I know I have been away from the Diablo section for a while and perhaps I should update one of
my other stories besides this one. But even though I realize this isn't one of my better stories, I
still like it. I believe this chapter is a little better than the first, so enjoy! : )
____________________________The Hunt__________________________________________
After the archery competition the day had almost passed. The people ambled out of the stadium
to enjoy the rest of the evening. Merchant tents were set up and music played throughout the
city. One more competition was to take place that evening, the hunting competition, not only
counting as one of the games, but also to feed the vast amount of people.
Each town arranged as their own teams of hunters. The goal was to bring back the most or the
biggest game. Elsafira, Terasha, Pepita, and Helena joined in on the hunt as their own team.
Terasha was the strongest and quickest of the group and led the group trying to track a stag.
Elsafira and Pepita were to help Terasha if needed and Helena was more there to skin and
prepare the stag.
During the hunt they met up with a rivaling team whom they would compete against for the rest
of the Olympius festival. Terasha had been hunting a huge stag and another team appeared and
seemed to be tracking the same animal.
The rivaling group consisted of three girls who wore the red badge of a famous city, Lantis. It
was led by a tall slender girl with slightly golden curls in her hair. Two other girls followed
behind her. One was a scruffy looking girl with dirt and a scowl on her face. She wore a hat on
her head which halfway covered her eyes. She seemed shorter than the normal Amazon, but that
was more because she crouched lowly like a hunch back. The other girl had light brown hair
with freckles on her face and was almost as tall as the leader. They all clutched rather
decorative javelins.
They all wore the red badge of their village. At first the group acted friendly. But Elsafira
sensed something that seemed not quite right with the three.
"Greetings..." The leader said pleasantly enough. They shook hands at the wrist as was
customary for Amazons. "I'm Atlanta." She smiled. "This is Negra." She said pointing to the
crouching girl. The scruffy girl smiled, baring her crooked teeth. "And this is Jenya." She
pointed to the brown headed girl. The girl nodded curtly in their direction.
"I'm Terasha." The tallest Amazon in their team said. She shook Atlanta's hand again.
"I'm Helena!" Helena stepped forward eager to join in the conversation.
"My name's Pepita." Pepita said somewhat shyly.
The three looked at Elsafira curiously. "I'm Elsafira." She muttered.
"Are you a full blooded Amazon?" Atlanta asked almost nonchalantly seeing Elsa's bright red
hair and green eyes. Elsafira's eyes widened not wanting to answer so personal a question.
"That's no business of yours." Terasha defended as politely as she could.
"She looks like a Rogue to me." The one called Jenya noticed.
They all knew it was an insult to call an Amazon a Rogue. The relationship had changed
between the Sisters of the Sightless Eye and the Amazon's all those years ago when the Prime
Evils had roamed the lands. No one knew exactly why it had happened, but some Amazon's
believed that the Rogues were to be blamed for the Lord of Terror's entrance into the lands of
Sanctuary. And though the Rogues were still treated with some respect as distance relatives to
the Amazons, behind their backs jokes and insults were flung their way.
"Now look here!" Pepita argued. "She's as much as an Amazon as you and me!"
Negra snarled at her and Pepita backed up a little nervously. Atlanta simply shrugged and bent
down to examine the hoof prints of a stag. Negra crouched down to join her. "This must be the
biggest one in all the forest!" She murmured amazed at the huge prints.
"We were tracking this stag." Elsafira argued. Atlanta stood up tall before the red headed girl.
"Were you?" She asked not expecting an answer.
"Actually yes." Terasha said stepping in front of the Amazon. Atlanta smiled mockingly.
"I say we were tracking it first!" Negra snarled shaking her javelin at the group.
"I tell you what..." Atlanta began as a plan seemed to form in her mind. "Who ever catches up to
it first, and throws the killing blow gets to claim it as their prize."
"All right..." Terasha said clutching her javelin.
"Are you sure we should do this?" Helena whispered.
"Terasha is the best tracker in our village." Pepita assured.
"Atlanta is the fastest runner in our village." Negra argued.
"We'll just see..." Pepita continued.
"Which way did it go?" Atlanta asked Negra. The scruffy girl took on look at the ground and
pointed in the direction. Atlanta smirked at the group and then sped off in the direction.
Terasha was quickly behind.
