Journal Entry #25: October 20th, 2005

I have not written in this journal for nearly two weeks, largely because of a lack of any free time whatsoever, but Achilles has deemed the Initiates and the Others capable of keeping our little stronghold intact so that Silent, Tempest, myself, Alanna and Achilles might enjoy a twenty-four hour period where we are free to relax as much as one can relax with an ever-growing army of Risen surrounding them.

It has been nearly a week since Alanna, Silent, Tempest and their team made it back from their supply run. The supplies were greeted with much fanfare and there probably would have been a feast if not for the absence of two of the Others that had accompanied Alanna, Silent, and Tempest. One of the wives seemed to care very little that her husband had not come back, she was more upset that there was no beer or liquor among the supplies, while the other wailed as though the entire world was coming to an end. Alanna, in Myrmidon fashion, told the gathered Others exactly what had happened to the men. There was some initial grumbling but, to everyone's surprise, the big man named Lucas spoke up in defense of Alanna's actions. His voice was joined by the remaining two Others and any dissent was quickly squashed.

The supplies were quickly organized and work was begun to strengthen the fortifications before the first Risen reached the stronghold. The supermarket was also thoroughly cleaned, sanitized, and made much more livable. The Pizza Hut, after being boarded up, was being used to store the majority of the supplies that have little to do with the defense of the stronghold. There is always a guard, either a Myrmidon or one of the Initiates, at the Pizza Hut. While the Others are behaving themselves at the moment, Achilles takes no chances, and I can not blame him.

A surprising thing, though I should have seen this coming, happened a few days later. Two teenaged boys, tall and in reasonably good shape, came forward to be judged worthy of becoming Initiates. The next day Lucas, with family in tow, did likewise. This is not the first time this has happened in the short history of the People so Achilles had a precedent, but I could see that it shocked him to see Lucas. Tempest and Silent told me how the men had been utterly terrified of them after the first day. It is a resounding implication of the impact a Myrmidon can have on someone's perception of themselves that a man can go from fear to envy to determination so quickly. But maybe it is simpler than that. It might just be that the man wants to make sure his daughter lives and becoming People raises the chances of that occurring. What Lucas did not realize was that his wife would have to become an Initiate if he wanted to become People.

Before anyone who's reading this gets outraged about the child, know that the People are not completely heartless. Children need not take Trials as they are much more easily shaped into People than adults. The only thing a child needs worry about is whether they will become a Warrior-Hunter or an Artisan-Laborer and not even that until they reach the age of eighteen. Though, and Achilles actually laughed when I brought this up, the world might go back to normal by that point. Eventually, over the next three days, the other two members of the supply team, Brian and Larry, came forward to become Initiates.

Thankfully the motel still has a few empty rooms that are still in sound condition as well as the office.

So now the list of Warrior-Hunter Initiates consists of my sisters, Lacy and Sara, Luke Brandis, Paul Schaeffer, Brian Foster, and Lucas Quinn. Larry O'Riley, his wife, Lucas' wife, Brian's wife (who's names I can't remember), the alcoholic Other named Linda, and my sisters, Tara and Bethany, make up the Artisan Laborer Initiates. None of the adults are taking it well that my sisters have been put in nominal charge of overseeing their training while the Branded Myrmidons take their leisure. But it was decreed by Lord Achilles and they heed him well.

The Others, of which my parents are sadly included, have finally shown a willingness to follow Achilles orders without an undue amount of protest. Though it probably has more to do with the fact that dozens of Risen are uselessly trying to crawl up the walls of our stronghold and more appear everyday. What is it about people that make it so hard to be able to have a sense of immediacy without a physical cause in front of them? It is perplexing.

