Women of Steel Series

Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Chapter Eleven

A pained moan left her lips even before her eyes were open, a sharp pain shooting up from her side and leg when she tried to move, but a hand on her chest pressed her down, stopping her.

"Don't move so fast," came the soft, soothing voice. "You're hurt."

She felt the panic rise as maleficent fiery eyes flashed behind her eyelids, and her breath quickened. Strong arms pulled her close and her breathing slowed instantly, the terrifying eyes no longer there. Tender lips touched her forehead first and then her ear.

"You're safe. Rest now," She was helpless to comply with the whispered words.

When she opened her eyes again, Diana was sitting by her side, holding her hand over her lap. She was staring outside, at the still dark and starry sky, a vacant look on her eyes.

Noticing the dark bags under the Amazon's always vivid brown eyes, Kara squeezed the hand holding hers to get her attention, smiling sleepily when Diana looked back at her.

"Hey…"

Diana smiled, raising her hand to her lips to place a kiss there. "Hey. How do you feel?"

"Sore…" Kara grimaced when she tried to move.

"Stay still, Kara. You will hurt yourself." Diana admonished gently, her eyebrows drawing together in concern.

Kara huffed. She didn't like being injured and definitely didn't like being in pain. "Did you sleep at all?"

Diana let go of her hand so Kara could move better. Smoothing the golden tresses away from the Kryptonian's forehead, she smiled. "I can do without sleep for a night, Kara."

"I know you can, but you don't have to." Kara looked up at her, her voice husky from recent sleep. "But I worry." Shifting to the side, she pulled up her fur, meaning to have Diana snuggle with her so they could both sleep for a little longer, but the moment she lifted the fur, she felt something was different. Frowning, she looked down at herself, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "Why am I naked?"

Even in the dim light of the room they were in, Kara could see Diana's blush and it was adorable.

"W—we were at the pools and…" Diana stuttered uncharacteristically, scratching her ear. "I couldn't leave you with your wet undergarments, so I took them off to dry after Orin changed your bandage." Diana grabbed her hand again, suddenly worried. "Did I overstep, Kara? I'm sorry if I did. I just wanted to make you comfortable."

Just the thought of Diana seeing all of her naked, of those perfect fingers touching her skin was making her feel all sorts of warm and fuzzy, and it had nothing to do with shyness. "No…" She managed to get out, feeling the heat burn in her cheeks. Clearing her throat, Kara forced herself to look up at the Amazon Princess. "The hum… The offer still stands."

The sound of uneven breathing was suddenly loud as the older woman stared at her, trying to decide if she heard correctly. "Are you sure?" She finally rasped.

Kara nodded shyly, watching expectantly as Diana hesitated before slipping under the fur. The Princess, however, kept a respectful distance from her and didn't seem inclined to move.

Kara frowned. She could hear the loud thud of her heart and her erratic breathing. Maybe this was making her uncomfortable. Oh, Rao, she shouldn't have asked. What if she made a mistake and—

"Is it… Is it all right if I… touch you?"

The soft whisper forced her rambling thoughts to a halt. Daring to peek at the woman lying so close to her, Kara almost stopped breathing at the raw emotion she could see in those dark eyes staring back at her. Not trusting her voice, Kara nodded slowly. She was aware of the double meaning of Diana's request, but she trusted the Amazon not to push her on anything she was not ready for. She trusted her.

Painstakingly slow, warm fingers traced an imaginary line under her breasts, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. Kara's breathing hitched, her body reacting instinctively to the feathery touch. Inching closer, Diana pressed her tunic covered body to Kara's, encircling her torso with her arm, long fingers brushing her bicep.

Kara pulled the woman closer, feeling Diana's body shudder when it came in full contact with hers. This was a new level of intimacy for them, one that was not just about physical attraction. It was about closeness and affection, and she liked this. She liked the way Diana made her feel with one simple touch, it made her feel like she was the most important person in the universe.

"Are you ok?" She whispered when Diana's fingers curled around her bicep in a tight grip.

Diana kissed her collarbone, her head resting on Kara's exposed shoulder. Releasing a long, shuddering breath, the older woman closed her eyes. "I should be asking you that…"

Kara smiled, feeling goosebumps erupt from the woman's warm breath on her skin. Yes, she liked this very much. "You were the one up all night, Diana."

"And you were the one injured," Diana replied, her voice sounding sleepy.

"I know." Kara kissed the dark head, smiling when Diana nuzzled her skin, seemingly content to stay right where she was. "Thank you for taking care of me."

"I… I love taking care of you," she mumbled.

Kara closed her eyes, the smile still on her lips. She loved it too. Very much. "Sleep."

"Sing to me…"

The voice was so soft, Kara was sure if it wasn't for her super hearing, she might have missed it. "Always." Tangling her fingers in the dark tresses, Kara soothingly dragged her nails over the woman's scalp, knowing it would put her to sleep.

Her mellow voice filled the room with the warm and sweet melody of the old Kryptonian song, the smile in her voice evident when she felt Diana relax in her arms, and her breathing even out. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep too, lulled by the comforting sense of belonging and peace she always had whenever she was in Diana's arms.

##

Hippolyta scanned the endless sky, searching for a sign, any sign of danger, but the blue sky remained spotless and idyllic.

"Is all this really necessary, my Queen?"

Hippolyta sighed, briefly closing her eyes. Goran. Now, what was she doing here? "It is."

"It was just an earthquake. If the Gates had been breached, the guards would have sent word."

Squaring her shoulders, the Queen of the Amazons slowly turned around, leaning with her elbows on the white stone wall behind her. "I'd rather be safe than sorry, Goran. Until I have word from the messengers sent up to the Gates, Themyscira stands on alert and every village and city on this island should too, as was decreed long ago. I will not risk the lives of my people."

Goran narrowed her eyes, ever so slightly, a sardonic smile shaping her lips. "Does that mean you don't trust the Northern Guard to their duty?"

She really was getting tired of dealing with her. Hippolyta regarded Goran's guards, standing behind their Regent, their eyes full of despising and barely veiled anger. "The protocol for a possible breach on the Gates mandates that messengers are sent to verify it. Should the foul creatures of the Underworld escape, the Guards stationed there could be their first casualties."

"Wise words, my Queen, but that's why there's an outpost camp on standby, or have you forgotten that?" Goran smirked and crossed her arms over her chest, her grey eyes shining with malice.

Hippolyta sighed inwardly, noticing how Philippus stiffen. Maybe she should just let her loyal General handle her. Philippus wouldn't mind. "If they manage to escape to lighten the beacons, hence the necessity to send scouts right away." Hippolyta's face remained impassive. "Not that it matters. If the hordes of Hades escape, they'll be upon us before the messengers can even make it up there."

"All of these procedures, Regent, are on the scrolls that were sent to you upon the changing of the Gate's Guard to the North. Perhaps you should revisit those scrolls. Soon."

