Medusa 👀🐍
Fantasy creature ask game
Okay so I know in Greek mythology gorgons are meant to be female but as soon as I saw this ask, I was struck with an idea for a gorgon!Kanato x Reader fic (and you can sort of tell how into it I got by how long the summary is OTL).
Fic summary:
The forest next to your village is said to be cursed. The tales that have been handed down through generations are vague with none of the details ever quite matching up. Some say the forest is home to a monster, a creature that kills anyone who dares to pass too close to its home, while others say the land itself is cursed and any who wander between the trees for too long find will themselves unable to leave.
It is unfortunate then, that this same forest is the only place where a particularly rare but potent herb grows. The herb you’ve been told is the only thing that can alleviate your ailing mother’s symptoms, should you be able to find anyone brave enough to enter the forest to retrieve it. But the people of your village have grown up with the same stories as you, and no one is willing to risk their own neck for the few silver coins you can offer as reward.
So you sit by your mother’s bedside, watch as the life slowly drains from her until you can stand it no more, donning your cloak and leaving her with a kiss goodbye before you venture out to the forest.
The place does not seem cursed as you take the first few steps inside, not with the sun filtering through the green leaves overhead and the birdsong coming from all around. It is not until you’ve almost made it to the centre, where the fabled herb is supposed to be, that you encounter something that makes you pause.
A remarkably detailed statue of a young woman stands before you, moss crawling over her stone feet. Whoever took the time to carve her left no signature that you can see, although that doesn’t trouble you nearly as much as her expression—eyes wide with fear and mouth open to let out a scream that no one will ever hear.
Were it not for thoughts of your mother on her deathbed, it might be enough to send you running back home. Instead you pick up your pace, your well-worn boots quickly bounding over the uneven ground.
You encounter more statues as you go, each one as intricate as the first, and all with horror forever captured on their features. It’s difficult to ignore them, but that’s all you can do as you search the ground for the herb, begging whoever will listen that you will find it and be able to leave this place and it’s strange, unnerving sculptures.
Then, out of the corner of your eye, you see one of them move.
You scream, backing into a nearby tree while you watch in horror as the statue turns towards you and—
It’s not a statue, you realise when the figure speaks to you, complaining about the volume of your scream and asking what it is you’re doing here. Their build is slight and their voice is youthful but their speech is a little too formal to belong to a child. The hooded grey robe you had mistaken for stone covers most of them, save the unhealthily pale skin of the lower half of their face.
You apologise, tell them they startled you and explain why you have come to the forest before asking the figure why they themselves have risked venturing here.
The figure does not answer your question, instead they tell you they have seen some of the herb you’re looking for, and will lead you to it if you like. You accept immediately, thanking them profusely as they start to weave between the trees with you hurrying after them.
As you travel deeper into the wood, the stranger asks you about your mother, about how dearly you must care for her to risk the wood. Very dearly, you tell them, you would do anything if it would make her well.
They pause briefly at this, before saying that if your love for your mother is as deep as you say, surely you must be willing to grant the person who allowed you to save her a favour. Of course, you reply, as the figure stops in front a large tree, a small cluster of plants you recognise from the thick tome that lives in the local apothecary before its trunk; frond-shaped, dark purple leaves stretching out from pale green stems.
You crouch before them and pluck a handful of the herb, carefully placing it into a small leather pouch at your hip before turning to the figure and thanking them.
They tell you there is no meaning in empty thank yous, that if you’re truly grateful then you should stick to your word and do as they ask.
You will, you tell them quickly, so incredibly thankful for their help that you will do anything.
Anything? They repeat, their thin, pale lips curling into a smile. It is not a nice smile, but you are too distracted by the thought of saving your mother to notice.
Very well, they tell you, what they would like is simply for you to lift their hood.
A little confused but grateful they have not asked you to complete some grant quest, you step towards them and do as they ask, lifting the heavy fabric that obscures their face.
The person before you is a boy, you realise, one with pretty features and eyes the colour of wisteria. And his hair—
One of the snake heads rising from his head brushes over your outstretched hand and you recoil with a shriek. It is too late though, and you can do nothing as you watch the tips of your fingers turn grey, the petrification racing across your body before you can even close your mouth.
If asked only a day ago, you would have thought those who were unlucky enough to look upon a gorgon perished in the same instant, but as you stand there, still entirely conscious as you stare at the boy in front of you with eyes that can no longer blink, you realise the horrible truth.
You cannot feel the hands he lays upon your cheeks, nor his breath ghosting over you, but you can hear him as he tells you that you can truly show your gratitude by staying with him like this.
Forever.
37 notes
·
View notes
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me what you think about tomie i wanna know your opinion on her I wanna know your opinion on horror tbh especially her
"Oh, the humans making very scary stories from a few decades ago?"
They paused to think. It had been a long time since they had tried peeking at human media. "It is interesting... humans create many terrifying and otherworldly concepts. People enjoying that causes such fear is fascinating. In a safe place to enjoy fear and being afraid is... enlightening. I hope it helps others overcome fears in the long run, or at least know what to do.
"This writing in particular... quite horrifying. I have not seen much but I have heard some humans talk about it. One human so strange, if it was human, I cannot quite recall. Horror has almost no effect on me, being what I am, so I suppose my opinion is quite different. Some concepts I have heard of from these tales I hope remain in fiction. I do not wish to be eager to erode something to nothingness. Though some humans do get wrapped up in such silly things and are affected by the strangest of powers..."
2 notes
·
View notes