Artemis
Green light filters through the trees overhead. It is quiet. Not unnaturally so: the birds chirp, the branches whisper, but it is the quiet you only find in nature. I can hear my heart beating, my lungs inhaling… exhaling. My feet on the ground beneath me, however, are silent. I sniff the air and listen. She is close. I glance to my right, where I can barely make out Callisto sliding through the trees, even more silently than I. I can sense Britomartis to my left, though I can't see her. Both are ready, tensed and happy, eyes locked in the direction of our quarry. The deer still hasn't noticed us. I haven't seen her yet, but I can smell her, hear the cracking of sticks as she scrounges through the underbrush. I am careful not to use any of the extra senses that divinity brings; that would be cheating, so I cannot feel her life pulsing in her. A few more steps and I can see her brown coat partially hidden behind the trees. A feeling of triumph begins to well up in me, but I push it down with practiced ease. It is too early to celebrate. I notch an arrow, calculating how much farther I should go.
There is a sudden snap to my right as Callisto makes a misstep. The deer is off before I can even blink. The three of us are after her a heartbeat later. The wind whips through my hair as I dodge through the trees, trying to keep the deer in sight. Branches that don't have time to get out of my way scratch at my arms. Run. Run faster. My heart pounds at the thrill of the chase. The deer is fast, but I am faster. She knows what she is doing, though; has met hunters before most likely, and came out of it alive. Not this time. She zigzags among the trees as if aware of the fact that she is avoiding giving us a clear shot. I run harder. All I have to do is stay with her. She'll make a mistake eventually.
And then she does. She bursts out into a clearing. Obviously we've left her territory, she doesn't know where she is, and, granted the aim we need, all three of us draw back our bows and shoot. I know the deer is dead even without sensing the life leave her. Three perfect shots. Exuberant triumph fills me, a rush of success. As we near the body I can see how perfect the shots really were. The deer wouldn't have had time to feel so much as a spark of pain. I am relieved that her death was easy for her, but also proud. Human men may boast all they want, but few could accomplish such a perfect hunt.
Almost as if thinking the words called them, I hear a baying of hounds not too far to the east. They are mortal. I sigh, mildly irritated.
Callisto looks at me. "Should we go? We are in a mortal forest." I do my best to avoid mortals when I hunt in their forests. It hardly seems fair to punish them for the idiocies that they always manage to commit when I'm using their land.
Even so, I will not leave the deer without having given thanks for her life first and the idea of mortals claiming our kill chafes me. Even as the thrill of the chase wears down I am still impressed with the accuracy of the shots. The humans will, no doubt, claim that they are their arrows. I am not going to allow that. And the fact that it was Callisto making the suggestion irritates me also. She and I have never gotten along well, and I have no need of a reminder where we are.
I shoot her a look without a word and kneel before the deer to give thanks for its life. Callisto, acting as though she missed the look and the intention behind it, follows suit. As Britomartis takes her turn, the first of the dogs bursts into the clearing, barking loudly. Britomartis, from her kneeling position, chides them gently. "Now, brothers and sisters, is that anyway to greet your mistress?"
They stop, looking mildly ashamed that they hadn't realized before, and then wag their tales at me, elatedly giving a few joyous, welcoming yips. I nod to them, "Where are your humans?"
They are coming, the dogs tell me, not in words but images. They are well trained and have spent much time among humans, which makes their thoughts easier to understand. More linear and word-like than wild dogs. They had left their humans behind a few moments before, having caught the smell of our kill. I nod to Britomartis to finish her prayer so we could go. If the humans are still a few minutes back, there is a chance we'll be able to take the deer and leave without having to deal with them. I am not in the mood for dealing with mortals.
My hope goes unfilled. As Britomartis bows her head once more, a human steps out of the trees where the dogs had emerged just before. He is well dressed with expensive equipment and holds his head with a pride that speaks of wealth. Probably a title as well. The bow slung over his shoulder and the arrows on his back are well made. Too well made for the hands of mortals. I don't recognize the bow itself, but I definitely know the workmanship. Hephaestus made that bow.
As soon as he clears the trees, his eyes fall on Britomartis. He stops, clearly stunned. She doesn't look up from the prayer until she is done even though I know she is aware of his presence. She stands up finally, and without looking at him, turns directly to me for instruction. The man's eyes still haven't left her. I know why. She is beautiful. Humans are almost always stunned by the beauty of nymphs; they have an inhuman perfection without the stunning divinity of the goddesses that most men find too terrifying to be able to appreciate. Nevertheless, I am irritated by the fact that he has yet to look at me. She may be beautiful, but she is not the one with the power to stop his heart from beating.
