Chapter Three: The Huntress,
In the twilight hours of early morning, just before dawn, Selene tends to the dying fire and feeds it another log. With a little aid of a stick, the flames slowly ignite once again and she watches it in satisfaction as she hears it pop and crackle merrily. The night passed peacefully as they had watched carefully over the sleeping man they had just saved. He now lay within the comfort of blankets and furs breathing ever so steadily for hours. Every now and then Maximus would snore deeply, making the moon goddess crack a smile in amusement. Immortals did not need to sleep and it was strange, even fascinating to her that humans had to. She often wondered what amazing dreams and adventures play just behind those closed eyes of sky blue. She hoped for him good dreams, a deserved reprieve from his current mood and situation.
She peeked in on him, moving the makeshift tent flaps without a sound, she saw that he breathed softly now, almost completely buried within the covers. A scene of complete serenity and she nodded to herself glad that he remained so undisturbed. It was a most difficult time they had getting him to be calm and settled to get his much needed rest just hours before. Understandably, his world had been turned upside down by such interference and his misery was completely understandable. It bothered her greatly how he had suffered.
Selene sighed and turned away as she came back to the campfire. Regret filled her as she remembered his emotional anguish because it was their doing after all and there was no going back now. Perhaps he should have been left to the fates for all she knew and observed. It was a shame to see it. Now here he was their top priority and obligation and they did not want to fail Jupiter. If it was not for her experience as a mother she would have been lost on this task and daunting as it was so weighing on her caring heart. But it was so much simpler in the undying realms to do these things. Here, it is challenging, hard and seemingly cruel at times. Also they were subject to limitations being on human time. She was not used to roughing it, so to speak. Asclepius and she knew that Maximus depended on them to help see him through his weakened state and just before he had succumbed to slumber, he had asked for some water. It never occurred to her before this moment just how much trouble this whole mission could be. It was all so complicated and before all of this she had no clue she'd be in for such an ordeal. Due to the fact that god's didn't require so much as human's do just to live, it was clearly unexpected.
Suddenly, her attention snapped into action as she heard the distinct sound of foot falls and the crushing of fallen dead leaves. She rose up, standing with her stick and posed for a fight if necessary, she waited for the worst. Thoughts of mythical abominations that the gods had a hand in creation came to mind, like the Chimera. Just thinking of the fire breathing lion-goat-like thing with a scorpion tail made her shiver in terror. Her imagination started to spiral at that moment and her already frayed nerves made her unsure and tremble with the unwanted emotion. The stick vibrated like a stringed instrument played badly out of tune, just beginning to snap. Much like her senses and she was not used to it. Being safely in charge of the moon was not this stressful, not even close.
Closer now came each step as she raised her stick higher, ready to swing. She stood determined, holding her ground. Then she gasped as a figure suddenly emerged from the dense vegetation of the forest, bursting into the scene without care that she could beat the brains out of them right now. Blinking in surprise, Selene sighed as Asclepius stood before her seemingly pleased with himself. Appears his efforts were a success as he held his prize.
"Shades of Tarsus, you're not going to attack me now are you?"
Selene sighed and dropped the stick to her side in relief. "Well, brother, you could have called out to announce yourself. I was ready to defend the human without care for who I had to harm," she began to explain, then smiled and pointed. "Hey, that's clever."
Asclepius looked down, almost forgetting what was in his hand. "Oh yeah, I found water from a natural spring miles back. This rock was the best I could find to bring it back to Maximus. I marked the way back so I can find it again." The gray rock had a deep and wide depression in its center making it a perfect vessel. Asclepius looked over to the makeshift tent anxiously then glanced back to Selene. "How is he?"
"Exhausted, I'm afraid and still sleeping. It's been hours."
"He has a need and a right after all," Asclepius held out the rock containing the water towards Selene. "Take this and set it aside so he can get it when he wakes."
"Yes, he will need this badly and as soon as possible." She takes the rock carefully and crosses the campsite to the tent. "You know he will need food too, if I'm not mistaken."
As she lays the rock nearby the sleeping man, as she hears Asclepius snap his fingers.
"That's right, they got to eat don't they?" Asclepius clasped his hand over her shoulders then gave her a condescending pat of encouragement on the back. "Good luck, Sis."
Selene froze in place suddenly as the idea sunk in that he meant for her to help in the matter. "Wait, you're not suggesting that "I" go out there and find food, are you?" Panic ensued within as the thoughts of self-doubt and absolute inexperience took over. "But, Asclepius, I don't know how? Why me?"
"And why not you? Besides, I'm the one who got him the water." Asclepius said, annoying to the point that truthfully she had not contributed yet to the care of the man. "Your turn."
