Short Story I did for World Literature Finals

So, here's the short story I had to write for my World Literature Class. I have to say it was totally awesome to FINALLY have a creative out let! Please enjoy!!!!

Title: “Swamp Children”, Project for Finals

It started when man was formed from the dust of the Earth. They turned away from the love they had been instructed to share and allowed hatred to spew out of their mouths and hearts like molten lava, scorching the planet with their sins. “Great” civilizations had come and passed, each with so much promise and then failing the world with their wars. Each era had land mass that represented the “best times” of that particular time. There had been Greece, Rome and America. Centuries have passed since those names and all they represented meant anything. Man had gone to war with his brother and the delicate balance of nature had been shattered. The lands were burnt and scorched with what had been called “nuclear bombs”, replacing cities with wastelands and swamps, forests with deserts, and only one ocean left on the planet. The only livable places were the twenty small territories of swamp lands that remained over the planet, each guarded by a king and queen, for man still had not learned from his mistakes and appointed bitter leaders to lead their broken people.

One man ruled with more cruelty in his heart than the other leaders, King Katabaisis was his name, and he was the ruler of land of Rushreed, one of the larger swamps of the twenty territories. He was most famous for his Pit of Blood, where he kept predatory animals caged in the middle of town square. There was a lion, leopard, bear and crocodile in the pit, some of the few remaining creatures living on the Earth. Every day King Katabaisis would throw people into the pit who displeased him, which was often, and would force the entire town to watch as the people in the pit were ripped to shreds and eaten alive by the creatures in the pit.

Two twin brothers named Kleos and Khorysos had been a part of his personal guard, constantly protecting the King from attacks from assassins sent to kill the king and his family, assassins sent by the other territory leaders. The most dangerous threat to the crown was a warrior, a woman who lived out in the most inhabitable parts of the swamp. She was the leader of a band of orphaned children and outcasts who had survived Katabaisis’s wrath. There were rumors of her trying to stage a coup against the king and she was often spotted stealing from the town or trying to kill the king. Kleos was the one who finally caught her and was supposed to have the honor of throwing her into the Pit of blood, but he couldn’t. During his battles with this woman, he had been able to speak with her in-between exchanging blows, and he had discovered by listening to her just how corrupt their king was, and soon grew to see the corruption himself. So when it came to sending her to his death, he couldn’t. He fought off the other soldiers and set her free. He fought against his own brother, clashing blades with him. Khorysos had been shocked at his brother’s brazen act of defiance against the crown and though he had sworn to protect the king, he could not bring himself to kill Kleos, nor could Kleos bring himself to kill Khorysos. But before their battle could be decided a magnificent black stallion galloped in to the town, a filthy girl siting on the giant stallion’s back. The child was in her young teens, and despite her youthful age she had the eyes of an old, battle weary warrior. She wore tattered clothing and in her hands she held a giant metal sledge hammer. The stallion she rode was one of the largest horses that had ever been seen, its black coat glossy and over its eyes were giant shimmering blue scales. The girl had jumped off the back of the stallion, striking the ground with her hammer, splitting the road and causing the ground to shake. The warrior woman had jumped onto the horse, followed by Kleos and the girl, and they had ridden out of the town.

The King Katabaisis was filled with fear after seeing the stallion and the girl who rode it, for there was a legend of seven children known as The Seven Treasures. The legend went that the children had been born with special properties and had the ability to take down the twenty territories, uniting them into one giant utopia. Katabaisis refused to lose his position as king and declared war against the children, calling upon the leaders of the other territories to join his battle against the seven treasures. Every leader came to join the battle, eager to kill off their enemies, except Queen Aphrodite, who spoke for the children, claiming how it was insanity to kill powerless children. For her insolence, she and her army were kicked out of the town. Both Khorysos and Katabaisis’s son, Prince Enkidu were struck by the queen’s beauty and snuck out to ensure her safety through the swamp, running not only into each other on the way but her body guards. Before explanations could be made, they were attacked and their torches snuffed out, blackness taking over and blinding them, making it easy for their assailants to bind them and take them away.

                                                                     ***

When Khorysos awoke, his head was throbbing greatly. He was tied up, lying in the corner of a mud hut with thick weeds bound together to make the floor. Sitting across from him was the Prince tied up, his dark brown eyes flashing as he stared at Khorysos from his corner.

“Prince, are you hurt?” Khorysos grunted as he blinked rapidly, trying to force his pounding headache to go away. “Where are we?”

“Did my father send you to follow after me?” Prince Enkidu snapped back.

“No, I didn’t even know you were outside of the town walls.” Came the muttered reply as Khorysos struggled into a sitting position.

“Then what exactly where you doing?”

Before Khorysos could answer, the blanket acting as a door was lifted up and the girl with the sledge hammer strode in, resting the hammer in a relaxed position against her left shoulder.

“Good. You two are awake.”

“Set me free at once, peasant!” Enkidu snarled, spitting at the girl’s feet. “Do you know who I am?!”

“What have you done to the queen?” Khorysos demanded.

“What I have done to the queen is none of your concern, spy.” The girl replied coldly, her grip tightening on the shaft of her hammer. “I should split both of your brains open right now before the two of you even think of causing us grief. Unfortunately, that’s not my decision to make.” The blanket was lifted again and Queen Aphrodite entered in followed by the warrior woman known as Athena, and Kleos. Khorysos felt his heart skip a beat as he looked up into the queen’s beautiful eyes.

“Well, you two gave us more trouble than we bargained for.” The queen sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing the skin between her eyes. “The act of my kidnapping was hard enough to pull off, but with you two, we’re a bit over our heads. They think that the seven treasures have kidnapped Prince Enkidu and have completely sent them over the edge. War cannot be avoided now.”

“I…I don’t understand.” Khorysos mumbled. Kleos grinned as he took out a dagger and began to cut his brother free.

“And you’re supposed to be the smarter one. Queen Aphrodite is on our side, she’s part of our rebel army.”

“What?”

“Being a leader of a territory myself, I know better than any on how corrupt the other leaders are. If we wish to learn from our past, we must make a change. I had hoped to convince the others last night at the meeting, but my words fell upon death ears.” Aphrodite sighed, tugging gently on the golden earring she wore. “Pitting violence with more violence is senseless.”

“How are our people corrupt?” Khorysos asked, confused at what was happening. It was all so much to take in!

“Brother, have you been so blinded by your rank and high position in court that you cannot see the suffering all around you? I too, had scales over my eyes until Athena showed me just how sick the human race is. We need to make a change!” Kleos said passionately, pounding his fist against his chest. “That is why I left Katabaisis’s army!”

“You abandoned your people!”

“I left so I could make a change, and joining the rebellion is the first step to that!”

“So slaughtering your own town is the best way to save our world, is that what you’re saying? You make no sense, brother!” Khorysos shouted, reaching out and grabbing his brother by his shirt, yanking him closer to his face. “You have lost your senses, and all for a woman! You shame your species!”

“You’re not really one to talk, you know.” Enkidu muttered from his corner. “May I be untied now?”

