THE ZENA SCROLLS: CHAPTER III

[Phalon]

Frieda reached to her shoulder, and tried to brush the mud from it, instead smearing it across the fabric. Her dress…one of her best; one her favorites! She’d woven the fabric specifically for herself: it was not meant to sell to anyone. The colors where chosen carefully, and they were the colors of her home. Even if the hues were not exactly the same – it did not matter - she imagined them to be – the lush green of the grass, the bright blue-green of the sea, and the rich brown of the earth. And now it was ruined. The dress represented to her the pristine memory of her childhood; of her homeland – the time and place she was the happiest – and it was now tarnished not by just the mud; for the mud stains might be washed out, but by the reason the dress was covered in mud. A longing to return to her family and her home entered her thoughts, and wearily she sighed, “dachaidh.” home.

As she turned towards the boys, she squinted unseeing eyes, and continued in her native language, “Ce’? C’arson dh’ionnsuidh mi?” Why? For what reason this assault towards me? She spoke the words, knowing she’d receive no answer; she didn’t really care – it felt good to speak again the language of her home. But she slipped back into Greek for the boys' benefit and in a low voice; a whisper tinged with a slight tremor, she continued, “W-w-was this an accident?” She knew that it wasn’t…and the boys knew she knew it wasn’t. “I suggest you be more careful while slinging mud."

The children stood, shifting their weight from foot to foot, uncomfortable at this uncharacteristic outburst from the weaver. They had not expected to be confronted by Frieda and did not know what to make of it, or of the strange words she uttered. Phalon looked at the expressions on their faces; what shown in them? Puzzlement…indignation…fear? All of those, she supposed, and as she looked at them, their faces blurred; fading and becoming…

…the faces of villagers; a gathering crowd outside of Frieda’s shop. Their faces were twisted in judgmental sneers, made more grotesque by the red-orange flickering of lit torches they held. Frieda Rose stood, on the verge of tears. The crowd hushed; time froze….

As the brief vision faded, Phalon saw Frieda point her stick towards the rock the boy still passed between his hands. “I suggest you drop it”, she said with an emphasis in the tone of her voice that even surprised herself.

“H-how d-d-did you know…”, the boy stammered, taking a step back, and letting the rock fall from his hand.

“Did you see that? She looked right at you. She knew you had that rock without even seeing it! I bet she just put a hex on you, pointing at you like that.”

“And those weird words she said. That was a hex, for sure. She put a hex on all of us!!! We’ve been cursed!”

“Come on. Let’s get out of here!”

The boys scurried off in one direction, and Frieda; the other.

* * * *

She reached to knock on the wooden door of Frieda’s shop. In an instant, the smooth, worn wood blackened…smoldering and charred. She closed her eyes for a moment, and then opened them. Just a wooden door now, and she knocked upon it. “Frieda…it’s me – Phalon. Open the door, please.”

It seemed like a long time before the door opened – just a crack, and Frieda stuck her head out.

“Phalon…..”, she sighed; tired. Phalon had the urge to wipe the splattered mud from Frieda’s cheek. She didn’t though – not knowing why, except perhaps that she thought Frieda might cringe at the touch…it might frighten her, and the young woman had been through enough already today. And Phalon was about to add to the heap. Frieda continued, “I-if y-y-you’re here about the robe….I haven’t had time to finish…”

“No, it’s not the robe, Frieda. I saw…uhm…” She wasn’t sure where to start, not knowing if Frieda knew of her abilities; her “gift”. How to explain that she was granted a second sight – the capacity to see into the lives of others? And how to explain what she thought she saw without sounding like a babbling fool? Sighing, she said, “I sometimes see things, you know - things that other people don’t see. At times these things – these “visions” – are clear, but often they are just fragments, and I’m left to wonder how the pieces fit together…”

“And why are you telling me this?” Frieda had still not opened the door all the way, and seemed to have no intention of doing so.

“I saw you. In one of my visions. It happened just a few moments ago…in the marketplace. I watched you confront that group of boys, and as I watched; the scene changed. In my vision it was you who was being confronted – by a group of angry villagers with torches. I think they meant to burn your shop, Frieda.”

“And you think this will happen? That this vision of yours is something that will come to pass? Or is it something that you just imagine may happen. H-h-have you come to warn me, Phalon?” She sounded skeptical, and perhaps a bit sarcastic - just as Phalon had assumed she would – just as most did when she revealed her visions.

“My visions are not always correct – true, but Frieda…” She did not know exactly what she expected Frieda to do with this bit of “information”. Pack up her shop and move on to another town? Would it be any different for her there, or in the next town…or the next? Again, she sighed. “Frieda, just be careful. I fear the incident with those boys may not have ended when they ran away today.”

“Phalon…y-y-you need to go now. I think I’ve had enough…enough of the wild women…enough of rumors, mud-slinging, and visions for one day. I just want to be alone, drink my tea, and not think about anything.”

And the partially opened door closed tight – the door to Frieda’s shop, and, Phalon feared, perhaps too, the partially opened door of a fragile trust.

[Zena]

As Gabby gently demonstrated her control over her mount Zena focused her attention on Sumire. Her arm hung at an awkward angle that could only be caused by the upper arm being away from it’s socket. The cure was to pull the arm sharply forward and out until the ligaments snapped the bone into the correct position. Zena had done it a few times after a battle, but usually the “patient” was semi-concious from loss of blood or very drunk on whatever wine they could scrounge from the nearest village. Sumire was neither. Surprise however, could be a dependable ally.

While Sumire looked admiringly up at Gabby, Zena made a swift decision. She swung a leg over the horn of her saddle, slid to the ground, grabbed Sumire’s wrist and relocated her arm almost as one movement. Even though Sumire was slightly distracted, and so relaxed enough to benefit from the treatment, her warrior instincts were not dozing. As Zena pulled her arm, the hand with the fighting fan came up cut the Amazon’s forearm just above her leather protector.
Both women stood stunned in a frozen tableau, facing each other. They each stepped back as if to size each other up for battle.

Then in slow motion Sumire looked down at her hand and flexed the fingers of her repaired arm. Understanding came slowly to her thoughts. Zena grabbed her own arm and applied pressure to her wound as best as she could.
“Good reflexes Sumire. I almost got by you.” Her smile to the Jappa woman was lopsided. The wound was deep and she could not seem to stop the blood from pumping out of it.

“Mom?” Alarmed, Gabby was watching the faces of both her companions growing pale. Zena pulled herself painfully on to Ergo and encouraged a hesitant Sumire to mount the Beast.
“Gabby, the Sisters of Gaia Hospice isn’t too much farther. We can’t go back, we have to go on. Take the lead and bring us in."
Bardok chuckled at their misfortune and as Zena slumped across her saddle she thought how quickly life changes. Like clouds passing over the sun, the shadows gather quickly, and good times fade. She thought of Phalon, safe in her village, living out a quiet life.

[Grrlpower]

The inn becomes so overwhelming with all the people and the bustle of all the children. She can no longer concentrate...
no longer engage with the women she had grown to care for. Each are absorbed in their own quests for peace

Puella not sure of her place decides to look for her purpose...for her peace...alone.

There is a scuffle in the next room and as all scurry in to resolve the situation, she stealthily climbs out of the bedroom window.
The distraction is perfect to keep her movements from being noticed. Not wanting to answer any questions,
knowing that these women would understand that this is nothing about them but solely about Puella alone.

She heads for the stables and quietly mounts Amica. Riding into the night...Searching for her peace...for her purpose.

As the morning sun rises over the horizon, Puella dismounts and allows her horse to graze. The quiet of the surroundings
envelope her. Sitting upon the green grass...eyes closed...each breath concentrated. The elements of nature itself flood the senses.
Bringing herself into a peaceful state of mind...Calming the thoughts.




Puella opens her eyes and inhales deeply. The smell of the morning dew upon the leaves...
the feel of the crisp air upon her skin...the sound of the wind rustling in the nearby trees.

She stands and walks towards the tree. Towards the sound of water rippling. It was a lake,
as she bends over she can see herself as clear as in the reflective glass in the room at the inn.
Beside the lake is a fallen tree in which she rests herself. Sitting she absorbs the scene.

The water so clean...the leaves and trees it reflects upon the surface.
Rippling from time to time as the fish rise to the surface to catch their morning meal.

Such a beautiful sight, begging to be captured, viewed upon forever.
Attempting to memorize it, so that she can call upon it later.
When she needs a peaceful thought.

[Evergreen]

Swoosh….thunk….swoosh…thunk… “Ahhhh…yaaah!”

The blade glistened in the early morning sunlight. It felt heavy in her hands. And every time she swung, felt it hit the mark, adrenalin mounted her oxygen molecules and rode them like chariots speeding along internal pathways, taking her to a place she thought she left behind.

The thick soft blanket of fog had receded leaving behind only a smoky haze. Shafts of lights shot through the trees revealing small shimmering particles dancing in the golden beams. A large black raven lifted from a branch with each flapping of iridescent wings pushing aside air as it cawed…cawed setting its amber eyes to wherever lay its destination. She looked and watched to see if two counterparts trailed behind in its flight. "Red?" Just one.

Swoosh…thunk…swoosh…thunk.

The air smelled of rich earth. Musty, primordial, fecund. The woods were cool in the shadows and she had shivered. But not now. With each swing, her heat rose like a banked fire. Each contact of blade that resonated from strike to her hands carried her to a living memory book. Each scene played like cascading water. Loud. Sharp. With vivid clarity.

It all had come back to her. All of it. In her dreams and now, in her waking hours. She knew it all. Each person. Each lilting sound of the voice. Each touch. Pierced by living sounds of laughter... and anguish.

She could feel the heat emanating from two people with gazes locked as they parried and thrust and one died. The look of surprise, of fear, of defiance as warrior fell with life’s crimson liquid melding into the earth. Only by decay can the living have fertile soil in which to grow and thrive. Survive.

Swoosh…thunk….swoosh… thunk.

“You think too much my friend. Chopping wood. That’s all. No one is bleeding…well not yet. You have done well not to axe off your foot.” Zena was sitting on a large fallen log. Legs crossed. Chin propped on palm of her hand.

She pulled her tunic up to wipe rivulets coursing down her face wet with the work at hand. She turned to retort but found only the empty stillness of the woods. The only sound heard above the soft cool swishing of branches was her heart rapidly rapping from inside.

They had all come to her.

Swoosh…thunk…swoosh…thunk.

Sumire…in the shy laughter of children in the village. A glance down in submission. A look up and the face of an unknown child that quickly darted and blended in with the others as they ran behind their mother.

Phalon…sitting on the back of a peddler’s cart filled with tinkling beads, bottles, and brightly covered scarves flapping about her as her legs swung back and forth, back and forth.

She shouted for the cart to stop and was met with some annoyance by its driver when he found she did not want to buy a thing. Dangling legs…small wooden totems tied at the neck swinging like the condemned.


Swoosh…thunk…swoosh…thunk.

She had just stepped over the rocks and onto the stream bank. Silver streaked hair dripping dark from the water. Body refreshed…clean.

“You look well. Hard work suits you. Your arms are firm…for an aging winemaker.” Vassaly laughed as teasing,knowing, gray eyes traveled the full length of the body before her.

The glistening body bent and shook its wet head sending creek rain drops towards the sound of the laughter. Sighed a gentle welcome home, looked up, to see only the white tail of a doe running into the treeline.

One by one, they each came back. With clarity. Sharpness in the remembering. Wondering.

“Yes, Zena,” Evergreen said to no one, “I think too much.”

Swoosh…thunk…swoosh…thunk.

[Phalon]

It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the dimness in the house. Only mid-morning, but already the sun hung high and bright, beating down on her during the walk home from Frieda’s. The faint light inside offered a respite from the heat, and Phalon sat at the table, slipping off her boots, and running her bare feet across the stone floor where she sat, enjoying the smooth coolness of it.

Some of her hair had escaped the scarf wrapped around her head, and hung in damp ringlets at her temples and forehead. She unwound the scarf, and shook out her hair before pulling it back and retying it with the scarf at the nape of her neck the way she was accustomed to wearing it.

She was alone in the room and she welcomed it, not particularly in a good mood after this morning’s events; but not in a foul one either. Just one that required her to be alone with her thoughts.

She was sure Damaris was in the next room tending to Vania, and hearing faint singing of a mother lulling a child to sleep confirmed it. Towards the front of the house; in the store, she could hear some of the older children teasing each other; laughing, as they helped in the family’s shop. Gelasius’ deep voice was present, as was her mother’s musical laughter as they chatted with customers coming in to buy whatever goods they needed for the day. The younger children, she supposed, were off playing and probably would not return until their stomachs told them it was time to eat.

Leaning back in the chair, she closed her eyes. She wondered how Zena, Gabby and Sumire were faring. Red, Blackwolf, Puella and Xendra; what adventures were they encountering? Suddenly the dimness in the room felt too dark, and the cool stone under her feet; cold. Oppressive.

One moment hot; the next, cold. She wanted to be alone…and yet, did not. “Sheesh, Phalon,” she muttered aloud, “you don’t know what you want.” And that, she realized, was the problem.