Journal Entry # 26 October 30th, 2005

I'm very tired so I will make this short. A first happened and it was a most wonderful of firsts. Tempest, Silent and I had our first "threesome". Apparently they had been plotting such a thing for quite some time. When they told me that I needed a bath, after they had already taken one, I thought nothing of it. I was particularly malodorous, I thought, and when I returned I nearly forgot to close the door at the sight that greeted me. Tempest and Silent were entangled in an erotic embrace, knees pressed between each others legs, moaning deliciously. They both looked at me with 'come hither' eyes and Tempest, of course, said, "Are you going to stand there, with the door open, or fuck us?"

Well, let there be no doubt that I answered that question in the affirmative.

Journal Entry #27 November 10th, 2005

The construction of the defenses is finally complete, rudimentary as they are, and now we turn our attention to preparing our various domiciles for the winter. Hopefully Lucas', and his wife's, feelings that it will be the warmest winter these mountains have ever seen will come true. Otherwise it will be a long winter, ensconced in these tiny motel rooms, huddled together like mice to ward away the cold while inadequate woodstoves are our only source of heat. Though, and I should be ashamed of myself for hoping this, it will not prevent my partners and I from engaging in our favorite form of nighttime recreation.

The training of the Initiates is going surprisingly well. They have all thrown themselves into it without the slightest hesitation. I believe it is the hero-worship the younger Initiates have with Achilles and the awe the older two seem to feel in the presence of Alanna. I have to admit that I practically burst with pride at being a Myrmidon when I watch the two spar, practice in the battle-circle, or even practice their draw with a variety of firearms.

In my occasional observations of the still-increasing fitness levels in Silent and Tempest, it seems readily apparent that something has happened to them in the intervening weeks after their Trial By Fire and today. They are noticeably faster, stronger, more agile, and heal faster than should be normal given their levels of nutrition. It is puzzling and the only thing that I could account for this change is their close contact with Risen. Could it be that the virus can be transmitted by respiratory means despite a Risen's inability to breath? Or even blood-to-skin absorption? Maybe the virus, or whatever causes a person to become Risen, is subtly changing the way the Warrior-Hunters bodies work? It would explain how much physically superior they all are to Others with similar phenotypes.

Journal Entry #28 November 24th 2005

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving. Achilles said it would help bolster people's spirits before the long night of hard winter fell upon them and I think he was right. Despite the constant moaning of the Risen surrounding the stronghold, a feast of Pre-End Time proportions was prepared. We ate mashed potatoes, the instant kind you only need water for, corn, biscuits, rice, stuffing. The only thing that was missing was turkey but all the venison we could handle sufficed nicely.

My sisters, Silent, Tempest, Tempest's sister, and me all sat with my parents. It was tense at first until Tempest, I'm sure that's no surprise to anyone that may be following these infrequent journal entries, moaned melodramatically and patted a purposefully distended belly before making a comment about bursting like an overripe melon. That got a conversation, tentative at first, going and gradually it allowed my sisters to bask in the reluctant approval of their parents. All of my sisters are showing changes for the better since becoming Initiates. Lacy, who barely can bring herself to look anyone in the eye, actually told me she thought she was a lesbian the other day! They all are starting to walk with a natural, predatory gait that brims with a level of confidence I've never seen in them.

The only thing that marred the night was Jackie. Tempest's sister seemed determined to sulk like a toddler until Tempest finally snapped and told her to go find her friends' fire, which was as far away from anyone as Achilles would allow and surrounded by raucous celebrating of the kind that was commonly found in gatherings of teenagers before the End Time. Jackie, possessed of a slightly less caustic version of Tempest's temper, shouted back something about how Tempest liked me and Silent, who she referred to as Tempest's "little lezzie-slut", more than her own family anyway. I rose to defend Tempest's honor, only a little slower than Silent, but we were both held back by Tempest's hand rising. She told us to let her foolish sister go to the small number of teenagers that feel as though they don't have to work very hard. Of course, this makes them somewhat resentful that they get the worst sleeping quarters, the last cuts of meat, etc. But, as Tempest once said, "fuck them".

