Daughter of Medusa

4

Natalie kept training with Avery, and while she admittedly got better, she was still no where near Avery's level and their relationship never got any better. There was no love lost between these two

Natalie kept her grudging respect to Avery's fighting skills, but that was all. She still didn't like the hierarchy she saw within the underground camp, and that Avery had a high position in it

Natalie: What is she exactly?

Alec: Hmm?

Natalie: Your friend, Avery, what is she? You're part poucka, Dryden is a half dryad...

She trailed off

Alec: Avery is part gorgon

She interrupted him: Like Medusa?!

Alec: They do call them daughters of Medusa, the part gorgons..

She muttered: No wonder her personality sucks

He gave her a pointed glare: She's also part gargoyle

Natalie: Is that even possible?

Alec: Yes, she's proof enough

Natalie: I've never heard of such a thing

Alec: You wouldn't. She's the only one we know off. Others are usually only part human part gorgon

Natalie: Is that why she's one of the leaders, because of what she is?

Alec: That's part of it

Natalie: But that's not fair

Alec: Look, we're not human. What we are determines a bit of our importance here. It's who we are, how it is, besides, if she wasn't a decent leader she would've been removed long ago

Natalie wasn't convinced: Did anyone ever see her using her supposed powers?

Alec: She rarely uses them

Natalie: Then how can you be sure she's what she claims to be

Alec became angry: Avery might not be the nicest, but she wouldn't lie

Natalie: Even for power? You said yourself she has this position partly because of what she is

He glared at her: Don't talk to me until you pull your head from your butt. Avery put up with you and trained you herself, despite your mutual dislike. You should at least try to be civil

He turned and left her

While he was right, she wasn't ready to admit her faults. She heaped the greater part of the problem on Avery's shoulders

She never went and expressly voiced her doubts about Avery's abilities, but others did hear her conversation with Alec, and some of them have become her friends, and disliked Avery, so they spread the word farther, which made members of their underground camp question Avery's powers as well, since none of them actually saw her use them, and when Dryden and Alec vouched for her, it didn't do much good because they were her best friends

Some even confronted Avery in front of a large group of the camp, but she refused to budge, saying she didn't need to prove anything, she just needed to do her job well, which she did, no one could argue there. While she said that she glared at Natalie. Although Alec revealed nothing about their conversation, she knew enough to believe Natalie the source of discord

Natalie was humbled when Avery didn't confront her or punish her but ignored everything, but the damage was done

Even though the matter was dropped, the already fragile trust broke a bit more