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Belen
Xanthea having found Celosia told her the story the two
strangers told her. After careful consideration they both
decided it would be wise to continue the search.
Meanwhile back in the woods a search party of Amazons
stared with wide eyes in to the bush. Thalia was still in
the tree trying to get a look at what it was that everyone
saw. Not being able to see what it was she jumped down for
a closer look. There wasn't much light and there was a big
crowd around bushes. Thalia pushed to the front of the
crowd, her curiosity growing every second. She looked down
to see...
Léda
While the search parties crowded around the bush trying
to see what was there, the Head Warrior sat by the
campfire sharpening her sword thinking about the evening’s
events.
Men. Why were there men here? This area had been
uninhabited when we got here. Were there others? Would
they have to leave this place already?
Suddenly someone came and sat down beside her and
started to speak. "Léda..."
Kat
Suddenly someone came and sat down beside her and
started to speak. "Léda..." Kat cleared her
throat. " Léda? What's going on?" The green
eyed Amazon looked confused. "I had gone to scout
around a bit, and when I returned, I saw all these men
here. What's up? Should I prepare for battle?"
Léda
"To tell you the truth, I really don't know."
Léda sighed and put her sword back in its sheath. "I
think we are all a bit surprised by this, but I must say,
that taller one certainly IS cute!" she added with a
smile." I don't think we need to start getting ready
yet, but it would be a good idea to make sure your weapons
are still in good shape after the journey here."
"Thanks Léda," said Kat, "I guess that’s
what I'll do. But let me know the second we have to fight.
I'll be ready."
"You’re welcome. See ya later." Léda stood
up and went to find the Queen to see what was going to
happen next.
Medea
"No way!"
The blond regent laughed with glee as her sister grimly
informed her of the presence of a small army heading
towards their camp. "Battle already! This is
great!"
"Medea," Celosia began, not sure her sister
understood the whole 'war' concept.
"Hey- Now, I can show you that great move! Before
you wouldn't let me because you said it'd probably chop
off some important limbs, but if we're fighting a buncha
strangers…"
"Medea." Celosia shook her head, a little
annoyed with her younger sister's newfound zest.
"But Hades, they're attacking us-who cares about their
limbs! I can't believe how lucky we are! Not even here a
day and we capture two hot guys AND find a battle! I love
this place!"
"Medea!" The young queen finally put her foot
down, glaring daggers at the blond. "How can you be happy
about us going to war? People could DIE!"
The Amazon looked confused, "Come again?"
"Amazons could die-don't you understand that?"
"No, not that part" she rolled her eyes as if
it were the dumbest thing she'd ever heard. "The 'how
can you be happy about us going to war' bit-War is good!
We get to work out, put all those practice drills to good
use, and chop up some rather unimportant men..."
Celosia glowered at her younger sister, thoroughly
frustrated.
"What? "
"You're insane-you know that right?"
"What can I say, I'm a faithful Velasca
follower" the Regent grinned fiendishly, earning her
a one way ticket from Celosia's tent via the rather
uncomfortable end of a staff.
Thalia
Thalia looked over and gasped. She saw before her... men…hundreds
of them. A small army all dressed in uniforms and holding
weapons. What were they doing here? They seemed to be
searching for something. Or was it someone?
"They must be with those men we captured
earlier!" Alcina whispered. "I'm going to warn
Celosia!"
Thalia nodded and held up her hand for the other Amazons
to be silent. Closing her eyes and focusing, she glowed a
faint blue for a moment before shrinking into a falcon.
She flapped her wings and flew silently over them to
listen as Alcina headed for their camp.
"... Around here somewhere." One man finished.
He looked like some sort of general.
"We'll find them soon. They can't escape us for
long."
Were they planning an attack on the Amazons? Thalia was
moving in closer to listen.
"I've sent the men in search groups to find them,
sir." A smaller man bowed. "Hercules and Iolaus
cannot have gone far. We will capture them."
Hercules? Iolaus? The names sounded familiar... Thalia
scanned her memory. Aha! They were the names used when the
captured men tried to explain themselves. This army was
after the two men, not the Amazons!
Oh, no! Thalia realized that when Alcina's
message reached the Queen, she would be preparing for an
attack that would no doubt get the men's attention as to
their presence.
I have to warn them before they attack! Thalia
spun and was heading back when something whizzed by her
head. She screeched and guffawing was heard below.
"You almost got it!" One man cried, slapping
his partner on the back. "Try again!"
The man raised his crossbow and aimed at the falcon.
Thalia dodged and swerved, she had to make it to the
forest!
