"At long last we are here, where I expect sister Ponta will have a feast prepared aboard our prize ship. Our long fast is nearly over, praise Bahkraine!" said the woman with a slight smile.

Her group relaxed and looked out over the waters to the isle before them with some relief. Each held the same thought; their nearly nonexistent stores could be replenished with fresh food and water; something the large ship had dire need of and expected from those warriors sent ahead on the smaller vessel they were closing upon. Hunger, weakness, and disease had already began to ravage the slaves below deck. Nearly two dozen had mercilessly been thrown overboard within the past three days to curtail the spread of illness and extend the food stores.

"Shall I tell our warriors, Bazutha, of the upcoming feast?" asked a lithe, toned, hawk nosed, veteran warrior smiling, "It would raise morale greatly".

"No..."; said their leader after moment of contemplation, "Let us await Ponta's word on how well the hunting is. I do not wish to look the fool if game on that isle was sparse. Besides"; she added with a leer," is it not written; 'Let heated expectation build in silence, until it is sated by fate's kiss?"

The group shared a soft chuckle at the racier quote from their sacred text as a warrior approached, kneeled upon one knee before her commander, and looked to the deck, awaiting her leaders acknowledgment with right hand resting lightly upon the pommel of her scimitar. The group, sensing this to be official business, dispersed to go about their duties. The Shikhatta ship leader waited a moment then acknowledge the warrior with a gesture to rise. A quick private conversation resulted in a curt nod from the statuesque amazon and a brisk pace set to a room below decks where a door opened after a single soft closed-fist pound.

The Shikhatta commander entered the long, gloom filled, smoky room occupied by four others. Two of her own warriors kneeled at the entrance. One, a long limbed, middle aged warrior with sagging breasts and a scar across the bridge of her wide nose remained at her position dutifully. The second; a young round faced beauty with thick limbs and pert, firm breasts seemed less comfortable, but remained dutifully at her position awaiting her leaders bidding. To the ship leaders' left a robust older woman with a thick auburn Mohawk and dark hard eyes creased by age leaned over a table of maps with her upper torso bare and glistening from the rooms heat and her own exertions. To the commander's right, strapped spread eagle upon a thick wood table lay a light brown skin prisoner; her body marred by numerous bruises, burns, and small cuts. The tortured woman lay nearly still but for irregular shallow breaths. Each of the four had a steady bead of sweat trickling down their bodies from the stifling heat emitted from a low brazier. Various items of torture lay spread out near it.

"So the Ahmyrran has provided us with the information we have sought."; she said reaching out and lightly tracing down along the lower torso of the prisoner with her middle finger, "it is indeed fortunate as we are approaching the isle and should rejoin our warriors aboard the prize ship shortly. If they have collected enough food and supplies we shall celebrate and should be underway by tomorrow to Ahmyrran where we shall rejoin our war host."

"Perhaps,"; said the priestess as she raised her eyes to meet Bazutha's with a stern gaze, "but I have learned never to be confident in an outcome that has not yet come, my faithful one. Keep that in mind. I have gleaned not only the reason for this elite units flight from their city-state, the means by which we may use their charts, but also of a danger from isles of which we now approach and it has given me cause to worry. Do you recall stories about the isles of Ayzahmuiii?"

The ship's leader tensed a moment.

"If I remember the stories those isles were the resting place of a mad sorceress whose spirit still calls ships to their doom to sate those demonic creatures she had brought into this world. That is but a myth , is it not?"

"That is a question I can't answer with certainty." said the Priestess massaging her shoulder briefly with one arm as she bid the older warrior to her to take up the effort. "but the Ahmyrran records claim many ships disappeared within a small region surrounding this group of isles. It would be unwise to not take precautions. I will seek the counsel and protection of our dread goddess."

"You mentioned learning of the Ahmyrran units objective. Was it simply the elite unit's mission to escape Ahmyrran or, as we suspected, something more?

The mature priestess nodded in affirmation as the warrior kneaded the left shoulder.

"This was a desperate attempt to seek an alliance or aide from another city-state against Shikhatta. The unit's charge was to make safe their gift until it could be presented to the other city-state as an overture to the alliance. The Ahmyrran leaders assumed we would not give chase to so fast a ship once it had enough distance from their homeland. It was an assumption that doomed their quest and may have provided us with a prize of great worth. Contained within a well hidden room aboard our prize ship lies a valuable treasure; certainly one worth the losses we have incurred. One of Ahmyrran leader's own sons, who is of age to breed, was hidden there with enough stores to make the trip comfortable. According to this heathen it was hoped his polished manner and charm would sway the leading houses of the other city state into acceptance of the proposal. Fortunately for us his guardians have failed; leaving us the spoils. It will make our success all the more sweeter if we can return with him. Such a male is not only valuable to our nation for breeding, but can be used as a bargaining chip to influence Ahmyrran to surrender to the will of Queen Ithokura."