She got up from the table and wandered outside into the courtyard. Apollo sat at the long table, unaware she was there, and she silently watched him play. He had one of Zena’s scoops. Placing a stone on the handle end of the scoop, he would then slam his hand down on the scoop end, thus sending the stone hurling into a clay pot setting at the far end of the table from where he sat. Zena would be happy, Phalon thought, smiling, that her scoops were being put to such good use.

“Hey, can I play?” she asked.

“Oh. Hi, Auntie Phalon. Sure.” He cocked his head to one side, and stared at her for a moment before getting up to retrieve the rock from the pot. He walked to where she stood, and looking up at her, said, “I like your regular clothes better. You look different now.”

It took her a moment to realize what he meant before it dawned on her; the skirt and blouse. She laughed. Looking different was exactly what she was trying to avoid doing by not wearing her “regular clothes”.

He joined in her laughter without understanding the reason, as he stood tossing the stone between his hands. Instantly, Phalon stopped laughing….

She watched in horror as a third picked up a rock, testing its weight and the damage it would cause by tossing it back and forth between his hands.

The scene with Frieda in the marketplace…..the way the children treated her. “Apollo”, she said quietly, “You know Frieda, the weaver, don’t you?” He nodded. “What do you think of her?”

“Momma says that she’s…”

Phalon winced. “My mother says she’s blind because she did something bad that the gods didn’t like.” The words of the boys replayed in her head, and she thought, no; not Damaris….she wouldn’t have said something like…

“…just like anyone else, except she can’t see.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “I like her hair. It’s pretty; red like the color of fire.”

Red like the color of fire from flickering torches... Their faces were twisted in judgmental sneers, made more grotesque by the red-orange flickering of lit torches they held.

Frieda was different because she was blind. She was different because she had the “Sight”, and carried a sword. Bhen Rudha's views were too different for Zena. And the Amazons were considered barbaric by most. Why was being different so wrong?

“And my friends, Apollo. The Amazons; what do you think of them?”

His face shone bright. “I like them. Zee and Sumi and the scary one, Red….,” Apollo’s voice lowered, cracking, “I miss them already.” Moist eyes looked up at her, “And when you leave, Auntie Phalon, I’m going to miss you too.”

“Oh Apollo……”. She knelt down and scooped him into her arms, hugging him tight, “….and I’ll miss you.”

[Evergreen]

The sun hung high in the sky. A few wispy clouds blew over the treetops like fine thin fabric. A hawk shrieked above as it rode the air upwards, folded its wings and plummeted back to earth as a quickly as a lightning strike. Talons extended, it found its lunch in the cover of tall grass, shot skyward and settled in a nearby nest high in the cover of the pines at the edge of the clearing.

Evergreen sat with her back against a large log, knees drawn up, calloused work hands in her lap. Entranced in the performance of the hawk, she slowly opened a small burlap sack containing a generous slab of white cheese and a crusty portion of bread. She wondered if the hawk had young with mouths open and screeching for a morsel of fresh meat as grateful for their sacrificial meal as she for the one Grandmother had provided for her morning of labor.

Bread and cheese was quickly washed down with dark red wine arching into her mouth from a sheepskin cask. Satisfied with her meager meal, Evergreen stretched out her legs, removed her leather vest, rolled it up, and tucked it between the back of her neck and the rough log. A bee buzzed a curious,but short lived interest before darting away. The wind hummed through the trees as the sun danced in and out of the clouds creating dappled patterns bathing her in diffused light.

The warrior thought how slow her days had become. A certain peaceful lassitude settled in, around, over her like the sweet wine coursing in her blood. Dreams were not to be feared as in the first days of her life away from her sisters. Her nightscapes now blanketed her in comfortable remembrance and she often awoke feeling sustained. And so again as they came as the bee darting in and out of the waking reality of her days.

Even as she settled into the easy cadence of her new life, Evergreen missed them. And such a new life it was as she and Zena had often spoken of before surrendering to sleep as they lay on the ground watching stars dancing through the velvet night. Whispers before sleep spoke of a life by the sea in the village of Anthophilous.

Her days were as a Bard’s story unfolding even as it was spoken aloud. Never knowing what twist of the fates was but a word away from redirecting the entire spirit of the tale.

She had thought it was not a bad life, but there was a certain fleeting sadness in the separation from Zena, from her sisters…from her. And even as she lightly slept in a field that swayed in the wind, imitating the sea of which she dreamed, cool fingertips brushed aside her hair from her eyes. Without waking, she smiled and sighed.

[Evergreen]

The morning work had gone quickly and it felt good to have used her body so vigorously. She had smiled at the thought of becoming soft from such a life that brought no more physical challenges other than loading wooden barrels of wine into grandmother’s cart and chopping wood.

She recalled staring at her reflection in the small creek in the woods as she stopped to refresh in the cold water. The creased lines in her face were visibly softened and no longer did she feel always at the ready. Sleep was undisturbed and restoring.

“Good afternoon Grandmother”, Evergreen called out to the old woman sitting at a roughly hewed table counting out several stacks of dinars.

The old woman glanced up, smiled, and spoke as she lowered her head to continue with her task.

“I was just thinking of you my friend. You have done nothing but work, or sleep,” she chuckled again raising her faded blue eyes that danced with a loving taunt, “and I believe it is time we use some of these to find another way to spend our days.”

With a tanned hand, the first joints of her fingers telling of her age, the old woman pushed a stack of dinars towards Evergreen who had straddled a chair to watch as the coins clinked down from their silver tower.

“Tessie came from the village this morning.”

The old woman continued her counting in silence. Evergreen waited for the words to follow. A horse whinnied in the distance as the wind whistled through the open window. A subtle change in the air, its scent carried a promise of rain, its cool touch signaled a change in the seasons.

Clink…clink. Another silver tower emerged on the tabletop.

“Uh… hmmm…Tessie, you were saying Tess came by from the village.” Evergreen was never one to not pursue a lost thought… even if it was not her own.

Tess was a wonderful spirit and was much more to the old woman than the wife of her only son. Her attributes were many, one of which was to spread community news like wild lilies in fertile soil.

“Ah, yes, Tess.” The old woman pushed back her chair, stood, smoothed out her skirt, and shuffled to the water bucket Evergreen had brought in and sat near the door. Taking a ladle, she dipped it deep, brought it up to her lips, but before drinking she held it out in offering to Evergreen.

“No…no thank you. You were saying… Tess.”

She sensed the old woman was to impart some news beyond her usual dramatic flourish in sharing village gossip.

“Do you miss your friends dear?” The old woman took another deep drink from the wooden bucket.

Evergreen was not sure where all of this cryptic conversation was leading. As much as she had come to favor the old woman, her patience was quickly blowing the way of the wind.

And as if the old woman had sensed that she must end what she had begun, “Do you remember meeting old Sirius, the one who owns the small inn, near the lake?” Without giving Evergreen a time to reply, she continued.

“Tess met up with him at the vegetable market. He says he has hired someone to help him, someone from far away who has been searching from village to village for another…it seems the name of the lost one is yours.”

The hut had grown dim in shadows as the sky turned gray and now rumbled with the muted sound of a distance thunder. Large drops of rain began to slowly pelt the dusty ground outside the covered porch.

The old woman stood at the doorway. “Look at it…the rain…washes everything clean.”

[Evergreen]

The old woman turned from the doorway, walked over to the table, scooped up the stack of coins and placed them in my hand. I shook my head in protest as she closed my fingers around the cool silver.

My head was attempting to sort out the words… “and the name of the lost one seems to be yours.”

She smiled and patted my closed fist. “No, you have earned them, they’re yours. By the gods I will have enough firewood to last five seasons.” She nodded her head and laughed.

The old woman shuffled back across the room and busied herself with placing a blackened pot next to what must have been Tessa shared bounty from the vegetable market. The rain was tapping out a cadence on the nearly empty watering trough near the barn. The sound was as rhythmic thumping of growingly impatient celestial fingers. Tap…tap. Tap…tap…tap. Tap…tap-tap-tap…tap-tap-tap-tap.

My mind was silently sorting through the possibilities. Enemy? Word from Zena? Was it…? No, I would not go the later of the choices. My first fear was the Romans. Always, always, the Romans. I was probably worth ten fold the silver clutched tightly in my hand.

“Grandmother, Sequestra,”… I rarely spoke her name…“did she, did Tess, tell you of who was searching…”

Lightning straight from the hand of Zeus crashed in the woods just east of the barn. I knew that Whisperer, although undauntedly fearless in battle, was uncharacteristically skittish of the gods rolling runes of thunder through a now sagging dark gray sky heavy with rain.

“Tomorrow”, she said not turning to look at me as she continued to scrape the roots clean. “If the rain has finished, we will go tomorrow. Go now to your business with that horse of yours and then come back and help me with the meal.”

I bolted out the door with the cold rain pelting down on me, but the chill to my countenance was not from the water spilling down from the sky.

[Phalon]

She slid the skirt over her hips and watched the folds of material gather around her feet as it fell to the floor; shedding the borrowed garment that she was not comfortable in, and with it, a life in which she did not belong. Both were appealing, in their own way: the skirt and the life, but neither suited her needs, nor did either fit the person she’d become since she’d left these things so long ago.

Which was not to say she minded; she liked her life as it was now; liked herself. It was wonderful every now and again to come home for a visit – she loved this house and those in it with all her heart. But that’s what it would always be, she knew: a visit, and just as a child playing dress-up, there comes a time when the fancy clothes have to be put away, and a time for moving on. She realized the time for her to move on was now.

She pulled on her breeches; they fit like a second-skin; comfortable, and she felt more herself having them on. Reaching up to untie thin leather tether that laced up the bodice of the blouse borrowed from her niece, her fingers lingered on the embroidered vine of flowers that encircled the neckline. So pretty, she thought.

“It is pretty, isn’t it?” The voice startled her. Her mother had a way of doing that: knowing exactly what she was thinking. She looked over to Kaisa, standing in the doorway, and wondered if her mother shared the same ability that she had – to see into the minds of others.

Kaisa moved from the doorway, walked over to Phalon, and stood before her for a moment; searching her eyes before encircling her arms around her daughter in a tight embrace. Phalon felt the warmth in the hug, and wondered how she could leave a family which she loved so much.

"Your going", her mother said making a statement rather than posing a question.

"Yes", said Phalon, thinking again that it was uncanny the way her mother knew what she was thinking.

"Don't forget you have family here who love you."

"Never."

"Be careful."

"Always."

The conversation was the same as the one they’d had the last time she was in this house, Phalon remembered.

“We’ve had this conversation before, haven’t we?” Her mother commented.

“Argh!!! How do you do that? How do you know exactly what I’m thinking?”

Kaisa smiled slyly. “Call it Mother’s Intuition.” Seeing the exasperated look on her daughter’s face, she added. “And no, Phalon….I don’t have the “Sight” as Euryale did…..or as you do.”

There it was – finally out in the open. She had always wondered if her mother knew of her ability. They called Phalon a mystic and a seeress, but that was a reputation that had developed long after she left home when the visions first started after Athan’s death. She had told no one the reason she was leaving then, thinking she’d gone insane.

Kaisa continued. “Yes, Phalon, I know….I’ve known for quite some time, and I wonder why you’ve never told me. There were rumors when you first left – people in this town like to talk….” Phalon absent-mindedly nodded her head, thinking of Frieda and the rumors surrounding her blindness, and also of the suspicions that spread like wild-fire of the “barbaric” Amazons. “….after the Romans came through and Athan was killed, you started acting strange….it was more than just grief; there was an odd look about you; it was as if you’d be here one moment, and gone the next….off on some mind-trip.” Phalon almost laughed hearing her mother use the word, “mind-trip”, Zena’s term for her visions, usually said in a most sarcastic way.

“People said you must have angered the gods in some way; been possessed by a demon perhaps, or the Furies entered your head in a pursuit to drive you mad.” Phalon inwardly cringed. She almost had gone mad after she hunted down and slaughtered the Romans who killed Athan. News like that traveled fast, and though it happened far from this town, she knew eventually the townspeople would have heard of the killings. She only hoped that her name had not been attached to the massacre. It was one thing to have her mother know she’d nearly gone insane; it was completely another to have her know her daughter was a murderess.

If Kaisa knew, she concealed it well, giving no outward sign she’d ever heard of the awful event. Her mother sighed. “It was not until years later, when Eurayle came here for the last time and gave me her ring, instructing me to give it to you when you returned, that I finally put it together. How frightening it must have been for you, Phalon, being as young as you were; seeing people’s thoughts and not understanding what was happening. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know, Mom. Like the rumors of the villagers, I thought I’d gone mad…and actually, that wasn’t too far from the truth. Leaving just seemed like the right thing to do. I wanted to spare you and Dad the grief….the embarrassment.”

“Phalon….” Instantly, she was wrapped in her mother’s warm embrace, and they stood like that for a long time. Phalon somehow felt lighter; a burden….the guilt she’d carried for so long of hurting her family with her unexplained departure, melted away.