Pepita and Elsafira sped off after Terasha. Negra and Jenya were right behind them. Elsafira
sped off to the left and made her way through the bush. She was determined to show the girl,
Atlanta that she was just as good as any Amazon. She noticed something on the ground and
stopped.
It was stag dung. It must have passed through this way! But Terasha or Atlanta were no where
in sight. Elsafira ran in the direction she thought the stag had run. Silently as her teachers had
taught her, she crept quickly through the forest. Something was running before her. She heard
the thunderous hoof beats of the huge stag.
It was as if she could see it clearly in the failing light even though it was at least 15 yards in front
of her. She focused on the beast. Everything else was blocked out as Elsafira ran behind the
animal raising her javelin high above her head.
The stag always seemed to be just out of reach. A growl of frustration escaped from her throat.
She hated the animal.
The stag would die.
It was as if something had taken over her body as she ran after the stag. Time around her
seemed to slow and all noise seemed to stop. She saw the hind quarters of the stag and
forcefully threw her javelin at it's flesh.
She found herself running up to the dead stag. But it wasn't her javelin that had landed the
killing blow. A javelin decorated in the red symbols of the city Lanis protruded from it's side.
Atlanta stood proudly besides the dead animal. She smiled up at Elsafira.
"Looks like the victory's mine, Rogue." She smirked. Elsafira growled and for a moment a look
of fear shone in Atlanta's eyes. Elsafira hated the tall haughty Amazon. She hated the dead stag.
She hatefully and forcefully pulled out her javelin from the stag's haunches.
Why couldn't it have been her javelin that had killed the stag? She hadn't even seen Atlanta kill
it. Atlanta put her hand on her own red decorative javelin and whistled. Jenya and Negra came
into the clearing and smiled triumphantly when they noticed Atlanta standing next to the stag.
Elsafira noticed that Terasha was already behind her. Pepita ran up behind Jenya and Negra
wheezing for air.
"Looks like we get to show off this big fat stag which WE killed." Negra stressed even though
she hadn't really had any part in the hunt. Jenya patted Atlanta on the back.
"Good job Atlanta." She said. "We sure showed them." She turned and smirked at Elsafira.
Elsa hated them all!
She was about to lunge at the brown haired girl when Terasha put her hand on her shoulder.
"Come on Elsafira." She murmured. "We'll make up for it by catching the most game out of
everyone." She contended. Elsafira glared at them once more and turned.
Later on as she reflected upon the incident she hadn't known what came over her. It was as if
she wasn't acting like herself...
They managed to catch two Does and a couple of rabbits. Terasha had been the one who had
helped more than anyone. She tracked and killed both of the deer. But Pepita couldn't contain
her joy when she managed to kill a rabbit with her bow. It turned out that it had been injured by
someone else's arrow, but she was still proud of herself.
Elsafira helped Helena prepare the animals and bring them back to the clearing where the food
was being prepared. Elsafira wasn't feeling too helpful to the team and tried to make up for it by
helping Helena skin the doe.
"No, no... you are doing it all wrong!" Helena had squeaked. "You'll ruin the skin if you do it
that way." She then did it on her own, leaving Elsa nothing to do but watch.
The game gathered by each team had been calculated by the judges. Most of the teams had
managed to bring some type of meat to the table. Elsafira's team still got a sufficient amount of
points though the hunting didn't count as much as the normal games. Elsafira glared at Atlanta
and her team as they showed off the huge horns from the stag they had killed. They had
probably received the most points out of everyone because of the size of the beast.
Elsafira and the others from her village chose a table and sat down to eat. "You're awfully quite
today Elsa..." Terasha noticed. Elsa looked up from her meal.
"Yes, is something wrong?" Pepita asked and then noticed Atlanta and her team showing off
their prize. "Don't let them bother you Elsa." Pepita muttered. "We'll beat them in the next
competition."
"What is the next competition?" Elsa wondered.
"Running." Terasha muttered.
"Oh, I can't wait for the physical competitions to be over with! I can't wait to show the judges
my new dance!" Helena interrupted. "I added a couple of my own steps onto the Eagle dance
and I want to see what they think!" She said excitably.
"We'll bring in the points for the physical part of the festival and you can bring in the points for
the fine arts part of the festival." Pepita compromised. "And we all bring in points for the
mental part! That's easy."
"Easy for you!" Terasha teased. "You've practically memorized all Amazon history since the
world began date by date!"
