Empress Cy comes out of her hut. "Hey, Phyl."

MomBard waves and continues on her merry way to the food hut.

Cy sighs contently after having such a successful slumber party last night. And how the forbidden beverage maker made it just perfect. She knew that was a good idea on her part. Yup, yup, she was the da' bomb empress.

"Empress!" yells Tea. She comes running from the direction of the gates.

"What, what?" Empress Cy grabs the Canadian's shoulders. "What's wrong?"

"Ja… Ja…" rasps Tea and tries to breathe.

"Spit it out, woman!" Cy groans and shakes the smaller woman. "What's wrong?"

The Canadian lifts her head and says, "Janelle… she's… she's being hunted by… by-"

"By what?" roars the Empress.

"I'm… not sure." Tea takes a long breath then says, "But she's screaming to wake the dead and running towards the gates."

"She's out in the woods?" growls the Empress. "Let's move, move! Go get the Queen and Red!"

Tea nods and sprints towards the bard's hut since it’s the closes.

Empress Cy races back into her hut, grabs her sais from the desk, and bursts out her hut. She runs to the gates and stops there for a moment. She glances west and notes the sun low; she shivers. "Its almost male species witching hour." She sighs and jogs out of the village.

"Red!"

The list owner looks up as her door flung open. "Tea?"

"We got problems!" The Canadian clings to the door. "Big problems."

"Shit," snarls Red Hope, and she jumps to her feet. "Where's the Emp and Queen?"

"Empress went to find out what's going on. I'm going to go get the Queen."

The bard nods and leaves the hut with Tea. "What's the situation?"

"Janelle is being chased by something. She's still in the forest," whispers Tea in fear.

"Goddamn it, she knows not to be out there during these hours. Alright, go get the Queen," orders the list owner.

"Gotcha." Tea breaks off running to the Queen's hut.

Red Hope, however, jogs to the gates and glances out into the surrounding woods. The only thing she hears is her own breathing then suddenly a scream erupts in the air. "Janelle," she whispers fearfully.

"Janelle!" filters Empress Cy's voice through the forest.

"What is going on?" growls Red Hope. She whirls around; looking for the Queen. "Karena!" she yells through the village.

"Here I am!" calls the Queen as she sprints towards Red Hope. She is sprinting beside Tea and sheathing her sword at the sametime. "What's going on?"

"I'm not sure." The bard glimpses out the gates. "Something is after Janelle and the Emp went to get her."

"Okay, stay here." Karena jogs off into the forest.

"Karena, be careful!" yells the list owner.

"No worries, mate," replies the Queen before she disappears into the woods.

Tea looks at Red Hope. "I hope Janelle is okay."

"She is," whispers the bard. I hope, she adds mentally.

Michelle comes out of her hut and spots the bard and Canadian by the gates. "That's odd." She decides to join the pair with her confusion growing as she gets closer. "What's the powwow about here?"

Red Hope glances at the artist. "Janelle is in the woods."

"Now?" The Aussie's eyes widen. "She could get hurt!"

"I know!" growls back the list owner- the stress getting to her. "The Emp and Queen are getting her," she whispers in a calm voice.

"Run, Janelle! Run!" screams Empress Cy.

The air fills with the sound of metal clashing against metal.

"That… doesn't sound good," whispers the artist.

"Janelle!" yells Red Hope as she takes a few steps out of the gates. "Janelle!"

"Red, get back in here," orders Michelle, and she starts to move.

"No." Tea grabs Michelle and stops her. "She's fine."

"Janelle!" screams the list owner.

"Red!" echoes Janelle's fear filled voice.

"Janelle!" calls the list owner and she walks more into the forest. "Where are you!?" Her heart races.

"Red!" cries Janelle- her running footsteps audible now. "They're… coming!"

Metal clashing against metal rings through the forest.

"Here I come, Cy!" cries out Queen Karena through the forest.

"Karena!" yells out Empress Cy, "Help!"

"Oh gods," whispers Michelle, "they're gonna get killed."

"No, they can't," states Tea as she released the artist finally.

"Janelle!" calls Red Hope, "Janelle!" She scans the forest. "Come on Aussie, where are you?" she utters to herself.

"Red!" screams Janelle and bursts through the trees, and she falls. "Oh gods," she whimpers in agony. Her breathing was heavy and her body in pain.

"Janelle," yells Red Hope and she rushes to the Aussie bard's side. "Gods, what happened?" She kneels down.

