New Fic: Tar'airah

[shuyaku]

Luuuuvvv the sketch



-shuyaku

Oh God, Willow—you’re giving me the gift of Karen Carpenter. Just when I think I grasp the full extent of your love." - Tara

"Why do birds suddenly appear? It’s because, you are queer…" - Willow (Gods Served and Abandoned by AntigoneUnbound)

[Spikeizmine87]

LOOOVES the sketch! I really wish I could draw something like that! Its so awesome and so freakin cute! It really goes along with the Willow in this story! Again,i love it!

-Rose

I promise I wont forget you when Im gone. How can I? You'll always be mine even if you know it or not.

[thebardgirl]

Yay! I have a following of Amazon-lovers....wow...that's so cool...and slightly frightening...*has dreamy smile*...



anyhoo..



Tempest Duer-Ahah! YOU are here! Reading my new fic! *smiles like a mad fiend* thanks, dude. I'm so happy you're reading it, and liking it too. It's a little different from my last story, no? And i'll see if i'm up to that Tara-sketch...although right now, my hands are tired of wielding a pencil and eraser...i think i'll take a break from sketching, and then come back to it again, that way i escape the boredom-monster.



Artemis-Thanks...Yeah, Tara's definitely in a tight spot...and she doesn't even know it! And Willow's not fairing so well either, on the Amazon-chain-of-life, or i guess the literal chain that she's connected to...Yup, their meeting is definitely being hyped up, sorry i can't get to it faster, but it will happen.



And yes! I just saw the email with your notification here, because generally i don't look at my email. I'm a bad, bad email-person with no responsibilty in yahoo-world...but, that sounds fine. Your site looks pretty awesome, and i liked the individual fanart-pieces heading each fic. That was cool! But i've never been "hosted" before...so...uh...i'm guessing this kind doesn't involve little crab-cakes on plates being served by cute waitresses? Didn't think so... Thanks again, Chris and nice to meetcha.



taramagic-Thanks, yeah, i should've made it clearer, the whole "mud-everywhere" thing was supposed to help disguise her, plus the male-garb, and i had hoped she looked like a drowned rat with short hair that was hidden...ergo the whole "boy" thing...ah well, next time i'll do better...*sigh* oh! and good question...i don't know...let's see...



tinnakaren-ahah! you inspiration-reader you! Oh cool! i made you make outside comentary. Brilliant! Yeah, Willow *sigh* she has a tendency to get herself into sticky situations, via me. Thanks *blush* it's nice to have nice feedback about my drawings and not, "wholly crap! What IS that?" i'd be a little sad if you said that...just a tad...and yes! by all means, imagine away with your Tarzan-affiliation! Go you and your happiness. Thanks, and i shall continue forth into the unknown bowls of this fic.



Arwen276-Cool. Alright! I've got Thea readin' this! Okay, so your job now is to translate everything, seeing as my other amazon (amazonaa) didn't want me bugging her over it. So sorry that i decided to depict you as an old lady, but this bird is still one foxy-hot-mamma-ramma. Plus, she's got wicked power in this tribe. And, AND she's got fanastic robes to boot. How can you resist that? Oh cool! i'm being ordered! Yay! My life's dream has been fulfilled...and yes, i will update, Madame Thea. How 'bout now? Now sounds good. Oh, do you want me to bow every time i update for you? Just trying to get this groveling-thing down...get back to me on that...



BurningWhiteRose-Thanks...*feels all gooey inside* Aw, i'm sure your stick figures would be fantastic...and i've never seen the Ring, and i never plan to see the Ring, as of your critique just now...Thanks, and i'm glad you're enjoying it. *grins like a crazy fiend, once more*



shuyaku-Thanks...

Last night in sweet slumber I dreamed I did see my own precious jewel sat smiling by me.

And when I awakened I found it not so; my eyes like some fountain with tears overflowed.

[thebardgirl]

Rose! How kind of you to say hello! And thanks....*grin* hope you like the update....















Chapter 4



Willow had been trying to sleep on what these women would consider a bed, when her ears perked up to a conversation just outside of her room. She gradually came around to the ‘window,’ taking heed of the chain’s incessant rattling by picking it up with each stride, and leaned toward the slanted view.



“Don’t you get it? Having her kill something young and innocent—“



“NO male is innocent! YOU taught us that!”



Willow just stayed still. Apparently they were having an argument.



“What I taught my granddaughters was to protect themselves against those that have hurt us.”



Willow could make out the last speaker’s voice to be of an old woman. She was gritting her teeth while expressing every word. The other woman’s body was turned, but Willow could tell she was younger, by far. Her voice though, Willow recognized that voice.



“And who has? Who has repeatedly hurt and disgraced us? THEM! It HAS ALWAYS BEEN THEM!”



Ah, that voice.



Willow continued to watch the fray, however at this point she was rooting for the old woman.



“Caranthia, if you continue letting your anger get the better of you, you will turn into one of them,” the old lady glared back, “heavens, girl, you are already head strong enough to be one of them.”



“If you do not order the Seven Day Sacrament, I will.”



“What do you mean?”



“I-I-I,” the young girl faltered at the fierce glare of her elder, “I and the other sisters,” her voice became stronger, “are fed up with her. She must choose, and soon. She has seven days to mourn her killing, but then she must do it.”



“I told you, Tar’airah would never harm an innocent!”



“And I told you, we will not stand her presence here anymore. If she chooses to be the weakling, let her. Let her stay with her chains of inferiority forever more. Banish her!”



“I have NEVER banished one of mine. Nor have any of my daughters ever wished such punishment upon one another before,” the old lady spat.