“As heir to the throne, you have no rights to wander camp freely.” The girl with the sledge hammer snapped.

“I demand to know your name, insolent brat!”

“You can bite my a—”

“Kratos, that’s enough.” Athena rebuked. “Go and tend to your stallion.”

Kratos glared at Enkidu, pulling her dirty blonde hair into a ponytail before grabbing her sledge hammer and walking out of the mud hut. “And as for you two, I have some men I’d like to have you meet.”

“If you are having them meet who I think you are, I would suggest bringing Enkidu with you.” Aphrodite said, leaning down to cut Enkidu loose. “Get along, boys.”

                        Outside the mud hut Khorysos and Enkidu were surprised to see that the swamp was filled with giant plants unlike any they had ever seen before. They rose several feet, as tall as trees, their shape like that of dying flowers. Smoke slowly rose from the depths of their bellies, a thick smog filling the air.

“What are these things? I have never seen the likes before.” Enkidu commented as they passed under several giant plants.

“They are toxic bog plants, it’s okay to be near them but whatever you do, don’t eat them. You’ll die faster than an offender of the royal court in the pit.”

“That’s the day you led my brother down the path of betrayal.” Khorysos muttered.

“Oh shut up.” Kleos snapped back. “You’re such a pain.”

Athena rolled her eyes as she strode in front of them. “No. Your brother decided to trust me, as you should.”

“Where are you leading us?” Enkidu demanded.

“You may be a Prince behind the safety of your walls, oh whiney one, but out here, you’re just a prisoner, who most wouldn’t mind if you just disappeared…need I say any more?” Athena said coldly, glaring over her shoulder at Enkidu. Enkidu scowled deeply but closed his mouth, sulkily acknowledging that his fate rested in his her hands.

After traveling for several minutes among questionable ground, their shoes sinking under the mucky path more than once, Athena brought the brothers and Enkidu to a giant wooden structure that rose unnaturally out of the ground, haphazardly built over a wooden platform, the odd structure seeming to define physics.

“What is this primitive hut?” Enkidu snorted, crossing his arms as he viewed the building while his mud covered silk shoes began to sink into the slushy ground again.

“I’m starting to understand Kratos eagerness to do you physical harm.” Athena sighed loudly, covering her face with the palm of her right hand. “Here lives those who escaped your father’s wrath, Prince. They used to be considered the most valiant of men, their list of honors lengthy and their stature unlike any other, until they said or did something to displease your spiteful father. They were sent out here to the swamp, out here to die. It was never imagine that one could live out here in the wilds, but these once famous heroes have proven that it’s no difficult task for them to live in the toxic swamp.”

“Do they lead the rebel forces?” Khorysos asked, his fingers instinctively reaching for his sword hilt, feeling a wave of shame wash over him when he realized that his sword had been taken away.

“No, it is not them. It is I.” Athena replied. “I know what you’re thinking. You want to slice my head off my shoulders and return it to your king where you can do major ass-kissing to make up for leaving his side. However, not only will Kleos restrain you if you so dare as attack, but I will kill you myself.” She moved forward and walked up the steps to the platform and finally up to the building, knocking on the door. There was some snorts and muffled curse words on the other side before the door slowly creaked open.

“Athena, what do you want?” A man’s old crackled voice demanded followed by a series of harsh coughing and hacking. Athena reached in and patted the unseen man’s shoulder.

“I have some people I would like you to meet, honored one, please, won’t you come out with your fellow warriors and speak with them? Open their eyes and hearts, please.”

Khorysos leaned over to Kleos. “Who the hell is she speaking too?”

“I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve ever been here.” Kleos replied, placing his hands on his hips.

“Kleos…if you return, you can get your glory and honor back.” His brother whispered, hitting on his brother’s weakness. When they had been younger, the only thing Kleos had ever wanted was to be famous and seen as a glorious man. Kleos’s face now turned dark and he looked down at his feet.

“Khorysos…I am not that person anymore.” Kleos replied quietly.
 Before Khorysos could struggle his own brother’s neck, the door opened to the wooden structure and a man clothed in a soiled and torn silk robe, a rusted and dirty crown sat crookedly on his balding head. Khorysos felt as if the air had been knocked out of him.

“Y-you? But…” He said in shock before quickly getting to his knees and bowing, followed by Kleos, bowing before the ancient man who stood before them in all his tarnished former glory.

“Athena!” Kleos gasped, still kneeling. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?!”

“None other than I and the children know of their existence at all. It’s all about keeping them safe. If it was known they were alive, bounty hunters would come and bring them to the king for money.” She replied, helping the old king shuffle out across the platform to an old rocking chair that sat in lonely gloominess, spider webs all over the arms. Athena dusted off the seat and helped the old man sit down.

“But, we were told that you had died!” Khorysos stuttered in shock, looking up in disbelief at the old former king of his city.  

“Who is this old fart?” Enkidu snorted, crossing his hands over his chest in an arrogant manner.

“You idiot, this is your grandfather!” Kleos snapped, reaching up and yanking Enkidu down by the bottom of his shirt. Enkidu smacked the ground with his knees, sinking down a little bit as he looked up in shock. “You weren’t that young when he died! Surely you remember him a little?”

“My…grandfather?” The words tumbled slowly from Enkidu’s mouth. “But…you died…of a heart attack…”

“Enkidu, is that you?” Oedipus asked, a wrinkly hand reaching out blindly. “Your voice is so deep, I didn’t recognize it. Come child, come see your wrinkly old farting grandfather.”

“But you’re dead!” Enkidu shouted, pointing a trembling finger at his grandfather.

“Dead? I wish.” Oedipus snorted, waving a hand slowly in front of his eyes. “Instead of killing myself like I should have, I blinded myself instead, using the very tips of my own crown. Your father, my ungrateful son, had me thrown out of his precious city so that he could become king.

And you escaped just barely with your own life too, I suppose, eh? Your life was most likely on the line as well.”

“Wh…what?”

“You must be joking, the king wouldn’t do that to his own son.” Khorysos responded, slowly rising up to his feet. “He just…he wouldn’t…out of all the people, he loves—”

“He loves only himself. Look what he did to his own father!” Athena snapped, stroking Oedipus over the head gently. “And look what they did my father, and to all the others who have been out-casted here!”

“Your father?”

“Athena, that is enough dear. Yelling at these fools will do you no good.” Oedipus sighed, taking her hand in his. “Please, take me back inside, and bring them inside as well…we have much talking to do.”

“Yes, grandfather.” Athena said as she helped the old man to sit up.

“Grand…father?” Enkidu whispered.

“Don’t you remember your cousin, Princess Pallas Athena?” Oedipus chided as they slowly made their way across the platform and towards the door. “Come, enter the home of woes and listen to our tales.”

      They all soon found themselves inside the odd structure, sitting on makeshift furniture, the old king lying in a bed that stood at the far back of the room. Enkidu sat in a chair next to the bed, finally holding his grandfather’s gnarled hands in his own.

