Episode 11: Desire of the Soul
Ceres shook her head ecstatically as she walked through the woods, following after Xanthe.
"I just can't believe it…I can't!" Xanthe held a small smirk as always as she replied to Ceres.
"Well believe it, I need you past this whole fan girl phase…it's starting to creep me out." Running to catch up to Xanthe, now walking side by side she asked.
"Well can you blame me? It's the Amazons!"
"I know, I'm starting to second-guess why I brought you here in the first place."
"I'm sorry it's just…aside from the Nightingales which are another issue, I've never really been a part of anything, do you think they'll let me join them?"
"I don't know, you're not exactly Amazon type."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean the Amazons are impressed by people who're courageous, skilled, and have specific talents. Not including all the other unknown requirements'…I'm not sure they'd accept you in, they'd befriend you well enough, you're a woman but…other than that, I just don't see it."
"Ouch, Xanthe, when you say things like that I die a little inside."
"Not ten minutes ago, you told me to be completely honest with you. Its' either the cold hard truth or butterfly lies."
"The truth but could you sweeten or soften it, just a teeny-wheency bit?" Stopping Xanthe looked her straight in the eye with smirk answering.
"No." Then she walked off once more, leaving Ceres to stare after he saying.
"I hate you but in a good way." Running after her once more, Ceres ran into her when she'd stopped suddenly and held her nose in pain.
"Ouch! Xanthe…you've got to work on communication." Ceres then froze in surprise too, at the sight of two wounded Amazon women. Aside from their wounds, they were quite beautiful, the one known as Orithyia having long dark auburn hair down to her knees tied back in a long braid. Her thin arched eyebrows sitting underneath a woven and intricately designed head guard that resembled the animal skin version of a tiara. Eyes a serene light blue, her features were noble possessing proportional defined lips, prominent cheekbones and lightly tanned skin. Somewhere in her late twenties, she looked younger with an athletic and shaped body.
Dressed in a brown animal skin skirt down passed her knees, leaving only slight skin exposure as her lightly woven and sewn boots came up just passed her calf's. Wearing a top like a bikini made of the same animal skin encrusted with gold designs, a many colored beaded necklace covering the upper most part of her chest. On her hands a fingerless forearm guard covered the back of her hands to her elbows, beads embedded into it for design and protection. Laying near her a long spear with an obsidian blade, many colored feathers on the end. Near her, just a few feet away lay her friend, Myrina, not quite entrancing but just as beautiful emanating an inner strength.
Her long wavy dark blonde hair down to her upper back, with a singly braid going down the right side of her head with colored feathers on the end. Her eyebrows full and arched above deep forest green eyes, features sharp and strong, her skin was slightly tanner. Slightly taller and lankier than her friend, Myrina possessed a more toned body. Dressed in a similar outfit, her skirt was shorter, with short shorts underneath. The boots she wore, smaller with a hint of leather, her top covered more and laced at the front, her left arm was armored with leather completely shielding it.
Held firmly in both hands she dual wielded Kopis, crafted specifically to her hand. Ceres' surprise quickly turned to worry as she rushed forward next to Orithyia, checking her injuries mumbling aloud.
"…broken leg…dislocated shoulder…and a slight concussion, I can take care of this." While Ceres went to break a branch off a tree Xanthe tended to her friend.
"…aside from the scrapes your worst injuries are your broken arm and leg. I'll need to make a splint for both and then make a stretcher." Ceres returned to tending to her friend while Myrina turned her head slowly to look at Xanthe, weakly asking.
"W-who are…you?"
"Xanthe, I'm a friend of the Amazons, your queen knows me."
"A-Aegea…I-is dead…" Xanthe paused in shock, before shaking her unpleasant surprise off and continued to work on the Amazon. Meanwhile, Ceres now sat wrapped up Orithyia's wounded head with a small smile asking.
"Feeling better? That medicine should've numbed most of the pain." Giving a slightly pained smile she answered.
"Yes, tell me…what's your name?"
"Me? Oh I'm nobody important, just a friend of Xanthe's, my name is Ceres."
"Ceres…that's a very beautiful name, thank you Ceres." Ceres' smiled happily, standing up she then walked over next to Xanthe helping her with the stretcher asking worriedly.
"What happened to them?"
