Lucystar1 - 12:18am Jun 11, 2002 ET (#1 of 236)

What we sow in this life, we reap in our future lives. This is our karma.

LIFE'S DECISIONS or WHICH ROAD TO TAKE HOME.

Lucystar had spent the last few hours walking among her friends, offering words of support where she could. Other times it was just to hug and hold a sister while she sobbed over the loss of a loved one.

"War is tough on the soul". Xena's words haunt her as she views the scene around her. Lucystar's eyes search the area looking for her Queen, but is not able to locate Saxy. Thinking to herself, "I know she was terribly upset by all that had happened and the sisters who were lost. We were both devastated by the loss of xwpfan's adopted daughters and shocked by Hippolytas final actions." Lucystar has already spent a few moments with xwpfan expressing her's and Saxy's sorrow.

Many of the tribe are planning on traveling toward the sea fom what Lucystar can tell. She still hasn't been able to located Queen Saxy, but is not worried....yet. "It's not uncommon for Saxy to need to go off by herself and work through the bloodlust that often plagues her after a battle." When asked what her plans are Lucystar replies "I will go where my Queen goes. Until I talk to her, I will make camp here and wait." Lucystar also wonders whether those left of the tribe even want Saxy to remain their Queen, or if Saxy wants to remain their Queen. But there is plenty of time to face those questions, later.

Lucystar bids her sisters goodbye as many of them start out today. As the last one heads down the trail, she turns back, and decides first things first. "Build a fire ring, collect firewood and hunt for food. Oh wait, that's Saxy's job. Guess I'll have to give it a shot or go hungry. Maybe there's some berries around here"

leara - 05:59pm Jun 11, 2002 ET (#3 of 236)


Where do I go from here???

The problem with the end of a great quest is the question where to go forward to? My options are many more than I could ever imagine. In the past, the answer came easily there was always some new possibility of finding a family member or aiding the helpless but now all that seems irrelevant.

I would like to know my birth mother and how she is faring especially with the news of my father’s death. That seems such a weird thing to say I never really knew him and by all accounts that is not really a bad thing. She must be a noble woman, to give up her daughter to another to raise giving her offspring a chance at a better life.

The Amazons seem to be moving out heading for the sea I can always catch up to them there as I am a fairly good sailor. I would like to know more about the people of my mother, Madula. I would like to understand the reasons for their ways and customs. As a Roman, how can I ever even think of joining with them, I am their enemy.

I had thought about chasing down my sister Evergreen. There is so much to ask and understand. I am not sure though if she is ready to talk about it or if she will ever be. I do need to thank her for saving my life earlier when she pulled me from the Roman camp.

I should perhaps venture deeper in to the forests of the land I call home and meditate about the place in the world for me if there is one. The forests have been a place of safty and security for me, the peace and stillness there is without equal.

I guess, for now I will sit here until the notion strikes me to move. It is a hard decision to make.

blackwolf - 03:21pm Jun 12, 2002 ET (#5 of 236)


I was enjoying a nice quiet sunset on the beach when the first Roman soldiers passed by. I quickly hid myself among the rocks. While I wouldn't have minded spilling a little Roman blood, I noticed that they were already battle worn, and I was curious as to what force would send these seasoned warriors on the run. I kept hidden in the rocks until nightfall, then, making sure my horse was securely hidden, I went after the men.

I came upon their camp a few miles down the beach. I quickly dispatched of one of their sentries, and then, donning his clothes, moved freely through the camp. I had been told from an early age that I had somewhat masculine features, and while not extremely large, my 5'7 frame packed enough muscle to pass me off as a young man. I had cut my hair short for instances such as these. It was always nice to be thought of as one of the guys, especially when you needed information.

As I walked through the camp, I was able to piece together the stories that I heard. Evidently, a group of women warriors had attacked these group of Roman soldiers and had beat them quite badly. This little group of men was all that was left of the original army. I had to smile as I continued my walk. Sounds like the Amazons were nearby. I had heard stories of these warriors, but had never met one in person. I couldn't wait to meet these women, and from the sounds of what the soldiers were saying, they were heading this way. I found this quite interesting considering that their home was in the opposite direction. Very, very interesting. I quickly slipped out of the camp, and got rid of the Roman clothes as soon as I knew it was safe. They really did stink. It's going to take some brisk scrubbing before I'll be able to feel clean again, I thought.