“I do not understand this at all…please, what is going on?” He finally said, his eyes bright from unshed tears. “To see you, my dear grandfather, in such a pitiful state, my heart is close to breaking!” He then turned to Athena, who was stroking the fire that grew in the fire place. “And you! My cousin! I barely recall you, but I remember we played a lot, yes?”

“Yes, we did.” Athena stood back up and went towards the kitchen, taking out a long butcher knife, attacking the odd looking vegetables with frightening vigor. “But that was a long time ago. My father, your uncle, would be better at explaining.”

“Indeed,” A tired voice said from the staircase that led to the upper level rooms of the wooden house. Slowly a man in his late sixties made his way down the steps, his once stoic face now tired and gray, his white hair matted and tangled. He wore old musty red robes, scars covering his massive arms. “It’s been awhile, Enkidu. You were only a tyke the last time I saw you.”

“Uncle…Gilgamesh?” Enkidu whispered, his face paling. “Why do you ghosts keep haunting me?! Why is it, that all who should be dead, are alive?!”

The stairs creaked some more and another made his descent down the stairs.

“You! You were the Great Captain Odysseus! You should be dead, executed.” Khorysos said in surprise as the once glorious man made his way tiredly down the stairs. His proud frame that had once graced the court was now sagging with age and exhaustion, his once glorious polished armor dull, rusted and covered in dents.

“The keyword is ‘were’. Now I am no more than a joke to be laughed and scoffed at by the King and his pea-brain followers.” Odysseus replied as he came to the end of the flight of stairs, wrapping his tattered maroon cape about his body as if trying to ward off a chill.

“You three all together, were mighty warriors and defenders of our city. What caused you all to end up in such an ignoble place as this?” Khorysos demanded as the two men sat down at the table, their sighs and grunts heavy as they sat, their manner of men who had given up.  

“Ah, what would be preferred? The long list or the short list?” Odysseus sighed as he stretched out his long legs, his knees cracking with age. “Either way they are excessively long and unfortunate.”

“It would be wise to start from the beginning, but please give a brief synopsis.” Athena said from the kitchen. “Dinner will be ready soon.”

“Allow me to start then,” Oedipus sighed from his bed. “It truly all stared when I was a young prince. It seemed all I could think of power and conquest. I took over many lands, finally setting my eyes on where the town is today.” He paused to lick his drying lips. “So many innocent people lost their lives during that battle…men, women, children, it did not matter. I slaughtered all who stood in my path, as did my men, stupidly obeying my word. Oh how I wish someone had stood up to me back then! But they all wanted power and glory as well, so my methods did not bother them much. They claimed it just made me more powerful in their eyes. I became very old before I had children. It did not take me long to see my boys turn power hungry, especially my youngest, Katabaisis, who was as dark and power hungry as me. I rejoiced back then, thinking that it meant that I had a son who was strong. It never occurred to me that he was indeed, evil. That I was evil.” Oedipus paused to cough, struggling to sit up some more. Enkidu reached over and adjusted the pillow behind him. “There was originally thirty territories back then. Katabaisis took our soldiers with him and wiped three of the other village off from the face of the earth, taking their spoils, food, resources and wealth, bringing them back to us. I was proud of my youngest. I promised him the crown.”

“I became jealous.” Gilgamesh said, taking over the story. “I wanted my father’s approval and personal glory more than anything…to him I was nothing more than scum because I had not conquered a land or territory. So I left my wife and daughter and took the remaining men who had not gone to battle with my brother and we left. We conquered the seven other territories, leaving each site more twisted and destroyed then the last. I brought three times the spoils back with me and gifted it all to my father, unlike my brother, who had saved some for himself. Father was very pleased and took the crown away from my brother, promising it to me. This enraged my brother more than I could have ever imagined. I was too focused on my own well-being and of ensuring my title to the throne…not to mention my daughter’s future.” He paused to glance towards the kitchen where Athena was working on dinner. She paused while chopping up some questionable looking meat before going back to her work, her lips pulled back tightly and her face pale. “I had decided by that time that the territories should become united.” Gilgamesh said, restarting up his story, returning his focus back to the faces sitting around him. “I had grown older and wiser and was beginning to realize that war brought with it only death…or so at least I had told the other leaders. What I really had in mind was forming a treaty and then killing off the other leaders. I planned to conquer the entire world. Father approved of this notion, for once I had done this thing, he would be the King of the World, and I would be at his right hand side, so that when he passed on, I would assume my rightful place on the throne. But my brother was more treacherous then I imagined and he plotted against me. The night I left the town to meet with the other leaders, he sent assassins after my men. To this very day, I do not know who these warriors were. Though they were few, they were fierce and quick at their job; taking down all of my men with disturbing ease. Athena and her mother were with me that night…her mother slain before my very eyes. I took my daughter and we ran for our lives, leaving my men to their fate. We came out here to these swamp lands and I built us this house. We have lived here ever since.” He paused to drink from a wooden goblet. “Father had already been an old man when my brother and I were born, and as you can see, he is now ancient, yet he still lives. It has been rumored that as a young lad he stole a plant of immortality from a monster’s lair and ate it, and that is the reason why he has lived such a long life…he himself will not ever comment on this.”

“My young son grew weary of my long life,” Oedipus said, his voice thick with emotion. “One night I laid in my bed chambers, sleeping peacefully, when I heard the floor board next to me creaking. I opened my eyes and saw a dagger lying heavily across my throat, my young son holding it. Yet he could not do it. Perhaps a tiny shred of a human heart still was in him at that moment, but he could not strike down his own father. So he had me taken out to these swamp lands and banished, leaving me with only the clothes on my back and my crown, with which I used to blind myself after I was left out there. It felt like the only fitting thing to do to myself…penance for not seeing the darkness in my son’s heart…for not seeing the darkness that had been in my own soul. Athena found me not too long after that and brought me here.”

There was a long silence in the room after that, the only sound coming from the fire that crackled and popped in the fireplace. Athena came out with dinner and served each of them silently. Finally Enkidu broke the silence.

“My father…you think he was planning my demise too?” 

“Most likely.” Gilgamesh replied as he drank the rest of his soup. “Every king needs an heir to the throne, but when children become adults they can get in the way of ultimate power. You could have been easy to rid himself of. He would most likely marry you off to some girl and you would have a child, boy or girl, it did not matter. The moment the babe had come out of your wife’s womb you would have been killed. Then not only would he have an heir insured, but a longer chance at the throne as well, because a child cannot challenge an adult.”

Enkidu dropped his still full soup bowl, the contents spilling out all over the ground.

“Prince? What is the matter?”

“My engagement to a young woman of royal descent in my village was announced not more than two days ago.” Enkidu whispered, his usually tan face now very pale.

“I see.” Gilgamesh said, finishing off the contents in his bowl and then setting it down on the table. “Then he was already putting his plan into motion.”

“You, what is your story?” Enkidu asked, pointing to Odysseus, who was sitting off by himself in a rather melancholy state.

“My tale is said to bring tears even to the most hard-hearted beast.” Odysseus moaned, brushing his long dark hair out of his face.

