C5: The Calm:

xxx Artemis' Sacred Forest xxx

It had been roughly a week since that last meeting. While Athena was busy finding survivors of the 'Jurassic Park' and 'Site B' incidents that InGen hadn't successfully paid into silence. Artemis busied herself by studying , and with her power talking, to her new guest. This animal was something else. While being large and powerful, it was surprisly gently. Taking care not to hurt anyone. Whether it be her, her hunters, or the nymphs. When speaking to it with her power, Artemis noted that it spoke like a child, simply not understanding certain things and asking odd questions in return. While she also discovered that it was a male, she noticed the herself or the hunters not really caring. Animals and children were usually safe from their male centered hate.

When the hunters first met the new animal, they noticed something odd. The animal was shy when not hunting for believing it needed to fight. As the group approached where the dinosaur was with their Lady Artemis. The animal retreated to the safety of the trees. Using the shadows in attempt to hide its massive body. Artemis narrowed her eyes at this. Behavior like this usually meant abuse of some sort. But it was most likely to be expected. Being an experiment, he was most likely subject to many people poking and prodding at him. As Artemis gently spoke to the dinosaur to coax it out, she had her hunters sit down behind her in a show of no threat.

The animal was reluctant to rejoin her and the hunters. This made the dinosaur fans in the group pout. Even though it was designed and created. This was still a real dinosaur for all intents and purposes. They wanted to see and touch it. Thier Lady was still calling out to him with her power to speak to animals. It didn't seem to be going well. What could have this animal have gone through to be this afraid of a group of people. This didn't sit well with most of them. While they may hunt animals and beasts, they never abused or tortured them.

Artemis was stumped. This animal simply did not want to come out in front of everybody. Was this why the hunt couldn't catch up to it before? Because he avoided groups of people with a passion? When she asked him why he didn't like groups, she received a small vision from the beast's memory. It was much smaller in the vision. Looking up at a world of grey walls. A holding room of sorts. Nothing really identfied where they were, as there were no windows. Soon the only door opened for a group of men. Both in white coats and tactical gear. Soon the tactical men pinned him to the ground. They ignored his wailing and crying to be let go. With him restrained the men in white coats stabbed him with needles. Both injecting and withdrawning various things. The pain seemed last forever before the men left the room. Leaving the little animal alone as it curled up in the corner of the room. Far away from the door as it wailed for any form of comfort. Only to be answered with nothing.

As the vision ended the animal backed further into the woods. Artemis was shaking in rage. Not even a male; human, demi-god, god, or otherwise, deserved to be treated like that. Now she understood very clearly. She had seen the effects of isolation and abuse among her girls. It took months if not years to earn the trusts of those subject to that. But, prehaps she could help the healing process along. While she didn't know how long the animal had been subject to that. She noted that only men were in the vision. Just maybe he would take a chance to trust women. Since it thought like a child, there was a solid chance of it working.

"Girls, I know none of us are fan of males. And while this animal is male, he has also suffered as we have. A vision from his memory has shown that men have treated him like a lab rat. I may have only seen one instance but we all know that abuse and torment isn't a one time thing. Males maybe our enemy, but this animal needs something he has never had, friends and family. I won't order any of you to do this. But look at it this way. If we help him, he'll become a trustworthy and good male. Not to mention a protective 'big' brother to us all."

As Artemis explained the memory the animal shared with her there was a quiet murmuring among the girls as they discussed this with one another. While most despised boys, they also agreed with their Mistress that what had happened to the dino was wrong. Soon the dinosaur fans were the first to step forward. Wanting to help the hurting animal. Following their example more and more girls stood forward until Zoe Nightshade herself stood in the front herself. Seeing them all agree to help someone in pain brought a smile to the face of Artemis. With a nod she turned back to the hybrid dinosaur.

Once more Artemis began to try and coax the animal from its hiding spot. She explained that her hunters were not the evil men that had done those things to him. But women who suffered like he had. The animal was silent for a moment. As if thinking on her words. Artemis used this to explain that her hunter were a pack. A family that looked out and helped one another. And that all of them wanted him to be their family as well.

The animal remained quiet for a few moments. Watching all of the hunters as if to find any lies in what their leader just said to him. Slowly a clawed hand left the cover of the low growth. The large skull of the animal soon followed. Its eyes cautiously watching the hunters and Artemis. Using its hands the animal stayed low, walking four legged instead of its usual high two legged stance. As it got closer the sound of sniffing could be heard. Artemis stood with her girls as the hybrid sniffed at them, learning about them. He looked to Artemis once more, a third eyelid blinking, before gently setting its body on the ground before them. He was going to give them a chance.

After that first greeting, things went a lot smoother. Over the next week both animal and hunters became more comfortable around each other. The girls that were also daughters of Athena took measurements, observations and notes on everything about the animal. So for the next week, they spent everyday with the animal. Then something happened.