A bright smile spread across the face of Bazutha as her eyes glazed in ecstatic fervor.

"Bahkraine certainly works her will through us, priestess. Praise be to her glorious name and the wonder of her eternal daughter! This outshines the dark storm of worries we have."; she said quickly, signaling the younger warrior to follow her. "I have much to do, and little time to waste as we are almost upon the isle and the prize ship."

Shaykara watched the ship leader exit the room and listened to her voice booming inarticulately a few moments later as the remaining elder warrior moved to the brazier and began to collect the tools of torture together. The husky priestess moved behind her and laid a hand upon the warriors shoulder covering.

"We've enough time for that later."; said the priestess quietly, "I must commune alone, warrior. Return to your regular post."

"Of course, priestess" replied the warrior and lowered herself to one knee, "but what of the tortured heathen?"

"She shall remain. Now go."

..........

Above deck the ship leader strode to the rear of her war ship, a solidly built two masted eighty oar galleon built for durability rather than speed, and sat with straight back upon a solid wide block seat draped with silk situated just before the rudder guide. Four warriors on command deck duty dropped to one knee, eyes towards the deck in ritual acknowledgment of their leaders presence. She responded with a gesture for them to rise and continue.

What of our landing; fair or rough, T'Cheeva?

"Fair", responded a thin warrior woman at the rudder, "not much breakwater at this time of day to merit concern."

Their leader sensed another woman, a wide nose warrior with thin limbs and thick trunk, at ill ease. Watching the older woman out of the corner of her eye, she noted a tense posture and focused squint towards the prize ship. This jostled the ship leader's realization of her warriors concern.

"Have they sounded ship gong, M'Tahva?"

No, ship leader. I see no sign of action on her decks as well. This I like not."

Bazutha nodded in silent agreement to her warriors assessment and mentally took note of the woman's attentiveness for later praise.

"Blade unbound! Make taunt! Vluni's band to the fore!" bellowed the statuesque leader.

Her ships warriors both on and below decks quickly responded as a series of rapid drumbeats signaled her wishes to those that could not discern her voiced commands. Those warriors on deck took hold of the weapons they had moments before let lay nearby. Two dozen tanned women of different shapes and sizes bounded up two sets of steep stairs from the front of the ship and crouched along the protective sidewalls of the prow with bows ready. Below decks, many more bare breasted, bare headed Shikhatta gathered near the foot of each of the four stairs leading above deck to enforce any rushed response to attempts at boarding or replacement of their fallen from arrow and bolt.

"Let them try to take us unawares, now"; thought Bazutha confidently.

The ship neared the isle and the beached prize ship with the warriors in terse anticipation of combat. The vessel, true to the rudder pilots assessment, moved without incident through the cresting waves, and slid a few dozen meters to the left of the Ahmyrran Merchant vessel. A quiet blanketed the ship as nervous moments passed. Eyes scanned the shore, the line of deep green vegetation beyond the long rise of sandy beach., and the other ship expectant of a hidden enemy. Their surroundings were ominously tranquil. No enemy was seen.

Long moments later Bazutha bellowed further orders. Another smaller group of warriors, nine in all, was called forth from the lower decks with orders to search the prize merchanter. With scimitar and shield in hand a tanned group of semi-nude girls rushed to the ship with near silent strides along the white sandy shoreline. Two by two they climbed aboard the smaller ship as the warship leader watched from her command deck wondering at what they would find. She hadn't long to wait. Several minutes later the leader of the medium sized contubera anticlimactically reappeared on deck and signaled no threat. Bazutha, remembering her recent discussion with her priestess, issued orders for her personal cadre of warriors to join her and disembarked from her vessel; leaving the warship to her second's supervision.

"What have you found with regards to this ship and the three contubera left of our sword sisters, B'jarra?" queried Bazutha as she slipped onto deck with her personal retinue of six warriors.

"Little, but nothing of our sisterhood; a most disturbing fact. Some weapons were left in their wracks. The sleeping area was a little disheveled, which may suggest a sudden departure. Food and water stores were quite full so they did manage to find plenty. Naught else was found though, unless you think debris and sand along the floors significant."; stated the trim woman with puzzlement in her voice, looking to the deck.

Secure the upper deck and make arrangements to have this ship anchored further out then, but share this with no one yet. This goes for those of your band as well. Also relay to my second that a contubera is to be assigned watch of the jungle while we remain on this isle and that a feast on this eve will commence once this vessel is at anchor. I and my group will search the lower deck of this ship for confirmation of a valuable item, sister. If found, your group shall remain with mine and priestess Shaykara, whom I expect will join us shortly.

The significance of that; the priestess' joining them aboard this vessel, alerted the unit leader to the importance of her task and this ship. Resolution passed across her features as she quietly nodded and left to do as her leader asked.

