The Stone of Choosing hovered within the warring flames of the fire.
The fire cast long shadows against the trees that surrounded it. The
shadows danced eerily in th full moon light. Taki, stood by the fire and
watched the stone of chooseing bob up and down in the sea of flames.
She looked are at the various objects that circled around the fire. There was a long, sword that seemed to glow. A finely-carved, wooden, floot reflected the fires glow. A plain leather strip lied there like a rock. A magnificent bow, withhh many carvings, lied proudly near a quiver of arrows. There was also another sword but it was alot bigger than the other one. The cold, dark metal, eemed to absorb the light of the fire around it. A chain lay in a pile.
Taki looked away, and saw the wise woman stare at her. Her cool gaze seemed to read her every thought. Taki gulped when she saw a a tiger emerge from the shadows. The tiger had small, golden bracers around it's legs. It had a collar made of gold and decorated with a pattern of green. The tiger purred as it sat down beside the wise woman. Taki could see that one of it's eyes were shut, probably due to an old battle, faught and won. The orange strips seemed to glow in the fire light, making the black ones merge with the darkness seemlesly.
Taki gulped again and turned her attenion back to the items that where around the fire.
" Now, " the wise woman said, making Taki jump a little, " place your hand near the fire."
Taki, raised a shakey hand over the fire. The heat caused her hand to sweat instantly. The stone started to spin. It was almost hypnotic as the smooth, triangular stone spun around in a circle, moving faster and faster. Taki started to shake all over as the stone started to slow down. she followed the stone with her dark, brown, eyes. The stone teased Taki by slowing down bit by bit. he was a bit annoyed at this. Finally the stone stopped. Taki sighed in relief and miled slightly.
The wise woman, got up off her stump and went over to the fire. She picked up the long, sleder sword .
" Your path has ben chosen little one," the wise woman said as she looked down at the ten year-old and held out the sword, " do you accept?"
" Yes I do," Taki aid as she grabbed the hilt with both hands.
The wise woman turned around, and headed into the dark forest. Taki gathered her wits, and followed her, with the old tiger following closlely behind...
Taki ran her hand across the rough surface of the temple. It had been a long eight years, but now, she was a full-fledged paladin. She looked up at the vine-covered building. The round, stone colums had many cracks, and chips on them. Above the doorway, a plate of gold shawn brightly as it displayed the picture of a hulking tree.
She had studied and meditated in there. Through those practises, she learnt the history of the planet, which was named Gaia. Taki learnt lots from Gaia, through meditation. She was told her history, legends, propchecys, which had been full -filled long ago. Gaia told her that she bore the Amazoness tribes, to protect her. But very few tribes were left now, either through the power of nature, of by the destruction of woodlands. Now being a member of the wooland Amazoness tribe, this had scared Taki. Gaia told her that all Amazoness knew of her, and could call upon her strength when needed. Gaia also told Taki that paladins were nesscicary to preserve this link between her and the Amazoness.
Taki sighed and turned away from the ancient temple. She walked down the dirt path and into the busy encampment. It was almost heart breaking for her, but since they were the last of there kind, they had to find protection. The wisewomen, named Belgamine, said to her that they were going to seek refuge with the magicians to the east.
Taki walked around camp. She saw many things that broke her heart. The muscle-bound fighters, were taking down tents and equipment, and starpping them to a carraige, which was moslty likely to be pulled by a team of fighters. She looked over at a group of tiger, itting around the great fire. Chainmasters, and blacksmiths were quinching their smithig fires, and storeing their equipment in a carrage.
The plsuh trees swayed argily in the wind, protesting the amazzonesses leaving. Taki could feel the high noon sun burn at the back of her neck. Taki could saw the archer, Meryl, croushed by small block of wood. TTaki went over, and was about to say somthing but, Meryl put her hand up to silence her. Taki smiled, knowing what was going to happen.
Meryl put two fingers in her mouth and whistled as she threw the block of wood into the air. Out of now where, aroows shot out from all directions, striking each piece of wood.
" No matter how many times I see that, I'm always impressed, " Taki said as she watched chucks of wood hit the ground, " You trained them well Meryl."
"Yes, " Meryl said as she stood up. She put two fingers in her mouth ans whistled again.
Out of the thick forest, six , muscle-bound women, bounded out from various directions and stood at attentision infront of Merly, their bows at their sides.
