It had been many, many years since Calliope unlocked her true powers and joined the ranks of those considered gods. When she did, she ascended without so much as a glance back at the life she was leaving behind. There was nothing worth pining for, nobody to worry about. All bonds were to be broken at some point or another, so she made no effort to establish any nor placed any weight on the ones that were already there. Calliope’s step into godhood had truly been seamless, and she took to her status like a fish to water, a queen returning to her rightful throne. Mortals were meant to be ruled, no matter what other more spineless gods believed, and Calliope was the most benevolent god of them all.

Who else took so much time out of their day to force their charges to challenge and improve themselves? Nobody, so who cared about the fact that her meddling also accounted for most of her entertainment?

When the land slumbered, Calliope’s days fell into an endless cycle of monotony. There was no fun, no excitement. In the old days, she could incite war with a single illusion. Now, the land was so barren that she had to search far and wide for a soul to talk to. But the realm was working to repopulate itself – her job as a guide kept her well-informed on the sudden influx of migrants to the land – and that was a sure sign that her decades of boredom were coming to an end. Soon, the good times would be back once again.

But, before she could have her fun, there were some responsibilities for her to take care of. She had been watching the large, dark-furred male since he unknowingly stepped foot into this realm. Hidden behind the veil of her illusions, there was no risk of him spotting her, not when he had yet to command his innate magic, leaving her free to follow and observe him as blatantly as she wished. His eyes were sharp and logical as he scanned his surroundings, taking in the thick tree trunks and glowing rock formations that were, no doubt, oddities to him. Calliope had forgotten much of the world that preceded this one, but she knew that even the mortal world possessed sights that the newly arrived considered bizarre and surreal. It only made it that much more amusing to see their reactions upon entering the realm of gods.

As the stranger moved, Calliope did nothing but trail him closely, taking note of his heavy footsteps and impressive stature. While she was already smaller than most wolves, she was practically dwarfed by the stranger, as he was not only much taller than him, but his thick pelt only added to his bulk. If she had appeared to him in her true form, she doubted he would have taken her seriously. But, that was what her magic was for; even the strongest of wolves had fears they could not overcome, and while she had yet to discover his, she would learn them one day. Wit always tamed power, and she had plenty of experience in that regard.

Copying the stranger and taking a seat nearby, Calliope glanced overhead at the twisted trees and their interwoven branches searching for ones thick enough for her purposes. Though it took her a moment, she eventually found a branch that was both large enough and close enough to the ground, and a devious fire lit her soul. In the blink of an eye, a massive python materialized on that branch, forked tongue flicking in and out of its curved lips as it scented the air. It was massive, thicker around than most wolves’ legs, and long enough to practically strangle itself as it writhed around the branch, large sections dangling down towards the earth in search of more room. Like the stranger, its scales were as dark as the midnight sky. But, whereas the wolf’s pelt had been decorated with stars, the python was free of any blemish, and his beady eyes blended in with the rest of him.

“What do we have here,” he hissed, leaning in towards the stranger as the rest of him continued to grip on tightly to his perch. “A wolf lost in the woods. Well, that wouldn’t do. It would be an absolute waste to turn down such a delicious, filling meal. Snakes don’t eat for months, you know, and I’m quite famished. Won’t you be a good pup, and just stay still?”

tags: Myrr
words: 757
notes: hiss

At the stranger’s disgusted words, the snake released a terrible imitation of a laugh. Though it dripped from his lips like honey off the comb, it bore an unsettling rattle from deep within his lungs and a quiet, poisonous wheeze. “Is that really the safest way to address your superiors? I am not one to make threats in jest.” Despite his lighthearted tone, the python flashed his pearly fangs, each two inches long and curved backwards to ensure that his bite was inescapable once he latched on. From then, it was only a simple matter of squeezing and squeezing until the heart of his prey burst under the pressure. It was a little melodramatic, but then again, so was Calliope. “You would be smarter to show a little more respect, or you might end up wandering this forest forever. After all, in these woods, I am not vermin. That title goes to you, my dearest intruder, and I’m sure you would prefer not to run into some of my more venomous friends.”

Slowly, ever so slowly, the snake inched towards the stranger, head bobbing through the air in a near hypnotic rhythm as it hung off the branch. Its every muscle was activated so that, despite moving through the open air, it slithered as smoothly as it would have across flat ground. If the stranger stayed still, choosing foolish courage over survival instinct, then the python would gladly wind itself across his shoulders; despite it being a mere illusion, the stranger would be able to feel the snake’s presence as if it were truly there, coiling over him and pressing him into the earth with its weight. But, if the stranger were to dance out of reach, then the snake would merely hiss knowingly, a mocking glint in its eyes, and it would not pursue the stranger any further. To leave the comfort of the tree was to give up the higher ground, and while Calliope’s illusions could not do any damage beyond that caused by the nocebo effect, she still had to keep in character with her creations. Still, regardless of the stranger’s choice, the constrictor would begin to speak once more.

