Chapter 57: Artemis

My group of huntresses and I were walking in the forest when we heard a noise. We looked through the tree cover and saw a group of demigods. From their auras, we could tell they, individually, were not much, but together they could be exceptionally powerful.

"Milady, should we confront them?" Thalia, one of my faithful huntresses, asked.

I gave her a slight nod, just the barest tilt of my head. Silent as shadows, we creeped upon them. Ignorant mortals. They did not even sense our approach. Honestly, how is that incompetent Neesik training them these days? Not even rustling a leaf, we appeared beneath a canopy of trees. There were five of them. They seemed surprised to see us.

Thalia, ever so faithful, stepped out and introduced us. "We are the hunters." she said, in a serene voice. I stepped out from the group and said, in the same serene tone, "And I am Artemis."

After our introduction, the demigods started grunting among themselves. Then, almost in a chorus, they said, "SO YOU ARE CHEESE!" and burst into hysterical laughter.

My eyes widened with shock at such disrespect. My anger flared, and was immediately replaced by a cold, unforgiving thought that said, "punish them, they insulted you, they called you a dairy product from your brother's sacred herds" The thought was so appealing. I let the coldness grow, until it turned into a silver beam of light. I directed the light straight toward their smiling faces.

Somehow, they dodged my attack. With another round of muttering between them and a few shouts, the demigods suddenly threw a gleaming ball of almost pure energy toward my head. The Legendary Three.

Chapter 58: Thalia

The instant I saw them muttering, I knew there was going to be trouble. My intuition was correct when they hurled an orb of 98% pure energy. I was sure that My Lady would stop that- somehow!

Excerpt: Alcyone

"What the heck?!" Alcyone exclaimed from her spot within the Void. Three demigods were attacking a goddess! These kids must be pretty stupid, trying an attack like that on Artemis. she thought. Her opinion changed instantly as she saw the gleaming ball of light appear from their fingertips, and merge into a gigantic ball of seemingly pure energy.

The attack had the potential energy to drastically weaken, perhaps even destroy, the goddess of the moon. It would disrupt the balance of the world greatly if the gods lost one of their own. The moon would vanish, and the tides would engulf the earth.

Alcyone sighed. These children knew nothing. They did not take responsibility for their actions. "Time for time to intervene." she muttered to herself, then sighed again, imagining the colossal amount of energy she would spend to save a goddess.

Chapter 59: Artemis

"Come!" I shouted to my huntresses. "Lend me your energy." Their auras dimmed as streams of silver flowed to my fingertips. Time stretched on and on- or did it just seem to? and I sensed another presence that was watching me. I ignored it for the moment- I needed all of my concentration to direct the silver energy into a counter attack.

Finally the silver light grew big enough to cause damage. I released it to counter the Legendary attack. Some of my huntresses dropped from exhaustion.

At first the attack didn't seem to be nearly enough, but then that presence pooled a stream of dark graphite-colored energy and sent it along to the silver stream, polluting our perfectly silver energy. The two attacks neutralized each other and we were left standing on the forest clearing with a very surprised group of malicious demigods. And they, too, disappeared when we were engulfed by black.

There was another person with us in the darkness. It was the same presence that I had sensed earlier. It was a young girl, looking about 8, with dark circles under her eyes and a very haggard appearance. Her aura was strange; not that of a god's, nor that of a titan's, neither that of a mortal's, but a strange, unnatural mix of the three. I sensed a deep exhaustion beneath that plaid, expressionless face.

"Who are you?" I approached the girl.

"Artemis, isn't it?" The girl's tired eyes brightened. "I've always wanted to join your group of huntresses. Not that you'd ever accept me." and she laughed a bitter, wheezing laugh.

"Why wouldn't I accept you?" I asked. I welcomed any and every maiden who wished to join me as one of my huntresses.

"Because of Kronos." The girl straightened up. "He's my grandfather, you know. That's why I was able to help you by slowing down Time."

I took a step back. Of course. That was why her aura was such a muddy, unclean color. She was a unnatural hybrid between god and titan. At least, the son and daughter of titan and god. "Thank you." I told her tartly. "Release us now, and you may consider us not killing you as gratitude for the favor done."

The girl nodded once, sadly, and the darkness dissipated, taking her with it, and I found myself and my group of huntresses standing on the surface of the moon.

Exerpt: Alcyone

"Hmm... one favor done, ninety-nine to go." Alcyone muttered to herself, released her hold on time, and collapsed onto her cot, spent.