The Power Of Ancient Greece

(Closed for Faebites, Bsquad, Amchentai and Babygurl1968. We enjoy hearing your feedback!)

The Gods had chosen to bestow certain people with great power, whether or not they could handle it was up for grabs but the Gods had grown bored toying with simple mortals and set the scene for a gravely mischievous tale…

Medea’s feet were sore; she had been walking for days now; trying to escape her old life and her family that called her an evil sorceress for her gifts. Medea wondered what she had done to so anger the Gods that they would do this to her! Ares had come to her, told her she was to be his great warrior in the wars to come but she had not believed it until she had awoken. Her bed was aflame, her body unscathed by the orange flickers and her family screaming as they fled the house. She was turned away by the ones she loved, deemed a sorceress and a liar for professing this as a gift from the God of War.

The path she wandered along was rocky, her feet slipping on stones as she made her way to Olympia for answers; her home back in Thebes was no longer safe. She dared not ask anyone for help lest she be called a witch or an unnatural being, the weight of her purse was lighter each day and she began to wonder what she would do for money when it was all gone.

Her small stature did nothing to assist her, every tavern she went to stay in at night would hold some disgusting little man trying to rip her off or some large brute stating he would protect her…if he got something in return. She would turn away, horrified by these men, life on the road was not as wonderful as some made it seem.

Her bow and arrows was slung to her back, her brown curls that reached her lower back were adorned by a band of gold leaves and her attire was a simple violet dress. When her journey began the dress had reached her ankles but over the weeks it had ripped and she had torn it a few times trying to escape the clutches of lecherous men. Now it came to just above her knees, she shocked the women and seemed to appeal to men even more but Medea didn't have the money for new clothes.

Her bright blue eyes had lost their sparkle and as the night began to fall for what seemed like the millionth time on the long arduous tour of Greece, Medea began to wonder if she would ever reach Olympia. Her index finger sprang to life with a spark, the small flame lighting her way until she came to another tavern and sighed with relief, the flame disappearing.

She had long since realized that by concentrating; she could control her power but when her dreams or emotions overrode all focus, she would explode into flames and incinerate everything around her.

Medea wandered into the tavern and sat down, glad to rest her feet as she had almost worn through her thin leather sandals. She drew the attention of the barmaid and asked for some water before she realized that once again she had drawn some unwanted attention from male customers.

Medea tried to keep her head down and wrapped her travelling cloak around herself; she put the hood up and only looked up again when the barmaid returned with her water. Medea thanked the woman and took a long gulp of the cool liquid, why have you condemned me Ares?

Nikkos Ajax watched the woman enter the tavern and saw her sat down at a table. He was told that someone like him was going to come to this place, this run down tavern in the middle of nowhere. "Why had the goddess Athena told him to come here. She told him he would meet another like him." He sat and watched for a moment before returning to his meal.

He was young when he found out about his powers, his house burned down and rubble caved in. A day later the people dug around and found him crying inside of a clear energy bubble. No one knew why the gods kept him alive but they had blessed him, and so he was taken in by one of the other villagers. But tragedy followed him through is life and he moved from one family to the next, never knowing why he would be the only one to survive time after time.

But the gods had blessed him, no matter what happened, he would be found in a bubble that was almost invisible. Only he knew it was not the gods that had used their power, but it was he who used the ability. He kept it to himself fearing his families might shun him for something like this, or cast him out for misleading them. After each time he used it over the many years he learned to control it a little. The need to protect made it appear. To protect himself had been the only trigger so far, but he was learning to be able to summon the barrier on his own now, just small fields. Unlike the ones that had protected him in the past, no where near bubble sized. Those only appeared when real danger was about to befall him. He had not learned to be able to summon a field of that size.

But he still didn't know where it came from, the power or why he even had this ability. And then just a few short months ago in a dream the Goddess Athena came to him and told him that she had granted him this power. She also told him to go here, he would meet others like him in time. And that he would be key to a great war to come. He had tried to ask her questions, but only found his voice would not speak when he tried. She simply smiled to him, She towered over him in his dream, She stood taller then any building over him and she just continued to smile at him as she spoke. He was 5"10' and 171 lbs, well toned body from helping rebuild many homes to help the families he had stayed with. With brown eyes and black hair he was a little different then most normal men who blue or green eyes and brown or blonde hair. The other thing Athena told him was in time he would be able to use Aegis as both his shield and his sword, but to be careful to not let the power consume him. He now had a name for his power, Aegis. And with that he awoke in his bed from the dream, the first ray of sunlight beginning to rise in the sky, That night set off.

He continued to eat and thought more about it. "Goddess Athena hadn't even told me if the person like me was male or female, big or small... No description at all of this other person. How would he know who this other special person was?

Ava had been living on the streets for exactly two years, the anniversary of the night that changed her life forever was the exact night Artemis came to her. Yes, she was surprised to, the Artemis, in all her shining glory, her voice like the baying of the wolves at the moon – spoke to her. To be honest, Ava couldn’t even really pay attention to spiel before hand, something about prophecies, divine wars, and noble vassals. She did however catch quite clearly the part where Ava herself came into it. Artemis was giving her a gift, a patron gift of sort, to her champion in the times to come.

Stop, rewind, what?!

Granted, Ava had learnt to survive on her own, avoiding the bullies and the slavers. Fighting for her food and defending the territory she claimed as her own. But… champion? She wasn’t one to press the patience of a goddess, but you could say doubt was heavy on her mind. Still when she’d woken she passed it all off as an amusing dream. That was, until her first change.