Finally, Kaisa let go; broke the hug, but still held her daughter’s hands. “You’ll at least stay for a bit, and share one more meal with the family.” It was not a request; more of a demand.

“Of course. You know I can’t resist your cooking. I’ll leave in the morning.”

Kaisa smiled like she’d accomplished a coup of some sort, keeping her daughter close to her awhile longer. “And keep the blouse, Phalon. You look pretty in it.” Phalon rolled her eyes, and Kaisa saw. “Quit that. Indulge your old mother, Phalon, and let me compliment you every once in awhile.”

“You, Mom? Old? Never.”

Kaisa laughed. “Yes me. And you are trying to butter me up to cook your favorites for your last meal here, aren’t you?”

It was Phalon’s turn to laugh. “Are you sure you aren’t reading my thoughts?”

[Evergreen]

The dash to the barn was accented by attempts to dodge growing puddles that soon grew into minute, gray, muddy rivers coursing their way across the quickly sodden ground. Evergreen closed the opened barn door by leaning into it with her shoulder pushing against the challenging wind and rain. A small hole in the roof produced a steady plunk…plunk…plunk of water streaming in from above and falling near the entrance to Whisperer’s stall.

With the door buffeting the strong wind securely shut, and dark clouds above obscuring the daylight, the enclosure was filled with little more than dark shadows.

Whisperer whinnied and suddenly kicked her displeasure at the storm by soundly connecting a hoof with the stall gate.

Reaching about in the semidarkness, Evergreen found the pegged latch attached to the window at the far end of the small barn. Raising the planked opening up and out, she placed a short narrow log between the sill and wooden flap. The rain pounded down, but did not blow within the shelter now repeatedly illuminated by lightning. Thunder reverberated rattling the entire structure and she feared it would not withstand the howling wind. But she thought that every time she saw the years of neglect in its weathered frame.

Evergreen rummaged through the saddle pack hanging on the gatepost. Finding a soft well worn tunic, she pulled at the frayed neckline which gave way easily as she tore it from top to bottom.

“Whoa sweetheart…its okay…we’ve been through this before…its okay…shush now.”

Easing the stall gate open, the horse’s companion slipped inside and gently touched an enormous jaw. She laid her forehead against a warm muzzle and slowly brought the soft cloth around Whisperer’s eyes all the while speaking in a soothing and loving timbre.

“Good girl. Now there…we’re okay…everything is going to be alright. Zeus is no match for a fine warrior as you.”

Zeus' immediate reply again struck very near the perimeter of the barn, but calming words and gentle touches continued to quiet the spooked horse.

Evergreen shivered. Her clothes were soaked to the skin. The thunder bellowed again chased and caught by a brilliant flash of light. And in the brief white burst, a shadowy reflection moved on the wall at the far end of the stall.

Just a small movement it was, but enough for Evergreen to draw in a breath and not relinquish it. She was unable to command her body to still and contemplated that her now uncontrolled shivering would provide an advantage to the intruder. A billowy figure, this intruder, one that all of her senses confirmed existed just to the back and right of where she stood.

“Se-ques-tra?” Evergreen exhaled as her hand slowly moved to grab the hayfork leaning against the stall and to her left.

“All Hades!, she silently cursed remembering she had moved it to fill her own sleeping quarters in the loft above. Her body shook from the cold, her fingers felt numb, and she cursed again thinking that as a warrior she had grown soft-and careless.

“You’re cold…here, let me wrap this around you.”

And with the words…the voice…the touch… all fear retreated, all of the questions from a hundred sleepless nights were answered, her shivering body was filled with the warmth of the sun , darkness receded, as she slowly turned to embrace her past.

[Gabbin]

The steaming water poured smoothly reflecting a calm not exhibited in the shaking hand of Frieda Rose. The worried expression reflected only a portion of the deep fears over her situation; sightless and alone. It seemed others thought she was a bad seed. Frieda had only this business to keep her on this earth. What to do...weave, it was the only thing to calm her in such a terrible place. Frieda sulked up the stairs; tea in one hand, rail in the other-her feet were moving like lead; the future seemed bleak.

Kaching, kaching, kaching. On into the wee hours of the morning she worked, but she was unaware of the light only the fatigue finally made her lie down to rest.

Smoke. From the fireplace? Hadn't she felt it cooled enough to rest? But this fire smelled different; not just wood it was material, too. Frieda felt around her for her wool shawl but pushed over her tea cup onto the floor and then she felt the cool tea under foot as she struggled to shake the groggyness and shuffle downstairs. Her head was moving now as she listened while walking to the sounds of crackling sparks. Instinctlvely Frieda knew something was not right, she yelled for help but felt that the thing to do was save her weavings so, she followed her hand as it lead her to the closet. Armfuls of materials were then thrust out of the window to sail down to the street. After several trips Frieda heard someone calling her name. She yelled help while making her way to the clothes for customers. The smoke was now beginnng to choke her and she was caughing harshly and gasping for breath. She fell to her knees and started crawling toward where she left her golden shawl. The next thing to do was get water and put out the fire. Frieda could feel the heat from the flames on the floorboards beneath her. She could hear the crackling and the pounding on the locked front door. It was time to crawl to the window....

[Blackwolf]

I awoke from the dream world violently, finding myself lying on my back disoriented and very weary in the fading twighlight. While the experience had given me new insight to my powers, the intensity of using those powers for so long so soon after acquiring them was too much. What was most disorienting though was that I had no memory of what happened in the dream. I remembered being there, and I knew why I had gone, but the actual memory of what had occurred wasn't there, as if it was being blocked from me. I tried to consider such an implication further, but was too tired and drifted off into a blissful, dreamless sleep.

When I awoke next, it was dark, with not even the stars to give light. I sat up and looked in the direction of Red and the ravens. They were both so still that they appeared to be dead but for the occasional breaths. Every once in a while one of the ravens seemed to awaken, only to slip back into its trance again. I wondered how things were going, and if Red was going to be alright. I wanted to try to re-enter the dream world and offer my strength again, but didn't think I'd be able to. I was still very tired, and when I had entered previously, I had been helped along greatly by the ravens. It was just to dangerous to try by myself.

As I sat there watching the group, I felt something reach out to me. At first I withdrew, not knowing what was going on, but curiousity won out and I reached back. I wasn't able to tell what it was at first, but I soon realized it was like a need being projected from someone. I reached further, trying to find out more, but it remained just beyond my grasp. After trying for a few more minutes, I grew frustrated and stopped. It always remained just beyond my ability to comprehend. All I was able to get was a direction. However, that seemed to be enough, because that direction was imprinted on my mind, as if a string had been attached from me to that need.

I contimplated what to do. I didn't want to leave Red alone, in case I was needed again, either to help her or for protection. I continued to watch the group, battling at the need that was pulling at me. I then noticed that when one of the ravens woke up, it took a quick look around before going back. I realized then that they were checking for trouble, and I knew that if they sensed anything they would pull Red out of the dream quickly. Also, seeing as how the ravens never tried to contact me in any of those waking periods made me think that my help was no longer needed. It was almost with relief that I stood up to leave. I was amazed at my continued shakiness, not realizing just how drained I truly was. I took Red's axe out of my belt and laid it next to her, figuring that when she came out of the dream she would want it back. I gazed a the figures for a few moments more, sent a prayer for their safety and success, then slipped into the darkness.

When I reached Kaisa's place, the sun was starting to peak over the horizon. My senses quickly told me that most of the group had already left some time ago, making me realize that I must've been in the dream world for a few days rather than the hours that I had originally thought. I slipped quietly into the house to gather my few remaining items. I thought briefly of the sword that I had lost on my previous adventure, and grieved a little. I would have to get a new one soon.

Kaisa met me at the door as I was leaving. "So, you're leaving too?"

I nodded my head. "There is something I must do, something that's calling to me."

Kaisa nodded her head in understanding. "The call of the road is strong. For those that travel it constantly, especially with friends, that call is undeniable." Her voice held a tinge of sadness as she said this, but there was also acceptance, as if it were a way of life.

"I thank you for your hospitality. I know it couldn't have been easy tending all of us on such short notice."

Kaisa just waved her hand as if shooing away a fly. "It was nothing. I enjoyed having everyone here, if only for a little while. Here." She handed me a bag full of food from the store.

"This...this really isn't necessary. You've already done so much," I blustered as I tried to hand the bag back.

Kaisa waved her hand again and pressed the bag firmly into my arms. "As if I could send you off without anything. What kind of person would that make me?"

I gazed at her a moment longer before smiling and accepting the food. As I moved to open the door, Kaisa asked "Say hi to everyone for me when you catch up to them."

I nodded my head and then headed to the stables. I didn't have the heart to tell her that where I was going was in the opposite direction the others had taken. I hoped that one day, though, that I would be able to meet up with them again, and I would give them her message then.

I quickly saddled Lukos, and led him out into the morning light. The town was starting to come alive. Stores were opening and people were heading off to work. I climbed onto Lukos, comfortable to be in the saddle again. I gazed once more in the direction that Zena, Gabby, Sumire, and eventually Phalon had taken, and then in the direction of the clearing where Red was at, my heart pulling me in both directions. The pull of the need though was too strong, and I turned in the opposite direction and rode out of town in the direction of a new adventure.

[Blackwolf]

The journey to wherever I was going was very peaceful. Two days out and there were no bandits, no thieves, no travellers to stop and ask me questions. There was just the song of the birds, the chattering of the squirrels, the occasional crack of a branch as a deer moved through the woods, and the plodding of my horse's hooves.

Man, I was so completely bored.

I hadn't had this much "peace" in years. There was nothing to do. I rode or walked, stopped to eat, drink, and sleep, and then continued on afterwards. It was extremely monotonous and so unexciting. I kept thinking about hearing kids ask their parents "are we there yet," in that annoying voice that only kids seem to be able to do. At the time I just found in rude and obnoxious, but now I understood why they asked that question, sometimes more than once. In fact, if someone were around right now, I would ask them that question and not feel bad about it.

That was the real problem, though. There was no one around, and the loneliness was getting to me. Other than Montara, I had been a solitary person for most of my life, so being alone hadn't been a big deal. Even in my village, around my family, I didn't feel like I belonged. Now, though, I had gotten a taste of what it felt like to belong, to have true friends, and I missed it. I missed them. I thought about them constantly, wondering if they were alright, and hoping I would meet them again someday. At night when I entered the Dreamland, I searched for their essences. I wasn't allowed to enter their dreams unless it was absolutely necessary, but it was in that place that I felt closest to them. If wasn't for the power that was pulling me, after the first day I would've turned around and went back. However, this power, or whatever it was, had seeped into my being, and it felt more like my need now than someone else's. Until I reached my destination, I knew I'd never be satisfied.

The next day I started seeing some small farms along the road. The crops were in bad shape, and it almost appeared that there was on one around. If it wasn't for the hastily closed windows and doors as I rode by, I would've thought the places deserted. I continued on, sensing that I was nearing the end of my journey. Sure enough, as I topped the next hill, I saw a village down below and knew that this was my destination. A feeling of contentment settled over me as I approached the edge of the town.

That peace was short-lived, though, as a bunch of villagers appeared in front of me with arrows and pitchforks pointed at me.

"Who are you?" asked one of the men.

"I'm a traveller visiting these areas. I mean no harm. As you can see, I don't even have a weapon on me," which was true technically. My knife was in my pack rather than on my person.

"We don't want your kind here," yelled another man.

"My kind?" I asked, digruntled. "What do you mean by my kind?"

"We want you to leave, now" said the first man.

Now, I consider myself to be an obliging person normally, but they'd put me in a foul mood, and knowing that this place was where I was supposed to be didn't make me any happier. So, I was a little testy when I decided it was time to turn the tables in my favor.

However, as I jumped from my horse and went to grab the first guy closest to me, a vicious pain ripped through my head, sending me to my knees. The other villagers had grabbed and restrained me before the pain cleared enough for me to know what was going on. As I began to fight back, another pain hit me, causing me to lose focus again.

"Take her to the lock-up. Seandra will want to hear about this," said the first villager. The others agreed and escorted me to a building at the outskirts of the village. They quickly pushed me in and bolted the door after me. The pain had lessened to just being a constant low throb nestled behind my eyes. I took stock of my surroundings, and noticing a pile of straw obviously meant for a bed, I went over and laid down with my arm covering my eyes. I tried to make sense out of what had happened, but without really having any clues, it turned out to be a futile effort.

"Well, there is one good thing that's come out of this" I thought aloud. "At least I'm not bored anymore."

[Phalon]

From her doorway, Kaisa watched the young warrior woman ride away, bathed in the morning light. With the rising sun, the town wakened; people began stir and go about their business. Shopkeeps opened their doors. The vendors in the marketplace displayed their wares getting ready for the day’s bartering, and the early morning bargain-hunters started browsing the stalls…..both hoping for a trade that would allow enough to get them through to the next day and feed hungry mouths waiting at home. A few young children ran, playing a game of ‘tag-you’re-it’ among the vendors’ stalls. Life in town: the same as it always had been; the same as it would always be. It was a typical morning in a typical town, and looking upon it one might think nothing out of the ordinary had happened prior to the night giving way to this typical morning. It was as if the night had been forgotten; not a trace of the horrific events it contained remained.

