A Mermaid's Cry

Chapter 23-Allies Old and Allies New

Ares

I feel her eyes on me as I take us farther down the path, before swiftly plunging into the darkness of the jungle green. She follows me, silent and swift despite the spear that seems to dwarf her small hand. Nevertheless, Corintha does not question nor complain as we go through the trees towering over our heads.

The thumping quiver on my back, is the only sound I hear beyond the bird calls, shrieking animals, and the brushing of our bare feet on the ground. We walk back to the lagoon her and her friends had been at earlier. It's the perfect spot, though the lagoon may be small it is easily defendable. It is also positioned just below one of the island's mountains. A marker for the eastern side of the island where our quarry lies waiting.

"Where do your friends usually show up?" I ask Corintha, as we hit the edge of the jungle facing out onto the water. Immediately, a sharp spear point touches my neck. The stone, forged from obsidian glass found at the top of the highest mountain on the island.

"Right here, and I assure you we are as prepared as she," a young girl with straight hair sneers, as three other females come into view.

Two of them are the girls from earlier, the thin, pale Octavia and the imposing Adila. The later sharing the same complexion as the armed female, and the one next to her holding a harpoon in her grip.

"Ikari, remember what mother said about dealing with males?" Adila utters, taking the girl's attention off me as she removes the spear from my skin.

"Yes sister," Ikari replies, as Zola and Arcus reveal themselves on our right. "Only a wise female hunts one she can down. Not one that would down her in a thrice."

"I couldn't agree more," Marcus crows from behind us, startling Corintha and making her scurry over to her cousin.

Corintha and her friends shoot him withering looks. Especially the blood hungry Ikari, of whom swiftly levels her spear point at the pulsing vein in his neck.

"I think not," Ikari states, pressing the sharp edge against his skin. "No male I've ever encountered has agreed with what I have to say. It's almost suspicious, but as Ares is here I suppose I will leave you with your lying tongue intact."

My friend flushes red as she removes her weapon and joins her sister. It seems Corintha and Adila, are not the only ones with a fiery spirit unheard of in a female.

"If we could dispense with the threats," Corintha cuts in, forcing me to take in her displeased expression. "We have far more important matters to attend to. Now let's go, I'd like to have this over with by supper if you please."

With that she turns on her heel, her dress clinging to her legs as she makes off into the jungle brush. Immediately, the other four females follow her, each laden with belts of knives and in Octavia's case, a single wooden staff with iron tipped spikes on each end. One by one, they descend into the thicket of moss covered trunks, and gnarled branches impeding hurried movement.

"Come on then," I utter, hoisting my quiver higher up on my shoulder. "Better make sure there is still some Northerners left, before they hack them all into pieces."