The Trethal

It was a stormy grey day. The bellowing wind whispered threats to the small town of Acrossic. Many people cowered with worry, Zeus must be upset with mankind.

As the clouds rolled over the sky, a brave young girl named Alexis, ventured into the woods, accompanied by her bow and arrows, to find the Trethal. The Trethal was a frightening being with the head of a crocodile and the body of a snake. It was well known for its ability to travel to Mt Olympus.

"Trethal, my town is scared, for Zeus is upset. Show your self and tell me the reason for his darkened mood." Alexis yelled out.

There was a rustle in the damp bushes and two glittering eyes came out of the shadow, like a pair of precious jewels. It was the Trethal. A voice as deep as the bluest sea but as quiet as a mouse rang in Alexis' ear, hissing and spitting.

"Zeus is upset for reasons I'd rather not share. If you wish me to tell give me a lock of your hair.

So Alexis cut a lock of her hair and did as the trethal asked. She handed it over, the Trethal stood higher so she could see his slimy, moist, green skin. The smell of rotting meat pierced Alexis' nose.

"Trethal, I have given my hair, now tell me, why is Zeus upset?"

The Threthal shook his head.

"No for I need a feather from the purest white dove, then I can fly to Olympus above!" He hissed, lifting his head to the stormy sky.

Alexis nodded and readied her bow. She fired at a pure white dove and plucked one of its many feathers.

"Here is your feather of the purest white, now why is Zeus upset?"

For the second time, the Trethal shook his large beastly head.

"No," He Replied, "for I need a mint leaf to clean my breath and whiten my teeth!"

Alexis nodded again, slightly irritated. Every request the Trethal made, her fellow villiagers became even more frightened, whilst trying to hide themselves from the prowling winds.

She found a mint bush and pulled a small green leaf from it. She gave it to the trethal, eager for an answer to Zeus' mood.

'Now please Trethal, tell me why Zeus is upset. He needs to calm down before the village is blown to bits!" At her very words, the wind started to rage. It grabbed at Alexis' long tangled hair. The sky grew dark and creul, laughing at the helpless people.

The Trethal nodded and slithered out of the cover of the bushes. His scales were dirty and unwashed, his stomach small and tight from lack of food. His expression darkened and his mouth formed in an evil grin, showing off his yellowed teeth.

"One last thing, fresh meat from the living, is it your meat that you will be giving?"

Before Alexis could answer, the trethal jumped out and snapped its heavy jaws. "Give me some food so I can ask Zeus what is troubling him, oh why bother? Because if you don't I will tear you limb from limb!" And with a terrifying shriek, the Trethal ate Alexis whole, bones and all. She travelled into his empty stomach. From inside, Alexis could hear the Trethal dancing around.

"Silly brat, stupid girl! She is in my stomach as the winds howl and swirl! I know the reason Zeus is upset, for I ate his little flying pet, it really was quite nice! I didn't need hair, a feather, or a mint leaf, I at the silly girl because I was hungry!" The Trethal laughed evilly.

When Alexis heared this, her blood bubbled and bolied with rage. The Trethal knew why Zeus was upset all along! And it was all his fault! Alexis was so angry that she took an arrow and buried it into the Trethal's soft, pink stomach. It was so foul sitting helplessly in the slimy pit of stinky goop. It smelt suspiciously like rotting flesh, and Alexis was on no hurry to find out where the smell was coming from.

The arrow pierced the Trethal's stomach, making a sickening squelching sound. Alexis jumped out of the dark foul pit and yelled in victory. The winds subsided and the trees stopped swaying so violently. The Trethal lay motionless, apparently dead. Zeus had received his revenge. Acrossic was safe at last, thanks to Alexis. But there was unseen danger just around the corner.

Alexis hadn't made sure the Trethal was surely, truly dead. He was coming, and he was hungry for revenge.