Yet…

The bright sunny morning was marred by slight haze hanging over the town; a dark cloud lingering recalling what took place. The breeze did nothing to eliminate the scent of smoke heavy in the air.

Passersby kept their heads down and their eyes averted from hers. The blacksmith gave Kaisa a brief nod; a hasty acknowledgment that she stood there in the doorway…perhaps passing judgment on him… before he hurried on his way to open his smithy. She thought she might have seen something in his eyes that wasn’t there before last night. Perhaps. Or perhaps it was just her tired eyes, she thought. But though her eyes were old from age, they saw things with a clarity of knowledge and wisdom that comes from having a kind heart and sharp mind. She squinted against the morning sun to get a better look at the faces of those around her - her people. The town gossip rushed passed her. “Morning, Kaisa”, was the greeting she gave instead of the usual flurry of chatter that flew out of her mouth in the direction of anyone within earshot. Very unusual, Kaisa thought, considering what had happened. But she’d seen it in this woman’s eyes too. And on the faces of everyone who passed. It was there, she wasn’t imagining it. Shame. Shame is what Kaisa saw in their eyes.

The night had not been forgotten.

Kaisa sighed. She had her day to start; her own morning chores to attend to; her own shop to open. She turned to re-enter her house, paused, and sadly looked off to the distance beyond the town.

“They learned too late, Phalon….too late for you, for your friends, and too late for Frieda Rose. It was a hard lesson, and one they won’t forget.”

There will always be a “Phalon”, a “Zena” or a “Frieda Rose”, she thought; those who have different abilities, different views, or different limitations. Differences: they should be embraced for what they teach, for the variety they bring to life. But instead they often lead to irrational fear which manifests itself as hatred.

“Goodbye Daughter”, she whispered into the breeze.

The morning came as usual, people continued their daily chores, continued on with their lives…but perhaps, in ways not visible, a bit changed. It had been quite a night, Kaisa thought; one they’d do well to remember. And as she shut the door behind her, she said aloud to herself, “One that must remembered.”

[LMV's Old Account]

Sita awoke to the sound of a loud knocking on her door, she had slept in for the first time in years, she looked about the room and then proceeded to push herself up off the bed and stumble towards the window that was just beside the door.

Sita moved the curtains aside and looked out, she saw a man wearing all black with a hood covering what ever hopes she could have of seeing his face, she shook her head and looked closer at the mans attire she noticed many weapons that he had tried to hide under his clothes, she looked at his hands noticing a tattoo of some discription, at that moment it all made sense...he was an assasin, not a very smart one by the looks of it.
Sita opened the door and looked at the man "what would you like sir?" she asked, He looked at her and smiled a toothless smile, Sita thought to herself *jeez i thought assasins took better care of themselves* he then spoke "I'm here for you"
"oh and why are you here for me?" Sita conveyed in a sarcastic tone
"To take you to my lord, you are to be punished for what you did to him"
Sita was beginning to get a little irratated with this man, he looked at her and then chuckled
" You can make this easy for yourself wench and just come with me or you can make things difficult for yourself"
"I chose to make things difficut for myself."
The assasin lunged at her with a dagger, Sita side steped and the man fell flat on his face.
"You are stupid arn't you?" she looked at the assasin with a smile on her face, she grabbed the man by his hood and picked him up, she then pushed him up against the wall,her right hand firmly attached to his throat.

"Who are you?"
"No one" he responded
Sita had just had enough of this man, she slammed her knee into his crutch, He winced... "Now" she said "who are you?" he looked at her "next time I wil rip them off got it, now tell me who you are"
"I'm Linton, son of Dylan"
"Dylan..." Sita winced herself, "well you tell that crazy old fool that he better leave me alone, I'm retired but I will quite happily rip out his other eye if he comes near me or sends anymore of you stupid young me after me"
Linton looked at her and then down at her stomach, realizing that she was pregnant he went along with the situation, "ok" he said.
Sita let Linton go and said "now leave"
Linton slammed the door behind him.
Sita fell to her knees, holding her stomach, she felt sick and sore she knew she was not well and being with child was not the best thing while she was recovering from being beaten to near death, she didn't even get to escape with her dignity, her lover Kali was murdered to top it off... And now she was being chased around by Dylan and his men, "oh I don't need this" she said out loud
"I'm not a warrior anymore, I lost everything dammit!, I can't keep Dylan away for long, I'm not strong enough, Gods i wish I had some help"

[LMV's Old Account]

Later that day Sita was packing up her stuff so she could leave before anymore men came back for her...but as she was getting some herbs from the top shelf in her kitchen, she had a dizzy spell and fainted, as she lay on the floor compleatly out of it...she had a flashback.
....................................................

Sita stood at the railing of the ship, watching Kali fiddling with the ring she took from Krasus. It hurt her to see the pain written on the girl's face.
She kicked herself mentally.
It had hurt to see the doubt in her friend's face.
After all they'd been through, that hurt the most.
"So, how is the sea sickness? You getting that pinch under control?" Sita sighed deeply, seeing that her attempt at humour was falling flat. She reached out and took Kali's hand, the young woman finding it hard to meet her gaze.
"How many times are you gonna follow me into battle? How many times am I gonna hurt you? Kali, you are the most precious, the dearest thing to me in the whole world and instead of protecting you...."
"You only did what you had to, what you thought was right, Sita."
"Yes, but it wasn't right for you. If I had to do it all over again..."
"You'd have done it the same way, Sita."
"Yeah....but I wouldn't have involved you like I did. It was wrong of me to expect you to do something that you felt wasn't right."

"I know, Sita. But I would have hated being left behind. I'm here because I want to be." "I did something I never thought I'd do, Sita.
I was judge, jury and executioner. I let a man die..."

"Yes, you did. But you should take some satisfaction that a monster is dead. He was responsible for the deaths of so many, Kali."

The woman swallowed deeply and just nodded her head. She blinked away the tears, knowing in her heart that Sita was right. It was so hard, though.

The warrior looked over and watched as the ring slipped out of her friend's fingers and disappears beneath the waves. She came behind the woman and wrapped her strong arms around her.

Kali leaned back and inhaled slowly. She looked out at the great expanse of ocean. "I love you, Sita."

"Oh, I love you, too, Kali. I....I always have." She kissed the woman's hair...her hands shaking.
She slowly turned Kali around and looked deeply into her eyes. She brought one of her strong hands up and cupped the woman's chin. Tilting it up, she slowly brought down her mouth until it covered that of that of the young womans. The kiss was so sweet, so gentle and so full of promise......

[Blackwolf]

It wasn't too long after my incarceration that I heard a commotion outside. I quickly got up and peered out the viewing window provided in the door. I smiled when I saw that it was Lukos putting up a fight. Several men were trying to lasso him and take him into a nearby stable, but he was having none of that. I enjoyed myself immensely for the next few minutes as several men ended up flying through the air only to land unceremoniously a few yards away, undamaged except for their egos. After a little while, I took pity on the men and gave a low, long whistle. Lukos immediately calmed and walked into the stable on his own accord. Several of the townsfolk glanced my way, many of them glaring. I simply waved my hand at them and went back to the straw bed.

Not long after that, I got a visit from the the leader of the men on the road.

"Who are you?" he asked.

At first, I didn't answer. I simply stared at him without an ounce of expression on my face. It was a ploy that I had picked up several years ago that I found unnerved people, especially with my yellow eyes. I used that on this guy now, wanting to watch him squirm. Amazingly enough, he just stared right back at me, patiently waiting for my answer. Impressed, I finally answered.

"Name's Blackwolf. Traveller, adventurer, warrior, protector, not necessarily in that order."

"Why did you come here?"

I shrugged and said "let's just say, I felt drawn to come here."

"Why?"

"As soon as I find the answer to that myself, I'll let you know."

Seeing his unbelieving look, I lifted my hands and shoulders and said "I'm telling you the truth. Like I said, I felt drawn here, and so I came. However, I don't know why or how or anything. You have the right to not believe me, but that's how it is."

He continued to stare at me for a bit before nodding his head. Whether he actually believed me or whether he didn't believe me and wanted me to believe that he did, I couldn't tell, and really didn't care at this point.

He continued to question me for a while longer before finally turning to leave, seemingly dissatisfied with the answers I had given.

"So, am I allowed to ask any questions?"

"No," the man said emphatically.

"Hey, at least tell me why I'm in here!" I yelled.

He stopped at the door and knocked to indicate to the guard that he was ready to leave. As the door opened, he turned back to regard me one last time. Finally, he said "You are being held on the charges of assault, murder, kidnapping, and many other atrocities that have been visited upon this town recently."

"Hey, now, wait a minute" I objected. "I just got to this town, and I can guarantee you that I've never been here before. "

"So you say. However, a person matching your description rode in with a group of marauders a week ago and ransacked several houses, stealing valuables and food. You will therefore be held accountable until the rest of the group that you associate with are brought to justice." With that he left, locking me in with my thoughts.

I was completely at a loss. The group that I associate with? The ones that sprang to mind immediately were the Amazons, but I quickly dismissed them. They would never do something like what that guy had said. Besides, we had been nowhere near this area in any of our brief travels much less a week ago. I tried to think of any other acquaintances, good and bad, that I'd met over the years, but none of them made any sense either.

I was still thinking about everything when I was brought bread and water as my evening meal. "Great hospitality" I mumbled as I gathered up the food. The bread was hard but warm, and the water was clean, so I guess I couldn't complain too much. I made quick work of the meal and then started to pace. It took me a while to realize that I wasn't so much upset at the accusations as that there was a need for the accusations in the first place. What these people had gone through really angered me, which was interesting since I only got angry over friends or family, neither of which I had a lot of or were here at this time. It all came back around to why I had been drawn here in the first place. Something kept nagging at the back of my mind, a memory or something. After several minutes of trying to recover it, I finally gave up and went and lied down on the straw bed. It didn't take long for my eyes to grow heavy, and as much as I tried to stay awake, it had been a long day, and I eventually fell asleep.

It was completely dark when I heard the first screams. I jumped up and practically ran into the wall. It took me a moment to realize where I was, and then thinking that what I had heard was just from some dream I had been having, started to go back to bed. Then I heard the pounding of hooves and several people shouting. I ran to the window to see what was going on.

I could see ten men on horseback, galloping through the town, some of them throwing torches onto a few of the buildings. As people started to run out of the buildings, many were either knocked aside by the horses or run through with swords. Other marauders were trying to capture some of the women, many of whom ran back into the burning buildings in order to get away.

As soon as the first torch hit, I went crazy. Not really knowing what I was doing, I started to throw my shoulder at the door, yelling for someone to let me out. My eyes glowed golden as I continued to pound at the door, not even realizing the cracking I heard wasn't the wooden door but the bones in my shoulder. I continued to hit and kick at the door, even after the bandits had left with their prizes, not 10 minutes after the had arrived. I finally collapsed in a heap by the door, completely spent by my rage and numb from the pain of my upper arm and shoulder. I passed out before I could even consider what had happened or why. My dreams after that were black with fire, blood, and screams mixed in.

[LMV's Old Account]

Sita came too and shook her head to bring her thoughts together, "Oh man" she muttered as tears began to fill her eyes... "I miss you".
Sita stood and gathered her things together and walked out of the place she had called home for such a short time, as she walked though the town people stared at her, "probably wondering what that man was doing here earlier" she thought, she glared back at the townsfolk out of frustration with her current circumstances.

Sita approched the forrest and began to walk into the trees when she heard a scream, she looked about and then listened again, there was another scream, it was about 100meters into the woods straight ahead.
Sita discarded her belongings and began to run in the direction of the scream, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her in her present state.
When she got to the place of the screaming she hid behind a tall tree, she looked out to observe the situation, she saw two very vell Muscled men in armor standing over a beautiful woman with light brown hair, they had their swords drawn and were laughing at the woman who cowered before them, "what shall we do with her?" the shorter of the two men said to the other, "I don't know, keep her as a trophy maybe, I'm sure once she is taught a few lessons she will obey, and the emotional ones prove to go off like a cracker in the bedrolls".

Sita got angry at the men more so, and she felt utterley disgusted, it was time to do something...

"hello boys" Sita said with a menacing tone in her voice
"well well another one to play with" the taller unwashed man said as he grinned and leared at her
"yeah, you can tell she gets around, look at her she is up the duff"

Sita began to feel the rage build up inside her heart,
"sorry boys I'm not here for your pleasure, I'm here for mine, which is to take this woman away from you and not sleep with you, because that...would not be very pleasurable"

"really now.." the taller one said "get her"

The shorter man ran towards her, sword drawn.
Sita side stepped and tripped the man, he growled and regained his balance
this time he aimed the sword at her stomach, "I'll kill you hoe, and your little brat to"
he lunged, Sita lept off the ground and flipped landing on the mans swordwith both feet, she then kicked him in the face and flipped backwards...Sita picked up the sword and put it to the other mans throat, while the smaller man of the two lay on the ground unconsious.

