"Okay."

It said, with a small hint of triumph in it's voice as it held her like a sacrifice over the bog. Gertrude sighed. She was just happy her mind was still intact. Halfway through their stroll in the forest, it had collapsed to the ground in a dead sleep, crushing her under it's weight for at least five minutes while she struggled to wake it. On top of that, she realized that half the village was destroyed after it had plowed through on it's way to the inn. She was too slow to escape, so now she had to figure out a way to make the peasants think twice about killing her off for what she'd done.

"Yes, okay. I told you before there is nothing I can do, demon." She grumbled, crossing her arms. There was the normal pause, then it put her down on the moss next to the swamp, still holding tightly to her arm.

"You....have magic.....right?" It asked, and she shook her head.

"No. I was not born with magic, like you....things....are. I have to have some sort of medium to channel magic through. I left it in the inn, if you were listening to a damned word I said."

"Oh."

Came the expected reply. Gertrude just didn't know how to stay sane anymore. She was about to tear it's head off. And she was a lady.

"I miss.....my sleep...." It moaned mournfully. Gertrude didn't reply, waiting.

"You....woke me....up.....fix it." It said, giving her arm a shake. It felt more like a breeze had hit her.

"I cannot, you daft thing." Gertrude replied angrily. It sunk to the ground, almost pulling her down with it.

"Oh, now really-" Gertrude snapped, struggling to maintain her balance as it held tight, burying it's face in the muck once more. 

Gertrude gave a cry as it dragged her down, landing on her back in the nasty stuff. With fully awakened rage, she tugged at it's grip, getting into a seating position and kicking mud into the creature's face as it turned to look at her. It barely seemed to affect it, but Gertrude wasn't finished with it yet.

"Why you little-" She began, launching herself at it's dead, expressionless face and grabbing it in both hands. It's eyes widened as she clawed at it, and with one huge movement, it tossed her away, straight into the bog once more. Gertrude sputtered, clawing at the muck as it filled her mouth. Spitting it out, she blinked to clear her vision, looking up and giving a scream as she saw it falling from the sky.

"No-!" She got out, before it's body landed right on top of her.

"That.....hurt...." It growled as they both resurfaced, Gertrude coughing up whatever piece of lung she had remaining. Two grimy hands reached for her, but Gertrude got to it first, scratching at it's eyes once more. It slapped her hands away, and Gertrude took the opportunity to reach back up and backhand it across the face.

With a speed that had her mind spinning, a counter strike slammed across her right cheek, and she gasped. 

"You....you...." She got out, seething. It had it's arms crossed, very moody looking.

"I am....angry." It pouted. 

"Well, that makes the two of us." Gertrude snarled, reaching for it once more, but stopped as she looked down. Their scuffle had swept it's mess of hair back from it's chest, and she gave a gasp of horror at what she saw.

"My goodness do you have no shame?!!" She yelped, struggling to get back onto the bank. It stared up at her, still pouting. 

"Put something around yourself, have some modesty." She snapped, tearing off her cloak and throwing it to the ground next to the water. It complied, now looking confused as it tied the cloak around itself.

"I...don't understand...." It murmured, and Gertrude lifted a finger, lecturing:

"Young ladies should not have their.....private parts.....just waggling about for others to see! Good gracious I didn't think you creatures had genders!" She stammered, appalled. 

"It....wouldn't have mattered....if I were still sleeping..." She replied, giving a yawn to cement her point. Gertrude was not amused.

"Now see here, cretin, I am going back to that inn and I am leaving this gods forsaken city behind. If you still insist on hounding me I will be forced to-"

"You have...no magic....so what?" She cut in. Gertrude gaped like a landed fish at the look of amusement that came to her face. 

"I will..." Gertrude began, but trailed off. 

She smiled, muddy hair now behind her enough to see her equally muddy, pale blue neck. She had on some sort of pendant. 

"I am.....Boots....." She said after the silence, holding out a hand.

"Pleased....to meet you...."