Samsara
Kaia sat and watched her sister as she drank ambrosia wine
and laughed. "Hera's face was just classic," the
Goddess Kakistos said. "I've never been more satisfied in
my life." Her eyes were turning redder with every sip, with
every bite of ambrosia.
Kaia Kakistos was pleased. She succeeded in turning her
sister and all she needed was for Seriana to lose her memories.
And I didn't even plan for that! Oh, how everything has fallen
into place, she thought. She pushed a bowl of ambrosia fruit
toward her sister.
The older peered at Kaia and said, "Why are you so eager
to give me this? Don't you think I can feed myself?" She
was becoming belligerent. She stood and scooped some into her
pouch, then sighed. "Pretty day for a blood bath, isn't
it?"
Kaia stood along with her. "You're going after Criton
aren't you?" A smile played along the corners of her mouth.
Samsara grinned. "I think I need to get my army."
*****
She quickly found Criton, the warlord who had charged against
her home tribe. His army was stationed by a small,
inconsequential town, feeding off of the people and preparing
for his next charge.
"Criton!" she screamed. The warlord turned to the
booming voice by the woods and his eyes widened.
"If it isn't the High Princess of Teloq!" he cried.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Prince bobbed his head as she spoke. "Time for you to
return some land to the Teloqians!"
He merely laughed. "You and what army?"
She cackled, bringing forth her men as she trotted toward
him. "I'm a Goddess now!" she yelled, eating more
ambrosia. Her eyes flared pale blue against the blood red.
"I'm an Olympian! And if you think that Father's blessing
will save you from my army this time . . ." She her eyes
became powerful with the force of lightning.
Hercules and Iolaus, sent by Celosia to stop Samsara should
she attempt to wreak havoc on Earth, appeared on the scene. The
pair was alarmed. She was fighting on innocent ground and the
villagers were in danger.
Meanwhile, she lifted her staff above her head as she pulled
out her sword. "Yahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
It was on.
Thalia
Back in Themiscrya . . .
"Ready?" Medea asked.
"Yes," Thalia nodded.
Medea tossed her a staff, brandishing her own in front of
her. With a small cry, she lunged forward, bringing her staff
around. Thalia parried the thrust, twirling her staff to catch a
blow from behind, which was blocked by the other Amazon.
Medea swiped at her legs but Thalia jumped and parried a jab
towards her midriff, and swung back at Medea.
Medea blocked her swing, whirling around and catching Thalia
behind the knee, causing her to buckle. Before she hit the
ground, however, Thalia planted her pole in the ground and used
it to push herself up and around, whirling with the staff and
catching Medea in the back, sending her off-balance.
The two Amazons exchanged blows swiftly and fiercely, sweat
beading on their red faces. If one gained ground, the other got
it back, and so on.
Finally they stopped for a break, panting and leaning on
their staffs. "Call it a draw?" Thalia took deep
breaths.
Samsara
The Goddess would not listen to reason; she was so under the
influence of ambrosia. Her army charged at her cry, assailing
Criton's army. They were in possession of Hephaestian
black-steel, the most impenetrable metal in existence.
Hercules and Iolaus split up, attempting to stop the battle
and herd the villagers to safety. The son of Zeus mounted a
horse once his master fell from it, dead, and armed himself with
a sword. If he had to put his life on the line to save Samsara
and Themiscrya, he would.
Meanwhile, Samsara neared Criton with every man she slew. Her
numbers remained strong, although they had been at a
disadvantage when she entered the outskirts of the small town.
She raised her hands and suddenly the ground erupted, swallowing
many an enemy and villager.
"Greet Hades on your way down!" she screamed,
cackling. Her pale blue irises rivaled the blood red of her eye.
She reached into her pouch and ate the last bit of ambrosia,
growing stronger with every swallow. Prince stood on his
hindquarters and roared. He was in his element. He was born for
battle.
Hercules soon reached her. "Samsara!" he screamed.
"I'm challenging you!"
She peered at him and cocked her head. "To a duel?
Uncle, I believe you lost it! I'm more powerful than the King of
the Gods himself! How could you ever believe you can stand
against me?"
"Because I will do anything to save you."
She laughed, sheathing her sword and placing her staff in a
catch on her saddle. She raised her hands and the skies grayed
again. She threw her arms skyward and between her palms she
created a ball of fire powered by thunder so fierce that it
turned blue. She molded the power into a sphere. "I won't
fight you, Hercules," she said, throwing the force between
them. The ground erupted again and separated, creating a chasm
between them.
