<strong>Name:</strong>Kida<br/><strong>{Atlantis; Ever After}<br/>Tagged:</strong>None.. yet.<br/><br/><em>..BEH-ket KEE-dah-toap..<br/>..NEE-shen-toap AHD-luhn-tih-suhg..<br/>..SOH-bin MOAKH AH-lih-teh-kem..</em>*<br/><br/>The voices came again, intruding upon the sanctity of her dreams.  The spirits warned her of darkness descending.  Images of her people bowed by irons into supplication; of women raped by their menfolk and surface dwellers; of demons wallowing in slaughter, their barbed and deformed cocks poised to desecrate corpses already decayed.  Her throne was wet red flesh and raw white bone. . . .<br/><br/>Kida woke with bile burning in her throat, startling cerulean gaze affixed to the dark ceiling somewhere above her.  Despite the lump of half digested seafood blocking her throat, she forced herself to breathe deeply of pure airs as yet untainted by the chaos that most certainly loomed in her future.  Unawares beside her, Milo slumbered on, his snores practically rattling the bed frame.<br/><br/>As nausea subsided, Kida felt full lips curl in disgust.  She recalled her husband's explanations of dry nasal passages and the rattling that occurred in midst of rest..  how dreadfully dull.  As if she cared for the reasons, when all she wanted was for it to stop!  Impatient, restless, she flung bedclothes aside and hurriedly exited the noisy chambers, proceeding near nude and barefoot down the halls to further contemplate her dreams.<br/><br/>Yes, her dreams..<br/><br/>How long has passed since the Spirits first visited her?  Milo had shown her this "calendar" and how it correlated to their own time keeping.  Vaguely, she remembered the moon.  Yes, the moon was new when first the Spirits whispered.  Two weeks ago.  And ever since, how vivid those dreams had become!   Even Milo remarked on strange things.. on activity from the usually dormant Heart of Atlantis..<br/><br/>Apprehensive digits raked untamed ivory mass from her face as the distraught queen paced the halls.  The Spirits, it seemed, had chosen her once more to save her people from a dread circumstance.  Yet what would it require?  To go to the surface?  She shuddered at the mere thought.  To leave her subjects?  Her husband?<br/><br/>Kida paused when vertigo suddenly swept over her, left her giggling weakly with a palm pressed to time-smoothed wall.  Oh, yes -- her fawning subjects, always hounding her to solve the most inconsequential of problems.  Her husband, who hardly ever entertained the idea of her leaving this precious gilded cage, despite the fact that she had been a weapon of Atlantis millenia before his birth!  She should leave them, remind them of just who she was and what she had accomplished.  Kidagakash, feared warrior princess!<br/><br/>Suddenly, she was eager -- even excited -- to leave.  If her  kingdom needed protecting, she would see it safe.  Whatever the cost.  If she enjoyed herself in the process, well.. what was the harm?  The implications were beyond imagining.<br/><br/>Swiftly, before she could change her mind, Kida pushed away from the wall to prepare for her journey.<br/><br/><div align="center">___________________________________</div><br/>In hindsight, the journey had been a breeze.  Encapsulated and ancient conveyances were in constant use since Milo's arrival.  Taking one when they were so rarely guarded was child's play.  Even the Leviathan had balked when Kida had flashed her crystal and spoke in ancient tongue to pass.<br/><br/>Breaking surface was the true thrill.  To arise in the rays of the sun, gloriously bright and blissfully warm..  that.  Oh, she had not felt that in over 8000 years.  Knowing full well her plight, Kida could not help but rejoice.  She tore off her skirts, her top, and allowed the sun to warm already dark flesh as she labored to hide her transportation.  A murky inlet and palm fronds sufficed.  Still, here, on this secluded stretch of beach found, she saw little reason to clothe herself.  Spear in hand, she fished nude, stoked a fire nude, and prepared her meal in the nude.  Even the surface fish's plain appearance and taste failed to rouse her ire.  Indeed, Kida ate heartily beneath a blue sky.<br/><br/>With full belly and warm skin, the queen thoughtfully regarded a nearby and towering beach cliff.  It seemed prudent that she scout it out.  From that vantage she could seek civilization, and perhaps then find out where to find this "Ever After".  Perhaps, too, there would be rumors of this darkness descending.  And yet, she argued, was her journey not arduous enough?  Wasn't it prudent to rest before continuing on?  Besides, the beach was deserted.  She would find no trouble here.  The white sands were inviting, and warm, and she could linger under this delightful sun..<br/><br/>Yes, she thought, yawning elaborately.  This would be a perfect place to rest before her fight to vanquish evil..  just... perfect...<br/><br/><br/>(*loose translation: Please, Kida, the Spirits of Atlantis need your help.)