A gorgon called Mimi

A small green skinned girl, dressed in a toga, jumped out of the chest. She was small, about the size of a 7 year old. Amidst a dark, mossgreen hairdo, a trio of snakes grew from her head, two large, light green scaled snakes with black spiral patterns over their backs from the sides and one small, foresty green, thin snake from the back of her head. The three of them had scared expressions, their maws open in shock as the little girl jumped from the chest. The girl herself looked happy as can be, small, darker green freckles covering her face, making her overall look cute yet somewhat strange.

The girl landed on her face, planting it into the carpet, with her legs comically above her until she rolled onto her side, her bottom lip quivering as tears formed in her eyes.

The entire room was silent, even Jack and Toph where looking at the girl with surprise. Archibald and Dra looked at the girl, each other, and then again at the girl. Arnold and Miranda just stared at the girl. It was Cynthia who eventually broke the silent stalemate as she rushed forward. Cuddling the girl that started sobbing while rubbing her face.

“Waaaah. I hurt myself,” a childish sob came from the girl’s mouth. She sniffled loudly as tears started to flow like a river. “The ground is too mean! It hurts! It hurts!”

Cynthia rubbed her head softly as she hugged her tightly. “It’s alright, you just bumped your head a little. Mimi, what were you doing in Archibald’s chest?” Cynthia asked the little gorgon.

The girl in question looked up with a tear stricken face. “Dra told me he was gonna go and see you and, and Arnold and, and Miranda. I missed you, I wanted to see you too!”

John slowly scooted over to Arnold, nudging him in the side as he asked, “Who is that?”

Arnold sighed softly, running a hand through his hair as he answered, “That’s Mimi, an orphaned Gorgon. She showed up at our camp two years ago. She was supposed to be taken care off back in Greece, but, well, here she is. I guess.”

Mimi was softly sobbing as the snakes in her hair looked around, the large snakes avoiding Dra’s gaze, looking down at the floor, showing remorse. The little snake on the back of her head was softly licking Mimi, comforting its host the only way it knew.

“Mimi, that still doesn’t explain why you were hiding in Archibald’s chest,” Cynthia said softly while Miranda crouched down with them, holding out a cup of tea to Mimi.

Mimi took the tea, taking a small sip before continuing her story, “Well, they said they were gonna see you. And, Archi is very strong. I wanted to see you too! So, when they were about to leave, I snuck into Archi’s tent and hid in his chest. Archi is so strong, he would not even feel that I was in there.”

John, Arnold and Dra all looked at Archibald, the android giving a small shrug. “The weight of a child is not many. I did not feel the difference.”

Dra shook his head, not even correcting him this time. Arnold looked at the little gorgon, and sighing once more, he placed his hand on John’s shoulder.

“John, can you and Cynthia do me a favor and look after Mimi? Show her around the camp? I think us grownups will need to discuss the situation, as well as the actual purpose for Dra and Archibald being here. I know you probably wanted to ask more questions, but there will always be a next time.”

Cynthia perked up when she heard her name being called. She nodded in agreement as she ruffled Mimi’s hair. “Come on Mimi, let's go outside. I think you need some fresh air after being locked in that chest for so long.”

Mimi, still sniffling slightly, put the now empty tea cup down and nodded. She gave Miranda a small peck on the cheek. “Thank you for not yelling at me, Mommy Miranda,” she whispered, then got up and took Cynthia’s hand.

John himself nodded as well. “You got it, Arnold.” He turned to the German dragon and the eastern European dulahand, giving a slight bow as he spoke, “It was great meeting you. I hope we will get a chance to talk some more soon.”

Dra nodded while Archibald gave him a thumbs up, the joints of his thumb slightly creaking, the white mouse hurrying down his arm with a vial of oil, dripping it on it as they watched the couple, Mimi and John’s pets leave the tent.

Outside the tent, Mimi was clinging to Cynthia’s hand like a girl to her mother. “So, Big Sis Cyn, where are we going?” she asked giddily, her sniffles all but forgotten as she faced the prospects of new things.

“Well, first of all, I want you to meet John, my boyfriend,” Cynthia said with a smile; her big sister instinct kicked into gear with Mimi around.

John crouched in front of Mimi, extending his hand at her while Toph and Jack darted to his side. “Hi there, Mimi, I’m John, and these are Jack and Toph, my pets.”

Mimi shook his hand shyly as she tried to hide her face with her other hand. Then she looked at the pets, Jack mewing softly at her while Toph looked at her with small beady eyes.

“Cute!” Mimi chirped, extending her hand to them. Jack nibbled on her index finger, causing her to giggle. Toph, on the other hand, looked up at her, cocking her head slightly. Mimi crouched down to face the pangolin, cocking her head in the same direction. Toph cocked her head the other way, Mimi followed. Suddenly, Toph licked Mimi’s face, her long, slender tongue extending quickly, giving her a lick, then retracting.

Mimi giggled licking Toph right back, causing the pangolin to extend her clawed paw slightly, patting Mimi on her head.

“Yay! Pats!” the girl cheered, patting both Jack and Toph on their little heads, causing both of them to let out small sounds of pleasure.

With the introductions out of the way, Cynthia pulled on Mimi’s arm.