Andreaka sprinted past Liam. Jumping into the air, she came down with a devastating thud onto the head of one of the wolves. The animal’s head smashed into the ground, cracking under the full force of the attack. Andreaka drew her knife as she readied to carry on her attack. Smirking, Liam could now see the training given to her by Thorn and Thormoenia had actually paid off. Boruma and Amazons alike charged forward, their blades colliding with the beasts.

The woman in the skull mask took a few steps back. Reaching behind herself and into a small cloth bag, she pulled out several small skulls. Raising her hand into the air, she crushed the skulls. As before, light poured out of her hand as she leapt back. Another group of the wolf-like creatures appeared. Liam looked to her hand as she went to retrieve more. So, this was her power.

Almost instinctively, Liam leapt from Yantraki’s arms. Like before, his body seemed to move on its own as he grabbed the knife from Yantraki’s hand. Sprinting forward, he dodged and weaved between the wolves until he reached the skull woman. Liam knew what was happening. He knew every movement he was making, yet he couldn’t control a single thing about it. His speed had improved, due to Thormoenia’s training, he could only wonder how fast he would be if he had time to train more in the future.

Leaping forward, he slashed the knife towards the chest of the amazon. Realising what was happening, she leapt back, only just dodging his attack. She looked at his eyes. They were a solid cloud white in colour. Reaching back to her bag, she went to grab more skulls. Ducking, she dodged another attack. Moving back, she kicked her right leg out, striking the human across the face. Liam crashed to the ground as the amazon regained her composure. For a few seconds, she saw the white in his eyes dim as his normal colour returned. Slightly confused, he looked around, trying to figure out what was happening.

Taking the opportunity, the amazon moved forward, grabbing a knife of her own to attack him. Only when she was few feet away from him, his eyes flickered back to being murky white. That was it, damaging this seemingly weak human brought out this unnatural attack mode. What the fuck had Yantraki done to him?

This must have been the human many had talked about, the one who was spoke of so highly by the Boruma for his kindness, his skills in designing weapons and tactics that got so much praise from the amazons. She had also heard he had rallied many amazons a little while ago to “protect the innocent” or something like that. Most had taken the statement as an excuse to kill those who threatened the tribe, while others saw it as a call to protect those weaker than them. It had been interpreted in many different ways. But it seemed that speech had gotten the warriors riled, so maybe it was a good idea to kill him off after all. She wasn’t planning to originally as she thought it would be too much work, but hey some things can be adapted.

She dodged Liam’s attack as he went to stab her. Lifting her leg up, she managed to land a kick onto the side of his head. Liam groaned as he slowly lifted his head off the wooden saddle of the war horse.

“You know if it wasn’t for assholes like you then I could have done more of the things I’d planned for the tribe’s growth by now,” he said as the woman in the skull mask went to kick him again. A hand wrapped around her ankle, preventing her attack. Only a few strands of green hair flickering across his face was all Liam needed, to know his saviour.

“Take your puppets and leave Kreoilipe and we will act like this attack never happened, but if you continue to threaten my little husband here…” Yantraki threw her hand back. With a quick flick of the wrist, Yantraki already had a knife to her sister’s throat. Kreoilipe leapt back, not wanting to challenge her sister.

“I will give you once chance to leave now, or you will regret it,” Yantraki growled. Liam watched as Kreoilipe took a few steps back. He could see her eyes, but simply from her facial expression he could see she was defiantly considering whether or not she should face her sister in combat.

Taking another step back, she took out several skulls. Thorn’s fist slammed into her sister’s side, just stopping her before she could summon more of her beasts. Yantraki moved to join her sister. Kreoilipe managed to dodge the next punch from Thorn, landing a punch of her own onto her sister’s face. Yantraki quickly retaliated with a swift kick to Kreoilipe’s face. Recovering from her hit, Thorn swung her fist to hit her sister.

Liam watched carefully as Kreoilipe deflected blow after blow of the two girls, now and then even landing a retaliation hit back onto them.