Later on that night when I was sure the Romans were asleep, I stole back into camp. Another little tidbit of information I heard was that this group of soldiers were on their way back to Caesar to tell him of the recent loss of territory. I knew Caesar wouldn't like that and would send more men to secure his domain. That would spell disaster for this area, and I couldn't let that happen. The forests were my home, and I didn't fancy having Rome around to destroy it. I quickly and quietly dispatched of every soldier in the camp. Like I said before, I thought as I cleaned my blade on the tunic of a soldier, I didn't mind spilling Roman blood. I then made my way back to where I had hid my horse, mounted up, and then rode into the forest nearby. Under the darkness of the trees I made camp, and then settled in to wait for the Amazons.

xwpfan - 12:21pm Jun 13, 2002 ET (#7 of 236)

There is only one success...to be able to spend your life in your own way...

fishing lessons

Our weary band of warriors had said their last good-byes to those staying behind and had gave well wishes to those who chose to go another path.

Our journey had begun. Actually, we had been riding for a while before the topic of where to relocate to came up. Perhaps we were all feeling a bit unsure about talking about where our new home might be.

After lengthy and sometimes heated discussion,we decided that since our little group was already heading on the direction of the Agean Sea,that somewhere in the vicinity of the seaport of Volos might be nice.

As we got further away from the camp we could see the denseness of the forest meld away, the mighty Oaks and beautiful maple tress became more sparse as we traveled onward.

As the forest gave way to fields it became obvious that there would be few things to hunt. Without dense woods there would be few bears,wild boars or wolves to hunt on this journey.

Instead,it looked as though we'd be herding wild goats,fishing and forging for berries and roots. Our life styles were changing with every hoof beat forward.

After several hours riding,we needed a break. Everyone looked extremely tired and emotionally drained. I didn't know about the others, but I felt like I could not go on any further.

We began searching for a place to camp for the night. We found an open field filled with wild flora and a trickling stream about a couple hundred yards away .

It was perfect,after we unloaded our gear, we lead our horses down to the stream to let them cool down and drink. Without saying much of anything, a couple of my sisters started gathering dry leaves and sticks to start a fire with.

Puella full of curiosity of how Amazons do things offered to go with the group going fishing. They heatedly agreed and said they'd be glad to show her how Xena the warrior princess catches fish.

I laughed as Puella excitedly waved good bye to me.

A few minutes later I could hear the sounds shrill sounds of screams and of someone splashing and thrashing around in the water,I laughed and smiled just knowing it had to be my sisters "teaching" Puella how to fish.

Still smiling I walked over to my saddle bag pulled out a clean dry tunic and laid it on her bedroll.. she was going to need it later..

None of my sisters were letting me do anything useful, they were being very attentive and understanding. but I felt the need to be us, to doing something.

I grabbed my cistern that my grandmother had made with the intent of picking some wild berries or even some wild oregano or thyme.

However,when I walked further into the field I was overcome by the beauty of the Lilies and Crocuses in full bloom. I laid down amongst the flowers and looked up to the bluest sky I had ever seen and thought this must be what the Elysian fields are like...

I closed my eyes and thought of my girls,knowing the dead can hear our thoughts; to Vasca and Solaria I sent thoughts of love and pride, to Hippolyta I sent my questions and thoughts of concern.

As the intoxicating fumes filled my nostrils I began to think happier thoughts, daydreaming about our new home and re building our nation, our tribe.

I smiled as my memory replayed how brave and how noble each had been in battle. and suddenly I had no fear of what the future may hold..

As I laid their in the first moment of contentment I had known in days two feathers came floating down from the sky on to my chest. I opened my eyes to find the feather of a hawk and a dove. I looked but there was not a bird in the sky, these feathers were gifts from someone,be it from the Gods or my girls who knew.

As I stared at the feathers a voice from deep within told me to save these feathers to make Puella's ceremonial mask.

Tears rolled down my face, I had not even attempted to make a since that horrible day when I had lost my family.. I wasn't sure I'd remember how.

Lucystar1 - 10:09pm Jun 13, 2002 ET (#9 of 236)

What we sow in this life, we reap in our future lives. This is our karma.

COMPANY?

