Seekers of the Stone Maker

“I want to warn you that my power does not pass this cave’s entrance. You may enter, but be cautious.”

Ana stepped forward.

“Are you going to attack us if we enter?”

“I don’t plan to.”

Ana turned to her friends and saw Rhokhishi staring intently at Medusa. She looked at Ana and then the rest of their friends.

“I sense nothing harmful in her words or intentions. We should go in and get out of this snowstorm.”

They walked carefully, and Ana could feel the anxiousness of her and her friends. As they stepped into the entrance, Medusa backed away. Her back was turned to them, and she spoke to a small group of basilisks huddled further back.

“Everything is alright, dears. Go run along now.” She commanded them.

Listening to her instructions, the basilisks stood up lazily and stretched like a cat before walking further into the cave. No one moved as they watched the creatures leave. Eventually, Medusa moved over to the area where the basilisks were lying moments before and sat on a pile of furs.

Other than the light from outside, the cave was dark. Ana could see an unlit campfire in the middle of the room and a tunnel that the basilisks had traveled down, but the darkness became a void further back, and she couldn’t see the end of it. Leaf stepped up to the campfire and spoke to Medusa. His gaze focused down rather than at her.

“Do you mind if I light this fire and give us more light and heat?”

“Of course. The light does not help me, but the warmth would be appreciated,” She replied.

Leaf pulled his spellbook out and tried to read it in the darkness. Ana could tell he was struggling, so she walked beside him and held her hands. From them, two small globes of green light formed.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks, Ana.”

A minute later, the fire was roaring hot, and they all stood around it as they clung to its warmth. Ana watched as Medusa stood and joined them. Behind her, she could see what looked like hundreds of claw marks against the stone. Standing close to them, she breathed in slowly, then exhaled heavily.

“I imagine both Godfrey and Cecille are dead?”

“We tried to stop it…” Lyla answered.

“We found Godfrey’s body but not Cecille’s,” Mr. Muffins added. “The best we can tell, he did, but she may not have.”

“I should see if the curse has lifted then.”

Slowly, she moved away from the fire and walked to the entrance. Medusa stopped only a few feet away, raised her hands, and continued. As if blocked by an invisible wall, her hands pressed against something. She sighed again, then returned to the fire.

“I imagine the Icewing… her power is still involved. How unfortunate. I’ve been here for two decades and lost hope, but I thought that maybe…” She paused for a moment, then raised her shoulders to regain composure. “I wouldn’t even know where to go, considering my appearance.”

“Miss, would you be able to take us further in? To guide us further into the cave?” Rhokhishi asked her.

“I could, but there is only so far I can go. There is a door further down, and I admit I have been unable to unlock it.”

“We’re looking for a daughter of the Great Hag. Can you lead us to her?” Ana spoke up.

Medusa tensed at the name. Her voice became cautious.

“Why do you want to know where Trista is?”

“We were worried about her and knew she was here,” Ana answered.

“Why?”

Ana wasn’t sure how to answer that question. She stopped and tried to think of what this woman was wanting. Lyla came in to answer for her.

“We’re just trying to help take down as much of this issue as we can, and she just happens to be a piece, a bargaining chip, to get further.”

Medusa’s head moved towards Lyla. Though she wore a blindfold, Ana could tell she was staring, trying to gain insight from her. When Medusa answered, her voice was calmer.

“Trista came here about a month ago. She hasn’t come back out.”

“Are there other exits? Could she have left another way?” Myla asked.

“Trista has a wide variety of skills and power. She could have left, but she promised me that she would return. I trust that she was honest.”

“She could still be down there, trapped,” Rhokhishi pondered.

“From what I’ve traveled, she wasn’t to be found. That doesn’t mean that she didn’t go further than I could. If you plan to find and help her, let me guide you down.”

Medusa stepped away and grabbed one of the furs from the ground. She wrapped it around her like a cloak, then returned to the group still around the fire.

“First, though, I can smell the garlic nearby in your pockets. Do any of you know how to make antidotes?”

Myla stepped forward. She went to speak, but Medusa cut her off.

“Come over here and help me grab some of these items. It will help you with one of the many challenges we will face. The rest of you should find a place to sit. It will take a while.”