“Your tale is not nearly as sad as your pathetic demeanor.” Athena snorted, tossing a cloth at Enkidu. “Clean up your mess while I tell you about Sir Whines-A-Lot.” She leaned up against the wall and watched as Enkidu made a half-hearted attempted at wiping up the floor. “Odysseus here used to be the head captain of the armies, appointed not too long before father and I were attacked by the assassins. He was the only who came back alive from that mission, so he could report publicly to the courts what had happened to my father and me, unaware of the plan the king had made against them. For public show, the king bestowed a butt-load of honors and status’s on Odysseus and he soon became a court favorite. Well, he let this go to his head, especially when women made him offers. His bed conquests are high in numbers, if one is to believe his far-fetched tales.”

At this, Gilgamesh snorted.

“It is true!” Odysseus snapped. “You wretched girl, allow me to tell my own tale!” Athena shrugged and nodded towards him. “I was highly sought out by the women in the courts, and finally caught the eye of your mother, Queen Xeneia.” This caused Enkidu to stop and stare with an open mouth at Odysseus. “But before our affair could become more…um, pleasurable, your father the king caught us.”

“Lover boy was sent the Pit of Blood, the only person to survive through it.” Gilgamesh said in an uninterested tone. “Except the Queen claimed he tried to rape her, which I wouldn’t doubt.”

“Oh, I remember that!” Kleos said, snapping his fingers. “You were stripped of your ranks and titles and thrown in, but how did you survive?”

“He ran into the door that leads to the room that the animal keeper lives in. He escaped from there.” Athena replied. “I brought him to our home here, where he has lived ever since.”

“What did you used to be before coming to our court?”

“A pirate. I was trying to sail home to my lovely wife when a storm caught us and I was washed on shore to your awful swampy lands.” Odysseus replied sorrowfully.

“I tire of you, Odysseus.” Oedipus snorted from his bed. “You act as if you have done nothing to deserve your fate, but you’re as bad as the rest of us. You left your lady wife to find glories, power and money, slept your way around  with many different women, if you can even be believed about that, and you have killed your fair share of innocent people. We, who were evil, have come to terms with our fate and punishment, you should do so as well.”

Suddenly Enkidu jumped to his feet and rant towards Odysseus.

“You bastard!” He cried out angrily, tackling the man to the ground. “Because of you, my mother’s right arm was cut off!” Athena and Gilgamesh struggled to pull Enkidu off of Odysseus, finally tossing him outside.

“Leave your immaturity outside, will you?” Gilgamesh snapped before slamming the door shut.

“This…this all seems so unreal!” Khorysos groaned. “To think I have served an evil such as this!”

“Do you see why now, brother?” Kleos said, putting his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Do you see why now that I had to leave? When Athena told me about her tale and of other evils the king as done…I could no longer even stand seeing his repulsive face. I had to leave, I had to get away. That is why we are trying to make a difference! Athena, Aphrodite and I are going to lead our army against theirs and we will triumph!”

“Foolish boy.” Oedipus snorted from his bed. “You and my granddaughter claim to better our situation? Have you learned nothing from the tales we have told? It is better to sit and do nothing then to do something that will only add more evil to the world. You wish to change the world, yet how can you do that if you’re only causing more bloodshed? Your logic is warped, as was ours.”

“We are fighting for the good of the world!” Kleos snapped.

“So was the same claim I made!” Gilgamesh shouted back. “You and my daughter must not do this thing!”

“But we have the Seven Treasures! Surly it can tip the scales against the evil! Gilgamesh, surely even you can recognize that!”

While Kleos and Gilgamesh got into a yelling bout inside, Enkidu was outside struggling with tears of anger. His  mother had suffered bitterly because of the ordeal with Odysseus, even though she claimed her innocence, his father had decided it would be best to punish her just to remind his court to never double cross him. To think that I have been turning into him sickens my core. How could I have allowed this to happen? Mother…I hope you are safe right now. He thought to himself before looking up and seeing from the shadows the girl Kratos, the one who had wanted to finish him off. With everyone yelling at each other, he was able to slip away from the house with ease, watching as Kratos disappeared into some bushes nearby. He followed her into the bushes and gave a yelp of surprise as the ground under him sucked him underneath. Before he came to the realization that he had been sucked into a sink hole, a hand reached in and pulled him out. He gasped for air and coughed up sand and muck, spitting the foul stuff out of his mouth.

“You idiot, don’t you know a sink hole when you see one?” Kratos muttered, tossing him to the side.

“Well excuse me, but I didn’t live in the swamp my entire life.” He snapped back, gasping for air.

“You’re welcome.” She replied, standing up slowly. “Since the ‘grown-ups’ will be arguing until the sun rises, we want you to come with us.”

“Whose ‘we’?”

“The Treasures, duh.” She reached down and helped him to his feet.

“You’re a Treasure?”

“I’m Kratos, Treasure of Outer Strength.” She said, gripping his hand firmly and led him through the swamp lands until they came to a giant cave, where giant trees and swamp plants grew around it, a clean creek wove cutting them off from the cave. “Don’t step in the water, it’s one of the few clean drinking sites around here.” She ordered, jumping onto the rocks sticking out of the clear waters and hopping across towards the other side. Very carefully, Enkidu made his way over the rocks and made it to the other side, to the mouth of the cave.

“Why have you led me here?” He asked suspiciously, looking at the dark and menacing mouth of the cave with the same wariness that one would look at a hungry lion. “I thought you wanted me dead.”

“Although I find anyone from the court to be scum and untrustworthy, the true leader of our band has requested to see you.” Kratos replied. There was a loud whiny from the trees and Kratos peered up into the trees. “Stallion! Is that you? Be careful, you idiot! You could fall from there!”

Enkidu looked up and saw a giant black horse sitting precariously in the thick branches of the tree.

“Um…how is your horse in a tree?”

“It’s the damnedest thing.” Kratos said with a shrug of her shoulders, hefting her giant hammer over her shoulders. “He loves to climb trees. Nothing I say can keep him from doing otherwise. C’mon, let’s go.”

After passing through the dark mouth of the cave, Kratos grabbed a lantern and lit it, filling the dark gave with dim light. Enkidu was surprised to see that the entire inside of the cave was filled with crystals. The only thing made of actual plain stone was the floor underneath. The walls and ceiling were made of the most precious looking gems and crystals he had ever seen in his entire life, shimmering and glimmering with pure beauty as they walked by, the light from the lantern bouncing off of them. His older self would have wanted to take an armful with him, yet, Enkidu did not want to touch them or disturb their beauty. He was content just to view them the way they were. Finally after walking for an hour downwards in silence, they came to the bowels of the cave. Scattered about the room were children, the same age or younger then Kratos and Enkidu, who were in their early teens. Sitting around with the children were giant animals who had blue scales covering their eyes.