Criton was on the other side, but she was low on powers. She
cursed herself for spending her energies on keeping Hercules
alive, but she knew she could always eat more ambrosia. She
smiled to herself and stroked the back of her horse's neck. She
yelled shrilly and her army disappeared into the woods.
Hera appeared. "Samsara," she said angrily.
The Goddess Kakistos of Destruction dismounted. "Hello,
Hera."
"We had a deal," she said again.
"And I believe you play against a stacked deck,"
the Amazon responded. "Remember I hold the most hind's
blood, and I cannot be killed by it. I have the upper hand and I
will rule all of you miserable gods." With the remaining
powers she formed lightning in her eyes and another force
between her hands. "And you, Hera, will be the first to
suffer my wrath!"
The two Goddesses fought with lightning and power beyond any
mortal comprehension. Hercules and Iolaus looked on in horror.
Would either Goddess perish?
Suddenly, Artemis appeared. "Stop this!" she cried.
"Mother, let her eat her ambrosia. There is no use in
fighting her for it. Why don't we live in peace?"
The Great Destroyer smiled. "I knew you would see it my
way, Artemis. Together we can join the tribes and I will be the
eternal ruler."
Artemis mentally shook her head. This was precisely what I
was afraid of, she thought. I hope Celosia reaches the
ambrosia in time and does exactly as I told her . . . I can't
risk Samsara remaining an Olympian any longer, but I can't kill
her in good conscience. She can be good, I know it! "We
can arrange something."
Samsara smiled. She was right where she wanted to be.
Artemis sighed heavily. She had Samsara right where she
wanted her. She counted on the greedy effect of the ambrosia on
the Amazon to work in Greece's favor.
Seriana
Seriana knew Olympus like the back of her hand. She made her
way swiftly through the courtyards and alleyways, not meeting
anyone, for Olympus was a big place with few Gods.
Ares' temple stood as part of a circle of Olympian temples
surrounding the Council Hall. It was never guarded, no one could
get in that wasn't a War God or Goddess. That meant it was a
refuge for Discord, Deimos, Strife, Ares, Callisto, Velasca,
Kaia, Samsara, and Seriana. She entered without any trouble.
All sorts of weapons and treasures were sitting about the
hall for anyone to pick up. Seriana took hold of a medallion on
a chain lying on a windowsill. It was a transport gem.
"Themiscyra," she ordered, the medallion pressed
tight into her hand.
She reappeared almost on top of the mock battle between
Thalia and Medea. She ducked out of the way to avoid being hit
and let the golden chain fall into the dirt. It was quickly
covered with dust that everyone's scuffling feet stirred up.
Thalia
"Seriana!"
Thalia pulled her staff back in time to avoid hitting the
Amazon. "Seriana... where did you just come from?" The
biomorph was truly confused, seeing her friend materialize out
of nowhere. It had something to do with the Gods, she knew, but
what?
She helped Seriana to her feet, dusting her off. "What
just happened?"
Celosia
"I decided that aimless destruction wasn't for me,"
Seriana said with a shrug. "Besides, according to Samsara,
my memories were a little skewed, so I consider my deal with
Ares way off."
Thalia nodded. "Generally a smart assumption when
dealing with Ares. What is Samsara doing, though?"
"I need to talk to Celosia. Samsara's started her path
of destruction," Seriana said, her voice taking on a hint
of urgency.
Medea and Thalia exchanged a look. "Celosia took off on
her horse about an hour ago, something about a mission for
Artemis," Medea said. "As Regent, you can tell me
anything that needs to get done."
Seriana was still a little untrusting of Medea, after her
blatant defiance of everything the tribe held dear, but she knew
her information needed to be told to someone with some
authority. "All right, here goes," Seriana began,
filling in both Medea and Thalia with what she knew.
Samsara
Ares was angry. Seriana was gone. Samsara was fighting one of
his chosen disciples. The Amazons still had hold of both of them
even if the Great Destroyer was an Olympian and away from their
lands. He paced his temple and thought of what to do. He had to
keep one of his daughters. If he had one, he could get the other
-- his trump card.
He looked up and smiled. If he had Samsara, he had the
advantage. He could get Seriana back. He transported to the
scene.
Samsara was using what was left of her extra powers to lift
the bodies of the dead and spear them, placing heads on poles
and burning them . . . the mark of the Destroyer. As soon as she
was done she would get her ambrosia and she would hunt Criton
down like the dog he was.
"Father," she said as soon as he arrived.
"Such a pleasure to see you again. What brings you
here?"