"now" she said with a wry smile on her face, "let the woman go"
"or what" the man said in a slightly defeated tone
"Or I'll scalp you"
"ok"
the man want to walk away but then drew his sword and lunged at her, Sita deflected the sword and slammed her own though the mans gut, she watched as her fell to his knees before her, she then pulled the sword out and dropped it to the ground.
"I hate it when it comes to that"

Moments later when Sita came back out of her own thoughts, she approached the woman who was till cowering on the ground crying.
"hello" Sita said in a soft voice "I'm not here to hurt you, I just want to help, whats your name?"

"Usha", the woman muttered inbetween sobs
Sita bent down and helped the woman up, Usha smiled and looked at Sita, she then looked down and saw that Sita was pregnant.
"how did you do that....like that" Usha said
"mind over body i guess"
"you look sore, mind if i take a look at you, I'm a healer"
"sure why not" Sita said smiling "just let me get my belongings first"
Sita began to walk in the direction back towards her stuff, when the woman took her hand and started to walk with her, Sita smiled a little to herself, it was nice to hold someones hand again, even if it was a strangers.....

[LMV's Old Account]

Sita sat down and waited for Usha to tend to her, she looked down at her stomach knowing that it wouldn’t be long at all till this child was brought into the world, she shook her head, and began to think of Kali,
“oh how I miss you” she muttered,
“did you say something?” Usha looked at her slightly concerned
“oh nothing important”
“ok” she smiled a smile that seemed slightly child like.
Sita thought to herself, “she is such a woman yet so innocent”

Usha looked up at Sita again from the bowl she had been washing a cloth in,
“you are so talented, the way you took those men out, even though you were…”
Sita cut her off “Up the duff?”
“well I wasn’t going to put it quite like that”
“I know” Sita grinned

Usha got up and walked over to Sita with a cloth and some oil, Sita looked at Usha “I’m pregnant not wounded”
“yes I can see that, your one for stating the obvious aren’t you?”
“Uhh..” Sita looked a little stumped
Usha laughed,
“now can you please remove those, and lye down on the bedroll” Usha pointed to Sita’s clothes,
“all of them?” Sita went wide eyed
“yes”
Now Sita generally didn’t have a problem with disrobing in front of people but for some strange reason, she felt awkward, not just because she had to get naked, but because this woman standing in front of her had asked her so casually yet at the same time ordered her to take her clothes off.
Sita then complied, she removed all of her clothes and walked over to the bedroll.
Usha looked at the young woman who had just undressed in front of her, she felt a little awkward for some reason, she had never felt this was when someone who she was treating undressed, maybe she thought it was because of the hard day, “yeah that’s it” she thought, “a hard day”.

Usha moved over to the bedroll, looking at the woman who lay on her back, with her arms casually resting behind her head, she knelt down beside Sita and put her cloth and oil next to her, she looked down and placed her hands on the young woman’s stomach, Sita shuddered, as she felt a surge of pain go straight to her head, she arched her back and relaxed.
A look of concern spread across Usha’s face again.
“hmmmm” she muttered
Usha then moved her hands down Sita’s stomach a little and pushed.
Sita felt the pain that she had had for the past two months suddenly leave, she looked at Usha, “how’d you do that?”
“many years of practice, many, many years of practice”
Sita chuckled, “come on your not that old”
“you’d be surprised” Usha blushed again
She moved her hands up a little towards Sita’s navel and pushed again, she then picked up her cloth and oil , she poured the oil onto the cloth and lay it across Sita’s stomach, she then removed the cloth and began to massage where the cloth had been, she continued to massage for another half a candle mark.

After she had finished she lay a blanket over the now sleeping Sita, Usha smiled, the woman who had fended off two brutes with such an evil determined look spread across her features, now slept soundly with a slight grin etched across her face.
Usha wondered if she had caused that grin while she started a fire and walked over to her own bedroll.


Later that night Usha awoke to the sound if crying, she looked around in the glow of the final embers burning, she saw Sita’s body heaving up and down as she sobbed in her sleep, Usha got up and walked quietly over to the younger woman and crawled under the blankets facing her, she stroked Sita’s face which had a look of absolute sadness upon it, Usha thought “what horrors have you seen poor child, what turned you into a woman?,” she continued to stroke her face until Sita fell into a deep dreamless sleep, Usha wrapped her arms around the sleeping woman and then drifted off to sleep herself.

The morning came and Sita woke, she opened her eyes to find breakfast cooked and two bright eyes staring intently into hers, she smiled at the woman laying next to her, she then realized that Usha’s arms were around her.

“I must have been in deep sleep, because I have no idea how you got there, let alone got up and cooked breakfast”

“Maybe my treatment did you some good then” Usha said, leaving out talk of the nightmare.

“Maybe” Sita smiled
Usha went to get up and Sita spoke “no don’t move its nice here”
“we have to eat before the breakfast gets cold”
Sita pouted….
“oh ok just a little while then”

[LMV's Old Account]

As Sita and Usha ate a now coldish breakfast, Usha couldnt help but grin at Sita who was scoffing down her food.
"carefull you might choke"
Sita covered her mouth and laughed, she then swallowed and gave Usha a big toothy grin,
"aww you do care" Sita said as she began to laugh again.

Usha gave her a sarcastic look and threw a bone at her, Sita ducked and laughed again.
"You'll have to get quicker than that to hit me"
"oh really now" Usha looked at Sita as menacing grin spread across her face,
"what are you doing?" Sita said in a amused tone
Usha laughed and got up pretending to inspect the pot of soup that had been cooling down, she then said "i am just going to the stream for some fresh water"
"ok" Sita replyed.

Moments Later Sita heard something behind her in the bushes and as she went to turn around a cup of water splashed her directly in the face, she spluttered as she looked at the now grinning, guilty Usha, looking at her.
"argh" Sita grumbled as she wiped her face, Usha continued grinning,
"ok ok you got me" Sita waved her arms in a surrendering manner.
Usha smiled to herself and said "good" in a snobby way, as she walked past Sita, Sita looked at her and grinned she lept up from where she had been sitting, picked up the older woman, swung her over her left shoulder and ran towards the stream, Usha screamed hysterically and laughed at the same time while yelling "Put me down you crazy Brute of a woman, Put me down"
Sita laughed, when Usha realized where she was taking her and gave a huge scream.

Sita got to the larger end of the stream and she dropped poor Usha rear first into the stream, Usha screamed again and threw little pebbles at Sita, who dogdged them and giggled.
"damn didnt your mother ever teach you to play nice and not to play with fire?"
Sita looked at her puzzled....
Usha grinned and grabbed Sitas leg and pulled her into the stream as well.

[Blackwolf]

As dawn peaked its head over the eastern horizon, all that was left of the previous night's attack was smoldering shells of houses that had been torched. 4 had died in the attack, and though their burials were scheduled for later in the day, not much other reaction was felt. 2 women had been kidnapped, but they returned right before dawn. They were taken in and cared for, but no one spoke about it afterwards. It had happened so many times now, it didn't make sense to the people to make a big deal out of it. Their lives, miserable as they may be, went on, and not a few wished they could change places with those that had died.

All of this occurred while I lay unconcious, my body quickly healing the damage I'd done to it during the night. It was midmorning before I finally awoke, a little sore, but otherwise alright physically. Mentally though, I was in anguish and even more confused then before. I felt everybody's pain and dejection more clearly now then I could before, and a headache was already forming from the onslaught of emotions. Whether that was from my own abilities or just the strong feelings that permeated the air, I didn't know. After awhile, as the day wore on and people's internal feelings became less intense, the anguish subsided. One thing I did know was that I had to get out of this prison. Something had to be done.

Finally, the man I had spoken with the day before came to talk to me. He was still grimy from the night's activities, and I could see a bruise forming over his left eye where he had been clubbed with the butt end of a sword. Noticing the wound, I said "You got lucky. Any farther to the left and more permanent damage would have been done."

He simply nodded, then noticed the bruise on my shoulder, which was already fading. At his questioning look, I shrugged and pointed to the door. He looked over his shoulder and his eyes widened at the damage done. While I hadn't been able to break through, many of the planks were cracked, some so much that they would need to be replaced.

Turning back to me, the man was silent for a moment. He sat down on the floor facing me and drew his knees up to his chest, keeping his eyes downcast, much as a little kid would when sitting dejectedly in the corner after being scolded. Seeing this man who had stood up to me and met me stare for stare yesterday so broken filled me with great sorrow. It took all the control I had not to go and comfort him. Still not looking at me, he finally said "The guards had said that you put up quite a commotion last night. They figured you were just trying to get out to rejoin your comrades. At first, I thought the same thing, and was getting ready to order your death, but then realized that not once did any of the men last night try and free you. I couldn't decide if it was because they just didn't care about a fallen comrade, or if you were telling the truth. Seeing that door and your shoulder, I have my answer."

He sat silently for a few minutes, lost in his own thoughts. Not knowing what to say, I just sat there on my straw bed, fiddling with some loose straw. When he raised his head, he seemed more composed and more like the man I had met yesterday, though there was still a sadness lurking under his gaze.

"Why did you try so hard to get out last night?"

Now it was my turn to look away as I thought of how to compose my answer. "When I said that I was drawn to this town, I wasn't lying. Something called me here as surely as I'm talking to you now. I don't know why, and I wish I did. As for last night, I can't explain it. I went crazy as soon as I knew those men were trying to harm the people here. My only thought was to get out so I could protect everyone and fight."

Nodding his head, I could tell he truly believed me. "Yesterday, you said that you were a protector. What did you mean by that?"

Not wanting to get into my history at this time, I simply answered "I come from a long line of people that protected others. It's just something that I do."

"Have you ever experienced anything like what you did last night?"

Shaking me head, I said "No. While I have felt strongly about protecting certain people before, they've been my friends, and I never felt as strongly as I did last night." Once again, that nagging feeling that I was missing an important detail, that there was a memory that I just couldn't quite grab, returned. As much as I tried to remember, though, it remained just beyond my grasp.

We both sat in silence a little longer, lost in our own thoughts once again. Finally, he got up and held out his hand to me. Confused at first, I put my hand in his. He pulled me to my feet and then said "My name is Lanudi. I apologize for all of the misunderstanding, and offer my home and food in order to compensate for all the wrongs I have done to you. I hope you will forgive me when you see fit."

Bewildered at first, the little resentment that I still had at being treated badly melted away, and I smiled and gripped his hand hard before letting go. "I would make you indebted to me for life, but I think that would be more punishment for me than for you. So, I accept your apologies and your food and say we're even. I mean, I am guilty of trying to harm some of your men when I first came here."

Not letting go of the barb that having him indebted would be punishment for me, he replied "You were trying to injure them? I thought you just found them so attractive you couldn't wait to be in their arms. I mean, you nearly fainted afterwards, and I just assumed it was because you were so overcome with emotion at being next to so many handsome men."

Before he could react, I had grabbed the front of his tunic, turned my back to him, and threw him over my shoulder onto the straw bed. Glaring at me as he got up and rubbed his sore backside, I smiled and said "I was going to hit you, but decided I didn't want to harm your handsome features, though on second look, they could do with some rearrangement."

Still glaring at me, he walked to the door and knocked to let the guard know he was ready to leave. As the door opened, he motioned for me to precede him out. As we left, the bodies of the dead were being laid in a cart for transport to the cemetery. I walked over to look at their faces. There were two women and two men. The women had died when they ran back into the fire to escape the marauders, and the men had died at the end of a sword. Noticing Lanudi beside me, I asked "What were their names?"

"Clyde, Darryl, Merlaine..." he paused and walked over to the last woman, running his hand over her brown hair, tears forming in his eyes. "And Theresa. My wife."

I felt his pain as keenly as if it were my own. I would've cried had I the ability, but all my tears had dried long ago. I looked at each of them and burned their faces and names in my memory. They would be revenged.

I traveled next to the cart as the town proceeded to the cemetery, and I helped lay the bodies in their final resting places. Nobody really noticed me. I was just another face in the crowd. Many people left before the funeral was over, having come merely for proprieties sake rather than any real sentimental value. They'd seen too many funerals for there to be any meaning to them anymore. There would be no feast, no prayer, no vigil to send the spirits on their way. They were simply dead.

As day waned into night, Lanudi and I were the last ones by the graves. He, too, eventually left, leaving me alone. I looked at all of the unmarked graves, noticing with sadness and anger that most had been dug recently. As the lights in the town were snuffed out, I was still standing there, wondering how the gods could let such evil happen and not do anything about it. Little did I realize that they already had.

[Phalon]

Acrid smoke stung her nose; clinging to her nostrils as the remnants of the dream from which the scent came clung to her mind; a dream Phalon could not shake during a night filled with fitful sleep. In that not-quite-asleep, but not-quite-awake-either state she hovered in, she called out to Frieda, coughing her name as smoke from the dream filled her lungs. Phalon watched unable to help – over and over the dream repeated itself - as flames engulfed the blind woman trapped in a building of fire.

