and clothes in a wrestling match?" the prince demanded, smoothing his perfect black locks with one hand.

Baron made a long growl of disgust.

Bearskin couldn't help but share her cat's opinion of the conceited prince. "I can't believe this. Very well, since you don't want to mess your hair and clothes with a fight, here's a challenge for you. Let's find a road."

"What? Why?"

"Because I have an idea that can have you back in your pretty wife's arms within a week no matter how it turns out."

"Really?" he asked like a child promised a treat.

"Really. Now come along while there's still light."

Baron was mewing confusedly in one ear, but she rubbed his back in a comforting gesture.

"So, what is this brilliant idea?" Hercules asked curiously as they walked at a comfortable pace.

"You'll see. Ah, here's a meadow," she grunted as the trees cleared out a bit. "It will do as well as a road."

"For what? What is this challenge you mentioned earlier? This better not be a trick," he warned, but she shook her head to soothe him.

"This is no trick, I assure you. Here's what we're going to do; both of us are going to stand back to back in the middle of the meadow and take a good thirty paces away from each other. Then we'll turn and run at each other when my cat here meows loudly."

"Meow?" Baron asked, but she ran a hand over his back to soothe him as they kept walking toward the middle of the large flower-dusted grass.

"But, both of us are only allowed to move our bodies once when we meet again. If your one move can beat mine, I'll allow you to deliver me to your father without any fuss. If my move beats yours-"

"Which it won't," Hercules asserted forcefully.

"-Then you will allow me and my cat to continue on our journey. Will you hold to that agreement?"

"Of course! As a prince of Nexa, my word is my bond!" A sneer crossed his face. "I'm just wondering if you're committed."

"I never break a promise. Baron, you know what to do," she said while gently setting him down.

He meowed worriedly, but there was no turning back now.

Hercules stood in the middle of the meadow until Bearskin was backed up against him. Then they began their march in separate directions, counting their footsteps. Hercules' voice was loud and booming, but the trapper's was soft, just enough to hear herself.

Once thirty was reached, they turned to face each other again. Hercules rolled his shoulders around before falling into a stance that would make running easier. Bearskin settled for a few body stretches to ensure that it would be ready for what she was planning. Then she fell into a similar stance as the Nexan prince.

"Meow!" Baron yelled, making both of them run at each other.

The prince was fast, faster than most people Bearskin had met. But since she already knew that he was, she was ready when he raised his fist to punch her out cold.

Her body suddenly swung low as Hercules threw the punch, her motion fluid as she kicked as hard as possible. At his lower legs.

Just as she knew would happen, the prince tripped on her leg and the momentum he had gained from running and attempting to hit her made him fly into the air.

But only briefly. About twenty feet from where he had received the kick, his body had a sudden and violent reunion with the soft grass, starting with his face. Many flowers were thrown into the air from the violent crash, almost like a wave of the sea.

Bearskin held her body from the ground with her hands, her leg still outstretched in giving the fatal kick. "So, you did survive that, right?"

A grunt was the only answer, as well as a small whimper of pain.

The trapper got to her feet and brushed a few strands of grass off of one pant leg. "Don't forget your promise. Coming, Baron?"

He nodded happily, purring as he ran up and rubbed his body over one leg in affection.

"How… did you do that?" Hercules moaned as he managed to sit up. He had dirt and grass stains all over his face and the front of his fancy robes.

"Because I knew you were going to try to punch me again," she answered with a shrug. "If your destiny is to be a hero, you'll need to learn to think as well as fight. Strength will only get you so far in this world. If you ever get good at strategy, feel free to look me up so we can settle things fairly. But for the record, Blanche really would be happier with anyone but me, guaranteed. Have a pleasant life, your highness." She gave a short bow, which allowed Baron to hop onto her shoulders.

He purred the entire way out of the meadow, sneaking an occasional smirk over his shoulder to the incredibly confused prince.

ooOoo

Gold quietly exchanged hands, making the innkeeper look over his shoulder nervously at the door they had just snuck through.