Yantraki threw her leg back, before swiftly kicking it forward towards Kreoilipe’s face. Liam struggled to keep up with the fight as Kreoilipe swept her sister’s leg to the side. Grabbing Yantraki’s ankle, she swung her body into Thorn. Thorn managed to leap to the side, just dodging her sister thrown at her. Thorn leapt forward; her open hand aimed for the face of her sister. Kreoilipe was far faster though, her foot was already smacking into the side of Thorn’s head before she could even lay a finger onto her sister.

The two sisters quickly leapt back onto their feet and looked at each other. Muttering for a few seconds, they charged towards their other sister again. Yantraki leapt into the air as Thorn dove for Kreoilipe’s legs. Raising her fists into the air, she amid for Kreoilipe’s head. Kreoilipe went to avoid the attack, but Thorn’s arms wrapped around her legs. Muttering a few words, lighting burst from the hands of Thorn, paralysing Kreoilipe in place as Yantraki’s hand landed hard on her cheek. Kreoilipe’s body reeled back but Yantraki and Thorn watched on with a mixture of amazement and fear as their sister simply pulled herself back up.

Seeing an opportunity, Liam leapt into the side of Kreoilipe. Stabbing his knife into her leg. He now had the full attention of Kreoilipe. Swinging her hand behind her back, she retrieved a few more skulls. Breaking them in her hand, another bright flash of light appeared. A flock of large, clawed birds started to attack the amazons, stopping them from assisting him. As she did this, she used her free hand to smack Liam to the ground. Spitting up a small dribble of blood, Liam pulled his knife from her leg. Glancing around, he could see all were already engaged with the summons. Knowing there would be no help coming, Liam grabbed his knife and jumped at the amazon again. Tackling her, he pushed her towards the edge of the saddle. Kreoilipe smacked down on his back, but her attacks did little thanks to Thormoenia’s training.

After being weakened by Liam’s first attack, Kreoilipe could do little to stop the human as he pushed them both off the saddle.

“Shit,” Liam muttered to himself as he found himself tumbling off the side of the saddle, his arms still tightly wound around Kreoilipe’s waist.

Yantraki hacked in vain at the birds swarming her. She wouldn’t allow it again, she couldn’t allow it again, she wouldn’t allow Liam to be taken from her. Her body shook, with fear, maybe anger, as she saw Liam fall off the saddle, his arms wound around Kreoilipe. Idiot, he was an idiot. How dare he place himself into danger like this? No, no, it was her sister’s fault. She was the one who attacked them, she was the one she needed to be punished.

With a thud and a cloud of dirt kicking up around them, Kreoilipe and Liam hit the ground hard. It was a twenty-foot drop. Nothing to an amazon but it was enough to knock the air out of Liam. Once more Thormoenia’s training had saved him. If she hadn’t hardened Liam’s bones, he would probably have died.

Clambering onto his feet, Liam looked down to Kreoilipe as she rolled around on the jungle floor. Holy shit, he was alive. Liam had to be honest, he’d at least expected to break a few bones! Looking to Kreoilipe again, Liam came to the decision she wasn’t getting back up. Well, she wasn’t getting back up without a few bad scratches. Weather it was his tiredness or over confidence, Liam turned his back on Kreoilipe, walking back towards the dead war horse.

Liam’s eyes widened as a flash of light came from behind him. Before he had even turned, a foot came crashing into his neck, knocking him to the ground. Looking up to see Kreoilipe standing over him, Liam could see several large, ape like creatures leaping onto the saddle to further delay the amazons from getting to him.

“What is your name human?” She said, pressing her foot onto Liam’s neck.

“Fuck off!” He croaked. Chuckling, Kreoilipe leaned down. Her strong hands wrapped around his throat.

“Your mind, I like it, I also like that look in your eyes. Join me, and I will not turn you into one of my puppets,” she said, gesturing to the army of summons who swarmed the amazons.

“You know, you’re starting to get on my nerves,” Liam said as Kreoilipe tightened her grip.

“Listen human, you are a slave, yes?” she said, pointing to the slave seal on his chest.