“There is no other way,” the girl’s voice softened, ”this threat will awaken the warrior within her. Don’t you see? This will undoubtedly force her to make a choice. She would never leave, that is, if she loves us as much as you say she does.”



“This is not love if we shun her.”



“Yet it is not love if she shuns us.”



The old lady stayed silent. Willow watched intently.



“I will order her to the Seven Days,” the lady said slowly, “and if she cannot…if she cannot kill the…capture…”



“She is banished,” the girl supplied.



The old lady looked up sharply at the word. Disdain was written clearly on her eyes. Her beliefs, her own words were starting to haunt her. But consent took over the woman’s features.



Without saying a word, the she walked away swiftly, multi-colored robes flying in all directions.



The younger Amazon bowed, turned, and as much as Willow could tell, smirked. She walked forward, and as Willow began to move back herself, her chain clanked unceremoniously to the floor, causing her to inwardly cringe.



The Amazon looked up at the hole in the animal skin, and caught a glimpse of a figure moving away from it.



Willow gulped as that same face bored directly into hers.



“She will kill you,” came the voice, enjoying every moment of the capture’s confusion. She walked away, with a smile on her face.



Willow’s brow only furrowed in her attempts to understand the mysterious language of these women.







I wonder what that was all about?



----------------------------------------







“Tar’airah,” came the pleading voice, “please, come out with us to the grove? It’ll do you good to get some sunshine!”



“I’m busy.”



“Busy my ass, Tar,” came a gruff voice.



“Fa’aithlia, shut up.”



“What? I’m just agreeing with you! She needs to get out—as usual. Besides, it may be her last chance and---OW!”



Tar’airah was watching happily her two companions battle to win her over, and as usual, fail miserably. She knew she was treading on a thin line, and yet, she didn’t care; what was the point of living a life through the death of another?



She lay their, watching them with an unconcerned eye, while flipping through her journal. Drawings, memories, poems, and recollections were saved in this precious book. She had wanted to write and fill each page until the day she grew old and had no teeth to articulate words any more. But now, it seemed that that dream was coming to a quick end.



“Fa’aith, how many times have I told you, when you’re foot’s looking for a place to live, put up the ‘NO VACANCY’ sign in your mouth.”



The small blond and her taller, brunette friend had attempted a normal begging session, and as usual, ended up in their ceremonial argument.



“At least I’m not the one sticking foreign objects in my mouth,” the brunette said with a smirk.



“If you’re implying what I think you’re implying you half-witted brute of a—“



“GUYS! Stop fighting!”



The two heads snapped back to the normally quiet blonde. She placed her journal down at her side, and sat up, cradling her elbows in each hand. She didn’t have time to explain the delicacies of being tactful around a prisoner. So she settled for being direct.



“I don’t want to go out. I don’t want to see anyone and I’m sure no one wants to see me. All I want to do is stay away from the world, peacefully, and alone,” she stressed the last word emphatically.



“But, Tar—“



“NO buts. I, I can’t live in this world if this is all there is. It’s as if you’re telling me killing one of you,” she looked both girls in the eyes, “would make me a better person when I know I’d be miserable for the rest of my life having done it.”



“We all have to pass the trials, Tar’airah. We all know the consequences. We honor each fallen sister, it’s a time-honored tradition!”



“Buf’aneah…”



“Fa’aithlia did it! And look, she’s not a raving lunatic, well at least, most of the time.”



“Hey! I’ll have you know, that bitch Yalhuma almost chopped my head off. What was I supposed to do? Ask her to talk it over some tea?”



“Guys! I know we all know the consequences. But I don’t want to hurt anyone.”



“Who says you would?" came a sharp voice.



“Caranthia, what do you want?” Fa’aithlia asked without turning her back. Tar’airah stayed entirely still, paralyzed to the spot by that voice.



“I merely am sending a message from Grandmother Thea to the prisoner.”



“Well then, get on with it. Wouldn’t want to interrupt your busy schedule.”



“Do you have a problem, Fa’aithlia? Or do I need to sentence more than one sister today?”



“No, no problem at all. I just get a little cranky when pain-in-my-ass season comes around.”



Caranthia went for Fa’aithlia’s neck, but unsuccessfully with Buf’aneah’s steadying arms, separating the two.



“Caranthia, please, fighting one of us was not why you came here. What is the message?”



“The prisoner,” Caranthia spat, while glaring at Fa’aithlia, “is to adhere to the Seven Day Sacrament.”



“What?!” Tar’airah said incredulously. The Seven Day Sacrament meant she had to endure seven more days, meeting and getting to know her foe before fighting them to the death on the seventh day. The last time she had to go through it she ran into the woods to hide, on the night of the sixth day, crying with each step. She and Xaniathiera had become friends. Friends, for goddess’s sake. And they wanted her to kill her the next day?



Despicable.



Her sisters found her almost dead from hunger and malnutrition, soaked from the night’s rain.



She would not go through that again.



“Please, do not speak, unless told to do so,” Caranthia said curtly.



“You will follow the Sacrament, and then proceed with the ceremonial fight to the death—“



“I’m not doing it. I don’t care what you or Grandmother Thea says, I’m not killing one of my sisters—“



“SILENCE,” Caranthia bellowed, “you,” she whispered, maniacally pointing at the downcast eyes of Tar’airah, “You are lucky to have us, Tar’airah. Without us you would not be alive today, just one miserable drowned babe, unable to crawl from her mother’s stomach,” she spat. “And now you’ve been given another chance to fulfill your duty—as usual, lucky,” she said becoming more angry by the second, “and this time you cannot slither away, like the weakling that you are. Grandmother Thea has seen to it, personally, that you will fight not one of us, but a heathen, that is, one you can kill.”



