August is a month for Prompts #21
8/21: Amazon
Valhalla, the eternal feast for warriors is the goal for most who lose their lives in the heat of war.
In Tucy, Valhalla is a place where no man sings or dines or drinks or sleeps for that matter. Valhalla is home to Valkyrie, a country without men. The Valkyrie are a proud race of warrior women who don’t believe in marriage and see men as temporary resources. When Mine, Kyan, Saddensen, and Sir Gordon were captured as potential mates for the Valkyrie, the newly formed Amazon’s of the Hummingbirds moved to infiltrate Valhalla.
A small ship shaped like a sparrow swooped down from the light brown sky with streaks of yellow streaming across it. The tall crystal structures of Valhalla were smooth and functional with transparent tubes crisscrossing across the city. Colorful flowers and trees filled the gardens at the base of the buildings. A massive tree with golden leaves and a thick emerald trunk wrapped with braided vines is the focal point of the city. The small sparrow ship dives into the canopy of leaves and perches on a branch the width and length of a city street.
The hatch on the back opens and four individuals step onto the emerald branches. The ladies of the Hummingbirds to be exact. A tall mocha tone woman with jet black hair and red arrow shaped irises was the tallest. She adjusted the bright yellow breastplate and pulled at the softer strands of yellow fabric to conceal her taut and toned midsection.
“The clothing of the Valkyrie is meant to be revealing Tonja,” a raven haired girl with vibrant red lipstick said. Her face was covered by a golden lace veil and matching soft silk dress flowed around her like a living creature.
“I like them,” Gilda chimed as she twirled in her warm brown leather bodysuit, “This is tighter than my usual but it’ll work for what must be done.”
“I refuse to wear anything but my frock,” an older woman quipped with white hair twisted in neat buns on her head. Her off-white frock coat depicted a kraken along its trim.
“You have to,” Jack whined, “Come on Bailey, do it for Captain Mine.”
“Don’t use his name and title to bribe me.”
Bailey made a point not to look at Jack before returning to the vessel. She returned moments later wearing a metal helmet with erect wings decorating it’s sides, a long white feathered cape and her frock coat tied around her waist. Jack applauded before turning on her heel.
“Shall we ladies? This is our first mission as the Amazon’s of the Hummingbirds.” Jack was giddy, she could feel the power that dwelled at the base of the tree and lingered in the city.
Tonja popped her knuckles and licked her lips, “I say we drop in and cause a big fuss.” The desire for battle was prominent in her eyes.
“Splendid idea Quartermaster Storm.”
Bailey stepped off the edge of the branch and began to sing as she descended. Gilda turned to fog and spilled off the edge. Jack and Tonja leapt off the edge after the others and began to harmonize with Bailey.
A beautiful song cascaded from the heavens in elegant harmony. The Valkyrie who gathered at the base of the tree looked up to find the source. When the Amazon’s landed at the base of the tree their song stopped and a shockwave of pure malice washed through Valhalla threatening all life.
In response the Valkyrie greeted them with a threatening aura of their own. The response was from every woman on Valhalla, like a choir it rose and fell and clashed with the Amazon’s. The women of the Hummingbirds were used to their names being synonymous with grim premonitions and people scurrying to get away from them.
However, the four Amazon’s found themselves surrounded by the warrior race of the Valkyrie. Women twice the size of Tonja started to appear from the buildings. From the smallest of girls to the oldest of women they all clasped weapons with intent to use them. Jack brandished her double sided battle axe, Gilda equipped her jeweled clawed gauntlets, Tonja removed two daggers from the scabbards that lined her belt, Bailey reached into her pocket and removed an anchor that couldn’t have possibly fit where she had retrieved it from.
A slow clap began and four women marched towards them with intricate armors and weapons. All of them wore similar red metal and leather armors. All of them had different skin tones and clear origins. They stomped in formation and came to a complete halt. From behind them a woman with buoyant golden blonde hair and an old armor which clearly had seen its share of battles stepped forward.
“I am Brunhild Godessimo, Head Inquisitor of Valhalla. You have disrupted our home with threatening auras. Name yourselves or feel our wrath.” Her voice was inconceivably pleasant and sweet.
The sound of massive wings flapping accompanied by a shadow that blocked out the sky caused everyone to look up. A magnificent winged beast fluttered overhead. The Valkyrie’s cried out in an unintelligible language. They all looked to Brunhild with worry in their eyes and their weapons slack in their hands.
“We’re the Hummingbirds!”