It seemed down at Camp Half-blood, the demi-god that had been running from the minotaur turned out to be the son of the Sea God. Zeus was furious at his brother even more now. Stating that Poseidon had his newest son steal his still missing Master Bolt. The son in question, named Percy Jackson, was sent on a quest the next day to recover the Master Bolt and offer it to Zeus to clear him and his father's name. Soon after the quest was announced Artemis knew that to have any hope of success. She would have to lead The Hunt back down to Earth to clear out the smaller cannon fodder beasts and monsters that would hound the group. She calmly explained to the unnamed hybrid that they would be gone a few days and would return as soon as the quest was over. The animal offered to help, but Artemis explained that they would be moving through high human areas and it would be difficult to hide him from the world. He was dissappointed but agreed to behave while she was away. And also protect the Nymphs that lived here from the male Gods that tried to force themselves onto the spirits.

The next four days went by peacefully for the hybrid. It was morning once more as the animal peacefully basked in the morning sun near his pile of meat that the nymphs conjured for him everyday. He liked the spirits of nature as the were kind and gentle. A few even fell asleep at night leaning against him, claiming he was nice and warm. He didn't mind, so far the human that called herself Artemis had been honest with him. These women and females treated him much better then any of the humans from that grey room he was in.

As he napped in the morning light, he didn't realise he had guests coming his way. Well, not really guests. Just Olympians that had forgot he was here. The first was a woman wrapped in brown robes with hood. Keeping her look as modest as possible, her face held no makeup. Her brown eyes held a gentleness that no other God held.

The woman she was talking with also had brown eyes. Her hair was black and done up in the back with pearls and silk. She wore a plain white dress that showed her natural beauty well. Except for the tear lines down her face. The lady in white had been crying. They kept walking as she spoke to the one dressed in brown, "This time feels so different Hestia. He promised after they took that 'oath' that he would be only for me. So he not only broke the oath, but he lied to me."

Hestia, The Goddess Home, Hearth, and Family gently placed a comforting hand on the distraught woman's shoulder. "While I have no idea what caused my brother to hurt you again. Please take some comfort, Amphitrite, in the fact that after the boy Percy returns in a few more hours with the master bolt. That your misbehaving husband while be spending a few hours with Mother Rhea as punishment for breaking his oath."

A light sad chuckle escaped from The Goddess of Fish, Seals, and Springs, "I hope she puts him over her knee."

Hestia merely smiled at the light jab. The morning air in Artemis' sacred woods was always the most calming and soothing. The birds were chirping, leaves rustling in the wind, the nymphs were taking care of their respective tasks, there was a dinosaur napping in the clearing ahead. That last bit made her and by extension The Sea Queen, since she was still holding her, stop. Up ahead of them was the guest of Olympus. The hybrid dinosaur that the mortals created. "Hmm, it appears we forgot about Artemis' guest Amphitrite. Good thing we didn't wake it up in surprise."

Amphitrite nodded as she looked at the slumber animal ,"That we did. She could have told us its skin was such a beautiful combination of white and silvers. I wonder if it is friendly?"

A nearby wood nymph answered her question, "Pardon me miladies but he is verly friendly. Just approach him slowly and he will notice you before you get to close. Let him investigate you a little and then you'll be okay." The little nymph bowed as she returned to her tree and her sisters.

Hestia smiled hearing that is was safe to approach this new animal. Seeing that The Sea Queen was pondering what she was about to do. Hestia decided to meet the new animal. She did wonder on how a sleeping animal would notice her. She soon got her answer when the animal's eye snapped open. The Goddess of the Hearth stopped in her tracks as the animal blinked the gunk out of its eyes. Shortly after her gaze met his large orange eye.

'Who is this?' He thought to himself as he saw this new human female. Turning his head to look at her with both eyes, he spotted that she didn't seem scared of him. Just like the one called Artemis. He did notice something different about this one. All of these humans had a glowing outline he could see. But hers was much brighter everyone else's. His child like curiousity took over. He had to get closer to this unique female.

Hestia felt a little nervousness as the animal stood up to its full height. This animal was bigger then their battle forms from the titan wars. A large snout was slowly moving aroiund her as the animal took in her scent. Very much like a dog would when meeting someone new. The animal seemed very curious about her. Hestia decided to test her nerve as she gently reached out and touched the end of his snout. The animal stopped as it watched her closely.

'Her hand is so warm' He mused to himself. Feeling a sense of deep comfort coming from this new person as she touched him. Gently he reached out to pick her up. But she stopped him by shaking her head no. He replied with a soft growl and huff before slowly turning back. His stomach was empty already and there was plenty of meat to be eaten. He really wanted to hold that human. Her presence felt so warm and inviting.

Hestia forwned as the animal walked back to its food supply. She was lost in thought as Amphitrite walked up to her. "Hestia is something wrong?"

Before she could answer the animal suddenly lifted its head from the food pile. Something in the wind had changed the two goddesses watch as the animal turned and walked past them. Its steps thundering as it headed off into a different section of the woods. Hestia raised an eyebrow at this sudden turn in behavior. Suddenly the nymph from before run to the two Goddess, "Miladies, this could be trouble. The fellow spirits are saying that Ares has chased Aphrodite into the woods just a little ways from here. We fear the animal may attack Ares. Artemis explained a few days ago that she witnessed one of his memories of his time in a holding cell."

Hestia's eyes widened as she heard this. She quickly turned to the other Goddess, "Go get Hera fast! If a fight breaks out, only her voice will stop Ares!" Amphitrite quickly nodded and teleported herself out to find Hera. Hestia quickly followed the path the animal made. She hoped to stop this fight before it started. Or at least get Aphrodite out of the way