Of course no one, besides myself and Silent, knows the real Tempest. The one who cries herself to sleep sometimes because of how much her sister hates her. Because of how she almost got Alanna, who she probably respects more than anyone she's ever known despite the rivalry she has with the woman, killed to save her ungrateful blood. Because of how, in her eyes, the honor that she so painstakingly built up within herself was tarnished by her vow that her sister would make a fine Myrmidon. I do not know what secrets, fears, and rages Alanna and Achilles share but I do know that, though Myrmidons may put on a public face of Zen detachment, within each of us is a carefully guarded heart that is just as easily bruised, cut, and shattered as any Others.

Journal Entry # 30 December 10th, 2005

Besides the constant din of the encroaching Risen hordes, this is not so bad a life to have. My days are spent training the Artisan-Laborer Initiates with Silent while Tempest and Alanna put the Warrior-Hunter Initiate through their paces. If the Initiates are having a rest day then I supervise the various projects being undertaken by the Others. My nights are spent sandwiched between Silent and Tempest since Achilles and Alanna have permanently taken over the night-watch.

The temperature has dropped, but so far it seems to be hovering around the mid-forties. Much higher than it's supposed to be at this time of year, I think, but there is hope that the temperature won't drop so low that we all freeze to death but low enough to slow the Risen even further to allow us to walk out of here. Though, if the rock faces become too icy, climbing out may prove difficult.

But, again, this is not so bad a life.

Alanna stood on top of the wall, flatter and wider than before, with her semi-automatic shotgun slung across her back as she looked out across a sea of Risen. It was a clear, cold day and she could see the end of the horde nearly half a mile away. The horde was thick though, their ranks tight almost the entire length of the wall, and a person would need a tank to even think about getting through. Thankfully that was not her mission today.

Today they were Risen-fishing.

The concept was mind-boggling but necessary if the Initiates were going to pass their Trial By Fire. Achilles and Tzu, in the center of one of the circular firing platforms they had built, were pulling in a third Risen they had managed to lasso around the ankle. Their target mindlessly moaned as they dragged him across the piled Risen bodies in the ditch before the start of the sharply sloped wall. Alanna was there, hunting rifle in hand, to pick off any Risen that made a grab for the rope. Silent, along with the Warrior-Hunter Initiates, were keeping an eye on the two Risen that had already been dumped into a seven-foot deep fighting pit the Artisan-Laborer Initiates had dug for the express purpose of the Trials. Tempest was in command of this side of the wall today while Sarah Denton was in command of the opposite. The young woman had showed an impressive command ability despite her status as an Initiate and had practically quivered with joy when Achilles had given her the duty.

Alanna shivered as a wintery breeze blew down the valley, bringing with it the muted scent of Risen decay, and clutched her fur-lined cloak around her. She would have preferred a parka of the modern variety but these Artisan-Laborer designed ones could be discarded much more quickly. Achilles and Tzu didn't seem to notice as they struggled to pull the Risen to them. Both of the men were garbed in Warrior-Hunter armor, Tzu's rigid sections were composed of bones taken from a variety of animals and Risen, and had removed their winter cloaks shortly after beginning. The Others that were watching, from a healthy distance of course, seemed impressed at the strength of the small men.

Though neither are as weak as these Others seem to think from their size. And if they only knew what Tempest, Silent, and I know then they probably wouldn't call them small.

Laughter, the bellowing kind that was the only sort one could hear over the low moan of the hundreds of Risen before them, came to Alanna faintly from the a spot nearly three hundred meters down the wall. The Lioness turned and was not surprised to find Tempest's sister surrounded by her constant companions. It was a small group, maybe half a dozen, of older teenagers that were probably the most obstinate of the Others. They balked at even the least strenuous choirs, she vaguely remembered walking in on two of them shirking their duties at Tempest's former domicile, and it was only with the self-discipline she had learned at Achilles hands that kept Alanna from throttling the bratty Others to death.