He smiled. "I see you scared off my brother."
"Oh Hercules?" she responded, raising another head
with a wave of her hand. "He realized there was no
reasoning with me, so he and his cute little friend left as soon
as Aunt Artemis and Grams did." She mentally slammed the
skull onto another spear and laughed. With her other hand she
threw a fireball and it caught with flames. Her eyes were still
red and her irises were still pale blue. She let her hair down
and tossed it back. Her father looked at her and smiled.
Such beauty, he thought. If only she weren't my
alleged daughter . . .
"You know," he said, walking around her. "Now
that I gave you ambrosia, I was wondering if you could do a
favor for me. I need you to get Seriana back for me."
Samsara looked at her father and cocked her head. "I
thought you and I had an understanding, Father. If she didn't
want to stay on Olympus it was up to her. You skewed her
memories."
"But I held up to my end of the deal. I gave her the
good memories."
"And you twisted them around to your advantage,"
she responded, not looking at him. "So really, what did you
mean to accomplish?"
"She will return to Olympus or I take her memories from
her. We had a deal."
The Goddess Kakistos of Destruction turned to the God of War.
She placed her hand on her pendant and another on her dagger.
"Perhaps you didn't understand me when I told you to keep
away from Seriana. 'If you don't let her be, I will be your
samsara.' Do you understand what that means? You so much as set
foot in Themiscyra and I'll see to it that you pay. I never
liked repeating myself," she pulled out her dagger and held
it close to her pendant. "Of course, if you don't
understand, somehow I don't think they would miss you up there
if I killed you."
Ares smirked. "You will always do my bidding, Samsara.
As much as you say that I don't own you. You will listen to me
and you will stop your campaign against Criton."
Samsara laughed, wetting her blade with the blood. "How
about we do this my way?" She stood up to him and placed
the edge of her blade onto his throat. "You tell me where
my ambrosia is and I won't kill you."
He gulped and told her. He knew she would and could kill him
right there. He was quickly realizing the mistake he made in
giving her access to Olympus. She was more powerful than
anything that graced the Earth before.
She laughed again, a low sadistic laugh from deep in her
throat. She turned the blade on his skin. "And as for
Seriana, I won't do anything you tell me. She is my beloved
sister and I will never let you lay a hand on her. You so much
as set foot on Amazon territory; breathe a word of threat
against any of my sisters, against Teloq, against Ephiny,
against Celosia, against anyone who travels in good will to
those villages," she pricked his skin with the dry tip of
her dagger, watching as his blood trickled down. "And I
will kill you." She removed her weapon and watched as his
eyes widened when he touched his neck.
"Don't worry," she said, mounting her horse.
"It's just your own blood. Oh! The things an Olympian can
do to another!" She cackled and galloped away.
Seriana
"If one of our warriors is out wreaking havoc, shouldn't
we do something?" Thalia asked, the fight now forgotten.
"What are we going to do?" Medea demanded. "We
have no idea where she is. There's no way we could stop her, not
if she's a goddess packing Hind's blood. Then there's Ares to
deal with, and if you could remember anything straight, you'd
know we don't want to do that."
"She's my sister! I'm not about to let her get innocent
blood all over her hands."
"Please, you two, stop it," Thalia pleaded.
"Fighting isn't going to get anything done."
"Then what is?" Seriana asked. "What can we
do? Send a party to search for her?"
"I wouldn't want to," Thalia offered. "We're
Amazons; we don't leave our forests."
"Let's go talk to Celosia and the others," Seriana
offered. "Surely they'll have some sort of idea."
Medea
"I already TOLD you she isn't here!" Medea fumed,
pushing a hand through her spiky blonde hair. Her knuckles
whitened around the staff she still held in the other fist.
Perhaps Seriana had forgotten how wrathful Ares could be; but
she certainly hadn't, and she wasn't looking forward to a
reunion with the War God so soon after her displeasing him.
"There's just no way we can go marching onto Olympus to
save your psycho sister, I'm sorry. We're Amazons, not gods, or
have you forgotten that too?" the young Regent growled.
"She's not a psycho! She's under Ares' influence!"
Seriana shouted back in defense. How could anyone be so
ignorant? "She's gone mad with power, that’s all. If
I could just talk to Celosia, I know she'd . . ."
"She isn't here, Seriana," Medea hissed,
something wild lighting inside of her. "If I didn't know
better, I'd think you didn't trust my abilities to rule. Amazons
don't take lightly to treason, you know."
"Bold words from a woman who abandoned everything her
tribe stood for at the first chance for power."
Medea's sword was unsheathed in a blink's time, held
dangerously level with Seriana's flaming eyes. "Mind your
words, warrior," she warned with a shaking voice.
"Medea!" Thalia seethed, harshly slapping the sword
from the younger woman's hand.
Medea caught it smoothly with a flick of her other wrist and
a menacing snarl.
"Would you two be logical for a moment? You're letting
your anger cloud your vision of the real issue here!"
Seriana looked away, chagrined. Medea pursed her lips and
stared at the ground.
"Now listen, we've got an Amazon sister in serious
trouble," Seriana perked up a bit. "But we also know
that Celosia left camp. She hardly ever leaves the tribe without
good reason, and she was aware of the situation before she left.
That means she's probably seeing to bringing Samsara back even
as we stand here pointlessly bickering."
"But . . .what if she's not strong enough to bring
Samsara down?" Seriana whispered, the deepest look of
concern Thalia had ever seen etched across her features.
Thalia caught her friend's wrist gently, and looked her
straight in the eye. "Celosia's a very powerful woman,
Seri. The most powerful Themiscyra has been blessed with in
generations."
"But Samsara's a God now, a ruthless one. You didn't see
her up there eating that ambrosia. She's gone crazy. She's more
powerful than any of us could ever have imagined!"
"I've seen Celosia's power, Seri," Thalia assured
soothingly, forcing Seriana to look at her when the Amazon
turned away in disbelief. "Believe me, she's more than just
your average run-of-the-mill Amazon. If anyone can do this . .
."
The stinging thwack of the dagger embedding itself in the
wooden target broke off her words. The enraged look Medea wore
made her regret them.
The platinum blond Amazon glowered at them severely, fighting
the same inner battle she had since birth.
Most powerful Amazon in generations. Most powerful Queen in
generations.
Am I that lacking in skill? I trained endlessly, I learned
the same things she did, I tried to be the Amazon everyone
wanted me to be . . . but she, she was always better. No
matter how I try she'll always be Mom's favorite, Thalia's
favorite, everybody's favorite Amazon! This whole dali village
just loves Celosia!
"Round up our sisters, Thalia," Medea ordered in a
voice that was too calm. "If your beloved Queen can go
search for a maniacal Goddess, then so can I."
Tern
In a flash of golden light, the twins appeared behind Medea.
Tern laid one hand on her apprentice’s shoulder.
Nice disappearing act. Tern shot the mental thought to
the younger Amazon. You can't ditch us that easily.
Just testing you. Medea thought back.
"Medea, Pelee and I will escort you. We'll get this all
straightened out."
If Thalia and Seriana were supposed to feel better by the
appearance of the twins, it didn't work. Though Tern had saved
Medea, she had cast a spell against Thalia to slow her down and
had pretended to be a demon herself. Pelee was silent, as usual.
"Go round them up." Medea snapped to Thalia. Thalia
gave a curt nod and she and Seriana departed.
"We walk with you, and Artemis through us. Remember
that. Let's go," Tern said quietly. Medea nodded.
Thalia
"All right, Amazons!" Thalia called through the
village. At her instruction, Seriana blew the horn in the center
of the village to summon the Amazons to the main circle. Tent
flaps opened and Amazons peeked out from behind trees to see
what was going on.
"We have some trouble stirring and our Queen needs
help!" Thalia projected her voice as best as she could, so
every Amazon could hear. "Grab your weapons and come with
me. We are against the power of the Gods here, we need all the
help and strength we can get. Together we are powerful. Amazons
Unite!" The air was filled with Amazon cries as they
gathered their weapons and provisions and followed Thalia.
Samsara
Samsara was so low on power that she couldn't transport to
the location of the ambrosia, so she rode her raven horse
through the forest. Her sister followed, offering ambrosia, but
the new Goddess refused.
"Dare I ask what in the Hades is wrong with you?"
Kaia Kakistos demanded. "I am giving you ambrosia. Why
won't you take it?"
"Because I can only think that you and Father have
something planned for me by giving me ambrosia," she
responded.
"How can you not trust me?" Kaia continued sweetly.
"I am your sister, I can only do you good by giving you
ambrosia."
"Well that is what you don't seem to understand, you
pushed ambrosia to me even when I was full and you made me eat
more. And considering how much I ate, I should have been able to
take down Criton. I didn't. Something is off. I don't trust you
and I don't trust Father."
