"At the end of the day, it isn't where I came from. Maybe home is somewhere I'm going and never have been before."
Warsan Shire

Kara was resting on her knees, her eyes closed as she concentrated on the sounds around her. Her sword was resting in the palm of her left hand. With each breath, she allowed herself to block out the sounds that she recognized, first the ocean as it struck the shore, the wind as it traveled through the valley. The heartbeats of her sisters were next, she smiled as she recognized the racing heartbeat of Myri.

"Concentrate, Kara," Nubia scolded.

Clearing her mind and blushing at her mistake, Kara isolated two single sounds, the first was the sound of Nubia's sword coming towards her head, the second was a strange buzzing, then screaming as one of her sister's was attacked.

Nubia's sword was only six inches from the girl's head when Kara's left arm shot up and stopped the blade, shattering it on her invulnerable skin. "Nubia, attack, western beach."

"Go, girl, now!" Nubia hissed.

From her kneeling position, Kara blasted straight into the sky, gathering speed as she flew towards the sound. She was halfway across the island when she started to scan ahead with her vision. What she saw turned her blood cold. The creature was human-shaped, but that's where the comparison stopped, the rest of it appeared hard-shelled, covered with a metal-like carapace of an insect with dragonfly wings on its back.

'Para-demon,' she thought to herself, remembering Hippolyta's history lessons on Steppenwolf and the Alliance.

Putting on an extra burst of speed she saw the creature come to a hovering halt and lift its weapon in her direction. She could see the creature pull the trigger but at the speed she was traveling, she didn't have time to slow down before the energy blast caught her in the chest. She felt the impact, but it didn't even slow her down. Frowning at the attack, she added an extra burst of speed as she slammed into the creature, throwing it back the way it had come.

The creature slammed into the ground about 200 meters from where it had shot at Kara and laid still. Kara landed, slamming into the ground next to the revolting creature and in one fluid movement she removed its wings with one mighty swing of her sword. Then she lifted the flightless creature and once again launched herself into the sky. Carrying the creature and herself to the western coast of the island, where she landed lightly beside the wounded body of Narcissa.

She checked the dark-haired woman carefully finding several burns on her exposed skin and a small dart in her neck. Remembering her lessons, she slowly removed the dart and dropped it in her pouch sealing it closed. Then she lifted the woman's fishing spear and using her considerable strength drove it through the shoulder of the Para-Demon, pinning it to the ground. Kara then picked the unconscious woman gently into her arms and floated easily into the air, building speed as she moved towards Narcissa's village. Landing in the village, Kara yelled for the healer.

"Little One!" The healer yelled, then she stopped and looked at the Amazon in Kara's arms, "by Hades' gate, what happened?"

"She was attacked on the beach, by a Para-Demon," Kara explained, suddenly aware of what she had done.

"Is this how you found her, child?" the Healer asked, then when Kara didn't answer. "Kara, child, is this how you found her?"

"What? Oh, Rao, what did I do?" Kara asked, her eyes growing larger. "Healer, I'm sorry. I found this." Kara fumbled in her pouch, "this was stuck in her neck."

"Kara, look at me, child. You did no wrong, you defended your sister. Breathe, child." The healer held Kara by the shoulders, looking into her eyes. "Report to the Queen, child, tell her what you found."

"Yes, healer," Kara answered, then leaped into the sky.

Kara flew quickly back to the beach, where she found the spear, but there was no body, just a puddle of green liquid. Pulling the spear from the ground with a shudder, realizing she had caused the death of another creature, she took to the air again, headed back to the royal city. She was about a kilometer from the city when she saw Hippolyta and Myri leading a contingent of warriors towards the Western Beach. They halted as Kara descended towards them, Myri dismounted and ran towards the spot where Kara was landing.

Kara landed and dropped the spear to the ground, running into the waiting arms of Myri.

"Mother, I killed one. I didn't mean to, I just acted, Narcissa was hurt, I didn't mean to kill it, mother, I'm sorry," the words gushed from Kara's mouth as she buried her face into Myri's chest letting loose a torrent of tears from her blue eyes.

