Wonder & War

[Cazzik]

Amara Grace stood on the edge of the beach looking out over the vast Pacific Ocean. Her red hair swayed in the warm breeze and she enjoyed breathing in the salty air. This place was different than her own city, Bana-Mighdall. Though she loved her tribe she often felt envious of the other Amazons. Themyscira was literally referred to as Paradise Island. Akahim was located deep in the Brazillian rainforest, covered in lush vegetation, life brimming all around the city. Then there was Lan'oa, this tropical island chain inhabited by the newly discovered fourth Amazon tribe. Bana-Mighdall was rich in resources but it was a hard environment, surrounded by the desert on three sides. Outside the city it was barren, a cruel landscape where her sisters trained to be the greatest warriors on the planet, and she the greatest of them all.

Despite her enjoyment of Lan'oa she longed to return home. At the behest of Queen Petraleus of Bana-Mighdall and High Queen Sophia of Themyscira she had accepted the duty of ambassador to all of the Amazon tribes while Elena, the ever powerful Wonder Woman, was attending the same duties in the world of men. Annoyed as she was to be a diplomat she did not envy Elena. In fact, they were quite close. Their mothers, Artemis and Diana, had been almost like sisters, both perishing in the last battle with Apokolips. She had visited Akahim first, seeing Daniela, better known to the world at large as Wonder Girl, in passing as she did. She stayed for nearly two weeks, evaluating the needs of the city and listening to Queen Gaboymila's concerns about the growing boldness of interlopers. Bana-Mighdall and Themyscira were relatively close to each other, but the other two tribes were very isolated from the rest of the Amazon nation.

As she was pondering the physical expanse between the tribes she heard the soft footsteps of Kiana approach her from behind, "You look deep in thought, Shim-Tar." She was the daughter of Queen Alanis of Lan'oa and had been Amara's guide while she was with the tribe, "Simply enjoying the view, Princess."

Kiana raised an eyebrow to the comment, "Liar." The two women laughed, "Anxious to return home?"

Amara nodded but before she could answer another Amazon ran towards them, "Shim-Tar! Shim-Tar! Word from Akahim! They are under attack!" Both Amara and Kiana moved swiftly to the other warrior, "By whom, sister?" The messenger shrugged, "They could not be certain, but they came from the river wielding impressive weaponry. Our sisters reported they were wearing breathing apparatuses over their mouths......and they were blue in color."

Princess Kiana frowned, "Atlanteans. But why? Our people have been at peace with Atlantis for generations." Amara turned to her, "Yes, we have, but remember Atlantis is not the only kingdom below. There is also Xebel, though we have never had aggressions from them either. We must aid Akahim. Notify your Queen. I welcome any sisters that will sail with me."

The messenger nodded and turned to run back towards the capital when a blast of scarlet energy hit her in the back multiple times. She dropped lifeless to the beach, staining the white sand beneath her. The remaining two took shelter behind the large rocks just inland. Peering out they watched as three large, black vessels rose from the ocean and soldiers clad in black armor waded out of the water, firing their weapons. Kiana looked back at Amara, "Atlanteans?"

Amara shook her head, "I don't think so but the timing is no coincidence. If they aren't the same aggressors currently attacking Akahim they are certainly their allies." Both women looked back at the city as they heard the sound of the bells being rung, signifying that war was upon them. Soon the beach would be flooded with their sisters and these soldiers would regret whatever life decisions had brought them to this point in time. Kiana the Tidebreaker unsheathed her Abyssal Blades as Amara summoned her massive battle axe. The Princess of Lan'oa sprinted out from the rock, wielding her mystical hooked weapons with precision and skill. As she swung them they arced out in large semi-circles, connected to their magical tethers, cleaving multiple enemies at once.

Amara almost forgot to join the battle herself. She was enthralled by the Tidebreaker's prowess in battle. But the Princess was not the only one to be feared. Amara Grace was the daughter of Artemis. She was the Shim-Tar, greatest champion of Bana-Mighdall. She was an Amazon warrior of the highest caliber. She was Amara, the Shield Breaker! She moved with lightning reflexes and smiled as her weapon spilled first blood.

[Cazzik]

It had been a week since the dual attack on Lan'oa and Akahim. Both tribes still stood with little damage to infrastructure and even less loss of life. The Amazons had been triumphant, but Amara knew this was just the beginning. She had finally arrived back in Egypt, to the city of Bana-Mighdall. She had helped to personally protect Lan'oa and ventured back to the Brazilian amazon to check on her sisters in Akahim. These attacks hadn't been meant to conquer, nor to warn. She was certain of that. Her best guess.....they were testing their defenses. Something more was coming. Their enemy was not done.

The attackers she had fought were human, armed with unique technology. They wore no insignias on their armor and there were no identifying marks on their corpses. At this point, the Amazons had no idea who they were. When she had returned to Brazil it was clear the insurgents had been Atlantean, at least in race, not necessarily in nationality. Queen Sophia had sent ambassadors to the different under sea nations. No word from Atlantis but Xebel claimed they were not the aggressors and had no knowledge of who attacked the two Amazon tribes.

She was happy to be home but knew it would be short lived as she was to head out in the morning for Themyscira. No attack had taken place but scouts on pegasi had briefly spotted a large, black mass off the coast of Paradise Island. It was clearly a vessel of some sort. That was three of the four tribes. She wasn't dense enough to think that Bana-Mighdall wasn't also under surveillance of some sort. Tomorrow she would be meeting with High Queen Sophia as well as Kiana from Lan'oa and Thalia Troy of Themyscira. To her understanding, word had been sent to Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl of the attacks. Perhaps they would be joining the discussion.