The light of early morning streamed down from the canopy of trees and set to glow the white hazy mist that drifted in the still air as it blurred indistinct the surroundings of the seven huntresses as two at the fore knelt and examined the ground before them. One was a muscled, scarred, middle aged veteran with a leather headband with an upraised horn. This signified her leadership among the group. The other was a broad shouldered, well endowed, thick bodied amazon. A set of dark eyes remained upon the signs within the clearing; four set of footprints, disturbed vegetation, wood shavings, and dug earth. The others were alert and tensed; positioned widely behind them with readied shields, scimitar or short spear.

They were of the caste of warriors of the city-state of Shikhatta. Each was born and bred with religious discipline to be skilled and fearless in open battle, merciless against those that would be called their enemy, and fervent defenders of the will of their goddess, their queen, and their people. Their bodies were tanned and toned by daily outdoor martial exercises enacted within the surrounding plains and open courts of their temples; glistening with a mixture of their own perspiration and an oily salve they applied to themselves daily before donning their cloth and leather uniforms which left head, arm, and upper torso bared. Each head was shaved with the exception of a tail of hair, characteristically dark, stemming from the back of the head. All exuded confidence in their bearing and anticipation in their current purpose. This morning this small band sought four escaped slaves who had fled late in the night; a clear challenge in their view of their supremacy that could only be answered with the recapture and tortuous death of they that were their lessers by right of the conquered.

"It looks as if we will catch up to them before mid day."; said the leader calmly, "They stopped here to rest and foraged for materials shortly before dawn."

The second pointed out signs of a recent disturbance along the edge of the sparse grove and then over near the fallen trunk of a tree.

That dagger has allowed them to craft weapons quickly. Note the signs of fallen branches and shavings. They’ve managed to make clubs or crude pole arms; poor weapons to match against our own, but dangerous none the less.

"It is of no consequence to us as warrior of Shikhatta and chosen of our goddess Bahkraine."; the contubera leader growled. "We’ll move on and eat and drink what we may gather as we travel. It is certain we will meet those we hunt if we do keep this pace. I am, however, concerned about this damnable mist. It both conceals us from their sight and they from ours. It is not good for so many to stumble about without chance of spotting our quarry before coming upon them. They may hear our approach. I have other plans."

"And what is your will, sister, when we do meet?" said the heavyset amazon.

A squint and evil leer replaced the characteristic scowl of the veteran.

To simply recapture them will not do, my second. Instead, we shall allow them the false hope of freedom, then crush that hope. If Bahkraine would only lift this mist or bring us to them unnoticed. We need to follow in stealth and at a distance to prevent their knowing of our closeness. When they feel they have driven themselves far enough they will seek food, water, and rest. We shall allow them to hunt and prepare their catch. Then shall we strike and then shall they will know our wrath! Our bellies will be filled by the food they will have prepared as theirs continue to rumble and hope is dashed away. It shall be a lesson they shall have before their lingering deaths upon return to our vessels.

"An apt punishment for our slaves and reward for our efforts."; said the veterans subordinate with a hint of a smile.

"I am glad you are in agreement"; said the elder woman as she scratched at an arm, "but there is still the matter of our being discreet. So many bodies moving along these trails make too much noise, and thus ruin our chance for this to succeed. I hesitate sending one or two to track further away from the main group, but it seems our only recourse."

The veteran unit leader pointed to two warriors and silently gestured for them to join her and her second in command at the front of the group. A young, squat, round face woman with a wide nose in her late twenties moved forward with a younger, long limbed companion with deep set eyes and smooth, small bust. Both kneeled, hands to pommel of scimitars, and leaned forward in attentiveness.

Tosrine, Hescum, know that by your efforts the rest shall follow our quarry. Stalk until you see them encamped and hunting for food, then withdraw and await us. Take your scimitars and bows only. The rest of us shall follow your marks upon the trail. Questions?

"What if we are spotted, unit leader.?"; queried the younger amazon with an eagerness in her voice as she placed her short spear upon the ground.

"Then you may face them, Hescum, but temper your efforts to taking prisoners."; said the veteran as she placed a hand upon the slim shoulder of the warrior for emphasis, "We need examples for the other slaves back at the ship in case freedom has intruded into their thoughts as well. They may have overheard, and thus know, this place is unfamiliar to us. They know this isle presents a chance at freedom. We shall show them that despite this Bahkraine's will rules their existence."