"The back room almost never has people in it and I'll deliver your food myself. Is there anything in particular you two would like?" he whispered while taking Baron's usual dishes.

"As long as there is no wine or organs in what you have prepared, we don't mind," Bearskin assured him with a careful smile. "I just like to get a taste of the local cooking wherever I go. We prefer milk to ale, but we'll take water if there's no milk."

Baron purred his agreement from his usual perch on her shoulders.

"We should have some goat's milk. I'm certain you'll love the garlic roasted chicken and vegetables. It's one of our specialties," the innkeeper promised while bowing his way out of their presence.

Bearskin gave a tired sigh before choosing one of the somewhat dusty chairs in the back room. "I know this is a foolish chance to take, but I bet you're getting tired of soup all the time too."

Her cat gave a light meow and licked her cheek again. The small gesture couldn't help but bring a smile to her face, making her scratch his back and ears as a thank you.

In what felt like no time at all, the innkeeper had returned with their food and said it was all right to leave the dishes on the table when they were done. There were two doors to this room and since one of them led outside, there was less of a chance at being seen, let alone by another bounty hunter.

"Sure smells good, doesn't it?" she asked her small companion, who mewed in appreciative agreement before tucking in.

Bearskin picked up a fork to follow suit… but found herself hesitating. Her brow wrinkled in confusion, but found her eyes wandering behind her.

A small boy, no more than four years old, was standing in a dusty corner of the room. His large, hungry eyes were locked on her plate and his thin body said loud and clear that he hadn't eaten well in a while.

Bearskin allowed herself to give the boy a small smile and scooted her chair out a bit so that she could approach him. "Hello, small one."

The boy gave her a nervous glance, but his eyes strayed back to her plate.

"Come here," she said in a warm tone, carefully reaching for the boy.

His body stiffened slightly as she picked him up, walked back to the table and sat him on her lap. A scared whine escaped his lips.

"Shh. You must be hungry," she continued, cutting the chicken with the side of her fork and then picking up a small piece with it.

The boy seemed incredulous when she offered the bite to him, but he still bit down hard on the chicken.

Slowly, so he wouldn't get a stomachache, she fed him right off her plate and spaced it out with sips of her milk. By the time there were only a few bites of chicken and vegetables left, the small boy was satisfied and even cuddled on her lap with both hands on her shirt.

"There you go, little one. Feel better?" she asked softly.

He nodded happily, still not saying anything. But now that he was satisfied, she ate the little he had left and made Baron eat all of his when he tried to push half of his meal at her.

She stood up with Baron on her shoulders and the boy in her arms. "It looks like we'll have to chance being seen, Baron. This little man probably has parents looking for him."

"I'm right here."

She looked up in surprise as the door to the outside slid open to reveal a man just as skinny as the child.

He shifted guiltily as she came closer to him. "I'm sorry for not revealing myself sooner, but… it's been some time since Daimen's eaten so well."

"I can see that. Rough times?" she guessed as she handed the boy over.

He sighed and snuggled into his father's arms before falling asleep.

"Very rough. We haven't had a home since my wife died. The doctor I hired to help her was a fraud and my creditor took our little cottage as payment."

"That's terrible. What is your profession?" she asked.

"I am… was, a weaver. Nothing fancy, but we got by." He sighed heavily, holding his son even closer. "But all of my tools were still in the house when we were thrown out and none of the guilds want to hire a homeless man."

Bearskin's face hardened. "I see. Hold out your hand."

"What?"

"Just do it," she insisted, extracting a bag of gold from her satchel. The trapper was always careful to bag some of her gold in case a helping hand was needed. She closed the man's stunned fingers over the bag.

"In Tryphos, two days journey from here, there's a weaver I bought some cloth from. He's a good man, but has no family to pass his meager tools or hut to. This should be enough to get you to him, ask around for Farris the Weaver. He's getting old and he happened to mention that he would like some help and company since he's getting slower. Even if you don't mention I sent you, I'm certain he will welcome you with open arms."