" Good work today, " Meryl said in her soft, calm voice , " Now go start packing. The ceromony will start soon." The elite archers responded with a nod and bounded off towarda a group of tents.
" You trained them well, " taki said as she scratched her head through her long, blonde hair, " Your probably the best trainer this tribe has seen."
Merly didn't respond, but instead picked up her bow off of the ground and walked towards the huge fire that danced at the now-bare encampment. Other Amazoness did the same as well. Taki could feel a heavy tensoin in the air. She started to shake nervously.
Taki closed her eyes and wispered somthing to herself. She opened her eyes and felt better. Taki noted that the tigers had wormed their way around the fire, and sat down infront of it obediantly. She also noted that the females were very fat, and knew that a litter was coming soon. She hoped that they wouldn't lose a litter. She looked away, and looked into the empty forest clearing.
The ground was well worn, and many years of flattened plants lay still. Carrages were filled with supplies, and dismantled tents. The thick trees that surrounded the large, square clearing had stoped swaying and towered solemnly over them. The heat of the flames, combine with the heat of the afternoon sun, started to make Taki sweat. She rubbed her brow with the back of her hand and looked back at the fire.
She felt a tap on her shoulder and stood aside. The wise women hobbled through and stood near the fire; her gaurdian tiger, Goliath, obediantly sat down beside her. The wise women fingered the various bones and beads around her neck, and tured around.
" Sisters, " Belgamine said as she cleared her throat, " We Amazoness live in dangerous times. The trees that have once gave us Gaia's power have falen. We have been driven out of our homes and sacred lands. Now, because of that, we, being the last Amazoness tribe left, have to seek out help and refuge. " Taki could feel the sadness from the other Amazoness' all around her.
The wise women turned towards the fire and put her hands up in the air, almost praying. Belgamine uttered somthing. Suddenly, the fire erupted like a violent volcano, and rose hi up into the air!. Belgamine clapped her hands togethere, and caused the fire to form into a small, firey red, sphere. She reached down and plucked the sphere from teh ahes, and wrapped it up in her cape. She turend and faced the Amazoness.
" Now we must take our leave, " Belgamine said as she crossed her arms behind her back and hobbled trough the crowed, followed by Goliath. The tribe stayed in their spots, trying to absorb what the wise women said.
In unison, the tribe split u, and hurridly packed things into the various carraiges scattered across the encampment. Taki gathered her things from her tent as it was taken down, put it into cloth sack, and lodaded it onto the carrage. Taki spotted her sword on the carrage. She grabbed the sword, which was in it's sheath, and strapped it to the side of her white loin cloth.
She looked up at the monstrous tree. They swayed angrily in the wind again, as if scolding them. Yet at the same time, the big, green leafs that covered their braches, waved good bye. Taki jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She whirrled around and came face-to-fafce with Belgamine.
She was about a foot shorter than Taki, and seem to hunch over slightly. Belgamine wore a hat of some sort, that was adorned with many different bones and teeth. her face was covered in cavornous wrinkles. A long, black dress flowed down to her ankles. Taki could see the same charm braclets on her wrist were, were the same ones that she wore.
" I know it will be a hard time adjusting child. But, " Belgamine said in soft, smooth voice, despite her cold face, " This is for the better good. Now we must leave."
Taki could see that the tribe was heading out of the encampment. She quickly ran after them in an attempt to catch up. Belgamine sighed as she watched Taki run off. She then withdrew the red sphere from her cape and looked at it, "I hope that your doing the right thing Eldor."
Her train of thought was interrutpted when Golitah nudged her leg. She looked down at Goliath, who was glareing at her with his one good eye, and smiled. She scrated Goliath's big head and said, " You were always the adventerous one."
she hoped onto Goliath, and ran to catch up with the rest of the tribe...
After a few days tediously trudging through the woods, the tribe emerged from the forest. and into a vast plane. A head of them, a gigantic temple stood omniously over them. The tribe, including Belgamine were wided- eyed. . One big, purple purple cone stood atop of a white circular platform. Two smaller cones of the same color, stood at fground level next to the giant one. White stair led up to the white platform. The cones were covered in various runes.
Belgamihne could see Eldor, standing atop of the staircase, with his staff clutched in his hand, standing among a group of magicians. She spotted a young girl, about teki's age among them. She smiled when she looked at the girls' cloak, " Now that sticks out."
" what was that?" Taki asked as she looked at the elder.