"Little One, what happened child? Who or what did you kill?" Myri asked, with concern and worry showing on her face.

Nubia approached the spear, "Para-Demon, Kara killed a para-demon."

"Is that true, Kara?" Myri asked? "You killed one of those vile creatures?"

"Y-Yes, Moth-Myri," Kara sniffled, her cries softening.

"Oh, Little One," Myri whispered, "you did nothing wrong, nothing at all. You freed the spirit of whatever person was trapped to make that monster." Then she pulled Kara into an even tighter hug.

"Kara, how many did you see, Little One?" Hippolyta asked.

"Ju-Just one," Kara answered, seeing the worried look on Hippolyta's face. She concentrated, focusing her hearing on the island, quickly blocking out the sounds that didn't belong. She heard the buzzing of the wings then and looked up into the sky and spotted the creature flying high above them. "It's there."

"It's trying to escape; it's trying to leave the island!" Nubia roared, "archers, load and fire."

Kara heard the order and knew the arrows would never reach the creature, so once again, instinct took over and she burst into action. The young girl shot into the sky, quickly overtaking the arrows, her eyes focused on the creature, who suddenly noticed her coming towards him. The para-demon's wings started to beat faster and faster, as it rose higher and higher looking for the edge of the magical barrier that protected Themyscira. Kara sped up and snatched the creature by the wings just as they both crossed through the barrier.

"No!" Myri screamed as Kara disappeared from the sky.

The other Amazons stood, open-mouthed as their precious Little One disappeared.


Brawdy, A small village on the coast of Wales

Diana's dark wool cloak hid her form as she stood behind a tree in the forest outside the village of Brawdy. Her brown eyes cut through the darkness, and she watched as the four para-demons hovered off the ground searching for something. She had a feeling she knew what it was they were looking for, but she couldn't feel the horrible energy beneath her feet like she had when she'd visited this lovely little village over seventy years ago. The box was gone, she wasn't sure how, or where it had disappeared to, but it wasn't here now.

Her ears picked up a strange sound, the sound of the wind blowing over fabric. She looked up immediately and her brown eyes saw the familiar blue and red blur that indicated Superman had arrived, un-necessarily to save the day.

"Hera help me!" She swore under her breath as the man of steel smashed into the ground between the para-demons.

The demons flew back, forming a rough circle around the dark-haired man in red and blue. They raised their weapons and fired watching in what amounted to shock as the energy from them bounced off the chest of the target.

Superman laughed at the aliens and threw horrible looking punches, which from Diana's practiced eyes would have both missed their targets if he were fighting trained warriors. The para-demons that were punched burst into a mass of green plasma that stained the trees and ground for several meters. The two that were left attempted to retreat, but Diana picked that moment to step from behind the tree she was behind. Shedding her cape and throwing her sword at the first para-demon, she saw it impaled on a nearby tree while the other attempted to shoot upwards, away from the two heroes.

Diana acted as the warrior she was as she pulled loose the Lasso of Hestia and used it to encircle the escaping creature, tangling itself in the dragonfly wings and stopping its forward momentum.

Superman had been speeding behind the creature and didn't pause as he plowed through it, destroying any chance that Diana had of gleaning information from the damned monster.

Superman landed in front of the fuming Amazon.

"Hi there, I'm…" he started.

"You are a bull-headed, cyclopean idiot. I know who you are, the whole planet does." Diana whispered angrily, as she pulled her sword from the tree.

"Why are you so angry? They're gone. It's the fourth nest I've destroyed tonight." Superman stated, sounding immensely proud of himself.

Diana stepped up to the man in front of her, "The only reason I don't punch you in the face right now, is because it would possibly rattle whatever is left of that addled mass of muscle you call a brain"

"Whoa, ma'am, I don't think that is necessary," Superman said, as he attempted to move the Amazon back.