Hippolyta had to bite the inside of her cheeks not to laugh at the look of disgust on Goran's face as Philippus' commanding voice addressed her.

Goran's eye twitched. "It must have slipped my mind, General. It won't happen again."

"I'm sure it won't, Goran. A Regent cannot afford to be this careless," Hippolyta said smoothly before Philippus had the chance to aggravate Goran even further. She nodded to one of the guards closest to Goran. "Mista will make sure you get a copy right away. You're dismissed."

With a cold smile that looked a lot like a sneer, Goran bowed to her Queen and left, followed by her personal guard and Mista.

Leaving her perch by the outer wall, Hippolyta strode silently inside the watchtower just a few feet away, knowing Philippus would follow her.

"She's up to something, Lyta," Philippus whispered once they were inside the small watchtower and alone.

Hippolyta looked around the small space. Carved out from solid rock, it was semicircular and large enough to accommodate up to four guards. Two bunk beds placed against the wall, on each side of the door, and in its center was a small table with chairs and two cabinets on each side, one for supplies and personal belongings and another for the armory. The semicircular opening on the wall, protected by a rollover wooden blinder to shield its occupants from the elements, allowed the sentinels a wide-open view of the land before them.

The Queen slowly made her way to the opening on the wall and stood there, quietly watching the peaceful landscape. "It's been a while since I've been up here." Turning around to face the woman standing by her side, Hippolyta smiled. "I know, but all we can do now is keep our eyes open and our ears sharp. She will slip." Hippolyta touched Philippus' chin tenderly and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Thank you for having my back."

"Always…" Philippus leaned in, pressing her lips harder, wanting more, but the Queen pulled away.

Still smiling, the blonde returned her attention to the quiet skies, her heart fluttering at the undisguised look of love on Philippus' dark eyes. "Stay…" She whispered without looking at her.

A kiss on the back of her head was her answer.

##

Kara was staring outside Orin's hut, watching as Diana animatedly explained something to Nesba and Mala, the Amazons gaping wide-eyed at their Princess. That had been a surprise. They were not expecting them, and Diana hurried to meet them outside, all color draining from her face the moment Orin announced them. Kara had wanted to go after her, but the old Centaur stopped her. He needed to check her wounds and there was no reason for concern.

Kara resigned herself. She needed Orin's clearance before they left, or Diana would leave her at the village and that was unacceptable. Kara turned her head away from Diana, her eyes following the elderly Centaur, a tiny smile on her lips. He was nice and funny and promised her a handful of stories about Diana when she was growing up, once he was done examining her, much to Diana's dismay. He had explained that he was going to 'see' her. His ability allowed him to see inside her just like he could see outside, and she thought it was a cool magical version of her Xray vision. Unable to talk to him while he 'saw' her, Kara relaxed and closed her eyes.

Diana stubbornly jumped out of bed at the crack of dawn, effectively stopping Kara's grumpy complains with a tender morning kiss before she pulled back with a smile. Kara watched sleepily as the Amazon fetched her tunic and pants from her bag, and her boots, and then her undergarments. That made her blush. She completely forgot she was naked under that fur and she was going to need help getting dressed, if the ache on her side was any indication.

Kara hissed in pain despite the Amazon's best efforts to be gentle as she helped her sit in bed. The fur slid, exposing her naked torso, but Kara didn't pay attention to any of that, focusing instead on her breathing, her eyes shut closed against the throbbing pain. Before she realized, she was dressed and held in Diana's arms until the pain subsided to a dull ache.

"Better?" came the gentle whisper in her ear. Kara nodded, her head resting on Diana's shoulder. "Good. I'm going to take you to Orin, and while he checks on you, I'm going to ride up to the Gates. I'll be back before the end of the day."

Kara pulled away so she could look at her. "I'm sure it won't take long with Orin. If you can wait for a little bit, I—"

Diana shook her head. "You're not going, Kara. You're hurt and you need to rest."

"I'm fine. I'll be healed before the day ends for sure. What if there another one of those creatures out there?"

"Kara…"

"And we shouldn't waste time, Diana. You need to warn your mother. If you have to come back to get me, we'll waste needless time."

"Kara, no. You're not going with me."

But Kara simply stared at her, waiting and unrelenting. Diana sighed and touched their foreheads together. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Make me give in like this?"

"It's because you know I'm right, otherwise you wouldn't. Why are you being so stubborn about this? We're both superheroes, we get hurt all the time."

Diana swallowed, her eyes still closed. "You passed out in my arms on our way here…" Her hands moved to cup Kara's face. "You're supposed to be invincible, indestructible, but you were bleeding and unconscious in my arms. If Orin hadn't come back in time, you…" Diana couldn't finish her sentence.

"But he did and that's all that matters." Kara pulled her closer into a tight hug, memories of Diana's battered and bruised body in that pool still vivid in her mind. "No one is indestructible, Diana, and you know this. You've seen me hurt before. That's how we met, remember?"

But it didn't make the Amazon smile like she expected. "We weren't friends then and you weren't dear to me…"

Kara nuzzled her cheek with her nose, her heart skipping a beat at the whispered words. "I'm dear to you?"

Diana hesitated before tipping her head to capture her lips. "Yes… Very…"

Kara exhaled against the taller woman's lips, knowing Diana was holding back, knowing she wasn't telling her everything, but also knowing now was not the time. "Please, don't leave me behind," she begged softly. "It's going to kill me if I can't go with you."

Diana sighed, defeated.

##

Discharged with fresh bandages and several healing supplies, Kara slowly limped her way outside Orin's cabin. She was still sore, and the puncture wound on her abdomen still sent jolts of pain every time she moved, but if she wanted Diana not to leave her behind, she would just have to suck it up and put on a bright smile. Of course, she had no illusions: Diana always knew when she was hiding something.

Diana turned around when Nesba grinned. Looking over her shoulder, she rolled her eyes, exasperated. Walking quickly to Kara's side, the tall Amazon encircled her waist, taking off some of the pressure of her leg. "Stubborn…" She grumbled, unhappy.

"Please, don't be mad," Kara begged softly, wrapping one arm around Diana's waist while her free hand touched the taut abdomen gently.

Diana sighed and stared right ahead. "I'm not mad, Kara, I'm worried about you. You should be resting."

"Like you rested after your melee?"

Diana rolled her eyes. "I did not fight a demon, Kara, nor was I injured by one!"

Kara scrunched her nose. "Could've fooled me, the way she was fighting you…"

"Kara…" Diana's raspy voice rumbled.

"I know." Kara relented. "I'm fine, I promise."

Diana tilted her head, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly. She could see right through her and she knew it. "Better than yesterday?" Kara tried again, a hopeful little smile on her lips.

Diana chuckled, shaking her head.

"A demon, Little Sister?" Nesba gripped her shoulder in greeting when they came within reach, clearly proud. "Io is never going to forgive you for this."

