So I was thinking... My adaptation might be considered abstract, and Atalanta isn't the best known myth out there. So here's a tiny revision of the myth and who the characters really were.

What Really Happened

The myth-

Atalanta was born to a father who didn't want a daughter and cast her away at birth. She was abandoned in a forest; where she was found and raised by hunters and nursed by a bear.

A hunt was organised by King Oeneus of Calydon to catch a wild boar that was terrorising everyone. The hunters included some big Greek names including Jason, Heracles and Theseus. But Atalanta lived up to her reputation as an archer and a runner, she drew the first blood. Meleager was the one to kill the boar in the end.

The two of them were crushing on each other, and Meleager awarded her the pelt and head. Atalanta was happy with this; Meleager's uncles weren't. He got in BIG trouble for that little romantic gift.

Meleager's story; His life depended on a log. If the log burnt, so would his life. Think of Frank Zhang from the Heroes of Olympus series. But he was forced to kill his uncles when the little spat about the pelt broke out into full violence. His mother was so enraged by that; she threw the log in the fire and he went out in a flame.

On her way home from Calydon, the Oracle of Delphi told Atalanta that she should never marry.

In another version; the prohibition of marriage came from Artemis, who was the one who took baby Atalanta in. She swore to the goddess to stay an eternal virgin.

But her father, who was back in her life and had made amends, wanted her to get married. Atalanta had one condition; she would race all the men and only marry the one who would beat her. The others were to be killed by her poison darts.

Melanion came after a long series of hopeful suitors. He loved Atalanta but he knew he couldn't outrun her. He asked Aphrodite for help; and he got it. She gave him golden apples.

During the race he'd drop an apple, and Atalanta would slow down and pick one up. It slowed her down enough for Melanion to win, and Atalanta had to keep her promise.

It was while the pair were cuddling and kissing in the temple of Cybele that the prophecy came true. The goddess wasn't happy of what they were doing on her ground. She went nuts about it and turned them into lions and chained them to her chariot for safekeeping and punishment.

The End

Lani Adair- Atalanta

Berry- The bear who took Atalanta in; listed as 'friends'

Arty- Artemis, from version 2 of the myth

Jace- Jason

Terry- Theseus

Harry- Heracles

Mel- Melanion

Teddy Raneri, the flamme- Meleager

Safi Dite- Aphrodite

Queen Marie, Internet psychic- Oracle of Delphi