Bazutha turned and moved towards the hold of the vessel with her retinue following behind. A steep set of thin stairs led to the single hold near the belly of the ship. Upon arrival she looked over the box compartment with its open egress above. Sunlight entered and fell upon a large collection of food stores and water containers within.

"Seek out a hollow wall sisters, for there we shall find a secret compartment the Ahmyrran had craftily hidden. This, our priestess Shaykara has learned from the tortured heathen."

Scimitars were drawn with a soft hiss as shields were passed back up the stairs to the last warrior who set them to the side on the floor. Their leader remained just before the opening at the base of the stairs as the six split to her left and right to take position along the walls. Using the pommel of their blades, the warriors began to pound at intervals on the wood walls of the storage area with a keen ear towards a significantly deeper sound. This went on for minutes as shadows cast from above moved back and forth confirming that action was taken above per the Ship leaders wishes. If a curious head craned down to satisfy curiosity, the ship leaders intimidating glare sent it away.

"Here!" stated a robust amazon with gruffness; "A small secret door!"

The others stopped their activity and began to gather around the spot. Their leader remained where she stood.

"Open it, but with care sister. We do not wish to spoil the prize."

The finder smiled as the others backed away with ready posture. With a solid tug a meter square portion of wall was pulled away and a small room covered with cloth rugs and pillows was revealed. A musty, body odor drifted out in attestment to the occupants time in the secret room. A young man in his early twenties adorned in colorful and expensive garb with dark eyes, hawk like nose, and curly black hair, blinked at the sudden light with a knife in hand; ready to act. The blade lowered when the man saw his opposition and realized the futility of conflict.

"It is wise of you to avoid unnecessary conflict, manling. What is left of your protectors are now dead or to be slaves. You however will become an honored servant of our holy queen and treated well so long as you do not raise blade against us. "; Said Bazutha courteously, "In time you will enjoy much of what we have to offer".

The young man within looked upon the topless, toned, tanned warriors arrayed about on the entrance and reluctantly tossed the blade at their feet; thinking of worse fates they could provide that would still get them what they wanted.

..........

The sky was still dark; stars numerous as the setting moon lay low in the horizon. Two sets of crimson eyes peered out from spaces in the dark curtain of overgrowth. Two deep voices growled quietly in anger while viewing the amazon encampment situated before them. Three low fire pits, two close to the shore and one nearer to the jungle provided plentiful light. Roughly half the company of the ship lay about each. Nearly thirty tanned and toned women, many wearing only their silken loin cloths, lay about in contented slumber. Six uniformly garbed women sat in quiet discussion. Their leader, a darker tanned athletic woman with a single horned headband sat among the group and engaged in the conversation sporadically. Beyond this two wood ships of differing style could be seen. The larger one rested on the beach as the waters surrounding it rose and receded. The second, a smaller boat the two were familiar with, now lay at anchor beyond the surf. Onboard the two vessels, watchwomen roamed the upper decks; stopping only to speak briefly to each other or signal their fellows on the beach.

Signs remained of a feast. Two long wood spits held the remnants of cooked meat at one fire nearest to the larger boat. The other fire along the shore had some sort of dark stained wood grill braced by thicker poles set into the sand on which items could either be hung or cooked. Small scraps of foodstuff lie about a beach earlier disturbed by numerous feet.

The duo remained at their concealed position and assessed the camp and the position of its protectors for nearly a hour and a half; watching the movements of the guards and the switch of three pairs who came from off to their left right and deeper behind their concealed position. The smaller of the two seemed more agitated and headstrong; grunting heatedly to the larger one and repeatedly pointing to the small group. In response the larger scout gripped the smaller ones arm and spoke in guttural tones sternly a moment. It quelled the smaller one's voice. Satisfied they had seen enough, the larger scout pushed the smaller back roughly and pointed one blunt digit towards the deeper greenery. The junior scout complied; leading the two back along the concealed path of which they had come. It twisted and turned nearly a half kilometer before they arrived at their destination where two others waited seated in a wide clearing concealed by thick vegetation and lit by a flickering torch set into the ground. Each was the same in manner and form; furred head with reddish eyes and angry looks, glossy black pelts that covered most of the body save for the mid torso and upper legs.

Surrounding these four stood a large, nervous group of characteristically small, thin, dark skin, thin lidded, oval faced females with long straight black hair. These were naked, save for a single strip of woven material tight between the legs supported by a thin leather strip belt. Their face and limbs were tattooed with jagged lines and shapes that gave the women a ferocious inhuman visage. The three leaders among this assemblage, distinguished by distinctive, vibrant cloaks of bird feathers, stood close with long wood clubs. Simple stone knives, axes, and cudgels as well as wood spears were their only weapons.

