This is my attempt at a "porn parody" (for lack of a better description) of Ancient Greek mythology. It is not a direct adaptation of any one story, but an original tale made of tropes and archetypes pulled from several Greek myths. The intention was not only to create a work of erotic fantasy, but an epic saga that paid loving tribute to the poets and playwrights of antiquity.
Thank you for reading. Please enjoy.
Chapter 5
A stag was resting in the woods of Thessaly when Tythoros and Sidrophus came upon it. Sidrophus was the first to notice the creature, quietly signaling Tythoros to stop and observe their next meal.
Sidrophus prepared an arrow with the stealth and precision that could only come from years of training. Though his aim was certain and the arrow flew gracefully toward its target, the strike was not enough to kill. The prey moved to escape, but Tythoros was ready. With his godly strength and his practiced throwing arm, Tythoros launched his spear and killed the target instantly.
"If only I had your strength," said Sidrophus, "that would have been my kill."
"If not for your sharp senses," replied Tythoros, "we might have gone hungry today."
The two companions ate heartily a short time later, after offering up the animal's fat and bones in thanks to Artemis of the Wilds. They feasted on juicy meat cooked over a fire until strange noises reached their ears. With a shared glance, Tythoros and Sidrophus knew that they had both heard it.
They gathered their weapons and Tythoros led the way. He followed the mixed sounds of growling, an unearthly rattling, and the shouts of a woman. The companions followed their ears to the top of a knoll, and then looked down upon the strangest gathering that either of them had ever witnessed.
There were three ants in the clearing below, each the size of a bull. They were fiery red in color, with enormous black mandibles chattering away beneath their flesh-colored heads. The ants were locked in combat with three large wolves and one very beautiful young woman clad in animal pelts.
A wolf snarled and barked before charging toward one of the ants. The insect snapped its mandibles around the beast's neck, cutting its head off with one blow. The woman screamed and tried to charge at the crimson abomination with her bare hands, but a remaining wolf pressed itself in her way.
At the very moment when the ants started to charge forward, Tythoros ran down to the clearing with a mighty roar. One of the ants was pushed back by the mighty thrust of Tythoros' spear, but its armor was hard enough to resist the blade. The target and one of its brothers turned to face Tythoros, rattling their mandibles in anticipation for a fight. But Sidrophus was watching.
The prince stood on the knoll with his bow and arrows at the ready. He launched an arrow and hit his target on the head of an ant. Though it was not enough to kill, it was enough to distract the beast. Tythoros attacked, running his spear through the joints of the creature's neck. The second ant moved in to avenge his brother, but the woman ran at it from the side.
She attempted to grapple with the monster, climbing aboard its back to snap its legs off. Despite her strength and tenacity, the ant succeeded in throwing her off. By that point, Tythoros had retrieved his spear, and his blade struck into the insect's neck for another killing blow.
Tythoros went over to the woman. "Are you unhurt?" he shouted over the noise of combat.
Until that moment, the two remaining wolves had been keeping the last insect at bay. One of them turned to run for Tythoros until he was felled by Sidrophus' arrow. The other was soon cut in two by the sharp teeth of its opponent.
This was too much for the young woman. Her vibrant skin flushed red with anger as she let out a primal scream and charged at the beast. The ant was ready to eat the girl alive, but it could never have expected the girl to catch its mandibles in her hands. With desperation and blind rage to power her, the woman pushed apart the beast's powerful mandibles until they were torn from its head completely.
Sidrophus walked down to the clearing. He and Tythoros looked on as the monster let out an unearthly screech, keeling over to die from its injuries. "Good lady," said Sidrophus. "That was most impressive. Are you unhurt?"
In reply, she let out another primal roar and launched herself at Sidrophus. She was fast, but Tythoros was faster. He succeeded in catching the woman, though she bit and scratched and struggled to escape his grasp. She was very strong for a woman, and tenacious as any beast, yet she was no match for a son of mighty Zeus.
Tythoros forced her to the ground, pinning her while taking care not to hurt her. She continued to struggle, but his strength and endurance was enough to outlast her.
"He must die!" she screamed. "If he will not die, then delay no further, but send me down to the House of Death this very moment!"
"I cannot let you hurt my friend," Tythoros shouted over her cries, "but we will not hurt you either! We have no quarrel with you!"
"No quarrel?!" she shrieked, with tears in her eyes. "That man killed my brother!"
"Good lady," said Sidrophus, "I swear to you by Apollo's bow that I have yet to take the life of any man!"
"No man," she snarled, "but the wolf who lies with your arrow in his side!"
The two companions shared a confused moment.
"You mean to say," asked Tythoros, "that your brother was a wolf?"
"The wolves who lie here were all my brothers," the woman replied. "They were the last of the pack that raised me from infancy. They cared for me after my own parents had left me to die in this forest after my birth. Those wolves were the only family I have ever known, save only for Artemis of the Golden Reins. It was she who taught me how to hunt, how to fight, and how to speak the tongues of men and beasts. May she strike the both of you down if you dare abuse me further!"
"We do not intend to abuse you," Tythoros said as calmly as he could manage, "but I will not have you bring harm to us."
"My lady," interjected Sidrophus, "how could I have possibly known that the wolf was kin to you?"
"If he had not launched that arrow," added Tythoros, "your brother would have killed me. And if we had not arrived to help, you would have joined your brothers in death."
The woman did not answer that, but there was no need. Tythoros could see that she had no response to the truth in their words. Her piercing green eyes became red and swollen with tears as her rage finally gave way to sadness. She could only scream out in impotent grief.