While Lucystar waited for Queen Saxy to return, she had built her firering and gathered enough wood to last easily through the night. Her one draw back was the hunting part. Having always been a great animal lover, and at one time, even a horse trainer, she often found it hard to hunt the small woodland creatures. Especially little bunnies. That's why whenever Lucystar was out with the tribe, she often brought plenty of food from the Inn so they didn't have to hunt. Laughing to herself "I don't think anyone really knew why I always supplied the food. I think they thought I was being considerate of how hard everyone worked. And it WAS nice to already have the meal's meat ready to fix having brought smoked and dried meat that could be prepared several ways. That way no one had to go hunting for their meals when they were tired or it was dark." Lucystar knew that if THEY knew it was because she hated to see the little animals killed and skinned, they'd tease her unmercifully. Now, if it came down to hunt or starve, of course self-survival always came first, but as long as other means could be provided, the bunnies would be safe.

However, today there were no prepared meals and with all the fighting going on earlier, no animals were around to hunt, even if Lucystar wanted to, which she didn't. So in her search for firewood, she happened upon a berry patch. Now sitting under the large tree with the large leaf full of berries, Lucystar had time to reflect on all that was happening with the tribe and to wonder where the next part of her journey with Saxy would take them. She also wondered were her queen was, but still was not worried. She had seen Saxy take days to work through some very difficult times. For the Queen was not one to show her emotions easily.

Then suddenly Lucystar's eyes popped open. "Do I smell fish cooking on a fire?" Slowly she lets her eyes scan the surrounding area. There, a ways off, Lucystar could make out a campfire. "I wonder who that is? Who has stayed behind?" The she askes herself "I wonder if it would be rude to invite myself to dinner? What if it's not a friend?" With a shrug and a grin, Lucystar gets up, then slowly and carefully she makes her way toward the fire she's seen across the glen.

girlpower - 06:35pm Jun 14, 2002 ET (#11 of 236)

Courage is not the absence of fear... but the strength to conquer it.

Puella learns to fish

Puella helps set up the camp with Xwpfan. We need to rest, looking over at my friend, I see the weariness in her movements and on her face. These past few days have been hard for her, yet she goes on and does not complain. A group of Amazons have made a fishing party, they approach us and ask me if I want to go with them and catch this evening’s meal. I can not hide the excitement in my eyes. Fishing for my dinner is something I have never done and would love to learn. Xwpfan saw the expression and told me to go ahead with them, “I’ll be fine here.” I was a little reluctant to leave her there, but the impulse to fish won out. Xwpfan will be fine. Besides, I can’t have the Queen find out I can’t fish. I need to learn this. I place my hand on Xwpfan’s shoulder and give a little squeeze as I walk away to join the others down at the stream.

Down at the stream Admete and Dictynna, begin showing me how to stand and where to look for certain types of fish. I decided that I should try for the biggest thing I could catch, so I would have a better chance at keeping a hold of it. Dictynna said, that I should try for eel then. All right, sounds good to me. I stand thigh deep in the stream, under the shade of a tree. The water is a little cool, reminding me of the creek Joxcenia threw me into my first night with the Amazons. I shiver at the thought. I place my hands under the water, near the stones at the bottom. Something brushed up against my hand and I grabbed it fast as I could. It was strong and slimy reminding me of a big leech, yuck. I screamed out as I fought with the eel. I fell back into the water but wouldn’t let go. “You’re mine you slimy thing.” I then stood up and let out a laugh looking at the other Amazons. I proudly walked ashore to go show Xwpfan my handy work.

I found her lying in the field amongst the flowers. I held the eel tightly. "Look Xwpfan, I caught an eel with my bare hands!" “Puella, are you sure it didn't catch you? Look at you, you’re soaking wet! Seriously, you did a great job! Well done! By the way, I left you a dry tunic over there." Xwpfan said as she pointed to my bedroll. How thoughtful she is. I raise my eyebrows and smile saying, "You knew I'd come back soaked, and you didn't bother to warn me?" She laughs and says, “I didn't want to ruin anybody's fun!” “Oh really, then have yourself an eel.” I tease and throw the eel straight at her face. She caught it as the rest of the fishing party walk up and laugh at the sight.

