"What a magnificent animal. I've never seen anything like it!" the young prince exclaimed. The man on the bald ridge overlooking the Amazon forests had no human companions, but he was surrounded by the pack of hounds he controlled. Taking an arrow from his quiver, the prince took aim with his bow at his target below, but quickly thought better of it and replaced the arrow behind him. "No, I can't make a shot like that on a moving animal through all these trees and be sure it's clean. Besides, if I could take the beast alive it would be even better! It seems to have a lady following it around. Perhaps she owns it. Perhaps she could be persuaded to give it up, or I could take it from her."

Down in the forest, Mendi immediately straightened up, his fur bristling. "Do you hear that?" he whispered fiercely.

"Yeah," the Destroyer replied, drawing the oversized hunting knife she always carried at her side. "Dogs. Lots of 'em. We're not alone here."

"Did the Amazons find us?"

"Amazons never hunt with dogs," the young woman growled. "Mendi, get up in a tree right n–" She cut herself off as she saw her companion's tail trailing up a trunk before he disappeared in the foliage. "Good work bro. I'll take care of whoever's comin'. Hope I don't have to cut up too many dogs to do it. Never did care for killing animals in anger."

Within moments a large pack of hounds was tearing through the forests, barking loudly. The Destroyer held her ground, and as the dogs approached her they began to slow. Some of the pack ignored her completely and began to bark at the base of the tree where Mendi had sought refuge. The rest approached her cautiously. Seeing her intense glare in their direction the closest dogs backed off, whimpering. Their instincts told them what would happen if they attempted to take down the wild woman.

"Down boys, down!" their master called as he ran up to the pack. The Destroyer curled a lip in annoyance as she sized up the new arrival. Although he was dressed as a typical hunter would be, she saw that his clothes were very fine. He was a tall, olive-skinned man with clearly defined muscles and a confident jut to his jaw. All the dogs that were close to the Destroyer immediately came to heel when he summoned them. The ones barking at Mendi stayed where they were, although they became silent. As if noticing her for the first time, the young man looked up at the Destroyer. "Hello there. Is that magnificent cat yours?"

"He's my brother and best friend," she answered menacingly. "I don't appreciate when people chase him down with dogs. I think it'd be best if you gathered up the dogs and got out of here."

The man chuckled patronizingly and took a few steps towards her. "I'm so sorry. Where are my manners? I'm Actaeon. You know, Prince Actaeon. I'm heir to these lands…?" He faltered, seeing no acknowledgement on the young woman's face. "You're not from around here, are you?"

"Nope."

"Well, you're absolutely stunning. What's your name?"

"I'm called Tira Darkheart," she replied. As in her case with him, he did not seem to recognize that the title belonged to Dahak's Destroyer. This did not bother her, however. She saw no need to give more information than was necessary. "Prince Actaeon, eh? Sorry, not familiar with your family. But one thing I can tell for sure is that you're not an Amazon. And according to that warning sign over there – " The Destroyer jerked her thumb at the totem only a few paces from Actaeon. "These are Amazon lands. So how could you be the heir?"

Actaeon smiled and shrugged. "It's not my fault those barbarians can't be bothered to mark their borders correctly. I promise you, these woods are mine. Now, if we can discuss the matter of your creature? I would really like to buy him from you. Better still, the both of you could come back to my estate not far from here. You're quite the curiosity. My kin would be so amazed to meet you! Come on, what do you say? I'd provide for your every need." The prince could not hide a slight leer as he looked the girl who called herself Tira Darkheart up and down. "You're quite young. I don't suppose you've ever known male company? I could…"

"Did you miss the part where I said he's my brother? He's like a part of me. I'd never let him go and I certainly wouldn't sell him. Now take your puppies and go. You really, REALLY shouldn't be here." The Destroyer reflexively spun her blade in her hand, twirling it deftly.