The scout leader squatted and cleared an area of ground. A crude layout of rocks, small sticks, leaves, and wood was placed to provide a simple map of the encampment. A harsh guttural language issued forth softly from snarling lips in explanation of each token. The others nodded and responded with questions. Gestures and discussion continued at an increased pace. A deadly plan was formed.

..........

The Shikhatta sentries stood stoic at their watch as the red hues of the sky gave indication of the coming dawn. A wide half circle of clearing covered with knee high grass lay open within view with a green wall of jungle before them, and white sandy beach stretched out far behind. It was the furthest watchpost from the warship and therefore the first expected to give warning if an enemy approached. Numerous caws and whistles of birds drifted from numerous places above as the early morning wildlife instinctively stirred. The waning gloom, made so by increasing morning light, began to reveal the details of nearby foliage; thin bark, thick trunk trees with hanging vines, wide leaf bushes, and groups of muted color flowers among tall thin grass reeds. The stink of vegetation wafted lightly in the tropical warmth of the morning air. A perpetual pulsing whoosh of water drifted from the shore.

The hazel eyes of one; a mature, square jawed, woman took in the sights surrounding her and on occasion rolled up to view the canopy of the trees. With pursed rosebud lips she momentarily sought the sources of the morning songs then shifted stance and leaned on her short spear. She was of average build and height; with long flat drooping tits. Like most of her sisterhood she was adorned in the sparse crimson dyed leather that left her tan near-bald head, upper torso, and limbs bare. Her associate was similarly garbed, but stood taller with an impassive face distinguished by thin wide lips, a weak chin that made her neck look thicker, and a small breasted, thick body. Both held their short spears and shield instead of the scimitar that hung from a shoulder strap or the curved knife that resided in a sheath near their lower back along the leather belt. Their posture was alert as they scanned the area for sign of activity, a task made difficult by the numerous unfamiliar sights and sounds of the isle. The gloom and early morning mists made the task harder. This they understood, and so, were sensitive to any sign of disturbance.

A crack of wood drew their attention roughly seven meters from their position in a thick clump of vegetation. They tensed with short spear and shield in hand and moved to investigate with quick soft steps. A quick set of hand signals was passed between the two Shikhatta. The taller female moved towards an trail made darker by a thick canopy of jungle foliage cris crossed by thick drooping vines roughly three meters above Her companion remained with short spear at the ready. The huntress, slightly hunched over, moved toward along the clearing, dipping underneath a low lying set of vines as she tried to make out what had made the sound. Her partner let a few meters lie between the two as the mists drew about the seeker and made indistinct her form. The huntress stopped her advance. The small mouthed warrior could hear the hiss of shifting, shaking vegetation as her fellow warrior remained a few moments then dropped to her knees. A few seconds passed in silence. She expected the return to the beating of the bushes but the act was not repeated. The lack of advance drew out suspicion and the amazon closed to understand her sword sisters motive. With distance closed the woman took note of her companion kneeling on both legs, the head partially concealed by set of low lying vines and slowed her approach.

The thick vine loop dropped from the canopy and took the Shikhatta flat footed as it fell upon her shoulders. It jerked; drawing taunt the resilient vine as the loop tightened about the neck and pulled her up so as to keep unsteady her footing. Limbs thrashed about in mindless instinct of survival. The spear and shield landed with little sound upon the mossy ground. The world dimmed to the warrior's perceptions as the sight of white stars began to swim and the pulsing pressure of the loop denied her air and blood. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted movement as a hairy bestial thing stepped out from the brush. The warrior now realized her companion had fallen to the same ploy with the concealed strangle vine. She thrashed about for moments in vain. The pressure increased until she finally succumbed to her unvalorus death with the fear she had failed in this assignment of this duty. Without a soul taken with her, her goddess would possibly consume her soul instead of returning it to the world.

The bestial creature appraised the amazons half naked forms a moment. The thick necks were tightly bound by a thick vine and bit deeply into the flesh. Slitted eyes bulged out and spilled tears. Dark half moons deepened the flesh below the womens lower lids. The wide lips were frozen in a thin grimace. A second similar creature joined the first as the first loosened the vine loops. The two turned over the bodies, grabbed them by one arm, and pulled them with them into the deeper brush from where they had come.

Elsewhere in that moment, further down past the beached warship, another warrior with modest cleavage sat hunched upon a fallen trunk resting against a vine covered smooth bark tree. Her short spear remained close at hand. Her companion; a short woman with drooping, large areoled breasts, slight gut, and a long tail of bound hair paced meters away, adjusting her grip on her own weapon as she scanned the area.