The man's eyes grew huge and disbelieving. Then they overflowed with tears, making the shabby man hug her fiercely.

Baron was knocked to the ground with an indignant meow.

"Thank you," the weaver sobbed, still holding his sleeping child in one arm. "This is the first drop of hope I've had in over a year. May the gods bless you."

"You're welcome. Not to be rude, but I'm kind of on the wrong side of the law right now and you have enough to deal with without a bounty hunter seeing this exchange. Let's get going, Baron."

He meowed, giving the man a strange look that was somewhere between a scowl and a smile as he walked by his keeper's side.

But after they were a block from the inn, a calm voice broke the still night air.

"That was quite a performance, Bearskin."

She immediately froze and placed a hand on her sword as Baron hissed in warning.

"Now don't get all upset," the voice continued as a figure stepped out of the shadows.

It was a man in somewhat nicer robes than the common people had. But he still gave her a fluid bow, never taking his eyes off her. "My name is Xenos and I am not here to attempt capturing you. Even if I were a fighter, I have no doubt that I would not be able to compete against one such as yourself."

Her eyes narrowed as Baron kept himself between her and the stranger. "Such blatant flattery means that you want something from me. What is it?"

"I am here on behalf of gods and men alike to request, nay, beg for you to deliver us from a terrible evil."

She groaned and crossed her arms at him. 'This man is a little overdramatic for my taste.' "Just spit it out, Xenos. What is this great evil?"

"Have you heard talk of Medusa?"

"Not really. As I have said before, I have no time or desire for gossip."

"This is more than idle gossip, Bearskin," he insisted while stepping closer to her, making the cat hiss at him. "Medusa was punished by the gods for defiling one of their temples, but it is any who come across her that are truly punished. Her very gaze is enough to turn any living thing into stone."

The tawny cat gave a disbelieving meow.

"I'm with Baron on this one," she informed the man while gathering the feline into her arms. "How does turning people into stone punish Medusa directly?"

"It's but part of her curse, Bearskin. The few that survive an encounter with her believe that she has been changed into a giant snake, because they have seen her tracks and heard the hissing of snakes before escaping. She might be a multi-headed snake for all we know, for more than one has been heard."

"… I assume that you want her dead," she concluded in a flat tone.

"I can't imagine any other way to ensure that she stops turning people and animals into stone."

"I don't like killing."

"Would the weight of her head in rubies and emeralds change your mind?" he hinted with a smirk. "I doubt you'll be interested in gold, all things considered."

"That much is true." She gave a sad sigh, since she really did hate needing to kill human beings and didn't even enjoy killing animals for her trade. "Do you have any idea where to find her?"

"The latest victims were found in the Shylo forest. There are many places for her to hide in there. Do you know the way?"

"My map of Nexa does. How do I find you for payment?"

He pointed at the large marble building down the street. "I am a priest of the gods. As such, I am never far from our temple. Do we have a bargain?"

"… I will do what I can."

Baron meowed indignantly.

"That is, we will do what we can," she rephrased, scratching him affectionately behind the ears before realizing what the man had said. "Wait, hold on. You're a priest?"

"Yes I am. Do you have a problem with priests?"

She stared at him in shock and just a shade of suspicion. "Actually, priests are usually the ones that have a problem with me. Don't your religious views conflict with hiring a cursed man?"

"Oh, I doubt you earned it yourself."

She gave him a glare. "I did."

He gave her a look of alarm. "… Well, then I'm certain that you're very sorry for what you did."

"I'm not. I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

"Meow?" Baron asked in shock.

"What did you do?" Xenos whispered with morbid curiosity.

"That's none of your business," she responded in a curt tone, giving him a final nod before marching off into the night. "But I'll take care of Medusa, one way or another."

ooOoo

Once they were outside of city limits, Baron began meowing up a storm.