The Warrrior-Hunter turned back to her duty as Achilles and Tzu finally gotten their Risen up to 'battlement' level. It immediately sat up, emaciated breasts a sickly purple in the afternoon light, and lunged at the two men. Without a word spoken, the two Myrmidon moved in concert to back down the gradual slope, dragging the Risen behind them, and their prey could only flail wildly as it was dragged with blistering speed towards the fighting pit. The distance was short and soon they slowed to a stop. When the Risen sat up this time, Silent was behind it and hooked her arms beneath the Risen's armpits. The Myrmidon woman locked her hands behind the Risen's head and lifted the creature to its feet. Of course the Risen kicked wildly, teeth gnashing furiously, as she was carried bodily to the edge of the pit and unceremoniously tossed in. The end of the rope was tied to a stake planted by the edge of the pit and that ended their fishing expedition.

Wild shrieks of laughter were carried on the breeze and Alanna turned with a scowl towards Jackie and her friends. Now the group of teenagers were imitating the Myrmidons with a length of rope that looked far too short. Jackie was precariously close to one of the gaps in the waist-high earthen wall they had built on top of the battlements. Tempest was striding from the opposite direction, anger open on her face despite the shadows cast by her helmet, and Alanna smirked to herself to see what the outcome would be. Silent joined Alanna atop the wall and the two Myrmidon waited to see what Tempest would do.

Disaster struck then and Alanna was surprised that she felt not a twinge of compassion when it did. The boy behind Jackie, as a joke or just to be mean, let his rope go and bellowed laughter at the girl's terrified shriek. There was a single adult Other stationed at that firing platform, who had been steadfastly ignoring the antics of the teenager, let loose his own roar as Jackie hit the wall hard and went tumbling over. Alanna shook her head as the girl tumbled down the wall and hit one of the only little circles of clear dirt in the ditch that had been slowly filled with Risen as the Others practiced their shooting on the encroaching horde. It would not remain clear for long as the movement was noticed immediately and over a dozen Risen moved with surprising speed for the dazed figure.

Tempest may be upset, but maybe it's for the best. If only we could arrange accidents for all of the troublesome Others.

Then another thing that shocked Alanna happened. This time it was because of the cold twist of dread that squeezed her heart when Tempest shoved the rope into the Other's hand, grabbed the opposite end, and jumped over the wall after her sister.

"Fuck!" Alanna shouted, "Achilles!"

Alanna went to one knee, brought the scope up to her eye, and blew the brains out of the largest Risen making its way down into the ditch. Achilles was at her side in seconds and Alanna didn't need to see to know that Silent was sprinting towards the other firing platform.

"Jackie fell, Tempest went in after her, they're," Alanna fired again, downing one of the faster Risen, "-about to be overrun."

It was amazing how calm her voice sounded when her heart was beating so hard she thought it would escape her chest.

"Tzu, take the rifle!" Achilles snapped, and Alanna looked up to see that Tzu was several steps into chasing Silent. "Do it! We'll get her!"

Alanna tossed Tzu the rifle and the Myrmidon squeezed the grip in white-knuckled hands before nodding. The Artisan-Laborer threw himself prone and began firing at a much faster pace than Alanna. Alanna tossed her ammo pouch down to him and sprinted after Achilles. Tempest had reached her sister and was pushing the rope into her hands. She was yelling into the petrified teenager's face and finally Jackie started up the slope. Tempest was pushing the girl up with two ungentle hands on her rear. Silent reached the Other and snatched the rope from his straining hands. She pushed him away and gestured at the cowering teenagers that had helped bring about the situation. Then Silent began pulling Jackie up the slope with smooth, economic motions. Tempest started climbing by using spear-club and tomahawk.

"No!" Alanna huffed and willed her legs to greater speed when a huge Risen seemed to spring from nowhere to fasten a purple-mottled hand on Tempest's ankle.