Xanthe- "Not sure…these aren't wounds from a battle though so maybe they got into an accident during a hunt, failing to leapt to another tree branch can do that and it seems most likely." Crafting a large stretcher they hooked it to the back of Aella stretching from her saddle to rest at an angle. Placing the two carefully onto it next to each other Xanthe asked more of confirmation than curiosity.
"So, what happened to ya? I can't imagine an Amazon making dangerous leap's for no reason."
Orithyia- "We…were being…chased by a group of Cratus' men, we lost them in the woods but…in our haste we missed the branch and fell."
"I can tell, you know the broken bones in all…doesn't matter though we'll get you to your village." Taking the lead Xanthe led Aella through the woods searching while Ceres lingered near the two wounded peering around to make sure it was safe. They tried to make as little noise as possible, considering they were dragging two wounded people on a stretcher by horse, it was incredibly difficult. The expansion and twist and turns of the forest gave the impression of a vast endless mountain of discoveries that have yet to be unraveled. What would've been a wondrous sight at first had been twisted by the need to be cautious, turning the mysterious and magical forest into a thick death trap, where danger could spring out from anywhere at any moment. Arising out of the quiet of the forest yelps and screams of war cries echoed from above as a squad of woman dropped down surrounding them.
Xanthe- "Ceres'! Drop down to your knees and cross your arms!" Not even going to second-guess her friend, Ceres' did as she was told. The Amazon's lowered their weapons and lifted their intimidating yet colorful masks in surprise. Stepping forward as the leader of the group, a bronze skinned woman only slightly older than Ceres' herself greeted them with suspicion but promise. Her dark chocolate brown hair practically black, stretched down to her mid-back. Eyebrows full and arched above deep hazel eyes, she'd slight bump in her nose.
Lips full and defined, she'd prominent high cheek bones and a soft jaw line. Dressed in a similar manner to her friend she wore an animal skin skirt, hers bearing a bit of fringe. Her boots as well with fringe golden beads at the end. Her top a belly shirt covering both of her arms with leather armor, her hands bore Cestus similar to Ceres'. Latched onto her back was a small wooden shield, animal leather on the front in the design of a tribal face, while in her right hand she wielded a spear much akin to Orithyia.
"You know the Amazon sign for peace and surrender, surprising. My scouts tell me that you're carrying two of our wounded?" Xanthe nodded gesturing to Orithyia and Myrina answering.
"Yes, we picked them up a short while ago…they said they were being chased by Cratus' men?" Recognizing Orithyia, she ran over kneeling down next to her worriedly taking her hand.
"Your highness?!" Eyebrows raised in surprise Ceres' mumbled dumbfounded.
"Your highness? Is she…royalty?" Whispering back surprised Xanthe confirmed it.
"Looks like…listen Ceres'…" Touching her arm lightly Ceres' smiled understandingly.
"We're going to stay and help, I know, it's not like we've been doing anything else for the past couple of months. Besides I couldn't just stand by and do nothing myself." Patting her hand Xanthe smiled grateful replying.
"Which is one of the reasons I bring you along." She then stepped forward crouching down near their new acquaintance asking gingerly.
"Listen, I know this isn't the best time but I'd really like to know why Cratus' is attacking you." Answering sharply she stated bluntly.
"Why else would they attack us? It's either for sport or our hunting grounds, this isn't a surprise really…they've been after our lands for years now." Taking in Xanthe's sincere face, she relented looking down in repentance.
"I'm sorry, it's just…ever since Queen Aegea died…things have been more difficult. Orithyia has yet to go through the initiation to become Queen…had anything happened to her…I…" Orithyia reached up touching her friends hand reassuringly.
"Effemy, I'm fine…you worry too much…a few broken bones isn't going to kill me."
Xanthe- "Maybe not but Cratus' sounds dead set on getting rid of you all, one way or the other."
Effemy- "You know him?"