Despite their awareness the ambush came silent and without warning; making corpses of the zealous amazons. One attacker stepped out soundlessly, reached out with strong furry arms, locked them about the seated warriors throat and jaw in a leveraged hold despite the oily residue of the Shikhatta sentry's body, and twisted violently. The womans neck emitted a dull krik as the head was quicky forced to an unnatural angle. The other turned to the sound of her comrades neck snapping and was set upon by another opponent who leaped down from an adjacent trees branch above. The sentry was driven forward into the ground by the stunning force of the surprise attack, managing only a sharp exhalation of air. As she placed her hands to rise still groggy from the strike her attacker again landed upon her from behind; this time grabbing her in a head lock and squeezing. Two bodies squirmed and shifted as the warrior struggled in a hopeless battle against the better weight and leverage of her assailant. Without chance of breath she succumbed moments later. Heavy arms shifted to a stronger hold and the second sentry was killed with a final twist. The slayers looked about to ascertain if their action had been noted. Nothing seemed amiss. Short spears were collected. Gripping the bound thick tails of hair near back of each female's head and wrapping it about their black furry forearm, they pulled the bodies deeper into the thicker vegetation.

Another pair of the warriors of the holy host of weapon wielding Shikhatta stood vigil unaware of the growing tide of quiet death moving out from the jungle. With the exception of the stirring of the jungles canopy with its soft hiss from the gentle winds, silence reigned as their enemy approached with preternatural skill from beyond the deeper foliage towards the unaware amazons. A clear wide path before the women that could accommodate at least five side bye side, lead deeper into the jungle. Just meters within the mouth of this path coming from the white sandy beach the Shikhatta had taken station within a shallow pit surrounded by a trio of fallen palm trees to the left of the trail.

The guards themselves were big boned women with ample cleavage and thick, muscular limbs. A dark-brown skin woman with a stubby topknot, thick wide nose and lips, and sloped breasts, rested her left thigh upon one trunk with her lower leg dangling as she quietly discussed the wonders of her newfound goddess with a look of bright eyed expectation at the girl with her. This was a recent convert from the allied desert tribes to the east of their lands. The young, short, burly girl with curvaceous boobs capped by large areola read the look upon her companions face and remembered what she had heard of the hedonistic expectations of converts. She expected the woman she was paired with now sought to impress, then bed her. Though only nineteen years, her life learned discipline and training warned the girl of the foolishness of such distraction while on duty. Already she realized the endeavor was reducing her performance in this responsibility as her follow zealot's behavior provided mental distraction. The girl pondered reporting this, realizing such an attitude needed to be corrected or the woman expunged from the warrior caste. A fact she now relished to do against this foolish female before her even as the other stood and moved closer to her with a leer.

The girl drew away and again scanned the trail, noting nothing amiss. The dark skin woman, shifting strategy, laid down her weapons and shield and arched back catlike against the highest of the trunks to show off the prize of her upper body confident the young amazon would respond. The ebony female was pleased to note a look of astonishment from the object of her lust and misinterpreted it. Furry arms slid about her neck and twisted it beyond its natural angle; killing the hopeful seductress.

Her fellow warrior saw the wrathful apish form sail silently out from behind a large bush and land without sound just behind the foolish convert and hesitated in shock just a moment. The crick gave no doubt as to the tribeswomans ending and jolted her back to action. She drew her scimitar; taking in a breath with which to cry alarm. However, another dark, leathery, blunt fist came out of nowhere and struck her throat just before it could be given, forcing a soft croak of surprise instead. The young warrior staggered back, a mixture of shock and pain forcing creases on her youthful face. She looked about to assess how many other strange bestial creatures had gotten past their notice. Now she could see the two larger apelike beings with angry snarls and glowing red eyes that attacked. One leapt forward with a sounded growl over the body of the ebony warrior woman sliding to the ground from off the trunk. She pirouetted, swinging her blade, and was rewarded as its sound quickly changed to a gasp with a small line across its black, furry chest. She drew first blood, though the wound barely bled despite the solidness of her blow. Expecting a color of life liquids other that red, she learned the unnatural looking creature did bleed the color in spite of her expectations. However, events were moving fast and comprehension suffered. The fact that such a strange creature did bleed, though did give her some hope, even though she was outnumbered. Tales of such unnatural things shared among the packed creches of her homeland claimed the requirement of specially blessed blades to do harm. It gave her some chance of success unless her goddess did ordain her glorious death in her service at this moment.

Its partner leapt in to join the twos struggle within the triangle of fallen palms that bordered the shallow pit. She jumped back away from her attackers and tumbled over the trunk nearest the beach, her bosom shuddering and shifting to and fro with the move. The two leapt after, landing just before her. The scimitar arced out again, managing to slice the thick fur of the others lower abdomen without notable damage. Having now revealed themselves, the beasts seemed less capable than her in melee. Sure that the strike to her throat would affect her ability to sound a notable cry for a few crucial seconds, the young amazon realized a withdraw to the beach was warranted. She was confident she could traverse the four meters to the opening of the trail and gain the encampments notice. Another slash of her weapon bit deep along the first creatures forearm as she began to back away to the beach. An overhanded blow from the second glanced off her shoulder. The first tried to bull rush her and only succeeding in fumbling past. She smiled, thinking she would at least succeed in warning the others.