Kara laughed easily. "So I heard. Why are you guys here? Did something happen back in Themyscira? Is everyone all right?"

Nesba shook her head. "Mala and I were sent by the Queen to check on you and the Gates. We're heading there now."

Diana opened her mouth to speak.

"I'm still going," Kara said blithely without looking at her.

Diana's mouth closed with an audible click.

Both Amazons chuckled at their Princess' predicament.

"Good to know who's in charge," Nesba said, amused. Diana glared at the instructor and Kara smirked. "Don't worry, Princess, I'll keep an eye on Little Sister while you're intimidating the guards at the Gates."

Diana sighed, frustrated. "I can't win today…" She grumbled. "Let's go get the horses and get moving."

She started to walk away but Kara turned around in her arms, stopping her and placing both hands on her chest. Staring at the older woman intently, she waited. She knew Diana was not telling her everything.

Glancing over her shoulder to make sure her Sisters were out of ear range, Diana sighed, defeated. "I… I have a bad feeling about all this, Kara. I…" She sighed, lowering her eyes. "I know you can protect yourself and probably all of us, but…"

When no more words came, Kara touched her face gently, hoping to get Diana to look at her. "But?"

Diana shook her head and tried a smile. "Never mind, Kara. Let's go."

But Kara didn't budge, blue eyes searching her face. She may not have Diana's gift to see the truth, but she could tell when the older woman was hiding something from her. She could now, after a year of friendship and weekly video chats. "Tell me, please. You didn't earlier. Don't think I didn't notice."

Diana swallowed, still not looking at her. "It scared me, Kara, and I never get scared," she admitted in a fierce whisper, shaking her head. "It's unnerving and I… I want you safe and protected, Kara." Her lower lip trembled imperceptibly, "I… I'm overstepping again. I am sorry."

Diana tried to pull away, but Kara held her close, resting her head on a broad shoulder. Her mind was racing as fast as the Amazon's heart. "I'm sorry I scared you," she whispered. "And you're not overstepping. I like it that you care this much about me, it… It makes me feel safe." And wanted.

"Oh…"

She felt Diana's hand touch the back of her head, her lips brushing over her forehead. A happy little smile shaped her lips. She could stay like this forever.

##

Kara narrowed her eyes. She was spying on Diana over her saddle, watching as the taller woman made her way to Chiron, quickly stashing in her saddleback a large loaf of what she was sure was nut bread, carefully wrapped in cloth. She could smell it from where she was.

"If she thinks she's not going to share that nut bread, Argo," Kara patted her horse's neck and clicked her tongue, "she's sadly mistaken."

Argo turned its large head, and Kara swore he was rolling her eyes at her. "Don't give me that look. You'd be plotting too if it was apples." The horse's ears twitched at the sound of its favorite treat. "Ah! See?" Kara shook a finger at him. Argo snorted and looked away, swishing his tail dismissively. Kara frowned. "Rude…"

"Hello."

Kara turned around at the greeting, only to see Thuly and the Centaur children from the day before, all smiling shyly at her.

"Hey!" Limping her way to them, Kara smiled brightly. "Are you guys all right? Anyone hurt?"

There was a chorus of 'no' and shaking heads. Kara stopped close to Thuly and touched his cheek. "You were very brave yesterday, Thuly. Sorry I had to toss you over the waterfall. I know that was scary. It scared me too."

Thuly shrugged one shoulder nonchalantly and she could hear the children's whispered words. 'It's true!', 'She did throw him!' That made her smile.

"Did you really fight the Nymph?" He asked suddenly. All the children stopped talking at once, staring at Kara in awe.

Kara scratched her reddening neck and nodded. As Supergirl, she was used to all the attention, but now she was just Kara, and Kara was never looked at in awe, more like in disgust or pity and there was usually a lot of eye-rolling involved. "I tried anyway, but it was Diana who defeated her."

"And you fought a demon," Diana's raspy voice sounded from behind her, the Amazon's hand touching her back.

Kara smiled, enjoying the wonder on the children's faces. "But you killed it," she whispered, glancing over her shoulder at the woman now standing beside her, her eyes shining adoringly. "You're my hero, Diana."

Diana lowered her eyes, awkwardly. "We need to talk about that," she mumbled.

Kara frowned, but a tug on her hand made her look away from those troubled brown eyes. Thuly was looking up at her, holding something behind his back.

"I made you a thank you gift."

Kara looked surprised. "You did? I mean, you didn't have to. I—"

Thuly brought his hidden hand forward and showed her a colorful necklace, made of strings of leather entwined like a loose braid and decorated with small pieces of colorful wood of all shapes, a single grey feather hanging from the middle.

"Oh…"

"The feather is from the Pegasus you protected. My father told me all about it when he brought it home yesterday," the young Centaur explained dutifully. "Pegasus' feathers are supposed to bring luck and protect against evil."

Kara's eyes misted and there was a sudden lump in her throat. The hand on her back slowly moved to her hip, grounding her. "It's beautiful…" She finally managed to choke out. Her hands were slightly shaking when she took the necklace from the Centaur, the unshed tears blurring her vision. Handing the necklace to Diana, she whispered, "Could you?"

Diana took the necklace from her trembling fingers and clasped it behind her neck. Kara swallowed and touched the feather reverently, allowing herself a tiny moment of sadness for the fallen Pegasus. Leaning down slightly, she pulled the unsuspecting child into a heartfelt hug. Her wound was burning from the sudden movement, but she didn't care, even if she had to bite her tongue until it bled to keep herself from gasping in pain.

"Kara…" Diana warned softly, holding her firmly around the waist.

"That's very sweet of you… Thank you…" she whispered in his ear, finally allowing the tears to fall.

"Please, don't tell them I cried yesterday at the river," he begged in a whisper.

Kara chuckled and let go of him, slowly straightening. The pain was almost too much to bear, but she took slow, even breaths until it subsided some, imperceptibly leaning against Diana for support. If she fainted from the pain, she would scare the children and Diana would leave her behind, and she would never hear the end of it.

"I won't," She rasped out, quickly cleaning her tears with her fingers. "I promise on…" She looked at Diana for help.

Diana's eyes softened. "On Zeus' thunderbolt."

"On Zeus' thunderbolt," she repeated with a watery smile.

Thuly grinned.

##

After the Centaurs said their goodbyes and Diana insisted on getting Kara up on Argo with a no-nonsense glare, they headed for the Gates of Doom, home to Hades, god of the Underworld, Nesba and Mala leading the way.

"What was it you wanted to talk to me about the demon? Something happened?" Kara asked suddenly.

Diana sighed, letting the weight of her failure settle heavily on her shoulders. Straightening her back, she kept her eyes on the road ahead of them. "The demon is gone."

Kara frowned. "What do you mean, gone? Gone, like wild animals took the body away?" Her voice sounded disgusted.