"Did you miss the part where I always get what I want?" Actaeon answered, his smile thinning. "I don't want to hurt you, it's certainly not my intention, but I will have that cat, and I may just have you too. Now, you can cooperate, or we can do this the hard way. It would be a shame to have to shoot down a beautiful, wild creature if I didn't have to." As he drew an arrow from his quiver, he kept his eyes on the Destroyer, not Mendi, making his meaning clear. "You seem to fancy yourself a fighter. You'll never lay a finger on me – my dogs will take you down before you can get close. Why is it so hard to come back with me? As I said, I'm a prince. I'll see to it you're well-kept."

"Sorry. Nothing you got could ever make me trade away my freedom."

Actaeon sighed. "Foolish girl. You brought this on yourself." Without missing a beat the prince brought the arrow to the bowstring and loosed it. The Destroyer reacted instantaneously, dodging to the side and deflecting with her blade. To her and Actaeon's mutual astonishment, the arrow made no contact, either with her flesh or her knife. The arrow disintegrated into nothingness before it ever reached the young woman.

"What in Tartarus?" Actaeon began before his eyes widened to the size of saucers. Without turning around, the Destroyer felt the forceful presence behind her. She knew they had been joined by an Olympian god.

"Well, I can tell you aren't Ares," she quipped, still not looking over her shoulder. "That's one mark in your favor."

The dogs that had been so afraid of the Destroyer earlier came eagerly to the immortal visitor. As the Olympian approached the quarreling pair, they sat and laid down, still keeping their distance from the wild girl but forgetting Mendi completely. The large cat, watching the entire exchange from his perch in the tree, was in awe of the new arrival, but found himself strangely calm despite having been in mortal danger just moments before.

"Mighty goddess of the hunt!" Actaeon exclaimed, kneeling and lowering his head. "Your presence honors me."

The goddess walked past the Destroyer without so much as a glance and approached the prince. "I wish I could say the same thing, Actaeon. Are you not aware that you are trespassing on Amazon lands, and that I am the patron goddess of the Amazons?"

"Oh boy. This oughta be good," the wild woman chuckled. She was ready for anything, considering that the Olympian gods were technically her mortal enemies, but her recent defeat of Ares in single combat had increased her confidence. I'll just sit back and see how this plays out. If she was here to take me out she wouldn't have stopped that arrow, and the animals aren't afraid of her so I doubt she'd hurt Mendi.

"These are my lands, most glorious goddess. The Amazons are mistaken."

"Perhaps. Or perhaps you are attempting to usurp these lands, as your family has been encroaching here for many years. No matter. I will assume you are telling the truth. I am also the protectress of young women. Did I hear you threatening this virginal maiden with harm if she did not return with you and be your consort?"

The Destroyer could not stifle a snort. "Wow. Virginal maiden. I don't think I've ever been called THAT before."

"Is it not accurate?" the goddess asked calmly.

The wild woman shrugged nonchalantly. "Guess it is."

Prince Actaeon gulped nervously. "I…"

"And FURTHERMORE," the Olympian continued, "if I am not mistaken, and I know I am not, you are that same Prince Actaeon who has been rumored to spy on young Amazons as they bathe in the crystal waters on these lands they supposedly do not own."

If Actaeon had been thinking clearly, he would have told himself it was foolish and futile to run from an immortal, but his fear of the goddess's wrath got the better of him and he fled, dropping his bow in terror. The goddess smiled mirthlessly and raised her hand. Instantly, the prince morphed from a man into an immature stag as he ran. His hounds, formerly so calm in the goddess's presence, were aroused by the sight of a sprinting stag and immediately gave chase to their former master. The stag disappeared into a thicket, pursued relentlessly by his own dogs.

As the barking faded into the distance, Mendi came down out of his tree and began to circle the stranger who now turned her attentions to his companion. Mendi knew that this being was similar to Ares, the God of War, but he had been terrified and repulsed by that god's presence. This being instead gave him a sense of peace and contentment. He rubbed against the goddess's legs unbidden, raising the eyebrows of his mistress. "S'matter with my cat?" she wondered aloud, scratching her head.

