Jeneta and the rest of the group could only continue to stare in shock as the immense wolf began ripping at the back of the bull-like beast it had pounced upon. Roaring with pain, the creature bucked and stood up on its hind legs, wildly waving its two front legs in the air. But the wolf was relentless...it would not let go for anything.
For what seemed like eternity, the wolf and steer creature spun around and around as the monster desperately tried to shake off the wolf. Grunting, whining, and yelps of pain filled the night air, both from the creature and the wolf. Finally, the monster roared one last roar of pain and frustration, trickles of blood running down its back from where the wolf bit and tore, then gave a powerful upward kick from its rear legs. It was so strong, the wolf was set flying forward near where Angeni was. It landed with a thud, dust clouds flying up all around it.
Angeni gasped in surprise, not knowing what to make of this strange creature that had suddenly saved her life again. Would it now turn its attention on her and try to tear her to pieces, like wolves do in so many stories she'd heard as a child? But whatever more thoughts she had were interrupted as the wolf immediately got back up and rushed back towards the monster. Instead of jumping back on the creature's back though, the wolf went for the legs, clamping its mouth tight around one of the front legs. Once more the night air was filled with roars and snarls of pain and frustration. Jeneta was the first to turn and look at her friends with concern. "Shouldn't...we do something to help?" she asked in a low voice.
"I don't know!" Heather said, her eyes wide and confused. "What if this is a trap?"
"We should at least try and help Angeni!" said Ling, "We can't just leave her like that!" The other girls looked at her and nodded in agreement.
Cautiously, hoping the wolf would keep the monster busy, Heather, Jeneta, Prya, and Ling silently moved forward towards where Angeni was struggling to stand. Jeneta breathed a sigh of relief as they were just about to reach her....until the steer creature turned and saw them all. An almost deafening roar escaped from its throat this time, and shaking of the wolf from it nearly shredded leg, it rushed full force towards the girls. They all screamed and ducked in terror as flames erupted from its nostrils and braced for the worst......but at the last moment, the wolf hurled itself after it and reached for its throat. But it never got a chance to make the final deathblow as the monster's heavy and sharp hooves trampled one of its front paws. The wolf yelped loudly in pain and sank limply to the ground.
But even that was enough to trip the creature and send it tumbling and rolling to the ground, sending dust, branches and leaves flying everywhere. For long moments it just laid there, breathing heavily. Then, light began surrounding its body, bathing it in a soft glow. The figure began to shrink, its white and gold coat turning back to a dress and its form turning back human. When the light finally faded away, the goddess stood up shakily and turned to the girls huddling together. Trickles of blood still trailed down her right leg and her back, but it was quickly healing. Far off to the side, unknown to the girls, the wolf softly whimpered in pain as it limped away, going behind a large bushel.
Her eyes glaring, the goddess pointed an accusing finger at the group. "This is not done yet! You WILL pay for what you've done here!"
"That's what we've been trying to tell you!" Jeneta said, rising to her feet. "We didn't do this! It was the Brothers Of Darkness! They work for Kumraa and they were looking for...umm..." She turned to her friends nervously. When they shook their heads to keep her from telling the goddess who the evil men were really looking for...namely themselves, she turned back to the goddess. "They were looking for...something, and they thought it was here with these people."
"Lies! All lies!" The woman placed her hands on her cheeks in despair and shook her head. "Do you know what it's been like, listening to their prayers and not being able to answer because it might lead Kumraa to them? The loneliness, the pain? They were the last of my followers! They were the last of their kind! You don't know what it's like to lose everything...." Tears flowed down her cheeks. "They must be avenged!"
"Then take it."
All the girls turned in surprise at Angeni, who was now standing and shaking slightly. Tears misted in her eyes as she slowly stepped towards the woman. "I know what it's like to lose people you love so much...I know what it's like to lose a way of life." She lowered her eyes and took a deep breath. "Not long before I started school in England...before I came here...I lost my grandfather. He was one of the few who remembered my people's ways, and he tried to teach it to me. I didn't understand until now how important it was to him for me to remember how our people were. In a way, you can say the culture of my people is dying too."