She fell prey to the firsts trick. Falling to the grassy ground beside her, the creatures left leg swung out in an arc, knocking the surprised warriors legs out from under her. The girl landed upon her back with a heavy jolt. Her second attacker leapt upon her, its rear astride her belted waist. Blunt, black digits reached out and began its strangle. A look of fervent determination and challenge etched itself on her young face, realizing her dire predicament. Her arms grasped its forearms and she tried to break the hold. Its strength increased. Face now a deep red, the young amazon began to note a building stirring in her loins she assumed signaled her goddesses will and pleasure at her efforts. Arms now slowly dropped lifeless, as darkness settled upon her sight and she embraced death. The girl had not made it far out enough to be noticed. She died just short of the shifting line of foliage with a weak shudder followed by her killers final squeeze and shake.

The two amazon slayers remained a moment as the first assessed the two wounds it received while the second grabbed the booted legs of the tan young Shikhatta. The first staggered back with a low steady grunting; blood still running from its wounds. The second took a moment and looked to the first in voiceless curiosity. The first growled softly and uttered a guttural sound tinged with some fear and anger. Looking to the bodies of their foes the second then pulled the girls body back beside the pit. The dark brown warrior was pulled from the pit and placed face down upon the still warm corpse of her companion. Gesturing for the first to go ahead, the second began to drag the failed watchwomen along the trail and deeper into the jungle.

As the sun's rays streamed outward from their source now just below the eastern horizon the two furry amazon slayers arrived at a small, shadowed clearing just about thirty meters deeper in the jungle beyond the furthest watchpost . Two others of similar form stood waiting with the three cloaked leaders of the band of thin lidded, tattooed females. At their feet lay the four other slain Shikhatta splayed out like string less puppets; each either with darkened skin, a sign by asphyxiation, or with their bruised necks bent unnaturally. With a gesture the largest of the black furred slayers gave sign to the three savage leaders of the female band with them to move towards the beach. Another began to strip the bodies of the dead Shikhatta and haphazardly piled them upon each other. A few of the passing warrior girls momentarily stopped to help in the disrobement and curiously look over these strange looking trespassers and their possessions. The forth and final member of those that the tattooed women followed, now visibly weakened by loss of blood, staggered away into the jungle to seek out a means of recovery.

..........

Six Shikhatta amazons remained on vigil roughly twelve meters from the border of beach and isles jungle as the thin crest of morning sun rose to view along the horizon. Its growing radiance slowly drew away the obscuring gloom; leaving the thin morning mists. Activity stirred onboard the both the beached warship and its smaller prize merchant vessel at anchor further out as the few faithful moved to ready the decks for those who wished to partake in morning ritual or prepared to be replaced by the next watch. It was a fragile moment rife with tactical advantage that shattered into the fractured chaos of battle when the savage girls soundlessly erupted from the line of foliage.

A thick jowled beauty among the six was the first to see the wave of bare, thin lidded, swarthy, tattooed women as their movements sparked her notice. The closest eight of them had moved out from a thin collection of bushes from her. Wood spears were in flight towards the watchwomen even before she could cry out. Two lodged into her torso; one just above her right breast and the second into her stomach. With a grunt she fell. A thin girl with dewdrop cleavage, her back to the jungle, dropped soundless with three more of the wood shafts buried in her upper back. Their leader and a long necked amazon with wide hips, who had engaged in quiet conversation while pacing moments ago, turned in slow compression of the danger from the jungle. A wood spear transfixed itself in the base of the long necked Shikhattas throat. A second pierced just below her sternum; sending that staggered sentry to the ground with a gurgle. Their leader, the only one on her feet during the opening attack, had time to dodge the closest of the remaining spears with great agility as others passed and buried themselves in the sand.

Upon the wake of the first flight of spears came the line of natives with their finely carved stone long knives, axes, and cudgels. Less than a dozen descended upon the remainder of the watch as others sprinted towards the groups of near bald women outspread near the dying pit fires on the beach. Stone weapons descended with wet rapid sounds upon the two remaining warriors still seated. Their brief death cries alerted others both within the drowsy encampment and onboard the warship; this followed by the war cry of the watches leader as she singularly engaged the enemy with scimitar in hand.

The veteran warrior was skilled with the curved blade, and began with smooth arcs to display this expertise. A high slash cut deep into the forehead of a native; momentarily blinded the girl as blood flowed. A twist on one foot with extended arm cut deep into the upper arm of a second and slashed deep into the belly of a third. She danced away from the thrusts of two other knife wielding natives. The blinded girl staggered with a rising wail of pain before the fervent fighter. With both hands gripping the pommel the Shikhatta swung with a merciless leer. A deep slash opened along the side of the neck and sprayed red about the bodies of the tanned blade dancer and natives as the girl fell back onto the beach to shudder and slowly die choking on her own blood.