Diana shook her head. "No animal would come near the carcass of a demon. Even Gaia is wary of accepting their decaying bodies." There was a pause. "The Centaurs went back to retrieve the demon and burn it. It's the safest way of disposing of them, but the body was gone, and they couldn't find it." Diana licked her lips. "There were no tracks, no clues. Even the Pegasus doesn't seem to know what happened to it."

Kara's frown deepened. "But you killed it, I saw it."

Diana's lips thinned. "Apparently not. There is only one way to kill that demon and I didn't do it properly."

"Where is the demon? I'd like to see it," Orin was putting away his healing equipment while they both waited for the herbal mixture to take effect.

Diana kept her eyes on the feverish Kryptonian, watching her carefully. She knew Kara would throw up any moment now and she wanted to be ready to help. "It's gone."

Orin glanced back at her over his shoulder, confusion in his translucent eyes. "Gone?"

"I thought I killed it, but I was wrong." Her voice sounded bitter even to her own ears. How had she missed it? She was sure her sword had run through his heart, all the way to the hilt. Even if it wouldn't kill it immediately, it was still a fatal wound. How had it survived?

Orin nodded, returning to his task. "And how did you kill it?"

"I stabbed him in the heart with my sword," Diana said softly, smoothing Kara's wet hair. The Kryptonian groaned, her lips quivering. Her eyes were closed, and her hands rested on her abdomen, long fingers clenching and unclenching. It wouldn't take much longer. "It was a fatal wound."

She heard Orin's hooves on the plank floor. "Not for a Dekosh, my friend."

Diana's head turned sharply. "What do you mean?"

"You need to cut off its head, otherwise it keeps coming back to life."

Diana's lips pressed in a thin line, but everything ceased to matter when she felt Kara's body stiffen by her side. The blonde gagged and turned on her side, heaving her stomach's contents with a grunt.

"You didn't know you had to cut off its head, Diana," Kara said, her voice soothing. "Did you know it was a Dekosh demon?"

Diana shook her head. "I should've remembered it, Kara. I learned about them when I was growing up and now, because of me, we may have a loose demon and I have no idea where it might be or what damage it's causing."

"Did you even know what that demon looked like, Diana?" Kara guided Argo closer, so she could touch her arm. "And how long ago was that anyway?"

"I don't forget things, Kara, no matter how long ago," Diana replied bitterly, a deep scowl on her beautiful face. But Kara's touch on her didn't relent. Instead, a thumb now smoothed over the fine hairs of her arm.

"I know you don't. I don't either, but sometimes when we're under stress, our brain shuts down important information. Don't be so hard on yourself, Diana," Kara sighed. "Talk to me, please."

Diana swallowed. "I know… I was taught from a young age that it's all right to make mistakes, it's all right not to know everything; it's all right to make amends, but out there… Out there I was alone for so long, Kara, and failure was not an option." Diana tried a smile. "I guess I lost sight of that part of myself and it's hard to reconnect with it again."

Kara smiled, her eyes full of understanding. "I know, but I'm here for you and we'll find this demon and we'll beat him, together."

This time, the smile was genuine. "I'd like that."

"We never fought together. I can't wait."

Diana smiled at the excitement she could hear in the Kryptonian's voice. "We need to get you a sword first. You did admirably with those sais, but that's not ideal when facing a demon."

Kara groaned, pouting gloomily. "My poor sais… One pretty much disintegrated and the other one… I just had them for a day!" Round blue eyes turned on her. "Can I get a katana? Please?" She frowned. "Do Amazons even know katanas? I could draw one to show Io, but the art of forging one is so unique and precise and…"

Diana smiled at the adorable blonde's antics, letting her ramble about the Japanese sword. She knew it was Kara's favorite, and despite that Amazons were not familiar with its design, she would find a way to have one forged for Kara, even if that meant taking Io to Japan to learn the proper technique. Feeling suddenly better, she let Kara's nerdy ramble drown away all the noise in her head and loosen the knots in her stomach. Don't ever change, Kara, please.

##

Themyscira,

Goran slipped inside her room, shouting orders to her guards that she was not to be disturbed, not even by Imkeh. It had taken her too long to get rid of Mira and leave the library and now she had wasted precious time!

Making her way to her travel bag with a quick stride, the blonde Amazon removed her parchment from inside it and unwrapped it. It was blank, as always. Taking her feather and ink, she scribbled in precise runes.

'The Queen sent guards to check on the Gates. See to it at once.'

Goran drummed long, strong fingers on the wooden table, glaring as the inked runes disappeared from view, returning the parchment to its blank state. Putting it away before someone found it, The Regent made her way to the balcony, staring at the peaceful view in front of her without really paying attention. She was furious.

Things were not going as planned. There wasn't supposed to be an earthquake and guards were not supposed to go to the Gates! She needed to speed up things.

##

At the Gates,

Diana dismounted Chiron with a sense of unease, her eyes inevitably falling on the looming dark gates embedded on the mountainside. The area surrounding the black gates was wide and open, and barren and fetid. It was completely devoid of life and not even birds would fly over it - the legacy of the deadly power that lay beyond those gates. Amazons had long ago been tasked by the gods with guarding the gates and like her Sisters, she believed it to be a punishment from the gods for failing to spread their message of love and compassion to the World of Man so long ago.

After they parted ways and Kara and Nesba left to talk to the guards at the outpost camp, she made the short ride to the Gates with Mala. It was a quiet ride up to there, too quiet. The guards should have greeted them sooner and she was wondering worriedly if she would find anyone alive.

"Guards are headed this way," Mala warned quietly.

Thank the gods. Diana nodded, relieved that her Sisters were alive. Her sharp eyes quickly swept over the landscape around them; she wanted no surprises, especially with a demon on the loose.

"Princess," A short blonde gave her a crisp nod, her voice flat and uninterested. It didn't go unnoticed to Diana that the Amazon's hand curled firmly around the hilt of her sword, almost as if she was expecting trouble. Four Amazons stood behind the blonde Amazon, alert and ready, neither saluting their Princess.

"It seems, your Highness, that the Northern Guard has forgotten their manners when standing before their Princess," Mala's sarcastic voice floated from behind her.

Diana raised an eyebrow at the woman before her, waiting. She really didn't care about any such things and no one in Themyscira ever did that, except the Royal Guard and her friends when they were keen on annoying her, but the Northern Tribes had always made a point of showing their contempt towards her and her mother and because of that, she admitted to herself only that it was a guilty little pleasure of hers to remind them of her status with the Amazons.

The blonde woman's jaw clenched visibly. For a moment, Diana thought she was going to get gutsy and tell her how she really felt, but then the woman reluctantly brought a fist to her chest and bowed her head slightly, her Sisters following her lead.

"That wasn't so hard, was it, Inga?" Mala asked with a condescending smile, stopping by Diana's side, her muscular arms crossing over her chest.