"Sorry I wasn't much help today." Elsafira muttered interrupting their conversation.
They all looked at her. "Don't worry Elsa." Pepita assured. "Tomorrow you can compete in the
running competition and win!" She said optimistically.
"I don't know." Terasha said worriedly. They looked at her surprised.
"What do you mean?" Pepita wondered because it wasn't like Terasha to be worried.
"That Atlanta girl can run pretty fast. I didn't even see her till she had already killed the stag."
"But she had a head start." Helena concluded.
"She let me catch up to her. I know she did because she was looking behind laughing at me.
Then as if she had the legs of the wind, she sped away in front of me in one split second."
"You were probably imagining things." Helena speculated.
"We will see tomorrow." Terasha said darkly. "None of us stand a chance against her. Not even
me or Elsa."
"Which reminds me..." Pepita remembered. "How did you catch up to Atlanta so fast, Elsa?"
Pepita asked. "One moment you were right next to me and the next you weren't."
"I followed the trail left by the stag." Elsa remembered. "It had veered off to the left and so I
followed it. Atlanta must have taken a short cut because she got there before me."
"Or she ran faster than the wind." Terasha added.
"Hi Elsa." A male voice interrupted them. They looked up to see a younger man smiling at
them. He was looking at Elsafira especially.
"Oh hi, Derek." Elsa said shyly recognizing the youth. She hadn't seen him in three years and
was shocked to suddenly see his face. "I saw you in the archery competition. I knew you could
do it! Good job." He said shaking her hand in the Amazon manner.
"Thanks." She answered blushing. He noticed the other three Amazons staring at him.
"I thought you were off studying at the Academy." Terasha asked.
"Yes... they let me off for the festival." He explained. "I still can't figure out why they decided
to have it early, but it's fine by me." He shrugged. He nodded to the girls and stumbled away.
"See you later." He called behind him and went off to get some venison.
"You'd think he was gonna ask you to mate or something." Helena muttered to Elsafira. Pepita
hit her in the arm.
"You're just jealous." Pepita said.
"Ow... well it's obvious he thinks your attractive." She said to Elsa. Elsa just blushed.
She had known Derek ever since she had been taken in by the Amazon tribe by Nevora. He had
been her first friend besides Pepita, Terasha, and Helena. And though a male Amazon's path
differed from that of a female, they still managed to stay best friends. And then he went off to
study to be a scholar in one of the academies far from their village and she hadn't seen him ever
since that day he had left.
She tugged at her necklace. The reddish stone on the end had belonged to her mother. He had
taken it and made it into a necklace for her before he left. She remembered the embarrassing
kiss they had shared before getting caught by Nevora. The Elder had simply laughed and sent
the boy on his way though any other Elder Amazon would have probably been more stern with
the two children.
"He looks so different now." Elsa muttered.
"Yes and older." Pepita added.
They continued eating in silence as Elsa reflected on her old friend.
___________________Hole above the heart____________________________________
He woke up to the sound of painful screaming. The fire had died down to only a glimmer. He
looked over to see his servant Braft wringing in agony. Confused, he got up and went over the
the man.
"Braft!" He said shaking the man awake. The man groaned in pain. "What's wrong!" Draco
yelled at the man. He shook him harder.
"It... hurts!" Braft wailed out clutching at his chest. "Make it stop!" He whined.
Draco grabbed at the mans hands and pushed them away. Braft yelped in pain. Draco tore open
the mans shirt and looked too see what the problem was.
What looked like a jagged hole on Braft's chest, startled the warrior. He jumped back frightened
at first and then stepped closer to have a better look. It almost looked as if someone or
something had burned a hole into the man's skin. The man cried out in pain again and put his
hands just below the wound. It was just above the heart.
__________________________The Necklace____________________________________
Elsa had gotten ready for bed and was about to sleep when a voice called to her outside. She
groggily went outside and grabbed a cloak to protect against the cold air. She lit a torch and saw
that it was Derek who awaited her.
She simply stood there staring at him.
"What's wrong Elsa? Surprised to see me?" He teased.
"Yes." She answered seriously. "What do you want?" She asked almost rudely. She put the
torch in a holder near the tent.
He walked up to her and put his hand on her chin. "I just wanted to see if you were the same
woman I remembered." He said lowly leaning over to kiss her. She backed up.
"That was three years ago." Elsa retorted. He looked at her confused.