A second line of the round faced tattooed attackers flowed out from the jungle as the first crashed upon the awakening amazons of the beach encampment; most still sluggish from sleep and the previous evenings feast. Several among the perimeter were awoken suddenly as spears and stone long knives were driven into their bodies several times and died with a silent shudder or weak flailing of limbs. Others of the bald shaven women within the encampment, reacting much more quickly than their unfortunate sword sisters, stood with little else but scimitar and shield in hand. Many were either pushed back by the savage throngs advance or died as well with the piercing weapons driven deep into their bodies.

Now among the large group encamped before the beached warship, the fierce charge of the isles aggressors slowed as the wild natives delayed to cut short the anguished cries of those fallen live with feral glee. With the impetus of the attack lessened the surviving Shikhatta managed to form together into a group now ready to engage their ambusher with just single a weapon and shield in hand. A little less than a third of the groups warriors , approximately eight amazon, had escaped the carnage and stood wearing little else other than their silken loin cloths. Some sported slight, superficial wounds. Their sparse armor lay near the feat of their enemies and the sprawled bloody forms of the slain. Of the single surviving member of the watch the experienced warrior continued fighting near the jungle border; cut off from her brethren. A little more than a handful of the thin native women surrounded her as four bodies among their own lay about the ground before the blade dancer. Two still shuddered in their short treks to deaths door.

Onboard the warship four of the six amazons on watch moved to the prow and took up the call to arms. Two at the rear of the ship quickly moved to either the port or starboard walls of the ship to check for any danger from other directions. A young warrior with close set dark eyes, thin nose, and firm, high breasts had time only to change expression to one of surprise as several natives among a group, now surfaced in the water just below her position, threw a hail of poison tipped darts. She staggered back with several of the tiny barbed missiles in her face and upper torso and let out a soft bark. Her muscular, thin bodied companion turned quickly, drawing her scimitar with her back exposed to the back wall of the ship. Another native arose from that spot and with one arm supporting her weight on the rail threw her stone cudgel towards this warrior. The weapon soundly struck the back of the amazon guards head with a heavy thud; sending her reeling forward to the deck. The native slipped over the back wall of the vessel and retrieved her weapon as several others, climbing up from the water line upon the rudder, followed the girl onto the deck with different weapons in hand. All but three swarmed forward towards the front of the ship. Of these; a broad shouldered native moved quickly to the insentient amazon, lifted the head of her enemy by the long dark cord of hair, and drew her ornate stone knife across the throat of the warrior. Blood spurted and quickly spread upon the deck. A second finished the poisoned amazon writhing in agony with a thrust into her heart. The third lifted a conch shell and sounded a low rasping tone.

The beach force moved forward towards the beached vessel with a cheer after hearing the sound. This was followed seconds later by a chorus of agonized screams as the eight Shikhatta, now set in an arc near the prow of their vessel, engaged their enemies with their own skillful use of weapons. The fanatic amazons enemies numbered fifteen to one; yet death held little fear for them. Their blades would be anointed with the blood of their enemy in service to a higher goal with the promise of abundant pleasures at the side of their goddess; such was their belief. Curved blades struck well. Their enemies numbers began to drop. The first of the remaining survivors fell. A woman with rounded shoulders, sloped, dewdrop cleavage and thick wide hips fell in wide eyed agony and a shriek, borne down by two spear wielding tattooed islanders. One of her slayers jerked their weapon from the stomach of the girl and thrust it back into the fanatic's body. The Shikhatta lay spread eagle upon the heaped forms of the five natives she has slain and jerked reflexively once.

The watch's leader, separate from these warriors stood agape at the sharpened wood spear that pierced and exited the soft curve of her left breast. Seven of her tattooed attackers lay dead about her. Two other wounds, a deep gash upon her upper arm and deep hole near her lower back leaked lifes crimson fluid. The shaft was withdrawn and she swayed as the pain spiked; the shock still on her face. Her sense of the world dulled as three more of her attackers leapt forward with stone cudgels in hand and landed several bone breaking blows that sent her to the afterlife. The body landed faced down upon the lifeless forms of two she had slain.

Meanwhile, onboard the Shikhatta's prize ship. Several warriors stood viewing the swarm of islanders with grim determination; among them the Warships leader. She clutched the railing white knuckled and numbly watched the remainder of her beach force attempt to stave off the strange creatures surprise attack. It was a another blow to the womans pride. Burning wrath grew in her heart as she began to consider what orders to issue.

"What is our predicament, ship leader" asked priestess Shaykara commandingly, suddenly appearing and surprising the group.

