For the remainder of autumn through the beginning of winter, our intrepid group journeyed southeast through the land of the Franks. Though terrain grew increasingly more difficult, the three friends rose to the challenge in different ways. Each of them was pleasantly surprised at how resourceful their companions proved to be.

Just as he had planned, Andy did indeed make forays into towns, smaller settlements, and military outposts to help replenish their supplies. He acted as a connection to civilization- something neither Damica nor (Y/N) knew much about, but they all recognized they needed for such an undertaking. Andy had been absolutely correct; though he did not speak the language and looked to most locals like a barbarian, gold was gold. His skill at haggling, learned from his father, often came in handy. With time, he learned numbers and a few key phrases. Before the end of autumn, he was able to replenish their lost supplies, including a new bow and quiver, a small bedroll and blankets, and extra clothing for (Y/N) and himself.

Sadly, it was not uncommon for evil men who had witnessed the glint of gold during Andy’s transactions to decide to follow him and take all he had for themselves. Thinking he was traveling alone, they believed he would make an easy target. Needless to say, they were grossly mistaken.

All it took was a signal exchanged between (Y/N) and Andy to seal the brigands’ fate. He would close his eyes firmly, frustrated with the selfish nature of man, and curse his bad luck. Then, as (Y/N) appeared to the would-be thieves (helmet set aside) and they met her lethal gaze, they would disappear, leaving remarkably lifelike statues of bewitched men in their places. Though none of the three friends relished having to resort to such means, they accepted the exigency. Likewise, they left nothing of use behind. The men were dead, and stone had no need for clothing, food, or other such necessities. There was no sense in letting it go to waste.

Though Andy feared that tales of his arrival heralding the petrification of villagers might spread, our voyagers traveled faster than the rumors could fly. Setting such a pace was tiring, but not as grueling as they had feared. Though Damica suffered some aches and pains, she did so quietly and with pride. They were a pittance to pay for true friendship.

---

In this strange land so far from their own, the flora and fauna started to significantly change. One would have thought that this unfamiliarity would pose a danger, but that was not often the case. Though it had been apparent that (Y/N) had great skill in finding food and making shelter, their new environment revealed she had still further talents, both new and long forgotten.

One day, (Y/N) happened upon a bush with bright red berries of a kind that she had not seen before.They glistened, ripe for picking. She reached for one, hungry and curious. Immediately the checkered vipers on her head went wild, twisting and turning, and one of the longest colubrid snakes flung itself out, an iridescent dark ribbon with a pale belly, wrapping itself around her hand and stopping her. They reminded her via their strong mental connection that the pit vipers could smell if a berry or root were imbued with toxins. Indeed, they had been instrumental in safeguarding and teaching her as a babe. It had been so very long ago that (Y/N) had forgotten her constant companions had such abilities. Grateful, she stroked each snake in turn, and they coiled against her affectionately. But that was not the only protective use her hair had.

Back in their homeland, poisonous snakes were not much of a concern. Only the adder frequented the area, and it was not an aggressive snake. It was easily recognizable and stood out from its surroundings with its unmistakable zigzag pattern. If left alone, it posed little risk. But here, in the land some called Gaul, lived the asp.

Asps could appear many ways- spotted, checked, striped, and so on. And just as their appearance varied, so did their behavior. Some were fairly docile, while others were remarkably aggressive.

One day, again when (Y/N) was foraging, she found a dog rose plant. Knowing that the hips and petals were edible, she made a pouch with her tunic to collect some. However the dark colubrids of her hair began to hiss so loudly her ears rang, and she withdrew a ways, confused. She had gathered dog rose many times before; what was the issue? Moments later, she espied a small brown snake watching her fearfully, poised in readiness to strike should its home be invaded. It was an asp. Though perhaps her brass hands were resistant to the piercing of fangs, (Y/N) had no desire to find out.

From that day, (Y/N) knew to pay more heed to her snakes. Though it was true that they were quite fickle, and that the vipers and the colubrids sometimes quarreled, ultimately they cared deeply for her. Perhaps some would have thought them nothing more than a curse, but she had accepted them as a part of her. Often on their journey she worried what would become of her living hair, should they somehow succeed.

In truth, it was not her snakes that had motivated (Y/N) to undertake their mission, but loneliness. Unlike her mother, she had wished for human company since she was a young girl. Now that she had met Andy, she couldn’t imagine life without him. But a gaze that turned men, women, and children to stone was hardly conducive to a smooth integration into human society.

---

In all truth, it was Damica who clandestinely held the group together. When she saw (Y/N) or Andy losing heart, she would bolster their spirits by resorting to kit-like antics (all the while grateful that no other foxes were around to see her undignified behavior). With her keen senses of smell, sight, and hearing, she was able to help steer them clear of other travelers and, at times, bypass inclement weather. She and Andy would go on hunting expeditions, and her tracking skills produced results time after time. Chief among their haul were wild boar, or ‘sangliers’ as they were called in the region. Andy was a fine shot, and they all fed well after a successful trip. Damica, in particular, relished the hooves and ears of their porcine prey.

It was her same adroit faculties that she used for something else even more essential. Though one might have thought that many kinds of predators would pose a problem for our intrepid band, that was very rarely the case. Once again the groups’ guardian was Damica. Through her vigilant scouting and insistent guidance, the group avoided all dangerous wild beasts for weeks. However, it eventually proved that a conflict was unavoidable.

When (Y/N) saw a bear for the first time, she was delighted. She had not seen their kind for centuries! However, only a moment was necessary for her to realize that something was wrong. The gaunt bear was desperate for food to prepare for its winter hibernation; it had no intention of communicating with its prospective meal. While most bears avoided the unknown, this one was starving. Still, (Y/N) had no desire to hurt the creature; it was only doing what came to it naturally as it stalked towards their camp with murder in its eye. Her heart heavy, she readied her hair and tail to strike.

Damica saw (Y/N)’s reluctance and decided to take care of things herself. Brave even in the face of a massive and unfamiliar predator, she began to bark and scream at the bear, completely baffling it. Why was this little animal not running away, it questioned- was there something unapparent to fear? It hesitated long enough for Andy to overcome his terror at the giant beast, larger than any living thing he had ever seen, and begin pelting it with rocks and shouting. (Y/N), seeing their success, joined in the grating cacophony and waved her arms about. The bear, unnerved, decided to cut its losses and ran off, confused and irritated.

---

Indeed, the three friends developed a routine after some time that gave them stability and proved to work well. But when winter began in earnest, their resolve was tested to the utmost.

Notes

I apologize for the lack of a paragraph/sentence break between the third and second paragraph from the end. This stupid website kept erasing what I tried to copy and paste. Please check out my works on Wattpad, it's both more reliable and easier to publish to.

>:(

edit: I think I was able to fix it.

Gif for levity: