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lilttlewolf · 7 years ago

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Honey for a Cure

part. 4

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where there was no earthly explanation? I found myself in such a predicament at this very moment.

Watching the taller woman as best i could through the darkness, the momentary flashes of light illuminating her form. She walked me toward the open door of the building i had seen earlier, her home i assumed as she pulled me inside. I walked toward the candle light, draw by the warmth there. She closed the door and set her weapons aside, i glanced at them then. A broken spear and a sword, she shook her hands of the rain, reaching for a dry towel or blanket perhaps. She tossed it at me and i flinched a moment nearly dropping it.

“So where are you from? why were you out in this storm?” she was cautious, staying near her weapons but relaxed enough to ring out the braid that hung just past her collarbone. A leather cord was wrapped in with it, keeping it bound i gathered. She paused watching me for a response. My eyes widened for a moment feeling her gaze on me as i just stood there holding the clothe she had tossed me. I rain my fingers over the thin canvas like material. It wasn’t the softest but it was dry. I gently wrapped my hands and arms in it, holding it just under my chin i thought a moment how i should respond. Surely i couldn’t tell the truth, then again maybe i should, to simply get out of here. As i watched her move then toward another table she grabbed something there and walked toward me, i instinctively stepped back till i bumped into a wall. She raised a brow at that and then crouched where i had been standing, apparently near a fire place.

Striking two stones together once, twice it shot sparks that caught some grass and kindling already there. It burst into a heavenly warmth of orange and yellow flames.

Listening to the rain outside and feeling the cool draft still from a window i stepped a bit closer to the fire, its heat already chasing off the chill of my legs. “Sit and you can answer my questions while we dry off,” she didn’t seem wary of me as a threat, but something in the way she kept glancing in my direction had me wonder if there wasn’t a smear of dirt of mud along my face or branches caught up in my hair. With a sigh and the need for warmth, i gave in and slowly dropped to my knees my the fire. It was amazing how quick the thin material dried and how fast the ice around my bones it seemed, to thaw and warm finally.

“You’re clearly not from around here, i’ll ask you one more time or in kicking you back out into the rain,” she sat on the ground about four feet from me. She was relaxed back on her arms, how that didn’t hurt the cuts there i didn’t know, but she seemed at ease enough even though of tone of her voice was growing harsher every time she asked, and i realized whatever the century, i was being rude.

“No,” i glanced from the fire to her, and then back to the flames. “Im not from here,”

“Well it speaks, that is something. I was beginning to think someone cut out your tongue before letting you lose in the woods,” She had a subtle hint of a smile there, i glanced to try and catch it. She had pulled her knees up and loosely had her arms around them, linking her fingers for support.

“No, no one - removed my tongue.” I fought off my own smile. This was no laughing matter, and yet the given situation had a bubble of humor wrapped it entirely. I was so bad at bad situations, i was that person who laughs at a funeral. I shake my head trying to remove the memory of my own mother’s. Biting my lower lip to hold off a sob then, i frowned deeply at the memory.

“So then, where are you from then?” she watched my face and waited. I could feel her eyes everywhere and it gave me shivers, i hated people starring at me, hated it since i was a kid when a teacher would ask me to go up and answer a question on the white board. Couldn’t stand people’s eyes on me.

Shutting my eyes and trying to block out her overwhelming presence, i thought of the simplest lie i knew i could follow. “I am from everywhere and no where, my father was an admiral on a ship,” i brushed a strand of hair from my face. It was beginning to dry now and about to puff out and get super wavy. ,”we were on our way to Athens, he was going to join their Armada.” She tilted her head slightly, a curious thing it made her eyes look like honey the way the fire flickered in them. “ugh, his ship got caught in the storm out at sea and the last thing i remember was,” a shock of images cane flooding back and i could almost feel the water everywhere, burning my throat and nose, stinging my eyes. “- just being under water. I woke up on the beach and shortly after that it was nightfall and well,” i looked at her then “ -here i am”

It wasn’t totally a lie, my father had served and still is, in the United States Navy. That still loosely counts, and he does man one of aircraft carriers. Not that she would any idea what that was, no one would for.. however long ago i was i guessed.

She was frowning then, and i knew i had miscalculated some old facts my brother had once told me. But i swore he had said it was the Athenians who had the best naval fleet back in ancient Greece. Unless i had misjudged the era, oh shit no!

“That’s, terrible.” she pocked at the flames with a stick. I sat on an absolute blade edge waiting for her to swing it at me. But it never came, nothing did. For several long minutes we sat in silence while the rain continued to poor outside, the thunder and lightening having moved on. It was the gentle humming of the rain on the roof that i think seemed to lull me to near sleep, and the warmth of the fire. With my hair nearly dried it was a thick wavy mess, apart from my dreads. I ran my hands through it a few times trying to shake some of the tangles free.

“So what do i call you?” she turned to me then those honey eyes seemed calmer now, thinking about something. It just came out, i didn’t know what to think or do, other than comply to her words. “Auna,” i said feeling as if i hoped that would resolve of her focused tension. She frowned a moment and then with a sigh stood. I watched her go. Her legs glowing from the fire light, i couldn’t deny she was a beautiful human, even though in real time she was about a thousand times my senior. I shook my head and looked back into the flames. It then dawned on me i didn’t know her name.

“What’s your name?” i just asked out right like kids getting to one another in school. I didn’t mean for it to come off that way it just did. And it was almost perfectly fitting. She glanced over her shoulder while she busied herself with something at an opposite counter. “Kassandra,” it was a name i hear even in my era and yet the way she said it, with her accent dripping with exotic tendency, game me a shiver and i held my tongue, bitting off a smile.

She came to sit back down, this time a bit closer. She sat cross legged, facing the fire, she must have quickly changed skirts when i wasn’t looking because where the shorter one was, now there was a longer one. Like a long towel you wrap around your waist after a shower. She still had the band on around her chest. I dared a glance at the back of her shoulder, it was very pink, nearly red, definitely infected. I tried to think about all the herbs my grandma used to use on us grandkids when we were little. Having been a nurse for nearly sixty years, she respected the book learned knowledge and yet cherished the natural teachings passed from great grandma.

I knew i could help fix it, i just needed to remember how. I shut my eyes and thought back. There was a weird one, something not plant like she liked for sealing off infections after cleaning a wound. I glanced around her dimly lit home wondering if id see anything to alert a clue.

“Looking for something?” she asked around a mouthful of bread.

“Do you have...” i drawled off knowing that she would watch till i finished my answer. I could feel her eyes again, probing for a full response. “Have... what?” There was some dried and dead flowers sitting on the table, she didn’t seem like the flower type and then it hit me. Honey.

“Do you have any honey?” i looked her dead in the eye. She looked at me with a slight frown like i had grown antlers.

“Ugh, maybe in a pot over there, i never cared much for the stuff so you’re welcome to it” I stood and walked toward the window, just below it there was several jars and one with a stickiness to the base of it.

“It’s not for eating. Do you have some clean clothe or a bucket or something to heat water in?” Again the strange look of confusion, this time from atop her glass of wine i guessed, from the smell. She sighed and pointed toward the door. There sat a small bucket. Without asking i gathered there was a trough outside of water for the horse. i quickly stuck out and retrieved some in the bucket. When i returned she was twisted with one hand on her spear while the other supported her movement.

“Relax,” i said calmly with a faint smile. She seemed completely perplexed by my actions. Until i sat down by the fire again with the bucket resting half on some of the burning coals. I torn at my long skirts to retrieve a few strands. She wasn’t even eating at this point but watching, with a hand still on her spear head. “It’s alright, im not going to attack you with some honey and a bucket of water,” she narrowed her eyes and relaxed her grip. “You’re right, id have my spear at your throat before you dared touch me with that stuff,” She slowly turned back around to face the fire, from her left eye i caught her watching and i couldn’t fight a grin even when i bit at my lower lip to stop it.

I sighed when i had three strips ready, one for cleaning and two for mending. “Now,” she looked at me “what,” i looked to her shoulder, sitting on my knees i awkwardly tried to point without being rude, “ugh, that’s infected and it’s going to feel much worse in a few days if you don’t clean it,” she only watched me speak. “,i can clean it for you” i hesitantly said, like asking to take a thorn from a bear’s paw. Her eye brow raised slightly. “You’re a doctor?” she asked skeptically. “Well no, but i know some things,” she was craning her head back slightly as if to look at me better. “Is there something wrong with the fact i’m a girl and know medicine?” i snapped then with a frown of my own. Her eyes widened then. “No i, i just didn’t realize, well-” she raised a hand to touch the back of her neck in the way some do when they’re nervous. “-i’m sorry i just never met a woman who knew medicine before,” she blinked those honey eyes and i cleared my throat then. “Well there’s a first time for everything,”

I didn’t know a whole lot, only a few months of nursing school and about twenty some odd years of handed down grandparent knowledge. I swallowed the lump in my throat, hopefully this doesn’t get in a situation where i need to be mending too many people, i thought with a sigh and a heavy pit in my stomach. I enjoyed helping people, especially when it was something i had learned from my Gram, but animals were always more of an interest for me. I just knew i could never have the heart to medically care for them, seeing them in pain, i wouldn’t have been able to last that. And since several of my cousins as well as my grandma had gone through the nursing program i figure it would be a good fit.

She turned back to face the flames and shifted slightly to allow me sight of her cuts. “How did you do this?” i asked while ringing out a clothe from the hot water of the bucket. She winced for a second when i touched the clothe to her skin, i wondered if it more the touching than the pain that had her hiss under her breath. “Bandits when we pulled into dock yesterday,” i gently washed the cuts, dirt and dried blood came away to reveal clean flesh. “We?” i asked more to keep her talking while i gripped hot water on the wound to try and remove any remains of dirt. She shifted slightly but didn’t complain. “I have a ship, the captain and crew, we were only to stop her a day but after the bandits we decided to stock up on previsions before sailing off,” my heart sunk suddenly for a reason i didn’t understand. “Oh, where to then, after - well i guess i don’t even know where here is,” i leaned in close to inspect the cuts, they weren’t as deep as i had initially thought, but they were long, across her left should blade. She shivered then and i shifted back, “this is Kephallonia, your father must have made a bad judgment in direction to have landed all the way over here,” my hands froze then and my mind desperately recalled an idea of a map i knew my brother would have shown me at one point or another. “Well, like i said, we traveled around a lot so we may have gotten turned around,” i bit my lower lip and remember the islands were well over on the west side of what was Spartan territories near what would be Italy, where as Athens, Greece was on a separate piece of land with an ocean in between. Fuck. I frown and grab the honey, it’s fine i’m going back to find that lagoon tomorrow and all this will be done. Police chase or not i can’t be here any longer, i needed to get back to my dad, my gram, my brother - Raquel. I cleaned my throat and felt a sting of tears then.

The honey was warm and smooth as it smeared over the cuts easily. Just enough to help keep the wound sealed off from dirt and such, but not enough to make and uncomfortable mess, or more of one than i was already in.

I gently laid the clothe over the wounds and with the the third, longest piece i hesitantly, awkwardly trailed my hand holding the clothe under her right arm, to carefully grab it with my other hand over her left shoulder. I could feel her breathing steady, “pardon my reach,” i whispered more to myself i figured than anything but she glanced back toward me. I tied it off and sat back on my heels. I blinked looking at her back then and noticing the scars there, old ones with the silver pink color, purple dark bruises, she was no ordinary woman with a sword or spear. I couldn’t stop my finger tips from trailing across them in that moment, “...” i bit back a groan at the idea of the amount of pain she must be in struck me like a bolt of lightening. “im so sorry,” i murmured.

She turned then to look at me, “it comes with the trade,” with a soft hand she tipped my chin up to be held by her gaze then. I blinked away tears, “whats wrong, why are you on the brink of tears?” I shut my eyes trying to push them away, i ease my chin away from her and turn back to face the fire. Sniffing i shake my head, “im fine,” the warmth and crackling of the flame is a comfort from the chaotic reality at hand. And within a moment memories and words attempt to trickle from me, “,i was just thinking about my - a friend” sitting next to me, holding her left arm relaxed in her lap she sighed, “are they not alive?” my lips quivered as they wanted to sob, and my eyes burned with tears at the notion, the fact. Raquel wasn’t alive, none of them were. “no actually, i gripped my skirt tightly till my knuckles were white, “-she’s not alive” and the awkward stifled sobs came, i lifted a hands to try and smother the away but as a shushing murmur came, Kassandra shifted her seat near me till her right arm could wrap around me, i trembled and let tears fall as a few gasping sobs broke free while i hide my face in her shoulder and gripped tightly to her elbow. She could nearly enwrap me completely as her hand rested easily at the center of my back, her thumb rubbing slightly along my exposed skin.

I could feel her muscles tighten as she held me close letting my sorry self mope into her arm, till she seemed to relax and her forehead gently rested on my head, i felt a deep sense of compassion from this girl. Whatever she had gone through in her life, and what ever she did for pay, she had a big heart and i believed she didn’t want anyone. So in such a moment as this i felt extremely fortunate to have landed with someone as she.

Managing to fight off the tears once more and hold back the sobs i craned my head to the side toward her, and there she was, her eyes, her lips slightly parted. Those long lashes blinked at me my heart thrummed in my chest as if a finger on harp strings. She seemed to lean slightly toward my own and for a split second i stole myself back and remembered eyes of blue, and hair like a raven, an image of a tall curvy girl who loved volleyball and ice skating, Raquel.

I jolted away from Kassandra as if shocked my her touch, “im sorry i-” i wiped the tears from my cheeks and wetting my lower lip only to bite it. She stood then and with a sigh looked down at me, “you need not be scared of me, nor anyone else,” she hesitantly reached out and brushed a strand of hair from my cheek, “-so long as you’re with me,” she relaxed her stance and turned back to the flames. I inhaled sharply, “and when im not with you?” i was almost a afraid the answer i thought in the moment, something had my chest tighten and feel nervous at her response. She glanced at me a moment, “well, i suppose we’ll see,” i had no idea what that meant but it drew a smile from her and maybe it was meant to worry me but i felt no worry by her, only a strange bizarre comfort.

Here i was a twenty first century twenty eight year old, now “magically” stuck back in sometime ancient Greece BC with some kind of mercenary wonder woman. Surely i should be out of my mind afraid or at least manically insane at this point, and yet, all i could think was if i get back to that lagoon all this will be fine, over and go back to how it was. Maybe it was my minds way of coping with the unknown, the uncertain reality that my heart knew deep down could be impossible. I could truly be stuck in ancient Greece.

I blinked as the tall woman lit a torch and walked toward stairs that led upward, “come, you must be exhausted, i know i am,” i followed her up to almost a loft style bedroom maybe, there was a large bed mat area littered in pillows and several furs. To the right, lead toward an open air balcony. The rain was a light drizzle now. It was cool and i felt a blanket tossed over my shoulders, i turned toward her, she walked toward the bed mat and sat. She can’t be serious, i thought. She patted the mat beside her, “Come i won’t bite,” i detected a grin in her words and scoffed crossing my air while holding the blanket close. “Fine, stay up, get cold. Just don’t be cranky tomorrow when we ride into town and you’ve had no sleep,” she was teasing me now.

“Wait what do you mean, going into town?” i toward near the bed now, she was laying on her back with her good arm under her head as an extra support, she smiled faintly in the light. “I think you’d be a big help to me and the ships captain,” i blinked my eyes unsure what that meant. “-as a healer” I knelt as my stomach heaved suddenly. “relax mikro’s ly’kos, get some sleep..” i didn’t know what those words meant, it sounded like the ones the lady ‘Artemis’ from the woods spoke but for some reason unlike from before, i didn’t understand them.

With a heavy sigh and heavier eye lids, i laid down on my side facing away from the stranger, Kassandra, and attempted to find sleep. It lead to darkness and nothing but a heavy slumber. There were no dreams, no visions of memory come to haunt me, just the faint smell of honey as sleep claimed me.

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lilttlewolf · 7 years ago

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a Prophecy

part. 3

... the Oracle at Delphi, the weather was dark and rainy. A thick layer of fog hung over the bay around the shoreline of Corinth. Ships gently swayed in the harbor, flames of torches along the temple flickered dimly in the rain. A woman, a girl in her late teens stood, eyes closed while she meditated on her god. Thunder rolled over head, while splits of lighting shot across the dark purple clouds illuminating them for an instant.

Her palms grew sweaty as she concentrated, something was in the air this night, something ...powerful. The incense burned hot, trailing smoke around her and the room. Several priests stood at a distance for her in needed, but remained at ease along the large entrance doors. Slightly ajar two watched the rain poor down. They spoke softly of the gods, exchanging good thoughts for the rain coming. The crops needed it, the people enjoyed it, and it was always a wonder to behold Zeus’s lightening.

A sudden moan came from the girl then, she gasped. Her breathing was growing ever quicker, heavier as if she was running up a great hill, but her feet weren’t moving at all. But her eyes were, behind their lids they shot back and force. What was she seeing? What was Apollo telling her? One of the priest walked closer to the Pythia, she was sweating now, it dripped down her chest and ran down her neck. Her hair was pulled back in a long braid swung over her shoulder. It swayed slightly, he noticed then it was because she was trembling.

She dropped to her knees with a gasp then, He along with the other priest stood just by the alter, not daring to interfere till her vision was complete and ready to incase she needed anything. The thunder hit again with a booming crack against the night sky. The ships in harbor swayed with the light breeze and the rolling currents brought from the sea.

“..someone is coming, someone who... does not belong..” she inhaled deeply trying to regulate her breathing she inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth. “..they don’t belong but can save. They don’t belong” she dropped her head, hands touching the floor she groaned. “..they don’t belong anywhere” she inhaled sharply. “..somethings coming, we need the hero of Greece, we need.. the misthios with a great weapon..” the girl gripped tightly the fabric around her knees, she groaned again as if struggling with an intense pain. “.. there is a wolf and an eagle.. only they can save greece for what’t to come..” and with her last words, the pythia toppled to the ground.

The two priests rush to her aid along with several guards. She has only passed out, but not before giving everyone around the room a glimpse into what’s to come. The two priests look at each other then, and with a mix of concern and confusion, assist the young priestess up.

“We’ll need to contact Horodotos.. he may know the whereabouts of the misthios girl who came through here not long ago,” one of the priests mentions.

“Yes, but we must be discrete. We do not know of the dangers in Corinth let alone through out Greece. We must find the mercenary first and then she may be able us discover who else the pythia was speaking of”

As the rain continued to poor throughout Corinth, the thunder was just beginning off the islands of Kephalonia. With a subtle crack of distant lighting and the hints of rain to come. An horse moved quickly up a hillside toward an abandoned home.His rider had her cloak up protecting from the rain beginning to sprinkle down, her kicked at his sides to quicken his pace. Shifting into a canter he loped his way along the road. She held the ponies reins easily, this spirited creature was not foreign to her, she had much experience with the islands wild horses. The lean build and quick legs of the creature had them swiftly moving up the road past Mount Ainos toward home.

It wasn’t much, just a basic sandstone structure, built literally in what remained of an old temple some years before. Pieces of the columns and structure still sat scattered about the property, along with pieces of broken pots littering the front yard. Several baskets sat by the well, one full of now old moldy fruit, the other what looked to be kindling for a fire. A pile of ropes and several vases sat on the top steps by the front door. It was still closed. For a moment she had wondered if someone hadn’t moved in while she had been away, it had been nearly two month since her departure from the godforsaken island. She was only back to get the rest of her things and the remaining drachmae Marcus owed her.