She’d started having extremely weird dreams, filled with running with the wolves, and flying high with the owls. She’d wake in the morning to find her feet muddy, or feathers caught in her teeth. Extremely odd. She became increasingly more alarmed when she began to wake up in places far from the tight back streets she’d made her domain. But it wasn’t until Kassius, a fellow street rat, beat a friend of hers down in front of her, his other cronies holding tight to her arms, that the rage came over her. A steady roaring filled her ears, like an enraged animal screaming at the sky, her body began to itch uncontrollable, pain spiking up her muscles and bones with a deep pounding ache. She must have made a sound, for the beating had stopped and shocked eyes had fallen on her. She had snarled, actually snarled, and felt long canines fill her lips.

She’d leapt then, the others hands falling away as though she was slick with oil. And when she’d slammed into Kassius her body felt strange. His scent had been heavy with his fear, and she’d howled her victory as her teeth tore through flesh. The rest of it faded away into red then, and when Ava awoke she decided it was time to leave Olympia. She also realised that Artemis had gifted her with the power to change forms – among other things.

She experimented after that, toying with the ability and testing her limits. She still wasn’t entirely sure of her powers, but she’d made some interesting discoveries. So her hard learnt survival skills, combined with her newfound powers lead Ava into a rather comfortable travelling life. It was those combined that let her trot uninhibited into the Inn in the form of a young hunting dog. The dark ebony coat replicated the colour of her hair in human form, that was yet to decide if it was curly or straight. Her eyes also remained the same, giving the first impression that the young dog was not all she seemed, as she watched the world with vivid forest green eyes.

Ava was on her way towards the kitchen, her nose dragging her towards the delicious scents with a happy wag of her tail. She was mostly ignored, weaving through legs and tables, when she passed a woman sitting alone. Her scent filled the dogs nostrils, and startled, Ava spun around, hackles raised. Her eyes drank in the woman, while her nose quivered at her smell. She smelt like flames… not a wood fire, or the smell of smoke, but actual living, burning, flames. Unable to contain puppy like instincts, Ava barked at the woman, drawing the attention of a few eyes. Her appearance began to sink in then, her clothes, and the hopeless deadpan eyes. Ava’s head cocked to the side, her rump falling to the ground as she sat. Trusting her instincts, the young dog gave her a wolfy grin, her tail wagging against the floor. Her curiosity at why a human would smell like flames consumed her, and she realised her companions’ curiosity must have been rubbing off on her. One thought of the cat, and his voice purred along their connection and into her mind. What are you doing? I’m starving. Do they have any sardines? Ava gave a puppy chuckle, her tongue lolling out of her lips, Something’s come up Eris, be patient. Like most cats, Eris wasn’t amused at the idea of being kept from his dinner. He huffed quietly in her mind, and Ava got the impression of him curling up beneath the bushes out side and feigning sleep.

Her attention once more completely on the flame-woman, Ava’s rump wriggled with excitement, barking again at the woman to make sure she had her attention. This bark was softer however, but Ava did notice the Innkeepers head turn their way. She lowered herself to her belly, inching closer to the woman’s toes, her tongue darting out to lick her ankle. Her taste lingered like bubbling champagne on her tongue, but apart from that Ava remained unharmed, her tail wagged further.

The seas rolled,tossing the skiff to and fro,the captain shouted orders to the frightened soldiers. Rain hammered the visible flesh,lightning flashed over the pounding waves. The captain knew the small boat would not last,they would sink into the dark depths of the deep. The three passengers sitting before him clutched each other holding the small child between them. The seas gave one final lurch and the small boat was doomed. The victims of the sea were tossed here and yon.

The small child ripped from her parents arms,seeing them for the last time before sinking into the briny deep. Her small arms flailed and her lungs filled with water. Her crystal blue eyes wide in her final silent screams. The sea wrapped around the girl,gently rising her to the surface. The ripple of the water as the form broke through the surface the only movement now. The God Poseiden moved closer,his huge hand reaching out to stroke her forehead gently. The small eyes opened to meet his own blue ones. The child was not frightened as she look up to him.

"My child,you are my chosen. I bestow upon you the power to call upon the waters. Be it a small puddle,tear drop or storm. You will stand as MY chosen when the time comes. Be not afraid,you are safe..sleep be at peace." He spoke to her as she drifted off Held tightly in his embrace.

The following morning the child was found by a family,taken in and raised as their own. The child knew as she grew she was different,and her real family had perished to the sea God. She knew they looked down on her gift..keeping it hidden from others.She used it when she was alone trying to harrness it and control it,succeding only a few times when not stressed. She grew into a fine young woman,her stubborn attitude and dress caused undo attention not only to her family but to her blossoming figure.She left home after another dream several months ago told her to calling to her. She had just turned 18.

************

Jayda walked slowly along the weather-beaten path,her journey had been long. She had left the only home she had knew a month ago on this journey. A journey she had no idea would it would lead. She pulled her ground length cloak around her thigh length white dress. Her golden armband wrapped tightly around her upper arm. The twin tridents touching tines,a symbol of Poseiden. Her light blonde hair held away from her face with a simple band to hang below her shoulders. She missed the shores of the sea where she had lived. The feel of the water upon her skin,the waves rolling over her as she swam. She felt like the proverbial fish out of water this far away from the sea.

The town arose before her and she moved quickly along the streets,her hood pulled up to hide her feature from others. She stopped and looked up at the sign indicating it was the town Inn. She pushed open the door and walked quietly inside. Her eyes had to adjust to the lighting change as she gazed over the crowd. She knew there were a few others like her but she had no clue what they looked like. She spied an empty chair in the corner and pushed her way through to it. Moving past the table with a woman and a dog close by,she gave the pair a small smile before moving on.

She sat down on the chair and sighed as her travel weary bones ached. She pushed the hood back just far enough to see around her,her hand comforted by the daggers at each thigh. Her blue eyes scanning the tavern as the bar maid asked if she needed anything. Jayda gave her order of ale and a bowl of stew,she shivered as several men eyed her and nudged each other. She turned her attention back to the woman and dog.Feeling another in the room she turned to meet Nikkos' eyes,she stared at him for several seconds before looking away quickly.The bar maid brought her her order and Jayda gave her her money.

