~ One Chance ~
SAPHIRA
In the woods outside of the camp, away from the other girls and campers, Artemis shifts her gaze from each of those she had gathered with her for an explanation. Thalia, Xenia, Clarisse, Chloe, and of course, Saphira. Saphira is struggling to contain her emotions, fearing that the worst is about to come.
"What is going on?" Artemis demands.
"The camp was attacked, milady," Thalia starts. "A horde of wolves, along with some other monsters, just appeared out of nowhere and raided us."
"We were able to defend ourselves with only minimal casualties. Two lost from our side," Xenia growls.
"Four from mine," Clarisse adds, crossing her arms.
Artemis beholds the daughter of the war god with a frown. "That raises another question. Why are there campers here, lieutenant?"
"I left to summon them here. A patrol was attacked in the woods, and we lost Samantha," Thalia replies, sounding solemn. "Milady, this war has cost us the lives of many of our sisters while the enemy's numbers still appear to be in great strength. I felt that I had to make a call and assemble reinforcements to help us."
"If it helps to ease your mind, Lady Artemis, I personally am ensuring that all the campers under my command behave themselves. Any who step out of line or disrespect your girls will be disciplined thoroughly. I see to that myself," Clarisse offers.
This seems to satisfy the goddess, but now her attention is briefly directed in the direction of the camp. The Hunters and campers are already making repairs and undoing the destruction that was unleashed. In the center, Saphira spots her friend, now a prisoner of the Hunt. He's bound between two large pines, with rope lashing his legs together with only enough slack for him to stand, but none to escape… or attack. His muzzle is also tied off, rendering him defenseless. Two campers watch him, armed with spears, while a pair of Hunters also stand guard with their bows nocked, ready to fire if he moves. Some of the timber wolves also lay on watch, baring their fangs at the much larger Wolf.
Lykos however, seems to be ignoring all of them. He's staring past them, right in their direction… or more accurately, at Artemis' direction. He hasn't taken that spiteful glare off the goddess since her arrival, and Saphira hasn't so much as thought of a possible reason as to why he's staring at her with such anger. It has absolutely nothing to do with the general rivalry between Wolves and Hunters… no, the type of anger that he has in his eyes signifies that his feelings against Artemis are something… personal.
"And what of the Wolf? Someone care to explain why that beast still lives in our presence?" the goddess growls.
"And why Saphira begged to leave him be?" Clarisse adds with a frown.
"She what?"
Artemis and all other sets of eyes turn towards Saphira. Chloe's gaze is one of anxiousness, though the subtle nod of her head signals that she's ready to stand beside her. Clarisse's gaze is suspicion. Thalia's and Xenia's eyes are both confusion and expectancy. Artemis… regards her with all of the above.
"Saphira," she begins, narrowing those piercing, silver eyes, sending a shiver up her spine. "You stopped them from putting that animal down?"
Saphira swallows hard before delivering her quiet reply. "I did."
"Why?"
She looks at each of them, sending a silent message to Chloe, gathering up her courage. This is the moment.
"He is my friend."
"Your friend?" Xenia exclaims, seeming incredulous.
"You consorted yourself with an enemy of the Hunt?" Artemis growls, staring her down and making her want to crawl into a hole and never come out.
"Milady, I beg you to listen and hear me out. I am willing to accept whatever consequences you deem necessary to bestow upon me, but please! Just let me explain first!" Saphira pleads. She hopes with every fiber of her being that the goddess whom she had followed and served without fail for one thousand years, will heed her plea.
For a moment, Artemis only stares at her. Her expression at first seems to be one of anger, that slowly seems to morph into suspicion, and finally curiosity. Perhaps she's realized that there is a reasonable explanation as to why one of the most loyal of her followers befriended one who is supposed to be deemed an enemy. At last, she heaves a sigh, her expression softening ever so slightly.
"Saphira, you have been one of my most faithful Hunters for a millennia. You fought for and alongside me for all this time," she says. "Your loyalty, service, and friendship is a treasure that I would never simply throw away for any unjust cause… but do you realize how this looks to me?"
"I do, but I swear to you on my life, that this doesn't mean I am any less loyal to you. Please, hear me out," Saphira murmurs.
"I stand with Saph," Chloe suddenly pipes up. "I only learned her secret yesterday, but I can also swear on my life that her loyalty is unwavering, and that there is no need for any punishment."
Saphira sends a silent prayer of thanks to her friend for standing by her, even if it means that she too can risk facing consequence. Artemis seems surprised by the sudden revelation of Chloe's very short involvement, but she also seems to be convinced enough to at least listen to them first.
"Very well. Tell me your secret," she concedes.
