ENJOY!!!

From the day I entered thy world from Leto's’ womb, I was to work. Now, after millennia at Olympus under the reign of my abominable father, Zeus, I still work. Ever since I pledged to eternal maidenhood, I have become goddess of healing, birth, disease, moon, night, and hunting. Over my lifetime I've watched the Titans head into battle, destroying all life in their wake. I’ve experienced fire wiping out forests, Rome, battles and seas. Yet it always seems like I’m the one fighting and doing everything myself. 

“Lil sis?” Apollos’ voice reached out over the horizon. “C’mon! Meeting at Olympus with Dad now! He said it’s urgent and I get to be his right hand because Mr. Earth Sea shaker... Whatever but you get the point!” his blazing sportscar roared over thy clouds overhead. Such a naive soul. “AND I AM NOT THOU ‘LIL SIS’” My voice rumbled through the sky as I heard a distance grumbling from a volcano. Great. I was going to have to explain thee now. A lightning bolt shot me in the pelvis and sent a blast of my adolescent adrenaline down my shoulder. “I’M COMING!!” 

At Olympus on the thrones sat Zeus, Hera, Demeter, Aphrodite, Athena, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, Hestia and looking as sly as ever, Apollo. “Darling Daughter Artemis, as your late arrival, we have concluded that you will be the one to track down Atlas who is rising in West Mt. Othrys and stop him from sending army fleets. All in favor?” Zeus, Hera, Hephaestus, Hermes, Demeter, Athena and Aphrodite all raised their hands. “You better not mess this up” I heard Athena mutter under her breath as I was whisked away from Olympus onto the coast of Central Moerai. 

For days I traveled, moving from East to West under the cover of the moon. I woke as the sun set and the moon came out for the hunt and rested come dawn. Sometimes I got impatient and enchanted shorter days, sometimes longer. Mortals called it ‘Daylight Savings’ and believed mortal farmers caused it. For 3 years I traveled, and you could be wondering, “Artemis! You are a goddess so couldn’t you just travel? And you were in Greece so why the opposite country? Firstly, I am going undercover as a human and secondly, whenever Gods go on quests, they must start the furthest away to prove their loyalty to Zeus and the Olympians. As the sun set for the night on the 812th night, I heard a bellow rising from the depth of the earth. Great. A hellhound. Blood-thirsty creatures sent by Hades, from the heart of Tartarus. Its charcoal coat shone in the midsummer’s full moon, its teeth bearing poisonous gue that could kill 10,000, men in 5 seconds. It leapt from the deadly trench that it rose by and poundered toward me, snarling and slobbering. With a flick of my wrist, stone hunters grew from the earth complete with quivers, bows and plague arrows, armor hanging on for dear life. Or so I thought. For the next 13 seconds, I paid no heed to the fatal hound leaping toward me. It snatched me up in its jaws, acid burning my skin. Right! No goddess powers, still a demigod. The jaws, if I didn’t get out soon, it was going to suffocate me to a gruesome death. Nemis’s lessons echoed through my head, throbbing with anger and pain. Hellhound's weak spot is the palate. Kick it there and call for help. Otherwise, you might as well say goodbye... With my remaining power, I kicked the top of its mouth. He wailed in pain, taken aback, and his jaw smashed on the rock as he fell. My side aching, I hobbled toward a clearing through the wood, until I finally found shelter under an ancient oak tree. 

As my eyes fluttered open, 3 things came into view. A little girl, about 9 was staring over me. She had the truest, giving amber irises, her chestnut brown locks swishing in front of her face. Secondly, a troop of about 200 girls lingered behind her, ranging from 6-19 years old. They all looked weary and tired; their faces splotched with mud. Disguised in the shadows and leaves, a little tent was set up. Inside, the welcoming glow of a candle provided light and warmth. I gasped for air, and they retreated into the darkness. “Girls! Its’ ok.” A stubby girl who looked 11, with obsidians for hair and diamonds for her eyes yelled. “Who... who are you?” Words slipped out of my mouth, stuttering at every vowel. “We’re the hunters of Gibson Wood.” “Our parents abandoned us when we were little. I’m Zoe Nightshade. You?” “Artemis” I said, voice echoing throughout the wood. “Art... Artemis? “Yeah... But I’m no longer a goddess.... I’m on a quest so I do have my powers but...” The girl interrupted “You can be our leader. You are ...or were a goddess... we are all either mortal, demigod or nymph. Lead us. Please.” I was taken aback. A group of girls, little girls, ready to die in battle or sacrifice their lives for Olympus. Now that was dedication. “Ok” I stammered. “You're all-in” 