“I know someone who can take that off you, I can give you freedom, but of course this will come at a price,” she said, loosening her grip around his neck.

“Amazons have a natural sense for those things we deem… useful, or entertaining, or potentially a mate. I guess from the thick scent of my sister Yantraki reeking off you, I guess she sees you as a mate. Do not worry though, I wish to use you for more savoury things,” Kreoilipe tried to bargain. Liam relaxed, always wanting to exploit and opportunity.

“May I ask what you would want from me?” Liam asked, suppressing his anger. Even with her mask on, Liam could tell she was confused.

“To be honest with you, I really didn’t think I would get this far,” she said, letting her hands go from Liam’s neck.

“Really? Like I mean you have to have something you want? Otherwise, why did you attack us?” Liam said, baffled on what was happening. Kreoilipe pondered for a few seconds before answering.

“I thought I could pick off two of my sisters, to be honest I hadn’t seen them in years and greatly underestimated their fighting abilities. Then there was you. You are not a good fighter, and you have little regard for your own life, but you are still annoying to fight against,” she said, seemingly very calm as her summons were slowly being whisked away by Kenyanire and her vines. Kreoilipe seemed to notice as she climbed off Liam’s chest.

“I’ll meet up again with you soon, once I think of something I want. BYE!” She said as she started to strut off back towards the jungle.

Liam sat stunned as the summons slowly trickled back into the jungle too. What had just happened? Looking around he could see the dead summons slowly fading, and the amazons injured in the attack looking on, just as stunned as Liam. What the fuck had just happened? A wall of vine sealed off the jungle, separating it from him. Another vine wrapped around Liam, dragging him back onto the saddle.

What was left of the summons faded to dust as Liam was placed by the side of Yantraki. Not even before Kenyanire’s vines could fully unwrap from him, Yantraki and thorn already had their arms wrapped around him. Liam smiled up at Yantraki. His smile quickly faded though as she started to smack his head repeatedly with her fist.

“Idiot!” she said as she smacked him a few more times.

“Why did you do that? Why did you throw yourself into harm’s way so quickly?” Yantraki said as she nuzzled her face into his hair. Thorn bit down onto his neck, her sharp teeth nibbling him.

“Idiot!” She sat as she joined in with his torment.

“S…Sorry!” Liam stuttered out as he saw Kenyanire also approaching, a look of anger in her eyes.

“I couldn’t control myself; it was like I moved without thinking!” Liam pleaded as the amazons’ grips tightened around him. Kenyanire’s vines separated Liam from the two girls.

“Relax, you have had a long day,” Kenyanire said as she allowed her vines to carry Liam into her arms.

“I need to have a talk to you two later,” Kenyanire said in Amazonian to her daughters. The two girls looked at their mother. They could see a look of seriousness in her eyes. The two girls nodded, saying nothing as Kenyanire cradled Liam in her arms. Kenyanire’s warm hands gently caressed Liam’s face.

“I have sent some messengers ahead of us to ask for reinforcements from the Daughters of the Moon. I told them that the skull takers where here, so they will probably arrive soon. I will have to give you to my daughter for a while to calm her nerves at miss a chance to kill Kreoilipe,” Kenyanire said as she allowed Liam’s head to rest against her breasts.

“What do you mean by Skull takers?” Liam said, already knowing she meant the tribe that Kreoilipe belonged to, but he wanted her to try and expand on what she knew about them.

“Skull takers are a tribe who literally take the skulls of slain enemies and place curses onto them. These curses allow them to summon those deceased people, back as warriors to fight for them once the person’s skull has been crushed,” Kenyanire said, looking down at the bits of remaining dust. A look of disgust on her face. It seemed that even by Amazonian standards, bringing the dead back to life was incredibly taboo. Pushing aside Kenyanire’s arms, Liam moved out of her grip.

“Kenyanire,” Liam said, his eyes studying her expression.

“I’ll go with Morgarina, you just make sure those idiots don’t go nuts,” Liam said, pointing to Yantraki and Thorn. The two girl’s mouths dropped as both leapt to tackle him. Their arms wrapped around him as they angrily nibbled at his face and arms.