"Do you think my feelings would change for you in those three years?" He asked. "You're the
only girl I've ever..." Her eyes widened. He sighed. He took her hand and rubbed it against his
face.
"I'm scared Elsa." He murmured.
"Scared?" She asked confused.
"The teachers have been studying the stars more often lately. They say something is coming...
Some sort of evil. Why do you think they are having the festival early? The soothsayers that
stand in front of the acadamy have been yelling at us to repent and to enjoy our last days in
Sanctuary because something gonna happen..."
"You believe them?" Elsa scoffed. He looked over at her and smiled.
"That's why I always like you Elsa. You were different from all the other Amazons."
"What do you mean?" Elsa asked a bit offended. He laughed and rustled her hair.
"You don't think like them." He started. "You don't believe in all of the legends and stories like
most Amazons."
"They are just myths..." Elsa started. "Myths to teach us..."
"But everyone teaches them as if they are truth!" Derek argued. "But you never believed them
did you?" He asked.
She looked down. What had her mother taught? She couldn't remember her face anymore so
how could she remember her teachings? Nevora had taught her of the older legends of ancient
heroes and gods and goddesses. But Elsafira had never thought of them as real, but merely
symbolic. Nevora had never persuaded this type of thinking but had never dissuaded it either.
"Just because some old man who has lost his senses says the world is gonna end, doesn't mean
that it is!" Elsa argued ignoring the question. He laughed and hugged her. She stiffly relented.
He reached to her neck and pulled out the necklace.
"I see you still wear this." He smiled.
"It it important to me." She whispered putting her hand over his. He smiled proudfully. "Not just
because you made it," She continued. "But because it's the only thing I have that belonged to my
mother." She said fingering the gem between his fingers. He leaned over to kiss her just as an
old woman walked up behind them.
"I see you have started where you last left off?" The old voice said mischievously behind them.
They quickly stood up and swung around to see Nevora walking up to them wrapped in an old
worn purplish cloak. She smiled devilishly at the two youngsters.
"Why young Derek!" She greeted. "How you have grown! You are studying hard at the
Academy? You're mother would be proud." She said not waiting for an answer. "Does she
know you are here at the festival?" She asked slyly.
"No ma'am." He answered bowing his head before the older woman.
"Perhaps you should go and find her?" Nevora wondered. "I'm sure she will be happy to know
how you are doing."
"Yes Nevora..." Derek said and turned to go.
"You behave yourself now." Nevora called after him. Then she turned to Elsafira.
"Elsafira..." She greeted. "How are you feeling?" She asked as if Elsafira had just recovered
from a cold.
"I am fine." She answered a bit confused by the old woman's manner.
"I noticed you were talking of your necklace before I interrupted." She said almost
absentmindedly.
"Yes..." Elsa said wrapping her hand around the gem. Nevora turned and noticed her hand.
"Can I see it?" She whispered. Elsa slowly unwrapped her hand from the necklace. Nevora
squinted as she eyed the stone.
"Hmm..." She said thinking to herself. "Keep it safe." Nevora warned. "Wear it always and keep
it safe." She said as if in a trance.
"But... why?" Elsa yelled almost scared by the woman's strange manner. The woman looked at
her confused.
"Because it reminds you of your mother, of course." She said laughing. "I wouldn't want you to
loose the only thing that you have of her."
"I've had it for eight years." She said. "I don't think I will loose it now."
"Good." Nevora said happily. "Good luck in the competition tomorrow." And with that she
ambled away. Elsa was left to watch the old woman confused.
________________________________________________________________
And now to answer the reviews.
Diablo-2-Freak–Has anyone seen where this dude went? I haven't seen him in a while. Oh well.
If you are reading this D2F, thanks for the encouraging review. It seems like I got one person
intrigued by this story.
BerserkRage–Hey Berserk! I'm glad you liked the first chapter! Is this chapter good as well?
^_^
Chazbone--I am well aware of the Amazon culture now after reading the section on the Amazons
in the Diablo 2 Manuel. Also, this story is almost like an alternate universe of the Diablo 2
world, but not quite. You'll see what I mean in the future but in the meantime... just trust me!
Also I realize that the guy who fought Diablo was well respected. Draco is not this guy... I
know... so much mystery! Eh heh heh heh...
Stonecold–Heh, he wasn't really reviewing this story, but telling me something. But just to
acknowledge his review! Heeh heeh.