"Oh, leave Daddy alone!" she scoffed. "You
always have to be so tragic, Sister! Why don't you just take
what I am offering you and leave your supply alone?" Kaia
was unsure why, but she knew something was wrong with what
Samsara was doing. She wasn't sure whether it was the idea of
her going alone to get ambrosia and learning the path, the idea
of her eating an endless supply and only getting stronger, or
the idea of her eating ambrosia at all.
Samsara was thinking similar thoughts. Why are they so
afraid of me? She mused happily. I suppose because I have
all those evil sniveling gods at my feet. "Let's make a
deal. I eat that piece of rotting fruit and you let me have my
fun . . . but should it turn out that the ambrosia you give me
is bad, I'll kill you too."
Kaia was surprised. She knew her sister would never kill her
. . . if her sister were normal. How would she be able to kill
the sister she raised when she was so young herself? She knew
that if she didn't accept, Samsara would kill her and have her
way. She's becoming like me. She nodded handing her the
slice. "It's not rotten, you know that."
Samsara peered at her. "We'll see about that."
Soon they arrived at the Temple of Kaia Kakistos. It was not
Samsara's final destination, but she smiled as the marble
pillars and Greek construction greeted them. Worshippers of the
War Goddess walked up the steps and greeted the soldiers
offering the bloody sheets of the murdered.
The younger looked at her sister in disbelief. "What are
you planning on doing?" she said, knowing exactly what she
had in mind.
"Why, I'm going to have fun," she responded,
dismounting. She walked to the temple, leaving her staff on the
catch of the saddle. She no longer needed the talisman. Her
powers were strong enough that the distance of her staff meant
nothing anymore. She walked up the stairs to the temple door and
was allowed passage through. Kaia followed her, fearful of what
she may do.
She wouldn't . . .
But she did. Samsara killed worshippers left and right. They
cried out for the Goddess of Omens, the Cruel, but their prayers
went unanswered. Samsara took the blood of her victims and
smeared on her body, over her face, creating designs on her
skin. She looked at her sister and laughed as she laid the Mark
of the Destroyer in the temple.
Kaia was seething. She had no choice now. She had to stop her
sister any way possible. Even if it meant siding with an
unfriendly crowd. She teleported.
Samsara merely laughed.
*****
The Amazons were mostly ready to go. Medea was in her
element, ready to fight and ready to show that there was someone
in the tribe worse than she. She may not be Queen, but she was
Regent and she still commanded power despite what happened in
the past. I will show them that Celosia isn't the only strong
Amazon in this crowd! She vowed.
Kaia appeared before her and stopped her from leading the
charge to find the Goddess Kakistos of Destruction.
Seriana glared at her younger sister. "What do you want?
Leave before something you'll regret happens."
The Mistress Kakistos glared back. "I am here to help
you. Our sister has gone berserk and as much as I hate
you all I have no choice but to help you stop her."
"Help us?" Medea snorted. "Since when were you
of good intentions?"
"Since she wrecked one of my principle temples,"
she fired back. "Now either you let me help you or I spend
my life making your life a pain in the . . ."
"Enough!" Seriana yelled. "Let's do it. My
sister's well being is at stake and so is the well being of all
of Greece."
Medea
Medea shifted on her stallion's back, hating the situation.
A Goddess is better fought by one of her own than by those
she'd call subjects, Medea. Tern's voice reminded in her
head, logical and steady as usual. Only Medea could have
identified the acute uneasiness and mistrust behind the words.
We have a Goddess. Artemis is ten times more powerful than
this upstart is. Besides, Samsara should still be a minor
goddess. We don't need help taking out one egotistical little
girl. Medea growled back, her gaze never wavering from its
fixed position on the horizon.
Tern's steed flickered into her peripheral vision. And if
that little girl has Hind's blood? She asked in what was the
closest to nervousness as Medea had ever heard her mentor.
The platinum blonde lifted an eyebrow before she nodded
curtly and wheeled her stallion in a showy dance upon its hind
legs. "For Themiscyra!" she cried passionately.
Only Tern went without an enthused war cry as they drove out
from the safety of the village. She was too busy watching the
girl she'd taught for so long assume the role she'd always
wanted to.
Today - - even if it was only for a day - - Medea was ruler
of the tribe. It warmed her heart to see it.
The Regent sent a fierce smile to the twins that flanked her
and kicked her horse forward. They understood; she would ride
ahead and look for signs of Celosia's trail. They were to keep
the others in line.
She knows what she's doing? Pelee asked her sister
tentatively, watching the younger Amazon dance across the
horizon with a wild grace.