The two, with pursed lips, nodded and strode quietly ahead of the group in single file down the trail they were following. The suns position rose slowly as morning advanced to midmorning and the split band moved on in pursuit of their escapees. The landscape shifted temperament as they traveled deeper into the isle. The group now found the region much less navigable with its densening jungle foliage and greatly shifting terrain of rises and wet, muddy ravines. Greenery continued in its slow wild stretch towards the heavens, but at increasingly rare points opened up to clear bright sky and the view of steeply rising mountains ahead. With the ever thickening canopy the natural paths became less illuminated by sunlight. The mists remained, but brought with them the increasingly pervasive aroma of dark, dank, dead vegetation wafting from the ravines. Trails began to wind more wildly as they progressed towards the isles center; slowing the efforts of the amazon band.

As they traveled along the gloomy trails the wary eyes of the two tanned scouts, scanning the path for the signs of their quarry's progress, missed little detail. Each depression of a foot, broken branch, or sign of earlier disturbance noted as becoming gradually fresher. By these clues they knew they were closing the distance and would find their slaves soon.

A little after mid morning, with the mists beginning to diminish, the two scouts halted at the sound of distant cracks and hissing vegetation far ahead on the trail. As the squat older warrior crouched and drew her scimitar slowly her companion unlumbered her short bow; readying an arrow. They waited long moments as the sound receded and eventually tapered off. Still, the patient huntresses waited longer until satisfied nothing larger than them moved. They then advanced carefully along the trail towards an area ahead.

A small, large eared rodent scrounging materials from the area picked up its ears in sudden awareness and scampered back to its hidden burrow just as the two Shikhatta stepped into a widening path carpeted with thigh high grass. At its center was a gnarled tree surrounded and nearly covered by large leaf bushes and clinging vines. At all points surrounding the trail thicker flora abounded.

The elder warrior at the front halted a moment and raised her arm, closed fist, with eyes straining at a point in the ground as a quizzical look grew. Her thin limbed companion quietly and slowly drew her bow as she stood with knees flexed to move. The squat amazon crouched low with an arm outstretched and her wide, pointed cleavage hanging, examining the tracks before her with intensity.

"What is the problem, Tosrine?"; whispered her younger comrade, "Are they close?"

"They are not too close as to make those noises ahead according to this, Hescum, but they seem to have gathered there at the center, then begun to run."; spoke the Shikhatta quietly, still examining the tracks and swatting away an insect with her other hand. "Yet there are no signs of an animal chasing them, or crossing this path, which I assumed was what we just heard. It is odd, would you not agree?"

"It is indeed, worthy of thought."; said the youthful amazon in a hushed tone, waving away another bug buzzing near her nose as she joined her partner in scanning the path before them . "Perhaps they saw something ahead and ran for it? A beast along the trail for food? Perhaps we are mistaken since these mists keep the ground moist and they, hearing us, ran for cover and are awaiting our crossing of this stretch of path. "

"Retain your bow and still your mind, sword sister,"; said the older amazon with authority, "I will move ahead and draw them out or find better clues of their passage. Be ready to join me either in battle or continuing on."

The thin limbed amazon, an expression of disapproval on her face, still did as her elder requested. She took a few steps back along the trail and drew her bow taunt, scanning the foliage quickly along both borders of the path for sign of ambush.

Slowly and with muscles tensed, the short, thick trunk woman warrior advanced along the pathway. The shield, hanging upon her right arm, her off hand, was raised in anticipation of a weapon flying from her right as she watched the left side for movement. Her left arm was raised with scimitar in hand as one foot after the other descended into the high grass with slow care. She reached the natural divider, viewed the signs of tramped upon blades, and noted that the slaves split along both trails; three to the right and one to the left. She stooped lower and checked a few blades uprooted by their passage to determine how long ago the group had passed this way. Her tensed posture relaxed noticeably at the results of her findings. Giving a silent signal to her companion indicating the split, and receiving a silent sign of understanding, the Shikhatta scout moved quickly to the left and continued down the trail more at ease.

The foot of the robust woman snagged upon something in the tall grass close to the gnarled tree, drawing the notice of the bare breasted huntress to the trap she had set off too late. Two meter sized square braces, each covered with nine sharp wood spikes placed at each of the intersections of lashed wood rods forming four equal blocks, swung down from branches above and sandwiched the grassy plains fanatic upper body solidly. A cry of startlement was cut short before it was sounded as sharpened points drove into flesh and bone deeply. Hescum watched from behind in shock as the tanned, oiled, figure of her comrade jerked in reflexive reaction and several punctures, at times splurting, flowed crimson streams. Her comrades limbs jerked once, then dropped lifeless. The torso sagged slightly as the lengthy points of the frame continued to support the body upright. From the beneath the protected armor and side slit skirt, shuddered the rounded flanks of the dead zealot a moment. The younger woman spied the flow of liquid and slow trail of dark oozing matter of expunged bodily waste, and recognized the signs of certain, sudden, violent death.