"Yeah, a bit…last I seen him I'd tossed him overboard for a swim…he must've got lucky and was picked up. Right now though, all that matters is we get Orithyia back to your village to heal…when we're there we can talk." Agreeing they'd all picked up the pace, traveling through the winding forest with purpose, like a pack of wolves they'd watched over one another until they'd finally entered the village. Safely hidden it reminded Ceres' of Acanthus the way it was hidden by nature, their homes were made of akin to log cabins with thatched roofs, spacious, lively, colorful, and disciplined. Little girls ran around playing but not a man was seen in sight. As they made their way through the village, woman stopped and bowed deeply with a hint of fear in their eyes at the sight of Orithyia and Myrina. Taken to the largest of the houses, high up steps they carried the two, laying them down on an animal skin and hay bed.
Once laid down they were sat up so they could eat and all those except Xanthe, Ceres', and Effemy. Once they were sure the others were no longer within earshot Xanthe began.
"I'm not one to beat about the bushy so let me just say it, I want to help you drive off Cratus' and his men. Your people will be much better off without them pestering you, all I ask is that you let us rest here for the time being." Orithyia replied more strongly than before with an elegance that shocked Ceres' as she wore a thoughtful expression.
"I've no intention of going to war with Cratus' but if you're willing to risk his army, I'll not stop you. Of course you're welcome to stay, you helped us in our time of need…I have but one request." Confused Xanthe furrowed her brow in suspicion.
"What?"
"I wish your friend to join us, to become an Amazon." Raising her eyebrows sighing Xanthe glanced over at Ceres' who stood there opened mouth in amazement. Turning back to Orithyia she reluctantly stated aloud.
"I've no objections on the matter…if she wish's to become one of you, then I will not stop her." Orithyia nodded respectfully then turned her penetrating gaze on Ceres' asking.
"Well? We could really use someone like you among us, Ceres', I'm a good judge of character and I suspect that in the future…your contribution to the safety and development of the Amazon's will be greatly needed." Stuttering out in excitement Ceres' nodded enthusiastically.
"Y-yes of course! I'm honored." Effemy intervened objectively.
"But your highness! I-I'm not doubting your judgment but…she is not even of Amazon blood, she is an outsider…"
"Your concern is noted Effemy but…I trust Ceres' there's something about her that tells me she'll be a very good friend to have indeed." Relenting Effemy grudgingly stepped back with a cool understanding bowing deeply.
"As you wish your highness."
"Now onto the matter of the coronation, my hunt had been interrupted…I'm no longer in any condition to go through my Dawning Day and neither is Myrina. So I have one request, after Ceres' is initiated into the Amazons and receives adequate training…I want her to go in my stead." Myrina even busted out in protest.
"…Orithyia! If she does that, if she manages to complete your hunt she won't just become royalty she'll be queen!" Xanthe smirked wearing a small smile stating aloud.
"Only if she accepts the crown…once the hunt is completed she becomes an Amazon princess but it is also within her rights to choose the next queen. You're a clever woman, your highness." Orithyia nodded knowingly saying.
"One way or the other, we Amazon's will have a queen…I'll not allow us to fall into disarray. I'm surprised you knew this, Xanthe."
"Aegea was a dear friend of mine, she taught me many things…originally she had intended me to become one of you but…certain circumstances prevent me from being so. I'm not sad about this really, this actually gives me an advantage, as long as I'm not one of the Amazon's…I'll be able to take Cratus' down without your people have to bear the repercussions of my actions." Stepping forward Effemy protested.
"This is a fine plan but…why make her a princess? How do we know if she'll even be able to complete the hunt?"
Xanthe- "I know Ceres' hunting skills believe me, that's the last thing you need to worry about." Orithyia soothed Effemy's worries saying.
"She's not the only one who'll be made an Amazon Princess today, you're going with her, the Dawning Day ritual cannot be completed without a Shadow-Sister." Effemy stepped back in surprised going wide eyed.
"M-me? B-but your highness…wasn't Myrina going to be your next in line?" Gently touching her friends shoulder Orithyia stated sadly.
"That was my original intent, yes, but as you can see…it was not meant to be. These are dangerous times and I'd rather be comforted by the fact that should I perish there will be another to take my place." A nervous fit Ceres' stepped forward shyly.
"I-I truly am honored y-you wish me to become an Amazon but…like Effemy said…there truly is no reason for me to become a Princess, couldn't you just select someone else?" Giving a small mysterious smile Orithyia answered her.