“It’s not a question of capability to kill,” Buf’aneah said drawlingly, “we all know Tar’airah’s got the best martial skills out of her age group, she even beat you at the last sparing event,” she said chuckling a little, but she stopped when she caught the glare of Caranthia.



“That’s why Thea chose this one. He is a stranger to us—a trespasser. Surely, after pleading so lovingly for your sisters’ lives, you can kill an enemy intruder?” Caranthia said tauntingly.



“You want me to kill an innocent man for you?” Tar’airah said incredulously.



“He is no innocent. He defiled and disgraced the Sacred Seven, and dared to challenge one of your fellow sisters. He deserved death then and there when we found him—”



“Why didn’t you give it to him, then?” came the quick reply.



“It seemed Thea wished to inspect him first. And now, the wait has come in handy, for you and for Thea. You are lucky, Tar’airah to have this unusual chance at redemption. You have Seven Days, and on the last you shall fight to the death. Buf’aneah and Fa’aithlia will lead you to and from the cell. From there you will proceed with the ceremonial cleansing, war-painting, blood-lock…”



Caranthia’s voice faded out into Tar’airah’s mind. She sat there, numb. Grandmother Thea made sure to it that there was an easier path for her. She went through the pains to find her a loophole. Should she attempt this one last time? Perhaps killing a stranger would be easier, a stranger that despises her kind—that disgraced her family and beliefs.



A stranger that was also human.



“What happens if I do not acquiesce to Grandmother Thea’s request?” Tar’airah interrupted quietly. Caranthia had been getting carried away, wistfully describing the wonderful preparations before the final kill of the Brehzenia Trial. She looked down, annoyed that yet again she had been interrupted, but decided to concede to the question.



“You will be banished.”



Silence enfolded the room.



Goddess, give me strength...

Last night in sweet slumber I dreamed I did see my own precious jewel sat smiling by me.

And when I awakened I found it not so; my eyes like some fountain with tears overflowed.

[Spikeizmine87]

woo! great update! I love how you got in buffy and faiths names in there! xanders too! that made me laugh!! I dont wanna see tara killing anyone!! Damnit. There will be no killing of willow either! NONE OF IT! damnit. I hope tara doesnt go through with this...then again i dont wanna see her banished either....ok...done rambling...more soon please! You're doin great with this!

-Rose

I promise I wont forget you when Im gone. How can I? You'll always be mine even if you know it or not.

[shuyaku]

Not really liking miss high & mighty Caranthia. She's a biatch. Or rather a BIATCH. I hope Tara goes all ass - she definitely deserves it. Tara might even feel justified with that killing - I know I do



The whole Seven Day Sacrament thing - If they want her to kill someone, I don't think they should get to know each other first. Of course if you did that, then she wouldn't meet Willow and that wouldn't be good... Um, nevermind that first part - I made my brain hurt.



Oh, yeah and thanks for making it clear that Willow didn't know what they were talking about. I was thinking that she shouldn't understand them and she doesn't - whew!



-shuyaku

Oh God, Willow—you’re giving me the gift of Karen Carpenter. Just when I think I grasp the full extent of your love." - Tara

"Why do birds suddenly appear? It’s because, you are queer…" - Willow (Gods Served and Abandoned by AntigoneUnbound)

[WickedReds]

yay an update... getting wonderful

i can't wait to see what happens when they meet..



WooHoo go banana



-reds

[KiwiAlcyone]

heya Elizabeth,



Not only do I get some excellent writing and an intriguing plot line out of reading this fic but fast updates to! I'm always hoping for another chapter whenever I pop onto Pens. This story so has me hooked.



I'm eagerly hanging out for Tara and Willow's meeting but dreading the angst that it's sure to cause poor Tara. Not only will she become friends with this stranger she will be forced to spend seven days with...being that the stranger is Willow I'm sure love will follow as well, intensifying the whole problem. I can't wait to see how it plays out but I'm sure that it will be well worth the wait. I wonder if things will change when everone finds out Willow is not a man?



Can't wait for the next bit



Alcy

Reality continues to ruin my life - Calvin and Hobbes

[LunaMuses]

hey, sorry I missed some in between there. I seem to always do a good job of missing some. I'm still here, though. I love the names, hehe.



I'm really enjoying this fic, can't wait for more. hopefully, Willow won't throw too much sass at Tara. hate for Tara to change her ways cause someone did something silly like, say, spit on her

In Memory of Austin Evans...you will not be forgotten...

[taramagic]

wow what a great update!

you are so good in writing that! poor tara... i like it that everybody is still talking about a boy

[mollyig]

I like this AU you've set up. By putting Tar’airah in such an environment, where the others are fierce warriors, you've highlighted her compassionate nature. It seems to me that Thea would be willing to allow Tara not to kill if only she would stand up to her and show that she has fighting spirit when it matters. I'm sure when she meets the hostage she'll start discovering the inner strength she has.



Thanks for this.

---

Sheacht mh'anam déag do bhéal, do mhalaí's do ghrua

[Arwen276]

The Queen enters the thread



reads



declares:



"I like it."



nods, satisfied at the author's reply to her royal comment



"you have done well, you know your manners around royalty!"



Smoothes her robes, and turns to leave, but stops mid-turn



"oh, and you better update soon..."



And Leaves.



Ladies and Gents, Queen T. has left the thread, and is strolling inside the kittenboard thinking

' I see good possibilities with the ritual thingie, she has written a good update...'





~Arwen

Hear That Baby? You're My Always... Willow

[BurningWhiteRose]

NOOOOOOOO!!



Poor Tara. What kind of a choice is that? Kill Willow, or get sent off to die of starvation, malnutrition, malaria...and all that jazz. Meanies!