She looked up with a determined face. "But if getting revenge for your people will put you at ease, then so be it. Do it on me. I know my friends and I are innocent, but maybe through my death you will see the truth..."
"Angeni, stop it!" Jeneta turned to her and placed her hands on Angeni's shoulders. "Do you have any idea what you're saying? You can't do this!" But the taller girl just shook her head, gently moved Jeneta aside, and walked ahead of everyone.
"She's in a lot of pain right now, I know it," she said. "If this is the only way to heal it, then...it has to be this way."
"Angeni," Prya whispered, her eyes filled with admiration for her.
The word were barely out of Prya's mouth before the goddess sobbed loudly and outstretched her arms. With a glow, a large bow appeared, golden and shining in the pale light of the moons. On her back, a quiver with sharp-looking golden arrows suddenly flashed into place. With inhuman speed, she reached back, grabbed an arrow, and strung it on her bow. Before anyone could say anything, she let it loose, and it flew with incredible speed towards Angeni.
It was instinct alone that saved her life as Angeni turned to avoid the arrow, but not before it made a clean cut on her left shoulder, leaving a shallow gash as she screamed in pain.
"HEY!" yelled out Ling. "That's not fair! You didn't give her a chance!"
But her words fell on deaf ears as the goddess strung her bow with an arrow again and fired. This time Angeni had no chance of protecting herself, as she was down on one knee and holding her wound. She closed her eyes, but before she could feel the sharp impact of the arrow's head, another figure stood in front of her and deflected it with a bright, shining sword.
When Angeni opened her eyes, she saw Jeneta standing protectively in front of her, her sword held out and her eyes narrowed. "Enough of this!" Jeneta cried out.
"Stand aside, child!" the goddess said, aiming another arrow at her. "This has to be done!"
"No it doesn't!" Jeneta's body shook with barely contained anger as she continued to hold her sword bravely out in front of her. "Angeni's my friend, and I'm not going to stand by and let you kill her! I'm sorry about your people, but I can't let her die for us when we know we're innocent! Please, just give us a chance to explain and tell the truth. You're letting your grief blind you, can't you see that?" She looked back at Angeni, then to the woman. "You'll have to kill me before I let you get to her."
"She's right." Everyone turned to see Djoser, Tao, and Kondolar walk up to them, their faces determined. Djoser was the first to reach Jeneta and stand next to her. "She's right in what she's telling you. They're innocent, and killing them won't make what happened here any easier to accept."
His face softened as he looked into her eyes. "And I know who you are now. You are the goddess Ashatek..."she who walks with us" in the old language. I know you are a good goddess who took very good care of her followers. I now know that you were the only god who was able to hide herself from the influence of Kumraa by diminishing her powers and secretly sending messages to her people." He looked at Jeneta standing before Angeni, and saw how Angeni was trying to hold back the blood from her wound. "The girl is innocent. Please Ashatek...don't dishonor your people like this."
Ashatek looked with disbelief at Djoser, then turned to look at Jeneta. "You...you would give your life for her?"
"You bet I would!" With that, Jeneta held her head higher, ready to defend her friend to the end.
The goddess could only blink her eyes in confusion. I don't...understand. If she's willing to do this...then could they really not have done this crime?Surely murderers would not stand up for one another like that! The goddess's heart hammered in her chest. Could it be she was.....wrong?
A tension-filled silence surrounded the area for what seemed like years as Ashatek's body..as well as the bow...shook with confusion, grief, and anger. Then, with a barely audible sob, she slowly lowered her bow and arrow and fell to her knees. She held her face in her hands as she let out her emotions with sobs, tears running down her cheeks in great streaks. After a moment, Angeni stood and walked over to her, and gently took her in her arms. She gave her whatever comfort and support she needed then, and a strong connection between them began in a way that neither of them could imagine. Soon, Angeni leaned away from her and gave her an understanding smile.
Ashatek could only shake her head with disgust at herself. "I'm...I'm so sorry. I almost..I could have..."