Inga ignored her, keeping her hazel eyes focused solely on Diana. "Something you need, Princess?"

Diana tilted her head to the side, her brown eyes narrowing ever so slightly. She was not having a good day and she was not in the mood for the northerner's crass attitude. "As a matter of fact, Inga," Diana strolled lazily to where the northerner Amazon was, stopping a few inches from her. Bringing her hands up to her hips, Diana pinned her with steely eyes, her voice dropping dangerously, "there is."

Being much shorter than the tall Amazon, and this close, the blonde woman was forced to look up at her Princess, but Diana's face was unreadable. "And what is that?" She forced out, but Diana could hear the twinge of dread in her voice. Good.

"Were the gates breached?"

"No." The answer was too quick.

"Are you sure?" Diana insisted, studying her every reaction intently. It was an extraordinary gift she had. Even without the Lasso, she could always tell when someone was lying to her. It was almost like a tingling feeling in the pit of her stomach. It never failed.

"Yes. You can check for yourself… Princess." Inga half turned, pointing to the dark gates with a sardonic smile. "If you can brave the stench."

"You're lying!" Mala's cold brown eyes bored into hers. "You shouldn't have left the Lasso with Nesba, Diana. She's…"

"Not lying," Diana interrupted smoothly, noticing when the Amazon's eyes quickly closed in relief. "You seem to forget who I am, Inga. I don't need the Lasso to know if someone is lying to me." Diana inched closer and the smaller Amazon was forced to step back. "She's not lying, Mala, but she's not telling the whole truth either." Diana shot Inga a deadly glare and the Amazon swallowed. "If the gates were not breached, what happened then?"

But the Amazon remained silent.

Mala sighed dramatically making her way back to her horse. "Fine. I'll get the rope. We're taking you to Themyscira and you can explain to the Queen how a demon escaped, killed several Pegasus, hurt her honorable guest from the World of Man and all that with the Gates sealed and intact." Mala stopped and half turned, questioning in her brown eyes. "When was the last time your mother sent someone to Reform Island?"

Diana kept staring at the now worried looking Amazon, an amused half-smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Too long. I think she misses it."

"The Gates were not breached, but…" Inga looked behind at her companions, getting a nod in response.

"But…" Diana insisted. She wanted to leave this place, get Kara, and go back to Themyscira where she could make sure her stubborn Kryptonian would rest. Now.

Inga sighed. "There was a… crack."

"A crack?"

Inga nodded. "It's gone now. It's… a green fume came out of it. It was really thick and smelled of death and decay… But it evaporated in thin air and the crack closed before we could take a good look at it." Inga squirmed under the woman's scrutiny. "Nothing came out of those Gates, I swear it!"

"Show me,"

Inga stared at the Princess as if she had grown another head. "What? The crack? It's gone! It closed right after!"

Diana nodded and waved her hand in front of her, so the Amazon could lead the way. "I know, but I want to see it anyway."

The woman paled but had no choice. Stomping in front of the Princess, Inga covered her nose and mouth with her hand, her eyes watering as the fetid smell of decay increased. "Here," she pointed to a black stain on the ground, her voice sounding like she was about to gag.

Diana was following behind with her hand over her nose and mouth, just like the guard. The stench was nauseous and was making her stomach churn. She was so glad she had convinced Kara to go with Nesba to the outpost. The stubborn woman would surely want to check on the crack as well, and after the day before, she wasn't sure Kara's stomach would handle the smell. She was fairly sure her stomach couldn't take the stench for much longer and it wouldn't look good for the Princess to throw up because she couldn't stand the smell. She had to move fast.

Kneeling by the black stain on the ground, she touched it. It was hot, like a fire had just been burning there. "Was this always like this?"

"No. We noticed the crack because Lonora saw fire sparking out of there," Inga's voice was strained. "Then the fire was gone, and the green smoke escaped. By the time we got here, the smoke had evaporated, and the crack was gone."

Diana nodded and quickly rose to her feet, making her way back to the waiting Amazons, wishing fervently that she had a camera with her so she could show it to Kayo. It was amazing how everything changed once they were out of the barren zone, it was as if the land surrounding the Gates was a different place, separate from the rest, and maybe it was.

Taking long and full gulps of air, Diana allowed herself a moment to breathe in the fresh, clean air of the surrounding forest. Turning around to the ashen looking Amazon, she asked. "Did you send a message?"

"Of course I did! I sent an owl to the outpost!"

Diana nodded, patting the surprised Amazon on the shoulder. "Thank you, for telling me."

Without waiting for an answer, Diana signaled Mala and climbed up on her horse, stirring him down the road. "Let's go, we're not getting any more answers here."

Giving the eerie Gates one last look over her shoulder, Diana rode out.

##

Kara ignored the dirty looks she was getting from the Northern Amazons and almost rolled her eyes at the heated argument between Nesba and a tall redhead over the Lasso. Turning on her heels, her eyes swept quickly over her surroundings, committing to memory every important detail, just like Alex taught her. Somehow, these Amazons didn't seem particularly friendly and she didn't want to be caught off guard.

She knew it wasn't so much because she was unknown to them and was tagging along with Nesba, but because the Lasso of Hestia dangled from her belt. Apparently, it was an outrage that the sacred Lasso lost to the Nation so long ago, was now in the possession of a stranger. Diana had entrusted her with the Lasso and no harm would come to it while in her care. Besides, the reason why it was in her possession was none of their business.

"Take the Lasso," Diana said softly, securing the plain looking rope to her belt. "You might need it. Northern Amazons can sometimes be… unreasonable."

Kara touched the rope almost reverently. She knew of its power and how much it meant for Diana and the Amazons. It was textured and rough like a regular rope but had a silky feel to it. "But, Diana, shouldn't Nesba take it? I mean—"

Diana cupped her chin, her dark eyes full of affection. "I want you to take it, Kara." Pressing her lips on her cheek, she whispered, "I trust you."

Now standing behind Nesba, she was watching like a hawk as the gruff instructor interrogated her Northern Sister. It didn't take long for her to catch on the redhead's little quirks, like how she always looked away every time Nesba brought up the demon, or when she pressed her lips in a thin line whenever the messenger was mentioned.

"I've told you, the Gates were not breached and there is no demon, and a messenger was sent out as soon as we confirmed everything was intact!" The tall redhead smirked at Nesba. "Tell this Sister of yours to let go of henbane bread."

The Amazons around them snickered, amused.

Kara frowned, shifting so she could ease the weight off her leg. It was starting to bother her. Stupid demon. "Was I just insulted?"

"Her injuries are not a hallucination," Nesba growled, her face set in a cold mask.

"She's hiding something," Kara said softly. She knew there was no point in whispering, the Amazons would still hear it.

"Are you calling me a liar, stranger?" The woman's clear blue eyes flashed angrily.

"No, but your quirks tell me that you're hiding something," Kara said.

"Quirks?" The woman spat and even Nesba looked at her, questioning in her dark eyes.