A loud voice chimed from above the beast and echoed through the silent city. Tonja tilted her head and her aura flared momentarily.
“Why are you here Belinda?”
“I’m an Amazon too.”
A blue skinned girl with four arms and three lime green eyes peered over the side of the beast and wiggled her fingers at Tonja and the others below. Gilda and Jack sighed together and Bailey smirked as she was forever amused by the cabingirl of the Hummingbirds. N.B.L.M descended gracefully as the Valkyrie oohed in awe as he landed. His bat wings folded against his big cat body and his massive scaled tail swayed side to side. He was a majestic sight to behold and all the Valkyrie watched as Belinda climbed off his back.
Brunhild was intrigued by Belinda and crouched down to be eye to eye with her.
“Are you the master of that beast?”
Belinda swayed side to side and looked at N.B.L.M from the corner of her eyes. He huffed, turned his head away, and she smiled.
“Not master, just a friend.”
“I see,” Brunhild noted. She stood up, raised her hand and clasped her fist. All the Valkyrie dispersed immediately and all hostile intent with them.
“You can all follow me. I can already surmise why you’ve come.”
Brunhild turned away from the Amazon’s of the Hummingbirds who all looked at each other with confusion written on their faces.
“Mgodi spoke of your arrival.”
“Mgodi?” They all responded in unison.
With a pep in their step the Amazon’s of the Hummingbirds strode behind Brunhild in synchronized step. N.B.L.M became a smaller feline creature with three eyes and scales instead of fur. Belinda held him close to her chest as they moved through the vast streets of Valhalla.
Brunhild stopped in front of a round structure, she turned to the women following her and said, “No weapons are allowed inside. All of your weapons should be provided to the young lady at the front desk.”
“Twenty-two doesn’t leave my side,” Tonja said patting the daggers lining her belt, “Even if I handed them over they’d rush back to my side and cut everyone down who tried to stop them.”
Brunhild had felt the power possessed by the Amazon’s and thought it’d be best not to push the issue. She smiled and led them inside the building. The fragrant flowers created a collage of fragrance that permeated the lobby. Belinda commented on how beautiful it smelled.
“Where are we?” Jack asked.
“Victory Hall,” Brunhild’s heels collided with the marble flooring as she turned and said, “This is where all Valkyrie dine and enjoy conversation about friendly bouts fought.”
Tonja’s ears perked up, “You guys wouldn’t happen to have a sparring gym would you?”
“Of course we do. Battle is a huge part of our culture. All our daughters are taught to fight from birth. We believe a strong woman can do all things.”
“Amen,” Bailey said.
“Where’s Mgodi?” Gilda asked impatiently, “It’s nice you’re showing us around but we only came for our Captain, my brother, and friends.”
Brunhild lowered her eyes and scowled in Gilda’s direction, “Follow me.”
Gilda rolled her eyes and followed Brunhild. Bailey and Jack followed in quick stride. Belinda and N.B.L.M however were led by their noses in the opposite direction. Tonja noticed the weary eyes that glared at them. She approached Belinda and scooped her off her feet.
“You think we can stay for dinner?” Belinda asked while licking her lips, “Something sure does smell delicious over there.”
“We aren’t guests Bel,” Tonja whispered before she placed Belinda on her shoulder with a salivating N.B.L.M in her arms as they quickly chased after the others.
The halls curved one after the other lined with doors. They started to become dizzy when they found themselves at the apex of the building. Two beautiful women stood before a black wooden door. They grunted in the Valkyrie language and Brunhild replied, her soft tone lost to her native tongue. The two women nodded, stepped aside and released their hold on the door.
It suddenly blew open and crashed against the wall behind them. The pressure that rushed and spread through the halls was like a monsoon. The murderous intentions from inside manifested in streaks of yellow and red light that clashed violently in swirls of orange. Inside the room Mgodi and a massive Valkyrie gripped each other's hands and looked into each other’s eyes.
“How did we get here?” Brunhild roared.
The woman grappling with Mgodi chuckled and muttered something in the Valkyrie language. Brunhild took a deep breath, sighed, shook her head and smiled.
“Tip the tides Storm!”
Tonja didn’t hesitate, “You’re not my captain.”
A muffled cry for help grumbled from within the room. On the wall behind Mgodi; Kyan, Saddensen, Sir Gordon, and Captain Mine hung upside down bound head to toe in cocoons. Kyan was the only one awake and wriggled inside, only revitalized by the divine scent of his wife to be.
“Soslimysosu!” Brunhild said as she gently waved her hand toward them, a great gust of wind exploded from the tips of her fingers and she blew both Mgodi and the giant Valkyrie into the wall.
