Moon Kingdom: Fair Warning

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        "If you stay here we will all be safe." The older woman responded.

      "Like how we were all safe in Luna?" Bree asked sarcastically.

     "That was different." O defended, "We were caught off guard. There were less of us."

     Athena felt the tension growing. Both O and Bree were angry. Diana was sitting silently, staring at the amethyst ring on her hand. She was deep in thought, or so it seemed. Athena wondered what they were going to do. There was no way she could wait around until they arrived at the monastery. That would be too late for countless people, people who would be killed while they sat comfortably.

     "I am leaving with them." Diana broke the tense silence, "I have made my decision- I am going."

     She stood up from the table, face determined and standing tall. Diana lifted her mandala pendant over her head and, after grasping it close one last time, placed it on the centre of the table. Bree stood up quickly afterwards, looking from O to the door as if she had lost her voice and couldn't tell her verbally to leave. O got the hint.

     "You're making the right choice." Bree hadn't lost her voice after all.

     "Yeah, I hope do." Diana stared down at her necklace, but it wasn't hers anymore.

     Athena recognized that there was still confusion clouding Diana's mind. She knew that this was a big decision. Diana was leaving her home and her family, changing her life entirely just to support a couple of women she had just met, and a city that didn't even know her name. It was a big step to take, but eventually Diana broke her gaze from the pendant and faced her new friends and her new life.

     The three women left the room together, leaving Diana's mandala behind. They walked determinedly through the corridors of the monastery. Athena was painfully aware that they still didn't have a plan. As they walked she tried to think of one. She hoped that perhaps their combined powers would be enough to stop the bears. Could Diana and Bree amplify her ice powers? She didn't even know Diana's power. She wondered if perhaps the best thing would be to prepare the people living in the wall and nearby to stand up and fight.

     At the door, Sonya stood leaning against the arm of younger spiritess woman. O was nowhere to be seen. Bree instantly went into defensive mode, blocking the elderly woman's view of Diana and crossing her arms. Sonya made a tutting noise with her tongue, an impatient show of disapproval. Only Athena seemed to notice the bag that the younger, nameless woman was holding in her opposite hand.

     "You can never say we didn't look out for you." Sonya insisted, "We raised you and we cared for you all these years."

     "I'm very grateful." Diana bowed slightly, out of respect for her former superior.

     "In case you get hungry." Sonya nudged the woman beside her and she passed Diana the bag she was holding.

     Athena felt she must be imagining it, but she saw the old woman wink once the bag was handed over. She smiled and walked away, leaving the three young women only a door away from their future. Athena inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself down and stay focused on their mission. She opened the door.

     Outside, the sun was shining brightly. It was so warm that Bree pushed back the sleeves on her black cloak. Diana took some ribbon out of her pocket and tied her hair up. She passed pieces to Athena and Bree so they could do likewise. It felt like a hot summer's day. It was still December.

     At that moment, Klaus arrived. He was walking down the road, dressed quite differently than before; nicer but still in fairly plain attire. He led two horses, both saddled but only one carried bags. Brown leather of high quality stood dark chocolate brown under the sun's powerful gaze. It was a very impressive site for Athena who, despite resting fairly often, felt as though she had been on her feet for days.

    "Sorry I took so long!" Klaus apologized as he approached.

     "We kind of had some stuff to deal with anyway." Athena said, "So no worries."

     "It turns out Diana is coming with us after all." Bree explained.

     Klaus smiled. He walked over to Diana and gestured towards the horses, "You can sit on Cloud here and I'll walk him along. I'm really glad you're joining us."

    "Are these your horses?" Diana asked.

    "Actually, yes." Klaus replied, "Cloud is the white horse here. Cinnamon, she's this beautiful mare."

    "You know I've never been near a horse." Bree said, "Athena, do you know how to ride?"

    "I have no idea." Athena admitted, "But I have a feeling we're about to find out."

    Klaus helped Athena and Bree onto Cinnamon. The mare was calm and ideal for beginners. He instructed them patiently about how to guide her. Athena took the reins while Bree sat behind her, feeling a bit nervous. Large animals had not been plenty in Luna, and even though horses were a far cry from possessed bears, they still made her uncomfortable.

     Diana took to the horses more naturally, despite having only seen them from a distance at a young age. She stroked Cloud's soft mane and smiled down at Klaus. The young man couldn't seem to take his eyes off of her. Bree and Athena watched knowingly. There was a connection between them that was perceptible.

     "Are we all set?" Athena asked, guiding Cinnamon over to Diana and Klaus.

    "All set." Klaus smiled, shading his eyes from the sun with his hand, "Which way are we heading?"

    "East." Athena said, "I'm going home."

    "Home?" Diana looked confused.

    "We need a place to start planning." Athena explained, "And we need help. Somehow we need to get the people of the wall to stop partying and start getting defensive measures in place."

    "Any idea how to do that?" Bree asked from behind her.

    "I think I do." Athena said, "I can't be sure it will work but it's all I've got."

    "Well if your plan doesn't work, I can really command a crowd when I want to." Klaus offered.

    Athena nodded as they began to travel east. She knew that a commanding voice would be important to getting the help they needed. She also knew that each of their powers would have to be utilized to their full potential. The details, she hoped, would work themselves out.