: )
Thanks for reading and please review if you want.
my other stories besides this one. But even though I realize this isn't one of my better stories, I
still like it. I believe this chapter is a little better than the first, so enjoy! : )
____________________________The Hunt__________________________________________
After the archery competition the day had almost passed. The people ambled out of the stadium
to enjoy the rest of the evening. Merchant tents were set up and music played throughout the
city. One more competition was to take place that evening, the hunting competition, not only
counting as one of the games, but also to feed the vast amount of people.
Each town arranged as their own teams of hunters. The goal was to bring back the most or the
biggest game. Elsafira, Terasha, Pepita, and Helena joined in on the hunt as their own team.
Terasha was the strongest and quickest of the group and led the group trying to track a stag.
Elsafira and Pepita were to help Terasha if needed and Helena was more there to skin and
prepare the stag.
During the hunt they met up with a rivaling team whom they would compete against for the rest
of the Olympius festival. Terasha had been hunting a huge stag and another team appeared and
seemed to be tracking the same animal.
The rivaling group consisted of three girls who wore the red badge of a famous city, Lantis. It
was led by a tall slender girl with slightly golden curls in her hair. Two other girls followed
behind her. One was a scruffy looking girl with dirt and a scowl on her face. She wore a hat on
her head which halfway covered her eyes. She seemed shorter than the normal Amazon, but that
was more because she crouched lowly like a hunch back. The other girl had light brown hair
with freckles on her face and was almost as tall as the leader. They all clutched rather
decorative javelins.
They all wore the red badge of their village. At first the group acted friendly. But Elsafira
sensed something that seemed not quite right with the three.
"Greetings..." The leader said pleasantly enough. They shook hands at the wrist as was
customary for Amazons. "I'm Atlanta." She smiled. "This is Negra." She said pointing to the
crouching girl. The scruffy girl smiled, baring her crooked teeth. "And this is Jenya." She
pointed to the brown headed girl. The girl nodded curtly in their direction.
"I'm Terasha." The tallest Amazon in their team said. She shook Atlanta's hand again.
"I'm Helena!" Helena stepped forward eager to join in the conversation.
"My name's Pepita." Pepita said somewhat shyly.
The three looked at Elsafira curiously. "I'm Elsafira." She muttered.
"Are you a full blooded Amazon?" Atlanta asked almost nonchalantly seeing Elsa's bright red
hair and green eyes. Elsafira's eyes widened not wanting to answer so personal a question.
"That's no business of yours." Terasha defended as politely as she could.
"She looks like a Rogue to me." The one called Jenya noticed.
They all knew it was an insult to call an Amazon a Rogue. The relationship had changed
between the Sisters of the Sightless Eye and the Amazon's all those years ago when the Prime
Evils had roamed the lands. No one knew exactly why it had happened, but some Amazon's
believed that the Rogues were to be blamed for the Lord of Terror's entrance into the lands of
Sanctuary. And though the Rogues were still treated with some respect as distance relatives to
the Amazons, behind their backs jokes and insults were flung their way.
"Now look here!" Pepita argued. "She's as much as an Amazon as you and me!"
Negra snarled at her and Pepita backed up a little nervously. Atlanta simply shrugged and bent
down to examine the hoof prints of a stag. Negra crouched down to join her. "This must be the
biggest one in all the forest!" She murmured amazed at the huge prints.
"We were tracking this stag." Elsafira argued. Atlanta stood up tall before the red headed girl.
"Were you?" She asked not expecting an answer.
"Actually yes." Terasha said stepping in front of the Amazon. Atlanta smiled mockingly.
"I say we were tracking it first!" Negra snarled shaking her javelin at the group.
"I tell you what..." Atlanta began as a plan seemed to form in her mind. "Who ever catches up to
it first, and throws the killing blow gets to claim it as their prize."
"All right..." Terasha said clutching her javelin.
"Are you sure we should do this?" Helena whispered.
"Terasha is the best tracker in our village." Pepita assured.
"Atlanta is the fastest runner in our village." Negra argued.
"We'll just see..." Pepita continued.
"Which way did it go?" Atlanta asked Negra. The scruffy girl took on look at the ground and
pointed in the direction. Atlanta smirked at the group and then sped off in the direction.
Terasha was quickly behind.