Several lines that had held clothing now only held drenched clothe, she grumbled with a sigh, it’ll be awhile before she has any dry clothes to change into. Hoping off the horse with a splash of mud up her legs, she rolled her eyes and sighed, “mala’ka..” she walked him into a small covered paddock leaning off the side of the house. He bobbed his head in minor protest to the strange place, she clicked at him and tugged at the reins till he released and followed her into the dry stall. Tying off his reins to a post she untied a bedroll and a bag of previsions. Tossing them aside she pulled off the thick pad and now soaked fur, with another heavy sigh she rested them on the fence to hopefully dry out ..eventually. Glancing out into the rain she watched the sky change from black to a glow of purple and then a crack of thunder. “Zeus must have something to say this evening,” With a frown she closed off the stall area with two wooden beams, grabbing her things she went inside, out of the weather.

_____________________ about a mile away

I was convinced it was a dream, some kind of traumatic, repressed nightmare that i just hadn’t woken up from yet. That somewhere else, physically i was in a hospital, in a gown, with an IV in my arm and all kinds of machines beeping and flashing, and at any moment i would feel Raquel holding my hand and i would wake up. It was that simple, so whats a little mental walk in the rain, following a wolf no less. I nearly laughed, this was a dream, it had to be.

Bare feet slide through mud, it was getting colder now. I could see my breath as i struggled to keep up with my furred companion. He would wander up a distance out of sight and then just as im about to feel concerned, he would appear again. It was still jarring every time i caught his eyes on me. My heart would flutter and i would remind myself it wasn’t real. But every time i saw those golden yellow eyes piercing for me through the night, somewhere deep within my chest, i knew he was real. The rain on my skin, the soaked clothes on my back, the strain in my legs as i couldn’t climb over one more broken piece of a destroyed temple. These busted pillars were now like natures road bumps, everyone had to be climbed over of walk around. By the time i caught up to the wolf he was sitting near a tree, looking out over an edge. I moved to stand near him, his presence soothing and yet haunting all at once. He glanced up to catch sight of a bird caught in the rain. An eagle glided down toward a house, it was older, and tattered with old remnants of more temple pieces.

I watched the house a moment, not believes the wolf seemed to have lead me here. There appeared to be no lights on, seriously?! no, fires maybe, i rolled my eyes and told myself.

It all appeared to be dark, i sighed and attempted to fight off the chills by standing as straight as i could. Nope, the movement had even my shortness bump into a low hanging branch, now sprinkled with more cold water. I hunched my shoulders and clenched my fists. Breathing out i could see my breath and grumbled, “fine,” i spoke more to myself than ‘Elio’ but he seemed to know of what i meant and turned to find me a path down the pile of temple steps and pillars.

A hot fire and warm food was all she wanted, something dry to wear and even a bottle of unfinished wine. She grinned and pulled the scarf away, unclipping the pendant on her shoulder pad she tossed it aside. Setting the bottle back down on the table she searched for the candles she new to be by the stairs. In and instant the home was illuminated by a soft glow, she glanced around the space she used to call home, now dusted over and a bit more of a mess than she remembered leaving it. ‘Phoibe’, she thought with a heavy sigh and set the candle on the table to light a few more. Two torches hung along the wall up stairs to her bedroom, a simple sleeping area with a walk out villa. It was definitely not the ones in Athens, she thought recalling the perfect tiles and images, the smell of perfumes and flowers. The delicate silk and the view most all. As she blinked back to her reality of a dark stormy coastline. Ithaka becoming illuminated for a moment by a flash of lightening. “i never expected to be back here,” she spoke to herself in the glow of the light.

Pealing away her leather armor she set it aside on a wooden trunk, unstrapping her calf guards she tossed them near the trunk along with her sandals as well. Flopping onto her back on her bed mat she closed her eyes for a moment, listening to the rain splashing outside, the roll of thunder, the horse whining below. Her eyes came open with a frown, What in all of Hades is it now?! she thought and sat up to grab her sword and spear. It wasn’t a full spear, but a broken remnant from a time of her grandfather, Leonidas of Sparta. Passed down to her mother, than her. She has wielded it since the age of nine. It was more an extension of her than her own hands at times, and now with the looming possibility of a threat she griped it tight and held it close.

