Prologue:
Artemis reached over and cranked up the thermostat. She was freezing, even in her sweater. She shivered and crawled back under the covers on the couch. It was November 1st and she already wished it was summer. Damn Wally and his wanting to live in Minnesota. Her husband had decided to move up here right before the state suffered it's coldest winter.
Artemis grabbed for the remote, trying not to take too much of her body out from under the blankets. Before she could reach it however, there came a knock at the door.
"If it's a salesman, I'll kill him." Artemis grumbled, slipping her house-shoes and fur jacket on. She walked over and opened the door.
A girl was standing outside, bundled up in white and grey as if she were going sledding in the afternoon. The first thing that caught Artemis's eye was the girls hair. It was nothing spectacular or extreme like her hair had been; just halfway past her shoulder and blonde, but it caught Artemis's eye. The next thing was the girl's sparkling green-gray eyes that seemed filled with excitement and desperation. They were tucked away beneath her grey ski hat just like her beautiful hair.
The final thing that caught Artemis's eye was the red bow the girl had hidden away on her back, right underneath her backpack. It was folded up like Artemis's compound bow, but not very well hidden.
"Can I help you?" Artemis asked.
The girl glanced behind her at the empty white landscape. No one was near. All the houses were several hundred yards away due to the large property Wally had purchased. Artemis, a member of the Justice League, one of the most fearsome warriors in the world, was suddenly scared of this little girl who couldn't be any older than sixteen.
"Yeah." the girl shivered. "I-I-I want to thank you."
Artemis was taken back. Why would this girl randomly appear and thank her? Artemis had half a mind to ask the poor thing inside, but she wouldn't take the chance. Something about this girl unnerved her.
"I mean, for saving my dad. It was eight years ago, but- stupid, stupid, stupid!" The girl hid her head in her purple gloves.
"Umm.." Artemis said, unsure of what to do.
"I'm sorry. Let me start over. You're the Huntress right? But before you were the Huntress, you were Green Arrow's um, partner Artemis, right?"
Artemis blinked. How did this girl know all her secrets? No choice now...
"Um, why don't you come inside?" Artemis asked, putting her hand on the girl's back and half-pushing her inside.
Artemis closed the door behind her and turned back to the girl who was warming her hands.
"Here, let me take your backpack." Artemis said, reaching for the girl's luggage. The girl tried to snatch away, but Artemis grabbed both the backpack...
"And the bow..." Artemis finished.
"No! Give it back please!" the girl cried, grabbing at the bow. Artemis held it out of her reach. "Please! It's the last thing I have from my mom!"
The girl seemed so tearful, Artemis handed it back to her. "What's in the backpack?"
Without waiting for response, the older female opened the bag and was slightly surprised by what she saw.
A notepad, some nutrition bars, a bottle of water, one pair of clothes, and other items of trivial value to any robber.
"Are you running away from home?" Artemis asked.
"More like running from the Feds." the girl muttered. She looked up to see an inquiring look on Artemis's face. "Umm... My dad died six months ago, my mom's been dead since I was two. No family, too young to be on my own, and the government doesn't like my...activities."
"Do your activities include that red bow of yours?" Artemis asked, pointing to the weapon in the girl's hand.
"Yeah. Partially. I sneak out every Saturday while Dad is-was at work and I practiced my archery skills. Dad. That's what brought me here to you."
Artemis raised an eyebrow.
"Umm... You probably don't remember it, but eight years ago, you saved my dad from Black Spider." the girl said.
Artemis thought for a moment. Eight years ago... She remembered. That was her only battle with Black Spider as Green Arrow's sidekick.
"Yeah, I remember." Artemis said, then after a pause "Are you the little girl hanging out the window watching me and GA?"
"Well I'm not so little anymore." the girl huffed.
"So why did you seek me out? And how did you know I was Huntress?" Artemis asked.
The girl took a deep breath and gazed at the fire crackling in the hearth for a moment. She was standing close to the door, just at the start of the entry hall that lead outside into the cold and neglect, but also the opening to the warm, cinnamon-smelling living room. She took a chance.
"I want you to take me under your wing." she said. "I want to become the next great female archer."