She grimaced, but to her credit did not cry out in despair, loss, or fear. She was inured to such by her training and the faith that her sword sister's spirit would be returned to this world after receiving undescribable pleasures her goddess would provide. Walking slowly, the thin limbed woman with smooth, small breasts stood in front of her comrades hanging body and viewed it a moment. Most of the nine spikes had pierced the upper and middle torso. Of the top line of spikes, only one had managed to drive itself just above the jaw line to keep the head upturned. Eyes were still wide with shock as blood flowed down the still corpse. She reached out with a balled hand, two fingers extended, then swiped off blood from a thick flow of blood running down the pliant flesh of a sloped, pointed breast. Stoney faced, she applied a line across her upper cheeks and bridge of her nose.

"The cagey khunts managed to craft a tricky trap"; said Hescum quietly. "But to do so has taken time they would have better spent running, for now they are certainly close, and I shall find them. Shout in pride of your service to Bahkraine in the halls of her domain for your death only guarantees their quicker recapture and serves her great design."

The thin limbed zealot stepped back, checked and adjusted her things a moment, and quickly moved down the trail, watching it carefully for further signs of her quarry and any other trap they may have set. As the last sounds of the Shikhatta's departure tapered off, however, another form high upon the leafy branches of the gnarled tree finally stirred from its concealed spot. Dark leathery clawed hands grasped for a branch. A grunt of exertion emitted from snarling features. Furry, clawed, large feet scratched marks upon limbs as a figure moved to a branch positioned two meters above and in front of the body. Deep dark pools set within a large extended brow glared at the female corpse for long moments then looked down the trail the other amazon had went down, as though considering. After a few moments the dark furred being of shadow and fur made a running leap off the branch and caught a particularly thick vine; swinging out over the body of the amazon scout and wall of greenery to a destination beyond.

Some time later the second group came to the site of their companion’s demise. With the mists now nearly gone, they spotted the body without difficulty. The sight of the Shikhatta’s corpse hanging as it had died prompted grimaces and a deep growl of anger from the unit leader. She paced back and forth a moment, glancing at the still form with fury and regretted the loss of another of her warriors to these slaves.

"Should we take her down, unit leader?"; the buxom second in command asked softly with compassion.

A fiery glare quickly swivelled to the groups second in command, who almost flinched.

"Leave her body for now."; said the veteran with a horse voice. "We haven’t time to waste. I am sure our sword sister has either tracked them down or joined this one at Bahkraine’s side. "

With the veteran unit leader at the head of the group the amazons continued on at a faster pace; scimitars drawn and shields held. Their movements were accompanied by the sporadic clatter of short spears and short bows they also carried. Behind their leader followed the ample breasted subordinate. A diversely featured trio of bare chested, sweating, warrior women kept pace. They traveled for about a kilometer and a half before meeting the thin limbed warrior as she squatted along the trail awaiting their arrival. By then the sun was nearly at its zenith; mid day.

"Have you found where they have camped?" queried the sub-commander.

"I think so. It is a quarter kilometer further on"; said the warrior scout nodding eagerly, "at a huge less densely forested area that rests between the crook of two cliffs. There is a small, wide, oval, waterfall-fed lake which begins against the sheer wall of one cliff to the right and stretches to the left to a calf high grass path curves around the shore. At the far end, upon a small rise of the land are irregularly spaced groups of larger trees with dense vegetation. Between can be seen crumbling old ruins. Portions of the few clearings are scattered with bright assortments of multicolored wild flowers and clumps of squat fruit trees. Most buildings are overgrown with vines and growth. I spotted curls of smoke rising from the largest ruin near the center; a high three level building that seems to be in better condition than the surrounding structures. It is a perfectly protected spot for gathering provisions and resting."

"Besides the single smoke trail, are there any signs of other people or were the ruins abandoned beforehand?" asked the veteran leader as she swatted a small pest away.

If there are others, then they have certainly kept themselves well hidden and ignored repairs to the buildings for at least four generations.

Very well. Unless there is anything else we should know I shall lead the advance upon this ruin.

"There is one thing of note, unit leader, that I feel I should bring to the groups attention."; said the scout quickly.

And that is?

I have seen no sign of the slaves in the time I watched the ruin. This alone is understandable except for one curious thing. From that part in the trail where my comrade hangs there was clear sign of them running with no regards as to hiding their passage. I can find no clue as to why, but by what I have found I would say they were fleeing and were wounded by something. I made every effort to find what.

A beast of some sort?

"One that leaves no tracks? With respect, I could find nothing along the trail except their own long strides and some speckled blood droplets here and there. One or more may have been injured or killed."