It was strange to die.

Of course, most would say it was terrifying, others might call it some sweet release. Xavier just thought that it had been strange experiance. Though for any to argue with him they would have had to have died, and returned. So the list of disenting opinons was a very short one. Even amongst the ranks of the Spartans, he was the only one to have ever felt the searing pain of a sword, and had the ability to say what it felt like when his heart was cleaved in two by a bronze edged blade. War was hell, but it had been nothing to the true hell that he had seen as his soul had made it's dark journey from his body.

Xavier was a Spartan. Raised from a boy to be the deadliest warrior that any city of Greece could produce. Everything in his life, from his very birth to his first steps, to the first lessons he was taught as a child, to the life that he lead as a man was intended to hone him to an edge that was unrivaled. He had been judged when he was still in swadling clothes, examined for the slightest flaw as a newborn. He had been thrown into the training camps as a young boy, taught to fight and kill to survive. He had been taught the value of discipline on the battlefield. He was the perfect warrior. But that had not been enough to survive being outnumbered. He had marched wit hKing Leonidas, one of the Three Hundred who had met their end, fighting to the death to buy time for the cites of greece to unite against the invading Persians. He had died there at Thermopayle.

And he had gone to hell. Ferried across the River Styx, paying his toll to Charon, and standing before Lord Hadies himself. He could not rember just what that Dread Lord of the undwerworld had said...just why he had decided to see to the fate of a single soldier who had fought and died in battle against a foe whose numbers were insurmountable. But for some sinister reason, he had seen fit to send him back to the realm of the living, leaving him with a scar over his heart, and the feeling that some day the Dark God would collect payment on a debt that Xavier had never wished to incur. But he did not have a choice. He could never return to Spartan, never return to his people, they'd think him a coward for failing to die in battle.

So he instead had wandered through Greece, staying in the shadows, and trying to avoid life. But as much as a wanderer he might have been, he could not avoid the touch of fate that the gods had decided to have on his existence. No...they were guiding his path to some fate that he might not be able to witness, but was still so unavoidable that he was bound to collide with it. And collide he did, as he stepped inside the ramshackle inn, his scarlet cloak catching a breath of wind and blazing in the firelight, drawing the eyes to the man that stood in the doorway.

He was an imposing figure, one would expect as much from a warrior, standing over two meters in hight and with a rough face that seemed to be scarred in ways that would have led to the death of a normal man. He was none the less handsome. His black har was tinged with gray, making anyone who saw him wonder just how old he might have been...though no matter what they guessed they would find themselves far from the truth. He didn't adress anyone within, merely walking to a secluded corner with his back to the wall, his silver eyes gazing out at the other patrons as though he were certain that they were merely waiting for the slightest moment's lapse of vigilance to strike at him.

He was Xavier, chosen of Hadies...a man cursed by his gift.

Jayda sat in the shados of the corner,her covered head moving as she gazed about the room. She watched new people come into the tavern and noticed a few looking her way. She kept her head covered as she sipped her ale,the stew sitting in front of her cooling. She had no appetite but had ordered the food anyway. Her ice blue eyes squinted as a shadow fell over her table,knocking out what little light broke through the shadows of the corner.Raising her head,she grimaced at the fowl smelling man standing before her. He was brawny and dirty,his clothes and hair greasy and unkept.She remianed silent hoping he would take the hint and move away. He didnt.

"My what do we have here? Such a wee girl in a grown-up place."he spoke deeply showing his missing teeth. Leaning over he tried to peer fully under her hood."What delights are you hiding from sight under this cloth."He growled as a massive hand reached out to pull her hood away.

Jayda slapped his hand away quickly,her eyes burning. She tried to control her anger,knowing her eyes went from ice blue to a deep dark blue. "Sir..I think you should take your foul smelly body somewhere else."She said in a firm yet soft whisper to him.

The man jerked back slightly at her reaction and then let out a whooping laugh. His hand moved quick,knocking her hood back from her head. Her golden hair fell free to circle her face,her now dark blue eyes stared at him,oblivious to those aorund her now. Her mind focusing on the man before her. She faintly noticed the barmaid mopping up a spill next to them trying to hear the conversation. Jayda began to breath deeply focusing on the smell of the water,feeling the particles bending to her will. The water turned to a small patch of ice and she gave her table a shove.

the man tottered back a step,just enough to hit the ice. He flipped backwards trying to gain his balance. He finally began a slow motion descent to the floor and in the process hit the man behind him. The motion caused his ale to splatter the man sitting across from him. The men roared up from the table and the fight was on. Others needed no other reason other than to throw fists. Jayda moved back against the wall,dodging one man as he hurled by her. Her eyes quickly moving around the room to see if anyone caught how the fight had really started.

She spied a few eyes looking her way and she quickly pulled her cloak around her tighter. her hand had pulled her daggers free as one drunk man swung at her. She ducked but managed to feel the blow along her left eyes,hissing she spun around. She had no time to stab at him before someone had already pulled him back into the fray. She jumped over a falling chair towards the door and in her haste almost tripped over the dog and fell into the young woman sitting at the table next to the dog.

( the pic of the eyes are the lighter one is normal and the dark one is when she is using her powers )

Nikkos watched as the fight started. He held up a hand just in time to put up Aegis to prevent a mug from hitting him, and in the heat of battle few if anyone would know he did it. The barmaids were running for cover and just about every man in there had stood and joined the fight. Punches, chairs, mugs, and even a table would be flying through the air. But what he stared at, he he found odd was the ice on the floor. He shifted his eyes to glance outside for a moment, being mindful not to be hit by anything flying through the air still. "Doesn't look that cold out there... And no where near cold enough for ice to form.. He told himself as he shifted the look back to the girl. "Is she the one?" He asked himself, he watched her flee for the door, almost stepping on the dog doing so.