"I'm gifted with senses, Ceres', among these senses are the gift of foresight and the ability to judge one's influence. I knew a great two souls were coming today both contrasting the other but so closely intertwined the fates could not separate the two. One of these two, has much to learn…and in this process of learning she will eventually become a teacher herself…a teacher that will be greatly needed. One…who will keep the Amazon nations alive, one I have great respect for." The weight of her words drowned out the screaming voice in Ceres' head while her stare wiped away all doubt. An understanding that Ceres' had never known before swept through her, bowing low she replied properly.
"I understand your highness, thank you." Stepping back beside Xanthe, Ceres was filled with a sense of duty and companionship she'd never known before, the companionship of comrade's in arms. Xanthe still felt unsettled by this but let it go, Ceres' smile was too much for her to take away, respectfully she bowed lightly saying.
"I see I'm no longer needed here, I'm going to go scout…see if I can't…pick up the trail of any of Cratus' men." Nodding understandingly, Orithyia let her go watching as she left the room.
"Ceres'…what you do for me today is more than I have ever asked any of my own people." Ceres' looked over on at her in confusion frowning.
"What do you mean?"
Myrina- "Our patron Goddess is Artemis, the goddess of the hunt…as the Dawning Day requires a mighty beast must be slain. Just north of here…residing in a small cave is the great mountain lion called Nevose, the cousin to the Nemean Lion that is your target." Ceres' blinked rapidly hardly believing what she was hearing as she stepped forward asking almost stunned stupid.
"W-wait a minute, you want me…to hunt and kill a giant mountain lion, who earned his own name and is a cousin to the Nemean Lion? The same lion, that was impervious to weapons and was strangled to the death by Hercules?" Orithyia nodded sympathetically, Ceres' stepped back holding her head dazed.
"You've got to be kidding me? Please tell me it's not impervious to weapons too…cause if it is…I've no idea how we're going to take it down." Effemy stated just as surprised and worried, almost breathless in her statement.
"I knew you're Dawning Day was supposed to be especially difficult but I didn't know…or even…imagined it to be Nevose." Calming them Myrina informed them saying.
"You don't have to worry…for the most part, Nevose isn't impervious to weapons but it will take a well place arrow or blade to kill it."
Orithyia- "I will not send you out while Ceres' lacks the proper skills of the Amazon's, I see she's well trained in…whatever sort of weapon that is…and the bow as well. Now we just need to teach her to leap, jump, climb, and swing like an Amazon." Ceres' eyes widened in shock as the words she mumbled tumbled out of her mouth.
"Xanthe is not going to like it when she hears this…"
Kneeling low to the ground, Xanthe's fingers lightly touched hoof prints leading out of the Amazon woods out onto the open plains. Narrowing her eyes, she cocked her head listening to the light sound of trotting and leapt up jumping high up onto a tree, climbing faster than a monkey, hiding among the branches and leaves. Sitting completely still she watched as horseman gathered under her, among them Cratus' second-in-command Mintaclese. Completely bald with tattoo's covering his entire heard down to his face, his eyebrow full and sharp above amber eyes. Nose slightly rounded at the tip and lips practically non existent, his jaw long and angled. Dressed in the usual attire for a warrior serving under a warlord he was dawned in leather armor but wielded a sword almost the same size as him.
"Spread out! We need to try and ferret the harlots out!" Xanthe smirked shaking her head as she watched his men leave him alone with the very small clearing. Sitting atop his horse he began eating an apple, smiling confidently. Dropping down behind him she'd quickly grabbed onto his neck, paralyzing him temporarily. Whispering into his ear she spoke quickly all the while wearing an animal like smile.
"So…what's my good friend, Cratus up to these days?"
"X-Xanthe?!"
"That's right…so you better start talking, I'm in a rye mood as it is!"
"I ain't telling you nothing! You'll have to kill me first!" Raising an eyebrow she shook her head.
"For Cratus' second-in-command you really are an idiot…here, let me give some juice for that brain to think clearly or lack of there-of really." Holding certain points on his neck he began to convulse turning purple faced as he shouted aloud desperately.
"A-Alright! Alright! Amazon lands are highly valued and would go for high price selling to kingdom! Cratus' wants to clear the forest out so he could sell the lands to the highest bidder!" Xanthe's eyes seemed to light up with anger as she pressed harder inquiring further.