Diana's brown eyes turned to black as anger threatened to overwhelm her. Her training took over and she could hear her Aunt Antiope's voice in her head telling her to calm down. She took several deep breaths, looking at the blue-eyed idiot in front of her. "Remove your hands from my person, before I remove them," Diana hissed.

Superman took a step back, then watched amazed as the woman grabbed her cloak and disappeared into the night sky in one quick motion.


Above Themyscira

Holding the captured para-demon in her left hand, Kara looked around, her blonde hair already plastered to her head from the heavy rain. She panicked a bit; she couldn't hear their heartbeats. Where were her sisters, where was Myri? As her panic rose, she clenched her hands and felt the wings of the creature shatter in her fist. The sound brought her back to the moment and she took a breath. 'I left the island; I can't get back. What do I do?', the girl thought to herself. Her sense of direction was off, she couldn't focus on the points of the compass and she couldn't see the night sky, so there were no stars.

"My sister and I are always with you…" the words echoed in her ears and Kara stopped moving, relaxing.

"Artemis, Goddess of the Moon, protector of the beast and mistress of the hunt, guide me home, grant me the wisdom to find my place in the world once more," Kara prayed.

"Focus on my song, Little One," Artemis answered on the howling wind.

Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, Kara heard the song of Artemis's hunt. Then the mark on her shoulder, the gift from Rao, tugged at her. The little Amazon smiled, and followed the pull, through the night sky and rain. She flew faster and faster, as the song got stronger in her ears, trusting in her prayer and the guidance of the moon.

Kara opened her eyes when the rain stopped and the sun of Themyscira brushed her face once again and she could see her sisters and her Myri standing on the field below her.

Kara landed and dropped the para-demon she was holding to the ground. Then she found herself wrapped in Myri's embrace.

"Never do that to me again, Kara, please, I thought-I thought I lost you," Myri cried into Kara's hair.

"I'm sorry, Myri, so, so sorry." Kara smiled into Myri's shoulder, "I love you, Mother."

Myri squeezed harder at that word and all the Amazon's raised their voices to cheer the young girl.

Hippolyta stood, looking to the sky, "She is truly a gift from the gods."

All the leaders among the Amazons were gathered in the council chambers of the palace. Nubia was pacing back and forth, somewhere in the shield around the island the creatures had found a breach, and a breach meant more could come.

The other leaders were seated around the table, loudly discussing what the arrival of the creatures meant. "It's a patrol, others will come," one voice cried out.

"Perhaps, perhaps not, they could have simply stumbled upon the island," another voice spoke.

"They are looking for the Box." Esteria hissed.

"They will be back." a quiet voice from the back of the room.

"Kara saved us this time." Astra spoke, "but we almost lost her, we have to be better prepared."

"Enough!" Hippolyta commanded.

The council began to calm themselves, but Nubia continued to pace.

"Nubia, be seated please." Myrinna pled.

"We could have lost her. I've not trained her for this, she wasn't ready." Nubia snapped.

"She is safe Nubia, she came back to us," Hippolyta spoke softly. "We are here to discuss the para-demons, not Kara."

Kara looked to the adults and could feel the tension in the air. She looked to Myri and then to the window.

Myri nodded, almost imperceptibly, and watched as Kara flew out the window and headed up and away.

Kara headed to the top of the Treasure Tower, across the field from the main city. She landed softly on the roof and settled herself, blocking out the sounds from the meeting and looking up at the night sky. She identified Myri's star and focused, willing herself to relax and forget the events of the day.


Kara laid there for hours, occasionally allowing the sounds from the meeting drift through her ears. She heard her name mentioned several times, first from Myri, then Astra, and finally, Nubia. Then she heard a whisper, her name, coming from somewhere far away.

"Kara," the voice whispered. "I'm here, behind you Little One."

Kara turned slowly, seeing a very beautiful dark-haired woman with brown eyes floating before her in a flowing white gown. "Diana?" she asked, slightly stunned.

The vision in front of her laughed, a melodious sound, that caused Kara to smile... "No, my child, I am Athena. Diana is my sister, though Hippolyta is not my mother."