"I understand. It's okay," Angeni nodded her head and helped the goddess to her feet. "I'm just glad I'm still alive now."
"We all are." said Jeneta, walking up next to her and smiling at her in relief.
"I don't know what else to say...except thank you," Ashatek took Angeni's hand in her own. "You've given me hope I haven't felt in a very long time. Perhaps there IS a chance this world can be freed and living in peace once more."
"That's what we're trying to do," Heather nodded. "We're trying our best to stop Kumraa from destroying anymore lives." Sadness entered her eyes for a moment. "We've...we've already lost those we cared about through him."
"Then you will need this." Ashatek stepped back from the group, and with a deep breath, raised her hands in the air. Her body began to glow brightly, making the others squint or cover their eyes. Above her, a bright shining object shimmered into existence in the air and slowly floated down into her waiting hands. When the light dissipated, they all gasped to see a large sword resting comfortably in Ashatek's hands. Its long blade was a pale shade of gold, and its hilt was silver and decked with small rubies. She smiled gently as she walked up to Angeni. "I believe this is for you. It's called Takenta, 'the one who brings justice.' in the old language."
"Wow," the Sioux girl breathed out. She gingerly reached out to it, then drew her hand back nervously. When Ashatek motioned for her to go on and take it, she gently took the hilt of the sword in her hand. She was amazed at how well it fit her hand...almost as if it was made for her. She looked in awe as she turned the sword around in her hand, inspecting every inch of it. Then, before she could say anything or admire it further, it disappeared and absorbed into her body, where it would stay until needed.
With a smile, Angeni turned to Ashatek. "Thank you, you don't know how much this means to us, and..."
But before she could finish, a strange glow suddenly appeared on her chest. She gasped as she felt a warmth flow through her body...a flow of energy that gave her hope and strength. When the glow faded, she looked down to see she now wore a medium-sized medallion much like the ones the other girls wore. But this one's design was all unto its own; chiseled out in great detail was a picture of what looked like the face of a bison, but instead it had three watchful eyes...the third eye in the middle of its forehead....and what looked to be flames surrounding it. With her mouth dropped open, Angeni looked back up at the goddess. She was about to thank her, but instead Ashatek winked, and with a shimmering in the air, she disappeared.
"Thank you, braves ones!" her fading voice said in the night air. I go now to guide the souls of those who were lost tonight to where they can rest in peace. May your journey be a successful one, and may all those you have touched remember you always."
With that, silence filled the night once again, leaving everything peaceful. After a moment, Angeni turned to her friends, an amazed look on her face. "Was....was that a dream? Could it be? Did...did I just get the LAST medallion?"
The girls looked at one another for a few seconds, the reality of it dawning on them......then they all screamed in happiness and rush into a huge and loving hug, tears streaming down their faces as Djoser, Tao, and Kondolar looked on and smiled.
"You did it! I can't believe you did it!" Jeneta said in happiness.
"I know! I've never been so happy in my life!" Angeni turned to give Jeneta a grateful look. "Jeneta...thank you, if you hadn't...I mean."
"It's no problem. I know you would have done the same for me...or any of us." Jeneta smiled and gave Angeni's hand a squeeze.
"Well, well, looks like I missed all the action!" said a smooth voice. The girls all turned to see Kain walking up to them, an amused smile on his face.
"Kain!" Angeni rushed over to him, an angry look on her face. "Where the heck have you been? I can't believe you would leave us at a time like..." Her ranting stopped as she saw how swollen his right hand was, even though he tried to hide it with a cloth tied around it. "What happened to your hand?" she demanded as she reached for it.
The young man quickly hid his hand behind his back. "Oh...it..it's nothing, really. I....I tripped." He cringed slightly at the suspicious look Angeni gave him. "Hey...umm..nice medallion you got!" He pointed at the medallion on her chest.
"Oh, yeah!" Angeni smiled and gently held it in her hands, feeling the smooth, golden edges. "It wasn't easy, I can certainly tell you that!"