Pepita and Elsafira sped off after Terasha. Negra and Jenya were right behind them. Elsafira
sped off to the left and made her way through the bush. She was determined to show the girl,
Atlanta that she was just as good as any Amazon. She noticed something on the ground and
stopped.
It was stag dung. It must have passed through this way! But Terasha or Atlanta were no where
in sight. Elsafira ran in the direction she thought the stag had run. Silently as her teachers had
taught her, she crept quickly through the forest. Something was running before her. She heard
the thunderous hoof beats of the huge stag.
It was as if she could see it clearly in the failing light even though it was at least 15 yards in front
of her. She focused on the beast. Everything else was blocked out as Elsafira ran behind the
animal raising her javelin high above her head.
The stag always seemed to be just out of reach. A growl of frustration escaped from her throat.
She hated the animal.
The stag would die.
It was as if something had taken over her body as she ran after the stag. Time around her
seemed to slow and all noise seemed to stop. She saw the hind quarters of the stag and
forcefully threw her javelin at it's flesh.
She found herself running up to the dead stag. But it wasn't her javelin that had landed the
killing blow. A javelin decorated in the red symbols of the city Lanis protruded from it's side.
Atlanta stood proudly besides the dead animal. She smiled up at Elsafira.
"Looks like the victory's mine, Rogue." She smirked. Elsafira growled and for a moment a look
of fear shone in Atlanta's eyes. Elsafira hated the tall haughty Amazon. She hated the dead stag.
She hatefully and forcefully pulled out her javelin from the stag's haunches.
Why couldn't it have been her javelin that had killed the stag? She hadn't even seen Atlanta kill
it. Atlanta put her hand on her own red decorative javelin and whistled. Jenya and Negra came
into the clearing and smiled triumphantly when they noticed Atlanta standing next to the stag.
Elsafira noticed that Terasha was already behind her. Pepita ran up behind Jenya and Negra
wheezing for air.
"Looks like we get to show off this big fat stag which WE killed." Negra stressed even though
she hadn't really had any part in the hunt. Jenya patted Atlanta on the back.
"Good job Atlanta." She said. "We sure showed them." She turned and smirked at Elsafira.
Elsa hated them all!
She was about to lunge at the brown haired girl when Terasha put her hand on her shoulder.
"Come on Elsafira." She murmured. "We'll make up for it by catching the most game out of
everyone." She contended. Elsafira glared at them once more and turned.
Later on as she reflected upon the incident she hadn't known what came over her. It was as if
she wasn't acting like herself...
They managed to catch two Does and a couple of rabbits. Terasha had been the one who had
helped more than anyone. She tracked and killed both of the deer. But Pepita couldn't contain
her joy when she managed to kill a rabbit with her bow. It turned out that it had been injured by
someone else's arrow, but she was still proud of herself.
Elsafira helped Helena prepare the animals and bring them back to the clearing where the food
was being prepared. Elsafira wasn't feeling too helpful to the team and tried to make up for it by
helping Helena skin the doe.
"No, no... you are doing it all wrong!" Helena had squeaked. "You'll ruin the skin if you do it
that way." She then did it on her own, leaving Elsa nothing to do but watch.
The game gathered by each team had been calculated by the judges. Most of the teams had
managed to bring some type of meat to the table. Elsafira's team still got a sufficient amount of
points though the hunting didn't count as much as the normal games. Elsafira glared at Atlanta
and her team as they showed off the huge horns from the stag they had killed. They had
probably received the most points out of everyone because of the size of the beast.
Elsafira and the others from her village chose a table and sat down to eat. "You're awfully quite
today Elsa..." Terasha noticed. Elsa looked up from her meal.
"Yes, is something wrong?" Pepita asked and then noticed Atlanta and her team showing off
their prize. "Don't let them bother you Elsa." Pepita muttered. "We'll beat them in the next
competition."
"What is the next competition?" Elsa wondered.
"Running." Terasha muttered.
"Oh, I can't wait for the physical competitions to be over with! I can't wait to show the judges
my new dance!" Helena interrupted. "I added a couple of my own steps onto the Eagle dance
and I want to see what they think!" She said excitably.
"We'll bring in the points for the physical part of the festival and you can bring in the points for
the fine arts part of the festival." Pepita compromised. "And we all bring in points for the
mental part! That's easy."
"Easy for you!" Terasha teased. "You've practically memorized all Amazon history since the
world began date by date!"
"Sorry I wasn't much help today." Elsafira muttered interrupting their conversation.
