While in Cincinnati, you are confronted by the mystic warriors Shàonǚ and Umiko.

Original artwork by:
 AgonWolfe

Original story by:
 CSBernard03

Character created by:
 umikodragon

See the ORIGINAL

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Mount Airy Forest
Cincinnati, Ohio
United States of America
Today, 13:01 UTC – 04:00, Daylight Saving Time

THE WARM BREEZE blows through the treetops overhead. You hear the lilting calls of the birds on the branches; cardinals, sparrows, and robins. It’s a lovely day out, if hot when the breeze is not blowing. Fortunately, there is plenty of shade as you navigate the footpath via the directions you were given.

It was a chance encounter online. A click here and there, then curiously scrolling through some pages of material related to spirituality and philosophy. Among the peddlers of supplements, books, and teas, there were a few spirited discussions in the comments. A particularly earnest user caught your eye. One account, LShaonu, commented at length about the usefulness, or uselessness, of various products. A number of their comments had been hidden and it did not take long to discover that most of them were hidden by moderators, very likely at the request of the sellers and advertisers impacted by LShaonu’s diplomatic, yet negative comments.

There was something in the user’s remarks that provided you a lot of food for thought. Their general tone in writing and overall politeness were as inviting as the their tongue in cheek humor was entertaining. After a few days of reading their comments and seeking out their other posts, you felt yourself at ease enough to reply to a few of their posts. Either to add your thoughts or to support their remarks. There was a genuine sense of surprise and pleasure when they replied back. It was the sort of feeling that came with being acknowledged by someone with considerable experience in something you had recently taken an interest in. But LShaonu was still as earnest as their original comments, without condescension.

Jitters send a shiver over you as you exhale. You ask yourself how you could have even gotten to this point. Conversations in replies led to direct messages and then a sharing of information about other sites and services you each use. Eventually, things became so pleasant online that a few discussions about day to day events led you to reveal that you would be passing through Cincinnati on today’s date. The sudden invitation that came was unexpected, but not unwanted. Your hesitated briefly, you accepted spontaneously, but you waited anxiously.

By the time you arrived in Mount Airy Forest, the doubts and worries had only compounded. But they were tempered by hope and excitement. You check the printout sheet again. Shàonǚ was very insistent that you print out the directions rather than try to store them digitally. You assumed that it was because she was concerned about a lack of cellular service once inside the forest. But you chose not to question her instructions. After all, by now you have learned her pronouns and that her name actually is “Shàonǚ.” Though she also happily accepts “Shao” or “Xiao.”

Winding your way through the park trails, you find yourself impressed with the exactness of her instructions. Every landmark is where she said they are and you do not even think to cross-reference them online. It gives you a slightly giddy feeling as you travel from point to point and glance about. Momentarily you feel like a child on a scavenger hunt or an adventurer with a treasure map. Which, by turns, triggers feelings of exuberance and embarrassment. Still, following the paper and idly studying your surroundings is calming. You begin to wonder if that was part of Shàonǚ’s intentions: to admire the park without the temptation or distraction of your mobile device.

For the time of day, you notice how sparsely populated the park is. You see visitors here and there. You exchange a wave here, a greeting there, or merely nod your head at visitors who, like you, are simply glad to see another person. Even the time of day you agreed to meet Shàonǚ feels calculated to provide a peaceful outdoor excursion marked by well-timed interaction with passersby. You dismiss this, though. It was impossible for Shàonǚ to plan an itinerary so thoroughly. But the idea refuses to be dispelled.

After a few minutes, you begin to notice an increasingly audible sound. The further you continue along your predetermined path, the more clearly you can hear what sounds as a dull smacking. The nearer you come to it, the sound grows in volume and intensity. You glance up through the trees to see if there are any approaching storm clouds, only to see the clear blue sky, the occasional fluffy cloud, and the shining sun. Undaunted, you press forward, toward the sounds. Drawn by the strange, irregular rhythm, you forget to check the sheet of paper in your hand.

Before long, you detect voices speaking periodically. While there are inaudible words, you mostly hear deep grunts and brief shouts. The sounds are disquieting, but not alarming. At least you do not perceive a threat. The voices lack urgency, but you still feel something else in the wind. Besides the heat of the day, there is the presence of some unknowable force. Something that sends a shiver through you and triggers a trickle of adrenaline. It rests somewhere between the childhood dread of seeing Father Christmas and the excitement to rush to the tree on Christmas morning.

The noises grow so loud that you know their cause is only a few paces ahead. A thick copse of trees obscures your view, but it does not deter you. If nothing else, primal curiosity prevents you from turning away or turning back. You clutch the sheet of paper tightly in your hand and follow the path as it bends around green, leafy trees and underbrush. All at once, you are startled by what you find around the bend.

Two gigantic figures block the isolated pathway. One is an enormous female raptor bird, an eagle with unique greenish-blue and golden plumage. She stands at well over three meters tall and has enough muscle to threaten a wild elephant. Your eyes go wide, yet it feels impossible to fit all of her into your field of vision, even at a distance. Besides her sheer size and width, you are taken aback by her scanty clothing. A black cloth wrap around her chest and a matching bikini bottom are the only things safeguarding her privacy. Considering how much there is to cover, it feels lewd to stare, but you cannot avert your eyes.