"Is Diana a goddess?" Kara asked boldly.

"She is, Diana is the goddess of Truth." Athena answered, "You have the same light she does Kara; you are a strong Amazon."

"But, I'm not an Amazon, I'm not from here," Kara hung her head. "And I'm forgetting about Krypton, about my family there."

"Kara, you proved that you are an Amazon today, by protecting your sisters." the dark-haired goddess spoke quietly, "but you are also Rao's chosen child, you will never forget where you are from or who your parents are, so long as you carry that mark on your shoulder."

Athena touched the mark on Kara's shoulder, and she felt her sliding through space and time…


Kara opened her eyes and found herself in her room on Krypton. She blinked and heard a voice calling her from the main room.

"Kara, Aunt Astra is here," she heard the voice of her mother, of Alura.

Smiling, she hopped off the bed and ran into the main room of their home. Standing before her were her mother and her aunt. She laughed as she threw herself into their arms.

"10 Cycles, you are getting so old, Little One." Astra laughed lightly, smiling at Alura and Kara.

"I'm not old, not like Daddy and Uncle Jor-El." Kara giggled.

"Wise answer, I believe you will be a fine adjudicator Kara Zor-El," Alura laughed as she picked up her child.

"I want to be a scientist mommy, I want to lead the guild, like Uncle Jor-El." Kara smiled.

"Then you will have to do well on your test," Astra said, looking very serious as she pulled a small box out from behind her back.

Kara's eyes widened at the box. "A present?" She squealed.

Kara squirmed down to the table to open the gift. She lifted the lid of the box and peeked inside, finding a crystal charm, the sigil of her mother and aunt's family in the light blue of their house, entwined in the gold of the El household.

"As long as you carry this Little One, we will always be with you," Astra said, her voice slowly fading and darkness coming to Kara's vision.


Kara opened her eyes to find herself embracing Athena. Catching herself, she blushed and went to pull away. "I'm so sorry," she gasped.

Tilting her head to the side, Athena asked, "Why, Little One? Why are you sorry?"

"I shouldn't have hugged you without permission," Kara blushed.

Nonsense child, you never have to ask permission to hug me. It is a pleasure." Athena smiled.

"Thank you," Kara cried out as she wrapped the Goddess of Wisdom in her arms and squeezed.

As Kara drew back from the second hug, Athena handed her the box from her dream. Her face brightened as she opened the box and found the same charm, this time placed on a golden rope shaped chain that matched the one that Myrinna wore on her shield and helmet. "Myrinna found this on your ship Kara, she knew you would want to wear it, but she wanted you to have a piece of her as well."

"Am I wrong to call her mother, Athena?" Kara asked. "I feel so-so confused?"

"Kara, dear child, you have lost so much. Artemis told me whose heartbeat you searched for, she told me who you sought out when you landed after crossing the barrier. Myrinna is not your mother by blood Kara Zor-El," Athena spoke solemnly, "but she is the mother you need."

"Thank you, Athena," Kara smiled. "For everything." Then she watched as the Goddess of Wisdom disappeared.

Kara leaped from the rooftop and focused her hearing on the council chamber. She heard the voices of her family still arguing about the para-demons and satisfied that they would be busy for many more hours, she headed towards the forge. It was time to take the next step on her journey.


Esteria taught her much in her short time working the forge, and Kara wanted this part to be absolutely perfect. First, she created a blank form, in the shape of a shield, using her speed and her strength to pack the form, and at the bottom of the form, Kara drew her choice for her own crest. She then did the same with a headpiece. Satisfied with her work, Kara approached her pod, rubbing the sides, and speaking softly, "you have been the sun of my life... My prayers will be the sun that lights your journey home. I will remember you every dawn and await the night to join you in the sky. Rao's will be done." Tears rolled down her cheeks as she finally spoke the Kryptonian prayer to honor, not just her family, but her world, then the young girl wiped her eyes and got on with the task at hand. Grasping one of the panels of her pod, Kara ripped the large piece free, so much easier than almost a year ago, and folded it once more into a proper ingot. After placing the ingot into the forge, she focused her heat vision just as she had been taught, putting her will power behind the beam as it superheated the metal, causing it to liquify. Kara watched as the impurities floated to the top, then she did something no other Amazon could do, she scooped them away with her bare hand, shaking the liquid from her fingers. Satisfied that the metal was ready, she slowly poured it into the forms and sat, waiting for it to cool.