"Well, it's not going to do us any good staying out here all night to tell that story." Djoser said. "I think there's a small town about half a night's ride from here, if I remember from my limited studies on this region. We should get started heading there."
"Right. I may not be a big fan of taking a lot of long, fancy baths, but after the night we just had, I'd say a nice long bath isn't too much to ask for." Ling said, flicking her hair over her shoulders.
The group then hurried back to where their horses waiting, and within moments, they were off, riding hard before daylight would meet them on the road again.
A couple of hours later, they came upon a tiny village, no more than at least a few hundred people. Despite getting stares and people whispering behind their hands as their approached, they did not meet any trouble. Djoser and Tao were able to get a medium-sized room the girls could share in a large inn and find stables for the horses. Close to midnight, the girls were finally cleaned, changed, and settling into bed in their rooms after a long and relaxing bath. Fortune was with them, as Tao, Djoser, Kain and Kondolar were able to find a room big enough for themselves after some bargaining.
But no matter how hard she tried, Jeneta was unable to sleep. She tossed and turned for hours before finally giving up. With a sigh, she got up and put on a light robe over her nightgown. She walked downstairs into the inn's courtyard, and leaning against one of the pillars that formed a circle in the middle of the courtyard, looked up into the sky.
The stars that were innumerable shined brightly, twinkling as though speaking to one another. Many thoughts ran across Jeneta's mind then, and a little sadness entered her heart. What happens now? Where do they go from here? Would they have to go and fight Kumraa right away? She didn't know if she was ready to face Kumraa himself, and that saddened her more than she realized. She sighed and hugged herself against the chill.
"Are you alright?"
Jeneta jumped slightly and turned...then sighed with relief when she saw it was Djoser. She then blushed slightly as she saw that his robe was open, and under it he wore no shirt and only a thin pair of silk pants. It was the first time she saw him without his regular clothes and saw just how muscular and smooth his chest was. "I'm...I'm fine, thanks." she whispered, turning away quickly.
"Good." Djoser walked up to her and laid a hand on her shoulder. "You know, I never got a chance to...to thank you for saving my life that day..when my brother was...killed -"
"It's okay!" Jeneta turned to him and smiled. "I just knew it was the right thing to do. I couldn't let anything happen to you..." When those words left her mouth, Jeneta immediately blushed again. Great going, now he thinks you're a loved crazed idiot! "I..I mean..I..."
"I know what you mean." Djoser smiled with amusement. He turned serious then. "I also wanted to tell you how proud I've become of you. You've shown so much strength and courage since you got here." He reached forward and gently tucked back a strand of black hair from Jeneta's face. "You have the makings of a great leader in you, I can see that."
"Really?" Jeneta blinked her eyes in surprise, then laughed nervously and ran a hand through her hair. "Heh, yeah, thanks! Well...I should get to bed now..it's really late and the other girls might be worried. Good night." She walked past him, but before she could get far, she felt his hand take hers, stopping her.
"Jeneta..wait."
She turned to look back at him in surprise, her eyes widening. "Yes?"
"Do you think...I mean...will you.... ?" Nervously, Djoser ran a hand across his dark braids. Then after taking a deep breath, he pulled Jeneta closer to him and gently touched his forehead to her own. "Please...stay with me tonight?" he whispered.
Jeneta gasped as her heart raced a thousand miles a minute. Was he serious? Did he really want to stay with her?It was like a dream...a dream she didn't want to wake up from. He cared for her, just as she cared for him! Oh, how she wanted to know how he felt about her for so long! Happiness lit up her eyes as she willed her body to stop shaking with excitement. With a small smile, she looked up at him and nodded, not letting one moment of embarrassment or doubt spoil this moment for her. "Yeah..okay. I'll stay with you."
The smile Djoser gave her was more beautiful than anything Jeneta had seen or dreamed of. Taking both his hands in her own, she stood up on tiptoes and gently touched his lips with her own. Above, the stars continued to twinkle, leaving this strange world in peace for one night as the two shared a sweet kiss, their figures illuminated by the planet's moons.
*********
To Be Continued....
**********