But hey...



Still giggling that they think Willow's a man. You should have a scene where Tara and Willow are doing something...like sparring. And Tara accidently rips Willow shirt open, and...and...



Need More!



Sincerely,

BWR

***

If homosexuals dont reproduce, why are there so many of them?-Jim David

[Artemis]

So many questions... Obviously a week of getting-to-know-you time isn't going to help Tara fulfil her rite of passage requirement. It might clear up the confusion over Willow's gender, though (no doubt a result of her safari suit, and I guess her hair's still hidden beneath her helmet?). I'm having this odd South Park-inspired mental image, of the Amazons tossing Tara in with Willow for a week, then peeking in to see how they're doing. "She's not killing her... she's definitely doing *something* to her, but she's not killing her."



But seriously, it looks like Tara's going to end up banished whether she likes it or not, if the only alternative is murdering her soon-to-be-beloved redhead. But I doubt that would be the end of Willow's troubles - she's trespassed on Amazon lands, and if Tara won't kill her I'm sure they'll find someone else willing to do the job. Tara may end up fighting *for* Willow. It's nice to hear, should something like that eventuate, that she's not helpless when it comes to hand-to-hand ass-kicking.



Thanks for letting me host the story on Looking-glass. Sadly, no cute waitresses are involved (Well, except for in Food For Thought, also hosted there, where Tara's a very cute waitress indeed.) Would it be okay if I had your Safari Suit Willow drawing on the site as well? And (seeing as I just popped over to the Wild Horses thread, which I also have on the site), perhaps also the art you did for that story? I really like how Tara's expression turned out in that one.

[thebardgirl]

Hello! Ah, this story is just making all my reading-kittens squirm (with delight I hope) trying to figure out what is going to happen....how *sweet*...





Spikeizmine87-hello! Ah, yes the names...they are quite silly, no? Xanders..? wha? OH! Xaniathiera? Lol, i just wanted to make up a pretty name with X in the beggining due to me liking the name Xena...Damn, i didn't even catch that. Well, just between you and me, can we call that my subconscious genius? Erp. You don't want Tara killing Willow? Okay...umm...right...sure, nooooo problem. Thanks, Rose, but I hope you don't get too angry with this update, then...cause...that'd be bad. All with the bad, in fact...*snicker*...



shuyaku-Yeah, neither am I. In fact, i'm really not liking her. But hey, i'm also her creator. Can't really hate completely what i made, so oh well. Hahaha...good idea. Well, i know Tara's going after some one soon. In this update, in fact. But i'm not sure it's that girl. Ah, yeah, that whole Amazon-thing, i figured it'd just be the ultimate testament to see if you could survive knowing, and then killing that person. Which is a horrible idea, in my mind, so i *had* to put it in, just to make my characters go through as much pain as possible. See what happens when you question the genius of my brain? It makes YOUR brain hurt. I'm glad you got that whole "heeey, she didn't understand a word o' that..." cause I didn't want to sound like a hypocrite writer. Ah well, already done that anyway, right?



WickedReds-Thanks, Oh yes, W/T will definitely meet. Only, i'm not sure if under the conditions you want them to...*snicker* And *clears throat* go banana, go.



KiwiAlcyone-Hilo Alcy! Oh, yeah...*blushes* i get all excited with writing sometimes and i'm like a fire-cracker with updates...but then, (you gotta watch out for this) i'll just stop and go catatonic with the story...so, enjoy these fast updates while ya' can, and i'm tickled pink that you like my story. *grins like a mad fiend* Seeing as i lurve yours an' all...



Ah, yeah, their meeting is coming soon. Like, really soon....and i know the pain it'll cause for any sane reader...i have a tendency to rack up every bad thing in my writing for one dramatic showdown, like in every Buffy season as we know...Ah, those seven days...hmm...well, we'll see how those work out for our two lovely ladies. Ah, yes, Willow's fantastic, and completely oblivious manhood will come to an end as well...yeah, i wonder how that's gonna figure out...*grins*





LunaMuses- No, no, don't worry about missing any updates. It's because of my craziness with brainstorming that goes so fast in the begginning of my fics--I write sometimes like a jackhammer on 49th street...so no sorries. I appreciate feedback whenever you can give it, and don't worry if you miss it or dont' wanna, or fear me wielding some large blade at you. (Surprisinginly i don't have large weaponry as my story does.) Thanks for reading, and i'm glad you're enjoying it. Ooo Willow throwing sass at Tara? Now there's an idea i had NOT thought up. Thanks for that tip, dude!



taramagic-thanks! Cool, i'm glad you like my writing--it makes it easier for you to read, and me to write. Yeah, Willow's boyhood, or manhood...what a strange thing it is, no? Thanks for reading!



mollyig-hello! Thanks, i'm glad you like it. Compassion, i feel, is Tar'airah's best quality, and i'm glad you pointed it out. She is different from the rest of her friends, and it's fun to pull it out of her, albeit painfully. Thea, i think would do alot of things for her Tar'airah. But in that she's got the rest of the tribe breathing down her neck, she feels pressured to make sure her amazon's don't completely rebell over one girl's compassion. OH yeah...the inner strength she has will definitely come out soonish...she's not some weak puppy, as you will see. Thankyou so much for reading.





Arwen276-Thebardgirl bows solemnly bearing parchment, pen and ink. Kneals on cushion and writes furiously for several minutes. Finishes next chapter and hands pieces of parchment up to Queen,



"Will this do, Almighty Thea?"



Keeps eyes down, while still bowing with one arm holding papers. Awaits Queen's reply.