"Could it be they were chased by a large dangerous bird in the trees? Some of this isles creatures are strange to us."; suggested a tall, gangly, small bosomed woman among the other warriors.

"Possible."; said the scout as she nodded thoughtfully. "My thought was to alert you of a possible threat they have encountered."

"Your warning is warranted. and appreciated"; agreed their leader. "If the beast does attack dispatch it first before moving upon the slaves. Otherwise, move in stealth towards that central ruin when we get to the open area. They may have a sentry watchful for our approach. Kill only if you are seriously wounded. You know our duty."

The others nodded, awaited their leaders advance down the trail, then followed after. When they arrived at the edge of the ruins the veteran signaled for a halt and observance. Keeping low among the taller grasses along the edge of the area, each of the warriors scanned the landscape with care for sign of activity or a posted guard. The band found the clearing just as their scout had described. Nothing seemed changed. Two set aside their short spears and readied their short bows while others placed their scimitars upon the ground and retained their own short spears.

Another gesture prompted them forward in a well spaced grouping with the veteran at the front. Each was vigilant for the expected ambush; tensed and ready to utilize the weapons with a skill learned since infancy, yet no attack came as they reached the edge of ruins. They moved about the shoreline without challenge then slowed and moved up a gentle incline of grass and rocks to stand before the beginnings of a collection of stone walls and piles of rock covered with jungle vegetation. They walked towards the tallest and most intact of the buildings which stood relatively intact; a stone block ziggurat roughly four stories high. As they came within several meters of the structure they could see that each of its walls was covered in squarish pictographs denoting beasts and people. Some were pictured dancing about, some copulating, others were torn asunder by claw and fang of the beasts.

"It is an abandoned temple to some god of beast lovers" said the tallest of the warriors." as she spit upon one pictograph with disdain.

"It matters not, sister, for it is as dead as its long departed worshipers. Sleecha, remain on watch while we find what Bahkraine’s will has visited upon these foolish khunts. I only wish she has spared them from the beast so that we, her faithful, may show her triumph to the other slaves."

The small band advanced into the large square aperture of the ruin with weapons drawn and a barely subdued mixture of anticipation and wariness. One of the last, an older, long necked woman with wide hips and pudgy midriff, remained just outside the edifice to the right of the doorway. She hopped up and crouched upon a large fallen granite pillar covered by leafy vines and weathered by the elements; enviously watching the members of her savage sisterhood enter the ruin before turning to watch the immediate area dutifully for signs of activity.

The group hesitated a moment at the entry chamber to allow their eyes to adjust to the deep gloom of the large rectangular room. The entry was long, with small columns of stone that matched the rest of the room. Numerous cracks along its floor, walls, and pillars as well as weeds sprouting from the larger splits in the rock upon the interior of the building were testament to its age. Relief’s lined the left and right walls, but their subject matter was scoured away by the elements and time, leaving the mystery of its importance to the guesswork of intellectuals. It was not a care for the warriors whose eyes and movement was only for their lust for the hunt. Smoky streams of light from square holes atop the room provided some light in which to make out dim details.

The veteran grabbed an unlit torch worn and warped with age from a hole in one of the pillars as she drew flint from a sleeve of her belt. Another of her warriors did the same. Two other warriors moved to the edge of the walls and crept forward. The skrit of stone to stone sounded numerous times and pierced the ominous silence before one of the worn torches began to burn. A flickering light began and the chamber’s gloom receded.

The two warriors at the far end of the chamber approached the arched entryway and peered into the receding darkness beyond. The tallest, gangly, small bosomed warrior turned and silently shook her head in negation to the others as her stooped down to examine the disturbances on the dirty flooring.

"It looks as though they struggled briefly then came running in, but I can not see what chased them. There are no other tracks."; said the young warrior quietly as she stood back up.

"Then let us seek them out, but be wary"; said their leader evenly, "They or that flying beast may come upon us at any moment."

All four of her fellow warriors nodded. One passed her torch to the curvaceous one nearest the darkened entryway. The band moved into a long hallway worn with age; its walls a collection of eroded undecipherable carvings. A few open archways lined the left and right walls of the room which led off to other halls and passages. The tracks indicated an entrance to their left near the very end of the hall. They continued to follow the signs of the others; passing through several other similarly decorated chambers and passageways. The air cooled gradually as the amazons traveled deeper into the ruin. Oiled bodies developed goose bumps as nipples hardened with the change in temperature. The group traveled along with growing unease and suspicion. The cooler, gloomy interior resounded dully with their movements as they continued without conversation deeper into the ancient building.

