THE BIRTH OF WAR.

Battle.

The Seiptii evacuation of the city of Phokus had already begun and they were making rapid progress already. They had cleared their defences and placed them down behind their migration path so as to slow anyone down enough for them to be able to get out of harm's way. They had packed everything essential for their travels and were now making their way north west, towards the lands of Illyria and from there, to the land of Italia. The very lands that Priestess Penelope herself had talked about. All the people from the city had already packed their things into carts or bags, but many more were walking in foot while others offered rides on their carts to those who do not have transportation of their own. Those with pets, Dogs or cats were out infront as such animals could be used to sniff out potential animals to hunt.

Meanwhile larger caravans were set up to hold all the remaining food and water, as well as whatever animals that they had already killed along the way, mostly stray deer that were wandering near the city.

The City's elite, those rich citizens of thr city of Phokus had arranged for extra carts as well and horses to transport the people. They themselves managed to get their personal chariots out and now were offering a hand to those too old to walk.

Escorting this large migrating host of people was a large grouping of soldiers. The soldiers numbered around 5,000 Phokus warriors supported by another 2,000 Mercenaries who brought their own supplies of food and water to last them a few more months while on the march. Though this Mercenaries agreed to only escort them to the lands bordering Illyria, they had agreed to split their supplies to aid the migrating host after recieving a handsome fee for their services, of course.

And as for Penelope and her sisters?
They were at the very head of the formation, they were riding their own personal carts and carriages. However asides from more food and weapons, they also brought along all of their important religious artifacts. Such as scrolls containing their most holy of texts and other such related items including a large, life sized statue of their most beloved Goddess Septima.

As they were moving, Penelope looked up and there she could see an old friend, an unusually large Eagle that she had as her personal pet.
As they were traveling, Penelope raised her right arm up to the sky and there, the Eagle landed upon it and as it did, Penelope smiled and happily let her eagle pet stay with her all the way through.

"There you are, Phoibe." Penelope said. She than started to give her eagle friend a nice pet on its head, which, in turn the Eagle relaxed itself. It flew again but this time landing on Penelope's lap and started to rest and relax there.

Just than, one of the sisters than asked
"Ah. Your pet my Priestess?" She asked.

Penelope noded
"No. A friend, not merely a pet, a old friend from a few years back and though you may call her that, she's still just my friend and nothing more, nothing less."

At this, Phoibe chirped in approval causing her owner and friend to smile as a result. It was unusual to have an Eagle pet unless it was in a cage, however, Penelope had no such problems of it flying away ftom her, it was normal for Phoibe to fly off, only to return to her days later or perhaps, weeks later as had always been the case. There was never ever a single moment where Phoibe flew away never to return, she'll always come back eventually.

They were already making their way towards their first notable destination in their migration plan, that being an ancient path that leads up the farthest point of the City's borders and into the open grasslands and the wilderness beyond where in they shall begin their trek through Illyria and from there, try and find this land of plenty they call Italia.

Penelope however saw someone on the road ahead, at first, it must have seemed like just another illusion, a mere trick of the mind as she hadn't had much sleep at all last night. She had been busy preparing for the evacuation and she had spent most of last night awake preparing the temple for evacuation, carefully loading all of their most holy belongings for the trip ahead.