One

It was the argument that led to all things. It was a pleasant afternoon, ripe with the golden sun, and sweet-smelling as the flowers that grew in my mother's footsteps. We had been walking for many miles, each of us silent as she spread her gift unto the earth and made all things grow and thrive. The wind blew through my wheat-colored hair, kissing my skin and rippling through my chiton. The earth was warm beneath my feet, the dirt sinking between my bare toes. It had seemed perfect.

She had started it. Hermes had stopped by, just that day, to offer himself to me as a husband, and to try and get in the good graces of my mother. It hadn't worked. She had chased him away with her barbed tongue, and the two of us hadn't talked about it until that moment. She mentioned something about my many suitors and how there was never a moment of peace, and immediately, annoyance had prickled along my spine.

We stopped in the golden long grass, and I remember how it felt, the ends tickling my palms as I stood facing her. The grass waved in the breeze, wafting scents of dirt and life up towards me, making my head spin with autumn. Birds spooked and flew, as our voices carried through the otherwise peaceful air.

"I am so sorry that my presence beleaguers you, Mother," I said nastily, planting my hands on my hips. "Perhaps I shall take my leave, so that you may find peace? Often you complain of how I distract you, and how you never get any work done." I pointed to the scarlet and gold flowers marking our path, the ones that stretched on for miles. "What is this, I ask, if not you working your gift? Would Zeus not be pleased to see you oh-so diligent in the face of all your trials?"

Demeter's green eyes narrowed, and she brushed a strand of her curly, auburn hair away from her face. "You would do well to watch your tone with me, girl. All I said was that perhaps it would be better if you would not encourage others to court you."

"And how do I encourage them?" I raised my eyebrows, eagerly waiting for her reply.

She shook her head. "I meant only that you should not want to accept their gifts! You should not want anything to do with them! As I have said time and time again, my child, you will not-"

"Marry!" I shook my head, sighing. "I know, Mother. I shall not wed. Neither you, nor I have any desire for this to happen. But is it necessary to be so rude to them?"

Her face hardened into an expression of distaste. "Yes, it is. Eventually, you will learn that lesson."

"Mother, I am tired of you treating me like a child!" I stomped my foot, crushing a section of flowers. They wilted beneath my feet, bent at odd angles, a milky white substance bleeding from their stems and onto the ground. She stared at them, horrified, as if I had physically wounded her in some way instead of the foliage. Her mouth opened, and it seemed for once, she was speechless. Finally, she spun around and began angrily marching through the grass, away from me.

I sighed. My mother, Demeter, was the Lady of the Land. She was the precious Goddess of Grain, spreading her life among the earth as the seasons changed. Her hair was a dark auburn that spilled down her back in luscious curls, topped off by a wreath of wheat, sometimes autumn leaves. Her chiton was a mossy green color, and she wore no shoes upon her pale, soft feet. She was graceful, but strong; beautiful, but formidable. She was everything that I wished to be upon this earth.

But she was growing bitter. She couldn't see it, obviously, but I could. I spent every waking moment beside her, and I could see the subtle change, as Eris herself seemed to wrap her hands around my mother's heart. One moment, she would be cordial, content to laugh beside me and braid my hair as birds twittered overhead. The next, she would be sullen and silent, ignoring me or snapping every time I tried to speak. I loved my dear mother, for she was everything I knew upon the earth. But I was so tired of her always hovering, and constantly protecting me. She was like my shadow; a being that I could not escape from, one who hung over me like a dark cloud.

Not once had she let me stray from her side. Not once had I been able to experience the sky on my own, and never had I been able to live as she had lived before I was born. She just didn't understand that I needed my own time with the earth. I needed my own time with me. Often she complained of how she never got any work done with me around. Often she complained of how distracting I was. I blinked once, twice. That was it. Here was our chance to get what we both wanted, and needed.

I ran through the grass, catching up to her quickly. Her back was straight, her head held high. She was so proud, my mother. One day, it would be her downfall.

"Mother, I need to speak with you."

"Oh?" She asked, feigning innocence. "To speak of what? How you would so readily destroy the one thing that gives me joy in this world?"

"Mother, stop, please." I reached for her shoulder, but she skipped out of my reach.

She shook her head frantically, her back still to me. "I will not stop, daughter. You see, unlike you, I have things I must do. I must secure the harvest for the mortals who pray in my name, I must endlessly walk and ensure that all is right with the earth and the grain, and-"

I grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. Her face mirrored shock and outrage, as I threw up my hands. "Mother, for once in your immortal life, will you listen to me?"

She stood still, the two of us staring at each other. Sniffing, she adjusted her circlet, tossing her hair back over her shoulders. Finally, she folded her arms over her chest. "What would you like to say?"