She was almost there when a searing pain shot though
her.
"Hey, you got it!" The man's partner laughed
as the falcon screeched and plummeted to the ground.
Belen
Thalia tried to get up, but she couldn't move, She was
about to morph into human form when she heard someone
coming.
She froze. If she morphed now, the men would know there
were Amazons in the area. She stood still as she heard
them drawing closer. Luckily, it wasn't the two men but
instead two Amazons who had seen her fall. She relayed
what she had heard from the army of men. "I’ll take
care of her you find Alcina…and hurry," said the
Amazon who held Thalia. The other Amazon ran as fast as
she could through the words heading for camp.
Meanwhile Alcina was also running trying to make it back
to camp and at the same time trying not to be seen by any
men.
Léda
After Alcina got back to camp to relay her message,
Celosia gave orders to go after this new threat. Léda
began assembling the warriors and making sure they were
all properly equipped.
Suddenly, a young Amazon burst out of the woods. Léda
ran over to see what was going on, fearing that the men
were moving in.
Trying to catch her breath and talk at the same time the
Amazon could only manage "Men...after...Herc…u...les...I...olaus."
Léda was confused for a minute, but suddenly realized
what was being said, she quickly ran to Celosia.
When she found her, she was very worried.
"I was just told that the army in the woods is
after our two captives, not us. I propose that we hide and
leave the men to be picked up by the army. That will free
our hands, and prevent useless death. What do you
think?"
Just then another Amazon came running up to Queen and
Head Warrior.
Celosia
After thinking for a few minutes Celosia finally spoke.
"We can't do that. I know they are men, but they are
two against an army. I couldn't live with myself if I were
to let them be hunted down and possibly killed."
Léda’s face showed her surprise at her queen's
decision, but after a stern look from Celosia, she quickly
agreed and went out to inform the other Amazons.
"Five... four... three... two..." Celosia
counted under her breath. On the "one" her
sister burst into her tent.
"We're keeping them? Celosia they're men! They'll
slow us down, they'll eat all our food, they'll cause
distractions-"
"They'll help us fight," the Amazon Queen said
quietly. Medea stared at her sister's back.
"Help us fight? You mean, we're actually going to
war?"
Celosia nodded.
Medea let out a whoop and ran outside to inform the
others.
Tern
"YOOOHOOOOOOO! Celooosia! AIYIYIYIYIYIYIYYYI!"
No. Oh NO. Not HER. Celosia thought to herself.
It couldn't be . . .
Celosia stepped out of the tent as a tall Amazon came
flying out of a tree and landed gracefully on her feet.
"Yo, cuz! What up?"
"Terny!" Medea hugged her.
"Did I hear my favorite word; war?" Tern
grinned, twirling her staff.
Medea
"Yep! Ain't it grand?" the shorter blond
exclaimed and drew her sword. "I'm gonna kick some
annoying male ass!"
Celosia sighed. They just didn't get it, did they? War
wasn't something to celebrate.
"Ah, chin up sis" Medea smiled lazily, making
a half-attempt to reassure the Queen.
"Yeah, we won't kill them all-I promise we'll save
you two or three, okay?" Tern grinned wickedly,
twirling her staff.
Medea laughed and grabbed her cousin by the arm, pulling
her away from the tent, "Come on, let's go see how
Léda’s doing gathering up the troops" she
insisted, racing towards the practice grounds.
Belen
Belen grabbed her bow and several arrows, then grabbed
three of her favorite daggers. She headed towards the
campfire where the Amazons were gathering, talking about
the coming war.
Belen noticed that the older Amazons were all against
the war and the youngest ones were excited about it. She
guessed it was probably because the older ones had seen
sister Amazons die in wars and the younger ones had not.
Belen sharpened her daggers and examined each arrow and
her bow to make sure they were in perfect shape. Sure
enough they were. She always took special care with her
weapons.
Belen was a young Amazon but wasn't to excited about the
thought of losing any of her sisters. She joined in the
discussion around the campfire, waiting for the search
parties to return so they could to to war.
Thalia
The camp went silent as the Amazon search party
returned. Thalia's left shoulder wrapped in a bandage, her
arm supported in a makeshift sling.
"I'll be all right." She answered her sisters'
worried looks. "It's not too deep, it will
heal."
"Don't worry, Thalia." Medea spoke up.
"We'll get revenge on those men for you."
"No." Thalia shook her head. "Please,
many of us will be killed if we try to overpower them. We
must try to fight them with stealth, not strength."
"Right," Belen nodded, "we need to
outsmart them. Not outfight them."
The other Amazons murmured amongst themselves.
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