I don't own the gods I just enjoy making stories for them.

This is my first time publishing any fanfic any constructive criticism is welcome

Introductions

"Make sure thatyou stop by the Temple of Athena and give your blessings today, you haven't been in over a week." Mom said without looking up from her sewing.

"Yea, okay I'll do it right after I get some more supplies at the shop." I replied, with no intention of going.

She looked up "I mean it Jarem, we do not need any anger from the gods we've got enough of our own problems."

"I know ma, I promise I'll go." Now I really had to.

I walked out the front door and headed down the dusty dirt road towards Athens without once looking back. The shop was several leagues away, if I planned my time correctly this trip would take all day and I would be home just in time for the evening meal.

I lazily trudged down the road until my home became just a speck in the background behind me. I came to the edge of the woods that I used to play in as a child. I had never been afraid of the wilderness or anything in it but as I approached the first branches of the forest, they seemed to reach out in an attempt to embrace me. I stopped in my tracks for a moment before realizing that there was a slight wind blowing in my direction.

My mood was affecting the way that I perceived things. I was pretty upset. Why should I visit the temple of Athena? What had she ever done for my family? Or for my mother? If she really was the Goddess of Wisdom why couldn't she just let me know if my father lived or at least who he was? I started walking forward again as I let my thoughts run away with me.

I had never known my father and my mother would rarely tell me anything about him. All she ever said was "He's your father Jarem, you will love and respect him as you're supposed to." In fact, that was about everything that I ever knew of my father and as I got older it irritated me more and more. The looks people gave me with pity in their eyes, I resented them for it. Just because my father didn't care about me enough to teach me things didn't mean I couldn't learn them on my own. I started with house repairs because my mother needed someone to take care of thing. It only took a little while before I taught myself everything that I needed to know. As I got older I yearned to learn other things but what beat inside my heart was a longing to fight. I definitely had a temper so as a child I would pick fight with the biggest people my age. At first I would get pummeled and left embarassed, but it didn't take much time for me to become good at that either.

Now that my 19th summer was beginning I felt more anger than ever at my father for having never been around, and the gods too shouldn't they have punished him for abandoning me, what good were they if they couldn't keep one man with his family? I continued to walk through the woods, I was more than halfway through now and still all that I could think of was the poor future that I had to look forward to. A home and a farm that constantly needed attention, a mother who was sick as often as she was healthy, no wealth and everyone around me looking down on me for the rest of my life. It was disheartening and frustrating. I will NOT go to Athena's temple today or ever again…curse the gods!

At that moment I was startled out of my thoughts by an earsplitting roar and as I looked up I saw the biggest bear I had ever seen in my life. It had to be 7 feet tall and it was standing in all its glory on its hind legs, looking at me as if I were the tastiest meal it had ever seen. My mind raced, I had no idea what to do, I knew that I had to get out of here but home was several leagues back and I had no hope of out running this beast and I highly doubted I could fight it with just my hands. I was proud because I stood my ground. I knew death was inevitable but I would not die a coward. The bear, sensing a decision had been made, got back down on all fours and slowly started advancing on me. It licked its lips and there was drool hanging from the corners of its mouth, this bear was hungry. The beast paused for a moment, no more than 20 meters away from me, and then charged full force.

Everything happened so fast it's difficult to remember. The bear charged all teeth and claws, I braced myself for impact and cursed my luck, I probably wouldn't even be able to cross the river Styx. Then a flash of silver pierced the bear's skull and where his left eye had been was an arrow of pure silver. The animal staggered and finally fell onto its side and quit breathing.

I looked around and saw nothing, the woods were empty there was no one around. I turned around the way I had come and there was nothing behind me I was completely alone. In the name of Hades, what just happened? As I turned back around I was startled so badly I ended up losing my balance and falling straight on my back. Even falling my eyes never left the girl who was standing next to the bear. From my backside she seemed to tower over me, she had unruly brown hair and the most perfect slightly tanned skin I had ever seen. She looked only a few years older than myself and at the same time much much older. She was wearing brown pants that looked like they were made from animal hide and a black blouse with a vest made of the same hide as her pants, she was stunningly beautiful. But the most disconcerting thing of all were her eyes they were the deepest shade of forest green I had ever seen and as she looked into my eyes there was no doubt that she could see into my very soul.

"Jarem Nierto, are you going to stay on your rear for the rest of the day?" She said.

I had been so stunned by her appearance that I hadn't realized how long I had stared been staring at her. I jumped up to my feet and dusted myself off, but then I stopped as soon as I realized that she had just called me by my full name. I looked at her again, I definitely did not know her and only my mother spoke my full name. What is that glow?

"Errm…ugh Thank you but do I know you?" I said, I was surprised to see that I was a full 2 hands taller than her while standing which made me feel a little better.

"I am Artemis of the Wild." She stated very matter of factly, and then continued to stare at me as if observing my reaction.

It was a test of will power to not let my mouth fall open, instead I stood there speechless.

"What's the matter Jarem? I know that you are usually slow with words but I had no reason to believe you were a mute." I was shocked that this Goddess seemed to be speaking to me so regularly.

It was too much, my gut started to clench up and I could feel my face getting red. Who was she to show up now and make me feel even more stupid, did the gods enjoy making me feel pathetic? I won't take it anymore.

"Hah so you decided to show up today and save my miserable life? Why? Are you and your family enjoying laughing at it too much to let it end?" It rolled out of my mouth so fast I hadn't even had time to think about what I was saying. But I was too far into it now to back down. "Thanks but no thanks I'd rather live and die on my own from now on." I said as I started to walk past her.

To my surprise she let me pass without saying a word, I quickened my pace when she was out of my eyesight and I didn't look back until I had counted out 50 meters. Nothing there not even the bear, good riddance, I turned back towards the path and…

"Such a temper on you, just like your father. He asked me to give you this in fact he begged or I probably would not have done it." She held in her hand a sword that looked to be made of the finest quality, I gawked for just one second and then saw the smirk on this lovely goddess' face. Once again I was without words. "Just remember Jarem. Do not sell this gift or it will be your doom."

"Why would my father…" but she was gone, she had just disappeared. I looked down wary of the the sword that was now on the ground in the dirt.

I picked it up and examined it, I had never used a sword before but this felt very natural. My insides were a torrent of emotions, some of me was excited because of this gift but another part of me was more angry that Artemis didn't stay and tell me about my father, she didn't even give me the chance to ask. One more piece of advice, do not curse the gods again or I will personally show you what a punishment is. That was not my own thought…

Please review so that I know that I should continue :)