Andy's POV

It hadn't been difficult to gain myself the task of leaving the week's offerings for the Gorgon again. Generally, it was a matter of drawing lots between the bravest of men, so a volunteer had been a welcome change. No one questioned my apparent insistent desire to see 'the beast.'

I walked through the forest, the sunlight filtering down through the trees, and felt oddly light at heart. Perhaps the Gorgon, this (Y/N), with no one to call her friend, would understand what it was like to grow up an outcast. The longer I walked, I began to fantasize that perhaps we could grow to be the very best of friends! By the time I reached the foothills, my daydreams had grown large in scope; she and I were traversing the world, bosom buddies on the battlefield, laying waste to all manners of evil, and finding treasure along the way, of course.

I had to reign in my imagination as I began the climb, and tethered my eyes to the ground. The satchel was quite a bit heavier than the previous week, as I'd gone ahead and added some grapes from my family's vineyard as a personal offering of sorts. I had no idea if she could even eat grapes, but it seemed like as good a guess as any. I liked them, after all.

Once I reached the clearing where the dais stood, I slowed my pace, looking only directly in front of me on the forest floor. Again, I kept my head down as I unloaded the foodstuffs.

I then made a spontaneous decision. Though it made my scrotum crawl with anxiety, I decided to have a seat just a few feet in front of the altar, facing away from it, in what I approximated was the center of the clearing. I hoped the Gorgon might feel less like she was being ogled if she could see me better than I could see her.

I had only had my shield out on my lap for a few minutes when I caught iridescent movement coming from directly behind me. Excited, I shouted out, "Hello again!" Immediately after yelling, it occurred to me that perhaps something more deferential would have been in order. Sadly, that just wasn't in my nature.

The sound of movement stopped for a moment, and then I saw in the reflection that the Gorgon was raising herself up on her long tail to peer at me, over the plinth. I looked away quickly, attempting to be respectful, but also embarrassed at the reaction I was afraid I'd have again. I'd only caught the briefest look, and that would have been enough to fuel anyone's fantasies for months!

In my peripheral vision, I saw the telltale swaying of her serpentine hair. "Fool! You are far too close, you risk your life for petty thrills!" After a pause, she resumed, her melodic voice laced with an unfamiliar accent and now strangely sympathetic, "Are you the town idiot? Do they force you to come here?"

I laughed. "No, I'm not a halfwit! I even brought you grapes from my family's vineyard. Do you like grapes?"

I saw her reflection drawing closer, and heard her scuttling across the leafy ground. "What is grape?" I heard her removing something from the stone slab. "These small, round fruits, they are grapes?"

Pleased, I answered excitedly. "Yes! They're a bit like large berries; you can make them into wine. Do you like wine?"

I heard her mumbling. "Delicious, this grape. You say you have a yard full of these?"

I grinned. "I have many, many more. Don't eat too many, all alone and at once, or you'll get the trots."

She laughed, a musical sound. "I have no legs, I cannot trot."

Shamefully remembering my dream, I couldn't help but ask. "Truly, no legs, only a tail?"

She sniffed at me. "Aye. Are you shocked? Disgusted?"

I shrugged. "I'm certainly not disgusted, but I've never met anyone with a tail instead of legs before."

She snorted, disbelieving. "You've never seen a fish or a snake? They have no legs-"

I interrupted her impulsively, "-They're not half as fascinating as you are! My name is Andy. How long have you been here? Have you friends, or family?" She didn't respond immediately, and I decided to keep talking. There was so much I wanted to know! Surely she knew of the great mysteries of the world! "Someone gave you your name, created you?"

The Gorgon sighed. "Yes, I was born just as humans are. But that's a long tale-"

Again I cut in quickly, "-I have time!"

There was a pause, and I caught the reflection of the Gorgon eating more grapes. "They smell that you have learned to control your primal urges. I am impressed. Thus, I am willing to barter with you. Bring me more of these grapes, and manuscripts to read, and I will tell you my story. You will be disappointed, but nonetheless, I will share."

I was totally incredulous. "You can read-"

She shouted at me, "-I am no imbecile either! Bring more grapes and reading, and I will talk further. Until then, fare thee well!"

Pleased with my progress, I called out after her retreating figure, "I will! (Y/N), I will, I'll come tomorrow!"

After I was sure I saw no movement, and heard no sounds to indicate I was in company, I made my way back down the hillside, whistling happily to myself.

Good, good! Any moment now, we'd be the best of friends and go out into the world on breathtaking adventures; I could feel it!

A few minutes before I reached the village, I realized I'd have to decide what to say about the Gorgon. Not being much of a liar, I decided, yet again, to tell a partial truth. I would say I had indeed seen her, and that she was a fair as the stories said, but nothing more.

--

(Y/N)'s POV

I slithered away as quickly as I could, my heart beating so rapidly in my chest that I completely forgot to listen to make sure the man wasn't pursuing me. Andy! His name was Andy!

Damica loped up to greet me, and I was in too much of a tizzy to pay her any heed. My head was spinning!

He had been so handsome! I had never thought I might see a man that looked as the gods must. His shoulders had been so broad, and his skin was covered with pictures!

And what foolhardy bravery, to sit there, knowing I would spot him! My chest felt as though it were bursting from a delirious, new kind of pressure. Before, I had only seen handsome men posed in attempted acts of murder, set forever in stone. But this one lived and breathed, and sought me out of his own volition!

What was happening? Why did I feel so light-headed?

Andy... His name was Andy.