In spite of her size, the eagle moves deftly as she twirls a fighting staff along her fingers like a pencil. She laughs when she twirls it back into her palm. Though the staff is far taller than you, she wields it like a short sword in one hand. With a shrill cry, a shriek that hurts your ears, she swings it at her opponent, only for it to clash against a huge chain. Reflexively, you flinch as the wood thwacks against the metal links, which rattle upon impact.

Your eyes follow the chain to its owner. While the eagle was awe-inspiring in size and weight, you are amazed to see an opponent equal to her physique. A brown mouse woman stands on the other side of the pathway in front of you. While her natural, earth tone fur contrasts against the eagle’s vibrant feathers, her red chest wrap and short pants are immediately noticeable. Briefly, you wonder which of the two is the biggest. The eagle’s thicker plumage contrasts against the mouse’s thinner coat.

The two amazons are engaged in a strenuous duel as they move and countermove to gain the upper hand. The eagle jabs, thrusts, and slashes at the mouse who uses her chain defensively. The mouse keeps the chain taut and blocks with techniques similar to traditional stick fighting. Their bodies flex and bend as muscles bulge and their enormous limbs extend and contract. You half expect sparks to fly as they strike at each other with tremendous force. Even though she is on defense, the mouse makes several attempts to loop her chain around the eagle’s staff, or even her wrist. But her aquiline speed and reflexes prevent the mouse from ensnaring or disarming her. The enormous combatants violently dance with each other as they clash again and again. The sight is as mesmerizing as it is terrifying.

In the midst of their duel, the eagle spots you within her wider, sharper field of vision. “Oh-oh, Shao…”

You stagger backwards. That name. You whip your head back over to the mouse. You cannot believe that this could possibly be Shàonǚ. Yet, the giant mouse turns and lowers her chain. Her features soften and she casually drapes the flail around her neck. As she does so, it shrinks in size and you notice the two weights attached to either end. When you look her directly in the eyes, you instantly realize that it is her. The same sort of calmness in her written words is written even larger in her wide, brown eyes.

“Well, well,” the mouse comments as she rests her palms on her hips. Even without flexing she cuts an imposing figure. “It seems our training session went longer than intended, I’m sorry about that.”

As the mouse takes a single step forward, you crane your neck upward and feel overawed by her mere presence. Words fail you as you wonder if anyone is at fault for what is happening, while praying that you are not trespassing.

When the printout flutters from your loosened grip, Shàonǚ’s eyelids lower as her smile becomes more subdued and she crouches down in front of you. Still far taller than you, even if you stand on your tiptoes, she rests her elbows on her enormous thighs. Shàonǚ casually gestures to you. “Umiko-chan, this is my new acquaintance I told you about. We met online.”

“Ah!” the eagle says with a wry smirk. “So, this little thing is the reason why my master wanted to meet in the park.” Like the mouse, Umiko hunkers down, kneeling, to get a closer look at you.

With their sheer bulk breaking the summer breeze, their scanty clothing, and the casual danger they pose, the sight of the two amazons sends perspiration down your face and neck. Bewildered by the situation, you do not know the best way to address it. The two giants quickly take advantage of your social anxiety.

“I hope this isn’t too much to take in,” Shàonǚ remarks. The depth of her voice belies her sympathetic tone. “We don’t normally appear so… imposing. We were having a good session and lost track of the time.”

You glance to Umiko, but she simply keeps her sharp blue eyes on you. Her effortlessly piercing raptor’s gaze is more than enough to freeze you in place. Without blinking, she speaks up, “Pretty sure we’ve blown your little friend’s mind.”

Shàonǚ scoffs, “Umi… don’t be mean.”

“I’m not,” the eagle coyly responds. “If I was being mean, I’d call them puny. Because they are.”

The mouse turns her head and clucks her tongue, “Umi!” She then turns back to you, “Despite her manners and the razor in her mouth, she’s my student. She’s a prime candidate for learning self-discipline, but she likes to complicate things for her own amusement.” Shàonǚ then tilts her head, “I hope this illustrates what I meant when I said you can accomplish great things with the right focus and willpower.”

“Yeah,” Umiko chuckled, “I can show you. ‘Wanna rassle,’ honey?”

The eagle’s aggressive eagerness is clear as she shamelessly tries to intimidate you. You suddenly wonder if this could be a test, similar to the “good cop, bad cop” interrogation tactic. Shàonǚ remains calm and thoughtful, clearly gauging your reaction, while Umiko visibly clenches her staff with hostile enthusiasm. Beads of perspiration form on your skin and in your hair. Perhaps this was just their way of pulling pranks. Or, maybe you are dreaming, since you feel light-headed in the moment. Cautiously considering your next move, you realize you have stumbled into things far greater than you previously thought possible.

End