Medea was shocked by the dog barking at her, it happened now and then so she had learnt to calm herself and not be too frightened. This one was curious and Medea smiled as it crawled towards her on it's belly as though it wasn't sure if she was safe or not.

Medea leaned down to scratch the dog's ear and smiled, it was the first time she had done that in over a month. Medea eyed the woman being harassed by some smelly brute and grimaced, she wished she could help her but it would bring her into a situation where she could lose control...besides by the looks of things; this woman didn't need any assistance!

The fight broke out and Medea pulled the dog close as the table was knocked away, she was too frightened to move; the dog sitting under her chair. The woman who had been harassed fell into Medea and out of shock; Medea lost control. A nearby candle's flame leapt for Medea's arm like it needed to be attached to her and she leapt out of her seat, the woman sent tumbling to the ground.

"Oh no! Oh no! Please go out!" Medea shook her arm, to anyone else it would appear that she was merely on fire but Medea knew it wouldn't burn her.

She panicked as the fire spread up her arm, her clothes would burn to nothing but she would remain unharmed by the flames. Medea threw her hood back revealing the instant change to her eye colour; they had gone from bright blue to a vibrant red. Medea struggled to concentrate on her arm, she stared at her flaming hand but try as she might the flames would not die. She simply couldn't concentrate properly with so much activity surrounding her and Medea searched for her water but it had spilled on the ground, it wouldn't have killed the flames completely; however it would buy her time to concentrate on doing it herself.

Ava rumbled softly in pleasure as the woman bent down to scratch behind her ears, her tail thumping against the ground in pleasure. Eris caught her wave of pleasure and grunted in annoyance, trust a dog to get distracted so easily. He purred in irritation, but Ava ignored him. Ava’s ears cocked at the sound of disturbance, her nose quivering at the scents that assailed it, unwashed bodies, fear, fury and water. Water like it lived and breathed and walked. Ava blinked rapidly, unable to believe she found a living source of fire and water in the same place. Then another scent reached her nose, undeniable and tickling. The scent of the Gods interference.

Ava growled, cowering back against the woman’s legs as she pulled her out of the way of stumbling feet. Her soft fur raising on end as her hackles came up defensively. Ava, only half playing the part and the other fully sunk into her forms frame of mind, did what any good, excitable dog would do. She started barking again, venturing from out beneath her fire woman (she was now slightly possessive of her new friend) and assailing the fighting patrons with her young voice. She did however see exactly what her flame did, anyone paying less attention really might think the woman caught on fire. But there was no way; the fire came to her like a pet seeking to comfort its master. It shut the dog up for a moment, and in the fire woman’s distress Ava whimpered.

Determined to stick with both of the woman who smelt so entirely unnormal, holding the hope they might have something to do with the way the Gods will lingered in the chaos around them, Ava ran circles around them, trying to urge their escape before their powers consumed them entirely. When a large man approached, his eyes set on the seemingly distracted woman, Ava snarled, not sounding very puppyish at all in that moment. He glanced down, and was met with her teeth sinking into his ankle. He was the only one to realize they were a lot sharper, and longer then what could have been in her mouth earlier.

He shrieked in agony, and Ava dashed out of reach as he tried to kick her off, her muzzle bloody and his taste coppery on her tongue. It was in all the confusion that she found herself standing in front of a massive man in the corner table, who seemed undisturbed by the chaos around him. She took in a deep breath, and it felt like her lungs froze. Death, the man smelt like death reincarnated. Her eyes went wide in fear, her hackles rising once more as she snarled, backing away. Her body quivered, dodging flailing arms and legs before she was once again back with her fire and water women. She pulled on the fire womans dress, seeming undisturbed by the flames as though she assumed the woman wouldn’t let them harm her. Her body still quivered with fear as she fought to get rid of that horrible, clinging scent that made her blood run cold.

Eris, Eris! This is all going to hell… She called to her companion, who just rolled lazily outside. Give my respects to Hades then. Ava snarled, annoyed with the cat, her rump squirming against the woman’s hot skin as she tried to press her towards the door. When death sat calmly at a table, it was healthy to leave the vicinity. Giving up on Medea she turned to the scent of water, nudging her legs as well, her puppy like whine just audible over the yelling and fighting. The innkeeper had waded into the fray, and Ava really didn’t want to stay anymore, but she refused to leave her elemental charges.

There was some certainty in chaos. That's all life was really, the chaos of so many people simply existing side by side and creating so many conflicts, alliances, experances and acts. There was no real way to know what might happen. But human nature being human nature, it was always going to be something bad. Xavier looked around the room as it seemed to erupt into chaos and bedlam. He sighed and merely picked up his wine goblet, drinking from it deeply before it spilled.

Things seemed to be going quite...strangely. The fight appeared to be quite random, but the women were not simply being overwhelmed. Something strange was happening with them. His keen eyes caught sight of a slick of ice on the floor, which several of the brawlers ever so convienetly slipped on. That was strange but not out and out incredible. What was incredible was the woman who seemed to catch fire. Xavier straightened slightly, looking at the scene. He barely noticed the growling dog at his feet...but since he was the only one in the Inn who hadn't risen to join the fight, he was the only one who was really in a position to observe eveyrthing that was going on.