“These are the children of Treasures, like me. We each have a treasure we represent, and an animal that stands for that treasure as well.” Kratos said, setting down her hammer. “We came from different territories. I am from the seventh territory, and as I told you, I represent Outer Strength. This here is Apollo,” She gestured to a giant and strong looking Native American who had scars on his shoulders that looked like claw marks, his face solid and stoic looking. He merely stared at Enkidu, his eyes not reveling what he was thinking. He wore a headband with feathers in it and a giant loin cloth that covered his lower half. Behind him perched on a ledge was the biggest bird that Enkidu had ever seen in his life. A giant red tailed hawk the size of a huge dog, was preening his feathers carefully, only pausing to gaze at Enkidu for a moment or two before going back to preening. “Apollo is the Treasure of Nature, and this is Splendor Animal, Hawk.” Next to Apollo was a girl who had crazy red hair and an even crazier smile on her small face. She only had one leg, a giant wooden stump serving for her missing limb. She was leaning up against a giant red fox who wrapped its tail protectively around the girl. “That is Ithaka and Fox over there. She is the Treasure of Wisdom.” To Enkidu’s right came a deep menacing growl. Enkidu saw a wolf crouching low to the ground, hackles raised. Behind the wolf stood a boy who was completely armless, the arm on his left completely gone to the shoulder bone and the arm on his left gone to right elbow. “That is Troy, Treasure of Loyalty. He is descended from those who used to live in Asia. Do not mess Wolf, he will eat you.”

“Is that how Troy lost his arms?”

“No, his arms were cut off by his father.” Kratos then pointed towards the beautiful girl in the back of the room, who was stroking a female deer lovingly. “That is Venus and Doe, her Treasure is Beauty.” The girl was from the group of those like Enkidu himself, people from India. Out of all of the treasures, she wore the most colorful of clothes, but her head was completely bald. Kratos then pointed to the back of the cave where a tiny figure sat wrapped up in a blanket. “Over there is our leader. Nostos, I brought the Prince, Enkidu.” The tiny figure came out of the shadows to revel a tiny girl, no older than seven. A lamb bleated loudly as it quickly followed after her, nudging her ankles gently with its wooly head.

“You are the leader? But you are a child!” Enkidu snapped, staring at the dark skin child, putting his hands over his chest. “Kratos, I thought out of the entire lot here in this camp you were the smartest, but you have successfully proven me wrong.”

“Prince Enkidu, you must help me stop this path of hatred.” Nostos, the little girl whispered, her voice barely heard. Enkidu paused, staring at the girl in surprise.

“Excuse me?”

“Your father, King Katabaisis is marching with his army here now as we speak. Many will die if we cannot stop them.”

“Why not let Athena’s army battle them?”

“Athena used to believe in us…used to believe in God to protect us. But she has become an adult and is absorbing the adult poison and hatred. What she once wanted, peace and freedom, is being replaced with vengeance and anger. We no longer trust even her, the one who has cared for us these past few years. She once was a child of Treasure, like us.”

“She was?” Enkidu said in surprise, finding himself being pulled in by the words of the strange child who stood in front of him. The words she spoke were not of one who was a child, in fact, they were words of wisdom he had never even heard from the lips of the supposed adults who had been in his life.

“Yes. She was the Treasure of Inner Strength.” Nostos stroke the head of her lame. “I am the Treasure of Peace. We are all treasures, Enkidu.” She looked back up at him. “God made us all special on the inside. We all have a purpose here on earth, but for some reason, when humans become older, it’s almost as if they become blinded by what the world offers and no longer hear God’s voice. Athena became like this and lost her Treasure, and her Splendor. I had a dream…a dream where you were the next treasure. We can only work together when there are seven of us. If you can prove to us that you are a Treasure, will you come with us? Will you help us break the cycle of hatred and save the lives of the innocent? Will you help us bring peace back?”

“You ask quite a lot, for a little girl.” Enkidu said slowly. “Why would I even become one of you?”

“Your heart is not dark like the others, I can tell. You still have light.” She reached up and touched his big hands with her tiny ones. “You don’t want to see the other’s die, do you? Especially someone like your mother. She is in constant danger of your father’s temper. I had a dream about it.”

“Mother? He wouldn’t…” Enkidu began, but then stopped. How could he even claim to know his father? The stories that everyone had told, though while they seemed so farfetched, yet, they seemed so true all at the same time, and he himself had witnessed many of it, even if he hadn’t fully understood it back then. He was confused and unsure of what to do. But he did know he would do anything to protect his mother, the one person he loved in the world more than himself. “I’ll do it. What do you need me to do, little one?” He finally asked.

“Kneel down.” Nostos commanded. He knelt down in front of her. “Now close your eyes.” He felt her tiny fingers gently covering his eyes. Then he felt a sharp explosive pain run down from his eyes all the way to his toes. In his mind he suddenly saw a giant blonde lion rushing towards him, unlike the lion in the Pit of Blood, this one was young and strong with a magnificent mane, its sinewy muscles pulsing with energy as it rapidly approached him. He shouted and fell over, gripping his face in his hands.

“What did you do to me?!” He shouted.

“I didn’t do anything. You are now branded with our mark. Open your eyes, you’re fine.” Slowly Enkidu blinked, the pain slowly leaving his body as he sat up.

“Here,” Venus said, kneeling in front of him as she held out a mirror. “You’re one of us now. If you weren’t worthy of being a Treasure, Nostos would have killed you.”

Enkidu looked in surprise in the mirror, his eyes now blue instead of brown. That’s when he realized that everyone in the room, no matter what ethnic group, had blue eyes.

“What did you see in your mind?” Nostos asked quietly.

“A…lion.”

Nostos smiled brightly and jumped up and down. “I was right! You are the one! See, Kratos? I was right!”

“We must go to the battle field now.” Apollo spoke, his deep voice filling the cave. “They are approaching.”

“Yes, you’re right.” Venus said, standing up. “Will he be ready?”

“Nostos will have him ready.” Kratos replied. “Let’s go.”

“What about Athena? We promised we’d let her know.” Troy whined, rubbing his wolf behind the ears.

“Forget Athena for now. She cannot be trusted.” Kratos replied, reaching out and picking up her hammer. “Come, Enkidu. I will take you to your animal.”

 

                                                                ***

King Katabaisis stood at the back of the army, his fat frame sitting astride his horse.

“Have the scouts returned yet?” He turned towards his captain, his moustache twitching as he moved his mouth in a displeased manner. The captain bowed deeply before him.

“No my king, we have heard no news as of yet from them.”

“You had better hope they come soon, or else you will find yourself feeding my animals in the pit, captain. Have I made myself clear?” King Katabaisis snarled as he nudged his horse backwards. His eyes glanced around nervously at every strange noise he heard being emitted from the swamp lands. He ignored the babbling coming from his captain as he wiped away the sweat that was pouring down his face. He had been told of these Seven Treasures a long time ago. They were young children, each from different territories, each with a different gift and unnaturally giant animal called a Splendor to protect them. It had been foretold to him many years ago that he would become king and try to conquer the world. His reign would be challenged by seven children. They would turn his men against him and he would fall, the leader of the Seven would then take over his throne. And now that there was rumor of a rebel army, well surely it was being led by these children! There was no way that Katabaisis was going to give up this throne! Not after all the hard work he had put into keeping the throne, killing his brother and niece, banishing his father and preparing the murder of his son...not to mention taking over his brother’s original plan by killing all the leaders from the other territories and taking control…he had worked too hard for world domination, and there was no way he was giving it up to some children! Besides, he had found the plant of immortality, the very plant his own father had consumed as a young man. That was why he hadn’t died in any of his battles and why he had lived to see such an old age. Now Katabaisis had the potion, and he had poured it into a vial which he wore as a pendent around his neck.  

