It began as most dream do... I fell asleep!
The sun was beating on my back as I and the other priestesses were collecting our grape harvest. Suddenly Sophitia calls out: "There on the mountain. Someone approaches Priestesses!"
I stand up, and wipe the sweat from my brow. I look in the direction Sophitia is gesturing.
"It's just a lonely wanderer, traveling through dangerous territory, in our direction...." Arelia says, sounding a bit like Fezzini in "The Princess Bride".
"We should run..." Someone murmurs.
"We should hide..." Someone paincs!
"We should kick their butt!" says Kricket, with just a bit of sarcasm in her voice.
"Why don't we see what they want first." Zepgirl says, the voice of reason.
We continue the exhasting grape harvest. We finish long before the wander reaches our temple. In fact, we are moving the stomping barrel into place as she approaches.
"Excuse me. But is this the Dominion temple of Ares?"
"Yes travler it is. How may I help you?" Fireheart says while stepping forward togreet the wanderer.
"Well actually I have a message for one of your priestesses."
"Well who is woman?" Arete claims, she still has no patience for messengers, after her little "incident" of the spring.
"The message is for...." Every member of the temple is getting anxious during her pause. "...Peed?... Ped?... Pod?... I simply cannot read this writing."
I step forward. "I am Ped. Please hand me my message."
"Here ya go dearie. now I just need you to sign this form in triplicate."
I sign the durmn blasted thing in triplicate, and get my message from her. "have a nice day priestesses." Then she walks away.
"So who's it from Ped?" Says Rachel.
"I don't know. Let me open it first." I open the scroll, slowly so as to prolong the tension for everyone. I notice it is written in the warrior script of my people, but why is someone from home writing me here? I begin reading the scroll outloud.
"Greetings little one. I am sure you are surprised to see this writing delivered to you. But the time of prophecy is upon us and all those whom have wandered the world must now return home. you know what will happen to you if you don't. We know that your new beliefs and duties have probably faded your strong conviction in the coming times of change. but You must Return! We will surely lose if you do not..." I conclude my reading by passing out. [THUD!]
I awake within the temple. I'm being cared for by Dee, and Sophitia.
"Jeez. Ped, you really had us worried there for awhile. How are you feeling?" Dee who is obviously still worried about something. "I will go and let everyone know you're awake." Dee leaves, but Sophi stays.
"What? Aren't I allowed to pass out? It was hot outside."
"Yeah, and *you* got a message from your Queen."
"Don't you mean my mother?"
"Same thing. You really should have told someone else you know."
"Sha-ha! And have everyone treat me different. I walked away from that six years ago Sophi. it's just not as important to me anymore."
"But it's still important to them. Don't you at least think you should finish the message."
"Nope. I can already tell what she will say: ' You must return home soon little one. Your preparations are years behind where they should be. If you are to be our champion you must begin the preparations soon! You know no one else will accept the challenge until the night before the feast of the mother. Please return home.' The entire rest of the message will be in that vein. Nothing but a guilt trip by my mother to get me to return so that I can be their 'champion'."
To be continued later in the week...