A Wolf In A Sheep's Clothing

The world's population—around eight billion people—is a staggering figure, often overwhelming. This sheer number threatens the planet's beauty as humanity's structures encroach upon and destroy nature.

One reason for this concern is a tribe hidden in the Amazon rainforest, often referenced in what people call "Greek Mythology." These myths are frequently dismissed as fiction, fabricated narratives lacking truth.

This tribe, mentioned in various books and legends like The Labors of Hercules, Argonautica and the Iliad, is renowned for its fierce female warriors. These women are said to be more formidable than lions, boasting extraordinary physical strength, exceptional archery skills, and mastery of various combat techniques.

Membership is exclusively female; their husbands and sons are separated from them. They are a formidable tribe of female warriors.

Leonariz is a member of this tribe, known as the Amazona, more commonly referred to as the Amazona Warriors.

—

"Ti kánete san esás edó?! Aftó eínai éna ieró dásos!" ("What are the likes of you doing here?! This is a sacred forest!")

Leonariz's powerful shout echoed through the forest. She was one of the Amazonian warriors now living in their new home, the Amazon rainforest. The armed men retreated at the sight of Leonariz, who wielded the sharpest sword—a source of pride for the Amazonians. She stood at the entrance to their tribe, located in the heart of the forest.

The armed men could hardly believe this legendary warrior tribe truly existed. They were also captivated by the differing colors of Leonariz's eyes, which glared at them with intense focus. Her face was gentle and calm, but her eyes betrayed her intensity.

A wolf in sheep's clothing!

A man in a black coat, holding a pipe, emerged from behind the men. Leonariz became more alert, sensing the tension.

She knew this day would come, but not so soon.

"Ahh... what a majestic sight! A rare species indeed," the man said, taking a puff of his pipe.

Leonariz's eyes widened. Her throat felt dry because, despite her reluctance, she understood his words. He spoke a language taught by someone who had committed a great sin against her and the Amazona tribe.

"Should I just blow up the whole place? I think it's better to kill the others and at least take this one. Hmm? What should I do?" the man said, throwing away his pipe and touching his jaw thoughtfully.

Leonariz gulped.

She knew she had no chance against their weapons and cannons. One cannon shot would kill many. She understood that even though she had grown up in the forest, it was because of the man she hated—the man who gave her and the others knowledge about the dangers of the outside world, the man she vowed to kill someday.

The man laughed loudly, covering his face, but a few fingers were parted, revealing his eyes, which stared directly at her.

"Prepare the cannons, we're going to blow them up," the man ordered, causing Leonariz's eyes to widen.

Leonariz could hear the terrified screams of the other Amazona behind her and inside the gate—young Amazona unfamiliar with combat. This was poorly timed; Leonariz was the sole guard while the others were hunting. She was the only one who could resolve this.

The ground trembled as the large cannons were pulled by the armed men. Leonariz locked in a tense stare-down with their leader, who wore a wide grin.

Leonariz tightened her grip on her sword as the man raised his hand. Just as he was about to lower it, Leonariz suddenly released the two blades she was holding.

She heard the man's loud laughter, an indication that he understood her action.

"My, my, my! This is unexpected—you're knowledgeable after all! Perfecto!" the man said, laughing.

"Come here, cute little kitty of mine," he said, calling out to Leonariz and gesturing, assuming she didn't understand.

Leonariz bit her lip before looking at the young Amazona behind her. They shook their heads repeatedly, crying and calling her name.

"Me... will go with you people—on one condition," Leonariz said with an unsure accent, boldly meeting the man's eyes.

"Ahh! Ahh! Ahhhhh!" the man shouted, seemingly going crazy, scratching his face while laughing and looking at Leonariz.

"You... you are a marvelous creature! You even know this foreign language!" he said in amazement, continuing to scratch his face.

Leonariz waited for him to calm down. It took a few minutes.

The man was still laughing when he spoke again. "What is it that you want, little kitty of mine?"

Leonariz stood up straight, clenching her fist as she met the gaze of the strange man, fighting the fear she felt.

"You will not harm my people. Me—" she pointed to herself. "—will go with you," she said, pointing to the men.

The man bit his lip and laughed hysterically. "I see, I see. You're negotiating with me. Nice! Nice!"

The man stood up properly and tilted his head. "Sure, this will save us a lot of trouble. You have my word, my brilliant Amazona. Now... come here."

Leonariz turned back to the young Amazona, giving them a meaningful smile before walking towards the armed men.

She knew what would become of her in the hands of these men. They would sell her or make her their slave. That's what happened to her parents.

"Ahh! Ahh! Ahh!" the man shouted as Leonariz approached.

The other men quickly approached and shackled her hands and feet.

The leader chuckled and stroked Leonariz's arm and face. "So smooth! Majestic! Perfect!" he shouted, continuing to caress her.

Leonariz felt only anger.

"We all... need to go now, t-they're coming back... soon," Leonariz said, causing the man to stop.

He slapped her hard on the cheek. Leonariz didn't fall; she looked back at him, her face calm. The man grabbed her cheek tightly. "You have no place to tell me what to do, you lowly creature, but you're right," he released her face, smiled, and spoke in Russian, a language Leonariz also understood.

"Poyekhali. Aaa, don't! YA uzhe chuvstvoval zapakh deneg!" (Let's go. Ahh, money! I could smell the money now!)

A wide smile spread across the man's face as he watched Leonariz walk in front of him. He was proud of this excellent find, knowing the Bognadov would market her for a great price. Because from the first glance at her face, anyone would say—

This woman was a wolf in sheep's clothing.