Chapter 6 - The Amazons

The dining hut was full of talk about the new visitor to the midsts of the Amazon nation. Many stared and whispered to eachother as they talked of Jonus. The first order of business had been in showing Jonus her sleeping quarters.

"You have your own hut, Jonus," Ephiny began. "It was Solari who suggested it. She thought that after all those years on your own, you might still need someplace to call your own." She walked around the hut examining the various items within. "I hope it meets your satisfaction."

"Uh, I guess so." Jonus, too, looked around and marvelled at what she saw. The bed actually sat off the ground and had a pillow. There was a fireplace in the centre of the structure that was already burning. A bowl and cloth sat on a stand near the entrance, along with a candle holder. There was no window, but enough light shown down from the ventilation hole at the top. She hadn't been in anything like this in over a hundred years. And now it was her own. "It's a lot different than the hay we slept on at the Centaur village."

Ephiny laughed. "Yes, I'm sure it is. But I know what that's like too. My son, Xenan, is a Centaur."

"You have a son?"

"Yes, going on four seasons." She smiled with a mother's pride. "Leave your things here and we'll go to dinner."

Jonus did as she was told, carefully placing the bow and arrow on the bed. She saw Ephiny eyeing the instrument before and again now. "A gift, from Artemis."

Ephiny merely nodded her head and brought her arm out to encourage Jonus along. "I am sure everyone will be waiting for us."

Everyone was. After the initial shock of having everyone cheer for her again, the place sort of settled down as people began eating.

"Jonus!" Joxer shouted above the crowd, waving his arm frantically. He had already gone ahead to reserve some spots for them. Solari and two other Amazons were conversing with him, ignoring the stares he received. Not too many men were allowed into an Amazon nation, but Joxer was one for the help he gave Gabrielle during her crisis. Yet, there were some who disagreed with that and they gave dirty looks and evil eyes to him. Joxer noticed and it made him uncomfortable.

"Take it easy, Joxer," Solari said easily. "Some of the older ones have difficulty with change." She squeezed his arm. "You're one of us, remember that."

"Joxer!" Jonus returned. She went to him and sat down. "I thought I'd lost you doing my tour of the village. You should see my place! It's great! I have a real bed, off the floor and my own candle and..." She looked at the faces around the table. Some were smirking and others almost giggling. Jonus suddenly felt uncomfortable.

"Hey, I'm glad you like it so much," Joxer interrupted, giving her his trademark lopsided grin.

Jonus immediately turned to him. "Thanks." Her smile returned to her face and Joxer noticed how good it looked on her.

"All right, that's enough," Solari said, her attention on the gigglers and smirkers. "If you'd been in Jonus's situation for even one-tenth of the time, you'd be acting different too. So let's just get on with dinner, shall we?"

Ephiny raised her eyes as she sat down, meal in front of her, and pushed a plate towards Jonus. "Don't worry about these women." She leaned in. "You're still a novelty to them as they are to you."

Jonus began to relax after that.

"I imagine you're going to want some time to settle down?" Ephiny inquired.

Dinner went along without any fuss, although a few women continued to give Joxer glares.

"No, I want to see everything there is." Jonus could hardly contain her excitement. Dinner had finally calmed her down and she got to know some of the Amazons: Ephiny, Solari, Danthea, Ruth and Katharos. But she thought that Solari and her would become good friends. She liked how the Amazon handled herself and made her feel so welcome.

"It's getting dark. There's not much to see at night. Unless we're going on a mission," Solari said.

"It's up to you, Jonus." Ephiny piped in. "If you want to wander around, you're certainly welcome to."

"I think I will. Want to come, Joxer?"

The warrior had been standing slightly behind the women, trying to not get in their way. He may be an honourary Amazon, but he still had to be cautious to not upset them. Jonus's question caught him off guard.

"Huh? Oh, well, okay, if you want me too." He scratched his head.

"Of course I do. Come on." She pulled on his arm and they trotted off.

Solari watched the two make their way towards the blacksmith's hut, Ephiny watching Solari, then the two friends. "She is everything Artemis said she would be."

Solari nodded her head. "Mmm."

The friends rounded the corner and were out of sight.

"I just hope she won't break his heart like Gabrielle did."