He wasn't going to rise, he wasn't going to start another fight...he was going to sit there and drink, and stay out of it. Maybe spend more than one day in a village. But no...fate never did that. He watched one of the brawlers spy the woman who was holding daggers and draw his sword. Every impulse in his body screamed for him to stay where he was, but he couldnt' contain himself. Rising up, Xavier knocked the table flying and practically lept through the air towards the swordsman. His Xixli was out, the bronze short sword drawn in a reverse grip as he leapt, stabbing down into the man's neck and through his body, it was an instant kill. As he landed behind the two women, his scarlet cloak seemed to be a lving thing as the light from the fire girl caught it.

"Get to the door!" He ordered, his arm sweeping out and encasing the neck of another man in a headlock with such force that the sound of his snapping neck cut through the room. HE kicked another attacker full in the chest and dropepd him, his sword blocking a blow with an allmighty clanging noise.

As Xavier moved ,he drew upon fighting experiance that any of these Tavern drunks could never imagine. He had Spartan training, he was a master. And that training had been honed by years of war. If he wanted, he could have killed them all. But to do that would have been such an inconvenence. He turned his head to the two women and shouted again.

"Go! Get out of here!"

Jayda parried the mans attack and then frowned when the darker looking man downed him with a single thrust of his sword. He called out orders for them to get out of the tavern but the flaming woman caught her attention once more. The barking dog circled around their legs as if trying to herd them through the door another man sat at his table as if peering into their souls. She grabbed at the moisture from around her and opened up a storm of rain inside the tavern focusing on the burning woman. Jayda almost let out a cry of surprise as the woman seemed to relight herself and then the flames seemed to spread around them.

Jayda staggered backwards from a hard blow between her shoulder blades,jerking her head to look over her shoulder. She spied the man who had accosted her at the beginning preparing to make another swing at her. Her mind went blank and her eyes seemed to grow darker as her full force surged forward. The man staggered,his eyes went wide. His mouth opened and a strange gurgling began deep in his chest. Some fighters stopped,stepping back away from him. Water began to erupt from his mouth and nose. He clawed at his chest,he wa literally drowning standing before them. Jayda stood rooted as she continued to stare at him,her hair swirling around her,her hands clenched at her sides. Finally she seemed to bring herself back to the present and with a cry threw herself to the doorway.

Her body fell outside,trembling,in a heap. Her head began to pound and the screams of the drowning man still rang into her ears. She became aware of others fleeing the tavern. She tried to pull herself to her feet but her body refused to accept the actions. Her eyes burned as they slowly began to change back to their ice blue color.

"First the ice out of nowhere, and now a woman on fire?" Nikkos watched as the fight turned into a brawl and the ensuing flying objects. He watched the woman on fire for a moment and grabbed a pitcher of water from the bar, and started to run over to her, making sure to dodge the fighting people best he could. As he got closer he saw that the fire didn't seem to be normal, it didn't move up her arm like it should, it seemed controlled. That's not right is it?! Fire should be spreading.. She should be screaming in pain..

Before he was fully able to finish that thought a table from the back corner fly a mere inch or so past his face. Looking up the last man to enter the bar had lept into the air and cut a man down, very close to the woman who seemed to have started it all with her ice on the floor. He heard him shout, but shook his head and went to the woman on fire, pouring the pitcher of water over her arm. The fire didn't go out though, she still burned.

He turned and rushed back for another pitcher of water from the bar, he watched as the man who tried to touch the woman who had made the ice once again stood in front of her, but didn't see much else as he grabbed the other pitcher on the bar counter and rushed back to the woman and the dog. He poured the other pitcher over her arm hoping it would put it out.

Medea was too shocked to take notice of much beyond her arm but she did take stock of the man throwing pitchers of water on her and the woman who...seemed to draw water from nowhere?

Medea flung herself from the tavern as the fire moved up and started licking her shoulder, she didn't want to burn the establishment down or harm anyone with her flames. She whistled to the dog, hoping it would follow her as she did not want to see it get hurt.

She finally concentrated on her arm, ignoring everyone else; the fire slowly died and she breathed a sigh of relief. Her dress however was singed badly at the shoulder and she groaned but was grateful that the fire hadn't taken her over completely. Her eyes returned to their usual blue and she looked around her at the mess of people that had come to her aid.

She gave her hand to the woman that had drawn water from nothing and helped her up, Medea watched the tall Spartan soldier exiting the tavern also and the dog following him.

Medea smiled and pet the dog "You were so brave, thank you my furry friend."

"Thank you all." Medea looked around her, they were an odd assortment of people and under normal circumstances; they probably would never meet.

Medea was somewhat embarressed, she held no illusions that not a single one of them saw what really happened to her and she was prepared for the names that would come; sorceress, witch, freak...

Nikkos followed the woman who had been on fire out and watched her put out the fire with nothing at all. She helped the woman who made the ice patch in the tavern and the dog soon passed him. He heard foot steps glanced over his shoulder to see the tall man from before exit, and almost walk over him. Nikkos was sure to get out of the man's way.

"So... Your the ones then...." He started, unsure of it, but knowing it was true. By now most of the people had fled from the tavern. Nikkos made sure no one else was around before speaking again. "Your the others the gods have blessed... Or Cursed..." He looked at them, the two women had powers, fire and water. The tall man had fighting skills like he had never seen before. Nikkos looked at the dog. Not sure about the dog he looked back at the others again. "I'm Nikkos..." He said and offered a hand to shake.

Ava couldn’t help but be amused as everyone drenched her fire woman, her barking restarted, trying to regain her attention, the scent of Deaths man becoming thicker as he joined in the fray. She was relieved beyond belief when the woman managed to stumble free of the fray and outside, she covered their tales, snapping at patrons who stumbled to close before the whistle dragged her yapping from the Inn. She landed at Medeas feet with a wolfish grin, her tail thumping on the ground at her praise. She woofed happily, licking her hands, the tingle of her power once again bubbling pleasantly on her tongue.

