Smiley and the Demigorgon's Warband

Chapter 4: The Lonely Gorgon

The journey ahead grew more uncertain as Smiley, Wesley, and Elendir ventured through the winding paths of the wilderness. The elves had given them supplies and guidance, but the deeper they traveled, the more Smiley felt a strange presence—something watching them, something different.

Elendir, ever the vigilant warrior, seemed to notice it too. "There's something out there," he said quietly as they moved through a dense thicket. "I can feel it."

"Maybe it's another band of orcs," Wesley muttered nervously, adjusting his satchel.

Smiley wasn't so sure. The air felt charged, not with danger, but with a mysterious energy she couldn't quite place. Her intuition told her this presence wasn't here to harm them. As they continued, the forest began to thin, and soon they came upon a rocky clearing, with stone pillars jutting out from the ground as if remnants of an ancient structure.

And there, sitting among the rocks, was a figure. A girl—no, a woman—dressed in tattered robes. Her back was to them, and long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, covering most of her face. There was something about her posture, something fragile and sad. As they approached, the woman turned slightly, revealing pale skin and a glimpse of her eyes, which shimmered like emeralds.

Wesley gasped softly, gripping Elendir's arm. "That's... that's a Gorgon!"

The woman flinched at the word, shrinking further into herself as though trying to make herself disappear. Smiley could see the tension in her, the fear of being misunderstood. Her heart immediately went out to her.

"She's not dangerous," Smiley whispered, stepping forward slowly. "She's just scared."

Elendir and Wesley hesitated, watching as Smiley walked toward the woman, her steps careful and deliberate. Smiley stopped a few feet away, kneeling down to be on her level. "Hey," she said softly, her voice gentle. "We're not here to hurt you."

The woman didn't respond right away, keeping her head lowered as if expecting rejection or scorn. But something in Smiley's voice made her glance up, just for a moment.

Smiley smiled kindly. "My name's Smiley. What's yours?"

For a long moment, the woman didn't speak. Then, in a voice so quiet it was almost a whisper, she answered, "DG."

"DG?" Smiley asked, tilting her head. "Is that short for something?"

The woman, DG, nodded slightly. "Demigorgon. It's... it's what I am."

Smiley's smile never faltered. "That's a beautiful name."

DG blinked, clearly not expecting such a kind response. "You're... you're not afraid?"

"Why would I be?" Smiley asked gently. "You're just like me. Just... a little different, that's all."

DG stared at her, searching for any hint of mockery or fear in Smiley's eyes, but found none. Slowly, she relaxed, her posture softening. "Most people... they see me and think I'm a monster. Because I'm half-human and half-Gorgon. They think I'll turn them to stone if they get too close."

Wesley, who had been watching from a safe distance, spoke up cautiously. "Is that true? Can you... do that?"

DG's face fell slightly, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I can... but I don't want to. I've never wanted to hurt anyone. That's why I stay away from people."

Smiley's heart ached for her. She had seen what fear and misunderstanding could do, how it could isolate someone. And now, in DG's eyes, she saw that same loneliness. "You don't have to hide anymore," Smiley said softly. "You're not a monster. You're just... you."

DG looked up at Smiley, her eyes wide with vulnerability. "You really mean that?"

Smiley nodded, her smile warm and sincere. "I do."

For the first time in what seemed like forever, DG smiled—a small, tentative smile, but a smile nonetheless. And in that moment, something shifted between them. A spark, subtle but undeniable, flickered to life. Smiley felt it, and by the way DG's eyes lingered on hers, she knew DG felt it too.

The silence between them was broken by the sudden rustling of leaves. A group of orcs burst into the clearing, weapons drawn and snarling as they charged toward the group. Smiley, Elendir, and Wesley immediately readied themselves for battle, but DG hesitated, fear flashing across her face.

"DG!" Smiley called out, her voice filled with urgency. "We need your help!"

DG's eyes darted between the orcs and Smiley, torn between her fear of losing control and her desire to protect her new companions. For a moment, it seemed like she might retreat—but then, she caught Smiley's gaze, steady and trusting.

Something inside DG clicked. She stood up, her eyes flashing with a determination she hadn't felt in a long time. "Stay behind me," she whispered, her voice laced with both fear and power.

Smiley, Wesley, and Elendir watched as DG took a step forward, her once-shy demeanor fading as her powers came to life. Her hair began to move, serpentine tendrils slithering through the air, their eyes glowing with an eerie green light.

The orcs hesitated, sensing the power radiating from her. DG raised her hands, and the very stones around them seemed to come alive, rising from the ground and forming a barrier between the orcs and her friends. With a swift gesture, she sent the stones flying toward the orcs, knocking several of them down.

But the true extent of her power came when one of the orcs, braver than the rest, charged at her directly. DG's eyes flared bright, and for a split second, the orc locked eyes with her. A chilling silence fell over the clearing as the orc's body stiffened, turning to stone before crumbling into dust.

The remaining orcs, terrified and disoriented, fled into the forest, leaving DG standing in the clearing, breathing heavily but victorious.

Smiley approached her cautiously, her heart still pounding from the battle. "DG... that was incredible."

DG looked down at her hands, still trembling from the adrenaline. "I... I didn't mean to—"

"You saved us," Smiley interrupted, placing a hand on DG's arm. "You did what you had to do. And you were amazing."

DG looked at her, tears welling up in her eyes. "I've always been so scared of what I can do... of what I might become."

Smiley squeezed her arm gently. "You don't have to be scared anymore. Not when you have us."

The warmth of Smiley's words seemed to fill the space between them, and DG, for the first time in her life, felt like she belonged. She gave Smiley a small, grateful smile, and Smiley returned it, the spark of something deeper flickering between them once again.

From a short distance, Wesley raised an eyebrow at Elendir. "Is it just me, or did it suddenly get a little... warm in here?"

Elendir chuckled softly, shaking his head. "It's not just you."

As the group prepared to move on, Smiley turned to DG, her heart full of hope. "Will you come with us? We're on a journey to defeat the Orc King, and we could really use someone like you."

DG hesitated, but the warmth in Smiley's eyes, the kindness and acceptance, made her decision for her. "Yes," she said softly. "I'll come with you."

And with that, Smiley and her growing group of companions set off once more—this time, with a powerful, shy, but kind-hearted Demigorgon by their side, and a new spark of something deeper beginning to bloom.