A candidate to goddess:
Chapter two: Pallas
Note: I was amazed how much attention the first chapter got, it made me really happy and willing to update this more often! Though I don't have that much free time now but I'll try. I didn't have time to beta this just yet so; forgive me for any spelling mistakes.
Anyways on with the chapter!
Glossary:
1- Mnemosyne : Greek Goddess of Memoryand Mother of the Muses
2- Alpheus: River situated near the Peloponnese
3- An owl is the symbol of the goddess of wisdom, Athena
4- Athena: also referred to as Pallas Athena, is the goddess of war, civilization, wisdom, strength, strategy, crafts, justice and skill in Greek mythology
She was calling her. She had to go by her side. That was the only thought that invaded Natsuki's mind.
She tried running towards the woman but she noticed that she wasn't getting any closer to her. Instead she had the feeling she was just running on the spot on unable to move forwards.
Turning her head nervously to look around she saw darkness creeping on to her making the fields disappear as it approached. She turned again to look at her quarry.
The woman was awaiting her in the bright sunlight, her black hair dancing gently in the wind, her eyes twinkling while the sun played with her creamy skin.
The woman parted a pair of pinkish lips and called her name again.
Natsuki began calling her name in the hope that the woman would realize that she couldn't move and would come over to help her.
The woman instead waited waving at her happily, and began walking away.
The blunette panicked "No! Wait for me!" she exclaimed while her feet were still rooted to the ground.
In a flash of light the woman turned into a beautiful silver fawn that began galloping merrily into the forest.
"WAIT!" Natsuki eyes jerked open and bolted upwards her hand extended as if she wanted to reach something far away from her. Immediately she felt a stab of pain on her side causing her to whimper and fall back down upon the bed.
She blinked in pain as she recognized where she was; her house.
The blunette was lying in bed staring at the ceiling of her room. It was all a dream?
Natsuki looked down at her own body to see that she was almost naked with the exception of her undergarments; her torso was covered in bandages that concentrated on the left side of her abdomen that was tinted in a red almost pinkish color.
She traced the bloodied bandage with her finger and then wondered how she had gotten here.
She remembered that she had been chasing the silver fawn, clash with the wolves that dwelled during the night, a woman by the river and how they came across that last wolf that had decided to attack them. But beyond that her memory failed her.
No matter how much she summoned Mnemosyne (1) to help her, it was no use.
She sighed, but her then something nagged on her from the back of her mind, if she could not remember what had happened beyond that… then how did she end up in her bed with her wounds treated as well?
The door of the bedroom opened.
"Miroku?" she called out trying to sit up for a better look, but her eyes widened when she saw the person who was entering her room.
"Sorry but, no." A woman with chestnut colored hair and crimson eyes was watching her carefully.
"Ah you are-" Natsuki wracked her brains in search of the woman's name.
"Shizuru Fujino" the older woman helped her with a smile; her eyes wandered to the side of Natsuki's stomach and frowned.
"Oh…" was all the blunette could say as the older woman without awaiting permission of any kind came over gracefully to check upon the wound. Natsuki thought of getting away but hesitated and in doing so, this allowed the older woman to get close enough to see it properly. A hum of understanding came from her lips and she looked into the blunette's eyes causing her to stiffen up her body.
"Wha-What-?" she asked feeling uncomfortable under the older woman's gaze.
Shizuru tilted her head slightly that made some of her chestnut locks slide smoothly down to her face "Your wound—has been reopened. I need to check on it and see the damage you caused by getting up so hastily."
Natsuki felt a vein pop her temple. This woman… she's indirectly reprimanding me isn't she? She thought; feeling like a child that had been caught doing something naughty or mischievous. But she mentally shook her head and watched Shizuru rummage a sack –which she recognized as her own and made her wonder how she had found that- that was lying on the wooden floor pulling out some bandages and a bottle of watered alcohol.
"I need you to sit up properly"
The blunette nodded abandoning her slightly slouched position and sat up with her back straight ignoring the light sting that came from her abdomen as she obeyed the brunette's orders.
Shizuru sat on the bed her legs dangling by the side and turned her upper body towards Natsuki. "Turn around." She said softly though in a commanding voice to her and the huntress did, her legs were now crossed upon the mattress facing the other end of the bed.
The blunette felt the bandages on her loosen and being gently tugged away. Natsuki shivered as the cold air hit her newly revealed skin and twitched a little as she felt Shizuru dip into her would piece of cloth that had been previously dampened with alcohol.
Shizuru watched her hands carefully as they did her job, slightly frowning at the wound as if was mocking her and then began re-bandaging it again, her arms crossing over Natsuki's chest to pass the fabric from one side to another practically embracing the girl.
The huntress tried to hide a blush when she realized in what kind of position they were in, managing it only, but barely waiting patiently for the older woman to finish her job.
A creak of the bed indicated that Shizuru was getting up and that she had concluded what she had to do.
Suddenly aware of her nudeness Natsuki reached for a shirt that was lying at the foot of the bed and put it over her head.