"I know it's a dangerous assignment, but someone needs to do it," she defended herself, but he shook his head. "Then what is it?"

He growled in frustration and used his teeth to pull one of her sleeves down. Then he patted her white wrist with his equally pale paw and looked at her with his big green eyes.

She froze, suddenly knowing what he wanted. "I'll tell you after we take care of Medusa."

He mewed pleadingly, but she shook her head.

"I won't be in a state to battle a snake woman if I talk about it before hand." She gave him a careful hug and kissed his brow. "It was bad."

He licked her chin comfortingly, but accompanied it with a stern meow.

"I promise to tell you everything after we take care of Medusa. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

He gave a long meow and purr as if to say 'close enough'.

ooOoo

The forest was thick and deep, though admittedly warmer than the last two she had been in. The air was thick and humid, making her shrug uncomfortably underneath her heavy cloak.

"Definitely moving east after this job," she muttered under her breath as she and Baron kept moving deeper into the trees. "Let's hope we can find a river to jump into soon."

He meowed in horror.

"Just me, silly. You would not put up with me tossing you into a river."

Baron breathed a relieved sigh and rubbed his body against her pant leg again.

Suddenly, she spotted a silhouette between the trees. "Isn't it a bit dangerous to be here, sir?" she called out in her usual man voice.

The man didn't answer her. He didn't so much as move a hair.

As a cold feeling grew in her stomach, the trapper wove through the trees and bushes until approaching what she thought was a man.

But it was a statue of cold stone.

"This must be the place," she breathed, pulling out her sword and holding it ready. "If you see any movement, Baron, close your eyes immediately, got it?"

He purred the affirmative, although it was almost a growl as he kept turning as he walked by her side. His ears were cocked as upward as possible and his eyes narrowed in concentration. Even as Bearskin followed her cat's example, she couldn't help but stare at the strange rock garden they had stumbled into.

There was something morbidly beautiful about the statues. There weren't anything like the statues she had seen before, just for the fact that they looked like ordinary people instead of something from a fairy tale. Most of them had looks of terror on their stone features and even had their hands up in desperately defensive gestures.

Something else that was of note that was other than the stray birds and such, all of the statues were of reasonably well-built men, some with weapons still in hand.

"All of them originally had weapons," Bearskin realized, noting a man with a quiver of arrows on his back, but with no bow. "It looks like Medusa isn't one to rely on her looks to get the job done. Literally-"

Something shot into her back, almost on cue. Thankfully the bearskin cloak was still dense enough to deflect the blow. Keeping her eyes closed, Bearskin wheeled around and threw a dagger in the direction the arrow felt like it had come from.

There was a fast slithering as the knife collided with a tree and she could now hear a multitude of snakes hissing in hostility.

"Keep close and your eyes shut, Baron," she ordered, keeping her body facing the source of the hissing sound. 'Sounds like she really is a multi-headed snake.'

Without warning a large scaly tail wrapped around one ankle and picked her up by it.

"Okay, you asked for it!" Bearskin yelled, using one of her knives to slice at the tail.

A human cry was heard as the tail dropped her like a rock and the hisses sounded more like screams. Then the cry became a snarl as the tail tried to wrap around her body instead to crush her.

It was only thanks to her curse that she was able to fight back against the many coils, even using the knives strapped to her legs and arms while they were still sheathed to force the snake woman to drop her.

But unlike last time she was released, her head landed on a stone foot. Her eyes involuntarily opened as a yelp of pain escaped her throat.

Bearskin almost closed her eyes to resume the fight, but then saw something that made her completely forget her mission and even Medusa herself.

"Baron!" Bearskin screamed in horror. She rolled to her feet, ran forward, and knelt next to the small statue that was backed up against a stone swordsman. "Baron…no. You can't!"

But for once, her small friend didn't answer her. He was now as lifeless as a rock.

xxXxx

A/N; Yes, I messed with the story of Hercules, and I'm going to mess with Medusa's story too. But I doubt anyone's going to mind my alterations.