" Nothing, " Belgamine said as she climbed the white marble steps, with her arms crossed behind her back.
Taki got a bad feeling when Belgamine started to talk to Eldor....
She looked are at the various objects that circled around the fire. There was a long, sword that seemed to glow. A finely-carved, wooden, floot reflected the fires glow. A plain leather strip lied there like a rock. A magnificent bow, withhh many carvings, lied proudly near a quiver of arrows. There was also another sword but it was alot bigger than the other one. The cold, dark metal, eemed to absorb the light of the fire around it. A chain lay in a pile.
Taki looked away, and saw the wise woman stare at her. Her cool gaze seemed to read her every thought. Taki gulped when she saw a a tiger emerge from the shadows. The tiger had small, golden bracers around it's legs. It had a collar made of gold and decorated with a pattern of green. The tiger purred as it sat down beside the wise woman. Taki could see that one of it's eyes were shut, probably due to an old battle, faught and won. The orange strips seemed to glow in the fire light, making the black ones merge with the darkness seemlesly.
Taki gulped again and turned her attenion back to the items that where around the fire.
" Now, " the wise woman said, making Taki jump a little, " place your hand near the fire."
Taki, raised a shakey hand over the fire. The heat caused her hand to sweat instantly. The stone started to spin. It was almost hypnotic as the smooth, triangular stone spun around in a circle, moving faster and faster. Taki started to shake all over as the stone started to slow down. she followed the stone with her dark, brown, eyes. The stone teased Taki by slowing down bit by bit. he was a bit annoyed at this. Finally the stone stopped. Taki sighed in relief and miled slightly.
The wise woman, got up off her stump and went over to the fire. She picked up the long, sleder sword .
" Your path has ben chosen little one," the wise woman said as she looked down at the ten year-old and held out the sword, " do you accept?"
" Yes I do," Taki aid as she grabbed the hilt with both hands.
The wise woman turned around, and headed into the dark forest. Taki gathered her wits, and followed her, with the old tiger following closlely behind...
Taki ran her hand across the rough surface of the temple. It had been a long eight years, but now, she was a full-fledged paladin. She looked up at the vine-covered building. The round, stone colums had many cracks, and chips on them. Above the doorway, a plate of gold shawn brightly as it displayed the picture of a hulking tree.
She had studied and meditated in there. Through those practises, she learnt the history of the planet, which was named Gaia. Taki learnt lots from Gaia, through meditation. She was told her history, legends, propchecys, which had been full -filled long ago. Gaia told her that she bore the Amazoness tribes, to protect her. But very few tribes were left now, either through the power of nature, of by the destruction of woodlands. Now being a member of the wooland Amazoness tribe, this had scared Taki. Gaia told her that all Amazoness knew of her, and could call upon her strength when needed. Gaia also told Taki that paladins were nesscicary to preserve this link between her and the Amazoness.
Taki sighed and turned away from the ancient temple. She walked down the dirt path and into the busy encampment. It was almost heart breaking for her, but since they were the last of there kind, they had to find protection. The wisewomen, named Belgamine, said to her that they were going to seek refuge with the magicians to the east.
Taki walked around camp. She saw many things that broke her heart. The muscle-bound fighters, were taking down tents and equipment, and starpping them to a carraige, which was moslty likely to be pulled by a team of fighters. She looked over at a group of tiger, itting around the great fire. Chainmasters, and blacksmiths were quinching their smithig fires, and storeing their equipment in a carrage.
The plsuh trees swayed argily in the wind, protesting the amazzonesses leaving. Taki could feel the high noon sun burn at the back of her neck. Taki could saw the archer, Meryl, croushed by small block of wood. TTaki went over, and was about to say somthing but, Meryl put her hand up to silence her. Taki smiled, knowing what was going to happen.
Meryl put two fingers in her mouth and whistled as she threw the block of wood into the air. Out of now where, aroows shot out from all directions, striking each piece of wood.
" No matter how many times I see that, I'm always impressed, " Taki said as she watched chucks of wood hit the ground, " You trained them well Meryl."
"Yes, " Meryl said as she stood up. She put two fingers in her mouth ans whistled again.
Out of the thick forest, six , muscle-bound women, bounded out from various directions and stood at attentision infront of Merly, their bows at their sides.
" Good work today, " Meryl said in her soft, calm voice , " Now go start packing. The ceromony will start soon." The elite archers responded with a nod and bounded off towarda a group of tents.