They finally encountered the first of their slaves as they entered another room; this a small rectangular chamber. A small low fire burned at its center. Smoke rose into a small square chimney in the ceiling three body lengths above. A young olive skinned slave girl ran from behind one column to the party’s far left, presenting her wounded, bleeding, back to her hunters. The Shikhatta archers drew bows taunt with bemused expressions to cover the pursued while the leader, her second, and the thin limbed scout charged to strike the girl with the blunt end of their short spears. The girl managed a few jolting steps to the stone arched doorway leading deeper into the ruin, leaned against the left side of the entrance, then slid down to fold over in a heap on the stone floor dotted with weeds unconscious. A quick search of the room resulted in the discovery of a prepared animal spitted upon a stick ready for the fire.

Their veteran leader moved forward towards the wall just to the left of the slave’s body and the archway while her companions found cover at the nearest columns. There was still the matter of the last three slaves within the concealing darkness of the aperture. A few moments of silent waiting for sign of movement convinced them the rest had forged deeper into the darkness. The veteran pointed to her second in command and signaled for her to deal with the fallen slave. The husky, well endowed woman walked to the unconscious girl. She squatted with straight back, slung the near naked form over her left shoulder, stood back up, and with a slap to the rounded buttocks of the insentient woman nodded to her commander.

The group investigated two halls of the aged building connected to the chamber for signs of the remaining slaves. Then sound of low voices led them to follow one of them to a long, declining passage to their quarry deep in the heart of the building.

They traversed the corridor without challenge; finding themselves in the largest room they had yet encountered. Several small shafts in the ceiling provided dim, diffused light within a large, greatly shadowed circular chamber. Four huge cylindrical columns carved with strange symbols stood near the middle of the room, supporting a high stone ceiling. With the exception of two torches at the entrance, deep shadows blanketed the area. Two more members of the pursued were examining the base of a large, solid, carved stone table upon which lay the desiccated, ornately dressed remains of a long dead female corpse. Behind the stone resting place, a few steps further upon an upraised circular platform, stood a statue opposite the entrance. Its form was without doubt the carved representation of the resting female wearing a cloak, ornate armbands, jeweled belt, embossed greaves, and ornate head dress. Its imperious visage seem to look down upon those within the room.

A slope breasted, long legged amazon moved forward from her group with her muscular scarred leader towards the mewling women. The blue eyed leader of the slaves looked up and raised a wounded arm towards those that she had fled. Her expression turned from terrorized victim to hopeful rescuee.

"Mistresses, take us back, protect us from the beast that dwells here. It has already taken of our own and may come for us at any moment."; pleaded the girl. "Had you not seen its horrid form outside this structure?"

The unit leader struck the slave leaders hand away with the blunt end of her short spear and scowled. "What beast do you speak of, eater of my dung? She asked with angry scorn, "What scares you so, slayer of the warrior caste? Am I to believe a creature which leaves no tracks had avoided your cunning trap and hunts you even now? I should leave you to the beast for your foolish flight!"

"There was no trap we had crafted, warrior. Take us back, please!" cried another with tears streaming.

"No trap? Your lie is as pathetic as your efforts to escape your servitude to Bahkraine’s faithful!" the leader laughed mockingly. "One of our own hangs dead from a deadly snare along the trail your band had traveled. Am I to believe a beast now holds thought and learning? Speak of this beast that so terrifies you! It sounds to be some challenge! What exactly does it look like, a bird of some sort?"

"Maybe, sacred warrior."said the pleading girl with a wild, teary eyed, hopeful look as she pushed her blue eyed leader away from her. "But it acted too quickly for me to see details of it. Its dark form descended upon us like a spider from the trees above. We tried to fight it with what weapons we had made, managing a few strikes, but its horrid body was too thick and our weapons not well made enough to pierce its hide. In a flash it was upon us; clawing at us, growling, and kicking. Then as quickly, rising into the trees, it had taken our comrade.

"Her words are those of true terror" spoke the long legged amazon quietly to her leader’s ear, "I trust you think the account inaccurate?"

"Of course,"; replied the scarred veteran just as quietly, fingering the haft of her Kurosh, "but we need some idea as to what we may be dealing with, not a bird but perhaps a large spider now. Definitely a thing of the trees by her account. An arrow may pluck it from is lofty height if we meet it."

"We began to run from the beast", continued the slave girl when she saw the Shikhattans had finished their silent conference, " after hearing our fellows death cry from somewhere in the thick bushes. Moments later we saw it was chasing after us by leaping in great floating bounds from tree to tree. We foolishly let fly with our spears in panic. One did pierce the creature and remain, but it only angered the beast further. It chased us to this building. We have waited here in terror of its following since."

