While suspended in some ethereal place between sleep and consciousness, Daniela awoke later in the middle of the night. She surprisingly began to visualize the image of the mountain lion again, which she had escaped on the riding trail several days before. She saw it vividly in her thoughts as it paused in front of her, then slipped back stealthily into the underbrush. Her thoughts then moved more pleasantly to the recent memory of what she had done in the bath earlier that evening. The independent gift to herself she knew could be relived again and again when ever she wanted or needed it. It would become like a small celebration in the future. A little ritual she could practice in solitude, and most importantly-on her own terms.

Oddly, reliving both experiences momentarily made her feel equally alive and somehow victorious. She knew that what she had accomplished for herself in courage and pleasure, she would always savor silently in the future. As Daniela left her bed, stood and walked into the bathroom, she paused in front of the mirror and removed the robe she had been sleeping in. Looking at her body newly in the dim light, she sensed some quiet transformation had taken place. It was a long time coming, she thought, and a curiosity to wonder where it would now lead her.

* * *

Penthesilea, due to her age and position in the tribe, was the first at the festival allowed to choose a former enemy warrior as a temporary mate. Ceremoniously, as had been taught all the women participating that year, she dramatically held up her hand to signal she had made her choice. Then, as the drums beat faster and the men were lined up across from the 'Daughters of the Moon,' she ran at full speed and jumped over the line of burning logs separating them to stand in front of her paramour for the night.

She stood motionlessly, dramatically making bold eye contact with him. At that moment, everyone, men and women alike, raised their hands and burst into loud cheers. The exuberance was part of the protocol, signaling Penthesilea's choice and the resolve of the women to initiate to proceedings. But it was also something else intuitively felt by both the men and the women at that poignant moment. It was the advent of a joyous truce between former enemies-ancient in its development, yet so biologically necessary for the women's survival as a unique culture.

Penthesilea's choice of mates was one expectedly young and handsome. He had the musculature of the warriors she had met only briefly in her life, but now on different terms than the familiar 'fog of war' and the panic of battle. This day of close observation and repose, had given her an opportunity she had never had before-to focus on a "man," not simply an "enemy" for his attractive and lustful attributes. The revelation was always a powerful moment for the young women in attendance at the yearly festivals.

And yet, while sobering, it initiated something else in their hearts and minds which had been strongly taught-the ephemeral nature of that attraction. It was, they understood, a rarity that would last at best only these few days. This perception, which they all accepted, caused the necessary reservation for them to never fully involve their hearts in any of the annual proceedings. Instead, they were taught to focus on the pleasure only, and the depth of their other, deeper feelings for custom and survival.

These tenets included the love for their 'Sisters', the ideals of the society, their profound independence, and even the affection and faithfulness to their horses as creatures who played such an important role in their lives. These eleven days and nights, though understood to be enjoyed to the fullest hedonistically, had a more noble purpose, and beyond it a lofty duty to sustain their shared continuation with one another for future generations.

Knowing this, and looking beyond her choice's physical strength and beauty, Penthesilea had reluctantly singled him out earlier for other curious qualities. These she felt shamelessly indulgent of, concerning the temporary nature of the event. Those secondary attributes were his sensitive face and the fact that he had smiled at her several times during his displays of skill and strength. It was a look of both respect and intimate attraction to a lethal opponent she believed-an experience she would only have but once again, near the end of her short life.

* * *

Daniela celebrated her new feelings that midmorning with the sun filtering through the curtains and warmly illuminating her room. Realizing it was now the weekend, the glorious revelation put her into an overly contented frame of mind. She combed her hair with renewed energy, brushed her teeth and pampered her hands and face with a moisturizing cream. While looking with regained admiration into that face, she realized, with all that had positively happened to her that week, that she could begin to see things clearer and freshly new.

As she contemplated her immanent travel plans with Nicasio, the only man in her life who was ever a lover and companion, she reconsidered that her flirtatious ideas about Bryant were only a passing and insignificant diversion. Perhaps her strong devotion to her lover and best friend had only been temporarily obscured and then temporarily swallowed up by their recent hectic schedules. Opening the curtains fully and letting the prismatic view of the vast bay and distant mountains come into view, she dressed quickly, preparing to begin her domestic weekend routine. Daniela then curiously glanced at her smart phone on the nightstand to see what possible new influence Nicasio might have on their plans.

Seeing no messages or calls, she tried to imagine where he might be at eleven forty-seven on a Saturday morning-though she was quite certain it was within some familiar sphere of the Berkeley campus. Holding back her disappointment at not hearing form him, she realized that no mater how the new developments of his university commitments aggravated her, she still felt connected to him romantically and physically. This had been made patently clear to her only several days previously in his apartment where their love-making had left them both satiated and more secure. On that special evening their interactions and humorous antics had reminded her of their university days-back when Nicasio, lover and companion, had represented everything to her. She was now certain that in spite of her recent, selfish fantasy about Bryant, and her indulgent, solo grasp for pleasure, she did remain loyal to her emotions toward the young man who had so consistently loved her and treated her well. Evolving however, and increasingly hard to conceal from him, was how these old feelings were progressing and changing in unpredictable ways.

Reflecting only briefly and somewhat guiltily about her incredible experience brought on by Bryant's encounter, Daniela felt her deepest affections had easily expanded beyond him, and somehow even beyond Nicasio, this man she had loved unquestionably for the past five years. The stark revelation was that she was now more fully concentrated upon her own life. The idea now of traveling to a completely new place-a different, and more ancient world, was but another thrill in the whole array of things Daniela had never even considered for herself before.

At least for now she wanted to convince herself that such a trip was necessary and possibly good for this continual restlessness she was feeling. She also knew by electing to travel outside of the country it could only help her forget and thwart any future advances of Bryant, whom she clearly saw now only as an element which would unduly complicate her life. A trip with Nicasio would be the safest decision she could make when it came to quelling any future feelings in danger of becoming destructive.

Closing the bedroom door behind her, Daniela made her way to the elevator to seek out the downstairs home gym for a vigorous workout and afterwards a bit of breakfast. It was only after thirty minutes of exercise that she decided most emphatically that she would leave work temporarily and travel with Nicasio to Europe. And she would do this regardless of what Mr. Cuomo or her parents had to say about it. For it made no difference that she was emboldened by her father's connection to the firm-the fact remained that her job was in any case, secure. She only hoped, as she entered the kitchen with towel around her neck that the journey would lead her further closer to some clarity about herself. Perhaps it might even better reveal areas of her inner self still unknown to her. Only time, and what ever awaited her on the other side of the Earth, would tell.

* * *

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The end of Volume One

Follow Daniela on her journey of growth and an unfathomable discovery in Penthesilea's Wish: Volume Two. It promises a phenomenal secret, ferried through the ages by some of the most remarkable women in history. Find it on Wattpad here:

https://www.wattpad.com/story/43861580-penthesilea%27s-wish-vol-2

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Readers: If you enjoyed this tale and want to have an e-book copy of it (along with the other two volumes) long after they are taken off Wattpad, they are available on Amazon Kindle Books. Find them with all my novels and stories for about the cost of a Starbuck coffee:

https://www.amazon.com/Califia-Montalvo/e/B00VQWUXOE

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