“Then again, you really have no idea why you are here, do you? Poor, pathetic little pup, wandering the woods alone in the dark, perfect prey for all the nasty monsters that roam it. Surely, you’re aware that this isn’t your world anymore. Welcome to my domain. I am Calliope, God of Trickery, and it would be in your best interest to listen to me carefully. That is, if you ever wish to leave this place. And, if you don’t… Well, I truly am hungry.”

tags: Myrr
words: 448
notes: LMAO DON'T PET THIS SNEK OR MYRR IS GONNA GET ATE

“Proof I exist… You think it is plausible that I am nothing more than a fever dream, conjured up by your restless mind in a time of peril, and yet you fear me nonetheless.” The reptile’s eyes were two dark voids in its skull, swirling with emptiness and threatening to trap anything that caught its gaze. Perfectly shiny and smooth, they stared at the stranger unblinkingly, bemused on the surface, yet hinting at the potential for violence if pushed to that point. Danger sparked in the air. The woods were void of birdsong or the sound of prey animals scuttling past, for Calliope had masked those noises with her encompassing illusions. This was her theater, and she would like all focus to be on her star actor. It wouldn’t do for some scatterbrained squirrel to jump in the scene and ruin the mood she had worked so hard to craft. “It is unfortunate for you that I care little for your trust. Whether or not you place your faith in me is beyond my concern, as is expending the effort to convince you that I am real. In truth, I think that you are well-aware that all of this, from the forest to you and to me, is real. If it was just an illusion, after all, then why even bother with hesitance? Why not spring at me and consume me all at once? Then at least, your tormentor would be banished from your dreams.”

Lazily, the snake lifted itself once more, forked tongue darting past its lips as it breathed its grating laughter once more, and the sound was ripe with arrogance. “No, wolf, you are not dead. The world is far too generous for that. But you are free to believe yourself a ghost if you are truly so stubborn. The title you give yourself will not allow you to escape the destiny that lies in wait, the one reserved for all wolves that have been brought here. It does not matter if you listen to me or not. The wheels have already started turning, and you cannot escape your fate. No one can. Only fools, knowing this, continue to run. Are you a fool? Will you waste your opportunity?” With the challenge lingering in the silence, the might python waited for a response. He was perfectly still, a streak of pitch black against the darkness of the surrounding forest, illuminated only by the gentle purple glow emitted by nearby crystals. If the stranger looked away, then there was a chance he would not find the snake again upon second glance.

tags: Myrr
words: 433

It seemed that the mortal was cleverer than she had cared enough to give him credit for. While his challenge, so brashly issued, irked her, the sudden and unexpected twist to their interaction kept Calliope in a pleasant mood. There was dignity in feeding off a carcass like a ragged vulture, no fun in going after the defenseless and weak-minded. The exhilaration of a hunt stemmed from the fight, and for once it appeared that Calliope would finally get the struggle she so desired.

“Well, it appears you aren’t as daft as expected. But, if I was you, I wouldn’t be so quick to insult my new home,” the snake replied, raspy voice jovial and teasing, though the friendliness was undermined by a sense of haughty superiority. Even though the stranger had discovered the truth behind her disguise, he was still a far cry from being considered Calliope’s equal. After all, she had dropped the hints he had used to draw the correct conclusion, and the fact that he had realized the snake was but an illusion did not detract from the advantages she possessed. As it stood, she held all the answers, and unless he wished to run blindly into an unknown world, he would have no choice but to listen to what she wished to offer. All the cards were still in her hand, and she had the freedom to play them in whatever order she desired. “You do have a purpose here, though that exact purpose is shared by every other mortal that wanders this realm. For you see, you are not as special as you may like to think. This world did not choose you because you possessed a specific skill set, or a tragic past. It chose you for your potential, though whether or not you have the ability to actualize it is another question. The road you have been presented is ripe with obstacles, and, well, even if I drew you a map, I don’t quite think you have the strength to follow it till the end.”

The snake remained motionless in its perch. Then, in the blink of an eye, it disappeared only to rematerialize curled around the thick truck of an ancient oak only a foot away from the stranger. In a sinuous motion, it slithered down so its head was exactly at the stranger’s eye level, and the snake’s eyes immediately sought to make contact with the stranger’s. “Though, before I provide you with anymore information, I’d expect something in return. For now, I’ll settle for your name, which is long overdue considering how the polite thing would have been to introduce yourself right after I did. But, don’t worry. You can have all eternity to learn some manners.”

tags: Myrr
words: 458