They all looked at her. "Don't worry Elsa." Pepita assured. "Tomorrow you can compete in the
running competition and win!" She said optimistically.
"I don't know." Terasha said worriedly. They looked at her surprised.
"What do you mean?" Pepita wondered because it wasn't like Terasha to be worried.
"That Atlanta girl can run pretty fast. I didn't even see her till she had already killed the stag."
"But she had a head start." Helena concluded.
"She let me catch up to her. I know she did because she was looking behind laughing at me.
Then as if she had the legs of the wind, she sped away in front of me in one split second."
"You were probably imagining things." Helena speculated.
"We will see tomorrow." Terasha said darkly. "None of us stand a chance against her. Not even
me or Elsa."
"Which reminds me..." Pepita remembered. "How did you catch up to Atlanta so fast, Elsa?"
Pepita asked. "One moment you were right next to me and the next you weren't."
"I followed the trail left by the stag." Elsa remembered. "It had veered off to the left and so I
followed it. Atlanta must have taken a short cut because she got there before me."
"Or she ran faster than the wind." Terasha added.
"Hi Elsa." A male voice interrupted them. They looked up to see a younger man smiling at
them. He was looking at Elsafira especially.
"Oh hi, Derek." Elsa said shyly recognizing the youth. She hadn't seen him in three years and
was shocked to suddenly see his face. "I saw you in the archery competition. I knew you could
do it! Good job." He said shaking her hand in the Amazon manner.
"Thanks." She answered blushing. He noticed the other three Amazons staring at him.
"I thought you were off studying at the Academy." Terasha asked.
"Yes... they let me off for the festival." He explained. "I still can't figure out why they decided
to have it early, but it's fine by me." He shrugged. He nodded to the girls and stumbled away.
"See you later." He called behind him and went off to get some venison.
"You'd think he was gonna ask you to mate or something." Helena muttered to Elsafira. Pepita
hit her in the arm.
"You're just jealous." Pepita said.
"Ow... well it's obvious he thinks your attractive." She said to Elsa. Elsa just blushed.
She had known Derek ever since she had been taken in by the Amazon tribe by Nevora. He had
been her first friend besides Pepita, Terasha, and Helena. And though a male Amazon's path
differed from that of a female, they still managed to stay best friends. And then he went off to
study to be a scholar in one of the academies far from their village and she hadn't seen him ever
since that day he had left.
She tugged at her necklace. The reddish stone on the end had belonged to her mother. He had
taken it and made it into a necklace for her before he left. She remembered the embarrassing
kiss they had shared before getting caught by Nevora. The Elder had simply laughed and sent
the boy on his way though any other Elder Amazon would have probably been more stern with
the two children.
"He looks so different now." Elsa muttered.
"Yes and older." Pepita added.
They continued eating in silence as Elsa reflected on her old friend.
___________________Hole above the heart____________________________________
He woke up to the sound of painful screaming. The fire had died down to only a glimmer. He
looked over to see his servant Braft wringing in agony. Confused, he got up and went over the
the man.
"Braft!" He said shaking the man awake. The man groaned in pain. "What's wrong!" Draco
yelled at the man. He shook him harder.
"It... hurts!" Braft wailed out clutching at his chest. "Make it stop!" He whined.
Draco grabbed at the mans hands and pushed them away. Braft yelped in pain. Draco tore open
the mans shirt and looked too see what the problem was.
What looked like a jagged hole on Braft's chest, startled the warrior. He jumped back frightened
at first and then stepped closer to have a better look. It almost looked as if someone or
something had burned a hole into the man's skin. The man cried out in pain again and put his
hands just below the wound. It was just above the heart.
__________________________The Necklace____________________________________
Elsa had gotten ready for bed and was about to sleep when a voice called to her outside. She
groggily went outside and grabbed a cloak to protect against the cold air. She lit a torch and saw
that it was Derek who awaited her.
She simply stood there staring at him.
"What's wrong Elsa? Surprised to see me?" He teased.
"Yes." She answered seriously. "What do you want?" She asked almost rudely. She put the
torch in a holder near the tent.
He walked up to her and put his hand on her chin. "I just wanted to see if you were the same
woman I remembered." He said lowly leaning over to kiss her. She backed up.
"That was three years ago." Elsa retorted. He looked at her confused.