I need to get out of these wet clothes. I walk over to my bedroll and change into my dry tunic, then hang the wet one on a limb to dry. Running my fingers through my short flame red hair, I walked back next to Xwpfan and ask, “So how do you prepare eel?” I take the eel back from her hands and help her up. We walk to the fire and begin to prepare our meal. Talking of a spiced eel recipe. As I look over towards my new family, I smile and think. Now this is the life…

bhenrudha - 12:47am Jun 16, 2002 ET (#13 of 236)

I am the Red Woman.

Running

((Author's Note: I hope I'm not being too forward with this post. I had such a good time reading up on some of the group's adventures that I wanted to play too!))

It was not enough that she had escaped, and had been free for almost a moon now. The nightmares plagued her still . . . heavy, cloying with his smell and weight, forcing her awake with a scream echoing in her ears.

She was dirty. She was hungry. She was alone.

Even during the day the smell filled her nose, his rancid breath mixed with the tang of blood. With eyes opened or closed she could see the crimson on her hands, could feel it sticky between her fingers. The voices of coursing hounds drove her feet forward, though she could no longer tell if they were real or imagined.

She was hunted. She was afraid. She was diminished.

The mirror shard had cut her as it had cut him, and sometimes in the vaugeness that came before waking, she felt that his lifeblood had tainted hers, trapping her forever underneath his gluttony . . . his karnal addiction. When night forced her to cling to a tree for what safety she imagined it afforded her, she would pick at the slice across her palm, hoping to bleed him out of her.

She was desperate.

Her body had escaped, but inside she was still back in that room, shackled, waiting. She no longer felt the slap of the chain attached to her collar, the skin down the middle of her chest too bruised to complain. A nail ripped half off her finger had stopped her from trying to claw the solid ring from her throat.

She was dying.

She wondered why she continued. Memory older than her slavery surged forward then . . . the Raven's wings, the stand of Acorns . . . her death did not belong to her, it belonged the Goddess. But the Goddess was too far away, She could not hear a wayward daughter whose voice had grown small.

A sharp pain pierced her middle, the memory of a handful of mushrooms a crescent moon distant. Blurry eyes searched the darkening sky, found the moon nearly half. She would need food. Maybe she was far enough away to ask for help. For now night was as good as day for walking . . . she would continue.

* * *

Midnight found her huddled within a thicket. She had stumbled, fallen, and crawled into the meager shelter. The remainder of her rags had done nothing to protect her from the thorns, but she was far past caring. Sleep had teased her this night with visions of green hills, fields of sheep and cattle, the collar at her throat a twisted torc of copper instead of a slave's locked iron decoration.

Dawn found her weeping.

When she had been wrung dry, she crawled out of the thicket, and picked a direction. Mere hours later found her following the faint scent of smoke. The vestiges of caution drove her into the thick trees, moving with all the silence she could remember.

A voice filled ears grown used to her own cackling words, "I am J'mea, Amazon of a Northern tribe. Be you friend or foe?"

Panic filled her trembling limbs as she searched her mind for the steps of translation. Northern . . . tribe . . . friend . . . foe . . . Tuaisceartach . . . treibh . . . cara . . . namhaid . . . Only those few words did she manage to pull from behind the wall of exhaustion induced delusion. While she was trying to decide whether or not this was enough to warrant coming down from her tree, her body decided for her, sending her falling, unconscious before she hit the ground.

Lucystar1 - 02:06am Jun 16, 2002 ET (#15 of 236)

What we sow in this life, we reap in our future lives. This is our karma.

A DINNER INVITATION

I've made my way across the glen having seen the campfire and smelled the cooking fish. I still have in my hands the leaf basket I made to hold the berries I picked. I also have over my shoulder my day pack, which, besides an extra tunic, is full of nuts I had also found in my foraging trips.

Leara calls out to me. Apparently she must have seen me earlier today out hunting for food. Now she's invited me to share her meal, for which I am grateful. Not so much because I am hungary, but for the company. I have been alone all day wting for Saxy to return to me.

The path I took to the campfire walked me right into some bushes. As I shove my way through them I come face to face with Leara with her sword in her hand.

"Whoa, there, I'm a friend, not foe. You remember me don't you leara?" Leara gives me a grin and puts her sword away. And I let out a big sigh. "Hey, thanks for the invite. Didn't know you were still around. I would have thought you'd ave left already, Leara?"

