Blood & Fire: Genesis

atalantam

'The call of Amazonia is almost pure instinct, sending out a cry to get her children home.'



Requiem - Song of the Dead:
Part One

My name is Atalanta, and this ... is my story.

Talos. A remote ransacked farm village near the borders of Greece.

Clouds part, my awareness stirs. Where am I? who am I? confusion.

I look around me.... I see fire...blood... carnage... crying in the distance... my head hurts... is that blood? my long red hair saturated with dried blood. I don't remember being able to cry blood instead of tears. I can't breath, too much smoke... the stench, by the gods, the stench is putrid, it's making me sick.

It all started about 10 days ago... that fateful day.

I remember a loud cry for help. A stranger came to town, ragged, soiled and apparently delirious. He spoke of a dark army, moving like a living shadow from realm to realm, leaving only devastation, fear and death behind. I helped him find shelter among my people.

The people of Talos ...my neighbors...my people, were in shock of such a tale. In disbelief the man was ignored and ridiculed. Having not seen war in 10 generations, my people became trusting...too comfortable, and had no time to listen to the ravings of a delusional, possibly insane individual from parts unknown.

My family took him in and cared for him... I listened to his fevered tales. Creatures... "creatures" he said, "too gruesome to behold even in your darkest nightmares... came like a swarm of death itself. Fire, lightning, ignited the sky and darkness fell". I watched as he spoke, looking blankly at the ceiling only to see the light of his eyes dim...his last word..."Circe ...".

We buried him that same night...an unmarked grave that only stated "May he find peace".

My mother even said to me "Stay away from the man, Ata", to let him... rest. Should I of stayed away? and maybe Death would of passed over? I don't know. My mother, my family.

"MOTHER??!!" a sudden rush of panic came over me. I quickly got up and I ran.
I ran so fast as though my heart would explode... I ran towards our meager hut. I don't remember our home being so far away....running... WHY!!?! I don't understand...confusion sets in. Everything looks the same... shambles, blackened walls... "which one is it??!". I yell out "MOTHER!" but I hear nothing but silence.

Then I finally see it. Our home... or whats left of it. I search through the rubble... pain! I feel pain!... I don't know from where...maybe its my hands, torn, bleeding, and burned from tearing through blackened ruin. I can't see!... blood, tears... does it matter??

Does anything matter anymore....I found her.

Her green eyes blankly staring at me, same as the stranger.... those same green eyes that I see when I look in the mirror. My 3rd birthday... laughing, happiness, and loved. I shake her... "WAKE UP MOTHER!! OH PLEASE WAKE UP"... reality sets in... Blood.

My sight clear and see my worst fear. Her neck was slashed. "NOOOOOOO!!", "...mother....why....why...oh why...". I don't remember how long I sat there, holding my mother's body. Minutes, hours... does it matter, if only I could turn back time.... I ask myself. See her smile at me once more.

I cried blood and tears, yet I felt nothing.

I look over to my left... I see a bloodied dagger. Is this the same dagger they used on my mother?. Does anything matter anymore, everything is gone... life.. death... all is lost. All that I loved dear is gone. I feel pain... not my hands... my head...no. My heart aches! so much pain... I can't take it anymore. The dagger will stop the pain.

But it would not be right. There must be something I can do. My mother was a strong, and proud woman. I throw away the dagger and pray for hope.

Suddenly, a bright golden light blinds me. "STOP! ...". "Do not be afraid... though you see only destruction and death around you...there is HOPE". "Who.... who are you?" I asked meekly.

"I am a goddess called by many names, Athena, Morrigan, I am the Raven Queen by many ... and I have searched far and wide for a mortal such as thee, one who has lost it all but yet does not seek revenge but Hope"... "the time has come for mortals to know that the gods have not forsaken its good people in these dark times... ". The eternal voice stated.

"I...I, I don't understand..." I say.

"Wisdom in Justice must always come at a dear price young one, as it always has been centuries past in this war torn world. But remember this well.... Whilst there is darkness, there is LIGHT! as one cannot exist without the other, there must be a balance."... "I offer you new hope and a light for those whom have lost and those who will be saved. Take my hand and become my chosen, not for vengeance. .. but for JUSTICE in retribution my child. Death to those to have erred you so that I may embrace their souls with my talons."

As I stared at the golden light...I slowly saw the shape of a woman...a tall, strong woman with dark obsidian hair... she wore a golden breast plate with lustrous flowing dark silken robes and she carried a golden spear. On her left shoulder rested a dark raven, on her right a white owl. She came closer to me... her eyes... those bright green eyes... like my mothers, like mine. With a smile she eased my pain, and said ...

"Take my hand dear daughter... and become ONE with me, you will be my chosen one, the Matriarche! and join the war that is to come, a light for the realms of humanity, together we shall unite a sisterhood of Amazonia in the many worlds! and bring your family home".

