Chapter 13: Taming the Beast
Luna was too distracted from Pluto's fussiness and Saturn's preverted ways that she did not visit Roy after her phone call with her parents. She dropped into the village the next morning and saw Roy and Heath rebuilding a fence in front of Van and Vivian's house. Van, the village doctor, never set foot outside and Vivian was with Lucy and Michele. Luna offered her help with the fence.
"Nah," Roy gritted his teeth through a nail he held with his mouth, "We got it, kid."
Luna widened her eyes in shock, That's the first time he hasn't called me witch. She shook her head and questioned, "You sure?"
"Yeah, we got this." He nodded at Heath to hold the plank of wood steady. He hammered a nail into the wood. "By the way, your sword's ready."
"Great!" Luna exclaimed, "When should I pick it up?"
"Give me a half hour and I'll meet you at the shop." Roy rubbed the sweat off his brow.
Heath smiled at their progress and stayed quiet. Luna noticed the Heath was not an outspoken person and kept to himself, unlike his wife, Dakota, who, if she could, would be honest about everything.
"Luna!" Cam jumped up on her back and screamed with laughter.
"Hey you!" Luna gave a hearty laugh and grabbed under his knees so that Cam would not fall off of her back, "What have you been doing?"
"Nothing much," He admitted, "Will you play with me?"
"Why don't you go play with Michele?" Luna wanted to play with him, but she wanted to see her sword even more.
"She's with her mom and Mrs. Vivian playing dress up." Cam disgusted, "Why would I want to play with her?"
"Eh..." Luna shrugged, "I wouldn't want to either." She lowered him to the ground and watched him skipped in front of her, "What do you want to play?"
"Can you do a magic trick?" He begged, "Please Luna! Do a magic trick!"
Luna's body reacted unwillingly and it took most of her effort to contain herself when she said, "Okay, how about this one?" She showed her emptied palms to Cam and then closed them into a fist. She blew a cold breath onto them and smirked, "What do you think is in them?"
Cam shrugged, "I don't know."
"Look out!" someone screamed. Luna knew that distinctive voice and shot her head in the direction of the sound and she saw a raging horse racing towards them. Luna sprung into action, "Cam run!" Cam sprinted away from their current spot and Luna punched one fist out towards the horse. She released a ball of wind energy that held the erratic horse still, but she could feel that their was a more powerful force controlling the horse and she knew that her magic would not last for long.
"Thank Goddess you're alright." Artemis ran to Luna's side and knelt beside her.
"Not for long," Luna grunted and watched as her hand twitched, "I won't be able to hold this for much longer."
"What do you mean?" He asked with concern and fear for Luna.
"There is a spell on this horse," Luna's feet slid a few inches backwards and she punched her other hand out to the horse with the same spell, "We have to calm it down."
"How do you suggest we do that?" He glared at the horse.
"I don't know..." Luna's arms ached from the strength of the magic surrounding the horse, "Just get it to settle down and I can break the spell." From the corner of Luna's eye, she saw Artemis reached behind his back into his quiver and pulled out a silver arrow, "What are you doing?! Don't shoot it!" Luna was pushed back further into the fence that Heath and Roy were once working on.
"I don't plan too." Artemis prepared his bow and stepped on the fence.
He climbed to the top of the fence and Luna snapped, "What the hell are you doing?!" Her right hand gave away first. She lowered it to her side painfully and held her left hand
"Can't you see it?" He pulled back the string of his bow tightly, "There's a faint thread attached around it's neck."
Luna squinted her eyes and searched frantically for the thread, "I don't see it!"
"Then move!" Artemis snapped and held his bow firmly.
Please don't let him get hurt, Luna prayed silently and then she released the spell. Luna rolled out of the way and watched the horse charge head on at Artemis. She was amazed on how unfazed he was as the horse appraoched him at an alarming speed. Artemis patiently waited until the perfect moment and once that moment arrived, he let go of the arrow.
The arrow whizzed through the sky and just before it hit its mark, Luna saw the very faint black thread. Upon impact, that thread exploded and sent tiny sparks of fire flying through the sky.
"Like a firecracker," Artemis smirked and pleased with his shot.
"How..." Luna gaped. "Did you see it?" Artemis hopped off of the fence and casually walked to Luna. He held out his hand for her to grab.
To her surprise, Luna took his hand and let him pull herself up, "How were you able to see it?"