"Do you think my feelings would change for you in those three years?" He asked. "You're the
only girl I've ever..." Her eyes widened. He sighed. He took her hand and rubbed it against his
face.
"I'm scared Elsa." He murmured.
"Scared?" She asked confused.
"The teachers have been studying the stars more often lately. They say something is coming...
Some sort of evil. Why do you think they are having the festival early? The soothsayers that
stand in front of the acadamy have been yelling at us to repent and to enjoy our last days in
Sanctuary because something gonna happen..."
"You believe them?" Elsa scoffed. He looked over at her and smiled.
"That's why I always like you Elsa. You were different from all the other Amazons."
"What do you mean?" Elsa asked a bit offended. He laughed and rustled her hair.
"You don't think like them." He started. "You don't believe in all of the legends and stories like
most Amazons."
"They are just myths..." Elsa started. "Myths to teach us..."
"But everyone teaches them as if they are truth!" Derek argued. "But you never believed them
did you?" He asked.
She looked down. What had her mother taught? She couldn't remember her face anymore so
how could she remember her teachings? Nevora had taught her of the older legends of ancient
heroes and gods and goddesses. But Elsafira had never thought of them as real, but merely
symbolic. Nevora had never persuaded this type of thinking but had never dissuaded it either.
"Just because some old man who has lost his senses says the world is gonna end, doesn't mean
that it is!" Elsa argued ignoring the question. He laughed and hugged her. She stiffly relented.
He reached to her neck and pulled out the necklace.
"I see you still wear this." He smiled.
"It it important to me." She whispered putting her hand over his. He smiled proudfully. "Not just
because you made it," She continued. "But because it's the only thing I have that belonged to my
mother." She said fingering the gem between his fingers. He leaned over to kiss her just as an
old woman walked up behind them.
"I see you have started where you last left off?" The old voice said mischievously behind them.
They quickly stood up and swung around to see Nevora walking up to them wrapped in an old
worn purplish cloak. She smiled devilishly at the two youngsters.
"Why young Derek!" She greeted. "How you have grown! You are studying hard at the
Academy? You're mother would be proud." She said not waiting for an answer. "Does she
know you are here at the festival?" She asked slyly.
"No ma'am." He answered bowing his head before the older woman.
"Perhaps you should go and find her?" Nevora wondered. "I'm sure she will be happy to know
how you are doing."
"Yes Nevora..." Derek said and turned to go.
"You behave yourself now." Nevora called after him. Then she turned to Elsafira.
"Elsafira..." She greeted. "How are you feeling?" She asked as if Elsafira had just recovered
from a cold.
"I am fine." She answered a bit confused by the old woman's manner.
"I noticed you were talking of your necklace before I interrupted." She said almost
absentmindedly.
"Yes..." Elsa said wrapping her hand around the gem. Nevora turned and noticed her hand.
"Can I see it?" She whispered. Elsa slowly unwrapped her hand from the necklace. Nevora
squinted as she eyed the stone.
"Hmm..." She said thinking to herself. "Keep it safe." Nevora warned. "Wear it always and keep
it safe." She said as if in a trance.
"But... why?" Elsa yelled almost scared by the woman's strange manner. The woman looked at
her confused.
"Because it reminds you of your mother, of course." She said laughing. "I wouldn't want you to
loose the only thing that you have of her."
"I've had it for eight years." She said. "I don't think I will loose it now."
"Good." Nevora said happily. "Good luck in the competition tomorrow." And with that she
ambled away. Elsa was left to watch the old woman confused.
________________________________________________________________
And now to answer the reviews.
Diablo-2-Freak–Has anyone seen where this dude went? I haven't seen him in a while. Oh well.
If you are reading this D2F, thanks for the encouraging review. It seems like I got one person
intrigued by this story.
BerserkRage–Hey Berserk! I'm glad you liked the first chapter! Is this chapter good as well?
^_^
Chazbone--I am well aware of the Amazon culture now after reading the section on the Amazons
in the Diablo 2 Manuel. Also, this story is almost like an alternate universe of the Diablo 2
world, but not quite. You'll see what I mean in the future but in the meantime... just trust me!
Also I realize that the guy who fought Diablo was well respected. Draco is not this guy... I
know... so much mystery! Eh heh heh heh...
Stonecold–Heh, he wasn't really reviewing this story, but telling me something. But just to
acknowledge his review! Heeh heeh.
: )
Thanks for reading and please review if you want.