Filtered moonlight; a swirling fog of diffused light, came through the open window. A smoky gray-black silhouette momentarily blocking the light appeared in front of her. “Phalon.” The silhouette and the voice belonged to her mother. “Phalon, wake up.” The urgency in the voice shattered the dream, though shards of it remained - the smell of smoke; the sense of danger.

Fully awake now, looking at Kaisa standing over her cot in the smoky haze, she realized the dream was not completely just a dream; the fire was real. “It’s the weaver’s house; it’s on fire”, Kaisa hurriedly explained, confirming the realization.

Up in an instant, pulling on her boots, “I’ve got to get her out”, Phalon told her mother, praying to the gods the last part of the dream - the part in which she helplessly watched the flames devour the house with Frieda still in it – would not repeat itself in reality as it had in the dream.

“Not just out of the burning house, Phalon. You’ve got to get her out of this town.” They both knew it was the villagers who set the fire; they could hear the shouts out in the street. And because the townspeople had gone that far – taken their unfounded suspicions regarding Frieda to this level – they both knew Frieda would never be safe in this town again.

Her boots laced, Phalon reached under the cot for her sword. It was the only possession which remained in the house; everything else she owned had been packed and placed in the stables the evening before, ready for her planned early morning departure.

She unsheathed the sword and held it in front of her. Its polished steel should have shown bright, flashing against the moonlight in the darkened room. It didn’t though – it was a dull blue-gray, its shine diminished by drifts of smoke coming through the window. Her mother watched Phalon hold the sword, then place in on the cot as she started to strap on its sheath. Kaisa’s face was grave; she hated weapons and had no tolerance for them – especially in her house - but for once she held her tongue and did not comment. Instead she helped Phalon adjust the leather straps that held the sword’s sheath at her back. It was a task Phalon had performed alone perhaps thousands of times; she did not need the assistance her mother offered, but readily accepted it. It was a chance for them to be close just a bit longer.

“Gelasuis is in the stables, saddling your horse. There is a place; a two - maybe three day ride to the east...the Sisters of Gaia Hospice. She’ll be welcome there…she’ll be accepted”, Kaisa said, slipping the leather strap through its buckle, and pulling it taut. “There…all done.”

“I’ve got to go, Mom”, giving her mother a tight hug that neither of them wanted to break, but had to.

“I know, Phalon. Time is short.”

Phalon lifted her sword from the cot, but did not sheath it, and followed her mother out the door, giving one last look around the small room where Kaisa had welcomely boarded the small band of warrior women – her friends. It was truly empty now.

As they entered the main room of the house, a small voice greeted them from the darkened doorway leading to the rest of the family’s sleeping quarters. “Auntie Phalon?” Apollo stepped into the room, followed by Damaris. “Are you leaving now, Auntie Phalon?” the young child asked.

“Yes, Apollo, it’s time for me to leave”, she replied softly.

“But I don’t want you to go. You said you’d wait ‘til morning. It’s still night. Will you take me with you? Pleeease?”

“No, Apollo. You can not come. Remember our pact? You have your adventures; I’ll have mine. And then one day, we’ll share, okay?”

The boy nodded, looking down at the floor. Phalon walked to him, and scooped him into her arms. “And besides, Apollo….you have to stay to protect and watch over your new little sister. She’ll be arriving soon.”

“Another sister!!! Ugh!!” he groaned, squirming out of his aunt’s hug.

“You know this to be true”, Damarius asked, beaming as she placed her hands on her belly swollen with child.

“Yes”, Phalon smiled. She twisted Eurayle’s ring on her finger. Some day, Phalon knew, this ring would be passed on to the next in line; the next of the family with the gift of sight. She embraced her sister-in-law and whispered in her ear, “Name the baby Iris….the messenger. It’ll fit perfectly.”

The sisterly moment was interrupted when Gelasius burst through the door. “The horses are ready. We need to get going.”

“We?", Phalon asked, not expecting to have company.

“I'll go with you as far as Frieda's. You’ll need help there”, her brother replied, eyeing her sword as he lifted the axe he held in his hand. He looked hard into her eyes, and the look made Phalon’s blood turn cold. She knew what the look meant, but she could not imagine her brother using an axe for anything other than chopping wood.

“No, Gelasius. I will not have you involved in anything like that. One in the family is enough, and your big sister has the warrior thing covered”, Phalon said.

“It may be needed. An axe is a useful tool…for chopping down doors of burning buildings…and other things. Bhen Rudha gave me a lesson in using the axe….in a most effective way. The crowd is as hot as the fire they started.” He flashed her a smile, though it was a grim one. “Time is wasting, Phalon.”

Kaisa handed her a satchel; provisions hastily thrown together for the journey. “This will be enough food to last until you reach the hospice.” Her hand lingered on her daughter’s hand as Phalon took the bag, and then pulled her close for one last embrace. “Someday, Phalon….”

“….I’ll return, Mom.”

Kaisa stood in the doorway with Apollo in her arms and watched until she could see her son and daughter no more. The smoke had swallowed them whole.

[LMV's Old Account]

Usha looked at Sita while they walked down a worn path towards a village called Rautandra; she smiled gently at the younger woman warrior who had her eyes on the road ahead, Usha thought of many things while smiling at Sita, mainly about why Sita was in the state she was in…. How had a beautiful woman warrior, who clearly was happy being a warrior, get pregnant? and why, so many questions and not much time to ask, due to the fact that she was going to be dropped off in the village Usha contemplated these things in her head, but what she did not realize was that her thoughts were clearly showing on her face.
Sita looked at Usha and saw the expression on the older woman’s beautiful features she smiled,
“What are you thinking about?” Sita inquired
“Oh nothing important Sita”
“Mmmmhmmm”
“Ok I was thinking about some stuff”
“What stuff” Sita persisted with a small grin growing on her face
“Stuff about you and how you…well”
Sita interrupted… “Ended up pregnant, when I’m clearly a fighter?”
“Well yes…I’m sorry I don’t mean to be nosey” Usha said apologetically
“Its ok, you are always welcome to ask me anything without feeling awkward because I won’t answer if I don’t want to” Sita smiled at Usha a soft smile.


Usha felt her heart warm more towards to this warrior woman and smiled back.
“So do you want to hear a bit about why I am the way I am, or would you like to leave that story for another camp fire?”
“What…you’re going to let me travel with you...really?”
“Well if you want I mean you don’t hav…”
Usha then chose it was her turn to interrupt
“Yes! I mean I’d love to” she blushed and hoped she hadn’t appeared too eager
“Well you are welcome to travel with me, just know this, there may be danger involved”
“Sounds good to me, I’m sick of the quiet life”
Sita laughed and hugged her now traveling companion
Usha leaned into the hug and looked into Sita’s eyes,
“I think we will have a good time”
Sita smiled again and said
“Yes I think we shall”
“Sita…can I tell you something…”
“Yes of course”
“Since you rescued me from those brutes, I’ve been happier in the past day or so than I have been in years, spending time with you…I feel like I’m not alone anymore, maybe its just me..”
“No, no” Sita grinned “I feel it too, I haven’t felt this way since I was with my partner”
“Oh, is that a good thing?” Usha looked worried
“Yes it is” Sita looked into Usha’s eyes with up most sincerity”


They walked through the village about a quarter of a candlemark later it was now dark, as they had been traveling all day...
Sita noticed a small inn off to her right,
“Let’s go in and see if they have a room”
“Ok”
Usha looked around the inn as they approached the bar she noticed a lot of men staring at her and her companion she chose to ignore them..
Sita leaned over the bar and asked the old woman standing behind it if there was a room available,
“Why yes there is, only one left though you are lucky”
“We’ll take it” Sita said
“There is one problem though, there is only one bed” the old lady said with a frown on her face.
“Oh that’s ok” Usha said with a grin
“Ok then, here are the keys and that will be 15 dinars, first room on the left up the stairs”
Sita handed over the money and took the keys and looked over her shoulder at Usha who had already started walking upstairs, she smiled to herself and followed the older woman upstairs.


Usha looked about the room,
“Well it’s certainly nice and cozy”
“Cozy…yes, nice… no”
“Oh Sita you are such a negative person sometimes”
“Hey! I enjoy my negativity, every last bit of it” Sita said with a huge grin on her face
”Oh yeah… your very positive when you smile and very beautiful”
“Who said I was positive?”
“Har de Har” Usha said before poking Sita affectionately
“Don’t start something you can’t finish Usha”
“Who said I couldn’t finish it”
Sita smiled once again at Usha “So, do you know what I think sounds good?”
“What?” Usha responded
“Well, a nice warm bath for a start and then some dinner”
“Hmmm, that does sound good I must admit”
“Well the bath is already drawn, how courteous of them” Sita said as she waked over to the Bath and undressed, she descended into the bath slowly and emerced herself in the water, she looked over at Usha and smiled “Well aren’t you going to join me, you don’t want sloppy seconds do you?”
Usha giggled and blushed “Well since you put it that way…no I don’t”
Usha undressed and joined Sita in the bath.
“You know what you need Sita?”
“No what’s that?”
“A massage, my treat”
“Oh really well since you are offering I accept”
Sita turned around in the big tub facing her back towards Usha; Usha began to rub Sita’s shoulders methodically
“Mmmmm that feels good”
“It should, you’re so tense”
“That doesn’t surprise me; I’ve had a rough couple of months”
Usha began to rub Sita’s lower back
“Oh god, that’s incredible you have the most amazing hands”
“Thank you, and you have an amazing back, your back muscles are great…tense but great”
“Thank you…I think”
“Oh it was a complement don’t worry”
Sita shifted about “Hmm we should go down for dinner before the kitchen closes”
“Yes we should”
Usha stood up and walked over to the bed and began to get dressed, once she was dressed she looked over at Sita who was still in the tub
“Well didn’t you say we should go downstairs for dinner?”
“Yes, I’ll meet you down there ok?”
“Ok Sita, are you sure?”
“Yes, I won’t be long”

Usha smiled and walked out the door.
Sita stood up in the bath and stepped out, she got her leathers out of her old bag, she looked at them and smiled, “maybe I can adjust these, because there is not a hope in hell of me fitting into these at the moment and I get the feeling I’m going to need them” she shook her head and put them back in the bag and pulled out her purple dress and slid it over her body, she then proceeded down stairs.

“I thought you said you wouldn’t be long?” Usha said with mock irritation
“I wasn’t” she smiled as she sat down opposite Usha
Usha gave Sita a broad grin
Sita waved her hand to the waitress who came rushing over to their table “What’ll it be miss?” she said in a strange accent
“Two bowls of hot stew and two cups of mead thanks” Sita said

The rest of the evening was relatively quiet with only a few remarks on the atmosphere of the tavern and the flavor of the long desired food. Both women were engrossed in their own thoughts.
After they finished their meals they both wandered upstairs and got ready for bed, Sita climbed into the small bed and rolled over onto her side; Usha crawled in behind Sita and wrapped her arm around Sita’s Stomach.
“Goodnight Sita”
“Goodnight Usha, Sweet dreams”

[LMV's Old Account]

Sita awoke to noise coming from outside the room’s window, she rolled over and looked at the still sleeping Usha, Sita smiled and stroked the older woman’s hair off her face she then proceeded to get up and get dressed in some lose fitting attire she looked around and then rummaged in her bags pulling out her sword and scabbard she slung it over her shoulder and headed out the door, making sure she closed it carefully behind her so she did not wake the sleeping Usha, she jammed the door shut “Hmm that should hold it so no one can get in”

Sita descended down the stairs and into the dining hall, it was pretty much dark, lit only by small candles on the walls, she silently walked over to the main entrance to the inn and quietly exited also making sure she closed this door quietly.
Sita walked silently along in the shadows, even though she was so heavily pregnant she had still not lost any of her stealth, she listened intently to the noises waiting to hear the sound that did not belong, and then she heard it coming from inside the stables, she made her way into the stables quickly creeping up behind the intruder, she grabbed the man from behind, wrapping her arm around his throat.
“Who are you and what are you doing in the stables at this time of the night?”
“I am Hylton and I’m here to meet Sita”
“Now why would you be wanting to meet Sita?”
“I am here to deliver a horse to her, a horse that was her warhorse”
“Why would you be delivering her warhorse?”
“Because, my father Ruben cared a lot for Sita like a daughter, and he stole her horse when she was a warlord, he didn’t want her to ruin her horse because he new that one day her horse and her would need each other again in better circumstances, so he took Chilli Pepper and told Sita the horse had been killed, and now he thinks it is time for them to be reunited” the young man said in a valiant tone.
Sita still not completely convinced spoke again “Ok well if you’re telling the truth, show me the horse and then I will take you to Sita, but if you’re lying…you’re going to have a lot of explaining to do”
Sita let the young man go, watching him carefully go to the back stall in the stables, and as Sita listened to the footsteps and the horses footsteps she knew it was Chilli, she recognized the heavy Clydesdale noise Chilli made when she was clearly bored even though she was and Anglo Arab.
Sita smiled as Chilli whinnied while the boy brought the horse up the breezeway in the stables, Chilli broke free of the boy and trotted up to her mistress, even in the dark Chilli recognized Sita’s presence, Sita smiled again and patted the now mare on the neck, “How is my precious Spaghetti head?”
Chilli whinnied again.
“I missed you to baby girl, my how you have grown up, last time I saw you, you were just a filly”

