[hr][color=white][sup][h1]
[center][img]https://cabritonerd.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_4925.jpg[/img][/center]
[center][color=ECC466][b]WONDER WOMAN[/b][/color][/center][/h1][/sup][/color]
[center][sup][color=E8B743][b]"FATE OF THEMISCYRA"[/b][/color][/sup][/center][indent][sub][color=E8B743][I]January 1st, 1968[/I][/color][/sub][/indent][indent][sup][right][color=E8B743][b]First Day[/b][/color][/right][/sup][/indent][hr][indent][indent][sub][color=E8B743]Themiscyra, Samsun Province[/color][/sub][/indent][/indent][indent][indent][indent][color=FEF5D1]Winter's cold wasn't going to stop recent graduate Barbara Minerva from arriving early to make first impressions with the world-renowned archeologist, Julia Kapatelis. She spent her time inside the warm jeep, trying to sketch out the ancient ruins of a city gate. Or, that's what she thought based on initial inspection of it. In particular, there was a nearly preserved sculpture above the arch that depicted two deers standing guard. It could have a similar purpose to the sculpture on the Lion Gate in Mycenae, the animals used to represent a god/goddess or showing some sort of hierarchy in power to outsiders. While the answers weren't there, Barbara hoped that they would be found sooner or later. And without having to worry about school or working for an income, she had plenty of time to focus on her dream career.

Barbara spent a few more minutes inside before deciding to get a closer look at the sculpture. She ventured out of her jeep and walked up to the gate. It was made out of stone that remained mostly untouched by humans since it was left abandoned. But, besides time and weather chipping away at it, the walls and gate were surprisingly in decent condition. Then, there was the unusual sculpture made of limestone above the entrance. Upon a closer look, the deers' antlers were missing for one or another. However, her eyes saw faded carvings on a pillar and realized it was words of the ancient language. Barbara pulled out her notebook and examined the page that she kept a copy of the Ancient Greek alphabet in the back.

Then, after a minute, she had a decent translation despite it being nearly unreadable:

[indent][quote][color=lightgray][b]"THEMISCYRA HAS BEEN CURSED BY THE GODS. LEAVE NOW OR FACE THEIR WRATH."[/b][/color][/quote][/indent]
[color=D97F65]"You must be the graduate student that Professor Craft recommended?"[/color] Barbara nearly got a heart attack when Julia Kapatelis asked that question. She looked at the notebook and then back at the young woman before chuckling. [color=D97F65]"I see you've already started working on your first day. What did you find so far?"[/color]

Barbara nervously flipped through the pages until she found the translation and handed it to Julia. Then, she started explaining it. [color=89A1CD]"W-well, um... I was inspecting the sculpture when I saw the carvings on one of the pillars. It was written in Ancient Greek, so obviously I translated what was there and wrote it down in my notebook..."[/color]

There was an awkward pause as Julia was still in the middle of examining the translation. Then, she handed the notebook back to Barbara and went to the pillar. She stared at the carving and then looked up at the sculpture. [color=D97F65]"What do you know of the Amazons?"[/color]

[color=89A1CD]"The race of highly skilled women warriors and hunters? Nothing more than what was portrayed in numerous epic poems and legends."[/color] Barbara approached Julia with a confused expression. [color=89A1CD]"But I don't see how a myth has to do with the carving? It could've been a warning after a plague forced the remaining survivors to flee for their safety."[/color]

[color=D97F65]"Perhaps you're right."[/color] Julia nodded as if she appreciated the graduate student's answer and then pointed at the sculpture. [color=D97F65]"But then, why did the architects of the period used deer as the village's symbol?"[/color]

[color=D97F65]"One of the ways for them to show appreciation to the Gods? Maybe the local population was in a cult that relied upon... pleasing Artemis."[/color] It was when Barbara realized that she might've been wrong and immediately got out her journal. She flipped to a blank page and began looking at her notes while mumbling to herself about the Amazons and their devotion to the goddess. Julia couldn't contain her smile at the sight of someone else being as excited about learning the past as she still was. Then, she saw her friends arriving from the sky as Diana was carrying Etta Candy, who was squeezing her out of fear of heights. Julia waved at her friends and then looked at Diana. [color=D97F65]"You had fun in the states?"[/color]

[color=ECC466]"Besides dealing with the same old nonsense, the party was fun enough."[/color] Diana touched the ground and then looked at her friend, whose eyes were still shut, and got her attention. [color=ECC466]"Hey, we're on solid ground now; you can open your eyes."[/color]

Etta Candy was relieved that little ordeal was over. [color=3E6989]"Remind me to leave with Julia next time."[/color]

[color=ECC466]"Noted."[/color] Diana chuckled and then saw the young woman examining the ancient gate. She turned to Julia and asked curiously, [color=ECC466]"Might I ask who she is?"[/color]

[color=D97F65]"Oh, yes!"[/color] Julia felt embarrassed that she forgot to tell Diana about the graduate student before she left for the New Year celebrations. Both of them made their way towards Barbara, who was still mumbling to herself and focused on finding any more information. Julia didn't want to interrupt her, so she gestured at and introduced her to Diana. [color=D97F65]"This is the graduate student that I told you about a few days ago, Barbara."[/color]

Upon hearing her name, Barbara turned around and was caught entirely off-guard by Wonder Woman's presence. She never thought that working here would've involved talking to the superhero. Realizing that she looked awful in front of the hero, Barbara quickly cleaned off any visible dirt from her clothes and stood up to introduce herself while her face was still red from embarrassment. [color=89A1CD]"Barbara Minerva. Recently got my majors in geology and archaeology. Nice to meet you... in person... Hope I can help out in whatever possible!"[/color]

[color=ECC466]"Nice to meet you, Barbara."[/color] Diana replied with a gentle smile, which caused Barbara's face to redden even more. Then, she started to examine the ancient ruins herself while asking Julia a simple question. [color=ECC466]"You sure this is the place?"[/color]

[color=D97F65]"Based on the surviving records and that symbol above the entrance, I am positive. The only thing left to do is to find the palace and see if anything remains."[/color] Julia answered honestly, which left Diana feeling confident that they were standing at the former home of her mother, Queen Hippolyta. Her mother always told the story of how the Amazons were driven out of Man's World by men themselves. However, even at a young age, Diana sensed that she was hiding something else from her. Something much more sinister. But, the only way to find the truth was to venture inwards to the ancient city of Themiscyra and find any evidence that had been left to be forgotten from history.[/color][/indent][/indent][/indent]
[hr]