Just like she had with Chloe, Saphira begins to tell her long story, starting from the very beginning all over again. At first, all of them with the exception of Chloe, simply seem doubtful, frowning and occasionally shaking their heads. It isn't until she gets to the part of how Lykos fought alongside her against his fellow Wolves that their doubt seems to leak away and be replaced by surprise, and again when she describes how he saved her life again during their run/fall to escape the avalanche. Thalia seems to become more and more understanding of her, while Artemis and Clarisse at least lose their suspicious frowns. Only Xenia still appears to be very skeptical of her. Saphira decides to even describe how she and Lykos can sort of communicate with each other, and how she learned how he doesn't kill for pleasure, only to defend himself when he has no choice.
"So, this explains where you've been disappearing to every morning," Thalia surmises.
"He's been helping me hunt and keep everyone fed. He's protected and saved me three times now, with the third time being less than an hour ago!" Saphira insists. "He risked his life to come here, to a place where he would be surrounded by those who could kill him, to save me. If not for him, that boar could have done far more harm. I'm telling you, he's good. There is no evil in his heart."
"Might I remind you that he was mere seconds from ravaging me?" Xenia growls, making Saphira grit her teeth.
"He almost what?" Artemis exclaims.
"But he didn't want to kill you, Xenia!" Saphira quickly protests. "He was just trying to protect me!"
Artemis narrows her eyes, but before she can say anything, Clarisse steps in.
"It's true. She commanded him to stop and he immediately obeyed her," she says. "Still, I thought I should at least subdue him, just in case."
"His first reaction was still to attack me," the Spartan argues.
"It was a horrible misunderstanding!" Saphira retorts.
Chloe chimes in. "It was a um, similar situation when I first met him. He was about to attack me at first until Saphira got between us, but he reacted because I was about to shoot him, just like how you were about to take off his head."
"He's proven himself more than enough times. Milady, please see this! Lykos may be a Wolf of Lycaon, but he wants absolutely nothing to do with any of his kin! He doesn't want to be evil or hurt others. He just wants to be free of them!" Saphira says to Artemis, hoping she'll see that he is not a threat and there is no reason to harm him.
The goddess raises a brow and crosses her arms. "Perhaps, but if all this is true, then why did you never speak of this to us before? Why was he kept a secret if he is not like his brethren?"
"Because I was afraid! I was afraid that nobody would listen and that they would kill him before trying to see who he is rather than just what he is!" she replies. "He even revealed the location of Lycaon's lair, despite the fact that he's terrified of-"
"Hold it!" Artemis silences her with a swift gesture of her raised fist. "You found the Wolves' lair? You know where they're hiding?"
"I…" Saphira clears her throat. "He took me and Chloe there yesterday. It's hidden away, nearly fifteen miles north of here, high in the mountains."
Artemis' eyes widen, but Saphira can tell right away what she's thinking.
"Milady, wait! It's not what you would think. There are hundreds of them inside that mountain, along with a plethora of other monsters! To attack them now could mean leading many of our girls and allies to their deaths! Lycaon himself is resurrected, along with-"
Saphira cuts herself off, fearing what her Lady's reaction might be to what is likely the worst of the bad news. Artemis however, notices this and clearly has no intention of letting it go unsaid.
"What? What is it, Saphira?" she questions. "What else is there?"
Saphira and Chloe exchange a nervous glance, briefly nodding to each other. With a shaky breath, they reveal the news together.
"It's Orion."
Artemis' silver eyes widen with shock and horror, unfolding her arms and clenching her fists as she fixes them with a hard stare.
"That's impossible! He was defeated in the war!"
Saphira and Chloe flinch from her stare.
"We know, but it's the truth. We saw him ourselves. We don't know how he's back, but he is, and he's allied himself with Lycaon once again," Chloe explains.
"Is this what you were going to tell me this morning?" Thalia asks.
"Yes," both girls answer in unison.
Silence befalls them for a long time. Artemis' expression seems to be thoughtful, as if mulling over all the details that have just been released to her knowledge. Saphira can't tell exactly what she's thinking this time. Will she believe her? Will she see that Lykos is not an enemy? Or will she punish them both?
Finally, the goddess sighs.
"For the sake of all those centuries of service, I will take your word as the truth. Lykos has proven himself an ally to you," she says. Saphira's heart begins to soar, but Artemis is not finished. "However, he has not yet proven himself to me."
"W-what does that mean?" Saphira asks, unsure what the goddess is getting at.
"Because of his deeds in which he defended you, he has earned himself the benefit of the doubt, but look closely at him. He looks at me with malice," Artemis says, pointing at the Wolf. Lykos, even all this time later, still stares at the goddess.