“Oi! Look over there!” A voice shouted over the giant crowd of soldiers. 

Looking up, Katabaisis saw six figures standing on the top of a hill that over looked the army. The tallest of them waving a white flag.

“They wave the white flag sir!”

“I see that, stupid.” Katabaisis snapped back. “Send someone to parlay with them.”

A soldier went out and met with a tall girl who carried a giant hammer. They spoke briefly before the soldier came back to meet with the king. “Well, what did they want?”

“They have requested permission to speak with all of the leaders of the territories.” The soldier replied, edging a safe distance away from the king. “They claim to have already sent notices to the other leaders through messenger hawks, and were all granted safe passage…they came to seek the same from us.”

The king swore loudly, glaring madly up at the hill top where the six children stood calmly, watching them carefully.

They would be so easy to kill here and now. The king thought to himself. But they know their strategies well. By going to the other leaders they were able to ensure a peaceful meeting, whereas they know that I would have refused and killed them on the spot. I’ve no choice but to comply.

“Awaiting orders, sir?”

The king looked back down at the soldier. How easy I could slay them! But the other leaders would turn on me. “Tell them I agree to meet with them, provided they do not double cross.”

The soldier nodded his head and ran back towards the hill. This time he spoke to the tiniest out of all of them. The children then turn and left the hilltop.

“Well? What did they say?” The king asked as the soldier came back, panting heavily.

“They said…provided that you do not double cross, they will be waiting for you over this hilltop at sunset.” This time the soldier did not edge away quick enough and his head was severed from his neck.

“Those insolent whelps!” The king snarled, biting his lip heavily. By the time I am through with them, this sword will be dripping with their blood, not the blood of some insolent soldier.

                                                                    ***

When Katabaisis rode over the hilltop that evening, he saw a great giant tent, a giant circular table under it. Sitting in their chairs sat the nineteen other leaders, kings and queens. After struggling down from his horse and making his way over to the chair, all twenty of the territory kings and queens were finally there. Of the kings there was Pluto, Jupiter, Saturn, Kyklopes, Poseidon, Alkinoös, Hercules, Labdakos, Charagos, Creon and Horatio. Of the queens was Arêtê, Amphitritê, Seirênê, Artemis, Kitharion, Antigone, Iphthimê and Aphrodite, who was being escorted to the table.

“So, why have we been called here?” King Labdakos demanded. “Who is that we are speaking too?”

“Us.” A young girl said, coming out of the shadows with six others, a giant hammer resting against her shoulder. “We are the Seven Treasures. We wish to speak with you all about this upcoming war.”

Katabaisis eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he saw his son emerge from the shadows.

“Enkidu! What are you doing with these people?!”

“Father…I…” Enkidu started to speak, but then closed his mouth and shook his head. “No…no, I shall not speak. No words that I can come up with will explain what it is that I am doing here, nor will any apologizes cover this betrayal to you…yet I cannot feel any sorrow for standing with these others then standing on your side.”

“What madness does your son speak, King Katabaisis?” Queen Kitharion asked, sitting back in her chair as if amused. “How do you plan to explain this one?”

“What I want explained,” Queen Seirênê snapped as she glared across the table at Aphrodite. “How is it that you, Aphrodite, are here? Weren’t you kidnapped by the rebellion army? Have you betrayed us, your own kind?”

“What is your kind?” A tiny voice called out. The voice caused the others at the table to become quiet as they stared down at the little girl who stroke the head of a lamb.

“Who are you, little girl?” King Poseidon asked.

“She is the leader of the Seven Treasures.” Apollo, placing a giant hand on the top of her head protectively.

Those sitting at the table burst out into laughter. They hooted and roared, slapping their knees and pounding on the table, the loudest of all Katabaisis, who felt relief flooding throughout him like a giant tidal wave. What need was there, to be afraid of a little child?

“You must be joking!” Amphitritê shouted, her laughter causing her eyes to tear up.

“She is so tiny!” Hercules roared with laughter, slapping Horatio on the back. “What can one so small do?”

“Shut up!” Enkidu snarled at them. Behind them the loud roar of a lion erupted through the air, causing the laughter to dramatically die down. “I too, laughed at them, but when I heard the words this small one spoke, I realized that she was not small at all, but a giant pillar of wisdom and kindness that the world should not laugh out! I beg of you, hear her out!”

“Fine, then. Little girl, what is your name, and what is it that you wish to say?” Horatio said, turning towards Nostos. “If the young prince can so easily vouch for you, then I too would like to hear what it is you have to say. So please speak, little one.”

Nostos gave a tiny smile and clutched the blanket around her tighter. “You call me small, as if it is to degrade me in some way. I, however, don’t feel any shame at my physical size. I’d rather be small in height then small in spirit. You asked me of my name…my name is Nostos. In Greek, that means ‘home coming’. My home is this planet…as it is your home. For so many centuries, humans have fought with each other time and time again, over land, power and money. They fought over which skin color was better and over things called ‘nuclear bombs’ that tipped the scales of power. Our ancestors were selfish and greedy, starting out from Greek all the way to America, up to our time. They thought what they were doing was good, but instead it was bad.” She paused and looked around the table. “You are adults…grown-ups who should be able to tell right from wrong…but you really can’t, can you? I mean, can’t you see the pain and suffering in our world? It’s worse than it was a hundred years ago. So many people die every day from illness and starvation, yet you all do nothing.” She reached out and took a firmer hold of the lamb. “Our world is dying yet you all want to start war again…a war that will kill every last single person on this planet. Look at all of you! You all represent the only living nations left on this planet! We live in tiny towns, tiny villages, that are hardly even half the size as those that our ancestors lived in!”  She turned and pointed a tiny finger at Queen Seirênê. “You accused Queen Aphrodite of betraying her kind yet it is you who is the betrayer. Instead of seeking ways for peace and healing, instead of seeking a better life for the people you have been charged to protect, all you seek is power and glory! All of you have agreed to come here with one goal in mind: Killing my friends and I, and then taking out each other, the survivor becoming king or queen of the world…isn’t that right?”

The tent was filled with shock and a tense silence.

“We do not want to see any more people suffer…we don’t want to see any more people die…” Nostos said, her lower lip quivering. “My mother and father were killed in battle…they suffered and died…I don’t want to see that happen to anyone else. Please…can’t you all put away your weapons? Can’t you seek peace instead?”

Those who sat at the table were silent for a very long time until King Kyklopes coughed.

“Nostos…what you have said is stirring and filled with a wisdom even I can hardly phantom. However, if we are to speak truthfully of humans, then you should know that humans will never learn from their past mistakes, that humans won’t change. We may make peace now but in a few months or years, hatred will rise up again, as will corruption and power lust. Soon it will overtake us and another war will start out.