Kara nodded and limped to stand next to Nesba. "You look away every time the demon is mentioned and your eyes and forehead crinkle. Besides," Kara pointed to the woman's mouth, circling the area in the air with her index finger, "you purse your lips every time we talk about the messenger. Trying to keep yourself from speaking up?"

"How dare you?" The woman bristled.

"Damn, Little Sister," Nesba mumbled, clearly impressed. "We met no one on our way up here and the Centaur road is the fastest way to Themyscira and the only logical path. I'm done wasting time here." The instructor extended her hand to Kara, her eyes never straying from the redhead. "Kara, give me the Lasso."

The redhead stepped back, her hand grasping the hilt of her sword. Around them, the northern Amazons formed a half-circle as swords were unsheathed and bows were drawn with sharp-looking arrows pointing at them. "You have no authority here!"

"Wrong. I am the Queen's emissary and you will answer my questions, whether you like it or not," Nesba made no move to draw her sword. "Think carefully about your next move, Sister. It may be your last."

The redhead snarled at her. "You're so full of yourself, Nesba. There's only two of you and she's not even an Amazon, and there's ten of us. The odds are not in your favor, no matter how good you are, Sister."

"Actually, there's fifteen of you," Kara said with a bright smile. "You have archers up on the trees, over there." A finger pointed to a tree close to the horses. She turned around and pointed to another tree behind them. "There… there… and there" Then she pointed to a wagon. "And another one hiding behind that wagon." Kara crinkled her nose. "By the way, there's a snake behind her. Not sure if it's poisonous, so she might want to check that."

The redhead's blue eyes widened comically. "What the…"

A commotion was heard from nearby, followed by a yelp and heavy cursing, and a black snake landing a few feet away from the wagon. A dark-haired woman jumped over the wagon and cut the snake in half with a savage swipe of her sword, her eyes wild and her breathing heavy.

"Gosh, that's a lot of colorful words…" Kara mumbled, feeling the heat burn in her cheeks from the woman's cursing.

The redhead pulled out her sword and held it menacingly in front of her. "How did you know that? Who are you?"

"Hilda…" Nesba growled unsheathing her sword in a swift move.

In one fluid motion, strong hands snatched the sword from the redhead's hand, broke it in half, wrapped the Lasso around the warrior's torso and arms, and yanked. The stunned woman stumbled forward and fell on her knees as sensitive ears caught on the soft whistling sound of a shaft being released. "You really shouldn't have done that…" Faster than any of them could even understand, Kara's fingers wrapped around the speeding arrow, inches from hitting her shoulder. Flipping it over, the Kryptonian threw it back where it came from, a startled yell sounding seconds after.

The confused warriors stared in disbelief at their bound leader, unsure of what to do until one decided to strike Kara, but Nesba expertly parried her blow and smashed her elbow against her jaw. There was a sickening crack as the woman dropped on the dirt ground like a rock, unconscious. Pressing the tip of her sword to Hilda's jugular, Nesba shot the warriors a warning. "Call off your guards, Hilda." When the woman did nothing more than glare, Nesba pressed the sharp blade, drawing blood. "Now."

Hilda's nostrils flared. "Stand down!"

"That was very stupid, Hilda," Nesba said, sounding almost disappointed. "Because now I know for sure you're hiding something. Kara?"

Kara licked her lips, barely stopping herself from wincing at the hot throbbing shooting up from her abdomen. Her little stunt with the arrow had forced her to stretch to catch the shaft and probably reopened her wound. She just hoped it wasn't bleeding or Diana would kill her. Her eyes flickered down to her hands - she was holding the rope, but she had no idea how it worked. "Huh… I—"

"Just command her to tell you the truth," Nesba instructed softly.

"You have no right to use the Lasso of Hestia!" Hilda spat. "You're not one of us! I will never—"

"Answer me!" Kara ordered, her voice commanding and unwavering. It was her Supergirl voice, the one that would not take a 'no' for an answer. "Where was the messenger sent to?"

The redhead gritted her teeth, the veins on her neck standing out as she tried to resist the power of the Lasso.

"You know how this works, Hilda. Stop resisting," Nesba warned, still holding her sword against her neck.

Kara felt the tingling touch of the magic on her skin, where she was holding the Lasso as it changed from its plain form to a bright golden color. "This is so cool…"

"I sent a messenger out!"

"Where?" Kara insisted.

"T-to Varys!" The woman closed her eyes against the sudden pain as Kara pulled on the Lasso.

"Varys?" Kara frowned looking over at Nesba, confused. "Isn't Varys in the Northern territory?"

Nesba's face darkened, nodding. "Your orders are to send a messenger to the Queen, not to your Regent!"

"My orders changed!" She snarled, her eyes flashing with despise.

"When?" Kara insisted.

The woman gasped. Kara had to give her credit, she was still trying to resist the magic of the Lasso. "A y—year ago."

"When the guard changed to the North…" Nesba's jaw tightened and she motioned Kara to release the woman. "The Queen will hear about this. And don't bother trying anything against us. Diana is on her way here and as I'm sure you've noticed, Little Sister can take all of you down in a blink of an eye."

Kara released the woman, who slumped on the dirt ground, and recoiled the rope with a quick flicker of her wrist. Limping back to Argo, she tried hard not to cradle her side with her hand, her senses extending to make sure the women wouldn't try anything against them. A pained groan escaped her lips when she pulled herself up on Argo. Rao, it was really stinging now, even her leg, and it was making her stomach queasy. She didn't want to throw up again – that had been a very unpleasant experience. Maybe she should have just stayed up on Argo like Diana told her to and threaten the warriors with her heat vision while Nesba interrogated them.

"Oh, you're definitely competing in the Games next season, Kara."

"Huh?" Kara's eyes flickered from Argo's light mane to where the dark-skinned instructor was staring at with a proud grin. Upon the tree, the stealth archer slipped and was now dangling from her perch, held only by the arrow pinning the back of her leather skirt to the old trunk and exposing enough skin to make Kara look away hastily, her cheeks burning again. "Oh, Rao, I didn't mean for that to happen…"

Nesba chuckled and clucked, steering her horse away. "Io will not be happy she missed that."

Kara groaned.

##

Diana checked on Kara's wound quietly, making sure it was healing and showed no signs of infection. Orin had warned her about that. Maybe another day or so, and it would be completely healed. Demon injuries always took longer to heal, and it seemed Kara was no exception to that. She was grateful that they were alone at the campsite, even if just for a little while. Nesba was away hunting dinner and Mala was already on her way to Themyscira to warn the Queen about the demon. They had to be prepared.

She was still upset by that day's events, with the Gate guards bordering on disrespect and open antagonism towards them. What was wrong with them? What in Hades had happened in the time that she was gone from the island to change her Sisters like that? And as if that wasn't enough to aggravate her day, Kara had kept from her that she was hurt, and it wasn't until she caught on the blood-stained tunic and barely concealed whimper, that Kara admitted to what had really happened at the outpost camp.

