In the forest, the mist rose from the ground beneath the towering trees with bushy branches, blocking the cloudy sky. Across the trail, littered with dead leaves, Medusa rode on a black golem horse, racing as fast as possible.

Since she successfully assassinated Heracles, she traveled through the wilds for three days, searching for the Giants. To move faster, Medusa tamed a horse by turning it into her golem minion.

If Zeus didn't vaporize her beast, it wouldn't take her days on her quest. But at least she found a new beast to make her travel quickly. It would be longer if she walked on foot.

At the forest's edge, Medusa halted toward a cliff. She glanced down at a massive beach facing the vast ocean. Giant bodies lay near the water, almost as big as mountains.

Her lips curled into a grin after she realized the Giants’ leather armor and their scaly legs with talons for feet. They must be sleeping, waiting for their mother goddess to answer them.

Surely Medusa will impress them when she shows them Heracles’s head. But first, she must wake them up somehow.

Past the Giants, a white figure stood among them near the water. It seemed to be a white tall woman on a marble block, probably a statue of Gaea.

Medusa smiled and tapped her horse’s rear. “Go!”

Her horse leaped off the cliff, falling swiftly down, and landed on all fours without breaking. She padded her mount and jumped off before she grabbed her staff and the bag.

Across the beach, she slowly walked past the hulking behemoths, keeping each step as quiet as possible. She might be small as a bug to the Giants, but she wasn’t sure if their ears were very sensitive. If they catch her before she reaches their altar, she will become their snack instantly. Of course, she could turn them into her golem minions, but that would only anger their mother. Siding with the Titan mother was her only chance to complete her vengeance against the Gods.

About one mile, Medusa approached the female statue and sighed when she looked back. The Giants snorted like pigs and laid on their sides together, like big babies relaxing under the gritty sky.

Medusa turned her attention to the statue and placed her palms together with her knees on the gray sand. “O Gaea, Goddessssss of the Earth, pleassse anssswer my call.”

The statue’s eyes flashed green and glanced down at the green woman. “You’re not one of my children!” She spoke like thunder, rumbling the ground below Medusa's feet. “Explain before I wake them up to devour you!”

Medusa grinned. “My name isss Medusssa, and I have a gift for you.”

“Medusa? I thought you were dead.”

“I wasss….. But I am back to take vengeance on the Godsss who damned me. What I bring you will bring you great sssatifaction.”

“And what gift is it?”

Medusa picked up the bag and unwrapped it. Heracles's stone head fell to the ground, but Medusa picked it up and held it toward Gaea’s ghostly eyes. “The head of Zeusssss’sss ssson. The one who is dessstine to ssstop your army.”

The statue glared at the stone head. “Are you fooling me? That thing could be from any Heracle statue!”

“It might look deceiving, but I ssspeak the truth. You know my power, and nobody can essscape it when they glance upon me. Not even Heraclesss himssself. I promissse you, nobody can now ssstand in your way.”

Gaea mumbled, probably thinking about Medusa’s words. If there was another way for Medusa to take Heracles’s head without turning him into stone, she would have done that instead. Changing him was the only simple shot she could pull without meeting the hero’s mighty fists. Overall, she hoped Gaea would spare her life even if she lied.

“You could still be lying to save your own scaly skin,” said the Earth Goddess. “Why risk it to serve me?”

“Becaussse we both hate the Godsss for what they did to usss,” Medusa explained. “Let me help your children defeat them, and I will ensssure your victory.”

Gaea giggled. “You sound very obedient. I could call my children to kill you now, but your power can be useful. If the son of Zesus isn’t dead, your power will still bring my army to victory, either way. Serve me, and I will spare your life.”

Medusa grinned. “Of courssse… Why elssse would I come to you?”

“But if you betray me-”

“I won’t betray you! I only wisssh for the Godsss’ downfall. You can do whatever you want after their defeat. I will not disssappoint you.”

Gaea laughed, raising Medusa’s spirits.

*****

Inside the bathing chamber, Katina sat into the hot steamed pool, soaking her nude furry muscled body. As the summery temperature drifted through her body, her sisters and she sighed for their relief from Ares’s hardcore training.

The bath chamber was very white with marble columns surrounding the misty pool. The beast women could barely see anything through the thick cloud of sea salt flavor. But no danger awaited them behind the mist.

For the past three days, Ares worked with the Cerberus women to improve their strength and brutality. They lifted weights and battled Giant automatons to simulate their possible battle against the real earth-shaking monsters.

They fought so hard, Ares assumed their master, Hades, trained them well in the Underworld. Labda said they were Amazons from Themyscira who worshipped him. That made Ares enjoy them more, and he wished they were his hounds. He was so flattering.

After defeating an iron golem, Ares allowed the women to rest in the hot pool. As the God of War said, sore muscles need to heal before the next battle.

"Hmmmmmmmm, I wish Roger was here," Cilla moaned, leaning her head back.

"He is probably still training with Athena," said Labda. "He needs to grow stronger before the Giants attack."

Katina chuckled. "She will make a real man out of him….." Her lips frowned at the water. "I hope…"

In the mist across the square pool, a shadowy figure appeared between the columns. Katina widened her eyes and glared at the unknown. "Who’s there? You better not be a pervert!"

For once, why couldn't the women relax in peace after fighting and traveling for days? Was this part of Hades’s curse?