She bounded over to the water element sitting on the ground, her paws landing on her shoulders as Ava’s small body wriggled, licking at her face in both a show of doggy affection, and an effort to revive her from the hold of her distraction. Once she was thoroughly covered in saliva, the dog turned back to Medea, wagging at the sight of a male who smelt entirely of energy. Her eyes then falling on the deadly warrior who’d emerged from the chaotic building aswell. Once again his scent assailed her, and instinct took over. She ran at him, barking sharply, not stopping till she had placed herself between him and the rest of the group, not hearing Nikkos words in her fear, but immediately adding him to those she protected. The comical look of her small stature trying to defend against Xaviers own was not lost on the shapeshifter, who growled low and threatening.

She’d found friends to soon to be loosing them already. She didn’t think with more then that, his scent swaying to her instincts and she began to dissolve. That was the only word for it, her shape seemed to blur before all their eyes, her snarl deepening to that of a much larger animal as her bones remoulded and lengthened until her new form settled into their retinas. She took a step forward, now a vicious looking wolf, which was at least double the size of what she should be. Her glittering emerald eyes the only similarity to the puppy that remained.

Eris uncurled from his position, huffing something about being unable to sleep with all the commotion, but it was lost on Ava. Her protective stance shielding the others that she thought were at such risk from the Spartan before her. She took another threatening step, snapping her teeth in a vicious show. Her timber fur standing on end as her hackles were raised and bristling.

Xavier backed out of the Inn, none daring to pursue him out the door, the blood still thick on his Xixil as he twirled the blade menacingly, casting droplets of still crimson blood across the sides of the door. None of them thought to follow, even the few bearing blades simply slunk away. He slammed the door and kicked over a long beam that was standing next to the door, keeping it shut. He looked at it for a second to make sure that it wasn't going anywhere before he took a strip of cloth and cleaned his blade before returning it to his scabbard.

"I am curious why such an unusual group would be standing here..." Xavier said, looking from each person to the other. The girl who had been on fire, the other who commanded water, the strange man who was talking about visions...and that dog...the dog that seemed to shift into a wolf before his eyes. He didn't shift a step, just looking at the snarling creature. He sighed as he saw it, he wasn't fazed by much anymore.

"Hmm, I've seen your kind before changling." He said quietly, as though the creature was capable of speaking like a normal person and understanding him.

"I know why you do not trust me I was cursed as I am, so do not forget that." He said, and his voice sounded tired more than anything, a sharp contrast from the voice of command that he had used before. Instead, his voice was heavy with time and experiance.

His words seemed to have the desired effect, her quivering lips freezing in their snarls as surprise lingered in her overly intelligent expression. Ava didn’t know what to do, seen her kind before? There was more? Artemis had gifted others this way before. Her eyes narrowed, in which era did he speak of? The present or the past? So many questions! Yet so reluctant to trust… Her head tilted to the side, and she sat back on her haunches, observing him with a critical eye.

He’s Hades chosen, Atalante. Eris’s voice reprimanded her; Ava didn’t bother to reopen their argument over her name. Eris had always called her the unfamiliar name, claiming Ava was her human name, not her animal one. Because apparently, Ava was both. The jet-black cat strolled calmly from the bushes, seeming undisturbed by the motley crew, and came to rest between the wolfs front paws. He’s Hades chosen just as you are The Mistress’s. Eris started to purr at the mention of Artemis, his eyes an odd silvery green instead of the usual yellow. The wolf huffed in annoyance, the gust of breath making Eris yowl in a complaining tone. You stink of dog, Atala! It’ll take you days to smell good once more. Ava allowed herself a wolfy grin, her form dissolving once more, fur retreating beneath her skin, claws retracting and spine straightening.

The young woman that emerged crouched on the ground still seemed more animal then human. Her wild emerald eyes spoke of the wilderness, and the freedom of a soul running the grounds uninhibited. Hair blacker then the cats fur tumbled untameable and unkempt down her back, years on the streets matched with her now animalistic counter part leaving the hair as free as it’s wearer. Her clothes hinted at her background, little more then street urchins rags, they did little to promote modesty as they clung to her slender, yet curvaceous body. Plenty of porcelain smooth skin on show. She stood warily, her body straightening with animalistic grace, and a hand scooped under the belly of her feline counter part, who quickly twined himself around her shoulders, his furred face watching with the usual catty disdain from below her left ear.

“You smell like death, soulless one. It is hard to deny instincts because of that.” It was as close to a apology as he was likely to get, her words purred from her lips, it had been so long since she last spoke to another human she found her voice rusty because of it. She stepped away then, turning to the rest of the group, a mischievous smile on her lips, elements of it still quite canine like. “I am Ava. Artemis’s chosen. Whatever strife that leads me to. This is Eris, my companion, though he tends to forget himself. From your scents, I am guessing you are the pack I am destined to join. Perhaps we should make the introductions swift and return to my wilds, for the Innkeeper will not be pleased with our chaos.”

She spoke in a manner foreign, which held no accent familiar to mankind. While her Greek was perfect, and that accent still recognisable, her words purred like a cats, rumbled like a canines, yet still held the musical aspect of the birds’ language. She referred to quite a few things as an animal might. Revealing that she really had embraced her abilities, whether from choice, or from the impact of taking so many creatures forms, and conversing with them in their own tones. Her eyes linger on the fire woman, her head tilting in the manner so familiar from her puppy like form, her free hand stroking Eris’s tail playfully. After all that, and you still didn’t bring me any fish. Eris sulked, causing Ava’s grin to widen as she waited to see who would admit their identities next.

"I'm Nikkos Ajax, Nice to meet you." He said. He offered to shake the hand of the woman who had been a dog and a wolf only moments before. "The goddess didn't tell me I'd meet so many people.." He said to himself as he greeted the woman. "Does your cat turn into a person as well?" He asked her, looking at the feline on her shoulder.