Selene turned to see Asclepius standing with determination, hands on hip and pointing toward the forest. Following his gaze, she gulped at the nerves playing butterflies in her stomach. So, this was it. She had to try at least, no matter what she had to face out there. Glancing at the tent she thought about the man that needed them and back at her brother. Seeing that there was no use negotiating with her brother's resolve to settle the responsibility on her shoulders, she began to walk into the forest.
Before she disappeared through the tree line Asclepius called out to her. "How are you going to do it, Selene?"
"I'll think of something."
Laughter came to her ears causing her to roll her eyes in annoyance. Her brother was a jerk sometimes. "How, without this?" She glanced back as Asclepius held out her makeshift weapon stick for her to take. "Plan on talking the animals into giving up or something, umm?"
Growling out in frustration, she snatched the stick out of his hands and marched out of the campsite as more laughter followed her path. Selene's frown grew deeper thinking of Asclepius's sarcasm and know-it-all wit. He was clearly enjoying himself at her predicament. She'd show him, if it was the last thing she'd do.
Hiking through the forest was the last thing on the goddess's mind to ever have to do. She looked down at her soiled gown three inches in mud at the hem. Not to mention her shoes covered too with leaves and debris. She wasn't exactly the picture of grace and elegance she was once before the start of this crazy mission. It was enough to almost make her want to give up, but the very thought of the mortal man waking up hungry and weak gave her pause. So she steadied her resolve to move onward with renewed energy at her responsibilities.
Ah, responsibilities, it came with some complications of its own, didn't it? She now discovered that it created a simple catalyst for such human-like feelings coming unexpectedly to the surface. Selene was unprepared for it in such a way that immediately she wished to repress it. Thinking back to her traumatic past, she came to the conclusion that it only brought nothing but misery to dwell on it. What had the act of caring got her anyway? Trouble. Bury it, Selene. She thought irritably.
With the thoughts coming again and again without pause caused a problem for Selene. She had been so thoroughly distracted that she had just misstepped and slipped on a mossy rock ahead of her path and went down. Before she could cry out, she landed on her hands and knees, letting out a painful "ooph" as she made impact with the hard, cold unforgiving ground. The stick weapon snaps in two causing her to lose balance, she rolls on her back and sighs. "Damn, playing by the rules on human time has its disadvantages. I could have just used my powers to summon food out of the thin air. Nope, not going to happen here. Thanks, Jupiter for nothing."
The atmosphere of the forest was now thick and misty. Fog had settled on the forest floor making her visual really difficult beyond a few feet in any direction. Damp grass and vegetation glisten in the faint morning light. Looking up she could see that the sun's rays will not penetrate the dense canopy of trees for hours. The smell of moss and earth hung heavy in her senses.
With a determined grunt, Selene pulls herself to her feet once more. As she tries wiping away mud and stray blades of grass away from her splendid midnight blue gown, she frowns to the hopeless fact that it hardly mattered at that point because the dirt and patches of mud remained there on her clothes no matter the tenacious effort to clean it off. She shook her head at the state of her shoes as well. Sighing.
"Well, at least it's sunny today and there is no sign of rain."
Selene slowly takes in her direction now. Her hands go to her hips. She just maybe lost at this point. The morning chill in the breeze reminded her of the ridiculous way she was dressed for hiking in the woods. This was clearly not well thought out on her part; she noticed the way the dress inhibits her movements. Small violet flowers dot her path under feet as she walks on, Selene could see them bravely trying to grow in the gloom of the forest bed. Leaves crunch with every step she took and an occasional snap of twig could be heard.
Suddenly, a sound of movement beyond the trees alerts her attention. She freezes at that moment unsure of her next action. The dark forest is made up of earthy colors arrayed with black, brown and mossy green. All of her senses become sharper and clearer as the foot falls come steadily closer. The rustling only gets louder and she starts to panic.
Someone or something was coming.
Selene's heart starts to pound in fear but determination to stay calm sets in as she remembers who she is. "I'm a goddess, damn it."
Courage a little fleeting, Selene backs up and the sound distinctly tells her that it was not a whom but it was a what instead approaching her.
"Oh, shades among us!" She breathes.
Four legs, massive paws with claws emerged forth from the leafy path ahead. Damn, it's a huge wolf.