If what you say is true, then we shall encounter it, and slay it. In any event there is but one to our five, so nothing to fear to any true amazon warrior. We have found the food your companion in the other chamber had so thoughtfully prepared for us. You may watch us eat. That shall be your reward for your efforts and the death and strife you had brought.

The group of triumphant Shikhatta kicked and prodded the recaptured slaves back to the room with the fire and into one corner. A long legged Shikhatta stood watch over them. With desperate forlorn looks their recaptured servants bore witness to the consumption of the cooked rabbit as their empty bellies rumbled protesting the fact that they had not been filled. Curved knives sliced large strips off the carcass and were presented with a jeer by the several victorious fanatics before stuffed into their torturers waiting mouths to be eaten.

Outside the structure the older Shikhatta sentry stood; monitoring the area and entryway of the aged ziggurat with short spear and shield in hand. Patient and diligent, she remained staunchly at her post. Despite the sunshine streaming down from clear spaces ethereal mists still prevailed in the shadowed regions of her surroundings. At points, shifting, intensifying concentrations of light would strike the vegetation; highlighting emerald flora while darkening certain other places to normal sight. Long moments ago the sounds of the unit moving deeper into the large building tapered off to silence. Tiny animals skittered to an fro; setting off the whish and crack of plant life with their travel. The droning buzz of some animal sounded, then shifted to a clicking. She noted each and quickly classed them as nonthreatening. More time passed.

The suns rays strengthened upon a nearby collection of bushes and trees several meters to the guards left. Something caught her eye. She turned her head just in time to view a face halfway hidden behind a tree fade into shadow. It was surrounded by a collection of thick large leaf bushes. The face was bald and recognizable as one of the slaves.

The mature warrior quickly lifted her shield for protection, changed stance to a tensely alert posture with her weapon at the ready, and crept several meters away from the entrance towards the tree. Hazel irises bounced left and right in search of the others that also may have hidden nearby, but none were noted. She closed upon her target with care and a bemused smirk.

"Come out and meet the author of your fate coward. You are found." she commanded, "or I will find new torturous ways to entertain myself with your body for days onboard the warship."

A shifting of branches moved to partially curtain the poorly hidden watcher. She could see though, that the slave was looking at her from the shadows unmoving.

A few more paces brought the sentry closer to the edge of the canopy of the trees within the isle of vegetation. The slave remained in place. Sunlight slowly intensified nearby and the ambient light arose to begin to give more detail. The Shikhatta met the one eye gaze of her hunted and smiled triumphant.

From the darkness above a body fell upon the amazon, knocking her down to the ground and winding her. Her assailant however, deftly used the woman’s body to cushion its fall and tumbled rolling backwards to end hunched upright with arms extended wide.

The Shikhatta groggily rolled over to view a dark form backlit by the light leaping upon her. With a bestial scream a large, calloused, clawed hand darted out and raked the left side of her tanned face. She exhaled as three deep slashes opened and quickly oozed her life blood. A second arced across her upper belly and two more lacerations ran red rivulets while a deep groove was cut in her thick leather belt. She just managed to gasped in reactive pain as the arms of her assailant clawed at her again. This time a defensively raised forearm then the ribs and edge of her right breast received deep cuts. The upper body was now striped in trickles of crimson. With great determination she uttered an oath and unsurely attempted to roll forward to rise. Her assailant would not have it and with thick fists clasped together swung at the woman as she groggily began to stand. A thick smack sounded with the impact of the blow and the Shikhatta was laid out spread eagle before the ambusher. Still, the skulker from the branches above was not finished with the woman warrior, crawling around the sentry’s senseless body and falling to its knees just above her head. A pair of thick furry arms lifted up the head of the amazon as she stirred, grabbed her in a headlock, and twisted hard. The body jumped as a dull crick sounded.

The slayer rose and dragged the fanatics body back to the fallen stone column where the woman once stood and grunted in satisfaction. The females form was laid out upon the old column; draped higher face up with arms wide. The killer ran thick leathery hands across the body, squeezed a breast roughly, and kicked apart the legs. Blunt fingers lifted the front leather armor flap and cloth armor skirt hurriedly to pull and tear the warrior’s silken loincloth away. The slayer slid its hips close, adjusted itself into her, and began its lustful violation of the amazon's warm corpse. Furry flanks thrust repeatedly with increasing tempo as the female form shook in a macabre parody of response with each violent move. The slayers grunts sounded sporadically with the continued slap of flesh as it worked at, then completed, its violation.