Hours later Kara felt a soft shake on her shoulder. She opened her eyes slowly to see Esteria's face staring down at her.

"Little One, what are you doing in my workshop so late?" the normally gruff Amazon asked softly.

"Sorry Esti, I was working on a project and I must have fallen asleep," Kara yawned as she sat up.

Esti smiled "let's see what you've done then."

"It was supposed to be a surprise," Kara pouted.

"I won't tell anyone, Little One," Esti promised. "Now, let's open up your creations."

Kara stood and stretched, then she walked to the forms and broke them open. She held her creations up for Esteria to examine.

"By Hephaestus's forge Kara, the detail work is amazing. Did you draw this before you poured?" Esti smiled brightly.

Relishing the praise, Kara nodded and smiled.

"No defects either, you remembered to remove the impurities. What is this spot for?" Esti pointed to areas on both designs.

"I need to add something, I know what I want, but not how to make sure it will survive." Kara bit her lip, and then continued, "I thought maybe a ruby, it needs to be red, like Krypton's sun. It won't survive a hit though."

"Do you mind if I think about it, I can have it ready for you by your arrival day next month.", Esti asked.

"You don't mind?" Kara wondered.

"Of course not, Little One." Esti answered, "Now you need to report to Nubia, she wants to talk, then it's time for you to rest, no chores today."

"Thanks, Esti," Kara said, hugging the smith.

"She said to meet her at the cliff," Esti called out as the girl left her shop.


Minutes later Kara landed on the cliffside she loved so much and saw Nubia sitting, her legs hanging over the edge, kicking back and forth like Kara had done so many times before.

Nubia heard her land and looked over her shoulder, then patted the spot beside her.

Kara walked over and sat down, matching Nubia's position. "Hey Nubia, practice today?"

"Not today Little One, I want to talk to you about yesterday," Nubia responded quietly.

Kara started to twist her fingers, rubbing her palms together nervously, "Did I do something wrong?"

Nubia stopped, then blinked at the girl, realizing that she had worded the statement wrong, "No Little One, you did perfect," Nubia paused. "You-I feel as if I haven't prepared you enough for the reality of battle-for what it means to be a warrior."

Kara tilted her head, trying to comprehend what was being said.

"Kara, all the Amazon's on this island have seen battle, we've all been bloodied, in training you, I forgot that. I should have taken you hunting, you needed to witness a death before you caused one," Nubia spoke silently.

"I've seen death, Nubia. I've never been the cause." Kara leaned her head on Nubia's shoulder, "I never really realized what I could do with my gifts until yesterday. I didn't like having to kill, even though they were para-demons."

"To be honest Little One, I would have been concerned if you hadn't been affected. Next time you will be more prepared, and you will start hunting." Nubia smiled, "I forget that you witnessed that, Kara."

"It's okay Nubia, Athena visited last night and reminded me that not all my memories of Krypton have to be about the end, she showed me a happy memory, a better time," Kara said sitting up and smiling. "And she returned this to me." Kara smiled brighter, holding up the charm on Myri's gold chain.

"By the gods child, you amaze me more every day." Nubia laughed, "Now go, see your mother, no practice today."

Kara stood from her spot and hugged the large Amazon tightly, "Thank you, Nubia." She whispered, then flew off towards the palace.


As she flew towards the palace, Kara searched for Myri's heartbeat. Finding it, she scanned with her vision and saw her and Hippolyta in the throne room talking. She descends from the sky towards the balcony and calls out as she lands.