Selene sized up the creature that came into view. Slowly it came forward as the fog dissipated around it. Glittering topaz eyes of the black furred beast centered on her. Lips drew back in a snarl as it boldly stared her down. Yellowing sharp teeth bared menacingly as it came to a halt in the middle of the clearing. Still and posed for a fight it stayed fixed and Selene too wisely froze in place instinctively. She knew if she ran it would take her down easily. Then a glimmer of hope entered her mind as she remembered her powers. If she could will it to work here however. Wondering if it was a possibility despite the limitations they had to deal with gave her some doubt though. She knew though she had to give it a try. As she willed her mind a glimmer of confidence took hold of hope as the creature's vicious demeanor melted away into a benign manner as her skin glowed with the power of the moon and her persuasive stare caused the creature to calm. Slowly every tense feature on the wolf's face relaxed. Then slowly, to her relief, it settled on its massive hunches giving her no further cause for alarm. Selene almost laughed as she saw it sit there with no more than mere curiosity as she saw its head tilt regarding her now. It was cute really and seamily unnaturally intelligent.
"There now, you see. I'm a friend." Selene said, spreading her hands in a gesture of surrender as she spoke her soothing words.
She remained wise and held still watching now as the creature's tongue cascaded out of its slobbering jaws. It started to pant, content in the moment just to observe her mildly.
Taking this moment as a good sign, Selene sighed with relief and relaxed a fraction, until the sound of footsteps making contact with fallen dead leaves crunched toward her direction behind the wolf.
"Great, now what?" She breathed in tensely.
With her mind racing, she teetered back and forth on the balls of her feet, adrenaline rushing through her body. It was such a strange feeling as her immortal self reacted this way. This human realm made her feel things she never had to before, and also danger was one of them. She was not used to vulnerability. The power of the moon suddenly came to her aid once more as her skin glowed creating an aura around her making her enemies subject to her influence. She braces for what came next as the figure emerges from the edge of the forest ahead.
Diana
A restless spirit consumes the hunter deity as she moves expertly through the forest entering the clearing. It has been a week now that her inner instincts told her she was needed somehow. It was a chilly morning and the green cloak that she wore helped to keep it at bay.
She felt and believed something was coming and there was a need too important to ignore. There were also whispers and rumors that there was trouble on the wind. A stirring of turmoil in the universe. When it's like this, she could not just stay idle long. So, here she was roaming about the forest letting her instincts lead her and she just knew that it was all happening soon, she could feel it.
She left her home days ago with that knowledge. Full of energy and anticipation she focused on her skills. She was a huntress first and that was her drive, even though she was a multi-functional goddess of three fold. The need for her hunting skills was undeniable.
What the instinct told her seemed simple enough, kill your prey and wait. Wait for what?
The situation puzzled her with a magnetic mystery that allured her intensely on. Determined though to discover what all the fuss was about Diana knew she must hurry, time seemed short. She hears Syrius a few yards ahead of her now. He had stopped moving suddenly and it was unsettlingly quiet. None of the usual chirping of birds and animal activity was heard in the woods around her. Complete silence.
She came to a stop too and listened for a moment. A hum and anticipation grows inside her uncontrollably. She motions for Phocion to cease his advance ahead and he halts at her heel obediently. Straining to hear intently, Diana shades her eyes and squints to see a little clearer ahead. Her brow furrows in concentration as confusion mounts at the reason for her wolf to grow suddenly so silent disturbs her. Drawing a bit closer, Daina could hear the wolf panting as if content. Strange. How could this be? Her wolves would surely attack anything that dared to cross their paths during a hunt.
It was a contrary thing for her animals to react that way and she had trained them up so well. No matter though, whatever has crossed his path today, it seemed not too alarming to the beast. It was unnatural though, this knowledge she was certain, so she armed herself. She reached back and pulled a golden arrow from the quiver strapped to her back. Loading it onto her golden bow, it quivered with a gentle vibration and it intensified as she crept forward. She holds out for a visual before making the shot, and as the last branch clears away she freezes to the spot.
"Selene?" Diana breathes out her question softly.
Selene stood in the clearing skin glowing and visibly relaxed at the sight of her arrival. Grinning fully now, she pats Syrius on the head fondly. Ah yes, the power of the moon. It would be the reason for her wolf to be as docile as a puppy. The great silly beast was actually enjoying the attention, seeing his tongue going out lopsided from its mouth was out of character for him. The sight was a bit absurd for the formidable killing machine that he was supposed to be.
"Well met dear friend, it's been ages since we had last seen each other."
Diana dropped her guard altogether at Selene's warm greeting and waved Phocion over with a smile. The white wolf padded happily to her side a moment then took notice of his brother and moved to give him a nuzzle or two in greeting. The two goddesses watched the wistful play among brother wolves in silent appreciation of their joy before coming together in a friendly embrace.
"I never thought I'd see you today, Diana."