Chuckling to himself, Liam had finally noticed the difference in the sister’s personalities. Thorn believed Liam should be able to have more independence - biting him because she wanted him to be more careful with his own life. Given time, he could see her as being one of the few friends he would have on the island.

Then there was Yantraki. Overly protective, overly loving. For reasons Liam could barely understand, she was infatuated with him. While Thorn was much calmer, much more respectful towards Liam, Yantraki wouldn’t think twice to hold him against her side or do any lewd act she wanted to do whenever she wanted. She cared little for his opinion unless she thought it could actually be helpful to the tribe. Looking to Yantraki as she angrily bit his shoulder, Liam knew that unlike Thorn, Yantraki didn’t wish for him to have an ounce of independence. He had seen the look of hatred that glimmered in her eyes when the thought of him doing something unsupervised was suggested. For example, right now. He was going to be going with Morgarina on his own, thus he would be doing something independently. A taboo for her. Thorn simply bit him as she wanted to join in with her sister.

Thorn was far kinder than her sister. She was far more easily lead or influenced. He hoped that some of Yantraki’s annoying traits didn’t rub off on her. But considering she was already starting to get Yantraki’s possessive traits, he guessed it was a little late for that.

Looking around, he could see no amazons or Boruma had been harmed, as he originally thought they were going to be. Laughing, Liam dammed himself for being so quick to get over the fact he had almost been killed twice today. What was the old saying Katlin had? Things come in threes. Two near-death experiences today. Seeing the look of annoyance in Yantraki’s eyes as she angrily hugged him, he could now be facing a third.

“You know it’s not like I’m not coming back? After all you are following right after,” Liam said, looking up to the dismal face of Yantraki. Frowning, she buried her face into his neck. By this point Thorn was busy gathering their things from the pill boxes, alongside other amazons. Boruma and Huntresses watched the perimeter, making sure there wasn’t going to be a second attack.

Despite the more relaxed atmosphere, it seemed all were still understandably on edge. It was only Yantraki and some Boruma who were now letting their guard down.

“When we reach the village, you shall stay by my side. After all, I wish to reserve you for the mating season,” Yantraki said, placing a few loving kisses onto his neck. Seeing where this was going, Liam quickly intervened.

“You realise I was almost killed right? That would be the second time today, and didn’t you say you were my guard or something?” Liam said, wanting to bait Yantraki into giving into her overly protective personality.

“Indeed, I am your protector, lover, wife, and your literal everything in your existence that is worth anything at all, but you did say your protection is your own priority,” Yantraki said, this answer seemed to only annoy Liam more as she heavily over exaggerated her importance in her life.

“I see…” Liam muttered as Yantraki giggled and continued her python like hold around him.

“Umm, excuse me Kenyanire?” Liam asked, wanting to get at least something of value out of this experience and his current experience.

“Yes?” A vigilant, but amused Kenyanire answered.

“May I ask more about Kreoilipe?” Liam said. Yantraki’s grip on Liam loosened as Kenyanire’s eyes glanced downwards.

“I…I’d rather not,” Kenyanire muttered. It seemed like he had hit a nerve. Quickly back peddling Liam apologised before he realised it was probably best to just simply sit and allow the amazons to calm themselves by toying with him.

Despite her strange act earlier, the high priestess would probably give him the answers he wanted. Taking a mental note, Liam allowed the amazons to go about their usual business. The huntresses and Thormoenia scouted the area for any sign of the Skull takers. Once satisfied, they also returned to the dead war horse to relax until reinforcements arrived.

It wasn’t even ten minutes after the attack when the loud sounds of rushing feet started to approach. Large, long, grey birds resembling a large type of Chillcali stormed down the dirt path towards them. Upon the creatures sat tall Amazonian women, their long black hair decorated with silver feathers. Yantraki muttered a few words of annoyance under her breath as the leader of the group (signified by her tall, grey feather headdress) rode in front of them.