"You wouldn't happen to know where our little friend, Cratus is camped now would you?"
"…Just…North-East of here…you can't miss it…!" Pulling away she knocked him out, watching as he fell of his horse. Jumping back up onto the branches, Xanthe swung and leapt through the trees as if she were born to them and began rounding up the other's tying them all together hanging them from a single branch above the unconscious Mintaclese.
"That should give him something to think about when he wakes up." Whistling for Aella she leapt atop her and rode off onto the plains, destination Cratus encampment.
Ceres hit the ground hard with a thud and picked herself up, covered in bruises, cuts, and scrapes.
"Ouch! I feel the closer I get to getting this whole leaping and tree thing down…the closer I get to broken bones if I miss." Effemy sighed tiredly staring at her irritated.
"Come on, you should've been able to make that last jump! It hardly a challenge at all!"
"Yeah well maybe to you! Give me a break I've only just started learning today…"
"Is that going to be your excuse when your half-dead stuck in the mouth of Nevose?"
"No my excuse will be I didn't have a good enough decoy…"
"Try it again! And this time! Use your right foot, not your left…try and feel out your body so you can get a good sense of how much spring you need to put in your step, let's try this again." Groaning Ceres' ran over jumping up climbing up the tree as fast as she could but far from elegantly as the Amazons. Balancing atop the branches, she swayed slightly but stood firmly in place far from falling off. Like she'd practiced many times before she ran leaping from one tree branch to the next flipping through the air until she landed on the other branch shakily and lost grip catching herself from the dangerous fall before she earned another set of bruises.
"I wish Xanthe were here…"
Coughing loudly Xanthe gained Cratus' attention as she sat unnoticed, at first, in his chair behind his desk. His tent filled with his things, food, and stolen loot taken from unfortunate travelers.
"Xanthe!" Cratus' hissed; his black hair slicked back from his face, bushy eyebrows above beady grey eyes, a nose slightly larger than average and his lips proportional above a Billy-goat goatee. Dressed in a silver plated armor with a dark red tunic underneath, wearing black leather pants tucked into dark brown boots, his sword sheathed at his side.
"How did you get in here?!" Xanthe pointed behind her to the large cut behind his tent teasingly saying.
"You really need to situate your patrols more effectively, I waltzed into your camp and nobody noticed a thing."
"Enough! What is it exactly you want?" Meeting his eyes with a deadly stare of her own she answered no longer toying with the dagger in her hands.
"You know what I want, I want you to leave the Amazon alone along with their land. If you do not comply with these demands, your men will be voting for a new leader REAL soon."
"You do that and my men will gut you alive, you really think you can take them all down?!"
"You know me, Cratus, I'm a one woman army; say I've been meaning to ask…how was your swim? Seeing as your still standing here ALIVE, I know a shark didn't pick you up."
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Throwing the knife suddenly the hit him in the throat with the pommel of it causing him to gasp for air hitting his knees stunned. Standing up with a jerk she strode over to him pulling his head up to look at her forcefully asking.
"Tell me, it was Eryx who spared your sorry carcass wasn't it?"
"What's it to you?! Last I checked you're no longer involved with our kind of business and Eryx was at the head of your army!" Yanking his head back she practically pulled out his hair as she retorted.
"Oh I'm involved, my business now is just taking out trash like you…tell me, what did he offer you? When you were fished out of the sea I mean…aside from your life? Riches? Land? Freedom? Oh but of course it was riches…your kind can only think about one thing and that's how loud the coins in your purses ring." Grunting in pain he answered grudgingly meeting her eyes with the fire of gold glint.
"More…he GAVE me back my army and what's more he gave me a cut of the profits, a place in his future plans for Greece and beyond. Other than that little piece of information I'm useless to you…"
"That so?"
"Yes, I know you're wondering where he is right now but even I don't know that…I know my place, I'm a pawn, exposable…the only thing keeping me alive right now is my profits."
"The profit of driving off people from their land your mean?" Cratus didn't answer as she reached for his weapon, disgusted she stomped down on his weapon jamming it into the ground pulling away watching as he tugged at it desperately.
"Nimble feet and a sharp blade won't help you now…Cratus, your luck…has already ran out." Unsheathing her blade with one swift motion she lopped off his head, the shocked expression on his face still worn on it. Leaving the tent with a purposeful stride she snuck out the encampment knowing their little army would implode in on itself.