Having sated its bestial lust with the amazon's corpse the mysterious attacker moved to the ziggurat entrance and noted the fresh tracks of her group. It crouched low with its left arm extended, blunt fingers spread wide, as though trying to sense something from the disturbed earth before it. The head craned forward, facing the ground, then raised slowly until it faced the darkened inner archway of the entry chamber. A single deep growl issued in vehemence from a snarling sharp toothed mouth as it shambled hurriedly through the entry hall and into the second chamber. The skilled skulker reached out to a worn rectangular section of wall and pressed the stonework in. A simple clatch of stone against stone signaled the triggering of something deeper within the structure.

It spoke in some deep guttural voice to itself; its confidence and agitation growing with each syllable uttered until at last the scowling slayer raised its thick arms towards the heavens and bellowed repeatedly. Its hollow bass tones reverberated off of the naturally acoustic walls and ceiling and carried out to the clearing with some strength. The wind rustling the flora quieted. Wildlife of various sizes and shapes perked up their ears with instinctual curiosity and wariness as the repeated cries of anger drifted out several more times from the largest of the ancient buildings. At points in the surrounding greenery and within the adjacent remains of structures flocks of birds took flight, disturbed by activity.

A grinding of stone against stone was the first indication of a new threat to the Amazon band as they looked up from their near finished meal. All heads turned to note stone blocks descending quickly from the entrances.

"Back to the main chamber"; commanded their leader, "I think there may be a way out that way."

The unit scrambled to do as their leader ordered, snatching up their weapons even as the long legged overseer of the slaves ordered the conscious to carry the unconscious. A mad scramble under the lowering stone block and down the corridor found the group back in the main chamber.

"What set that off?" cried one of the amazons.

As though in answer the group heard the deep resonating cry of some beast. As one they jumped reactively, startled at the sound. Their leader, in heated anger quickly pushed away the slim young warrior closest to her and glared at her troupe in the flickering light provided by the torches. She said nothing. The rest regained their composure.

"It is said within our temples sacred places are guarded by cunning traps. Perhaps this lands people followed in that tradition. I would only surmise the beast had sprung one of these in its attempt to chase us down." said the second in command with shallow breaths.

"Bahkraine guides us from such a fate." spoke the veteran confidently. "But once again we must overcome another test of our service to her will. We must find a way out and rejoin our sisterhood on the shores of this isle."

A crudely crafted spear was thrown from the darkness at the speaker. A muffled crack sounded as the weapon buried itself directly in the breastbone within the valley of the woman’s bosom. Blood jetted with the beat of her evil heart; lightly showering the floor before her. The veteran arched her back and sounded inarticulately as she flopped back onto the worn flooring, flinging Kurosh and shield aside in reaction. She raised her head forward with a look of wide eyed amazement to view the deeply buried spear lodged in her chest. Blood flowed out, forming a bloody star of rivulets across her upper torso stemming from the weapon’s entry. Slowly her head lowered as her eyes closed, the body going limp.

The group of Shikhatta stood in shock but a moment. Then years of fervent disciplined training took hold.

"We are not the only ones trapped in here. They shall not live long though, sisters. I shall grant her death."; the slope breasted, long legged warrior growled in fury as she raised her bow. The weapon thunked as an arrow shot into the deep shadow where the spear originated. A solid wood thunk and clatter reported its failure. The scuffle of feet announced movement in the shadows, but little could be seen.

"We need more light."; spoke the curvaceous thick nosed Shikhatta.

"There’s two braziers near that statue. See if you can light either one. We’ll cover."; Said the buxom second in command as she readied her own bow.

The warrior moved forward with the thin limbed warrior beside her, spears at the ready. Both watched the shadows of the large chamber for sign of movement as they progressed fifteen meters to the base of the mammoth statue . Roughly ten meters behind them the two holding bows stood short of the chambers center and moved to cover the room.

Another wood shaft flew with great force from a different part of the area, its thrower's deep exhalation from strained exertion clearly heard. The weapon struck the long legged beauty with a meaty crunch of bone and slight spray of blood as the weapon pierced the right eye of the amazon. Her head jerked back as her body, with weapon still held, stood upright from her crouched posture and toppled back to the ground to lie still beside her surprised companion. Then the head snapped back again as the spine bowed upwards and legs flexed in a sudden death spasm, leaving the back of the head and the heals of the woman's booted feet touching the floor for another moment as flaccid, modestly-sized breasts jiggled. The body tipped over to its left, then slowly relaxed as the smell of urine and feces quickly permeated the immediate area.

"Get that brazier lit now bitch so we can see! She's cutting us down!"; said their new commander urgently as she sent another arrow into the darkness; this time to hit a large shadowed form as it moved. But the hit seemed ineffectual as the stealthy attacker moved on without a cry and was lost within the darker shadows of the room.