It didn't matter what I was going to say before. I knew she would never listen. I stood up straighter, looking her in the eyes. "Mother, I've made a decision. Since it seems I am such a distraction for you, and since it seems I am experiencing feelings of unrest, I have decided I shall leave."

She gaped, before scoffing. "Leave? Child, where will you go? Your presence will not be permanently endured atop Olympus, I tell you that now."

That stung. "I will not go to Olympus," I replied stiffly, thinking fast. "I shall go to the nymphs. I remember the summer I spent there, whilst you brought harvest to farmers of the mortal world. I shall do so again. You need not worry about me there. In several months time, I shall return to you, after you have finished your duties."

Her green eyes were wide. "You cannot be serious, Persephone."

"I am, Mother. You may come for me when you have finished. Until then…" I took a deep breath, raising my hand to cup her cheek. Her eyes fluttered closed. "I need some time to myself. I may be your greatest gift to the world, but I need some time to bloom on my own. I promise you, we will be together again. But for now…"

She nodded, swallowing. Her eyes opened, and they were tear bright, reflecting the glassy blue sky. "And if I told you no? If I denied you the independence that you crave?"

"I will simply go anyways." I shrugged. "I am sorry, Mother, but I cannot stay here a moment longer. I must find my place in the world."

"Persephone, you are the daughter of an Olympian! You are a goddess of Spring. Your place is at my side. What else could you possibly need to know?"

I shook my head. She just didn't understand. "I need to know the world through my own eyes. I need to learn things by myself. You cannot always be around to protect me."

She sighed. "And I know that, more's the pity. You may not think so, but I understand. For all of these years, I tried to shelter you, knowing this day would someday come. I should have known, the best flowers thrive when they find their own sunlight." She pulled me towards her, hugging me fiercely. "I will come for you, my child." Her voice was thick in my ear. "In two months, I will come back for you." She laughed. "Please stay out of trouble."

"I'll do my best." I smiled when we separated. "I'll think of you every day."

"And I you." She kissed both of my cheeks, cradling my face in her hands. "Darling daughter, be one with the wind. Loose yourself to the sky, and imagine that lake where you spent that summer, all of those years ago."

I released a breath, and did as she said. I imagined myself dispersing into the sky, floating among the trees, dancing alongside a bird. I could see the lake, beside a dusky meadow on the cusp of twilight. The sun shone on the water, as Helios and his chariot descended towards the horizon.

And just like that, I was there. My mother and the plains were gone, her hands removed from my face. I was standing there at the edge of the lake, the breeze tugging through my blonde hair. The air was mild, and insects flittered throughout the air. Flowers were scattered throughout the meadow, towards the lake, and I sighed in contentment at the sight of them. I twirled around the grass, my chiton catching on burrs and thorns. From just beyond the trees, on the lake's edge, I heard a merry laugh.

Skipping cheerfully, I ventured over to the lake. As I neared, I could see small, moving balls of light. They glowed profusely, vivid in the darkening light. Entranced, I heard a thin, reedy voice singing in words I didn't recognize, and the strings of an instrument being plucked harmoniously.

"And who walks among the daughters of the lake?"

The voice was raspy and familiar. The syllables rolled off the tongue, sounding like a strange song. I turned at the sound, and saw a beautiful, unearthly girl standing beside me.

Of course, she was one of the nymphs. She had the thin, upturned nose; the plump rose-petal lips; and the long, tangled hair full of weeds and leaves. She wore no clothing, and her slanted eyes were dark, but lively. She was twirling a rose in her hands, rolling the green stem between her long fingers.

I squinted. "Ianira?"

Her mouth stretched wide into a smile, exposing sharp, pointed teeth. "Persephone! You have returned!"

I drew her into a hug, my arms sliding around her skeletally thin frame. "Yes. I'll be staying for a few months, if that's alright."

"Of course, Maiden of Spring. Anything for Demeter and her daughter." Grabbing my hand, she tugged me towards the lake's edge. There, I greeted her two sisters: the dark and bashful Ianthe, and the exuberant, bright Admete. I immediately joined them in making a daisy chain, seated on the cool bank of the lake beneath a willow tree.

We sang, laughed, and told each other stories long into the night, until Selene herself was high in the sky, watching us with her silver eyes. The nymphs told me how eager they were to play with me, and how happy they were to have me back among them. I was excited to spend the days with them, experiencing life on my own, though I did miss my mother. Finally, after many hours of merriment, I began to feel sleepy. The three of them let me slide down into the welcoming grass, closing my eyes to dream of my mother and the joyous days to come.

For those of you who don't know, Selene is an archaic moon deity :) Also, for those curious: the ouroboros is an ancient symbol, usually of a snake, eating it's own tail and forming a circle. I thought the prospect was fitting for this story, since it's a tale of the life, death, rebirth cycle. Anyway, I just thought I'd share that with you! It starts off a little slow, but there's much more in store.