BurningWhiteRose- No? Why No? Oh, Tara, gotcha. Right, yeah, sorry, Amazon's aren't good with the whole "complex decision making" thing...Yeah, meanies is a good description. I should use that in my updates from now on...'and the magestic meanies walked forward whilest carrying the ceremonial meanie-staffs.'



Hmm...Tara and Willow sparring? Oi! Naughty girl you are...what would ripping open Willow's shirt do except reveal her bare chest and...wait a sec...lost track of thought...what was i talking about? Bah, now look what you've done! troublemaker...go and read the update...*Shakes fist whilst trying to remember what she was saying before*





Artemis-hello...Ooo questions? Cool. I like questions. And sorry for not responding to your email with email, i just you know...am bad with email. Yeah, the whole week-thing was not a devious ploy for w/t to meet, actually. I wrote it with the intent to say, "these crazy fiend amazon's are pretty damn tough to kill a person after being with them exclusively for so long," although, now that i think about it...that is pretty devious of them to do that to one another. Ah well...this is why i love AU.



*snicker* poor Willow and her gender. Apparently i've done the ultimate baddy and managed to make her out to be an oblivious crossdresser...Ooo i LOVE South Park...that'd be an interesting thing for the Amazon's to do...very *cough cough* interesting...Yeah, they're in a sticky situation...What have i done? *feels the guilt* Ooh, Snickers! *forgets guilt and eats chocolate bar* Hmm...yes, this is true. In THIS story, Tara is NOT a helpless victim. She can definitely take care of herself--which i plan on emphasizing sometime in the future...



Oh, no prob. I'm honored with the hosting...but damn! No waitresses? This sucks...oh well, i'll just read that story to calm me down. Go ahead and post my pictures, i'm fine with that. I just don't know how you'd go about...doing...that...

You saw my pic i did for Rachel? Freaky. Go for it, dude. I hope she likes it too...*wistful sigh* that sketch was a little less than what i had hoped it to be...ah well...can't be great at everything...thanks for reading!









Dear Kittens, one word of advice: Be warned! This update contains a cliffhanger! *duh duh duh*...



-elizabeth

Last night in sweet slumber I dreamed I did see my own precious jewel sat smiling by me.

And when I awakened I found it not so; my eyes like some fountain with tears overflowed.

[thebardgirl]

Same disclaimers, etc. etc. enjoy!







Chapter 5







Life is an obnoxiously complicated thing, and yet, quite simple at the same time. As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it can also be said life’s complexities can be described only by the beholder’s experience.



For example, one moment a person knows earning a good grade on a final exam paper is the most important thing in their life; it’s their gateway to a productive, and therefore happy future. Yet, two seconds after said person receives that grade, and is happily walking out the professor’s door a carriage swerves, and knocks them dead instantaneously.



Life’s silly that way.



As finite beings, we morbidly treasure the infinite wondering of when, how, where, why and what will kill us, maybe not as obsessively as some others do, but enough to recognize that universal bond of life and death. We all wonder. Each of us has thought at one point the reason behind death and life. The only thing we know for sure: we can be the ones to speed up the natural process; humans can have babies as early as pre-teen hood.



And we can also kill.



To kill is a frightening idea, no? To suck the life, the genius that is life out of a body is quite an awesome power. What we treasure most are our lives, that is, what we can choose to do with our lives. The one true freedom we own as humans is to choose what we want to do with ourselves—whether or not we actually get to do that is another thing, which leads to the next problem. Taking a life is a finite action. There is no going back, no reversing it once it is done. And that is why we glorify, and at the same time, fear murder.



Tar’airah stood up.



Her friends were asleep on their respective bed cots, both snoring loudly.



She picked up her one long knife, careful to be wary of its deathly sharp blade.



A true warrior at heart takes care of her weapons.



A slow walk to the skin-doorway, with purposeful steps as to not awake her “guards,” brought Tar’airah to the open air of her world. The moon shone brightly in the sky, easily lighting her way. She had been planning this since Caranthia first sentenced her earlier that evening. It took several hours before Fa’aithlia and Buf’aneah fell asleep.



Even when they’re tired they bicker…



She stopped for a second, and remembered her friends. Suddenly she missed them. A silly thing it is to miss those that were only five feet away. But the thought that she wouldn’t return to them, ever again as their friend, the person that they knew…that frightened her.



She moved forward, walking stiffly.



A few solemn minutes and she had arrived at her destination. A hut stood in plain view, one that she had seen repeatedly since she was first brought into this world.



So simple.



The small building looked so simple, plain even, not the house of a murder victim.



Life’s funny that way.



She sighed inwardly at the horrifying, yet logical judgment she had made. And yet, her logic was the only thing keeping her from collapsing in tears again.



Better to kill now than wait seven days…



She pulled back the curtain swiftly, and allowed her eyes to adjust to the darkness of the small room.



----------------------------------------







Willow was tired of this. No, seriously. This whole ‘prisoner of wild Amazon’s’ thing was just getting old. There was no service in this tribe whatsoever. Willow had expected some source of water, perhaps a washing pitcher, or a face cloth to make her appearance less gruesome.



Her face was that of a wild boar—mud everywhere. And it had dried, ruining all past facial creams she had placed on her delicate skin. Yet no water was given. You’d think they had forgotten the one rule of taking some one prisoner: 1). Giving them water to freshen up with so as not to look unpresentable to the leader of the group. It was just common knowledge.



Why would a colony of women be so set against normal hygiene?



But no matter how much she discussed this in her head, weighing the pros and cons of asking a passing Amazon for a jug of water, she was unable to do anything about it. And her clothes were not getting any less muddy.



Escape was the only way.