That hadn't settled well with her and she was angry. She wanted to ride back and tear that camp apart and beat the living days out of the guards, but those tricky blue eyes bored into hers, silently begging her, and she caved.

"They hurt you," Diana growled angrily, her lips barely moving.

"No, I hurt myself when I stretched to catch an arrow, Diana. I—"

Diana stilled, dark eyes pining the Kryptonian. "Arrow?"

Kara cringed. "Yeah, I— Please, Diana." Kara touched her arm, her blue eyes pleading. "Please, we got the information and we set them straight."

Diana glared at the path leading back to the outpost, letting the fiery cloak of anger settle over her soul. Last time she had been this angry, she was about to take down her brother Ares, and now, she was going to ride out to that camp and destroy everything in her path, but then Kara touched her face, gently forcing eye contact, fingers smoothing her skin in a silent plea, waiting, and she felt her anger melt away under those beautiful eyes.

"They tried to hurt you, Kara. I won't forget that," the warrior promised, her voice low and precise. She wouldn't. Ever.

Kara nodded, her blue eyes full of understanding.

Diana could feel Kara's eyes on her, taking in everything, every single twitch, every single quirk, filing every little piece of information away. She was reading her, she knew, and it should make her feel uncomfortable, but it didn't. It was surprisingly comforting.

Raising her hand, Kara touched the Amazon's face, gently tracing the line of her jaw with the tip of her finger. "Are you angry with me?"

Angry? Sharp, dark eyes focused on her, her brow creasing in a deep frown. "No. Why would I be mad at you, Kara?"

"You've been so quiet since we left the Gates…" Kara dropped her hand, swallowing. "We barely even talked or… touched…"

Diana sighed, her heart clenching. She finished securing the bandage before she spoke again, "I'm not mad at you, Kara. I'm… angry with my Sisters and their behavior." Diana started to put her healing bag away. "I've been preaching about Amazon's ideals, about how different we are from the world outside, how much we have to teach but… Maybe we're not so different after all." The Amazon closed her saddlebag with precise movements, taking the time to gather her thoughts.

"Maybe it's time the Amazons show themselves to the world, Diana. Being cooped on this island for over 3000 years with nothing new, nothing different can't be easy," Kara said softly, searching her eyes. Her hand touched her arm, rubbing it soothingly. "Will you tell me what's really bothering you?"

Of course, Kara would know something was troubling her. She was feeling unbalanced and out of control, and it wasn't something she was used to. Diana played with the hem of Kara's tunic for a while, knowing the Kryptonian was waiting patiently, giving her the time she needed, and that made her fall a little harder for the gentle soul that was Kara Danvers.

"Were you going to tell me?" Diana whispered, still playing with the fabric.

Kara frowned. "Tell you what?"

"That you were hurting," came the soft whisper.

It was Kara's turn to sigh. "To be honest, I didn't give it any thought until it really started hurting really bad and then… I—I didn't want us to stop and waste time. I know you want to get to Themyscira quickly. We don't have to stop for the night, Diana. I can—"

Diana pressed a long finger on the pouty lips, stopping her. "Remember when we talked about having secrets together?" Kara nodded against her finger. Diana nipped her lower lip, hesitating. "I don't want there to be any secrets between us, Kara." A ragged breath. "I want to know everything about you. When you're happy, when you're bored and frustrated, when you're hurting … I want to know all of it." Diana forced herself to look at the beautiful woman that was making it so hard for her to keep her emotions under control. It was too much, too soon, she knew, and she was being irrational, she knew that too, but today she was being anything but rational and balanced, and in control. "I… Am I asking too much?"

Kara shook her head, looking up at her with such emotion that Diana found herself unable to look away from those brilliant eyes. "No…" she rasped, her hand gently smoothing her cheek. "I like the sound of 'us'…"

Diana released a breath she didn't know she was holding, her heart pounding in her chest, and for once, she didn't seem to mind that Kara could hear it. "Me too… I like it a lot." Gods, how I want 'us'.

Diana's face leaned against the hand touching her cheek, her eyes never wavering from the hypnotic blues of the Kryptonian. Kara's long fingers reached the back of her head, tangling with her hair as blunt nails scrapped on the sensitive skin of her neck. A gentle tug was all it took for Diana to lean closer, their eyes still locked on each other. Their lips parted almost in perfect sync, inches from touching, wanting, needing, yet, neither made a move, lost in each other's eyes as if nothing else existed but them.

Kara's breath caught, unshed tears welling in her eyes. Her lips moved ever so slightly, but no words came out. Their pounding hearts slowed to a peaceful rhythm, beating in perfect sync. It was almost as if they were now beating as one.

The hand caressing the back of her head tugged until their lips were only a breath away. "Please…" Kara whispered, a lone tear escaping.

Diana closed the distance between them, locking their lips in the softest of kisses. She heard Kara's soft gasp, long fingers curling and tangling in her hair, possessively pulling her closer, and she couldn't stop the moan that escaped when Kara's tongue parted her lips and deepened the kiss until both were left gasping for air.

Pushing slightly away from the delicious lips, Diana nuzzled Kara's flushed cheek and neck, pulling her into a tight embrace. Hiding her face in the golden locks, she whispered, "You felt it too…"

Kara released a shuddering breath and nodded against her shoulder, her strong fingers desperately digging into her back. Diana's arms tightened around her. She just needed to feel her closer.

Gods, what was this woman doing to her?

##

By the time Nesba returned to camp, she had two large rabbits dangling from her belt and a stack of dry wood in her arms. Close to the fire pit, Diana was sitting behind Kara, supporting her against her chest, their little moment from before still playing heavily on her emotions. Carefully wrapping her arms around the Kryptonian, Diana urged Kara to lean against her, making sure the woman kept her still injured leg stretched.

"You're beautiful…" Diana murmured, nuzzling the golden hair. She didn't care if the instructor was watching them or not. She didn't quite understand this sudden need, but she just needed to have her close, to feel her warmth and her touch. I'm losing my mind…

Kara blushed. Resting her head against Diana's, Kara covered her hand and entwined their fingers.

"Want to learn how to start a fire, Kara?" Nesba asked, adding wood to the firepit she had prepared before her hunt, seemingly focused on her task.

Kara nodded, giving Nesba a smile. "Sure."

Nesba started by explaining how to build a proper pit and stack the wood, Diana only half-listening. It's not like she didn't know how to prepare a fire. Nesba went on with her explanation until everything was ready. But when the instructor turned around to get the flintstone out of her bag, Kara squeezed Diana's hand and shot a burst of heat vision, the wood in the firepit catching on fire instantly.