"Janelle!" Michelle tries to move but Tea stops her again.

"Red has her."

The artist tries calming down but can't really.

"They're… they're coming… after us," rasps Janelle and she closes her eyes and rolls onto her side. The bleeding wound in her side now visible.

"Okay, okay be quiet, Janelle." The list owner slips her arms under the Aussie and lifts her up. She stands up and pulls Janelle in closer. She turns and heads back to the gates. "Tea, go get the healer! Michelle, go get the Royal Guards! Now, now!"

Michelle turns and sprints into the village again; she hunts down the Royal Guards.

Tea had already headed off to retrieve the healer.

Red Hope carries Janelle into the village and briskly walks to the healers hut. "Janelle, come on. Stay with me here."

The Aussie bard moans softly and tries to calm her breathing. "They're coming," she utters.

"Don't worry about that," replies the bard. "Just keep worrying about the rest of your story. You know?" She feels a lump enter her throat. "Think about how you're gonna hook up Solari and Lila. All those readers are waitin' for the rest of your story," she whispers with a forced positive voice.

"Yeah," replies the Aussie bard quietly as a tiny smile tugs at the corner of her lips. "Its gonna be real good," she whispers proudly.

"I know." Red Hope feels tears roll down her cheeks as she makes it up the hut steps. She kicks open the door for the healer's hut. Upon entering the hut, she moves to a pallet and carefully lowers Janelle onto it.

Tea comes racing into the hut. "The healer is coming. What can I do to help?"

"Get some wraps," orders Red Hope.

The Canadian nods and grabs a handful from a shelf of supplies. She moves quickly to the pallet. "What now?"

"Press a few against Janelle's side." The bard takes some of the wraps, folds them, and presses them against the Aussie bard's side.

Janelle hisses and grits her teeth. "It hurts," she moans.

"Sssh, its okay, Janelle." Red Hope looks back at Tea. "Hold them there, to stop the bleeding until the healer comes. Stay here and help the healer. Got me?"

"Yes." The Canadian places her hand over the wraps as Red Hope removes her hand. "Be careful," she whispers.

"We're gonna be okay." Red Hope tries smiling and rushes to the door. She glances at Janelle one last time before she races down the steps.

"Red!" calls MomBard. "What's going on? What's all the fighting and screaming?"

"We're being attacked," states Red Hope. "Get back to your hut!"

"No way, babes!" MomBard steps back. "I'm gonna go get the others. They'll help." She turns to run off.

"Mom!" The list owner sees her friend not listening. "Damn it," she growls and sprints back to the gates. Ahead, she can see Michelle with the three Royal Guards.

"Red, I got them," informs the artist.

"Good." Red Hope faces the tall artist. "Stay here, we're gonna go help the Queen and Emp."

In the background are sounds of fighting, snarling, and yelling.

"Red, don't," warns Michelle. "You'll get hurt too."

"No, I need you to stay here, Michelle." Red Hope sighs and adds, "Mom is getting the others. Keep them here and we'll be back. Close up one gate and prepare the other to close up. Do you understand?"

Michelle nods sadly. "Don't get hurt."

The list owner signals the Royal Guards to go into the forest. "I won't," she promises and jogs off after the Royal Guards.

"Cy!" screams Karena, "Behind you!"

"Come on," orders Red Hope and she runs towards all the fighting with the three Royal Guards. She comes into the scene with wide eyes. "Oh gods," she whispers and stops running. "Attack!" she commands.

The three Royal Guards unsheathe swords, and race into battle.

The Queen catches sight of Red Hope. "Red, get out of here!"

"Not without you and the Emp!" yells back Red Hope.

The five massive, brown, shaggy enemies keep fighting their opponents.

"We gotta get out of here," calls the Empress. "Its almost dark!"

Red Hope steps back and keeps watching the battle. "Michelle and the others are closing up the gates."

"We can make a run for it," suggests Cy as she ducks from a sword breezing over her head. "Damn bastard," she growls and attacks.

The Queen back flips as an opponent thrust forward with his sword. She quickly does a check on all the opponents. She counts five and her face falls. Where's the sixth!? her mind screams. She rams her sword forward and catches her enemy in the leg and watches him fall. "We've lost one!" She whirls around with her heaving breathing. "Red, look out! Behind you!"

The bard spins around as the sword comes down at her. "Oh shit!" She jumps away but catches the sword on her left leg. The pain storms through her leg and causes her to fall to the ground.