The curvaceous Shikhatta sheathed her weapon and set foot upon the base of the large statue to begin her brief climb to the light source. As the warrior took a quick moment to plan her ascent the silent thin limbed warrior, standing behind and ready to defend her fellow, let out a startled cry as the floor gave way. The ancient pit trap, whose triggering was delayed due to age, opened with a massive grind of stone to stone. The Shikhatta’s scream was brief, cut short by a loud meaty rending.

From her vantage on the statue the warrior looked into the pit and grimaced. Even in the gloom of the hole she could see the shine of numerous long metal spikes within the four meter deep pit. Her fellow Shikhatta’s body was hardly perceptible in the shadowed cavity. Straining, she could perceive several darker locations where the spikes had impaled the unlucky warrior and blood ran. The reactive jerk of her dead companion’s corpse set the body to slide deeper onto the spikes and expand the darker regions pouring blood.

"By Bahkraine’s teat, we are beset by phantoms and traps."; said the amply endowed archer as she slung her bow and pulled out her spear and shield. The curvaceous warrior stepped carefully off the large icon, all thoughts of lighting the tall brazier set aside as she joined the other near the room’s center. Though slight scuffs could be heard from the darkness, their hidden attacker did not take their opportunity to strike with another thrown weapon. The slaves scrambled close to the last two defenders and whimpered in fear.

"So long as she remains in darkness we are at a disadvantage. Stay close to me. Together then, sword sister, we shall slay this skulker in the shadows."; said the hefty amazon fearlessly.

With a nod of agreement by the smaller amazon the two moved midway through the room back towards its only yawning entrance, keeping tensed and wary for another attack. The conscious slaves followed, still carrying their own. The scuffle of movement reverberated within the chamber from a darkened point near the entrance. Their steps slowed and stopped as their antagonist stepped forward out the shadows in clear challenge . A large head with thick black fur, prominent apish sloping brow, large snout and frozen expression of bared fangs looked at the two. The fur hair ran down the head to cover neck, shoulders, and long arms that ended in large dark-gray, blunt-fingered hands. From a point just below the chest down to its knees was the green skin torso. A series of symbols and geometric patterns ran down a fifteen centimeter wide section of the front of its body that disappeared into another mass of black fur which mostly covered its maleness. Thick fur legs began just above the knees to awkwardly support the body in a bow legged stance.

The creature’s bestial visage caused the women to hesitate. Shikhatta warriors fearlessly faced fellow amazons and animals of all kinds in service to their people but lacked the experienced mind set of facing that rare mystic creature. Thoughts of this loathsome thing of magic, reputedly killed only by magic raced through their nervous minds. So they stood, waited, and watched the one before them with silent hopes of their goddess’ protection and enlightenment.

Their opponent raised its arm and strangely gestured towards the two amazons, ending in a throwing motion. Both tensed, expectant of a showy display of death dealing magic, but stood their ground defiantly. Something softly thudded on the ground before them as a yellowish cloying mist erupted. A quick inhalation of surprise set their minds and bodies reeling. The slaves succumbed instantly. The shorter curvaceous female took a few heartbeats to drop to her knees and topple sideways to the floor with a clatter. Her new leader however managed shake off the effects momentarily and charged. Her opponent backpedaled smoothly to end beside the stone table as she followed closely. She collapsed before the furry legs of their opponent and gave in to the affects of the mists it had summoned forth.

Moments of silence dominated the chamber as deep the shadowy pools of their opponent drank in the scene of sleeping and slain women. It moved smoothly to each of the bodies; stripping each of all weapons and wear, then separating and placing the bodies. With the exception of the young woman within the pit, the two dead Shikhatta were laid stretched out side by side in the middle of the open floor of the chamber arms raised above their heads. The unconscious slaves and the curvaceous Shikhatta were piled near the entrance. The ample breasted amazon was sat against base of the stone table. A glistening line of drool dribbled down her half open lips from bowed bare head and trickled down her unconscious form.

Having finished its quick redistribution of the females, their opponent moved to the back of the statue and pressed in a stone setting. The soft scape of stone was soon followed by a larger similar noise as the stone blocks were raised by counterweights and the pit trap closed.

The scuffle and scrape of clawed feet sounded moments later from the corridor as the amazons victorious opponent stood patiently, waiting. Two similar bipeds moved out from the shadowy corridor and looked about at what their companion had done.

Its voice was gruff and edged as it spoke in another simpler, language.

"Brothers, we must summon the tribes of the faithful Agiza from the other isles quickly. Not only has this sacred isle once again been sullied by the trespass of unbelievers, not only they have violated this chamber for the first time with their faithless tread, but these among them"; the speaker said pointing out the Shikhatta "Are the descendants of whom we are warned are forsworn to destroy our sleeping mother."

End (for now)