Atlantis

Zyra Queen of Demons

I think it it was at the end of that week I spent in a rural town that the first one came through. It was Clyde and no Amanda but I didn't go and question him. Only watched with a hunters eyes as he passed through towards his lands. Next was Alfred who seemed to be wary of me watching him from the shadows.

Then the one I was waiting for came. I leapt out of the bushes tackling her to the ground then rolling to my feet brushing the dirt from my new clothing. "Hey." I said flashing a grin at her. "Who is your babysitter?"

Amanda slowly stood and looked at me with dark circles under her eyes. "Victor and why the tackle, a hug would have sufficed." she brushed herself off and stood giving me a hug. "I was so scared."

"I know the king looks like him." I was referencing to the fact that Bartholomew looked like her dad.

"No he wanted to kill me. I don't now what happened but he backed off after something escaped the castle. He seemed really mad." Amanda said while wiping her eyes and running her fingers through her hair. "It was you wasn't it?"

I gave a grin and lifted my hands in a gesture that said I was guilty. "Happens when you try to break down someone's front door."

Amanda gave me a slap on the back then reeled back her hand as it hit nothing but hard muscle. "Sh*t, how the bloody hell do you get muscles like these?"

"You train like the devils at your heels. Snapping, snapping, snapping." I said fading for the last bit. "Hey what happened to.."

"Pluto? He's back with the others makes traveling faster but Victor said he needed to see the blacksmith here for a new weapon." she slung her arm around my neck. "It is great to see you again so soon friend."

"Picking up the dialect eh?" I teased. Then I looked at her black hair. "You ready to be blonde again?"

"The time will come but it is not today." Amanda said hooking her arm in mine. "Shall we?" she moved toward town and I unhooked my arm.

"Not like a couple, gross!" I joked. Pushing her gently I watched her as she leaned over laughing. "Yeah I guess a stroll won't be to bad. Striker, let's go!" I called out to the bushes behind me. The black wolf jumped down to stand awkwardly in the sunlight.

"Oh my god he is soo cute. Striker was it? Can I pet him?" Amanda said drawing closer to the wolf who looked at me trying to figure out why she was acting that way.

"It is custom in our world to pet animals we find cute. It is our way of showing our gratitude to animals or creatures." I explained.

"That is a funny way of showing it. If she insists on this strange behavior it will have to follow my protocol." Striker said going to transform into his human form.

"No give it a chance." I commanded and he stopped and looked at Amanda with a cautious eye.

"Where do you get all these talking pets? I would like one myself." Amanda said stroking Strikers head.

"Pet! I am no.." he leaned into her hand and she rubbed his chin. Then in mere moments he was on his back with hands scratching his belly.

"Pet." I teased.

"Shut it." he growled. Amanda laughed and rubbed his belly a little longer then stopped when Striker went to get up.

She gripped his neck in a tight embrace and said, "Can I keep him, please?"

"Afraid not. He is not something I can give up." I said calling him to my side.

"Familiar?"

"No something much more powerful." I said scratching his ears.