"You ought to be more careful when doing things like that" said the brunette watching Natsuki putting on her shirt.
The blunette ignored her words as she incorporated herself. "Thanks." She said plainly searching for some pants to wear.
"I believe you are looking for these?" Shizuru picked up a pair of pants that was hanging from a chair near her desk.
Blushing furiously the huntress took the pants and wasted no time to put them on. Feeling nervous that she was being surveyed by a pair of red eyes she coughed and voiced out one of the thoughts that had been nagging the back of her mind ever since she had woken up.
"Umm… Do you-" she began hesitantly "Do you remember what happened last night?"
Shizuru tilted her head a finger coming to rest upon her chin representing a clear 'thinking pose' "Ara… I believe you were taking a dip in the Alpheus (2)"
The huntress felt a vein in her temple pop at this but fighting to remain cool she added "I mean- after that."
"We were attacked by a wolf." She said curtly her face not revealing any kind of emotion the blunette could make out.
"And then…?" she edged her on
"And then Natsuki saved us." She continued in the usual curt manner
Natsuki bit her lower lip to stop herself from strangling the woman with her bare hands "How did I do that?"
"I'm afraid I'm not sure… everything is a blur. I'm sorry." She said with a small smile which made the blunette's expression to soften in understanding
"Ah-" was all she could utter until another thought crossed her mind that made her emerald eyes widen "Are you alright!" she blurted out suddenly causing the other woman to stare at her bewildered.
"I mean…" Natsuki cleared her throat nervously "Since we were attacked… I was wondering if you got injured…"
"No I'm fine… thank you"
A silence fell upon them, Natsuki shifted from her spot uncomfortably watching the woman who was looking around curiously showing no signs of being bothered by the quietness. It was at that moment a loud growl was heard proceeding from the younger girl's stomach who blushed furiously as a pair of wine colored eyes rested on her questioningly.
That's right I haven't eaten anything for a day now…
"Are you hungry?" Shizuru asked stating the obvious.
"Yes… I didn't manage to hunt anything yesterday…" Natsuki got up and opening a closet she took out her replacement bow and a couple of arrows from them since she had lost her good one in the forest.
"Ara…. Are you going hunting now? I don't find that advisable in your state."
Natsuki rolled her eyes as she turned to face her "You can come with me if you are so worried about my health."
Shizuru pondered a bit before following her outside the room and the house and by the borders of the forest. She watched the blunette dart from one side to another examining the floor with great care stopping every now and then, to touch the floor with the tip of her fingers.
Then suddenly she incorporated herself and before Shizuru's eyes could register it, Natsuki was tensing her bow and arrow ready and she released it. The arrow whistled softly as it cut through the winds then landing with a soft thud somewhere on the ground far away from where they stood.
A pair of emeralds glistened in satisfaction as she moved to where the arrow had landed. Shizuru's expression changed from curiosity to surprise when she realized that Natsuki had managed to catch a rabbit with her arrow, the projectile was right above the rabbit's neck hitting it on a vital spot that had killed it instantly.
"Now we have our meal." said the blunette as she came to pick up her prize.
Shizuru sat beside the small table watching how the huntress had skinned and cleaned her prey preparing it to cook it.
Natsuki ended up simply grilling it and while taking a leg and placing it on a plate she raised her head to look at her guest "Do you want some?"
The woman shook her head which made the huntress shrug and left the remainder of the animal hanging upside down from a thread near the window to let it dry for future consumption.
She sat at the table and ate while vaguely aware that she was being watched by a pair of crimson eyes.
"So do you live alone?"
Natsuki looked at her blinking surprised at the sudden question "No I don't… I used to live with my sister but now I live with Miroku."
"Used to?" Shizuru asked intrigued about the younger girl's use of the past tense.
"Yes… she disappeared years ago."
"I'm sorry…" the brunette apologized while the huntress shook her head
"I don't mind talking about her, do not apologize."
There was a small pause till Shizuru spoke again "What kind of person was your sister?"
Natsuki looked at her for a few seconds then her eyes dropped back to her plate "she was beautiful, clever and strong… she taught me how to hunt—well everything I know. She practically raised me since I was small… till of course she disappeared and then Miroku took care of me instead."
"Miroku?"
"You are asking lots of personal questions aren't you?" Natsuki interjected watching the older woman uncomfortably.
"I'm sorry I wanted to get to know you better…."
"If you wanted to get better acquainted with me, you should have asked."
"Asked?" she repeated bewildered
"My name. You still don't know my name… I think it is a basic thing to know if you wish to get to know someone better" she said sarcastically
Shizuru tilted her head slightly "then, may I ask your name?"
"Natsuki." She answered curtly
"Natsuki…." She repeated in a low tone barely audible by the other woman "summer child… how oddly fitting."
The blunette raised a slender dark eyebrow at her without saying anything while watching Shizuru who was in deep thought. She rose up and picked up her empty plate and placed it near the basin drawing some water to clean it.
"So where is Miroku?"
Natsuki turned around to stare at her frowning "Sorry?"