"As I live and breathe, if it isn't the glorious light of our starry night."
Selene chuckled heartily at the turn of phrase. Her friend was always quick to flatter with clever words. After a pat more on the back in jovial expression of their friendship, Selene took in the other goddess's appearance in a kind of envy, not exactly in taste, but the sheer practicality of it all.
Diana stood wearing a smart hunter's green cloak dressed in a brown tunic with golden trim and dark suede pants tucked into black shiny hunter's boots. In her long luxuriously curly brunette hair she is adorned with gold and silver clips clamping around her long thick trestles. Gracing her forehead, lies a tiara of twigs and leaves with a single diamond looking as if it is dripping from a tree limb after a rain storm,dangling just above her elegant brow. Her golden bow in hand gleamed in the scant light of the sun's rays through the canopy of green leaves above with golden arrows stowed carefully in a quiver carried strapped on her back. The gentle breeze blew around her rustling her cloak and chasing around dry leaves causing Selene to sigh at the serenity of her friend's unique beauty and power. She shook her head, what had she expected? Nothing less than perfection. She was a powerful goddess after all.
"So what brings you to my neck of the woods, Selene?"
"Actually, it is most opportune that you happen to be the one I meet today. You see, I am in need of your expert skills. Besides, since I sadly have the basic human survival skills the size of a peanut, and you have them in spades. We are in need of meat for a human in our care and is in a weakened state at the moment from his traumatic ordeal."
"Oh, um, "We"?" Diana asked, looking around as if half expecting someone to suddenly appear as if on queue
"Yes, my brother is here looking after the human while I get food."
Selene saw Diana perk up in curiosity at this news. She always knew that Diana fancied her brother for the longest time. Asclepius however, was so irritatingly blind to this fact. Love has such complicated side effects like obsession, for one. Diana would moon over him often, seeking him where he could be found saying he had the most beautiful green eyes that reminded her of her precious woods. Embarrassingly really, he showed her no return of such interest.
"Interesting, I would be glad to help you both. Provided that I am permitted to come to your campsite to see Asclepius."
Selene rolled her eyes at this and shrugged. "Of course, lead the way to the prey then."
Following a few steps behind Diana, Selene watches her friend as she adjusted her hood of the cloak she wore and made her bow ready.
"Stay back a good few feet, you don't want to give me away with your scent, do you?" Diana whispers over her shoulder.
"Right, I shall stay down wind then." Selene whispered back, acknowledging with a shrug.
Selene slowed her pace to create the gape required as she crept lightly from behind. She observed Diana's sweet demeanor change into the air of a serious huntress. Her instincts made her so much more intense to watch. Hunched low now, she crept forward with the prowess of an exotic creature ready for action. Acting on instinct alone, Diana seemed to know just where her prey was without physical sight or confirmation. Knowing that the animal was situated just beyond the trees ahead, she grinned to herself in pure satisfaction. She moved as if gliding on air expertly, so soundlessly the very wind only dared to stir in her presence. She pulled out an arrow from her quiver, reaching from behind her. As she loaded the arrow on the bow string, she pulled it taught, taking three precise steps forward. Peeking the tip of the arrow through the cover of the trees only so the unsuspecting prey has no cause to bolt. Then on the sound of the hum emulating from the bow, she let it loose. Her aim is true and deadly as her prey falls to the ground with the sound of a thump.
Emerging out of the last branch, Diana steps triumphantly out of the shadows. With the target now laying dead at the edge of the stream, it was clear that the deer was taking a peaceful moment to drink its last just before the fatal strike. Diana moved to its side and took to her knees.
"Thank you and I honor you for your sacrifice." Diana reverently said as she placed a hand on the soft fur of the doe's head.
She looked up at Selene now with such raw emotion laced in her eyes and in all seriousness; she saw her friend as the best sort of hunter, the one who respected life, even when it must be taken for the sake of another.
"Let's get this food back to your human friend, shall we?"
Selene nodded, "Yes, and Diana, thanks. I don't know what I'd do without your help?"
Meanwhile at the camp.
Asclepius sat beside Maximus, watching the weary man take another sip for the third time. Maximus's hands trembled uncontrollably making things difficult so Asclepius steadied the rock with his hand to prevent a spill. After he'd finished he helped Maximus take it from his dry cracked lips carefully. Asclepius held the vessel for him as he watched Maximus wipe a stray drop of water from his mouth with his free hand.
The camp is set up in a wide clearing with tall, thick trees squaring all around them, there were branches bending, tangling together. Almost seemingly on purpose, with the trunks almost touching.
