Selene scowled at her reflection, which only glared back, stubbornly still in the polished mirror before her. The familiar gentle breeze that regularly swept across the island ruffled the papers at her knees so she had to use a hand to hold them down while amending the marking on the topmost with the other. 

How many more variations could there possibly be?

Julian would have known the answer, and given her a hopelessly large and accurate number; only for Connor to lean over and effortlessly add a few lines that would transform her chicken scratch spellwork into a work of art. Elidih could have simply plucked the memory of the damned thing from her mind. But the Renegades were no more; and after their disbandment, Selene had proven herself unworthy of their help.  Their friendship too, if she'd ever had it. Despite her wandering mind, every few seconds Selene's eyes would dart upwards, keeping a watchful gaze on her own reflection while studying the broken memories of the spell she's managed to collect.
 
A lot about Selene had changed over two years.  Her once long auburn hair was cut short around the ears, where it had begun to gently curl once free of the extra weight. The thin and lanky frame of her teenage years was replaced with a solid build, reflective of the Amazonian physical training that came with her imprisonment on Themyscira. Even her clothes were unrecognizable; having quickly outgrown the hoodies and jeans she'd arrived with, Selene had adopted the same dress as her captors. While the Amazons were technically her saviors, after eighteen months of isolation from the rest of earth, it was hard to see them occupying any role other than her wardens.

[colour=B0C4DE]"Oh little godling!"[/colour] As though summoned by her thoughts, a sing-song voice rang out from behind the mirror.  Tucking the pages of her work under one knee, Selene peered behind to find the source.  There was little time to react, as she identified the blurred figure of Mala rushing towards her with inhuman speed.

The papers, so carefully protected from the elements, were surrendered to the breeze as Selene rolled to narrowly dodge the oncoming assault.  She watched helplessly as one drifted across the southern cliffs that had been her backdrop, and into the turquoise water below.  Mala, her warden and mentor, had managed to pin herself atop Selene anyways.

[colour=B0C4DE]"You're late Selene. Queen Hippolyta doesn't care much for waiting."[/colour]  The blonde woman chastised, arms folded as she looked down on her captive.

[color=2E8B57]"You would think immortality would have taught her some patience."[/color] Selene grumbled, but took the offered hand as Mala rose.

[colour=B0C4DE]"There's hardly a virtue greater."[/colour] The Amazon agreed while dodging the point.  She had begun eyeing the mirror, right as the breeze turned the other way, plastering Selene's failed attempt at a portal spell right before them.  [colour=B0C4DE]"And one that you'd do well to practice also."[/colour]

Selene's cheeks flushed. She ought to have gotten used to these sudden flares of shame, but the Amazons were nothing if not exacting with their evocations of guilt.  

[colour=B0C4DE]"Oh come, its not all bad,"[/colour]  Mala continued, her sunnier disposition returning as quickly as it had gone. [colour=B0C4DE]"It's a day of celebration after all."[/colour]

Selene rolled her eyes.  [color=2E8B57]"But not for any reason you'd care to tell me, I suppose?"[/color]

Mala laughed.  [colour=B0C4DE]"We're afforded so few surprises, you can grant us this one."[/colour]

Well that was certainly a brighter way of looking at it; better than her life once again being used and decided upon by those more powerful with little regard for her own desires.

Mala didn't allow Selene any further time to wallow in self-pity. [colour=B0C4DE]"We should leave, before Artemis finishes all the wine- are you even old enough to drink?"[/colour]

[color=2E8B57]"Depends on the place I guess."[/color] 

[colour=B0C4DE]"You earn your right to these things in Themyscira."[/colour]  Mala nodded, considering.  [colour=B0C4DE]"Catch me before we reach the acropolis, and I may allow you to partake."[/colour]

Before Selene could voice argument, Mala had kicked off the ground, leaping forty feet high in the air towards the treeline leading inland.  The jump shook the cliff with enough force that it rightly should have split open. But the island, like her Amazons, was made of sturdier stuff than the rest of the world.  With a small curse of her mothers name, the daughter of Circe cast a familiar flying spell and sped off after her keeper.

Behind her, just as Selene's face turned to the sky and feet left the ground, a tiny ripple broke across the mirror's surface unnoticed.