The goddess's hazel eyes fixed themselves on the young woman in front of her. She instantly became more solemn. "Tira Darkheart. Dahak's Destroyer."

The Destroyer snapped to attention, her own eyes ablaze. "So you do know me."

"Of course. The question is, do you know me?"

She looked over her Olympian visitor, dressed all in silver. The goddess had light brown hair and hazel eyes sparkling with flecks of silver in the irises. She wore a knee-length skirt and hunting tunic and carried an ornate silver bow. "Like I said before, you ain't Ares. Other than that, nope."

"I am Artemis, goddess of the hunt, little one."

The young woman sighed and rolled her eyes. "Why does every god I meet insist on calling me little? I mean, sure, maybe I'm a bit on the short side, but c'mon!"

"My brother was right. Your first defense is not a sharp blade, but a sharp tongue. You are indeed an insolent mortal."

The Destroyer sneered. "Aw, great. So Ares sent you. What's he want NOW?"

Artemis shook her head. "No. My brother does not know I have appeared to you. In fact, he insisted you be left alone. Of course, when he said that, he had clearly just been defeated, quite badly at that, so his judgment may have been clouded."

"Ares said that? Shit, I wouldn't have believed it. He's sworn ta drag me into his little games, one way or another. It's just a matter o' time." She looked pointedly at the goddess. "Unless, of course, ya beat him to the punch. Why're you here, Artemis?"

Artemis pursed her lips and reluctance was apparent in her voice. "I have a favor to ask of you. A request."

The Destroyer was astonished. "You want my help? What could I do?" A flash of understanding passed across her features, and her face darkened in anger. "Of course. I gotta kill somebody. That it, Artemis? You want me to kill?"

"Yes," Artemis replied calmly.

"You fuckin' gods are all the same!" the girl known as Tira Darkheart exclaimed, furious. "That's all you want! Fuck off, Artemis! I told Ares and I'll tell you. I ain't just a killer! There's more to me than being the Destroyer, dammit!"

"I hope that's true," the goddess murmured, unfazed.

"Huh?"

"I said, I hope there is more to you than being a rampaging murderer. That may be what Ares wants to see in you, but it's not my purpose."

"Talk fast," the Destroyer spat, still enraged. Mendi returned to her, winding himself about her shins, seeming not to heed the heated conversation.

"I want you to kill, it's true. But not to dominate. To protect. There is a grave threat facing my children, the tribes of the Amazon nation. I have not intervened in their affairs for a long time, but one of my warriors, one that I greatly favor, asked for my aid directly. I wish to answer her call. I wish for you to serve as my champion and defend the Amazons against their destruction."

"Why can't you just do it yourself? I mean, shit, you're an Olympian. You have to have more power than whatever they're facing."

"I do. But it is not wise for gods to make a habit of meddling directly in mortal affairs. It is always better to act by proxy if you can. If you were in my position you would understand."

"Fine. Sure. You don't wanna get your hands dirty. Why does it have to be me? I don't even KNOW the Amazons. I got a better idea. Isn't Gabrielle the Amazon queen? Go get her and Xena. It's their problem, not mine."

"So you know the bard and the Warrior Princess." Artemis nodded slowly. "Under normal circumstances, your idea would be preferable. After all, you are still Dahak's Destroyer, and I have yet to be convinced I should not shoot you down."

"Y'know, you are NOT helping your case here."

Artemis sighed. "Xena and Gabrielle are in a land far to the east, beyond my immediate reach and even beyond my sight. Even if they returned to these lands in time, they are not the best choice for this task. You see, they have faced this enemy once before, and the best they could do was entomb her. Now, that enemy is free, and Xena and Gabrielle would not be able to kill her, regardless."

"A goddess," the Destroyer whispered, putting the pieces together. "You need me to kill a goddess. It was…" The young woman squeezed her eyes tight, focusing. "Velasca. Her name is Velasca, right?"

"How did you know?"