Peaking over Yantraki’s arms, Liam could see that at the bottom of the war horse’s corpse, the daughters of the moon were slowly gathering. Like Yantraki, he also quicky spotted their leader. Her large grey mask, probably linking itself to the moon in one way or another. Her skirt was a thick, darkish, blue colour and her cloth top reflected the colour but with patterns of lighter blue and grey mixed into it. Unlike most amazons, these warriors wore no war paint, and those who did wore very little.

The head amazon scanned the area. Yelling up to them in Amazonian, her tone gave away she was probably disappointed and angered that there was no fight for her to take part in. Her yelling quit though as her eyes fixed onto the small Liam cradled in her mother’s arms.

“It seems it's time,” Kenyanire said as she slowly lowered herself and Liam down to the ground. Yantraki and Thorn watched, not wanting to interact with another of their estranged sisters that day. Despite this sister wearing a mask, both stared directly at her where they thought her eyes to be. Both wanted to give her the feeling that they were watching, even if she didn’t know they were.

Kenyanire placed Liam down on the floor. Straightening his back, trying in vain to dust off his clothes, Liam turned to face the warriors. Impatiently the warriors sat on their warbirds. Kenyanire led the way, Liam close behind her. Getting closer, Liam noticed something. Each amazon of the Daughters of the Moon wore large, cloth, wraps over their eyes, prohibiting them from seeing. Leaping from her mount, Morgarina landed on the ground. For a few seconds, she stood still before almost gliding across the ground towards Liam.

When Morgarina was only a few steps from Liam, Kenyanire threw her arm out to prevent her from getting closer.

“If you try anything,” Kenyanire said in English to try to reassure Liam that she would protect him.

“What? You scared I am going to see him or something? You already took care of that for me,” Morgarina quickly snapped back at her mother.

“Later, I would like to talk,” Kenyanire said in a soft tone.

“I’d rather get this over with as quickly as possible,” Morgarina said as she slapped her mother’s arm aside. From watching how she interacted with her mother, and the fact she was willing to talk in English (something very rare amongst amazons) told Liam she wasn’t scared to show all her cards before the games even started. Smirking, Liam could already see her first mistake.

Despite her eyes being covered by the mask, Liam could feel her gaze fall onto him. Bowing his head, Liam went into diplomacy mode. Morgarina giggled, much to the annoyance of her mother and sister, she placed a soft hand onto Liam’s head.

“Don’t fear human, unlike my mother you have done nothing yet to upset me,” Morgarina said. Even though Liam couldn’t see her face behind the mask, he could almost sense her smiling at him.

Gently rubbing his head, Morgarina’s pace slowed. What felt like a jolt of electricity went through Liam’s head. Looking behind himself, he could see Thorn glaring at him. Again, she was only going along with what her older sister was doing as Yantraki also glared down at him. His chest tightened as she activated the slave seal.

“It seems your sisters don’t like the fact you are touching me,” Liam said, pulling back his shirt slightly to expose the slave seal to Morgarina. Again, despite her mask, it seemed as if she understood what he was showing her as she gave out another little giggle before letting him go.

“Come, I’ll give you a ride back to my village, we have much to talk about,” Morgarina said, gesturing to her large war bird.

“Yes, thank you,” Liam politely said as he followed Morgarina back towards the bird. So far it seemed she was far more relaxed than her other two counter parts.

Reaching the bird, Morgarina stopped and turned to face Liam. Liam didn’t stop her as she placed a hand onto the side of his face. Carefully, she felt the details and shape of his face. Moving her fingers to his eyes, Liam didn’t stop her as she felt the corner of his eyes.

“What colour eyes do you have?” She asked as she felt the creases of stress under Liam’s eyes.

“Blue,” Liam answered. She said nothing as she moved her hands to his hair. Feeling his curls and tuffs of hair, she spoke again.

“What colour hair do you have?”

“It’s pretty unusual, but its silver. Like yours,” Liam said as Morgarina moved her hands through his hair.

“I see…” She said, lifting the front of her mask. Bright, white eyes met Liam’s gaze as he looked at Morgarina.

“Well, not see, but you know what I mean,” the blind woman said.