Puppy walked slowly through the depths of the forest surrounding the Amazon village. It was a beautiful twilight, with the sky darkening ever so slowly and a million stars shyly came out to twinkle like perfect diamonds in a black velvet sky.
A gentle breeze ruffled Puppy's hair as she came to rest and sat on a log for a long moment, savouring the moment. It was the night before her birthday and she had, much to the surprise of her Amazon sisters, requested patrol duty. She had felt a need to be alone, if only for that evening. Her current state of solitude was something she was enjoying very much. As she gazed up at the beautiful tapestry of the night sky, she smiled, and a familiar sense of happiness filled her entire being. "Thank you," she whispered softly. "Thank you for this wonderful life you've given me, and for so very many good things that you've filled it with."
She signed deeply, her contentment radiating around her and settling on her like the finest cloak. The One to whom her gratitude had been spoken had heard, and now in turn spoke a quiet Word into another listening ear.
In the great oak tree just a few feet from where Puppy sat, the Fairy Dryadmother stretched and shook herself briskly. "Hmmmm...well that's going to be a tall order, but Puppy has always been very kind to the Dryad spirits. I'll see what I can do!" A thought later, she had left the tree and sent herself off in search of the two individuals she sought.
*************
Ares had but lately returned to the state of Godhood, having spent the previous several weeks in mortal form. When the Fairy Dryadmother had appeared to him and explained The Plan, he had listened with an air of studied indifference, one leg lolling negligently over the arm of his Throne. "Yeah, yeah, fine. I'll do it, but you owe me," he told the Fairy Dryadmother, who had rolled her eyes as she winked out of his sight on her way to her next destination.
As soon as he was alone, Ares sat up straight, his dark, beautiful eyes warm now and full of anticipation. There was no way he would have let his visitor know just how fond he was of his Puppy of War. He would never have admitted to anyone just how much he had learned from her in the time since she had been sent to him - much-needed lessons to do with honour and kindness and patience. In one lithe, swift movement, he rose from his Throne, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "Not much time left - I'd better get cracking!" And he disappeared in a shower of red sparks.
************
It was the morning of her birthday and Puppy was reclining in the tub of warm, scented water that her Amazon sisters had prepared for her. She had smiled fondly as they had, with much laughing and good-natured teasing, prepared her bath and laid out her clothes before leaving her to enjoy her soak.
"My, my, I so enjoy a scenic view," came a disembodied voice from the air around her. She sat up with a startled jerk and blinked the soap bubbles out of her eyes. "Who's there?"
Ares materialised in front of her, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "What I wouldn't give to be a loofah right now," he mused, folding his arms across his massive chest and winking winningly at the Birthday Amazon.
"Ares! You're early - aren't you?" Puppy asked uncertainly, sinking just a little lower in the water much to Ares' disappointment.
"Um - no, in fact I'm right on time, my sweet. Let's get you dry and dressed. We have places to go and people to see," the God of War told her, waving his hand over her. In an instant, Puppy was out of the tub, dry and standing dressed in a beautiful long, elegant blue gown in front of him.
"Oh yes, you'll do very nicely," the tall god murmured, stepping forward and hauling an unprotesting Puppy into his arms and proceeding to kiss her until she was breathless.
At length, Puppy regained her breath, for all that her face was now bright red. "That was very nice, Ares. But what do you mean - places to go and people to see? It's my birthday, and I thought..."
The God of War grinned knowingly. "Hush Puppy - always wanted to say that, y'know," he said with a laugh. "Where was I? Oh yeah - well, we have a lot of ground to cover and a surprise at the end of it, my dear, so let's get going, shall we?"
"But I..." Puppy only had time to get the two words out before Ares took her hand in his and they both disappeared.
An instant later Puppy opened her eyes and gasped. They were flying! In fact they were soaring higher and higher above the earth. "AREEEEEEEESSS!" Puppy yelled, holding onto his hand for dear life. But Ares just laughed as they went higher and higher until they were soaring up into space and the earth was a brilliant and fast-receding brilliant ball of pale blue against an inky, immeasurable backdrop. Faster and faster they flew. Gradually something began to grow in the distance. It was a beautiful, enormous spaceship, it's graceful lines soon filling Puppy's vision. Only then did she realise what the other surprise was.
"Ares - you, you..." But she had no time for even that expression of surprise, as she suddenly found herself standing with Ares in what appeared to be a large gymnasium on board the ship.
In front of her an enormous and stunningly good-looking man with long dark hair was moving through combat paces with a staff of some kind. His movements were graceful and precise - and would have been deadly, had he had an appointment. Puppy's jaw hit the ground while beside her Ares began to clap slowly. "Very good - you could almost have been trained by me," he said approvingly.
Tyr Anasazi came to a halt, lowering his staff and facing the newcomers. He stalked forward and took Puppy's hand in his, before caressing the back of her hand with his lips. "Welcome, Puppy." He stepped back then and glared at the God of War. "You took your time, didn't you? You were SUPPOSED to be here at least an hour ago," the Nietchien annunciated in a precise tone.
"Hey, Mr. Pointy, *I'M* her escort too, so back off, alright?" Ares snarled, his hand going to his sword. Tyr wasn't impressed, and looked down his nose at his equally-tall would-be opponent.
Puppy bit her lip and pushed in between them (which, being sandwiched in between two such magnificent chests, wasn't an altogether bad place to be). "Now, now - it's my birthday. Can't you both get along just for today? Please? For me?"
Both men, looking as abashed as small boys caught with their hands in the cookie jar, muttered an affirmative if grudging assent, before planting a kiss on either cheek. Puppy sighed contentedly.
"If you'd like to come this way, Rommie has prepared a most enticing dinner, I believe," Tyr invited, taking Puppy's hand. Ares, moving faster than lightening, grabbed her other hand. "With a lot of help from Epicurus," he added, glowering meaningfully at Tyr, who shrugged in maddening unconcern.
The door to the dining area slid open with a whoosh and...
*************SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!*****************
shouted several dozen people. Puppy was immediately surrounded by all her friends, as Ares turned with a very self-satisfied air to Tyr. "See - you might be a super-Niet...whatever you are, but I...*I* am a GOD! Not even YOU could get all of them here without me!" He concluded in triumph, just barely stopping himself from adding "So there!"
Meanwhile Puppy was being hugged to within an inch of her life.
The dinner was a delight, as was the dancing afterwards. The Birthday Amazon was kept very busy dancing alternate dances with Tyr and Ares who both made sure they were never far from her side, and after the party, when all was quiet on board the Andromeda Ascendant - well, that's a story for Puppy to cherish and hold close to her heart, and for all of us to just imagine
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Puppy}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Happy birthday dear Puppy. I hope your special day is filled with the love, joy, warmth and laughter of all your family and friends.
Much love and warm hugs,
Kendaa
