Interior to a stunningly beautiful forest where trees seem to glow like stars and never die, a strong clanging sound echoed all the way past the calmly bubbling streams to the edges of the woods. The source to this sound was the Olympian god Hephaestus. He, as he did often, was chopping wood for fire and tools. He continued with his task, undisturbed, when Athena emerged from a wisp of smoke, showering tons of tiny shimmering specks of dust around the unsuspecting god. Hephaestus whirled around as he realized that another person was in his presence.
"Athena!" he exclaimed in a friendly tone. "It's a great pleasure to see you. Did you need something?" He gazed at her expectantly.
The wise goddess wore a serious expression under her usual bright and kind face. "Yes," she replied steadily. "I have come to advise you to stop cutting down these trees." She waved her hand vaguely around them. "It is unnatural and unhealthy for the mortals we are supposed to protect."
Hephaestus' look changed from welcoming to confusion and slight anger. "But I use these trees for good deeds," he objected.
"I know," Athena stated. "And I'm not asking you to stop all together. I just wish for you to reduce the amounts you use."
Hephaestus' beard had begun to bristle with impatience and fury, which was very unusual for him. Both he and Athena were very patient and considerate when compared with the other immortals. Fighting to keep his temper under control, he spoke in a low, cold voice. " I respect your opinion Athena, but I refuse to follow your command." With that being said, he pushed past her and used his axe to ram it into the nearest tree. Clang! the noise vibrated through both Olympians' ears.
Athena hadn't moved at all as he went on harming the trees. Eyes flashing,she growled, "Very well," and transported herself back to Mount Olympus. Hephaestus stared after her, feeling triumphant, thinking that he had won the argument.
However, unknown to his knowledge, Athena was heading straight for Father Zeus at that very moment.
"Father, you must see the disadvantages to this," she pleaded. "Please order Hephaestus to stop this foolishness."
To her great dismay, Zeus shook his head. "I'm sorry, daughter, I've got my hands full right now," he murmured. "But you can tell Hephaestus that I approve of your decision."
Disappointed, Athena made her way back to the god in the forest. She crept back silently behind him.
"Oh, Athena," he grumbled with discontent, whipping around to face her. "What do you want now?"
"I have come to tell you that Zeus has instructed you to follow my request."
"Everyone knows that you're his favorite daughter!" Hephaestus roared furiously. "Of course he would agree with you!" The two immortals broke into yet another heated quarrel.
Meanwhile, an innocent forest nymph named Arethusa approached the disagreeing pair. By this time, Hephaestus' face was scarlet and twisted with rage. Suddenly spotting Arethusa out of the corner of his eye, he yanked out one of his many tools and shoved it into the bewildered nymph's hands. Holding Athena back with one hand, he cast a permanent spell that dictated Arethusa would have to wham a ringed shape into every tree once every year.
Back on Mount Olympus, Zeus severely punished Hephaestus for disobeying his, and his daughter's, command. Looking back, Hephaestus himself always regretted the day he had cast the spell, for he finally realized the damage he had done. Compromising with Demeter, they planted a new tree in place of the one that had died, while the poor Arethusa was forced to thump every tree sometime during the year, causing the tree to get older with every ring made.
Written as a Language Arts assignment. Hope you enjoyed. :)
.~Dove's Wing