Following a near black wolf, in darkness, in the rain was something to be hold i was certain however in the moment it was more disconcerting than anything else. With the slick ground having pulled my feet out from under me twice now i was beginning to think i should just tuck under the closet tree and wait till dawn. However, like every other moment my heart questioned reality and my thoughts began to wonder, ‘Elio’ seemed to sense and appear at my side. Just long enough i could drop a hand onto his back and he lead me through a patch of trees or a thick case of sticker shrubs. It was then i thought i heard something, a voice. The large wolf pranced ahead of me again this time out of sight completely. “Wait,” i tried to call to him but to no avail as another cracking roll of thunder from above only drowned out my attempted call. There it was again, a voice, somewhere in the distance, or perhaps it was just the storm. I slid and stepped my way along toward what i hoped was the direction of the home.

As the woman held her spear and sword she cracked open the front door, watching for any movement, listening for any sound. None came but that of the horse from the storm. “Mala’ka” she grumbled and shut the door.

A sudden cry had her tossing open the door. As she stepped out quickly into the rain, her remaining attempt at dry clothes was gone, the white cotton band around her chest was soaked in an instant as was the white cotton clothe wrap skirt around her waist. Sneaking along the side of the house to peak in on the horse, she saw no one but a restlessly eating island pony. “If you don’t quiet down you won’t make it to dawn,” she turned to go back inside when a large eagle came to rest just underneath the paddock roof on the fence post.

“Ikaras, my friend why are you out in this rain?” he shook himself out and puffed up. The woman crossed her arms and smiled. “Silly bird, storms are not good weather to fly in,” he screeched at her in a chittering way. Looking puzzled she raised a brow. “What are you saying,” he flew off back out into the rain and toward the tree line. She followed his gaze and new then what he meant. With a frown and a low growl seeming to match that of the thunder she crouched low and snuck toward the trees.

The quiet bare feet of a local moved like a shadow in the night, from tree to tree she hide and watched, looking for the intruded to her territory, the small piece of land she called her own. With a small band of trees encircling it she always had to pay attention to the wolves that wandered there. She guessed that’s why the horse was restless. With a frown she steadied her breathing and listening for the noises of padded feet on ground, the panting breathe of the canine.

And then it came, the sound of movement, a rustling of bushes, something moved near the tree just behind her. She spun with her sword extended, nothing was there, a gasp and a stumble from her other side, she spun again, “show yourself wolf!” As the tall woman extened her spear toward the tree that was at her back, there stood not a wolf at all, but a girl. Wide eyed, breathing quick, her chest heaving. She tried to calm her breath and blink the rain from her eyes, it was pouring down now, dripping off the two of them. The cotton clothe carefully bound around her was similar to that of a priestess, long it hung, to the ground and open down the front to her sternum, her tanned skinned was like of a wet stone. She blinked with a look of shock and confusion, starring, who was this? Why was she in the woods, at night in the rain?

The lightening would flash again allowing another momentary glimpse of her, she was no more than her own age, smaller framed, couldn’t weigh more than the wet clothes she was in. Her hair was long and draped down one side, she looked scared, worried with almost pleading eyes. “mala’ka...”

The sound of movement in the trees ahead, i felt the momentary pull to turn back, and yet something pulled at me, dragging me forward as my mind railed me backward. An invisible chain attached to my soul, i was drug toward the sound, the unknown. Her voice was like a pitch in my ears that caused a beam of light in my mind. It was warm to hear, like a soft blanket wrapped around you. I was breathing heavy, my heart banging violently against my ribs, i continued toward out of the brush.