“So I take it your Sita then?” the boy said in a gruff tone
“That would be correct, and you are the little boy that was a rat bag last time I saw him”
“That would also be correct” the boy smiled

“What is with all this noise?” Usha said as she while rubbing the sleep out of her eyes lit a big candle in the barn, which lit up the whole place.
The boy swung around staff in hand directing it at Usha’s throat
“It ok Hylton, this is my friend and traveling companion Usha”
“Oh” said Hylton
“Sorry” he added
“Now I have some questions to ask the both of you” Sita said a serious expression on her face
Usha looked at Sita with a confused expression on her face,
“First, Usha how did you get in to the stables without me hearing you”
Usha smiled “I have skills you wouldn’t even imagine”
“Oh really?” Sita quirked an eyebrow
“Yes” Usha said flatly
Sita then turned her head to face Hylton
“And my second question is how in Tartarus did you know where I was”
“Ruben my father had a dream about two weeks back that showed you would be here with a little blondish friend”
Usha gave Hylton a look that said “do you mind” and then she spoke "My hair is mousey brown thankyou"
"Sorry M'Lady, I did not mean to offend"
“Ok well I will accept that answer” Sita said
Sita the looked at her horse, and then spoke “Usha this is Chilli Pepper my horse”
Usha looked at Chilli Pepper “Wow she is magnificent”
Chilli Pepper stood at only 15.3hands but was well built and her colour was truly taking after her name she was not so much chestnut but had an orange glow about her, she had for white socks and a blaze.
Chilli Pepper looked at Usha and then walked over to her and nuzzled her arm, before licking her.
“Oh god” Usha exclaimed
“Hehe, that’s the Chilli girl I know”
“She’s cute” Usha said with a giggle
“More like obnoxious” Hylton said “It took me forever to get her here, she wouldn’t let anyone ride her ever and on top of that she was a real pain to lead behind my horse, she kept chewing on his tail”
Sita began to giggle, “Oh Chilli girl what will we do with you?”
Chilli Pepper whinnied at Sita
“Ok girl it’s time for bed go on off you go”
Usha looked on in amazement with Hylton as Chilli obeyed her mistress’s orders.
“Wow, that was incredible” Hylton said, “She truly is your horse”
Sita smiled and said “No she’s not, she is no ones, she is her own, she chooses what she wants, all we have is an understanding of each other, hmmm we have been through so much”
Usha looked at Sita and yawned
“Looks like its time for bed for you to Usha”
Usha blushed
“Yes you maybe right there my warrior woman”, now it was Sita’s turn to blush.
Hylton looked at the both of them and smiled “Well I’m going to sleep in here with the horses, I’ve got my bedroll and I want to keep an eye on Boswell my horse”
“Ok” Sita said with a grin “Sleep well”

The two women left the Stables in complete silence, making their way back upstairs into their room and back to bed.
“Night Sita”
“Night Princess” Sita replied
Usha was glad that the room was dark for she was sure she must have blushed the deepest shade of crimson that could exist.

[Sumire]

Sumire felt the grasp and then blinding pain. She twisted and sliced with the fan, its steel tips extended, wanting only to cut off the source of unknown agony. The fan flipped a tight loop and reversed its arc like the head of a snake whipping around to take another bite of the larger animal that captured it. In turning she saw that it was Zena who had grabbed her and not their prisoner Bartok, as she had thought. The fan froze without making the second strike and she stepped back, deeply troubled but still in a ready stance. "Good reflexes Sumire. I almost got by you," smiled Zena awkwardly.

In the tense stillness after they faced each other, Sumire wondered why Zena would so suddenly attack her. Did she sense Sumire's motives? Zena's smile further confused her until she realized that the intense fire was gone and now there was only a soreness in her shoulder. Her arm moved freely and with considerably less pain. So, the amazon had sought to fix her arm by surprising her. It had worked, but at a cost. Zena's wound was not superficial.

"Mom?"

The deep surge of dread that churned in her stomach multiplied when she heard Gabby's concerned voice. Sumire tried to whisper an apology as she watched the amazon struggle onto her horse but ended up only mumbling to herself. Sumire felt an intent gaze and flicked her eyes to the side to meet Gabby's glance. She did not have a chance to interpret the look before Zena spoke.

"Gabby, the Sisters of Gaea Hospice isn't too much farther. We can't go back, we have to go on. Take the lead and bring us in." The young amazon nodded and quickly evaluated the situation. Looking at the huge horse and then askance at Sumire she motioned curtly indicating that the Jappa woman should mount up. "I'll lead us but you should ride behind Mom and him," she nodded toward their prisoner, "to watch over them both, okay?"

No! Anything but riding that demon! was Sumire's internal plea. On trembling legs she approached the animal and paused to put one hand on the saddle. The creature snorted and took a couple of mincing steps away. He swung his head around to glare at her, waiting.. waiting. Knowing she only had a few seconds to do it, she pulled the cords that held her pack to the back of the saddle, pulled it off and dropped it on the ground. With a quick gesture she stomped and clapped the animal's rump with both hands. "GYA!"

The black demon-horse started and jumped forward.

"What the-?" Zena muttered.

The horse had not gone much further than the initial bolt. Sumire lunged after him, waving her arms and stomping as she went. "Gaah! Shhi! SHI!" She shooed it as if it were some stray dog. Mother and daughter exchanged glances in their stunned silence as they watched, while the prisoner snorted.

The beast laid its ears flat but did as it was bid and pranced backwards a few paces. She followed after it and then brandished the fan, pointing menacingly in the direction he should go. "Kaite!" Go home! "Ike!" Go! At her last stomp the horse snorted and turned, trotting away from them.

"Now why in the name of Gaea would you do that?" came Zena's tired sigh.

Sumire ignored Zena and looked up at Gabby. "Your mother is hurt. I will ride with her. The man's horse will be between ours." Without waiting for an answer, Sumire grabbed up her pack, clenched her fear behind her teeth and scrambled up behind Zena. Gabby nodded at the plan but was watching the retreating horse. "But ....your horse..."

"I did not want to concern myself with him while your mother is injured. I will summon him later. He understands this. " She hoped she sounded confident enough to convince them, of course she had no intention of setting her eyes on him again.

Knowing they did not have time to debate over a lost horse, Gabby reformed their riding order and then spurred them on to a gallop.

Desperately trying not to crush Zena in her grasp, Sumire managed not to fall as they rode on. She was even able to lend support for Zena at intervals. Her fear of riding soon faded under the weight of her thoughts.

This was not at all what she had intended. She meant to travel with the amazon and her daughter as their guardian. She meant to become close enough that she would be able to find a way to capture this enemy of her homeland. So far she had only succeeded in nearly being killed by a monstrous horse and then wounding Zena. How then was this presenting herself as a guardian? How then was she to gain their trust?

Sumire sighed deeply. Not knowing if Zena could hear her she spoke anyway. "Zena-san, I am terribly sorry. This was not supposed to happen. I have pledged to lend you my hand as a defender and here I have hurt you instead. It is unforgivable. Once we arrive safely at this place, I will leave if that is your wish."

I will make a request of you when that time comes she finished silently.

[LMV's Old Account]

Morning at the inn came, the sunlight slowly seeping through the old dusty curtains.
Usha awoke before Sita and began to study the scars on Sita’s back; she reached out and began to touch them softly, running her fingers gently along them,
Sita who was now awake did not make it known to Usha that she was though, She was enjoying the soft ministrations of Usha’s hands on her back, she knew that Usha must be curious of how she got the scars on her back but she would tell her all in good time, for now she just wanted to lye there and enjoy the softness of the healers hands, a short time later Sita pretended to stir and immediately Usha removed her hands from the warriors back, “mmmm” Sita mumbled, Usha blushed a bit as the warrior rolled over to face her, “That was nice why’d you stop?”
“Stop what?” Usha said innocently
“Exploring my back” Sita decided to be frank
“You were awake?”
Sita grinned and nodded,
”You conniving woman” Usha responded
Sita just smiled at her
Usha poked Sita in the shoulder, “So why did you stop” Sita asked
“I just thought that you might think it was inappropriate” Usha said while avoiding Sita’s eyes “Annddd, I thought that you wouldn’t like it” Usha finished her sentence
“Actually, I didn’t mind it at all it was very nice and relaxing”
Usha blushed again, “You have a way with words warrior woman”
“I know” Sita said and then giggled a little

Later that day while wandering though the town they spotted a strange man telling stories for all those who would listen to his ramblings, he spoke of things that interested Sita a little, of other warrior women and such, women that were strong and beautiful among the names he recited two stayed etched in Sita’s mind “Blackwolf and Phalon” she had a feeling she might have a run in with them one day in the not to distant future, Usha interrupted Sita’s train of thought… “Can we get something to eat Sita, I’m starved”
Just then the strange man looked at Sita with a horrified expression on his face, “My it’s you, you evil serpent of a woman, and your with child, that child shall be Satan’s spawn itself, you terrorized my home village you and your army burnt it to the ground, I still cant sleep at night you devil, you will pay for your sins, if I have to kill you my self” the man screamed!
Sita took two steps back and looked at the man she felt sorrow come up in her heart.
Usha looked at the man and Sita who now had a blank expression on her face, Usha then stood between them and looked at the man who had his sword drawn she then spoke, “You sir do not know this woman for she is not what you call her, she may not be the most pure soul on this earth but she is redeeming herself”
“Oh yeah how?” the man spat
“Well no more than a week back she saved me from two Soldier’s who were going to make me a slave and torture me”
The man looked at Usha for a moment
“What makes you think I’d believe that?”
“You don’t have to, but in your heart you know I am telling the truth, and don’t worry she is paying for what she has done, you don’t think that she doesn’t suffer do you?, why this woman has nightmares almost every night, god will sought her out and no one will, god will give her what she deserves, not you and you are not god…you sir therefore do not have the right.. “Got it?!” Usha Growled

The man looked stunned, he shook his head and just walked away, Usha turned to Sita
“Are you alright?” Usha asked
“I’m fine; a little shocked but fine…how do you know I have nightmares?”
“Because I stop them every night”
“Oh” Sita went a little red “Sorry if I keep you up”
“Its ok I don’t mind at all” Usha smiled
“Come on lets get something to eat”

Sita and Usha entered a cozy tavern called the Spider gates; they ordered some hot stew and some mead and sat down in a corner away from the other patrons,
“Are you sure you’re alright Sita? Usha asked with concern clearly showing in her voice,
“I’m fine, it was just a shock to the system” Sita said with a faint smile to reassure Usha that she was ok.
Usha smiled back at her, “You are one unbelievable woman” Usha said.
“Thank you”
Sita began to eat and suddenly felt a sharp pain in her uterus and lurched forward a little,
“What’s wrong?” Usha said
“I think the little one just belted me in the gut, little s*@t is playing hand to uterus combat” Sita said with a slight grin
“Oh” Usha said and began to laugh “So she or he is going to be just like you?”
“God I hope not” Sita began to laugh between mouthfuls of stew
“Well if he or she inherits your looks all will be forgiven for their obnoxious behavior” Usha said with a raised eyebrow,
“Oh really?” Sita raised an eyebrow back at her companion
“Really” Usha stated bluntly

[LMV's Old Account]

Usha and Sita wandered the streets until sunset talking and shopping…
Later that night they were sitting back in the tavern eating dinner when Usha decided to ask Sita a question,
“Sita?”
“Mmm” Sita said with a mouth full of food
“Why do you have an Amazon sword and Celtic cross tattooed on your back?”
Sita looked up at Usha and swallowed her food slowly,
“Well my dear Usha” Sita took a sip from her goblet and continued speaking “I spent a little time in an Amazon village a while ago, I was captured from my Tent on the out skirts of the Amazon village I was intending to raid… they had, had a very good harvest that year and I was interested in making some profit from it, but as I said I was captured and after many days of trial and being kept in a cell underground they decided to sell me to the highest bidder, the Queens regent had her eye on me and decided to buy me as her personal slave….”
“And…” Usha interrupted
“Well, she wanted to brand me as her own, but she gave me a choice between a Tattoo and being branded with an iron poker… I chose the tattoo and the place where it would be put, she was kind enough to give me that choice, after that she put a collar on me and I was her personal servant, it was hard work, she was not to cruel to me considering she knew all the details of what I was going to do to the Amazon village, she did however have one flaw.. she loved to discipline me in public as much as she could, and that’s where the scars come in she scarred me very, very badly and took great joy in it”
“Oh that’s terrible, I’m so sorry” Usha stuttered
“Its ok, it made me a much better person in the long run”
“So what happened how did you leave there?” Usha asked inquisitively
“Well, my army took their time in saving me, they came just before dawn after an Amazon festival, I don’t remember what the festival was for, all I know is that all the Amazons were drunk I was tied to a poll in the middle of the festival area, my army attacked and took the queen and held her captive, I gave orders to have her released, my warlord partner decided that I had grown weak and kept her holding her ransom, I left my army that night and took the Queen back with me to the village, she thanked me and said that I was a good soul and hopefully I would realize that one day, I stayed that night in her tent we became very close she offered me to stay but I declined and left just before sunrise, I snuck back into my tent and in the morning the whole army was convinced that she had escaped and decided that it was not wise to attack them because they would be prepared, we left that day”
“Wow” Usha said
Sita laughed at the healer, “Does that satisfy your curiosity for one night?”
“Yes” Usha blushed

[Blackwolf]

In the morning, with the help of Lanudi, I got to know some of the villagers. There was Rapheel, the blacksmith. He'd lost his only son in one of the first raids. He was now the supplier of the few weapons the village had. Though they were of poor quality, I was none-the-less impressed with them, considering the lack of materials he had to use.