It was a smart set up Maximus thought. Giving them a great advantage point of the area to detect any intruders and narrowing a path leading up to them making it difficult for anyone to sneak up on them at night. From the standpoint of the once great general, it was an indeed impressive tactic.
Maximus could see that Asclepius had made a tent draped from tree to tree in the middle. It was not a very large tent but it was big enough for one or two at best. Sitting upon a flat tree stump Maximus took the rock again and continued to sip from the earthly vessel tentatively. Mindful not to spill any as he concentrated on better control. After all, Asclepius made many trips back to the steam on his behalf. It's becoming such a nice cool night and now that the fire has burned down low and hot. Maximus pulled his blanket around him tighter to ward off the chill that the god sitting next to him on a log supplied him earlier. He nodded to Asclepius and swallowed the cool soothing liquid down thickly with an audible gulp.
"Thanks, for the water and…everything." Maximus said, with a bit of hesitation.
Sighing, Maximus settled back and looked up into the night sky peeking back at him through the trees. Given the circumstance, Maximus had started down on the path to forgive the god's interference in his life. As he watched the pair of deities working to make a place for him to recover caused him pause and it was very thought provoking because of their clear thoughtfulness and efforts to help him. So now he had softened his resolve to never forgive them even if he had to swallow a bit of stubborn pride to do so. His thoughts drifted to Selene. The moon goddess was kind, kinder than he had thought an immortal could ever be. She was beautiful, oh yes, so enchanting was her gaze she truly had the power of the moon and she wielded it like a song of a siren. So genuine was her concern. If he did not see the truth of it in her light silvery starry eyes for his hardship he would not have believed it. For who would just think an immortal could be sympathetic to a human's plight otherwise. Their stories were vastly contrary at best.
Maximus turned his gaze to the god sitting patiently waiting silently by his side, ready to aid him if necessary. Holding the rock with a more steadier hand this time, Maximus took another sip.
"You know, Selene has been gone for a long time now. Should we be worried?"
Ascelpius' smile could not be helped as he pictured his sister alone in the forest and suffering through this realm's unique challenges. Cursing his name all the while in clear frustration for her limitations, it was all so comical to imagine. Though to be honest, he hoped that she succeeded despite her lack of skills anyway. He looked at Maximus, admiring the strength of the man to recover and his spirit. There was much to appreciate from this one and he thought Jupiter's decision was spot on for giving him a second chance.
"Agreed, but we shall have to wait and see. Perhaps she has found a way after all, despite her lack of skills." The god of life's eyes glittered with mystery and intelligence. "We immortals have our ways."
The liquid in the rock sloshed a little as Maximus chuckled at the amusingly truthful way the god expressed himself. It was so strange to hear them so candidly speaking of their almost human-like tendencies. He had not expected that.
Maximus watched Ascelpius get up and move to tend to the fire. As he kneels down to work, his cloak pools around him like a fabric puddle. When he stirs the fire, it sparks upward into the night sky. Then he feeds it another log and when satisfied that the fire takes it, he returns to the log once again to sit. They watch silently together as the hungry flames ignite higher. The pop and crackle comes forth merrily as the scent of the blaze gives an unexpected comfort and brings forth a distant memory of home to Maximus. As the rush of warmth hits him as he settles back and a groan escapes his lips in unexpected pleasure.
In the midst of such peace it caught Maximus off guard completely as he saw Ascelpius stand suddenly posed for a fight with his staff in hand. So shocked was Aseclpius' lack of care for his dangerous movement by a roaring campfire that Maximus in fear braced himself in case the god's cloak caught fire. But it never did. He moved with such skill that seemed unnatural to Maximus because of his flawless grace as a god. Blinking away the shock of the moment, he focused on the line of sight at the trees.
Upon hearing something in the distance Ascepius froze in alarm then at the waist of his belt he snatched out a short blade. He watches in intensity as the god leans forward as if he stained to hear better. The tense moment lasted only seconds until Ascelpius eased it with a smile.
"Dinner is here."
Confusion showed on Maximus's face as he started to hear a rustling in the bushes in the path. He almost was beginning to stand when without warning two large wolves appeared. One black and the other white shot out from the path's edge into the camp. They stood menacing for a minute then just as Maximus thought the pair would attack them, they sat on their hunches and gave a comfortable scratch at their ears with their claws. Clearly calm they began licking at their massive paws, then yawned and decided to lay down by the fire to snooze after circling to find a suitable spot.
He gave Asclepius a questionable gaze and just when he was going to speak his mind about the strangeness of the wolves, another rustling in the path silenced him from doing so. As sudden as the appearance of the wolves had come, a woman with a deer slung on her shoulders swiftly emerged from the gloom with Selene in tow.