“Not if we try!” Nostos cried out. “Not if we actually try, with all our hearts! If we as humans could be better than our base desires, we could really change everything!”

There was some muttering that followed and some nodding of heads. Katabaisis felt dread fill up his heart. Oh no, they are starting to listen to the logic of these children! It’s a good thing I brought that along.

“Unfortunately, little girl,” Katabaisis said as he stood up slowly, his hand reaching behind him. “In this world, we leave no room for change.” From the pouch on his waist he whipped out a gun and fired it at Nostos.

“Nostos, look out!” Troy screamed, kicking her out of the way, the bullet ripping through him instead.

“Troy!” Nostos screamed as she looked up from the ground, tears dripping down her face as his body slumped to the ground.

Everyone at the table began to scream and run away as Katabaisis continued to fire off his gun in random directions, listening as screams were met with the sound of a bullet ripping through flesh making his escape to his horse. There was a loud howl of a wolf and he looked up as the giant animal tore down the hill, jumping high into the air and over him, landing next to his horse. The wolf spun around and sank his teeth into Katabaisis’s horse’s throat, ripping the throat out before turning towards Katabaisis, its lips bared back and sharp fangs dripping with blood. Katabaisis fell to the ground, firing shots off at the wolf while trying to crawl away. Despite the bullets, the wolf sprang forward, sinking its teeth into Katabaisis’s shooting arm, picking him up off the ground and giving him a great shake, tearing the arm from Katabaisis’s body and sending him flying off into the bushes.

   Armies for each territory standing nearby heard the gun shots and screams of panic, and they gathered up their weapons, preparing to charge over the hill, ready to locate and protect their specific leader.

   The children gathered around Troy’s body, Ithaka looking over the wound while Venus held his body in her arms.

“Dammit!” Kratos snapped, clutching her hammer tightly. “I didn’t even know that guns still existed!”

“He’s…not going to make it.” Ithaka muttered, tears gathering in her eyes as she tried to stop the blood flowing from Troy’s chest. “His heart was hit.”

“It’s…okay…Ithaka…” Troy wheezed, blood dripping out of his mouth. “No…regrets…” He turned towards Nostos. “Don’t…let this…shake your faith…turn me…and Wolf…into martyrs…turn us…into your cause…to end…violence!” He coughed up more blood. “Leave…now…Wolf has been injured…too. He…and I…will knock out…the first wave…of soldiers. You all must…stop this war…make me proud!” Venus gently laid him back down on the ground and Ithaka leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. Nostos gently hugged him before being pulled away by Kratos, whose tears were shining in her eyes.

“Please ask God to protect Nostos when you meet Him.” Apollo grunted before turning and spreading out his arms, Hawk swooping down and latching his claws into Apollo’s shoulders, carrying him up into the air. Venus got onto the back of Doe and nudged her forward while Nostos picked up Lamb and held her in her arms while Enkidu helped her onto Stallion’s back, Kratos getting on top as well. Ithaka was being pulled away by Fox from Troy’s side. Enkidu’s own animal, Lion, padded up quietly behind him and nudged him with his giant head, indicating it was time to go. Slowly Enkidu got on his back, looking over at Troy the entire time.

“It’s not right to leave him!” He finally said.

“No, he will buy us time.” Kratos said quietly. “Thank you, Troy!” She screamed before kicking the sides of Stallion, causing him to rear back before taking off in a different direction then the approaching warriors.

“How will he buy us time?” Enkidu shouted after her as Lion began to run, trying to keep up with the fast horse.

“We are Treasures, and our animals are our Splendors. What contains our powers are the blue bands on our wrists, remember receiving them?”

Enkidu looked at the bands we wore.

“Yes! So what?”

“The blue scales over the animal’s eyes contains their powers as well. When we die, these containers explode and our powers are combined and unleashed. Troy is sacrificing himself so that we may live, as is Wolf!”

    On the hilltop, wolf slowly trudged up to the body of Troy. Troy slowly opened his eyes and grinned. “Took you…long…enough.” Wolf whined and licked Troy’s face before collapsing next to him, his body curling next to Troy’s. “I know boy…I know…” The loud shouts of the first soldiers coming towards the top of the hill could be heard. “Are you…ready boy?” Troy coughed, a single tear running down his face. At least we can go together…and at least…we can protect our friends. He thought before giving his last breath as the first soldier approached their bodies.

“Don’t worry men!” he shouted, turning towards his comrades. “He and his Splendor are dead!”

There was a loud crack as the bands and scales broke away from both Treasure and Splendor. Troy’s and Wolf’s bodies exploded, a giant gust of wind ripping out from them and slicing through the soldiers like blades, rushing over them and knocking all of them off the hill.

                  

“We must not go towards the camp!” Kratos called out to the others as they sped forward. “We must end this peacefully! Apollo!” She shouted up towards the sky. “You and Hawk search for the leaders! Find them and take them to safety, away from the swamp! Only their armies will listen to them!”

“Shouldn’t we just let them all take each other out?” Enkidu shouted.

“I will ignore that you said that!” Kratos snapped back. Nostos turned from her spot.

“Enkidu! We need to end this peacefully! If we let them all attack each other while we escape, it will only result in a bloodbath!”

“You can’t win war without a bloodbath!”

“But you can win peace without one! If we allow those armies to get at our friends in the swamp, everyone will die! Friend and foe alike!”

“Pretend you’re smart for once and agree!” Kratos called out before being drowned out by the sound of shouting soldiers. “Crap, they all must have split up to cut us off!”

“Take the path to the left!” Ithaka shouted, Fox speeding up to Kratos’s right. “Fox and I will hold them off!”

“No! No one else dies!” Kratos snapped as she jumped off of Stallions back, clutching her hammer tightly. “Go with Nostos and Venus! Take them away to safety! Enkidu and I can handle this!”

“Um, how can we?” Enkidu asked as Lion slowed to a stop next to Kratos’s side.

“I represent Outer strength and you Inner strength. When we combine our strengths together, we are unstoppable. Grip the hammer with me and swing it down to the ground.”

With no time to think, Enkidu did as she said and together they struck the ground. There was a loud crack like that of thunder and the earth began to shake and tremble. They both hopped onto Lion’s back and began to speed away. Enkidu glanced behind him and saw the ground splitting in half, causing the soldiers to stop in their tracks, some even falling in. By the time they had sighted up to the others, they saw that they were trapped by two armies working together. Stallion was up in a tree with Nostos and Lamb while Doe, Fox, Ithaka and Venus were surrounded, their backs up against a giant cliff wall, the armies cutting off their exits.

“Lion! Go faster!” Kratos screamed. Both girls and their animals fought fiercely to protect Nostos, but by the time Kratos and Enkidu neared, Ithaka had gone down, her body run through with spears.

“ITHAKA!” Kratos screamed. Ithaka looked up in their direction and smiled before her bands broke off and her body exploded into flames, flames that began to devour the soldiers. Fox let out a wail and threw herself headlong into the other side of soldiers, her body exploding into a running streak of angry flames. The flames began to eat at the tree that held Stallion and Nostos. Venus looked up and saw this. She gave a sad smile.