"You mentioned you live with him… is he your lover?"
The huntress almost dropped the plate she was cleaning her face flushing indignantly "NO! He's my mentor! And I don't know where he is!" she said hurriedly finishing up what she was doing.
"By the way—isn't your family worried about you?" she asked realizing this particular subject "You have been gone for a day now."
"Are you not enjoying my company that you wish me to leave?" Shizuru asked curiously
"No that is not it-" she clarified worriedly that the other person misunderstood her words "I mean that maybe-" but she was cut off by a small chuckle
"I understand do not worry about it. Why… would you give me a moment?" she asked getting up from the table
"Um sure—go ahead" she answered watching the brunette walk out the door and shook her head once she was out of sight.
That is one strange woman.
Suddenly invaded by a wave of solitude and boredom, the huntress looked for something to do, she picked up her replacement bow and trailed it with her index finger taking in all the dents and damage that time and use had given it. It wasn't as good as her other bow though but she kept it for situations like these.
I miss my other bow…
"Natsuki… "
"Yes onee-sama?"
"You're not focusing."
A seven year old Natsuki was tensing the bow for the tenth time trying to hit a target which was a tree that had been painted with chalk, its trunk marked with a small 'X' where her arrows were supposed to hit.
The older woman who was with her had beautiful black hair that cascaded down her shoulders and shone under the sunlight her eyes were fixed upon her little sister twinkling kindly as she reached out one of her immaculate hands to help Natsuki tense the bow correctly "This is how you are supposed to hold it."
Natsuki let herself be guided by her as her sister showed her the proper way of holding the bow.
"Don't tense your body like that, relax your shoulders…. Yes like that." She lowered her head to the little blunette's ear "now don't rush it…. You have all the time in the world." She lowered her tone into a mere whisper "all the time in the world." She repeated soothingly
But the little girl was too impatient and released the arrow which missed the spot by a few inches causing the older woman to sigh "It's ok Natsuki… let's try again."
Natsuki pouted at her "If I can't hit a tree, how am I going to hit a moving target?"
Her sister smiled at her gently revealing pearly white teeth "Don't worry about that just yet" she watched the discouraged little girl nod not looking convinced. Tilting her head slightly her eyes twinkled as an idea struck her. "If you hit the target I'll let you keep the bow."
Natsuki's head snapped up to look her dumb struck "But—this is your bow!"
"That's right; it is mine to do what I want with it. So, I'm saying that if you hit your target you can keep it."
The blunette took a new arrow and tensed it in the bow once more making sure she was applying every single advice her sister had given her.
She released it, and watched as the arrow soared through the air and with a thud, hitting the mark.
Her emeralds shone brightly at her success and she looked up at her sister who returned the look tenderly "It's all yours now."
Natsuki yawned and rubbed her eyes realizing she had drifted off to a light slumber using the table as a pillow. She looked out the window; the sun was getting ready to set as it painted the sky with crimson and gold.
Then she remembered that Shizuru was still missing. Slightly worried she got up and headed outside in the search of the brunette.
As soon as she stepped outside she heard voices, one of them she recognized as the older woman's, heading towards the source of them, she went around her house finding Shizuru talking while sitting on a pair of logs to apparently no one.
The huntress beginning to think that this woman was Looney started to walk in her direction to freeze immediately when realizing who she was talking to. Well not who… but what she was talking to.
Shizuru stopped talking when she heard the blunette approach and turned to look at her.
"Is this her?" asked the other voice as the woman nodded.
An owl (3) that was perched on her arm fluttered down to the ground, landing gracefully and began getting closer to the blunette and surveying the stunned huntress closely "I still think she is too young" the bird spoke turning its head at its master
Natsuki took a few steps back and tripped falling upon her backside. "You—you-" she began stuttering trying her best to put her words together "You're talking!" she exclaimed pointing at the owl
"Thank you for your observation" the bird scoffed at her ruffling its brown feathers indignantly.
"Please be nice Kiyohime." Shizuru ordered the bird that lowered its head in submission
"Are you alright Natsuki?" Shizuru had gotten up and was now standing besides her offering her a hand to help her incorporate herself from the floor
"I must have lost my mind…" the blunette managed to say finally
"No… you are very much sane…" Shizuru clarified for her
"Then… why-" she shook her head "Who are you?" she asked finally looking at her in a mixture of shock and fear causing the older woman to retract her hand slightly hurt.
"Please show some respect!" the owl hooted at her just to receive a warning look from her master again.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you…" she crouched down to look into Natsuki's green eyes at the same level her hair trailing her movement swiftly.
"I'm Shizuru, goddess of wisdom… also known as Athena (4)"
Note: I hope you enjoyed the chapter, don't forget to review and tell me what you think!
OMAKE:
A hippopotamus that was perched on her arm fluttered down to the ground, landing gracefully and began getting closer to the blunette and surveying the stunned huntress closely "I still think she is too young" the hippopotamus spoke turning its head at its master
Natsuki: o.o Shizuru must have strong arms to have a hippo perched on it.
(Hippo meme again hehe…)