She knows what she's doing. Tern returned fondly before
she twisted around in her saddle and faced the others.
"Thalia, Seriana, Kaia, up here. You three ride with
us," she ordered shortly. They nodded, acknowledging the
order and sidled up beside the twins.
Yes, you definitely fought a Goddess with a Goddess . . .
So long as you didn't turn your back.
Samsara
Swift Blazer looked at her mentor and wondered why the woman
who first let her into the gates of Themiscyra, the woman who
was highly respected by the Sisters of Celosia, was now hunted.
Valkyra said, "We only hunt one of our own to save the
tribe. Samsara may have a good heart, but if it's forever
covered by evil, we have no choice but to kill her."
Swift Blazer nodded. Her life in the past month was filled
with something heavier than excitement. Although she wandered
aimlessly for weeks after losing her hunters, she traveled all
of Greece searching for Celosia. "Then we have to deal with
these slavers if they intend to come after the Amazons
again."
"I wouldn't worry so much about it," Valkyra
responded. "If they intend to trade in Amazon hide, they'll
answer to all of us."
*****
Meanwhile on Olympus, Ares was pacing frantically in his war
temple. Artemis showed up and observed him.
"You seem nervous."
Ares turned around and glowered at his sister. "I'm sure
you had a hand in this one! She just desecrated Kaia's
temple!"
"Never liked Kaia much anyway," The Goddess of the
Hunt crossed her arms. "That's what you get for meddling
with my Amazons. Yet time and time again, you try to muscle in
on some of my special few. Celosia, Seriana, Samsara . . . even
Kaia at one point was anointed to become a powerful Amazon, but
she fell into the depths of darkness with her father."
He laughed. "And you think that Samsara is of a higher
caste than Kaia? Her mom was a nutcase. I'm happy she's dead. As
for Seriana's mother... she was just a la--"
Artemis slapped him. "So long as I live, you will never
speak ill of Ritani." Her voice held with unwavering
resolve. Her eyes were like steel, her jaw was tight.
Ares faced his sister again and straightened his vest. He
stepped as close to her as godly possible and whispered in a low
voice: "I will get one of my daughters, be it the High
Princess of one of your silly tribes or Seriana. With one of
them I have all the tribes. All of them."
"Don't be so sure of yourself."
Seriana
The Amazons made good time through the territory that they
knew. But when they reached the signposts that marked the edge
of their territory, there was a moment of hesitation.
An Amazon can face any danger in her own forest. Only the
greatest of fools will attack them on their home turf. But they
are solitary: they thrive in their isolated villages, on the
land that they claim for their daughters and granddaughters.
Being migratory is the last thing they want to do.
Thalia looked back the way they had come. "Oh, I don't
like this . . ."
"You coming or not?" Medea demanded.
"Give us a minute," she insisted. "Some of the
warriors haven't left Themiscyra in a long time. It's not
easy."
There was an impromptu moment of silence and prayer. Then the
warriors straightened their backs, held high their heads, and
tossed their braids from their eyes. They were warriors. No
matter where.
Medea lead the company, her stallion antsy and anxious for
battle. She could still smell magic; the residue of power did
not fade completely from anyone. Thalia, Seriana, Valkyra, Swift
Blazer, and Tern followed close behind her. Say what you would
about Medea, she knew what she was doing. It was easy to put
that much faith in her.
Thalia
Thalia sat atop her steed holding the reins wrapped tightly
around her hand. She kept her appearance stern and confident,
though inside she was slightly worried. They were up against the
power of the Gods, a power none of them could match. It would
only work if they stayed together. Separated they would be no
match for Samsara.
Samsara . . . Thalia shook her head, cursing ambrosia. They
had lost another in their ranks to the evils of power. How many
more would they have to give up? Thalia was determined to try
everything to get Samsara back. She knew that if it came down to
it Samsara would have to be killed, but she wanted to avoid it
going to that end. She didn't want to lose another Amazon.
She looked back to see a blue-green form in the distance. Her
dragon Zanifus was following them through the forest, he wasn't
flying as to keep out of sight. She knew he would never let her
leave him behind. Perhaps he could help, they needed all the
allies they could get.
The Amazons will fight and give it all they have, Thalia
knew, and she had confidence in them. She also had confidence in
Medea. She was headstrong and sometime irresponsible, but when
it all came down to it she was a good leader when they needed
her.
Thalia adjusted her bow on her back, mentally psyching
herself if she had to use her morphing ability. Kicking her
steed in the side, she followed closely after the others.
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