With that she motions me to a log by the fire as she turns back and checks on the fish cooking on the rock in the fire ring. "Gods, that smells good. Hey,Leara, I know it's not much but here are some berries I picked and I've got some nuts in my day pack. I've seen Saxy put some of each in fish she's cooked and it gives them a little extra flavor. Not that what you've cooked doesn't smell great, mind you."

Lucystar now notices that leara's "clothes" consist of her bedroll wrapped around her and kind of covering her body. Reaching into her pack she dumps out the nuts on the ground and then pulls out the extra tunic. She offers it to Leara saying" Here you might be a little more comfortable in this and I know you'll need your blanket later to sleep one." Leara looks at her, but doesn't say a word. "Look, I always carry an extra tunic in case I fall in a creek when I'm trying to help Saxy fish. My guess is your clothes got soaked while you were fishing and they're not dry yet." With that she drapes the tunic over Leara's arm and turns to check on the fish. "Go over there and change. I promise not to look." Lucystar laughs to herself as she sits back on the log. "Looks like to fish will be ready soon. Thanks again for the invitation, Leara"

bhenrudha - 05:23pm Jun 16, 2002 ET (#17 of 236)

I am the Red Woman.

Dreaming

Gentle J'mea had her hands full with the lost soul she had found in the grass. The runaway was tall, perhaps as tall as Xena herself, though far too thin by any stretch of the imagination. The matted rat's nest of hair had once been a deep, coppery auburn, framing a face that was too sunburnt and dirtstreaked to be the clear ivory it once was.

Looking over the battered body, J'mea found a plentitude of cuts and scrapes down the long limbs and across the runaway's back. The filthy rags barely hid the mass of bruises that ran down the thin chest, product of the length of chain still attached to a locked iron collar.

While cleaning and bandaging the battered woman, the Amazon noted that she was curiously free of whip scars, her mind shying away from what other tortures might have been visited upon the runaway instead.

On her back J'mea had found a large tattoo, a shield of some kind . . . the profile of triple ravens knotted together in the Celtic style. They were black, one had an amber eye, one a red eye and the last a black eye.

At the end of her legs were two collections of bruises and blisters, cracked nails and dried blood. The runaway's feet had taken the brunt of the damage from being out in the wilderness virtually naked. Luckily the weather was warm enough, and there was no frostbite, though the black of some of the bruises had made J'mea double-check.

Her most serious wound was a slice across the right palm, crusted over and, by some miracle, not septic yet. The woman had twitched and groaned while J'mea poulticed and wrapped the hand, going limp so suddenly the Amazon had checked for a pulse to reassure herself that her charge was still alive.

J'mea mused on the symbology of the tattoo while preparing her fire and broth for the runaway, somehow knowing that there was a story behind the design and why it had not been whipped into obscurity. She hoped that the woman would be able to tell her story when she woke.

Settling back against a tree, the Amazon checked her weapons and whispered to the woman, "May the gods bless you and help you, for I have done all that I can"

* * *


She was beginning to feel warmer. It was a sensation that she was nearly unfamiliar with. It felt . . . not good, but better. The warmth sent the roiling sludge of him into hiding. She wanted to open the cut on her hand and let the warmth burn him out.

Her hands twitched, but she could not bring them together. There was something holding her hands apart. He had never shackled her hands. Desolation swarmed her . . . for she knew that she had been caught again.

She could not know that she was in the hands of an ally, even a friend . . . these were concepts that had been choked out of her, pulled from her by a length of chain.

Into the desperate blackness of oblivion a lance of red pain sliced, setting fire to her blood. It had started at her hand, she realized, like she had been cut again with her mirror shard. Confusion snared her . . . she had lost her shard, it had drowned in the rising pool of crimson.

The fire took no notice of her state of mind. It coursed through her, agonizing in its speed, leaving her raw, but clean. Dark joy welled up within her with the knowledge that the blaze would find him, turn him to ash within her. She surrendered to the fire, letting it have its way with her and turned, falling deeper into her mind.


bhenrudha - 07:36pm Jun 16, 2002 ET (#18 of 236)

I am the Red Woman.