Although he had many questions what Ava woman said was true, the Innkeeper would be back soon, and probably with some type of soldiers in case the fight still raged. But he shouldn't be rude and not introduce himself, he hadn't been raised like that. The two other women hadn't spoken their names yet either. But it would come in time, if these were the people Athena*told him about then they would be together a long time. He didn't like the idea of war, he had been through enough loss as it was already. But had no say in what the gods themselves had planned now could he? He only hoped he could help put a sift end to the war to come.

Jayda rose to her feet slowly,pulling her cloak tighter around her.Once she concealed her features once more she moved closer to the group,eyeing them all warily. She had long ago learned not to trust others,the transformation of the dog to wolf then to beautiful woman shocked her. She had never seen such a thing. She had lived a very sheltered life,people tended to steer away from her once she lost control of her powers.

The men took her breath,each were gorgeous in their own way. The one taller one had death scented all over him,the other..well the other she couldnt put her finger on. The flaming woman made her feel somewhat akin in their elemental abilities. Slowly she raised her eyes to meet them,standing shorter than most.

"I am Jayda,Poseidon's chosen. I come from the lands to the North along the sea."She said softly her voice almost a whisper. Several strands of her golden hair blew around her shoulders from underneath the cloak.

Looking around her she nodded her agreement with the men,they needed to get away before more attention was drawn to their small ragtag group. She chewed her lip knowing it was her carelessness that had landed them in this situation. "I must apologise for my actions in there."She whispered softly looking from each of them,her hand unconciously feeling for her daggers at her thighs. Feeling a bit more calmer when her hand touched the cold steel.

Xavier's eyes didn't shift a milimeter. There was still that tired something in his eyes, even as the wolf transformed into a woman, he just stood there. He turned away, not acknowledging the comment of his smelling of death and having no soul with anything more than a shurug. He'd heard the comment before by others who had similar 'gifts'. As he listened to the introductions, he sighed slightly, he'd been here before...long ago...or had that simply been a dream? Or someone else? He thought hard on that point...he couldn't understand just what his memory was. Had he done this before?

No...no...

He focused his mind back on the moment and realized that he was the only one who hadn't said just who he was. He gripped his cloak and pulled it out to the light. Xavier's hand rested on the pommel of his Xixil absently, not realizing that he had done it in reaction to Jayda's hands touching her own weapons. Such actions had been so deeply ingrained into his mind that he wasn't even operating on the promptings if instinct or impulse, his mind simply reacted to things without conscious thought. He still didn't know what fate had decided for them, and why he was even here.

"I am...Xavier..." He said, soundling like someone who was just remembering his name.

"I do not think that any of the Gods have gifted me with anything...but Hadies refuses to let me die. Hence the reason that Ava smells death upon me, well...that and I am a Spartan. I lost my life first on the field of Thermopayle, two hundred years ago." He said tiredly. Saying it aloud just made the weight of centries of living as a person alone in the world. He wasn't about to get his hopes up that perhaps he was supposed to join these travelers. His hand drumed his fingers upon the handgrip of his sword, not so much out of boredom as keeping his hand flexible.

"You would do well to rember Jayda that when killing you should never hesitate. And never flee in fear, only in a plan." He said, and in that phrase his voice had shifted from being a tired and uninterested man to a hardened warrior, experianced in the art of war and dance of fighting. He shrugged his shoulders slightly and wrapped the cloak around him, hiding his arms from view.

"What shall we do now? Because Artimes's toy is correct. We shall soon be facing the town guard should we linger." He said, looking over at Ava...once again sounding tired.

Medea was astounded, obviously their chosen Gods had told them much more about this than Ares had told her! She stood back as they each introduced themselves, each with a different power, each from a different God and Medea soon felt that she was the least powerful in this group. She gasped at the shape shifting wolf-woman and wondered why her clothes were protected from her powers and Medea's were not.

Finally it came time for Medea to speak up "I'm Medea, chosen by Ares...power over fire...obviously..." Medea mumbled and nodded; agreeing that to stay there much longer would bring them overwhelming trouble.

As the group moved off together, Medea wondered where they would go and if they would stay together? It was dark now, too dark to see in this backwards area so Medea lit her finger up, she was nervous and the flame wavered to prove it.

"Nikko...you're Athena's chosen...and you seem to know more about this than the rest of us...she's the Goddess of Wisdom so I suppose that makes sense but what else do you know? I mean, why us? Why me? I'm not a warrior like Xavier...why didn't Ares pick someone like him?" Medea had to know, it had been knawing at her for over a month now and if any of them knew anything it was share time!

As they walked further along the rocky path Medea had taken to get there, she realized the tree cover was getting thicker and her flame was becoming somewhat obselete. Medea focussed and increased the power to her hand, her fist was immediately engulfed in fire and the lighting was much better. She just hoped she could control it for long enough...

Nikkos looked to Medea as he walked with the group. "She told me that those with power would be key in a war to come.. But she did not tell me when or where it would happen.." He thought about it as he walked, thinking back more on the dreams he had, the words she would almost whisper to him. "Why you have your power? I do not know, each god has chosen their own person for their own reason... I don't know as if us mortals could understand those reasons.." He closed his eyes as the path ahead was clear of anything he'd trip on so he could think more.

He stopped and looked up into the night sky. "We are key to whatever war is coming...." He looked at the people he was to help, and in turn would help him. "Even if we didn't want this we have no say in this as it stands... We can only follow our path, and the path we feel is right.." He sounded different from before, older then he was, wiser then he looks. "I know little else about what is going on or the plans the gods have... The Goddess Athena said she would tell me more once I found the other like me... She never said there would be more then one.. So we can only wait." He said and started walking again.