The Risen lunged forward to bite into her armored calf. Tempest looked back and kicked it's head with her opposite foot. Then she stopped moving and nodded at the Risen. A single shot seemed to come from the heavens and the crown of the Risen's head exploded in a shower of partially coagulated gore. Tempest turned to resume her climb when a Risen leapt the six-foot ditch to land squarely on Tempest's back. It pulled back with unbridled ferocity and not even the strength of a Warrior-Hunter was enough to hold on.

Tempest fell backwards into the waiting arms of over a dozen Risen, with more hurling themselves into the fray every moment, and something in Alanna's gut twisted horribly. A hoarse shout, almost a moan, came from the firing circle ahead of them where Jackie was being helped past the gap by Silent. Silent threw the girl behind her, drew tomahawk and spear-club, and propelled herself into the air. The Myrmidon crashed into the group of Risen but popped back up unlike Tempest, who had seemingly disappeared. It was a desperate press of bodies, Silent had her back pressed against the nearly vertical slope as she fought desperately to reach the spot that Tempest had fallen into. Then Tempest's head appeared as she stabbed and slashed with her trophy extractor with wild abandon. The press was too much though and she once again disappeared beneath the press of bodies on the opposite side of the ditch from Tempest.

Alanna removed her shotgun, let it fall, and drew her weapons as Achilles jumped over the wall. A banshee shout, part rage, part fear for Tempest's life, issued from Alanna's mouth as she followed her love to her possible death. Achilles' slid down the slope on his back and stopped himself with two boots to the top of a Risen's skull. His tomahawk lashed out and smashed the back of a Risen's head in as the creature was barely being held back by Tempest. Alanna pushed off the wall with both feet, sailed over Achilles head, and shoulder-blocked a Risen back into several others.

Alanna felt no pain, no fear; there was only life. There was only the battle.

The three Myrmidon moved as one, each falling deeply into the battle-mind, their bodies falling into the rhythms painstakingly learned in the battle-circles. They covered each other's blindspots, crossed each others paths with only inches to spare, stabbed, smashed, and killed a bloody swathe through all before them. Gunfire reached a crescendo and the numbers of Risen pouring into the ditch slackened. Finally they reached the spot where Tempest had disappeared, hacking and stabbing at the backs of the kneeling Risen, to reveal their sister.

Blood covered every inch of Tempest, some of it the thick blood of Risen, but most of it the shockingly bright blood of the living. She fought, even so grievously wounded, her sidearm clicking empty as she tried to keep firing. Tempest's struggled even when they removed the three Risen bodies that she had managed to shoot before being overwhelmed. Silent wrapped her arms around Tempest's chest, her biceps beneath the injured Myrmidon's arms, and started dragging Tempest back through the charnel house the trio had created.

The press of Risen above them was too great for the rifles being brought to bear and Risen started dropping into the ditch once again. Alanna and Achilles fought them off easily but they knew there would be more.

"Silent!" Tzu called but Alanna knew better than to take her eyes away from the Risen charging towards her.

Her breath came easily enough and her limbs seemed to just be limbering up but Alanna knew it was only a matter of time before there would be too many for even Achilles to overcome in such a tight space.

"Achilles!"

The boom of a semi-automatic shotgun was music, albeit painful music, to Alanna's ears.

"The ropes!" Achilles roared to be heard over the moans of the Risen and his shotgun.

Alanna turned and saw that there were two ropes with big loops at their ends waiting for them. She put one over Achilles head and around his torso before doing the same to herself. She turned, drawing her sidearm, and was hauled up the slope with dizzying speed. Alanna fired several times, trying to keep the Risen away from Achilles, and then there was no need because the Myrmidon Lord was being hauled up the slope. When they were on their feet atop the wall, Alanna's eyes searched with sadness for Tempest's body. There was little doubt that she had been bitten and there was only one fate in store for her.

"Where is Tempest?" Achilles asked Tzu.

