ATN 3: THE JAR IN THE MAZE

THEMISCYRA

When we reached Themiscyra by night, I was in for a surprise. Iris hadn't gotten out yet. The first thing that Dadai said was, "Wonder Woman lied." True that. We had seen picturesque hills, green fields, and clear sea water. There were green fields, but the hills weren't picturesque at all. All in all, Themiscyra looked like a war land. There were weapons lying all around. Swords, arrows, spears, and even guns. And this was just the border. Rahul stepped up and picked up a sword. He turned to us and said, "Bronze. The one which Poseidon's trident is made of."

Here is when I give credit to Arion. Horse ran on waters, and within hours, he had landed us here.

"Wow!" I said, when I heard noises behind the trees in front of us. I signaled Rahul to get back into the group, and signaled Tina to step forward. For all I knew, the residents of Themiscyra were the Amazons, the vicious female warriors who worship Ares, and it was not smart for a guy to talk first.

Out of the trees came out five girls. All of them were in battle armors. One of them, however, was wearing a headband, and a girdle on her waist. She had a spear in her hand. She had tanned skin, burgundy coloured hair, and amber eyes. She was of Dadai's age. The girdle gave her away. She was the Amazon Queen.

Beside her, another girl stood. She had skin tone similar to me. She had black hair, amber eyes, and she wore a green wrist band. She had a sword tied to her waist, and wore a locket with a symbol of crescent moon and star. Her locket seemed very interesting, for I couldn't understand how that symbol could be here. Normally, it's my locket people ask questions about, the crossed torches. But I stayed quiet. Then, Iris stepped outside, and walked towards the Amazons, who pointed their weapons at us.

"Who are you?" The Queen asked, "What business do you have here?"

"My dear children." Iris said, smiling sweetly, "Drop your weapons. It is no way to talk to a goddess." I loved this about Iris. She would play the goddess card whenever she needed. The girls lowered their weapons. Iris said, "Good. Be honored, Amazons. Atlantis is here."

The girls put their weapons away, and bowed to Iris. Then, the Queen said, "Welcome to Themiscyra. Dad told us about you guys."

"Dad?" Tina asked.

"My Dad." The Queen said, "Ares, god of war."

"Ares is you father...too?" Tina looked at the Queen with wide eyes.

"Looks like you got an elder sister, babe." I said.

"That is...all I ever...wanted." She grasped my hand.

The Queen looked bewildered, and said, "You are also Ares's daughters?"

"Look at them." I said to Iris, "Bonding over their bloodthirsty Daddy." Iris chuckled, and so did those who heard.

Tina stepped forward, and shook her hands. She was in happy tears. I had always known that she wanted a sibling. I had asked her on our first year in Atlantis, "Why do you not have a sibling here?"

"Because, most of Ares's kids end up in the land of Amazons." She had replied.

"Then, why are you here?" I had asked.

"As much as I have heard, I had been chosen to be in Atlantis. So, the plane took me here."

"Otherwise, what happens?"

"Ares sends you a boar. His boar. That boar gives you a ride to the Amazons' land."

Anyway, back to the present, with all the pleasantries exchanged between the two sisters, we were warmly welcomed in Themiscyra. I looked up, and thanked Ares for the word. The last time some alien demigod was here, he had not been welcomed so well.

As soon as we went further, and met up with the rest of the Amazons, who were about twenty in number, we came across the throne of the Queen. It was in the open, in the field. The girls were all warriors, and were all the same age as the five of us (my cousins and me). However, there was a guy in this island. How on earth? How did a guy end up in the land of the Amazons? He was taller than me. He had fair skin with slight red freckles, blonde hair with a strand on his eye, and startling purple eyes.

The Amazons were nice though. They first offered Iris a seat beside the Queen, which she gladly took. Goddesses tend to get such hospitality. Then, the Queen took her seat. She said aloud, "Girls, and guy." The Themiscyran guy laughed, but she went on, "Today, we welcome among us, the demigods of Atlantis. Atlantis is the great land. It currently stands without a ruler, but is still a great place to live in. We know that. But today, we welcome the Atlanteans, for there is a great threat coming, which, you all are aware of. So, dear Atlanteans, on behalf of me, Delilah Roca, daughter of Ares, the Queen of the Amazons, I welcome you to Themiscyra."

We clapped at this, Atlanteans and Amazons equal (no, this isn't Justice League). Rhian whispered to Trent's ear, "Arion left. He got a call from Dad."

"Okay." Trent whispered back to him. Their whisper was so loud that I, and everyone around me could hear it.