“No, Eris is all cat, in all his cryptic words and catty disdain” She told Nikkos, speaking as though they conversed, which, unbeknownst to the others – of course they did. Eris huffed at her words, enticing another wild smile before she acknowledged the others introductions, proving her suspicions correct. Remember how to be human Atala? Sniffing each other’s behinds is not considered a polite thing. Eris’s snitty voice announced into her mind and she grinned. Ava lead the group, scampering into the trees the moment they were close enough. Her voice purred and clucked, her hand stroking against the trees with a sense of familiarity. The joy of being part of a pack again elated her, she was after all, not designed to be a lone ranger. She’d run with local wolf packs before, and wild horses herds, and flocks of birds. Though while she was accepted, she didn’t truly belong.

Ava had no need for the light Medea cast, her eyes seeming to reflect like a cats each time she turned back to insure they followed. The wild energy within her seemed to change between the simplicity of a child’s, and raw, wild womanhood, as needed. “This way, this way” She called, her mobility becoming to much for the midnight cat as he gripped to her flesh. He gave a annoyed yowl, and leapt from her shoulders, causing a giggle from the young woman. Attracted by the promise of heat, like most cats, Eris yowled at Medeas feet, twining through her legs as she walked, not seeming to mind if he tripped her up.

Atala, tell her to pick me up.
“Ask her yourself, Eris!” The bubbling voice called back.
She can’t understand me like you can, dogbrains.
“Oh – right! Eris would like to ride on your shoulders, Medea! Apparently I am not relaxed enough for him tonight” She chortled, bounding back to the group, swiftly melding into a large lioness, pulling herself short so she could press her nose to Eris’s, dwarfing him.

Hilarious.

The large cat purred with laughter, bounding away again, disappearing off the path and into the trees. “Over here!” she called, the words slightly distorted from the fangs in her mouth. When they emerged into the clearing, a large black bear leant up the tree, a heavy paw swiping at a bee’s hive way out of its reach. Her head turned, distracted with their presence, and with a longing look at the honey filled bomb, lumbered their way, returning to her human form. The makeshift camp held a shoddily made campfire, unburnt, and a bundle of leaves and grasses, pressed down into an obvious sleeping mat. All of her worldly possessions she wore, the only thing of worth was a silver amulet that hung around her throat, hidden beneath her rag tail assortment of clothes.

She looked embarrassed at the fire, “I couldn’t make it burn…” She admitted to her new comrades, then brightened considerably. “But you can!” She beamed at Medea, sitting herself on the ground in a way so much similar to the puppy that had plonked itself before her in the Inn. She definitely seemed the most at ease, even Xavier’s scent was becoming familiar to her, and now that she looked for it, she felt the tingle of a god’s power and her instincts swerved on impulse. Un-use to company, after so long spent with only animal or animal – human interactions, her emotions seemed a little haywire. Living with the animals gave her no inclination of hiding thoughts or feelings from where they delved across her expressions. If she tried hard enough, she could remember the streets, the threat of winter and the savage form of survival. But she didn’t do that often, for then she’d have to remember Kassius’s screams, and the taste of his blood… no. It was better to live in the moment, with no thought of the past but for where she’d found a good berry bush, and no dream of the future but for the next meal. Humans would live better if all followed such a care free plan, she believed.

Xavier trailed along at the rear of the procession. He was still reluctant about following this unusual group. The others had all been chosen by the gods...but he had been cursed by one. He didn't know just why he'd been selected, but in all his years he'd learned that fate didn't seem to care for what mere mortals seemed to think about her decisions. He'd been a victim of fate for so long that he felt little more than a passenger. His eyes drifted from the backs of every one of them, wondering just what might be in store.

"Let us hope that Athena decides to tell you something. Otherwise things might be somewhat aimless." Xavier said tiredly at Nikkos's back, his eyes watching the young man speculatively for a few moments before he looked at Ava transform into a lio ness and lead them into the underbrush away from the town. He followed along at the end of the procession, glancing over his shoulder for several long minutes before he was sure that they weren't being followed. He walked into the brush and followed the trail, finally emerging at the clearing and joining the others, sitting slgihtly back and against a tree, watching the group.

"So if we're supposed to have some role in this...conflict? Who is it against, where is it to be waged? Can you let us know anything more than the vagarities of something is going to happen?" Xavier asked Nikkos again, his voice taking on that sured voice of a commander demanding to know information about a coming foe.

“Oh – right! Eris would like to ride on your shoulders, Medea! Apparently I am not relaxed enough for him tonight”

Medea was a little startled as she felt the cat stalking between her legs but reached down with her fire-free hand and scooped him up, she let him rest on her arm as she held it horizontally for the cat.

When they finally made it to Ava's campsite, Medea could see her shift into a human again and her clear embaressment caused by her inability to start a fire.

“I couldn’t make it burn… But you can!”

Medea looked uncomfortable at this, she was not exactly proud of her power and only used it when necessary. She extinguished her fist, set Eris on the ground and sat down on a rock, she held her chin in her hands and she seemed like she was tired or fed up. The twigs and leaves in the unburnt campfire began to smoke, her eyes lit up a bright red again and seemed to light everything that surrounded them.

Medea looked strained, she didn't have complete control of her power and often relied on emotion when she needed it but now she felt empty and void. She struggled to light a simple fire when this would generally have been simple for her, she groaned and waved her hand, it glowed a coal red and the fire sparked...then died.

Medea fell back against the tree behind the rock, she had exhausted herself and had no emotion to fuel such a thing.

"I'm sorry..." Medea said, gasping slightly "I can't, I need to feel...something and right now I just feel empty..."

Her eyes were blue once again, her face slightly sweaty with the effort the spark had taken and she felt like a completely useless member of the group for being unable to do something so easy, so simple.