Page 52 of Meduso
It was a few weeks later that Stheno would eventually come around. Euryale caught up to Perseus and me, who were strolling along the beach, deep in conversation. She was panting to regain her breath once she caught up to us. “There you both are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Listen, I talked to Stheno and she agreed that it would be a good idea for all of us to have dinner together in the dining cave this evening, and I meanallfour of us. What do you say?”
I smiled and was finally beginning to be put at ease, knowing that my sister was taking the initiative to invite Perseus and me to dinner. “I think we can arrange that. What do you think, Perseus?”
He nodded. “That sounds good to me.”
“Great! Well, I will get all of the fruits, vegetables, and the wine together,” Euryale shared.
Perseus then interrupted. “Well, why don’t I catch some fish and get a few birds or eggs for us as well?”
“That would be wonderful! I hope it’s not such a short notice for you?” Euryale then inquired, not wanting to cause any sort of imposition.
“Believe me, Euryale, Perseus only needs one hour. You would be surprised at what he is able to catch and hunt down in just that brief amount of time,” I replied.
She raised a brow. “Oh? Well, I will leave you both to it then. I will see you later.” Euryale hummed as she hurried back towards the forest in the direction of her garden.
Perseus waited until Euryale was at a far enough distance before he continued to speak, not wanting her to overhear what he was about to say. “Your younger sister and Stheno are absolutely nothing alike.”
“Believe me, I am quite aware. Yes, Euryale and I were much closer growing up. We played together, laughed together, and on the rare occasion we even cried together. She is just more open and friendlier than our older sister. Stheno has always been independent and stubborn to a fault. She hated the jokes Euryale and I told, and the pranks we would play. It was as if she felt that she was too mature to associate herself with us. However, it was not until we all became gorgons that our relationship took a much different turn, for the better.”
“Sometimes, it takes a tragic event or even a near-death experience to bring people closer together,” Perseus shared. “The thought of losing someone really forces you to prioritize your values in this world.” I noticed Perseus’s demeanor change as he stated this. He became suddenly dispirited and I had a suspicion as to the reason behind it.
“Is that how you felt in regard to me, when you first heard the rumor of me being cursed by Athena?”
“Yes. I was more so angry with myself. I failed to protect you. I waited a whole eight years to even try to venture out to find you. When King Polydectes filled me in on the rumor that it was potentially you who faced the wrath of Athena and was being hunted down by the fiercest of warriors, I knew I could not just idly stand by and let that happen.” After explaining himself, Perseus stopped in his tracks and wrapped his thick arms around me. “But I am now atoning for that mistake. I will protect you from now until forever.”
I too curled my arms around his lower back. “And I will protect you, too.” I then separated from his grip and winked at him. “Don’t discredit my abilities. I am more than capable of defending you as well. You have yet to see my growing swordsmanship and combat skills.”
“Well, you will have to show me some time,” he stated with eagerness.
“It’s a deal.”
Our conversation continued, but my attention was then caught by the halcyon glow of the sun, that was slowly disappearing behind the ends of the sea. “Oh! I failed to realize it was already getting this late. We better collect the food we promised Euryale,” I suggested.
“Let us return to your cave. I will need to borrow more of that fishing line you have. Why don’t you go ahead and gather some quail's eggs? I saw a few nests in the trees by the spring,” Perseus recommended.
And so, I gathered the materials he required for fishing and then we went our separate ways. He went out to sea and I had to slither up the trees to snatch the unhatched eggs from the nests. Both of us returned just an hour later. I was shocked to see that he had a full line of nearly twenty fish caught. Meanwhile, I was only able to acquire eight eggs in the short time I was given.
“I questioned whether or not the number of eggs I found would be enough, but your fish will surely fulfill our appetites,” I shared.
“Well, I alone can eat ten of these,” he explained.
How quickly I always forget that he is a demi-god with the stomach of three humans. “That will be fine. I’m pretty sure my sisters and I can eat no more than three at a time, anyway.” We both laughed at the exaggerated difference between our food habits.
Not wanting the fish to rot, we decided it was time for us to go to the dining cave to start the fire. Upon our arrival, I was stunned to see Stheno here so early. The wood was already burning in the pit. I motioned forward while Perseus followed only a few steps behind me. Based on the last interaction he had with Stheno, this was a logical position for him to be in.
I was not sure which Stheno I was going to get today. Would it be an irate gorgon, a solemn one, or perhaps a rare, friendly version? It must have been a miracle, because she approached and hugged me, showing nothing but warmth. “Welcome, Meduso. I did miss our daily dinners together.” She then passed gaze over my shoulder to Perseus. “I must apologize to you, Perseus. Surely, you must understand the cautions I must take for Meduso’s sake.”
He scratched the back of his head, seeming slightly on edge. “No. I understand. We both have the same goal in mind, to protect your brother at all costs. We all have his best interest at heart.”
I was shocked to see Stheno’s lips curl into what I briefly saw as a smile. “Anyway, Euryale has some potatoes and a nice stack of fruits and vegetables for us for tonight. She is currently out in the grove getting the large cups of wine.”
“Wine!?” Perseus interrupted so suddenly. “You have managed to create wine here on this island? I thought your sister was joking when she mentioned it earlier.”
“No. She was serious. Do not ask me how, but she managed to figure out on her own how to tend to and maintain a grove of grapes and form them into wine. Surely, it was a blessing from Dionysus. You will have to try it!” I clapped as I became excited, remembering that Perseus rarely drank wine when he was in Seriphos.
“Yes. I would be glad to try it,” he said, which made me content.
“But, more importantly, if I do not get these fish over the fire, we will be forced to drink on an empty stomach.” Perseus then tied the fishing line around the stakes in the ground that surrounded the fire. He neatly tightened the string so that each fish had an equal amount of access to the flames.