Tzu turned, tears rolling down his face, and pointed at a trail of blood that led back towards the town. Achilles, accompanied by Alanna, Tzu, and half of the Others stationed on the wall, followed the trail to where a helmetless Silent was still dragging Tempest. Silent's blue eyes were red, puffy, and releasing a flood of tears. Her face was a mess, mucus flowing freely from her nose, and swollen from crying. Tempest had finally gone limp, slipping into the mercy of unconsciousness, and had lost her helmet sometime in the battle. A bite mark was clearly visible on one cheek, not very deep, but ugly enough for that. There also seemed to be another one on her naked shoulder, the pad and underarmor torn away, and another on her shin where the guard had been pulled off. Silent looked up as they approached, pain and fury in her eyes, and held up her sidearm.

"Silent, no," Tzu said, holding his hands up as he walked to her, "You know what has to happen now."

A curious crowd of Others gathered behind them as Silent jabbed her sidearm at Tzu.

"No," the word emerged in a hoarse croak from Silent's mouth, "No!"

Silent's shoulders hitched as she began to sob, her free hand cradling Tempest's head, the gun shaking in her grasp. The fact that Silent could speak could not overcome the icy pit that Alanna's stomach had become.

"I know, Silent, I know," Tzu had knelt before Silent and gently taken the pistol from her. He hugged her to him and held her tightly as she cried into his shoulder. "We are Myrmidon. We do what we must. Always."

"Yes," again the voice was harsh, guttural, and full of emotions that were entirely unbecoming for a Myrmidon but exactly appropriate for the situation.

"Leann?" Jackie's voice came from behind Alanna and, before either Achilles or Alanna could stop her, the girl was running towards Tempest's prone body with a shriek, "Leann!"

Silent was on her feet in an instant and the backhand swept Jackie off her feet. Alanna had not even seen Silent move the ten feet to intercept Jackie. Silent was on top of Jackie, hands locked around the girls throat, and screaming into her face. Long streamers of spit, tears, and blood from where Silent had bitten her own lip dripped into the girls quickly purpling face as Silent started to choke the life from her.

"Let her go, bitch!" a voice cracked in alarm and a shape made the mistake of walking past Alanna.

The Lioness had her helmet off and cracking into the kid's face in a blur of motion. She had a moment's satisfaction at the sound of his nose shattering. It was his foolishness that had resulted in the situation and if he only knew the fate that awaited him then he probably wouldn't have exposed himself so readily. She watched dispassionately as a stone-faced Achilles grabbed the sputtering boy by the throat and hauled him to his feet. The kid was taller than Achilles by several inches but made no move to resist as blood gushed from his mouth and nose.

"She's awake!" Tzu's startled cry made Silent instantly abandon Jackie and return to Tempest's side.

"Hold him," Achilles told Lucas, passing the semi-conscious teenager to the big Initiate.

Alanna fixed Lucas with a stern glance, probably made all the more intimidating by her mask of blood, and followed Achilles.

Tempest's eyes were focused and sharp as the two of them joined in the kneeling circle around her. She grinned, her teeth a macabre crimson, and grunted against the pain.

"Looks like I won't be meeting the rest of the People, huh?" Tempest joked in a hoarse, pain-wracked voice, "Tzu, Silent. I love you. Always remember that. Achilles, thanks for giving me a chance. Thank you for rescuing my sister." Tempest turned to Alanna and surprised the Lioness by reaching out for her hand, "I respect you so much, Alanna. I wanted to be just like you. Please remember that."

"I will, Tempest," Alanna covered Tempest's hand with her own, "No one will ever forget you or your deeds. So long as I live. I swear it."

"I only ask one thing, as is my right," Tempest trembled then, black veins visible in the whites of her eyes when she opened them, "Do not take vengeance upon my sister or her friends."

"I love you," Silent whispered, bending close and kissing Tempest's forehead before whispering into the dying woman's ear.

"I love you. I always have," Tzu said, his eyes as red as Silent's.

Tears ran tracks down Achilles blood-splattered face as he nodded gravely, "There will be no punishment given. Can you walk, Tempest?"

Tempest nodded, "Let me see my sister first."