"He may have won your trust, Saphira, but he has yet to win mine."
Saphira is terrified at what this could mean. With a simple nod, Artemis signals for the girls to follow her towards Lykos. How could she still not trust him? He's proven himself more than enough times already. When they reach him, the Wolf shifts, flattening his ears and narrowing his eyes.
"What is he called?" Artemis asks, crossing her arms.
"I named him Lykos," Saphira replies, still wondering just what the goddess has planned for him. She looks at her with puzzlement.
"You named him?"
Saphira nods. "He had forgotten his name, so I gave him a new one."
The answer seems to surprise Artemis. Perhaps this information will help her realize the bond that Saphira shares with him.
"I see. Lykos, because two of my Hunters have vouched for you, you have been given the benefit of the doubt," she says. "I command you to transform to your human form and speak."
Lykos huffs in reply, shaking his head. Artemis raises a brow at this, already looking as if she might reconsider letting him live. Saphira quickly interjects again.
"Milady, he doesn't know how to transform. He's forgotten that as well."
"Then how have you managed to communicate with him all this time?"
"He can understand us perfectly, but he communicates with signals and gestures. It takes a lot of patience and care to interpret what he wants to tell us," she explains.
Artemis frowns. "I suppose that him being able to understand me will suffice." She returns her attention to the Wolf. "Your deeds of saving my Hunter, if true, will not be dismissed. You have earned the right to prove yourself an ally. I will request one thing from you, and one thing only. If you refuse to cooperate, you will be cast out and forbidden from ever approaching Saphira or any Hunter again."
Saphira opens her mouth to protest against this, but a swift, warning glance from her goddess keeps her silent. Chloe grasps her hand and squeezes it as to give her comfort, but it doesn't help much. Still, Saphira is grateful for the support, though she wishes it were enough.
"Do you comply with my terms or not?" Artemis demands.
For what feels like an eternity, Lykos is silent and unresponsive, only continuing to glare up at the maiden goddess. Despite her initial desire to protest against the consequence he would face should he decline, Saphira is inwardly hoping that he will accept. For now, it sounds like she, and Chloe for this matter, would go unpunished. Lykos would be spared, but driven away and she would never be able to see him again. It's a far more merciful outcome than she could have ever expected, but the thought of her best friend forever being alone and kept away from her tears her heart in half.
Please accept, please accept, please accept…
For a brief moment, Lykos' gaze flicks to Saphira. Those icy yellow orbs pierce through her own volcanic eyes, and he seems to read her, picking up on her emotions, her thoughts. Their connection is only for a few seconds, but it must have been more than enough. The Wolf's glare softens as he heaves a sigh through his nose and returns his attention to the goddess. He gives his answer in the form of a single nod, though he seems reluctant in doing so.
"He accepts," Saphira murmurs.
Artemis blinks, probably not expecting the Wolf to have complied with her and be willing to cooperate. Her surprise is short lived though, and she goes back to the business at hand.
"You two!" she speaks, directing the statement to the campers on guard. "Untie him from these trees but leave his bonds as they are!"
The campers waste not a second in obeying her command, though they do seem a little confused as to why she would partially free the Wolf. Lykos himself seems puzzled, but he's hesitant to make a move, as if cautious so that any sudden action won't be interpreted as an attack. Artemis narrows her eyes and lifts her chin, showing her confidence and authority as she declares her request.
"You will show us the way to Lycaon's lair, so that we may send him back to the Pit where he belongs. Do this, and you will have proven yourself to me."
It's a request that makes Saphira believe that Artemis is thinking too rashly. To launch on attack on that lair could get them all killed… but she knows why Artemis is doing this. The mention of Orion clearly distresses her, the name of the giant born to oppose her and her twin brother. Where is Apollo when they could really need him?
Artemis nods to Xenia, who immediately understands what to do. She lifts the horn of the Hunt to her lips and blows, sounding out the signal for everyone to begin mobilizing.
"Prepare for the path to war!"
Author's Note
Hello, everyone! I'd like to take a moment to welcome the newest followers to the story, and thank everyone who has decided to stick around this far. I had also wanted to get to some of the newer reviews and address them, but there seems to be some kind of bug that isn't letting me see them :P
When all is in working order again, I will resume reading and replying to reviews.
Admittedly, I got a bit lazy there right at the end because I got hardly any sleep the past couple nights and I wanted to just get this out there so I could finally take a nap and refresh. I do see that there is some excitement for Lykos' backstory, so I think you'll be very interested in the next chapter :)
I would write a little more, but like I said, I really do be needing some sleep. Once again, thank you to everyone for the support, and I will be sure to talk to you all later.
Bye for now!
~Shadow