Solari turned to Ephiny. "How can she not? She's an Amazon now."

Jonus watched as Joxer lay sleeping on the floor next to her bed. She hadn't been able to sleep at all this night and she finally realised it was because she was on the bed. Her body was so used to the ground that it needed time to adjust to something more "comfortable". The full moon coming through the ceiling ventilation covered the room in a blue glow and Joxer was the brightest of it all. At least, Jonus thought so.

So many things ran through her mind. What was she going to do now that she was here? Will she make more friends like Solari? Will everyone still look at her with awe and whisper about her? But mostly, she thought about Joxer right now and remembered the night they held eachother. Her body shivered at the memory. She swallowed hard, trying not to get upset again. Someday, she thought. Someday my turn will come.

She rolled onto her back and pulled the pillow out from under it. She sighed and tried once more to fall asleep. She failed. Within fifteen minutes, she was still wide awake and thinking a million thoughts a moment.

"You need to relax," a voice called out.

"Artemis?" Jonus sat up.

"You got it." The goddess shimmered into view at the foot of the bed. "Nice digs. They went all out for you." She eyed the hut and nodded her approval.

"Yeah, it is pretty good." She scanned the room and then looked back at her protector. "Why are you here?"

"What? I can't come and see my favourite mortal anymore?"

"No, no. It's just that..."

The moon goddess raised her hand. "I know what you mean. Listen, I dropped by to see how things were going for you, but your head, it's full, you know. You need to empty it and then you'll get some sleep."

Jonus looked skeptical. "Empty my head? How exactly am I going to do that?"

Artemis sighed. "What is it you want to do right now? Don't think, just answer me."

Jonus glanced around and then her eyes fell upon Joxer, oblivious to the conversation.

Artemis smiled. "You want to be with him, don't you?"

"Yes," Jonus finally answered. "I want to feel him next to me, his arms wrapped around me, his heart beating, his soft breathing..."

"Then do it."

Jonus's eyes widened. "No way!" She yelled then caught herself. "No way. He'd think I was crazy or something."

"Jonus, I have never lied to you. So trust me when I tell you that that boy won't mind one bit if you just go down there and nuzzle your way in. Believe me, crazy will be his last thought."

Jonus thought on this a minute. "You're not going to put any spells on him?"

"You know that's not my style."

"Oh, yeah. Shoot and ask questions later. Sorry." She bit the inside of her lip. What would he think about her being there? It would feel so good again to be on the ground once more and even better to be next to him. "But I thought you didn't approve of...well, you know..."

"Sex?" The goddess laughed. "Jonus, remember I'm a god. You're not. My decisions are my own and my virginity is what I've chosen. It keeps me focused. But for you, that's different. Mortals are supposed to have sex and have children." She stepped closer to her friend. "But I'm not telling you to make love to him. I'm just telling you that the way to get some sleep is to clear your head. And the way for you to do that is to lie down there with him." She shrugged. "It's up to you, Jonus."

Jonus pulled her feet over the edge of the bed. "Well, if you think it will...Artemis?" The goddess was gone. Jonus sighed. "I hate when she does that." She looked again at the sleeping form. "Clear my head, huh? Maybe if I get up before him, I can get away before he notices. Yeah, that's what I'll do." Her feet touched the floor and she jumped off the bed. She walked over to Joxer and waited. Waited for what, she wasn't sure, but she stood there, not moving. A few minutes later, she bent down, slowly lifted the sleeping fur covering the warrior and slid in underneath. She smiled as she felt his warmth. Maybe this had been a good idea after all. Thanks, Artemis.

Just as Jonus was nodding off, Joxer rolled towards, reached an arm across and held her waist. He snuggled in closer to her and put his head at her neck. His breathe tickled, but she didn't move. Well, she didn't move away. Soon after, both were sound asleep and wrapped up in eachother.

"Joxer," a voice called through the mists. "Joxer."

"Huh?" He looked around but couldn't see anything. The air around him was foggy and swirling. "Who's there?"

"You know who I am, Joxer."

He squinted his eyes trying to see anything to help him out. It was useless. "But I..."

"Listen to me. It is very important that you do. Understand?"