The big, hairy monster stalks closer to the bard. Its face is that of a warthog; teeth baring. The monster raises his sword while growling.

"Sorry, buddy! She's ours," snarls Empress Cy as she rams her weapons into his side.

The monster whales out and falls to the ground; dying.

The Empress helps up the list owner. She wraps an arm around her friend's waist. "Karena, we need to go! Now!"

The Queen kicks her opponent in the stomach. "Go without me," she calls, "Get Red out of here, Cy!"

"No," yells Red Hope.

"Go!" orders Queen Karena harshly as she twirls her sword and keeps fighting.

"Come on, she's buying us time." Empress Cy starts dragging her friend. "Let's go, Royal Guards."

"No!" screams the list owner, "Karena!" She struggles against Cy's hold. "No!"

"Red, stop! We can't help her now. Come on!"

"I'm not fucking going without her," growls the bard.

Empress Cy looks up the three guards, who are briskly jogging towards her. "Take her back," she orders.

One the Guards comes up, and she picks up Red Hope into her arms.

"Cy!" yells Red Hope. "Put me down! We gotta get Karena."

"She'll be fine," replies Cy. "Let's go!" She breaks into a run towards the village.

The Royal Guards follow after.

"Karena!" yells Red Hope through the forest.

Queen Karena starts walking backwards while fighting her enemies. "Come on, you poor excuses for men!" She twirls her sword and smirks.

The five monsters snarl and attack all at once.

"Empress Cy!" MomBard waves from the half open gates. "Hurry, hurry!"

Terri pokes her head out of the gates. "Where's Karena, ya'll?"

"She's holding them back," calls Empress Cy and she slips through the small opening of the gates.

Next come in the three guards with Red Hope.

"Put me down!" growls the list owner hotly.

The Guard carefully lowers the bard down.

Empress Cy looks at the bard. "Don't do anything crazy," she orders.

Red Hope glares but nears the gates.

MomBard and Michelle are still at the gates; watching the forest.

"You can hear them fighting still," whispers Cindy.

Empress Cy turns to the accountant. "Cindy, you want you to man the gate's bar. Think you can handle that?"

Cindy nods but a bit shyly. "What I do?"

"When we close the gates, you drop the wood bar. Got it?"

"Yes, Empress." The accountant quickly races over to the large wood bar. She stands beside it; at the ready.

"Where's Tea?" asks the Empress.

"In the healer's hut," answers Red Hope as she nears the gates.

Cy turns to MomBard. "Phyl, go get Tea. We're gonna need her help."

MomBard nods briskly and sprints to the healer's hut.

The list owner glances at the Empress to see her distracted with the Guards. My chance, she considers. She quickly rushes the gates in the opening spot that MomBard created. She slips past Michelle and out the gates.

"Red!" yells Michelle- she runs out of the gates after the bard. She easily catches her since Red Hope is injured.

"Now what?" snarls the Empress. She peers out the gates and sees Red Hope running with Michelle after her. "Stop her, Michelle!"

The artist closes in, and she leaps. She wraps her arms around the list owner's waist and falls to the ground with her.

"Michelle," growls the bard. "Get off. I gotta help Karena."

"She'll be fine," replies the Aussie hotly. "You can't fight; you'll only get hurt!"

"No," growls the list owner.

"Red, stop!" Michelle pulls Red Hope's arms behind her back. She locks the list owner's arms behind her back. "Stop struggling," she orders. She gets up while lifting the smaller woman up.

"Michelle," growls the bard.

"No!" rings out Queen Karena's voice through the forest. Then the sounds of metal booming against metal then somebody whaling out in pain.

"No," growls Red Hope and struggles more.

Michelle easily stops her and starts dragging her friend back to the village. "She can handle it," she states harshly.

"Get her in here," commands the Empress hotly.

The artist nears the gates while pulling the small bard along with her.

The fighting suddenly becomes closer and Karena reappears but still fighting. The same five monsters fighting strongly.

"Karena!" yells Red Hope.

The Queen sees one of the monsters pull back from fighting and reveals a bow and arrows. The monster strings up three arrows and aims for the two women outside of the gates. "Look out!"

Michelle and Red Hope look up and see the archer preparing to fire.

"No," whispers Michelle.

"Michelle!" The bard breaks free from her friend's grasp. She hears the monster release the arrows. She turns, pushes Michelle back, and slams her into the gate. She covers the other female's body with her own.

The three arrows soar through the air and sink into the gates on either side of the two women.