" You trained them well, " taki said as she scratched her head through her long, blonde hair, " Your probably the best trainer this tribe has seen."
Merly didn't respond, but instead picked up her bow off of the ground and walked towards the huge fire that danced at the now-bare encampment. Other Amazoness did the same as well. Taki could feel a heavy tensoin in the air. She started to shake nervously.
Taki closed her eyes and wispered somthing to herself. She opened her eyes and felt better. Taki noted that the tigers had wormed their way around the fire, and sat down infront of it obediantly. She also noted that the females were very fat, and knew that a litter was coming soon. She hoped that they wouldn't lose a litter. She looked away, and looked into the empty forest clearing.
The ground was well worn, and many years of flattened plants lay still. Carrages were filled with supplies, and dismantled tents. The thick trees that surrounded the large, square clearing had stoped swaying and towered solemnly over them. The heat of the flames, combine with the heat of the afternoon sun, started to make Taki sweat. She rubbed her brow with the back of her hand and looked back at the fire.
She felt a tap on her shoulder and stood aside. The wise women hobbled through and stood near the fire; her gaurdian tiger, Goliath, obediantly sat down beside her. The wise women fingered the various bones and beads around her neck, and tured around.
" Sisters, " Belgamine said as she cleared her throat, " We Amazoness live in dangerous times. The trees that have once gave us Gaia's power have falen. We have been driven out of our homes and sacred lands. Now, because of that, we, being the last Amazoness tribe left, have to seek out help and refuge. " Taki could feel the sadness from the other Amazoness' all around her.
The wise women turned towards the fire and put her hands up in the air, almost praying. Belgamine uttered somthing. Suddenly, the fire erupted like a violent volcano, and rose hi up into the air!. Belgamine clapped her hands togethere, and caused the fire to form into a small, firey red, sphere. She reached down and plucked the sphere from teh ahes, and wrapped it up in her cape. She turend and faced the Amazoness.
" Now we must take our leave, " Belgamine said as she crossed her arms behind her back and hobbled trough the crowed, followed by Goliath. The tribe stayed in their spots, trying to absorb what the wise women said.
In unison, the tribe split u, and hurridly packed things into the various carraiges scattered across the encampment. Taki gathered her things from her tent as it was taken down, put it into cloth sack, and lodaded it onto the carrage. Taki spotted her sword on the carrage. She grabbed the sword, which was in it's sheath, and strapped it to the side of her white loin cloth.
She looked up at the monstrous tree. They swayed angrily in the wind again, as if scolding them. Yet at the same time, the big, green leafs that covered their braches, waved good bye. Taki jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She whirrled around and came face-to-fafce with Belgamine.
She was about a foot shorter than Taki, and seem to hunch over slightly. Belgamine wore a hat of some sort, that was adorned with many different bones and teeth. her face was covered in cavornous wrinkles. A long, black dress flowed down to her ankles. Taki could see the same charm braclets on her wrist were, were the same ones that she wore.
" I know it will be a hard time adjusting child. But, " Belgamine said in soft, smooth voice, despite her cold face, " This is for the better good. Now we must leave."
Taki could see that the tribe was heading out of the encampment. She quickly ran after them in an attempt to catch up. Belgamine sighed as she watched Taki run off. She then withdrew the red sphere from her cape and looked at it, "I hope that your doing the right thing Eldor."
Her train of thought was interrutpted when Golitah nudged her leg. She looked down at Goliath, who was glareing at her with his one good eye, and smiled. She scrated Goliath's big head and said, " You were always the adventerous one."
she hoped onto Goliath, and ran to catch up with the rest of the tribe...
After a few days tediously trudging through the woods, the tribe emerged from the forest. and into a vast plane. A head of them, a gigantic temple stood omniously over them. The tribe, including Belgamine were wided- eyed. . One big, purple purple cone stood atop of a white circular platform. Two smaller cones of the same color, stood at fground level next to the giant one. White stair led up to the white platform. The cones were covered in various runes.
Belgamihne could see Eldor, standing atop of the staircase, with his staff clutched in his hand, standing among a group of magicians. She spotted a young girl, about teki's age among them. She smiled when she looked at the girls' cloak, " Now that sticks out."
" what was that?" Taki asked as she looked at the elder.
" Nothing, " Belgamine said as she climbed the white marble steps, with her arms crossed behind her back.
Taki got a bad feeling when Belgamine started to talk to Eldor....