"Uh, I guess so." He reached both arms out and swiped the area around him. Still nothing.

"You must go. Tomorrow. Leave Jonus here among her sisters."

Joxer stopped. "But I don't want to leave," he protested. "I like Jonus."

"I know how much she means to you and you to her. However, the time has come for you to separate."

"Why?" He put his hands on his hips, irritation building within.

"This was never meant to be permanent, Joxer. You were only to be a guide and beginning teacher to her. Have you forgotten?"

Joxer thought back to when he first met Jonus. Yes, he was only to bring her safely to the Amazons.

"You completed your task well. You will be rewarded."

"By having to leave?"

"In other ways. Trust in what I say, Joxer. This is for the best...for both of you."

The air began to darken. "Wait! I still don't want to go. I..." What? Need her? Want her? What was going on with him? Gabrielle's rejection of him as a lover was such a short time ago. He needed more time. And yet, he felt that Jonus could be someone he could love. Maybe even did love. And now, some voice was instructing him to leave her? No, he wouldn't do it. That was too much heartache to bear.

"No!" he cried out and sat up with a start. He stared around the room and remembered that he was in Jonus's hut. "Huh, just a dream," he said sleepily and fell back down. He was about to close his eyes, when the vision came.

"It was no dream, Joxer. I told you what I want from you." Artemis leaned close to him. "If you care for her, then let her have this journey on her own." Where had Joxer heard that before? "She is an Amazon now."

Joxer was scared by Artemis. Her voice was so cold and stern. He could only imagine the consequences of failing to obey her demands. He swallowed.

"Yes, Joxer. You both need time to yourselves to learn and grow. Then perhaps..." She stood back and held her hand out for Joxer. "Come now."

The teacher and warrior raised his hand and with a flash, both were gone, leaving a sleeping Jonus to wonder why it had suddenly become cold under the sleeping fur.

"Ephiny?" Jonus called out, seeing the regent across from her hut. She turned and looked quizzically at her new friend.

"What's wrong?" Ephiny saw the concern on Jonus's face.

"Joxer's gone. Do you know where he went?"

Ephiny cocked her head. "No. But perhaps some of the others have." She went to two or three other Amazons, but they hadn't seen the warrior wannabe either. "Maybe he went to the river." She tried to give some hope to Jonus, but could see that it wasn't working.

"He never used to wander off. He'd always wait for me to wake up, or come looking for me if I got up before he did. I hope nothing's happened to him."

"Hey, relax." Ephiny put her arm around Jonus's shoulder. "He'll turn up. Let's go to the river."

But Joxer was not there. Joxer was not anywhere to be found.

"He would have at least said good-bye!" Jonus was beginning to shake. Another person in her life left her. Gods, why did this always happen?

"Ephiny! Jonus!" Solari called out as she spotted them entering the village. "We found this marker just over the ridge." She handed it to Ephiny. "It's from Artemis."

The queen's regent looked at the bit of paper. "Joxer's gone home," she said simply.

"Home?" Jonus stared at the paper, unable to read. "What do you mean home?"

"Artemis took him back to where she found him." She looked over at her friend. "He's safe, Jonus." She smiled.

Jonus stared into nothingness, trying to comprehend what happened. Artemis must have taken him some time during the night and took him safely back to wherever. "But I didn't hear anything," she muttered. She looked up at Solari and Ephiny. "She didn't even let me say good-bye to him." They saw a tear well up.

"Hey," Solari said gently. "You'll see him again. You just watch. Joxer always manages to turn up somehow." She playfully punched Jonus's shoulder, making her laugh a little.

"Yeah, Joxer's like that," Ephiny added. "Come on. Let's get some breakfast and then we'll get you started."

"Started?" Jonus cocked an eyebrow.

"On your training!" Ephiny laughed. "Amazons need to know how to protect themselves."

"Yeah, Artemis may like us, but she doesn't come along and make sure we're not in any danger." Solari pulled Jonus along. "And from that bow I saw you come in with, it looks like archery is going to be your thing."

The three new friends walked to the dining hut to get their meal, but Jonus was still preoccupied with Joxer. I'm going to miss you, Joxer, she thought. Visit me soon.

Onto Chapter seven

Return to Haven Stories