"Myri? Zyvehsh?" Kara called out, announcing her arrival.

"Kara," Myri answered in a tone that indicated she was smiling, held out her arms as Kara zipped in through the window.

"Myri!" Kara shouted as she was caught in the same arms, spinning the woman and child in a wide circle. Coming to a halt, both were laughing as they hugged. "Myri, look what Athena gave me," Kara laughed, holding the charm in two fingers as the chain held it to her neck.

Hippolyta sat back in her chair, a slow smile crawling up her face, lighting up her eyes. Myri caught the signs and turned to face her. "Lyta?" She asked, falling into the nickname she used from time to time.

"After yesterday, I think Kara needs a bit more stability, a bit more structure," she sighed. "Kara needs a mother and I think we can all agree that she has chosen you, Myri."

Kara was vibrating. She was so excited at the conversation, "Athena said the same thing, can Myri be my Amazon mother."

"We will make it official on your arrival day, Little One," Hippolyta winked. More than likely it would be all over the island by dawn the next day.

"Zyvehsh, you mean it?" Kara was so excited she almost forgot her own strength as she lifted Hippolyta in a powerful bear hug.

"Y-Y-Yess," Hippolyta got out, struggling to breathe. Kara heard the stuttering breath and immediately set the Amazon Queen down.

"Sorry, Zyvehsh," Kara blushed.

Taking a deep breath, Hippolyta laughed, but then lush lips met hers as Myri forgot herself for a moment as well and pulled her into a deep kiss. When they finally pulled apart, Kara was standing looking out the balcony watching the sun and blushing brightly.

"We are done, Little One." Hippolyta laughed as she called Kara back into the room. "You will have to start sleeping in the palace again. Is that acceptable?"

"Yes, Zyvehsh," Kara smiled.

"You can't tell anyone until your Arrival Day," the queen stated.

"Yes, Zyvehsh," the little blonde smirked. They both knew Kara wouldn't tell a soul, Myri on the other hand.

"And finally, for the sake of your Queen's heart, you will not fly so high, ever again," this last statement was made with a bit of a frown on her normally stoic face. "We thought you were lost to us, Little One."

"Artemis sang me home, and Rao's mark acted as," she thought for a moment, "a beacon. It led me home."

"As we have all said, you are a gift from the Gods, Kara," Myri smiled.

Kara spent the rest of the day making sure that her things were moved from the observatory to the palace, then she exercised Hope and made sure she was moved to the royal stables.


The next month passed quickly as Kara learned to handle speaks, javelins, and most of all, a bow. Each one took incredible concentration, because of her strength, the first arrow she shot had embedded itself into the city wall, fifteen hundred meters away.


Finally, the day of her first hunt was upon her, and Kara was so nervous she couldn't eat. It was wild boar season on the island, and Nubia had decided Kara would lead the hunt, and if possible, get the first kill. Mounting Hope, Kara took a deep breath and led the hunting party out of the gates.

They entered the valley a little less than two hours later and Kara ordered them to dismount, and from here they would continue on foot. Nubia took Kara to the side, "Remember Little One, everyone takes their lead from you. We don't expect a kill on our first hunt," she laughed lightly, "Astra is the only person on the island to get a boar on their first hunt, and that was," she paused, tapping her chin and thinking hard, "that was almost six hundred years ago."

Kara tried to relax, she didn't want to let anyone down, especially Nubia or Myri, 'her Mother', she smiled to herself. "I'll do the best I can."

"That's all we ask, Kara. Remember only the older ones or any you see with broken tusks, those are the ones that would not survive the season anyway. No females and nothing small."

"Old, broken, no females, no little pigs," Kara whispered to herself. "Let's move out everyone," she croaked.

Eight-hundred meters into the valley, Kara spotted the first tracks. She stopped, then stared at the ground, trying to remember everything that Nubia had taught her. She knelt down and cheated just a bit, using her vision to see if there was heat residing in the tracks. Two sets were warmer than the rest. One was a short gait, indicating a youngling, the other was deep and heavy, and she was sure that it was an older boar. Tracing the direction, she stood and moved in that direction.