Internal Voyage I

Behind the wall of unconsciousness she waited. This time she was shackled in her room, without her mirror shard, knowing that he would be coming soon. The room was lavish, with silken sheets and expensive rugs, large enough that she could not claim claustrophobia as her madness. Her chain was anchored high on the wall, allowing her the freedom of the room till she got near the door.

She remembered her first weeks here, struggling against her bond toward the door, passing out when the collar had cut off her air too long. She knew better now. Arranged artfully among the pillows of her bed shaped grave, she resigned herself to another taste of death.

The lock clicked. The door opened with the faint jangle of keys. Fear stole another portion of her soul. She closed her eyes.

Bootsteps muffled by the rugs . . . he never wore boots in here . . . her eyes flew open.

Standing before her was a woman, tall and muscular, garbed in the warrior way of her people. Thick, midnight hair waterfalled its way past her waist, framing brilliant amber eyes. In her hands she held a set of sodden clothes.

She groaned, rolling forward and pressing her face into the bed sheet. "I am reduced to less than nothing. No longer fit to wear your mark . . . take your Raven, Lady and leave me to die." The amber eyed Raven, settled on the right side of her back, burned with intense heat, making her gasp and look up.

The Woman stood quietly, holding the wet clothes out to her, liquid dripping to stain the rug. She followed the falling trail . . . of water . . . her clothes, in those Hands, dripping water. She was alive . . .

Do not presume to know My thoughts daughter. My Sisters and I are far from finished with you. Stand, I would not speak to the back of your head.

No actual words came to her, instant understanding bombarded her instead. Trembling, she rose, the clank of her chain a loud desecration, a shame filled reminder that she was unworthy of the grace she was receiving. She stepped down from the bed and stood before the Woman.

She wanted to speak, but her throat constricted, choking off her first attempt. Gazing into the serene countenance, she was able to find her voice. "Blessed Lady, Seer Through the Haze, Mystical Sister," she spoke three titles as she was taught and felt the Raven with the amber eye settle, warming her back with a more gentle heat, "direct me as you would, for this daughter remains devoted to you."

Take those rags off, they are beneath you.

It took but moments to unwrap the length of cloth that had barely covered her body. She dropped it to the floor where it burnt to ash and gone. Naked she tried to draw herself up straight before the Woman, but the weight of her collar forced her shoulders to hunch. The Woman frowned lightly, and turned to set the wet clothes down in the doorway.

Garb yourself.

With knees shaking, she took a shuddering breath, "But Lady, I cannot reach so far."

Impatience colored the knowledge she received, That is only true were you still a slave. I see no chain fettering you.

Looking back over her shoulder, she saw that the chain did indeed reach to its anchor on the wall. She felt that she should recognize the test for what it was, but pain and fear had made her stupid. "I am in my tomb, chained to the subtle demise designed for me by him. It is fitting that I remain naked, Blessed Lady, for I have given up on freedom and deserve no defense."

Look again foolish daughter, and See where you truly lie.

joxer4me - 12:17am Jun 17, 2002 ET (#20 of 236)

Peace, love and harmony to all

A Lost Soul, Part II

A day and night had pass since J'mea had found the girl. Cleansing the wounds and scrapes took time, so dirty and crusted over with dry blood, she did not want to further put the girl in pain. Regularly check the pulse, J'mea was relieved that she was there to help. For too long she felt useless, by herself only the wildlife to be her companions.

A soft, inaudible murmur would escape through healing cracked lips. J'mea would rest her hand reassuringly on the girl's shoulder to calm her. With luck, the sleep that overcame the girl would be deep and healing.

Settling back once again against the tree, J'mea ponder the vicious wounds she had treated and was extremely curious about the raven tattoo. Tattoos were not uncommon in any Amazon tribe but after cleaning the lost soul's hair and skin, she did not look to be from any Amazon tribe J'mea knew of. Red hair moved more freely without the debris cluttering it. Skin not damaged from abuse was a shade or two lighter then that which was constantly exposed to the sun. Were those a light sprinkle of freckles going across the bridge of the nose?

J'mea knew for certain that she was treating a slave girl, a runaway. How long did the runaway suffer? How could anyone be so cruel? She looked no older than twenty winters, but looks can be deceiving. J'mea offered a quick prayer of thanks to the gods for leading her on this new path. She would do all in her power to help and save this girl,her friend.