I stand up, and slowly take her hand... warmth, love and strength flow through me.... knowledge and wisdom of ancient ways overtake my whole being. My red hair turns white and I say,

"Mother... I will make you proud." I slowly take the bloodied dagger, with it I cut off my long blood stained hair. In one deep breath, I say to myself "With this dagger I vow to serve you eternally and shall carry it with me in battle in memory of my family."

Phoenix Risen:
Part II

Years later...


At the Tribal Meeting, a strong, statuesque woman with piercing green eyes and white hair gazed at the massive ceremonial fire, lit to celebrate another glorious victory for the sisterhood tribe settled in Amazonia, home of the warriors of Morrigan. Around her, sisters were dancing, drinking ale, and having a grand time.


Pensive and deep in thought, some of the warrior sisters quietly approached her and asked...
"Is something the matter your highness? you seem troubled...." the Matriarch of the Amazons answered; "... not troubled my dear sisters, merely looking back at the past, and the past smiling back at our sisterhood for our good fortune. Come, sit with me and let me tell you a story, a story that helped shape our destiny...."

Atalanta looked up at the sky, smiled at the bright full moon, and started her
tale ...

"Many years ago, a lone female warrior traveler came across a young girl walking on a dirt road in the far borders of Greece. The girl was around 12, wearing only soiled and ashen rags, carrying a blood dried dagger strapped to her side, her face sullen and looked like she hadn't eaten in days. She walked barefoot on the stony and muddy road, her feet were swollen, slightly torn and bloodied. She looked like she'd been walking for miles. Her unusual white hair cut unevenly short and ragged.

Out of curiosity, the traveler galloped alongside the girl and asked, "young one! why are you walking alone by yourself! where is your kin?!", the young girl looked up and answered "my kin have all been slain several weeks ago ma'am ... I an an orphan now".

Taken aback by the young girls answer, she took pity on her and noticed the girls bright green eyes. There was a certain mysterious strength in them, yet something more... this girl had no fear. In jest to make her laugh, the traveler responded, "you should not walk right on the road little one! you never know what menace will find you a tasty meal!". As the young girl looked away and kept walking, she said -- "you are not menacing to me ma'am, and my goddess commands that I should walk on this road until I know when to stop. I pity those who would dare take advantage of me". Grasping her dagger tightly.


Once again surprised by the girls response, the traveller says to her "Ah, what does a young thing like you know about divinity?.... here child! have some bread and fruit, and perhaps it will ease your burden. The girl suddenly stops walking, turns around and walks toward the traveler.


While taking the bread, she says, "thank you for your kindness ma'am, I've been walking for hours and not eaten in days". The traveller laughed and said to her, "that is foolish girl! you have to keep up your strength! or else how would you avenge your kin?". With a devilish grin, the girl looks at the traveller with her ashen face. "I will avenge them with justice! for my family, and for my goddess...!".


"Ah!" the traveller laughed, "you amuse me little one, you have too much Fire in your eyes for someone so young... here, keep the bread and all the coin I have, for I am sure justice has found a worthy ally! I am on my way to battle a great evil that turns men into beasts. But I have a strange feeling we shall meet again. I, Antiope bid you farewell little sister!" and with a quick whip of her mighty horse, their eyes met one last time as she saw her steadily gallop away, her golden armor reflecting the sun ... and leaving only dust.


The young girl smiled and looked up at the clear blue sky and thought, "I'm glad I stopped to talk to her ... I now have enough strength to travel and find my sisters in Themiscyra, thank you for guiding me my goddess" -- her green eyes glowed and a voice responded, "

"Seek with your heart and you will find a family like no other, a sisterhood bound by loyalty and honor! Together you will make Amazonia a reality. A home of long lost family."

... and with a tear she grasps her dagger and starts walking, never losing sight of the horizon...

... and so began our journey home, dear sisters".


Ascension:
Part Three

Working on Part 3: Ascension, here is an excerpt;

Bright green eyes look down and notice that she is floating just a few inches above what it appeared like water, only that she couldn't see her reflection, but endless streams of light passed beneath her like a million multicolored fish. She knew this place, it is the world between life and the afterlife. A place where rebirth and death meet eye to eye and pass on to their destined journeys ...

Roleplayers! Join us in Amazonia for Neverwinter! (links on my signature)

jadescimitar

Can't wait for Part III!

syfylis

cheesy

but still you get + from me for trying to show emotions of your character

atalantam

Aw thanks guys, its my first try at a story. As long as it can convey some emotion from the reader, I'm happy

sakuda13

Nice story..

kimonagi

Very nice story!

atalantam

Thank you! once I finish part 3 I will post it here

atalantam

sakuda13 wrote: »

Nice story..

thank very much!

harmoo1

Really nice