"This isn't the first time the witch has used things to to her biding." Artemis answered, "She will use anything to cause chaos."
Luna watched the horse's movement as she approaced it. The horse seemed to return to normal, but Luna felt uneasy about it. She could still sense a weak magical aura surrounding the animal, and Artemis noticed her weariness.
"It should be normal now," Artemis rested his hand on Luna's shoulder. Luna ignored him and continued to approach it with weariness and care.
Once she was close enough, Luna gently patted the horse's mane and neck. "Hey you, are you alright?" She talked to it and comforted it.
The horse responded with a nicker.
"Good boy," Luna smiled and continued to pat its neck.
"Are you seriously talking to it?" Artemis raised his brow.
"Of course!" Luna defended herself and then returned to the horse, "You know what, you remind me of someone..." She concluded her sentence silently, someone as in a Harvest Sprite.
The horse blinked once and rubbed his head gently against Luna's.
She laughed and continued silently, It's nice to meet you too, Neptune. Luna could feel Artemis hovering over her shoulder so she added, "I'm going to call you Neptune."
"You're naming it Neptune? " He scoffed, "The god of horses and seas?"
"Of course!" Luna hugged Neptune's neck, "His coat even looks like the sea!"
Neptune's coat was white with speckles of blue gray spots along his spine. His hooves were dark gray, his hair was the a lighter shade then his hooves, and his eyes shimmered with mystic charm. He was a beautiful horse.
"Whatever suit you, I guess," Artemis awakardly rubbed the back of his neck. "What do you mean?" Luna gave him a confused look.
"Nothing." He shook his head and rubbed Neptune's ear, "You're planning to confront the witch again?" His command sounded more like a question.
"Yeah," She left Neptune's side and walked towards the blacksmith's shop, "Which reminds me..." She did not complete her thought before she entered the shop.
"I've got your sword right here, kid!" Roy tapped the sheath of the sword on the blacksmithing table, "Let me get your arrows."
He left just as Artemis entered. "A sword?" He asked.
"A sword made with goddess ore." Luna pulled out the sword by its handle and awed at the craftsmanship, "It's beautiful!"
Artemis whistled and ran his hand along the blade, "She's a beauty alright."
"When did you get back?" Roy reentered with a set of silver arrows. He referred that question to Artemis.
"Just recently." Artemis answered honestly, "No luck though."
"It's alright, we still have some leftover hide from the last animal." Roy smacked his back loudly but in a friendly manner then he remembered Luna's order, "Here's a set of silver arrows for ya!" He smiled proudly.
"You seem to be in a better mood Roy," Artemis chuckled.
"Of course!" Roy grabbed Luna's shoulder and pulled her close to him, "This kid has gotten my business running again!" He then smacked her back and Luna grimaced upon impact.
"You're welcome..." Luna rubbed her shoulder.
"If you need anything, just holler," Roy waved good bye and returned outside.
"Silver arrows?" Artemis was suspicious.
"They're not mine." Luna winked.
Artemis blushed, "Then... Why do you need silver arrows?"
She brushed her shoulder against his as she walked past him and answered back, "Hurry up. I'm not a very patient woman."
She heard him grab the arrows and rush behind her, "Where are we going?"
"To the witch." Luna fastened her sheath along her waist, "And you know, you don't have to keep saving me all the time."
"Who else is going to save your smart ass?" Artemis snorted and raced ahead of Luna.
Luna's eyes widened at his remark and she growled, "You are so going to eat those words." Luna clenched her fists and soon regretted that decision. She glanced down at her hands, What...? Luna panicked as she saw fresh red scars.
"Hurry up slow poke!" Artemis yelled back at Luna.
Luna ignored her wounds and pushed forward towards the woods.
"Why did you give me the arrows?" Artemis asked as soon as Luna caught up to him.
"Because..." Luna said breathlessly, "I have to tame the beast somehow..." She smirked and winked at him once again.
Artemis flushed red and stammered, "You... didn't have to..."
"Consider it as a thanks," Luna giggled, "You are so red right now."
"Hurry up, princess." Artemis sprinted ahead of her.
"That's new!" Luna laughed and jogged behind him, He's kind of cute when he's caught off guard. Maybe, I will be able see more of that.
This song was written to "Shatter Me" by Lindsey Stirling feat. Lzzy Hale and "Alone" by Armin Van Buuren feat. Lauren Evans and edited to "Heart Attack" by Demi Lovato.