“Ithaka, this is the first time you haven’t thought things through…though I suppose you knew you could count on me in the end.”

“Venus, don’t you dare!” Kratos shouted as Lion tried to find a way through the quickly spreading flames.

Venus picked up a dagger and patted Doe on the head. “You okay with this, old girl?” Doe cooed peacefully and licked Venus under the chin. “Okay then.” She then stabbed Doe through the heart and then stabbed herself as well. Their bodies burst into a giant tidal wave of water, quenching the flames that ate at the tree and sweeping away the remaining soldiers.

“NO!” Kratos screamed, jumping off of Lion and rushing over to the tree, where Stallion jumped down from. Kratos knelt down on the ground where Venus had last stood, tears dripping down her face. “It wasn’t…it wasn’t supposed to go like this!”

Enkidu slowly got off Lion’s back and walked towards Nostos, who gratefully got down from his back.

“Enkidu…was I wrong, the entire time?” Nostos whispered, gripping his shirt tightly while she cried. “Look at how many people have died! It’s because of me! I killed them all!”

“No, no, you didn’t kill them. They chose to die for peace, for your protection.”

“But I didn’t want them to die! How will their dying prove peace? This isn’t what I wanted, Enkidu!”

“Hey, where is that brave, wise little girl I heard speak earlier? The one who was able to silence the twenty territory leaders?”

“She is just a child.” Kratos whispered from where she kneeled. “We’re all just children, after all. But even so, I will not allow their sacrifices to be in vain, and neither will you, Nostos. We will hold our heads high with pride and we will not back down.”

“That’s good to hear, but you’ve little chance to escape.”

They looked up and saw archers lining the cliff tops, deadly arrows pointed at them all.

“No one move a muscle, or we’ll shoot!”

The sun began to rise into the sky, and as it did so, a giant shadow fell over the cliff side. The archers looked up to see Hawk and Apollo racing in towards them.

“Fire!” The archers snarled.

“Apollo! Look out!” Kratos shouted. But Apollo stayed his course and allowed the arrows to thud into his and Hawk’s body.

“Reload your arrows! Take the kids out down there!” The same voice commanded.

“No way in hell!” Kratos snarled, charging towards the cliff side and slamming her hammer into it, followed by Stallion, who ran towards the rocks, spun around and kicked the ground. Kratos hopped onto his back and they sped away while Nostos and Enkidu jumped onto Lion, escaping from the collapsing cliff side. Meanwhile, Hawk’s and Apollo’s bodies exploded, a giant tree winding and twisting its way from where their bodies had fallen. The tree rose several hundreds of feet into the air.

They had barely escaped the collapsing cliff side before being confronted by more soldiers. Kratos jumped off Stallion and gripped her hammer tightly.

“Enkidu, take Nostos and get away from here, quickly. Stallion and I will end this here and now.”

“Kratos, no, I won’t let you! If anyone will give up their life next, it will be me!” Nostos cried out.

“No! You’re going to bring peace to the world, Nostos! And like the others, I will help you in any way I can, even if it’s just as a sacrifice!” Kratos swung her hammer up into the air when she was stopped by Athena running out in front of the army.

“Wait, Kratos, stop!”

Kratos swung the hammer around in the air and spun away a bit until gravity stopped her.

“Athena! What’s going on?”

“I have here with me the remaining leaders of the territories!” Athena shouted back, thumbing behind her. “Apollo brought them to the swamp where we were able to convince them to listen to Nostos once last time! They wish to surrender and listen to what the young one has to say!”

“Nostos? What do you want to do?” Enkidu asked. She slowly got down from the back of Lion and set Lamb down.

“I would like to do that, but under a more controlled setting this time.” Nostos called out. “Can you all see now what one greedy heart has done? Almost all of my friends were killed, and so many soldiers have died as well. Before we have our meeting, I would like us to take a day to mourn the lives of those we have lost.”

The leaders gathered around Athena and spoke to her, nodding her heads. She turned back to them.

“This is very acceptable to the leaders as well. Please, come with us, so we can prepare to mourn for the lost lives together.”

Slowly the children approached the army, who parted and made way as they strode by.

                                                                   

                                                                   ***

Far away, back to the very beginning of the battlefield, King Katabaisis slowly struggled to a sitting position against a giant boulder.

“Even with my arm cut off…I will not die! I am immortal!” He struggled to grab at the vial pulled the chain off his neck, gripping the lid with his teeth and yanking it off. He spat out the lid and poured the liquid onto his severed limb. “There, see? The wound already heals! Ha ha, I will become invincible and rule the world!”

“Wow, you’re pretty stupid, aren’t you?” A child’s voice laughed on the breeze that tickled at his ears.

“What? Who said that?” He said in shock, spinning around quickly.

“Ha ha! Ithaka, he heard you! Do you think he can see us too?”

“I don’t know Troy, we’ll find out soon enough.”

“What’s going on? Show yourself!” Katabaisis shouted. Slowly before his eyes ghosts appeared. They were the ghosts of the Treasures who had died. “What in hell?!”

“Look, Apollo! He sees us!” The one once known as Venus said, pointing at him.

“Ha! So you fool’s perished, did you?” Katabaisis snorted, pointing his finger at them and chuckling. “Now only a few of you remain, if they haven’t died yet already. I shall kill the rest of you off and take over the world!”

“You’re the fool, Katabaisis.” Apollo said, a grin on his ghostly face. “Two days ago a treaty of peace was signed amongst all the people of the Earth and they elected Nostos as their leader.”

“What?! How can that be?!”

“It looks like humans can change their nature after all.” Ithaka grinned, sticking her tongue out at him. “And we will be able to watch Nostos grow up into a wise and beautiful leader, while you will be cut off from the rest of the world.”

“You see, you poured that potion onto yourself two days ago.” Venus said as she pointed towards Katabaisis’s missing limb. “If you look now, you’ll see that your entire body is black and swollen. Your father never drank or poured the potion onto his body in a liquid form…he rubbed the bud of the plant, the only non-poisonous part of the plant on his body, and it only prolonged his life, not give him immortality. He will die, just as you have.”

“What?! I’m not dead!” Katabaisis shouted before realizing that he was floating over his body, which was black and terribly bloated.

“The pits of hell are ready to take you down.” Apollo said, floating out of the way as the ground opened, swallowing up Katabaisis’s body, chains whipping out and wrapping around his soul, dragging him screaming down with them.

When the ground closed back up, Ithaka’s ghost reached out and gripped Troy’s hand.

“It will be time for us to return to Heaven soon.”

“Yeah, I know. But we can return tomorrow, right?”

“No, we can’t come back, not for a while, anyway. Whenever Nostos needs a guardian angel, we, her Treasures and Splendors will always be there for her. Let’s go now.”

Slowly they floated towards reaching the window that served as Nostos new bedroom chamber, and they went in, each of them caressing her on the head before disappearing.

 

The End