Commonalities

MOTE Prompt Response

Jake pushed through the last of the clinging vines and stumbled into the clearing. He’d become so used to pushing through thick jungle undergrowth he stumbled when the resistance of the huge vines and fern-like plants suddenly stopped. He rested his hands on his knees for a moment, catching his breath. The three other members of the small archaeological expedition staggered out behind him.

“Damn. Let’s make sure we take the same way back since we’ve already carved our way through what feels like miles and miles of jungle,” Serena said, smiling up at Jake.

Jake ran a hand down his wife’s back. “Of course. We didn’t go to all the trouble of hacking our way through all that not to use the path we created.”

“Whoa. Look at that,” Piotr said, pointing up the hill looming in front of them. Jake followed Piotr’s finger. The ruins they’d trekked in to find stood prominently at the top of the hill.

“Well, I guess I owe you twenty credits, Jake,” Tyrese, the fourth member of their group said. “You got us out of the jungle and right next to the ruins after all.” He grinned at Jake.

“I’ll take it since you’re overlooking the fact that we still have to climb that hill,” Jake laughed, clapping his friend on the shoulder.

“Damn. Didn’t think about that. Okay, note to self, word bets with Sandoval more carefully,” Tyrese muttered in faux irritation.

“All right, let’s catch our breath for a moment and maybe grab a snack and some water. That hill looks steep and rocky,” Jake said, staring up at the ruins. If he’d done his research correctly, and had complete information, the ruins gracing the top of the hill were an ancient temple to Anatheen, one of the goddesses of the Talans. She was revered as a warrior and a wise woman. Jake thought she sounded a lot like the ancient Greek goddess Athena, from Old Earth.

After eating and resting, the four of them started the climb up the steep hill. Jake led the way and Tyrese brought up the rear of their little group. Although it was steep, and took some effort, the climb didn’t require ropes. Some twenty meters from the top they found the remains of stairs carved from the rocks hiding just under a thin layer of soil. Jake paused to take photos of the steps while the others pushed ahead to the top. Once he joined his team at the top, Jake gazed back down the hill the way they’d come up. He assumed the carved path went all the way from the base to the top, but there were no signs of carved stairs below where they’d first encountered them.

“Huh. Probably buried under the jungle,” Jake murmured. He turned around to look at the temple. And almost fell back in surprise.

It looked almost identical to the Temple of Athena he’d seen in pictures of Old Earth. Graceful columns supported a rectangular roof decorated with the otherworldly spires and domes Jake knew were staples of Talan architecture.

“This is amazing,” Piotr murmured. “It looks like the Temple of Athena on Old Earth.”

“Exactly what I was thinking,” Jake replied.

“But how…” Serena broke off, studying the intact building in front of them.

“I don’t think I want to know,” Tyrese said in reply to Serena’s unspoken question. “Any answer I can think of will turn my world too much upside down. I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

Jake glanced over at his friend. “You’re ready for it. This is what we’ve been looking for since grad school. All of us. But we can worry about that later. For now, let’s see what’s here.

Tyrese shook his head, but followed Jake into the temple.

******

This weeks prompt, The ruins stood prominently at the top of the hill was gifted to me by AC Young. It brought me back to Talan and my favorite archaeologist couple, Jake and Serena. I have no idea what the connection is between this temple and the Greek goddess Athena. I guess I’ll find out! To see more prompt responses and perhaps join in (and see where your brain takes you), simply make your way on over to More Odds Than Ends. Have fun!