The night having now taken over the sky, Ceres sat in the middle of the village her wounds being dressed by Effemy, who was surprisingly careful in her treatment. The sight of Xanthe's dark approach raised her head, Xanthe's changed from one of anger to one of fury as she stomped towards the two.
"What happened?! Did this happen during your hunt?!" Ceres raised her hands reassuringly answering her.
"No, no…we haven't actually gone on the hunt yet right now they're…training me." Xanthe frowned thinking fast.
"What possible thing could they be teaching that's-" Stopping short she narrowed her eyes in frustration as she strode towards Orithyia's home. Following after Ceres walked on worriedly behind her praying on the inside Xanthe wasn't going to do what she intended. Once inside the hut Xanthe let in on her.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Orithyia remained calm obviously expecting as much as Xanthe continued on.
"What in the world makes you THINK Ceres is ready to learn something as advanced as that?! She could've gotten seriously hurt! It's remarkable she's in one whole piece right now with you flinging her off of trees!" Reacting calmly Orithyia answered telling Xanthe what she told Ceres.
"I did not want you to interfere before but…the Dawning Day requires for her to hunt. The target for her is especially dangerous, it is Nevose…the mountain lion. I did not want her to go after him unpre-"
"Nevose?!" Xanthe's eyes widened in outrage as she literary had to get a hold of herself.
"You're sending her after Nevose?!"
"It cannot be helped now, Xanthe, Ceres has to go through with it…Artemis knows." Hands on her hips staring down at the floor her foot tapped angrily as she asked deadly almost quiet.
"Whose teaching her?"
"Effemy…" Looking back up at Orithyia, Xanthe stated aloud.
"Not good enough…"
"She's the best Ceres has at her disposal besides Myrina and I."
"Yeah, well I'm better and I'm taking over…"
"As long as Ceres finishes her hunt I will not protest." With a growl Xanthe dragged Ceres out of the hut along with her saying aloud.
"Come on, you need to rest…and then in the morning…we'll begin." Stopping her, Ceres asked concerned.
"Xanthe…something's bothering you, what is it?"
"We don't have time for this, Ceres, you need your rest so-"
"Xanthe! Look at yourself you're practically foaming at the mouth, what has you so angry?!"
"I'll tell you what's making me angry, it's Cratus, it's Eryx, and now it's Orithyia! Honestly I just have half a mind to start wasting people to spare the world some pain!"
"Xanthe!" Ceres in took a breath shocked shaking her head, looking over at Xanthe her anger began to dissipate into shame as she looked away. Regret shown in her eyes as she reigned in her emotions, letting go of Ceres she gestured to the hut they were staying saying.
"This way…I've something I need to get off my chest." Following after into the small hut, sitting on their separate beds looking at one another, Xanthe explained.
"This…whole business has gotten more personal than I intended it too…you see, Aegea was a friend of mine."
"Yes, you mentioned that before."
"…It's more complicated than that though you see…she'd spared my life after I'd tried to take hers, a mercy that I didn't understand back then. She'd taken me in…shown me another life…it wasn't peaceful but it also wasn't lonely either. There was always somebody there for you, I didn't understand it so much back then. She'd taught me the skills of the Amazon's and I fed off it…later using those skills too…well you know. The point is…I owe her more than just my life, I owe it to her to protect the people she cared about the most, the Amazon's her family.
Cratus was a thing of my dark past…something I had to…eliminate to protect what I cherish now. It's like every where I turn Eryx is haunting me, I figured Eryx had planned to over throw me before but…Cratus confirmed it. I…as you can imagine was more than little upset when I heard this…" Ceres closed her eyes understanding as she spoke.
"You finding out about my…new training was the kicker wasn't it?"
"I don't like it, Ceres, I didn't bring you here to be used and beat up to suit their whims. I brought you here so you would learn the importance of safety first, it's like ever since Aegea left…they've discarded pieces of logic that keep them together."
"Each rule is different, I'm sure Orithyia is just trying to do what is best for her people."
"Yeah well…she should've asked first or clarified to me what you were going up against had I known-"
"You would've rejected the idea of me becoming an Amazon outright." Xanthe nodded determinedly but then spoke up strained.