The rest of the party followed, moving quietly, and Nubia stopped, smiling down at the ground, the little Amazon knew when to use her gifts, there was no other way she could have known which set to follow so quickly. "Very good, Little One," she whispered into the wind.

At the front of the party, Kara smiled. She moved her group slowly, stepping through the leaves and branches, making as little sound as possible, and watching the area in front of them. Her ears pricked and then the smell tickled her nose. She held up her hand pointing ahead and raising two fingers. Her sisters and Nubia spread out, spreading out in a rough semi-circle. Kara moved at the point, watching for movement ahead of them. She heard the sound clearly now, two large boars fighting about forty meters ahead of them. Looking left and right she saw an area that would give her a clear view and hopefully allow her a shot. She stepped forward and saw two males locked into a fight, one was maimed, his left front leg shattered, and it looked as if he was unable to run, the other had two broken tusks. She looked down at the injured leg of the older and saw the tusk embedded in the injury.

She heard Nubia behind her, "Hard choices, Little One. Take the broken tusk, and let our sisters take the maimed one."

Kara nodded and drew an arrow from her quiver. She notched it and drew back the string. In her head she was looking at angles, taking into account the wind, then the other boar, the one with broken tusks, charged the maimed one. Kara made a quick decision, and drew her bow back to the limit, took a step to the left, and let her arrow fly.

Kara arrow punctured the skull of the first boar, killing it instantly, as it continued forward and stopped as it entered the skull of the second whose body fell and slid to a stop mere meters from the first.

The Amazons in the party stood as one, their jaws open in surprise at what they had just witnessed. Nubia rested her hand on Kara's shoulder, "A fine shot, Little One." She smiled as she heard the sniffling Kara was hiding.

Kara wiped away the tears with the back of her bracer. "Honor their spirits Artemis, and allow them to run again," she prayed.

"Always, Little One," Kara heard, a whisper for her ears only.

Smiling, she moved forward, ready to collect her kill.

Hours later the hunting party returned, and Kara could hear the cheer as it was announced that someone had finally broken Astra's long-standing record.


That night, Kara's kill was the main course of her Arrival Day feast, and the celebration lasted late into the evening. Once the torches were lit, Esteria stepped forward with two leather-wrapped bundles and handed them to Hippolyta. Kara watched as Esti whispered something into Hippolyta's ear, but she couldn't quite focus over all the noise. A little bit later, the Queen stood, and the noise of the celebration died down a bit. She looked down at Kara on her left, then at Myri on her right, and motioned for them to stand.

"In all our history my sisters, we have only had one child on Themyscira. The gods have blessed us with the arrival of a second, an orphan, a child from another world, one who has touched each of us in some way. I stand before you as a mother, one who has watched her child grow with the help of all of my sisters. We all raise Kara, she is a light in all our lives, but we all know that there is one among us, one who Kara has chosen to call mother." The Queen stopped for a moment and handed the wrapped shield to Myri.

Surprised, Myri unwrapped the shield and turned it over in her hands. On the front was Kara's symbol in burnished silver, and a flat piece of red quartz resting in its center polished to the point where it shined like a red sun. It was the gold rope, flowing in and around the 'S' that brought tears to her eyes, her symbol, the symbol of binding that she had adopted so many thousands of years ago. Two symbols, two worlds bound by the heart of mother and daughter.

She made no effort to hide the tears as Hippolyta continued her speech.

"Over the past four seasons, our Kara has proven time and again that she belongs with us. She designed her own crest, inlaid on her shield, forged by her own hand, just as you have all done," Hippolyta smiled as she unwrapped the headpiece that Kara had made, noticing the blue in the metal that flowed like water. "Kara Zor-El, we welcome you into the sisterhood of Amazons."

She reverently placed the headpiece on Kara and watched as mother and daughter embraced before turning to face their family one more time.

"Sisters, I present, Kara of Themyscira."