Britomartis notices my irritation and turns back to the man. With a haughty disdain she tells him, "You are fortunate to be alive, mortal. If you do not pay proper respects to the goddess before you, you will not be so fortunate long."
His eyes finally leave her and flick over to me. They open wide with horror as he realizes what he's done and he drops to his knees, head bowed. "Forgive me, goddess."
That's more like it. "What is your name, human?" I ask him.
"King Minos, goddess." His voice trembles, which I find rather satisfactory. Proper fear of the divine is the only thing that will save him. King… That would explain the expensive dress and clothes. He speaks well also so he is clearly educated. But Minos doesn't sound familiar. I am not sure how he got a hold of one of Hephaestus' bows. It concerns me. When I see the man's eyes slip from the ground and dart back over to Britomartis irritation flashes in me again. Is this man stupid? Has he a death wish? Even in my presence, my presence, he can't keep his eyes off her.
"You have been warned once, human. Do not expect leniency a second time." It's as if he doesn't hear me. His eyes don't move from her.
"Might I know your name, beautiful lady?" He asks. And strangely enough, a shiver of fear runs down my spine. Not for me. Of course not for me, but for Britomartis. It is the same strange feeling of fear that I felt six months ago for Echo.
She glances at me and responds, "I am the faithful servant of the goddess of the hunt. That is all you ever need know." I nod my satisfaction.
I take a few steps closer to him. "Where is the rest of your hunting party?"
He looks around as if for the first time he is realizing that they aren't there. He's speechless. I take an arrow out of my quiver and notch it. I don't need it to kill him, but I want to make it perfectly clear to him that he is staring death in the face. He would already be dead if it were not for that bow of Hephaestus. It is possible that he inherited it from another mortal and that it doesn't mean anything. But it concerns me nonetheless. Many of the gods seek Hephaestus to make weapons for their favorite mortals. I am not prepared to take on any other gods for this ignorant, lustful little man. I can hear a rustling in the trees and a few seconds later there is a distant human voice shouting a name. They are looking for him.
"Pray that we do not meet again, human." I turned to the deer, but it was gone. As was Callisto. I am irritated that she left, but at least she didn't leave the deer for me to deal with. Without looking back I walk into the forest, Britomartis following, aware of his eyes on her. The fear sitting in the pit of my stomach strengthens. He might do as I told him and pray, but I know the prayers will not be answered. This is not the last time I will see King Minos.
Ariadne
"Darling, it's time to wake up." Lips press against my temple and I pull away, not ready to open my eyes. Actaeon's arm reaches over and pulls me back towards him.
I groan. "Not yet."
"Did you forget what today is?"
The hunt. The hunting party leaves this morning for a weeklong trip. Actaeon has finally agreed to take me with. I have been absurdly excited about it for the last few weeks, but right now all I can think about is a few more hours of sleep. The captain of the hunt will be irritated, the priests will view it as a bad omen, the people will be impatient for the hunting party's march through the town, and the guard will raise a knowing eyebrow. The hunt is important to Actaeon, as is the ritual of it all, and I would hate to disappoint him. But I am so tired, and my mind is only slightly aware of how selfish it would be to ask for more time to sleep. I don't care. I press my face into his bare chest and breathe deeply, enjoying the scent of him, but also with an ulterior motive. He gets distracted easily by my breath on his skin. "Just a little longer," I say quietly, my voice rough with sleep. "I'm so tired."
I can hear the smile in his voice, filled with light-hearted sarcasm when he says "I can't imagine why."
I smile, thinking of last night. After six months of marriage I have finally stopped blushing at such comments. Most of the time. "You started it," I tell him. "It's your fault, so I think you owe me an extra hour."
"I was under the distinct impression that you had enjoyed it. But if I was wrong, that's all right, we don't ever have to do it again." His voice is teasing and wide awake. He's probably already been up for at least an hour. He's always been an early riser, needing little sleep, and wonderfully adept at sliding in and out of bed without waking me. A sliver of dawn shines through the window and I when I look up I squint even at the dim light. My eyes don't want to stay open so I bury my head against his chest again, shutting my eyes tight.
"Just two more hours."
"What happened to one?" The laughter that he's been holding back finally comes out. He has a beautiful laugh.
More importantly, it tells me that I've won, so I don't even respond. I just breathe deeply in satisfaction, kissing his chest and sliding deeper into the covers.
He sighs and runs a hand through my hair. "No one could ever say I don't love you."
I manage to gather enough energy to whisper, "I love you too," before falling immediately into a warm and comfortable sleep.
A/N: So after two years of planning this story I've finally decided to start it. I hope it doesn't disappoint anyone who enjoyed Echo and Narcissus.