She pulled off her helmet, and grabbed a bobby pin she had luckily placed in her hair earlier that morning when she was waiting for Whahemia to round the men up.



How long ago that all seems…



She crawled off her “bed” and began fingering in the dark for the chain’s lock. Slowly twisting the bobby pin into a workable shape she placed it into the lock and began turning it this way and that.



When one is faced with unhygienic surroundings, one will become more resourceful.



She had been twisting the bobby pin, sure the lock was beginning to twist open, when she heard footsteps outside her “door.”



She stopped all movement while sitting on the floor with her chain. The footsteps stopped as well. Whoever was out there, she could see their shadow. She could hear the rough breathing of the shadow’s owner, and did not question for an instant that this person was not the delayed jug of water, but something else. And it frightened her.



Willow sat there, paralyzed by fear, wondering what she should do. She couldn’t run, not effectively anyway.



The bobby pin had slipped out of her fingers, and before she could think her curtain had been pulled back, letting the moonlight flood in.



She squinted and unconsciously held her hand up protectively in front of her face, and with a flash noticed the large knife her visitor was wielding. The figure slowly raised the knife above her head, and then stood there paused for action.



Oh god…







tbc....







Now, am i evil? Malicious? Or just plain mean?

-elizabeth

Last night in sweet slumber I dreamed I did see my own precious jewel sat smiling by me.

And when I awakened I found it not so; my eyes like some fountain with tears overflowed.

[tinnakaren]

Quote:

---

Now, am i evil? Malicious? Or just plain mean?

---

Hmm...I guess it depends on how long you make us wait But who am I to talk .. the last gap between one of my updates was 6 weeks ..oops.



But really, wonderful writing in this update. The introductory passage seemed very much like something Tara would be writing in her journal...before well.. just before.



And poor Willow .. still all muddy



Incidentally, you wouldn't happen to have any Amazonian-Tara sketches lying around? huh? huh?

x Tinna Karen



"You're not gonna jokey-rhyme your way outta this one." - Willow in Pangs

[WickedReds]

What a way to start a chapter... really made my wheels turn.. Very Tara and her logic & Poor will all dirty..

No blood shed... eek..



-reds

(yeah my banana is grovin )

Edited by: WickedReds at: 7/16/04 7:11 pm

[Spikeizmine87]

Yay update! On to my comments!



When Is willow gonna be clean? poor her! haha No, not mad about this update!! Cliffhangers...evil! Hate them but for some reason I cant get enough! Please I beg of you...no stabbing of the Willowness! Cause...ah! Just no! Please have them run off in merriment together!! Hope theres an update soonish! You have me hooked!

-Rose

I promise I wont forget you when Im gone. How can I? You'll always be mine even if you know it or not.

[Kajun]

Bardgirl.. I love your crazy brains! Once Tara gets a good look at.. "the boy" and visa versa it won't take long for Willow’s plan of escape to become ‘their’ plan. I have a feeling Fa’ and Buf’ are going to be kicking some major Car'Bitca arse before this fic is done... after Will’ and Tara’ get thru with her that is! Hay, hay btw.. I love your Wild Horsie sketch! Ya got some very talented brains.. yup. And this fic is hilarious! Love it! I’m horrible about leaving feedback but I will be reading and enjoying this whether I'm in lurk mode or post mode. Just so you know..

[little miss 666]

oh my god! no way man! uhhu, nope, denial



aw dude! You're evil! malicious AND plain mean! I can't believe you did that! Argk! *stomps away ranting incoherently*



>>why me!? why do i get sucked into the cliffhangerish fics?!



<< duh! It's because you're just a sucker for punishment



>>aww, crap...





- lilmiss

I'm never alone I'm alone all the time. Are you at one or do you lie? We live in a wheel where everyone steals but when we rise it's like strawberry fields. I treated you bad you bruised my face. I couldn't love you more you've got a beautiful taste.

[taramagic]

oh my god this is a bad cliffhanger!!

come on please go on!!! can´t wait for the next update!!!

[amazonaa]

Sorry i haven't updated in a while but geez! Write cliffhangers much! You can't just..........uh. Fine but ill be waiting.







great job.







brittney

Quote:

---

Kiss this axe, bitch!---Tara "Bargaining part 2"

---

[onyxsundrops]

Definitely Evil, but it was still a wonderful update. Just as everyone else, I liked the logical intro. Anyway, sorry about not leaving feedback earlier, but I'm really enjoying this story.



Yvonne

[shuyaku]

I'm going with evil as well Great update though. I would love for Tara to go off on how stupid Caranthia is. I mean hellooo, you can't even tell the difference between a boy and young woman



Oh, and bowing to the Queen (Arwen276). Thank you, your highness for demanding an update. Might you demand another one soon? It is a wonderful gift you have shared with us - your bard's tale.



-shuyaku

[BurningWhiteRose]

Ok...



That wasnt a cliffhanger. That was



M-U-R-D-E-R!!!!!!!!!!!! MURDER I TELL YOU!!!!!! MURDER SHE WROTE!!!!!!!



Still hoping she'll just rip open Willow's shirt...



And dang...SOMEONE GIVE WILLOW A BATH!



Sincerely,

BWR

***

If homosexuals dont reproduce, why are there so many of them?-Jim David

[Artemis]

Evil cliffhanger! I love it How will Willow talk her way out of this one? Especially given that Tara won't be able to understand a word she says... still, I'm betting that when Willow gets nervous she babbles, and Willow-babble is adorable no matter what language it's in. I know this for a fact, I've watched some of the DVDs with the foreign audio tracks activated



Tara's thought process was really fascinating as well, very clear and logical, and highly compassionate at the same time. I like the way it began like a narrative, and then morphed into Tara's present situation. That was a very delicate piece of writing, and it really worked.



