Amarantham studied the scene before her. She watched for any sign that her dream the night before had been a sign rather than an average dream. But there was nothing average about this. The moon and stars glowed abnormally bright, the wind that had been strong now died down, it was eerily calm. A movement in the far corner caught her attention. There emerged a woman. She was tall and very beautiful with a graceful stride. Amara knew immediately who this was, it’d be impossible not to. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, was approaching. The goddess smiled at Amara, her child, and began to speak. “You have served me faithfully. But I must ask more of you. There is a creature that is the last of her kind. Her kind has harmed my people and blasphemed my name for centuries. They’re Harpies, an ancient Greek creature.” Amara nodded respectfully and Aphrodite continued. “You must find the Harpies and end their evil reign. They were a mistake from the beginning and have caused nothing but chaos and heartbreak. I will guide you on your task.” Aphrodite then disappeared as fast as she had come. There was no sign she had been there in the first place. She had not asked Amara to do this task but she felt it didn’t matter. Her devotion to her goddess was unwavering.
Just then a dove appeared, one of Aphrodite’s sacred animals. It circled above her dipping lower with every completed rotation. Persistently it continued to do so until Amara followed the dove. They headed eastward, towards the ocean. “If I find this harpy how am I to engage it? I have never fought a day in my life. How can my goddess send me on an impossible task that could lead to my death?” Amara thought. She had these clouded and gloomy thoughts the entire way to the ocean and her every step became more tentative. As she neared the ocean the dove disappeared as if it had been absorbed into the night sky. But Amara had no trouble finding where she was supposed to go. It was very hard to miss a Nymph rising from the ocean. She stretched out her hand and made a motion for Amara to come closer. Amara didn’t know why she came and waded into the ocean but she did know that Aphrodite had sent the Nymph and that was enough for her. The Nymph narrowed her eyes at Amara then slowly reached out to touch her throat. A warm sensation spread from where the Nymph’s long fingers touched the flesh of her throat but it didn’t last long before the Nymph grabbed onto Amara’s arm and dragged her beneath the pounding waves. Amara thrashed in the water, kicking to find her way back to the surface in a panic. Her lungs burnt but the Nymph ignored her protests. She dragged her deeper into the dark ocean. Eventually Amara couldn’t handle it any longer.
She took in a deep breath and her brows came together in confusion. She could breath. The more she breathed in the water the more the ache went away. Amara swore the Nymph rolled her eyes. It was an oddly human gesture.”Of course the Nymph hadn’t been trying to drown me.” Amara thought. Amara’s head broke the surface of the water then and she was alone. The thundering of wings was so loud she couldn’t hear the waves hit the rocky surface. Amara ducked behind a rock and her blood seemed to run cold. A very tall Harpy stood in the middle of the Cavern. She had at least a ten foot wingspan, with long and dark talons, her human face was repulsive and her black beady eyes appeared soulless. “I am with you,” Amara jumped at the sound. But the Harpie’s lips had not moved. She realized the voice came from Aphrodite and though Amara couldn’t see her courage filled her and she made her way up the bank to face the Harpie. The horrid thing screeched and spread its wings, preparing to attack. But when it did Amara was ready. The thing the Harpie had not seen was the weapon she always had hidden in her boot. When the Harpie attacked it was killed instantly. But Amara also received a mortal wound. Amara laid there the talons had left a gaping wound that she knew would not heal on its own. Her eyes began to close for the last time when a bright light caught the girl’s attention. She weakly turned her head and saw Aphrodite approaching. In her hands she held the golden fleece. It was rumored to hold magical healing powers. Amara smiled as Aphrodite placed the fleece on her and in contentment Amara knew she would be alright. Pride surged through her at the thought that she had been the one to kill the last evil Harpie.