The Amazon’s were impressed by the subtle display of power which Brunhild possessed.
“Whoa! That was so cool!” Belinda jumped off of Tonja’s shoulder and started jumping around her, “Wanna join my tribe? I like your vibe. It matches Mine.”
SNAP!
“Excuse me dear, you’re Mine and Brunhild is an enemy. However, in light of a treaty made by Me we will leave Valhalla. No blood shall be shed. Tonja dear, I felt your display here. Was that for me?”
Mine was freed from the cocoon and adjusted his tie and unbuttoned his jacket. Kyan was free and leapt into Jack’s arms in his marmoset form. He flipped out of her arms and returned to normal and pulled her into a tight embrace. Saddensen scratched his powder pink hair and muttered something about Bova.
Sir Gordon sobbed while looking at his reflection, “Mirror Mirror in my hand, I have forgotten thy gaze. Fairest me! Beauty incarnate. How I’ve missed thee.”
Brunhild wrinkled her brow as he began to kiss his reflection. She hadn’t noticed Gilda until she started to chuckle.
“Vile aren’t they? A poor choice of men to reproduce with. Captain Mine, is six hundred years old.”
Brunhild groaned, “The Voskia has an appealing stature. He’s handsome for one of gold skin and pastel hair.”
“Ew, Saddensen’s in love with Bova, who happens to have a balloon for a head and he’s obsessed with explosives. They recently officially adopted Molly, she’s our engineer.”
“Ah, interesting. How about the one holding the woman with the veil?”
Brunhild pointed at Kyan’s impeccable physique and traced him in the air with her finger. She licked her lips. “He’s a fine specimen indeed.”
Gilda couldn’t help the guffaw and snort that escaped, “Good luck, but the answer would be No. That’s my brother Kyan. He’s the heir to our country and he’s only got eyes for Jack”
“The giant then,” Brunhild suggested, “He is indeed more handsome than most of his kind.”
“Darling, I’m absolutely stunning!” Sir Gordon said spinning while staring in his mirror.
“He’s utterly obsessed with himself,” Gilda said, “Listen, I’m sorry you even had to come in contact with them.”
“Mgodi said we were making a mistake and challenged Bertha to a mercy match along with a staring contest. As you saw it was quite intense.”
“Why didn’t you attack us?”
“Mgodi warned us,” Brunhild said, “Beware the Amazon’s of the Hummingbirds for where the men cannot go they will trample to find them.”
Gilda understood immediately, it wasn’t that the Valkyries were afraid of them, it was that they were impressed by the woman that dwells within Captain Mine.
“I hope to visit again,” Gilda said.
“Oh of course, Sisters of Olympus are always welcomed on Valhalla,” Brunhild winked at her.
Gilda was flabbergasted and before she could ask a question a voice rang out and snatched her attention.
“Time to go what’s Mine, time to say ta-ta and bid your farewells dear.”
Snap!
The Amazon’s of the Hummingbirds and the men they came to rescue disappeared. Brunhild sighed with relief.
“After meeting them what do you think sister?”
Bertha was back on her feet and rolling her shoulder. Brunhild took a deep breath and said, “I met Tonja Storm on the battlefield before. She was seven at the time. She had been surrounded by opposing forces and with her daggers she eviscerated the men in seconds. I wanted to sweep her to our ranks but her love for war and bloodshed was too deep.”
“You didn’t answer the question sister.”
“Belinda is going to be an incredible leader but not for us. Gilda will too. Jack was hiding her true power behind that veil. Bailey is old but skilled, she alone could have taken you on.”
“I’d have snapped the hag in two.”
“I doubt that sister,” Brunhild said with a coy smile.
“Why is that? You doubt my skill?”
“Oh, far from sister. What I’m trying to tell you is… Bailey was the least of our concerns. It would have taken all of our combined military power just to meet on equal footing with Tonja Storm.”
Bertha’s eyes grew wide, “Elaborate.”
“Tonja Storm is probably the most powerful woman in Tucy.”
Bertha whistled, she knew that her sister was not one to trifle in rumors. Whatever Brunhild sensed from Tonja was enough to make her call off the forces and hand over the men without conflict.
***
Stay Tuned…
Mine Imagination: Flight of the Hummingbirds
By: T. M. Ashley
M.I Flight of the Hummingbirds is the debut by T. M. Ashley, which features a six century old mastermind that was banished from space and time and is now free to do as he pleases and find his way home. Read the Prologue here:
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