The four of them stood and Achilles gestured for Jackie to come forward. With a hateful glance at Silent, a coughing, sobbing Jackie dropped to her knees in front of Tempest. The Myrmidon stepped back and let the two have a moment.

"Myrmidon! Form honorguard!" Achilles bellowed.

Alanna and Silent faced off a few feet in front of Achilles with a space of five feet between them. Tzu took his place besides Silent and Tara took her place to Alanna's right. In this manner the Myrmidon formed a living corridor between Achilles and Tempest. Tempest, with a nearly hysterical Jackie's help, stood shakily to her feet. Tempest pushed Jackie away and straightened her spine. She took one unsteady step and then another. Soon she was past where Lucas and his wife faced off and making her way to Achilles.

"Behold the honored final walk of Tempest of the Myrmidon!" Achilles projected his voice in a manner than made it far richer than it normally was, "Behold the boldness of spirit; lay witness to the courageous heart! Let all who would ask know that you bore witness to this final act of sacrifice and honor by a noble Warrior-Hunter."

Alanna kept her eyes locked on Silent's, tears flowing uncontrollably from both their eyes, as Tempest painstakingly walked by them and fell to her knees at Achilles feet.

"Behold the passing of Tempest of the Myrmidon into the next life! Remember this moment! Always!"

There was a single gunshot, Achilles sidearm, and gore splattered the ground in front of Alanna. She thought that Silent's knees would buckle for a moment but the woman showed her mettle and remained on her feet.

"Thus passes Tempest of the Myrmidon! Honorguard... salute!"

Alanna pounded her fist to her chest, the tears blurring her vision so that she could not see anything around her, and screamed, "Tempest!"

Silent screamed hoarsely, "Tempest!"

Soon the entire line was pounding their chests in unison and shouting the fallen Myrmidon's name.

It was a clear, cold, terrible day.

Alanna stood with her fellow Myrmidons in front of Tempest's grave. It was a simple affair, a cross with her name carved into it and the dates of her lifespan, and Alanna thought it fitting. Tzu and Silent held each other for comfort. Their grief was almost a physical sensation and it hurt Alanna's heart to look at them for too long.

"Excuse me, Lord Achilles," the quiet Initiate, Brian, called to them. "Everyone wants to become Initiates and they wanted me to ask about it."

Achilles didn't turn, his grip on Alanna's hand tightening for an instant, "Why now?"

"Well, way they explained it to me, they thought you wouldn't let too many people be Initiates since then you wouldn't have no one to order around and beat up on. After what happened earlier, well, they see now that you're not just spoutin' a bunch of bullshit when it comes to those rules. They see how you apply it to everyone. Even the people you love. So, yeah."

Alanna turned and gasped in shock at the sight of over twenty people standing naked in the nearly freezing temperatures. The rest of the Myrmidons turned and watched impassively for a moment. Jackie came forward, her face swollen from Silent's mistreatment, and kneeled.

"Please, Lord Achilles. I want to make it right," Jackie said, her voice scratchy, tears still flowing down her face.

Behind her the rest of the Others knelt and bowed their heads.

Achilles looked up at the sky, eyes closed before placing a hand on Jackie's shoulder, "Stand up! Everyone stand up!" Once they stood, Achilles let Jackie go, and nodded, "Tomorrow, we begin, and before this winter is over every single Risen here will be dead."

Alanna grinned wildly as Achilles roared, "This I swear!"

It's going to be a long winter.

A/N: This chapter was probably the hardest chapter I've written to date. It's funny. I never really liked Tempest/Leann as a character or a person. And yet, somehow, she became my favorite despite not getting very much dialogue or characterization. I think it's because her journey, as seen through several pairs of eyes, is the most striking in terms of dichotomy. So, she kind of latched onto my heart, and it was a difficult thing writing that. Especially when I have little movie-reels playing in my head before I commit to paper. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed, and I'll probably be posting the epilogue in a few days for anyone still paying attention. Thanks for reading.