All i was for an instant was her back, she was tall had to be near six feet or so, if not taller. Full of lean muscle, she reminded me of the lady MMA fighters, not bulky but toned, broad capped shoulders, shoulder blades shifted under an ivory, olive ton skin, there were fresh scars there from maybe only a few days ago. It looked infected. She spun around then, and my world stopped on its axis nearly tossing me off.

She has a simple wrap binding her chest, and a short wrapped skirt, her eyes watching me, her mouth slightly dropping open. The rain poured around her, the lightening flashed again and she stepped closer. Only a few feet from me i could smell the rain, sweat and a warm flower oil. Her chest moving slightly, she must have been pretty worked up. Dead god i hope she doesn’t kill me, but then again to be killed by someone that looked like her, i might make an exception, i thought to myself. She was everything the stories said, about the ancient spartan woman, trailed to fight, to be strong. But there was a beauty in her, something.. something i couldn’t define at the moment. I squinted my eyes trying to read her through the blips of total darkness.

“Who are you?” her accent was strange but mesmerizing to hear. Like listening to someone from Italy or Spain. Her eyes watching me with an intensity i had never quite felt the like. It was as if she was seeing more than me, but through me entirely. And then i recalled the fabric of the clothing i wore and my cheeks suddenly flushed and i dropped my curious gaze to glance at myself. Somewhat but not quite see through, it was entirely soaked through.

“...” i opened my mouth and nothing came out. My mind scrambled for something to say, anything to make up.

“What are you doing here, in the rain?” she stepped a bit closer still, tilting her head slightly as if it may assist in her hearing my answer. I could only search and scan, as rapidly as my eyes would allow at every strike of light.

She grabbed my arm then, and turned to pull me toward the way she came. At first i froze, digging my heals in. i didn’t know who this was, i didn’t know where i was or what was going on. It was dark and i was alone, no weapons or a plan. And now this, what, amazon woman has a very firm grip on my arm attempting to what, take me to her home, to her master, to her husband, a brother, a family? i didn’t know and i wasn’t sure i wanted to.

The sudden stop of one motion and the continuance of another. My left forearm protested as it hit its limit which i would move. She stopped and glanced back at me, wide eyed i watched her worried. Another crack of thunder and i knew she felt me flinch. The cold tremble course through me as i began shaking from the chill seeping into my bones. She relaxed her pull but didn’t release my arm, she slid it down closer to my wrist and a little easier this time, attempted to lead me out this time watching me as she tugged me toward her.

“You nor i can stay out in this much longer, Zeus can have quite the temper,” she said it so casually as if she knew him personally.

I blinked as the rain ran down my face and dripped off my jawline. I hesitated a moment but when the tug came, i followed. I glanced back for Elio, he was no where to be seen. This had to be a dream, this had to.

Waiting for the girls response to her question was like watching the sun rise, every little reaction and emotion playing across her face was fascinating and disturbing at the same time. A frown came to be between her brows a moment as if she pondered something instead of speak. This girl was not like any Kassandra had ever seen. She waited a moment still to see if she would respond and still no answer. Frustration now on her end, this rain would drown them both soon enough and the poor this is about as wet as if she crawled out of the sea. She could tell she was trembling too, the cold rain was getting to her.

Without thinking, caution aside she snatched out for the girls arm. Small it was in her grasp, and soft. Why would she notice such a strange thing, she smelt like wood smoke and something else, like wild and raw. She girl froze under her touch, shaking and bewildered. She had struck men down with her hands and touched both men and women in ways that would make even a satyr blush. And yet the thought of frightening this girl caused a bizarre wave of uneasiness in this mercenary. She spoke of zeus but the god that came to mind right then was Artemis.

She’s going to pass out on me if i don’t get her inside, she thought. She relaxed her grip on gently slid her hand lower on her arm, it was soft there too, if she has several wraps around her arms. The girl took a deep breathe and shook one more time before following the taller woman.

What in the name of the gods is she suppose to do with a half drowned girl thats sneaking around in the dark? She frowned as she pulled the girl across the yard, up the steps and into the house where the candle glow continued and allowed a bit more consistent light for a conversation.

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