Thanks for letting me host your drawings, by the way

[Drumbly]

wheheh boy? no no no master no ..hmm

crap why she wants to kill it?? i cant wait for another updatish lol ...



UPDATE SOOON..please?



oh btw..nice to meet u too..ghihi



Love: Jesse/Drumbly

"...I'm multi-talented, cause i can talk and piss you off at the same time... "

[thebardgirl]

Hello my fine, fabulous kittens. It seems, I had a bit of a fright this morning. I was all set to type and tippy-tap my way into my ficdom and then realized Word was being absolutely, horribly, slow. I suspected an evil virus had come back from the dead to haunt me for getting it taken out in the first place, but then was surprisingly surprised when it opened up and all was hunky-dory. Just letting you know, my computer has a way of having mechanical pms...so if i'm not updating for weeks on end (don't worry, that's not in my schedule as of now) it might be because of that...but for now, it's okay. At least, I think it is...*glares at computer*



tinnakaren-see? I'm being good! I'm trying to be good, at least. Ahah! And you've been naughty with the whole-non-updatey-ness. I knew it. Oh, thanks. The introductory passagey thing...i did that alot for my last (and only other) story. No one ever really commented on them as being separate pieces of their own accord...but i'm glad you picked up on it being more or less Tara's thoughts. I'm always worried on if i'm being waaaay to vague or not. Yup, Willow's communing with the mud as we speak. Ah, a Tara sketch? Hmm...i guess i could attempt to do that sometime...



WickedReds-i made your wheels turn? Cool. I think. That's cool, right? Thanks, i'm glad that you liked it cause i didn't want to loose readers over my attempt at pscology...that'd be a bad, bad. Ah, blood shed, blood shed...hmm..i guess you'll have to read the update to see if there is any...(grovin' as in getting down tonight grovin?)



Spikeizmine87-Willow clean? I don't know the meaning! Muwhahahaha....Oh good, you're not mad at me for writing such updates...so you don't mind me doing it again? Cool. Thanks for that. Hmm...no stabbing of Willow? But that's so much fun! Well, in theory it should be...wait, are we talking tickling-fingers-stab, or metal-dagger-stab, because i was talking 'bout the tickling one.

Quote:

---

Please have them run off in merriment together!!

---

I didn't know that you could run in a specific emotion...how cool. Well, then, if they get to, can I as well?



Kajun-Hey, dude! My crazy brains? I have crazy brains! Whoo hoo! Thanks! OOo...so they're going to escape? Do tell. Are you sure Fa' and Buf' are the only ones that will be doing the ass-kicking though? Just saying...i believe there's a line for said Car'Bitca...Oh you saw my sketch? Thanks, dude! How sweet of you to say...talented brains? Whoo! I got me some talented brains!! *does victory dance--also known as the hula* And dude! No need to fret about if you're bad at leaving feedback or no; this paragraph right here should be enough evidence to prove the fact that i'm horrible at it too, so no worries. Thanks for reading, and with, or without your visible encouragement, i will keep writing for you to read!



little miss 666-I like the screen name...anyhoo, "No way" you say? Okay. Wow, i'm all three. Cool! Aww...no, don't stomp away! I want all my kitten-readers to be happy! (Which is why i'm updating) Hey! Come back! *hears echo* ..back...back...back ...aww..crackers, i loose more readers that way.



taramagic-erp, sorry. Now i feel all with the guilt. Ah, well i can help with it though, see? I'm updating!



amazonaa-ah, that's cool, dude. I'm glad you're still reading! Feel free to say hello whenever (but not wherever--i hear it's not nice, or very safe, to carve replies into a cow's skin) you like. Cool, I hope you like the update.



onyxsundrops-Okay, i can deal with being evil and yet pleasing your reading eyes. That's a fine deal by my calculations. Oh, cool, thanks. The intro was something i wanted to do, but only because i find myself babbling while typing--and sometimes the babbling makes sense and is useful--nah, don't worry about leaving feedback, as long as you're enjoying it, then i don't mind. Just, you know, don't disown me. I'd be a little sad.

Thanks Yvonne!



shuyaku-Hmrph....well, Evil is as Evil does, whatever that means. *snerk*...Tara going off on some one? Hee...that does sound entertaining...Ah, you noticed my, i mean Our Queen?



My mistress bad me tell you, that i am to offer my writing skills whenever she desires it so. But seeing as she is absent for this night, i shall go forth with writing, for her, and only for her, as always. *Salutes to Queen*



BurningWhiteRose-Okay...i'm working on that. You know, the whole "cliff" and "hang" and "er" parts? I'm working on those as we speak. Only, i do believe i'm still quite the bad writer in that i've got another for you to face...and hey! I did NOT write murder! I merely insinuated it...in what crazy world is that murder? BWR, i'm going to tell you this little secret of mine: I'm hoping i'll just rip open Willow's shirt... but then again, that really wasn't a secret, was it? Okay! I'll work on the cleansing-thing for Willow! I will! I promise!



Artemis-Hmm...You know, i don't know if Willow will be able to talk her way out of this one...Oh! Foreign-language-Willow! Cool...i wanna see...then again...maybe not...cause then i'd get distraced by a voice saying, "Todo el mundo esta` siendo golpeado sino yo" rather than "Everyone's getting spanked but me."



Thanks, Tara's whole view on it, i thought, had to be a critical look at life and death. But then again, i didn't want to be all "pscology 101" gal...but ah well...oh! And i saw my story on your board, and wow! It's all cool looking and neatly posted and Wow! I really liked the picture of Tara and the title heading and everthing. That was sooo awesome. So, thanks, dude. Thank you in more ways than one.



