3. Mourning
Sadness had descended on the village like a shroud. Everyone felt the pain of losing the first creator. They mourned the loss of their leader, mother and friend. Myrina was taking it the hardest. After Mahina’s funeral the young creator locked herself in her room, refusing to leave it for anything. Titus would bring up dinner and leave it in front of the door so she wouldn’t starve. Everyone was starting to worry for her.
“Lady Myrina” a voice broken the silence of her chamber, barely registering in the grieving woman’s mind.
“Lady Myrina I know you are hurting terribly. You mother was a fantastic woman and I understand you miss her terribly but locking yourself away is not the answer!”
“Myrina!” Katsumi burst into the room, startling the room’s occupants. “Myrina there is a new comer at the gates! She is requesting entrance to the tribe!” she sounded winded from her run to the creator’s quarters. Myrina let out as heavy sigh and stood up.
“let us make this quick” Myrina moved past Paser and Katsumi. She could see two figures in the distance as she made her way to the front gates.Myrina could hear her brother agreeing to let the stranger in. A twinge of annoyance went though the young creator. How dare Kale do this. It was not his place to allow anyone in the front gates, especially not a stranger. Their tribe was in a weakened state with the passing of Mahina and Myrina doing nothing the past few days did not help the situation. 
“Paser, Kale leave us!” she snapped. “Kale I will speak to you later” Myrina watched as the two men left.
“Who are you” she demanded, looking at the woman beyond the gates.The woman didn’t seem fazed by Myrina’s angry tone.
“I am Demetria” the woman greeted with a smile. “You must be Creator Heiress Myrina”
“It is Creator Myrina now. My mother has passed and I am creator officially” Demetria’s eyes widened in shock at theses words. Myrina ushered the woman inside. Saying those words made her feel uncomfortable as well as upset. Her mother was a warrior, know for repelling a cursed one. With her gone who knows who could be listening and waiting to take down the weakened tribe.
“My deepest sympathies Creator, loosing a mother is not an easy thing. I am sorry to have come at such a time” Demetria stated her voice full of sincerity.
“What is it you are here for Demetria”
“I have come seeking shelter Creator. My home is gone now and I have heard tell of the amazon of Helike. That they are small but powerful. I wish to offer the creator my services a Gatherer” These words made Myrina frown. It seemed like a lot of flattery.
“My tribal sister Katsumi wishes to be trained in the ways of Gatherer. I do not need two” she dismissed.
“Of course my lady. I can train her to be Gatherer if you wish and I can be an Explorer if it pleases you” Demetria offered. Myrina took a few moments to think it over before nodding.
“Geo!” she called to the red haired slave. He abandoned his work in the gardens and rushed over to them. “You will show Demetria to her room and allow her to get settled then alert everyone that there will be a meeting after dinner”
Geo lead Demetria to her new room in the women’s wing of the main building.
The sun had begun set too quickly for Myrina’s taste. Soon it was time for her first official meeting. While she had been called creator for a few years now, it wasn’t official due to her mother still being there. Everyone looked to Mahina for guidance, now it was just Myrina. Everyone seemed in a jovial mood. It calmed Myrina’s nervousness slightly.
“Everyone” six sets of eyes focused on her. “I would like to welcome our newest tribe member, Demetria. She will be our newest Gatherer. I know that you have been learning herbs Katsumi but Demetria is better trained and I feel it would be better for us all if we found something that better suited your talents” Katsumi frowned but nodded in agreement.
“I know everyone has been hurting since my mother’s passing into the afterlife. There is much to do so we do not have the time to wallow in this pain. We can not be seen in a weakened state. We are strong and we will continue to be” she did not add her doubts on taking over or show how much pain she was really in. She could not appear weak in front of her new sister. She dismissed the meeting with those words.
Everyone went their own separate ways. Myrina felt a little bad about the Gatherer issue. Katsumi had wanted to be a Gatherer. She had a book that held her mother’s knowledge of plants but Demetria had the proper training. It made more sense to have Demetria be Gatherer, Katsumi could learn to be something else.
Myrina went to apologize to Katsumi after she went to care of Obi. As Myrina neared Katsumi’s room she heard voices. It was hard to make out the words being said but they were spoken in a slow reassuring manner. She went to peak through the doorway. She didn’t want to assume something was wrong. Kale or Titus could have gone to cheer up Katsumi.
Myrina did her best to muffle her gasp at what she saw. Kale and Katsumi were in bed together. Clearly after a romantic time together. Myrina couldn’t believe this. Amazon men and woman were not allowed to lay in bed with one another without the creator’s approval. She always knew the two of them were close but she would have never believed they would do something like this.
The creator stumbled away from the room. This was horrible. They were breaking amazonian law. This would surely mean death for both of them. Myrina couldn’t bring herself to send them both to the goddesses. Katsumi had been her best friend for her whole life. Kale was her elder brother, he would always keep her out of danger. She had to do something about this, quickly.
Myrina rushed to the men’s quarters. It was quiet and empty. Kale would be down soon she was sure. Myrina went into Kale’s room and waited. She waited for what seemed like hours before Kale had returned to his room.
“Ah! Baby sister, what are you doing here?” he questioned, he was still in a pleasant mood and Myrina hated to ruin it.
“I caught you” Kale gave her a confused look at her words. “You and Katsumi. I caught you in bed together” His face fell.
“Ah that” was all he gave her. No excuse or apology.
“Ah that?? That is all you say!” Myrina stopped, trying to keep her voice down. She couldn’t allow anyone else to hear what was going on. “You have broken amazon law and dragged Katsumi with you and all you can say is ah that”
Kale looked ashamed at her words. She knew that he never intended to get Katsumi in trouble It was obvious for years that Kale was in love with Katsumi. He would do anything for her. In his passion he hadn’t thought about the danger he was putting them both in.
“What will you do with me” Myrina noticed he hadn’t said us. He was refusing to condemn Katsumi for breaking the law along with him. That was noble for him. If not incredibly stupid. They were both breaking the law. The would both have to be punished. Kale worse then Katsumi. Kale was a male. The law would make it seem that Kale had tricked or bewitched Katsumi into breaking the law. He would be put to death and Myrina would have to be the one to do it.
“Not only have you broken the law but you have constantly defied your creator” Myrina tried to detach herself from what she was saying.
“You refuse to listen to my commands when I give them, you have made choices that effect the tribe without alerting me or asking me when you do these things. This would mean death. We will come to get you when the sun rises”
Kale smiled slightly. Myrina was giving Kale a way out. When it was time for a male to be sacrificed he would be sent to the pools immediately. Myrina was giving him a chance to leave under the cover of darkness. Kale pulled her into a hug.
“I love you very much Rina. I know you will do a wonderful job Creator.” he whispered before letting her go and leaving the room. He no doubt was going to say goodbye to Katsumi and then flee into the night. Myrina would have to make up an excuse as to why he was gone.
Isla Amazon Challenge 