People woke up at early morning then made their way to turn back their tents. In the first day, Heracles and others keep in the tents. Amelinda asked Leo to go and observe around other families’ tents which as like their tents were not too far away the central camp, standing around it. Leo was very great at spying. He was very agile could jump and fly up to tops of trees, kept staying on there and observe everything. Though he was discovered, he also could leave easily. Therefore, Amelinda trusted him and give him that task. In the time Leo went out, Amelinda was also busy with her task. She, Heracles and Gwen hurriedly took out herbs, roots and tubers. They dried them upon on the fire place inside their captain tent. When the root and tubers were dried, Heracles and Gwen helped Amelinda to crush them. When they were crushed into flour, Amelinda put them in to some bottles and then stored them. The herds were still placed by the fireplace after that. It’s nearly noon as they finished. They managed to have lunch. Heracles, Gwen and others hurriedly went around and got some dry branches inside the forest. A pile of dry branches was stacked outside their tent. They place a large pot upon it and started to cook a pot of soup. Things inside their tents were enough for them to cook meals in four days. Leo turned back before the lunch started.
“Do you get anything?” asked Amelinda.
“Not much.” Leo said, “They also like us are cooking and enjoyed their life in here.”
Amelinda nodded then walked and joined with others outside. They got some soup and then ate with some pieces of bread. The soup was not bad to Heracles and others. It had a nice smell of herbs which were put in the soup by Amlinda before it was shared to them. After the lunch, Heracles and Gwen went with Amelinda to militant tents, asked other there to keep watching around in case the people of other family would go and robbed their flags then turned back captain tent. Leo continued doing his task he left going to other family places after lunch.
“When will we go and rob flags?” asked Heracles looking at Amelinda.
“I still don’t decide need to observe more.” said Amelinda, “Leo will turn back before lunch. Hope he will get something new.”
“So what do we do now?” said Gwen.
“Keep patient Gwen.” said Amelinda, “We should wait till Leo turn back.”
Heracles and Gwen after that got out from the captain tent, joined with others outside while Amelinda kept staying in there.
“Do you know what she plans to do?” said Gwen.
“I don’t know. Maybe she is feeling pressure now. She is clever but she is only a girl. It makes her feel difficult to lead us in flag robbing game.” said Heracles.
“I think we should give a little time.” add Heracles.
“You may be right” said Gwen.
Leo turned back before at afternoon. He quickly found the way to meet Amelinda. At the time, Heracles and Gwen were staying with her.
“Welcome back Leo. Do you see anything from them?” said Heracles.
“Yeah, I see.” replied Leo, “Aresans and Athenenas seem to be about to do something. I saw they gathered in groups and discussed something but I couldn’t go near to hear them. On other hand, Herathyias seem very busy to make nets and create some traps around their place. They seem not intend to go and attack the others.”
“It means we will not be attacked by Herathyias.” said Gwen quickly, “We will only need to handle Aresians and Athenenas.”
“I don’t mean it but it can also happen.” said Leo.
“So what we do now Amelinda?” said Gwen turned to her.
Amelinda kept silent a while thinking. “We need to eat first.” she said.
They had light dinner outside after that. When it finished, Amelinda turned back captain tent, lit up the fireplace and candles inside there. Heracles and Gwen kept staying outside conversing with others.
“She seems scared too much, not dare to give any decision. If she only keeps us staying, we will never win.” said Gwen.
“It’s not entirely true.” said Leo quickly, “I think she had her plan. It’s only because there still don’t have enough good conditions for her to do it. That’s why she asked me to spy others.”
“He’s right Gwen.” said Heracles, turned to Gwen, “Amelinda is very clever. She will know what need to be done.”
“Yeah but we don’t have much time to waste.” said Gwen. Then he turned speechless after that.
One of their militant tents suddenly turned noisy. Some loud noises, yells and squeaks spread out from it. Heracles, Gwen and others immediately rushed into it. When they walked in, there all things turned messy in the militant tent. Chairs and tables were pulled out from their places. Their fellows who were responsible for keeping stratiotes flag were lying on ground fainted. It seemed they were just attacked.
“Wake -- wake up!” Heracles immediately lifted one of them shaking. The person slowly opened his eye.
“What happened.” asked Heracles.
“We were attacked. They robbed our flag.” said the person.
“Who are they?” asked Heracles impatiently.
“I realized one of them. He’s Hank.” said the person.
“What’s going on? What happened here Heracles?” squealed Amelinda. She just broke in.
“Our stratiotes flag just robbed.” said Heracles, helped the boy lying on ground sat up.
“Who?” cried Amelinda.
“Hank and his fellows.” said Heracles.
“God,” screamed Amelinda, “I don’t think they could come so early. Furthermore, it’s in night.”
“I also didn’t think I would happen. Though, he did warn me before.” said Heracles.
“Anyway,” said Amelinda loudly, “Help them get up.”
The people hurriedly were woken up. They didn’t get any serious wound, just fainted. Amelinda kept staying with them there awhile, helped them heal their pains then went with Heracles and Gwen. They got back to their captain tent. Others also turned back their places. They become warier from the time, not wanting to have any surprise attack. Therefore, some of them were stayed up all night, responsible for guarding. Though Heracles was not the people, he couldn’t sleep whole the night spending time thinking about Hank.
Early morning, Heracles woke Gwen and Leo, hinted them to go out with him. They walked a few steps away from their tent, stopped there and started whispered to others.
“I want to go to tents of Aresans and get again our flag and also rob their flag.” whispered Heracles.
“Amelinda will not agree for us to leave.” said Gwen.
“Yes, I know. Therefore, I have to secretly ask you to come here and discuss about it. Hank did provoke me before the flag robbing game started. He one more time provoke at last night as he robbed our flag first. If I don’t respond, he will yell a coward.”
“Leo,” added Heracles staring at him, “I need your help. You know every walkway in this place and know exactly the safest walkway leading to their tents. I also want a surprise attack as like them.”
!!! The above post is a draft of my first book on Heracles, Heracles and the Nemean lion in Hippocoon land. Its content can be omitted, modified or replaced. If you want to read the full version, click here buy a ebook: Heracles and the Nemean lion or click here to a paper book: Heracles and the Nemean lion by Hung Nguyen !!!
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