There was Anna, the baker's wife. Her husband, Kent, had been injured in the last attack, so she and her daughter Jill ran the bakery while he recovered. Her bread was just as hard as she was, but her strength was what had saved her husband's life. She had stayed by his side during the raid, and had pushed him out of the way of a sword that woul've taken his life. Her daughter Jill had been one of the ones that had been taken and who had later returned in the morning. Though she was still visibly traumatized, her mother's strength kept her going.

Then there was little Katrina. She didn't have any parents or siblings. Her mom had died in childbirth. Her older brother had ran away after that, wanting to explore the world. Her father had been killed in a raid a month ago. The villagers now cared for her, each taking her in when they had the opportunity. She showed a maturity and a sadness that should not be evident in a child of 10 summers.

Each family had a similar story, but they continued to go on. What at first I'd taken as despair and dejection, an acceptance of their lives as it was now, was underscored by a strength that many did not realize they had. No matter what happened, they continued on, not even considering giving up. Sure, a few had left, here and there. But those that were in the village wanted to live in their home, and they weren't going to give up just yet. It gave me some hope for their future.

After visiting with everyone for a little bit, Lanudi directed me to a path leading up a neighboring hill. "That there is the path to a nearby temple of Demeter. You might be able to find some answers there."

Thanking him, I left the village and headed up the path. The path opened up into a clearing at the top of the hill. The clearing was filled with flowers and grains of every imaginable type. In the middle, stood the temple of Demeter. As I walked up to the temple, a woman came out to meet me. She was a little shorter than me, long black hair pulled back in a bun. She was dressed in the robes of a priestess.

"Hello," she said. "I am Elisa, head priestess of this temple. I haven't seen you around here before. When did you arrive?"

"The day before last" I replied. "I was traveling to this town, and was detained for a little bit."

Surprise and suspicion flitted across her face, so quickly gone that I figured it had been my imagination.

"You say you came here specifically?"

Shrugging, I said "Well, I didn't know it when I set off that this was my destination, but when I arrived here, I knew this was where I needed to be."

Nodding her head, she said "I see. Let us find a seat and you can explain everything to me." She led me to a nearby bench and continued to listen as I explained everything that had happened, including my weird actions and feelings.

When I finished, she sat with a contemplative look on her face for a bit before saying "Well, this is most peculiar, ummm, what did you say your name was again?"

"Blackwolf."

"Yes, Blackwolf. I've not heard of anything like this before. I will pray and give offerings to the goddess, and maybe she will provide some answers. I will send a messenger if I find out anything."

"Thank you" I said, and got up and left. Engrossed in my thoughts, I did not notice a man hiding in the shadows of the temple.

*********************************************

Elisa made her way up the temple steps, stopping next to the shadowed man.

"She could be trouble," he said. "I suggest we get rid of her as soon as possible."

"Patience, brother. She intrigues me. Also, being a newcomer, she could provide us with a scapegoat of sorts. When everything is said and done, we can pin it on her, and no one will doubt us."

Shaking his head, the man replied "I don't think she's worth the risk. She has warrior written all over her, and I doubt that she will be easy to pin something on. She has already made several friends among the villagers."

Smiling slightly, Elisa said "All the better. Let her gain their trust. At the right moment, we'll strike with our final assault, and completely destroy them. As she dies, she'll listen to them cursing her."

The man gave his sister and odd look. "Why do you want her to die such a death? Why not just kill her and be done with it?"

"No particular reason," she said, evading the question. She didn't want her brother to know the truth. Not yet. "Now, what about our other little problem?"

Heaving a sigh, the man replied "She is proving most difficult. No matter what we do, it just doesn't seem to faze her. Plus, she has those animals that send her into hiding whenever we come by. But don't worry, we have a plan."

"Good, good. That will be all." But Elisa was just talking to air, as the man had already slipped away. She continued to watch the figure of the warrior woman as she descended the hill. "Very intriguing, indeed," she whispered.

[LMV's Old Account]

In the early morning Usha awoke to Sita cutting and sewing herself something that appeared to be new armor it looked nearly finished, Usha looked at Sita and spoke “How long have you been up doing that” Usha gestured towards the armor with her hand”
“Oh since before sunrise” Sita smiled and continued sewing
“I told you, you needed to get some sleep”
“Yeah sorry about that, I couldn’t sleep anyway”
“So you should be sorry, I was freezing in his bed without you”
Sita blushed a little “I said I was sorry”
“Ok I forgive you” Usha replied with a smile
“Ahh there finished” Sita said while holding up her new armor plated leathers that were
sewn on top of a velvet red and purple dress.
“Wow stylish and practical” Usha said with a giggle
“Why thank you, I will take that as a complement”
“As it was intended to be” Usha smiled at Sita who now was giving her a raised eyebrow look.
“You are cute” Sita said while changing into her leathers, she looked about them and said “there is something not right here”
“What…they look fine to me”
Sita looked about “Ahh ha” she reached down and ripped neat slits up the sides of her dress, her legs now visible.
“Now why did you go and do that?”
“Well you said practical…I need leg movement”
“Oh he…he”
“Now” Sita said while looking at Usha
“What?” Usha said looking Sita directly in the eyes
“We need to get you some new…uh…clothes”
“Huh?”
“Yep let’s go” Sita said while grabbing Usha by the arm and dragging her downstairs and into the street.
“Sita I don’t need new clothes…these fit just fine”
“Yes but they are not practical”
Sita took Usha’s hand again and dragged her into a mercenary’s shop, fine leathers hung from the ceiling as well as armor and weaponry.
“Oh my, Sita I don’t need this stuff”
“Well if you’re going to be traveling with me you need to be protected even if you are not armed, I would hate you to get hurt”
Sita looked about the shop...
“Is there anything I can help you with Miss?” the shop owner said
“In fact you can, you can get me some of your finest leathers and fit them to my companion” Sita said
“Finest?...Sita no you don’t have too”
“Yes I do, I am not having a friend of mine wearing shoddy leathers”
“Here you are Miss the change room is just over to the left behind that curtain”
Usha looked uncertainly at Sita and then proceeded into the change room…
Moments later she came out with perfectly fitted leathers, she looked incredible the boots were a light brown and matched perfectly with the rest if the outfit the shop keeper had given her, the skirt was designed well and had slits in it for movement also the top came down to just above her belly button and tied up behind her neck and back, her gauntlets were small but provided enough protection as well as her arm bands, she looked every bit the warrior…. Or should she say Amazon Sita thought.

Usha stood there in front of the shop keeper and Sita awkwardly.
“Wow it looks incredible and suits you” Sita said
Usha began to feel more confident when Sita said this.
“Now there is one more thing we need and that’s a weapon”
Sita began to browse through the weaponry laid out on the table; she picked up a short staff and threw it at Usha, who caught it.
“That will do just fine I think”
“How much” Sita then asked
“For all of it?” The keeper looked curiously at Sita
“Yes…how much?”
“One hundred and fifty five dinars miss” the shop keeper cowered a bit expecting Sita to yell at him, he was shocked when Sita handed him the bag of dinars.
“Thank you for your services”
“Uhh my pleasure” the shop keeper stuttered
“Sita you shouldn’t have” Usha said as they walked out side
“It was too much money for you to spend”
“No it wasn’t, not if it saves your life”
Sita smiled at Usha, “Come on now lets get out of this town”
“Where will we go?”
“Who knows Usha, who knows”



Later that day Usha, Sita and Chilli Pepper were walking slowly down a path towards a new town when they were confronted by a band of maureders, Sita jumped down off her horse, “Is there a problem here fellers?” Sita spoke in that menacing tone of hers.
“No…no problem at all…if you give us all your belongings including the horse” The leader said while tapping his sword in his hand.
“Oh well it looks like there is going to be a problem then.. doesn’t it?” Sita said while drawing her sword.
Usha stood at the ready with her staff in her hands, Sita looked at her and giggled a little, she’s so cute she thought.
“Get them the Man screamed”
“chi…ya” Sita yelled as she lept into the air, landing behind the men and knocking three of them to the ground, just as she looked over to the side she witnessed Usha flip one of the men over with a quick movement of her staff, she then spun around knocking another man to the ground by connecting the staff with his chin. Sita was so impressed that she didn’t notice a man coming up behind her until the last second, she turned around slamming the hilt of her sword into his gut, she laughed as the man fell to the ground, she then flipped up onto her horse grabbing Usha’s wrist and lifting the smaller woman up onto Chilli behind her, she urged Chilli into a gallop and both women laughed as they galloped away from the pile of men on the ground.

“Wow that was so exciting” Usha said as she wrapped her arms tighter around Sita.
“Yes, yes it was”

[Blackwolf]

As I descended the hill back to the village, my nose picked up the scent of food cooking, and it wasn't coming from the direction of the village. Deciding to investigate, I veered off of the path and into the forest.

After awhile, I came to a small break in the forest. There was a hut nestled quite comfortably in the trees, looking as if it belonged. Outside there was a small pot with what looked like soup cooking in it. There were various items scattered around such as a cart, a walking stick, and some herbs that were drying on a rock.

"Hello!" I called out, making my way to the front of the house. I knocked on the closed door for good measure, but no one responded. Taking a quick look around the place, I noticed that both the house and the nearby trees bore singe marks from fires, though no permanent damage had been done. There were no windows, though there looked like there had been at one time. The door also showed a lot of damage to it. I noticed a small, well-worn trail heading in the opposite direction of where I had come from and decided to see where it went.

I soon came to a large clearing, in the middle of which was a large pond. There were no other well-marked trails leading to or from it besides the one that I was on. Taking a seat on the sun-dried grass next to the trail, I soaked in the sight. With the sun shining down, a slight breeze rippling the pond water, and the sounds of the forest around me, it was very peaceful and relaxing. So relaxing that I laid down, threw my arm over my eyes, and let the past few days anxiety ease from my body. I tried to think of ways to increase the defense of the village, but the moment wouldn't let such thoughts happen, so I eventually gave up and just enjoyed myself in the sun.

It wasn't until the forest sounds quieted a little that I realized I wasn't alone. Shifting my arm, I looked to see a figure exiting the woods no more than a stone's throw away from where I lay. She had long brown hair, pulled back in a braid that ran halfway down her back. Her attire was a simple cotton dress that ran down to her ankles, and soft, well-worn boots. She wore a belt that contained a few pouches and a small sling, and she carried a walking stick similar to the one that I had seen at the house. She walked cautiously towards me, and I sat up to greet her.

She stopped a bit aways from me, just out of what would be considered lunging distance. At first she just stared at me, not saying anything. Finally, she asked "Who are you?"

"Blackwolf." Deciding to give her a bit more information to make her relax a bit, I said "I'm new around here. Just arrived in the village the other day."

"Why are you here?"

"I smelled some food cooking as I was walking and came to investigate. When no one answered me, I followed the trail here and decided to relax for a bit."

"Soup?" She asked, then closed her eyes and smacked her forhead. "Oi, I forgot about the soup again. It's probably all burned and uneatable by now."

Taking a quick sniff, I said "Well, it doesn't smell too bad right now. I'm sure if you hurry, you could salvage some of it."

Perplexed, she asked "You can smell it from here?"

Chuckling a little, I replied "Let's just say I have a nose for such things."

She snorted disbelievingly, then turned to go up the path. After only a few steps, she stopped and turned back around. "If there is enough, I could bring some back to share with you, if you would like."

Truly pleased, I smiled and nodded. "I would enjoy that."

She smiled back and turned to enter the forest.

"Wait!" I called. "You haven't told me your name."

Turning her head to look at me, still smiling, she replied "Diana."

Nodding my head to her, I said "Pleased to meet you, Diana."

"Pleased to meet you too, Blackwolf."

I soon lost track of her as she turned a corner around the trees. Turning back to stare over the pond, several questions went through my head. Why hadn't Lanudi mentioned that someone lived out here? Maybe he didn't know, but I had a feeling that that wasn't the truth. Why was she living all the way out here? From the signs on and around the house, the village wasn't the only thing being attacked. Why would bandits, if that's what they were, attack a single place as secluded as that? If in fact she had been attacked, as I believed, how was it she was still alive, and why hadn't she moved into the village where there was at least some protection in numbers?

And why was it that out of everybody around, I felt that she was the most important thing to protect?