"I heard Gabrielle tell the tale. She needed ambrosia to bring Xena back to life, but a hostile Amazon usurper named Velasca took some and became a goddess herself."

"Your memory is remarkable, young one. Look at me." The Destroyer felt Artemis's hazel eyes bore into hers, as if looking into her soul. To the goddess's mild shock, she felt a forceful searching in the young woman's fiery eyes, as well. "You're very intelligent. You are also very sensitive."

Artemis's statement was met with a loud guffaw. "Hah! Gimme a break."

The goddess shrugged. "My purpose here is not to persuade you of the existence of parts of your soul you prefer to hide. I need an answer. Will you defend the Amazons against Velasca? Will you use your power to protect innocent lives, or do you insist on being nothing more than a troublemaker and a drifter all your days?"

"Forget it. There's no innocent life where humans are concerned. That asshole you just turned into a deer? He's about what I've come to expect from people."

"None at all? Not even a child?" Artemis probed.

The Destroyer ran her hand over her cat's silky coat, eliciting a purr. "What's in it for me? I mean, you're askin' me to kill a goddess. Aside from the obvious danger in doin' that, if I cross that line and kill an immortal, there's gonna be a lot more interest in me from up on that mountain of yours, and I ain't keen on that idea."

"If you destroy Velasca and save the Amazons, you will earn my favor." Artemis spoke slowly, emphasizing the gravity of her words.

"Your favor, eh? Sounds like I already have Ares's favor. What do I need with yours?" the Destroyer asked sarcastically.

"It's more accurate to say you have Ares's interest, not his favor. But of course, if you want to be his champion, you only need call for him. Why don't you?" Artemis let a meaningful silence pass before continuing. "We both know your opinion of Ares. I can offer you a less, shall we say, distasteful alliance. The favor of an Olympian is nothing to turn up your nose at, girl. Think about it. I am the goddess of the hunt, of wild things. I neither wish to mold your nature nor enslave you to it. I can offer you protection from outside interference in your life without you sacrificing your freedom."

"How do I know you won't just use me up and then cast me aside? Don't pretend you don't have your own agenda. I know better."

"Very smart, young one. Very astute. Of course I have my own plans. But those plans are not served by betrayal – a short-range solution employed only by the impatient, like my brother. You saw into me just as I saw into you. Did you see treachery in my eyes, Destroyer? Did you see ill-intent?"

"No, I didn't," she had to admit. She stared off into the trees, considering her options. Finally she turned her attention back to Artemis. "Whatever. I'll kill your renegade goddess, but I'm not doin' it for you. I'm interested to see what happens, to pit my strength against an immortal once more. That, an' it'd be a good turn to Gabrielle. She prolly wouldn't take it well if her tribe got wiped out in her absence."

Artemis nodded. "I accept your aid gratefully. I never said you couldn't have your own reasons. Now, give me your knife."

"It was my father's," the Destroyer growled, clutching her knife to her chest protectively.

"It was also going to crack if you deflected the arrow with it," Artemis replied. "You know that weapon is old and that it will soon be useless. Give it to me."

Reluctantly the shaggy young woman offered the weapon hilt-first to the goddess. Artemis took the battered old knife in her grasp, instantly causing it to glow white-hot. She began to hand it back to its owner, then paused. "In time, you'll learn that sometimes a knife is not enough." The white glow was replaced by a silver one, causing the metal blade to shimmer and sparkle. At last Artemis returned the knife to the Destroyer, who examined it curiously.

"What did you do to it?"

"You'll discover that for yourself. Until then, know that no matter how you use it, it will not dull or break. It is, for your purposes at least, indestructible."

"Nice. So how do I go about helping your precious…" Before she could finish her question, the goddess vanished with a flash. "…Amazons. Huh. How d'ya like that, Mendi? Didn't even have the decency to tell me what to do next."

Good luck, Tira Darkheart, and keep a sharp eye. You'll soon discover that Velasca is not the only danger to the Amazon Nation, Artemis's voice rang out in her ear.