Hey, thanks for reading! hope you enjoy. Any comments appreciated! thanks!

Em

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Chapter One

The wind sent Sintara's long, brown hair in a swirling bouquet around her head. She crouched low, then leaped. She stretched out then snapped her claws into a bunch of leaves. She came close to slipping then dug her toe claws into the branch. The bird she had been chasing flew away. She twisted onto her back, snapped an arrow to her bow and released the bowstring. There was a thump as the brightly coloured bird hit the ground. Sintara jumped, and fell 10ft. She rolled to lessen the impact and claimed the bird before the insects' could. The arrow had sliced straight into its eye. She placed the whole thing into her bag and wiped the bloody arrow on her trousers. It slipped easily into the quiver. On the short run back she added a small pigeon and a badger into her bag along with the pheasant. It was a good afternoons hunting.

Back at the cave, Althea had dug a hole and was starting a fire inside it. A little tunnel going up from the side released any smoke and a large, tightly woven pot covered the top of the hole. Althea tipped a handful of diced herbs into the boiling water in the pot. There was already a selection of home-grown vegetables inside along with sliced meat. All was in the pot and being stirred. That night they were having stew.

'''''''''''''''''

Althea snapped her head up. Her eyes darted from side to side. Then she twisted and knocked aside the dagger aimed at her head. A shrill whistle alerted the others as Althea smacked the attacker around the head with the dull end of his own dagger. He fell to the ground as Althea slipped her machete from her belt. She crouched as another dagger was thrown over her head and whistled again.

Kelsanda swept one attacker into the river with a wave of water whilst impaling the second on her sword within the same moment. She shook the blood droplets away and jabbed upwards. Sintara swept her black wings out and leaped just in time. It was a close miss.

"Watch it!" she shouted. Three enemies were downed by arrows in quick succession. Althea sliced her machete and Sintara dodged the limb as its owner fell. She hovered above the bloody campsite and spun to check there were no more enemies. All was clear.

"Hold on to something" Sintara warned the other two before sweeping her hand to one side. A sudden humongous gust of wind caught all the bodies and rolled them towards the rivers current. Just before they reached the edge, however, Althea twisted her wrist and an earth cage sprung up around the vile things.

"And the point of that was...?" Kelsanda asked.

"One was only knocked out. We need a prisoner to question. Also, if you haven't noticed, every one of them are wearing backpacks - and most are clean. It would be worth nosing inside them for some supplies and such. Don't you think?"

"Always the one with the brains, Althea. OK. Who will go collect the stuff and sort out the alive from the dead?" Sintara questioned "You suggested it Althea" She grinned at her cringing friend, teeth showing brightly.

"Umm... Sintara? You might wish to look at your teeth." Kelsanda made a little block of water float into the air. Sintara flew over and looked into the clear, reflective water. She froze, then recoiled.

"I have FANGs? First wings; then scaling; now fangs?" Sinatra tilted her head slightly to the side to check the light blue scales that were creeping up her neck from her back where the wings emerged. "What am I?"

"An insanely beautiful daughter of a god." A voice in the shadows whispered. Sintara dropped to the ground, her wings returning to under her skin. Or scales. Whatever.

"Who's there?" Kelsanda asked, pointing her sword at the shadows "Come into the light!"

"I'm here to negotiate." The strange man said as he stepped into the light. "Who are you? Althea asked "And what do you mean 'Daughter of a god'?"

"What do you mean insanely beautiful?" Sintara snorted.

"I'm Hermes, Zeus's youngest son. Your cousin, Althea and Kelsanda and your Uncle, Sintara. I bring a message from Zeus." He swept forward into a bow, the bottom of the trousers of his pinstriped suit rose up a little at the ankles revealing smart shoes with little white angel wings on the heels.

"Okay... So what is this message?" Sintara eyed him suspiciously "And you're not just one of those weird kids who dress up and act like maniacs are you?"

Hermes stared at her. "No. The message is thus; you have spent a year and a half in here in the woods. The attackers you have fought were sent by the almighty Zeus as a test of your powers."

"Have we passed?"

"Please don't interrupt, Kelsanda. Yes you have passed. Zeus now wishes to see you. He is considering letting you back into Olympus. You must come now."

Hermes held out his hand to her and she took it. Althea held Sintara's hand and Kelsanda took Hermes' other hand. There was a blinding white flash and when the three girls blinked they were suddenly in a small white dome.

"Welcome to Olympus" a deep voice boomed out. They blinked again and held tight to each other's hands. The white walls appeared to dissolve to reveal a large round room. Along one side were twelve throne-like chairs. Seated in them were men and ladies wearing pure white robes. They were all holding various weapons or items. In the middle of the twelve was a throne almost twice the size of the others. The man seated in it wore a golden crown. He was leaning forward in his white throne which had slashes of gold - like lighting bolts - flickering across it, staring at Sintara, Althea and Kelsanda. The two men on his left, the lady on his right and a younger man with a bow hooked on the arm of his shining gold seat next to her were staring at them with just as much intensity.

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Hiya bubaz, just wanted to say please remember to vote, comment, tell people, be amazing and whatever!

Thanks!

Em xx