Drumbly-Uhoh, we have a failure to comprehend on my part. You okay? Ah, good you want an update! That i CAN do. Ah, you sound like such a sweet, insane person. I'm glad to have formed this quasi read-writer friendship, now.

Last night in sweet slumber I dreamed I did see my own precious jewel sat smiling by me.

And when I awakened I found it not so; my eyes like some fountain with tears overflowed.

[thebardgirl]

*the bardgirl places three large bullfrogs all together, lined up on a log and gets camera ready*



*ahem* *she prods bullfrogs into action*



Cliff...



Hang...



Er...





same disclaimers, and such, etc. etc. etc....







Chapter 6











Both figures stayed still—neither knew what to do.



Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. Oh god.



Situations like this just don’t happen every day, you know.



What am I doing?



It seems both girls would agree.



What is she doing? Is she going to move, or just stand there frightening me to death?



Tar’airah’s heavy breathing brought her back to reality, finally. Her arm was still arched in the air, ready to be brought down upon her victim, who seemed to be waiting for it to happen just as much as her. Her arm wouldn’t budge though—not with the intent she originally had, anyway.



I can’t do this. This isn’t right. I can’t…



Tar’airah’s arm slowly hitched and lowered to her side. Willow’s eyes peered through the cracks of her fingers, now placed delicately over her face. They never left the blade, her almost-attacker’s body was silhouetted against glow of the moon—she could barely distinguish the outline of a young woman.



Tar’airah saw everything perfectly though. What she saw, though, made her all the more frightened of what she had become. A whimpering figure, dressed in what she guessed was today’s “fashion,” shielding their brow, sat there on the ground with a chain latched onto a leg.



What have I done? What am I doing? I could never…I would never…



A soft plunk sounded as Tar’airah’s knife dropped to her side. She looked down the metal that had landed, and grazed her shin slightly while falling to the sandy ground.



So simple. It had seemed so simple…



The silence kept pounding in Willow’s ears, and her hand slowly came down to peer at the woman. Questions whizzed through her mind a mile a minute, but she stayed silent, and stealthily moved herself to push up on her elbow and get a better look.



She dropped her sword-thingy! Does this mean she won’t kill me? Does this mean she was going to kill me? Why is she looking down at it? Since when do Amazon women admire their weaponry right before killing some one? Why is she not speaking? What’s wrong with her? Did I do something?



Once sitting fully upright she could see the woman’s quiet form. Although still slightly darkened by the neighboring light, from this point of view Willow was able to make out the girl’s clothing, her arms, her hair, her cheeks, her



Eyes…Oh god, she’s…



Crying? Why am I crying? Why? I am the first of the Caleahla Squadron! I am the title fighter for all sparring events ever to have been held in my time on this here earth! I have the heart of a lioness, the mind of a jaguar, the claws of a hawk, and the valor of a true warrior. Warriors do not cry. THEY DO NOT!



Tar’airah shut her eyes with the continual pounding of voices screaming inside her head. Over and over again they sounded, first the voice of Thea, training her as a child to defend herself in unexpected combat, then Fa’aithlia’s and a million others yelling at her to fight from the sidelines in her first sparring event, and lastly her own voice. Her own weak voice, screaming at the top of her lungs for freedom from all the pain, all the blood—all the death—blared through her mind, silencing all others at the seemingly small demand: kill.



Willow stood up, painfully slow. Her own eyes glanced down at the hands of her would-be-killer. She stood face to face with the girl, who’s eyes were still cast down in remorse for whatever that had caused her so much pain.







She’s trembling.







Willow did not attempt to grab the awaiting knife, nor did she try chewing out the woman for scaring her shitless, and then going catatonic on her.



Willow did only what she knew she could do in that exact moment.



Her hands slowly crept from her side, and touched those of the other girl—a sign of comfort.







Please, stop crying.







Willow’s own eyes steamed up in spite of her stalwart nature. They bored into the other girl’s face, causing Willow to wonder if she was even alive at the moment. And then all of a sudden the one thing that she had wanted most, and yet also feared, she realized, happened.



The girl looked up, right back at her.







Please stop crying.







As if on cue by Willow’s wish, the other girl’s eyes blinked away the remaining tears. But she continued to stare back. Willow didn’t seem to care, seeing as she stared as well, unable to say or do anything save touch the girl’s fingers.



A movement of some one’s (was it hers or…?) fingers brought Tar’airah’s eyes down.







My hands…our hands…







A look of confusion, but utter acceptance at the revelation that they were holding hands flashed through Tar’airah’s face. Willow caught the mix of emotions and thankfully saw the understanding she was praying for. Having a violent woman kill you, even after you seemed to have escaped, for hitting on her was not on Willow’s to-do list.



Willow smiled slightly, which Tar’airah caught. She smiled weakly back, letting the tears dry on her cheeks. Willow noticed this; she brushed the last remaining drops of liquid from the girl’s cheek. The stare and silence continued for few more moments.



A crack outside the hut brought both girls’ heads snapping in one direction toward the window—only a twig snapping from a bush.



Their faces slowly crept back to their respective places, and Willow knew that they could not stand here forever.







Although I’d like to…







She heard a muffled mumble and looked up at the questioning eyes of the intruder.



“Y-y-you’re not a man?” Tar’airah stated rather than questioned.



“You’re not an Amazon?”











-elizabeth *takes frogs away*

Last night in sweet slumber I dreamed I did see my own precious jewel sat smiling by me.

And when I awakened I found it not so; my eyes like some fountain with tears overflowed.

Edited by: thebardgirl at: 7/18/04 8:19 pm