"It doesn't matter now though, Artemis knows…and you can't back out now…we're going to do this the best way not the fast way, no matter what Orithyia wants, got it?" Ceres nodded agreeing, relaxing Xanthe laid down in her bed.
"Good, now get some sleep we've a big day tomorrow."
The next morning Ceres ached all over but stood under the trees from before with her original mentor. Xanthe looked around at the ground, the body prints of Ceres impact from her falls. Shaking her head she spoke up ordering clearly.
"Let me see what you've learned so far…" Shrugging Ceres did as before climbing up the tree quickly leaping from branch to branch balancing carefully, then bounded from tree to the other tree missing just slightly her boot scraping the branch. As she fell Xanthe ran over catching her quickly panting as she set her down.
"Not bad…I didn't expect you to have gotten this far to tell you the truth. Let me see your leg…" The slip had scraped her leg up badly, Ceres cringed in pain looking away from the wound saying.
"Uh…that was worse than last time…" Tending to her wound, Xanthe, was careful not to make it hurt more than I already did.
"There…that should do it…Ceres I've got to say…I'm proud of you."
"What?" Ceres blushed embarrassed confused.
"Proud? Why?"
"…because I know you…the only reason you got as far as you did wasn't because of Effemy but because you never give up. That's a good thing, you need that kind of determination to survive…"
"I-I guess, thanks…Xanthe."
"No problem, now let's show you how this is really done…" Lifting Ceres back up onto her feet Xanthe wore a small happy smile.
It didn't take long and soon Ceres was flipping, climbing, and running with the best of them. Standing just outside of the entrance of the village, Ceres and Effemy stood expectantly. Now dressed in the traditional outfit of the Amazons, Ceres wore animal skin boots, a skirt similar to Orithyia's, and a top like Effemy's her hand covered in beaded forearm guards'. Setting off they followed through the hidden trails, Ceres bow in hand while Effemy had her shield strapped on her back and her spear in the other. The foot falls barely made any noise as they ran through the woods, towards the cave of their awaiting foe.
Climbing to the tree branches, they stood above and before the cave waiting for any signs of life. The yawn of a waking lion reached their ears and they nodded at one another prepared. Fletching an arrow Ceres waited as Effemy dropped down to the ground. The exact moment her feet hit the massive lion sprang forth from the cave jumping at her. Using her shield she flung the mountain lion behind her with the force of it's own momentum exposing it's underside.
Ceres with the eyes of a hawk shot true, piercing the heart of the massive lion killing it. Both awed at what they'd accomplished in a mere matter of seconds, they stopped staring at the corpse. Dropping down next to Effemy she helped her up asking dumbfounded.
"That just happened…right?"
"I-I believe so…" Walking up to the corpse, Effemy poked it cautiously expecting it to spring up to find no signs of life within the creature anymore.
Ceres- "Well then…how do we get this creature to the village…it's massive." There was a long silence before Effemy stated funnily enough.
"I think…that might be the real challenge, Ceres." The fast movement of a shadow figure past through Ceres peripheral vision making her smile comforted. Comedic the two dragged the lion back through to the village both panting tiredly dropping the corpse and dropping to their knees as the stood before the awed crowd.
Ceres- "One…mean…ugly Nevose…at your order."
Standing before the crowds atop a stage, Ceres and Effemy stood side by side as an Amazon handed the mask of the queen to Ceres who raised it high in the air then handed to Orithyia who accepted it with a knowing smile before putting it on. Looking into the crowd, Ceres spotted Xanthe's beaming smile as she looked at her friend and student in pride. Once all the congratulation was done and her status had been stated to the village Ceres bounded down the stage right up to Xanthe with a smile.
"So…HOW proud of me are you?" Smirking Xanthe nodded her head approvingly answering.
"Very, I'm very proud and impressed…that was big game."
"Yeah it was, though I have to ask…after Effemy and I killed the lion I seen somebody in the trees…was that you?" Feigning ignorance Xanthe frowned convincingly and turned away.
"Don't be absurd, Ceres…I'd NEVER interrupt such an important right as the Dawning Day." Smiling highly amused Ceres replied jokingly.
"Uh huh surrrreeee…and I'm cat food, right?"