Red Hope lifts her head and notes how close the arrows were. "Oh Hades," she whispers in fear.

"Get in here, ya'll!" orders Terri. "Hurry!"

"Let's go." The bard grabs the artist's hand and pulls her towards the opening.

"Now she goes," mutters the artist.

The two young women stumble through the gates; rasping for air.

"Don't do that ever again," commands the Empress to the list owner. She sighs and shifts to the opening of the gates. "Karena, come on, girl!"

Queen Karena backs up, coming closer to the gates.

Tea comes jogging up to the group. "I'm here!"

Empress Cy looks at all the members. "Okay, Amazons, when Karena gets into the village, which she will." Her eyes pin on Red Hope for a moment. "Then we close up this gate, Cindy will drop the bar, and we pray that the monsters won't break through." Her eyes flicker over all the members. "Is that clear?"

All the Amazons nod quickly.

"Okay, get into position," orders Cy. She shifts to the opening and glances out. "Karena, hurry! The sun has almost set!"

The Kiwi gives her enemy a hard kick, she then turns and sprints for the gate. They follow after her; right on her heels.

"Here she comes!" yells the Empress. "Get ready, Amazons!"

"Move!" orders Karena while sheathing her sword, and she sees Cy get out of the way. She comes up to the opening , leaps through, tucks, and rolls on the ground.

"Now!" screams Empress Cy.

All the Amazons, except Karena, start closing the heavy gate the rest of the way. But suddenly the gates become extra hard to close, pressure against them.

"Holy shit!" cries out Terri as a sword jabs through the opening. "They're tryin' tuh keep us from closin' it!"

"Come on, Amazons! We can do it!" coaches Cy. She pushes with all her might against the gate.

All the snarling, growling, and grunting from the monsters filters to them.

The five Amazons, pushing the gate close, find their boots sliding against the dusty ground as the gate starts to reopen.

"No," whispers Queen Karena. She leaps to her feet and rams into the gate; pushing with all her strength. "We gotta close it!"

"We can't do it!" whales Tea as she keeps trying. She turns, pushes her back against the gate, yet she watches her boots slide across the ground. "No," she whimpers.

Terri jumps back as a claw comes through the enlarging opening and comes at her. However, she gets scraped across her shoulder. She hisses in pain. "Damn jerk." She pushes against the gate harder.

"This isn't working," yells Red Hope. "We're not strong enough."

"We can't give up!" roars the Empress. "We can't let them into the Place!"

The gate starts opening wider and wider as the snarling of monsters growls louder and more menacing.

All the Amazons whimper in pain of their nearing death.

"No!" screams MomBard from across the village. She sprints towards her friends at the gates.

"Mom!" cries out Red Hope as she keeps digging her heels into the ground. "Help!"

MomBard rushes the gate between her friends, and she slams into the gate. She puts her everything into pushing the gate closed.

Slowly, the gate goes in reverse and closes inch by inch.

"Now we got it, Amazons," calls the Empress. "Keep pushing!"

The monster's outside whale out in anger.

"We've got them now!" calls Terri.

All the Amazons scream as the gate slams shut.

"Now, Cindy!" yells Red Hope.

"Move!" commands the accountant.

All together, the Amazons jump back as the huge wood bar falls down. It crashes across the gate and seals it shut.

The gates shutter some from the pounding of the hairy monsters outside.

The Amazons drop their shoulders and gasp for air.

Red Hope bends forward and closes her eyes.

Tea leans against the wall encircling the village. "Oh gods, never again," she rasps.

"We did… we did it, Amazons." Empress Cy smiles proudly.

Cindy shifts to the wall and scrambles up the ladder. She peers over the wall and squints in the setting sun's light. She spots the monsters leaving. "They're retreating," she calls happily.

"Prays the gods," whispers the Queen.

Red Hope falls down the ground on her butt. She drops her head forward. "They'll be back," she whispers.

Michelle glances over at the list owner. "How do you know?"

The bard peers up at the artist. "They won't give up that easily," she murmurs sadly and drops her head.

"There's gotta be a way to stop them," suggests MomBard.

Red Hope shakes her head. "I doubt it." She closes her eyes. "I shouldn't have built the Place here," she murmurs in agony.

"We'll be fine," says Queen Karena confidently. She straightens up and looks at the group. "Let's just go get the torches lit around the village and go see how Janelle is."

The Amazons nod and shuffle off the light up the village then visit Janelle. Later, they would sit around to plan things out if they could.