The beach encampment is all but overwhelmed and the warship is under attack by a force at least three times the ships current number of warriors."; spoke the Amazon leader curtly, "By the lack of warning I can only assume our watch posts were silently overtaken. Many that were not instantly slain during the surprise attack fight; slaying five to eight before falling to their numbers. Even so, my warship has been boarded. A small force is moving forward towards those sisters assigned to watch.

"I see", the religious voice of the ship said compassionately, "and you wish to add your blades in the aid of your sisterhood onboard your ship. You all are a credit to your caste; Victory against her enemies or death in her service as is ordained in scripture. Yet there is a great prize this ship holds that your queen would seek to have that would insure our victory against Ahmyrran. I would advise, therefore a moment of contemplation, ship leader."

There was once a host war leader who had a similar dilemma. She had won for our queen the medallion of Naktur from an enemy and made trek back to the temple to place it into her hands. During the journey back the force was set upon by the bandits of Visthu Hills who harangued the force both night and day. She made camp, intending to remain and wipe out these bandits who had so dared to strike against her. Her spiritual guide, however, prompted by a vision Bahkraine has bestowed, entered her tent and shared this with the host leader.

In this vision, a pride of half starved she-lions who had stalked a bull were challenged by a large pack of hungry wild dogs. Upon a rise the priestess espied the goddess, in the form of the Scaled lioness with the spiked tail, watching. The weakened lionesses fought well, yet their battle allowed the bulls escape. Afterwards the Scaled lioness feasted upon their carcasses, and so was nourished, but the bull which she too had been hunting was the flesh she desired.

Having heard the holy words, that Host leader immediately ordered a forced march back to their homelands. Many mothers and daughters fell to the hill bandits skirmishes, but success was achieved and Ithokura herself bedded this woman and her retinue; giving them free reign of her stables. That bloodline has held a honored place among our sisterhood since. Now it remains for you to make a similar decision. Do you skirmish with these savage dogs or leave with our valuable cargo, knowing your warriors make a sacrifice to the greater good of our nation?

A moment of quiet followed as Bazutha, who had began this venture with one hundred and ten warriors, considered the holy womans words with twenty three on their prize ship. Sadly, she realized what she must do.

"Make sail sisters, before the natives have a chance to overwhelm this vessel. Console yourselves with the fact that we all have served Bahkraines will. Their valorous service will win them a pleasurable afterlife at Her side. As our holy woman has said; it is a victory in its own way in her service. We will return to Ahmyrran with a means of influence that may assure their surrender; the breeder below. More of our sisters may be saved by our return than what losses we have incurred .

"But to abandon so many of our sisterhood can not be condoned! It is cowardice!"; voiced a young square jaw girl with pert breasts and a dull look of thoughtless stubbornness, "We cannot ignore these stupid savages and allow our enemies to view us weak; so it is written".

The leader was before the girl in a heartbeat. A harsh slap cracked across the protesting warrior's face that resounded across the water. Fury burned in the priestess' eyes as well.. Looks were exchanged among the group, which then fell with dark anger upon the protestant warrior.

"Ignore the vision then, sister, your voice is heard." said someone.

The group moved towards the lone amazon threateningly. She retreated, realizing her foolishness too late as the curved daggers each of the others carried slid smoothly from their sheaths and were brandished. The girl moved to the sidewall of the merchant vessel and leapt into the water. Her head returned to the surface as she blinked and with panicked movements wiped the water from her eyes. None entered the water after her.

"If you survive upon the isle with but naught but your dagger then our goddess has shown you great mercy, girl, for your breach of her voices wisdom. Let this burn your soul so that upon your reincarnation, your faith will be stronger"; spoke the priestess without compassion.

The girl calmed a moment, her eyes looking to her company. A wall of hard faces met her gaze. Saying nothing she turned away and began to swim to shore.

The sails were unfurled and the wind was harnessed. The vessel moved away from the battle still raging upon that accursed isle. The Shikhatta onboard were sullen and said little. Their victory had a bitter aftertaste many had trouble with. The greater good of their people, however was their concern.

..........

Epilogue:

The fight was done. The trespassers upon the isle sacred to the tatooed Agiza had been defeated. The prisoners, both the hairless slaves and the captive warriors were lead away; their fates to join they that had dared walk upon the ground of this isle among the isles of Ayzahmuiii. With them, and piled onto simple swaying reed cots the prisoners were forced to carry, were the sixty odd, naked forms of the slain Shikhatta; a gift to the feared guardians of the isle. It was well known that they enjoyed the violation of the dead. Those that lived would be the future servitors of their bestial whims; an undesirable fate the Agiza were glad to avoid until that time of sacrifice was again demanded. Still, the large number of enemy survivors insured that would not come for some time. The bestial, mysterious guardians would be provisioned well; perhaps for many years to come.

[End: Provisions Perilous]