Nesba half-turned, staring at the burning fire, uncomprehending. "Wh—"

Diana snickered, hiding her face behind Kara's hair. "Troublemaker…"

Nesba chose that moment to look their way, her eyes narrowing at the snickering Amazon hiding behind Kara. "It was you!" she accused, pointing a finger. "I don't know how you did it, but this is your doing, Diana of Themyscira!"

"Actually, it was me," Kara admitted, giving her an apologetic smile.

Nesba glared, planting her hands on her hips. "No point in trying to cover for her, Kara. I know this is that rascal's doing!"

Kara half turned, giving Diana an apologetic look, her eyes shining with mischief. "Sorry, I tried."

Diana laughed, still hiding her face in the crook of the Kryptonian's neck, feeling Kara's body shake against hers with silent laughter.

"I'm going to restart this fire, but so help me gods, if you do it again, Diana, I'll have you shackled and gagged and sent to Mira's poetry class until you know it all by heart!"

Diana cackled and Kara grinned. "I take it, that's not a good thing?"

Diana shook her head 'no', trying to catch her breath. Gods, she needed this. "This is how I always get blamed…" she managed to say in between chuckles. "I start laughing…"

"Good to know. I may need to keep you around to save face."

Diana rested her head on her shoulder, her dark eyes full of mirth. "You're a brat."

Kara grinned. "I grew up with Alex. It's entirely her fault."

Diana glanced over at Nesba, watching as the dark-skinned warrior alternated between cleaning up the firepit and glaring at her. "I needed that…" she whispered, pressing her lips on Kara's neck. "Thank you."

"I know…" Kara brought the hand she was holding to her lips and kissed it, her attention focusing on the instructor as the woman restarted her lesson.

Kara kept their entwined hands pressed to her jaw, dropping tiny kisses where the pouty lips made contact with her skin, and Diana's stomach fluttered at the intimacy of it all.

Sweet Aphrodite help me.

##

Later, that night,

After their dinner of roasted rabbits and bread and cheese, Nesba slipped away to the forest to check their surroundings. After the guard's antagonizing attitude, both warriors agreed it was better to play on the safe side.

Pulling their bedroll together, Diana lied down next to the Kryptonian, making herself comfortable. It would only be for a little while anyway. Once Nesba's shift was over, it was her turn to keep watch on their small camp. Smiling, Diana rested her head on her hand, her other hand gently smoothing Kara's hair out of her forehead.

Kara smiled sleepily at her. After dinner, Diana prepared her tea with a mix of herbs Orin had given her, to help with the healing, but it seemed it was knocking her out too. Good, Kara needed to rest. Neither of them had had much sleep the previous night. "Do you think the demon escaped through the crack on the ground? As smoke?"

Diana's smile faltered. "It's the only plausible explanation, but it's a scary one because it means that there is a way for the foul creatures of the Underworld to escape without opening the Gates."

"Could it return to the Underworld the same way? That would explain why it vanished in thin air."

Diana considered this. "Theoretically speaking, it could, but we have no record of that happening and…" A sigh. "I have a feeling it's still out there, gods know doing what."

"Maybe." Kara blinked sleepily. "Maybe Kayo knows more about it?" Kara tried to stop a yawn, her eyes closing. "I think I'm falling asleep on you. Sorry…"

Diana smiled tenderly. "That's all right. Sleep well, my sweet troublemaker."

Kara cracked her eyes open and smiled sleepily. "Good night kiss?"

Diana smiled, her stomach fluttering. Gods, you're adorable. Lowering her head, Diana brushed their lips, gently nibbling on the delicious lips until Kara fell asleep. "Rest…"

Lying down close to the sleeping Kryptonian, Diana fussed a little over Kara's fur, making sure she was all snuggled and warm. Sneaking her arm under the blonde's fur, Diana found her hand and entwined their fingers. "Sleep well, my sweet Kara." Snuggling a little closer, Diana closed her eyes, finally allowing the quiet sound of Kara's peaceful breathing to lull her to sleep.

##

Themyscira

A loud knock forced Hippolyta out of deep sleep. Sitting sharply on her bed, blue eyes flew open, the naked body she was just wrapped on stirring by her side.

Her heart pounded in her chest. The last time her guards knocked on her door in the middle of the night, Diana was about to flee the island with Steve Trevor, to find Ares and kill him. That night, she believed she had lost her daughter forever.

"What is it, Altir?"

If the guard noticed their state of undress, she ignored it. "Mala is outside. She just arrived with news from the Gates."

Hippolyta steeled herself. She had a bad feeling about this. "Send her in now."

"Yes, my Queen." Altir bowed and left the room.

"This can't be good…" Philippus grumbled, fumbling for her tunic.

The door opened and Mala walked inside before any of them had the chance to dress. Mala bowed her head, her closed fist touching her chest.

"Speak," Hippolyta ordered, her voice commanding. Finding her discarded tunic on the floor, by the bed, the Queen picked it up and pulled the soft fabric over her head. Philippus was already dressed, standing by the bed with her arms crossed, her impassive dark eyes pinning Mala.

"We've been to the Gates," Mala started, averting her eyes as the Queen dressed. "The Gates were not breached." Hippolyta sighed in relief. Thank the gods. "But something did escape."

Hippolyta blinked, confused, shooting a quick glance at the frowning General. "Explain!"

"The ground cracked and a… green fume escaped, but it vanished immediately, and they paid no heed to it."

Hippolyta's face darkened. "Their orders are to report any changes on the gates at once!"

Mala cleared her throat, glancing between the General and her Queen. "Their orders changed a year ago."

"Goran!" Philippus spat, dropping her hands to her side, her eyes finding Hippolyta's.

"Altir!" Altir rushed inside the room. "I want Goran in my work chamber now!"

"Yes, my Queen."

Hippolyta pinched the bridge of her nose. Damn her and her dirty little schemes.

"There's more, my Queen."

Hippolyta opened her eyes and turned around to face Mala. "What?"

"It was a demon."

"What? But you just said that the Gates weren't breached!"

"And they weren't. We have no explanation for this."

"And how do you know this?" Hippolyta paled, fear gripping her heart. "Where is my daughter?"

"On her way here and unharmed." Hippolyta breathed out in stark relief. "It was Kara who fought the demon."

Hippolyta shared a conspiratorial look with Philippus. "Kara?"

Mala nodded. "She was injured in the fight with the demon but is recovering quickly. They arrive sometime this morning. Nesba is with them."

Hippolyta nodded, satisfied for now. "What of the demon? Did she kill it?"

Mala pursed her lips. "Diana thought she did, but we can't find the carcass." Mala paused. "It could still be alive, hiding somewhere on the island."

Hippolyta frowned. "Kayo's vision…"

###

Notes:

How is everyone? Hope you're all doing ok and not going crazy with lockdown and social distancing. Lockdown hasn't been kind to my creativity. Sorry about the long wait and I hope you like it.

Your reviews have been wonderful. Thank you!

Tell me what you think. Your feedback is important, pls remember that :)