Over the next week, we established The Hunters of Artemis. As a reward, I pleaded to Zeus that I should be able to grant a wish. The Hunters of Artemis, led by me and Zoe Nightshade, are a group of noble, dedicated, fiery mortals, nymphs and demigods devoted to my cause. They each swore their dedication and loyalty to me, and to join my tasks and hunt, reject all romance for the rest of their lives, while also becoming immortal so long if they do not break their vows.  

One night, as the darkness reached over the sky like a velvety blanket, I remembered what I had been sent here to do. “Girls! ASSEMBLE THY BOW, QUIVERS GRACIOUS GIRLS” “My father, Zeus, king of the sky and Olympus, sent me here to travel across thou land, reach Atlas’s cove and destroy him at Mount Othrys before he can send army fleets to Olympus. If you are willing and brave enough to join me, follow in my path and sacrifice your lives in the name of justice. To join the Hunt, step forward.” About 170 gracious girls raised their hands whilst the remaining whispered among themselves. “Alicia, take our remaining for to the north. We’ll see you there” Zoe commanded, her sky eyes shining with excitement. 

As we tore through thickets, land, sea, and for the first time in 100,000 years, I worked in the broad view of the sun. I don’t know if it was Apollo behind me, giving me guidance or Hera, showing me the way, but the warm rays cast down felt like I was forever refreshed. All my sins vanquished, and I was never alone, always with light, comfort, and help. Dusk fell, and the stars danced gleefully free of any customs and rules. They glimmered in the sky as snow fell to the ground like a fluffy blanket. I shivered as we set up camp just at the bottom of Mt. Othrys, our sleeping bags huddled around a blazing campfire. I hadn’t realised that I had grown to love my hunters, like my own offspring. They taught me so much about civilization and independence, war and peace. But most of all, Zoe, accompanying me with her gorgeous personality and features.  We supped until we could no more, chatting and talking along the way. “A toast!” Zoe called. “A toast for Artemis and her wisdom, adopting us as her own. We shall invade Othrys with pride and grace, defeating all who stands in our wake. Three cheers for Artemis!” Our cheers echoed to the end of the cosmos, bringing joy and peace where they went until dawn rose the next day.  

A sliver streak ran through her hair, and she looked like she gained 10 years in 1 hour. During the Titancromacracy, Zeus gave Atlas the punishment of holding the sky separate from the earth. Now as he rose from his chair, haughty voice cracking the cosmos. “Artemis!” He bellowed. “Finally, you have come to my party!” “Let her go Atlas.” “She’s just a child!” “A child in which you care for.” My skin started glowing and I knew it was time. As I evolved into my full goddess form, I charged at him, my golden hair flowing loose behind my back. The cosmos seemed to enjoy the entertainment as storm clouds rose over the gloomy hills in the distance. “I see you met my daughter. She was such a disgrace when I sent her away. Now, she has seemed to prove herself worthy.” He shouted over my swords screeching against his chest plate. “What... YOU SHALL NEVER TRICK ME AGAIN!!” I howled. Just then, Zoe charged out from underneath a crevice. As she delivered her final blow, returning Atlas to his rightful state, holding the earth and sky apart, she looked up at me. Instantly, her eyes started bleeding, ears melting off, howling in pain. I shrank back to my human size and rushed to her side. “Zoe! Zoe come back to me!” I pleaded as her legs perished in front of me. “No!” I cried as she opened her eyes one last time. “Artemis, I’m so sorry... I was meant to betray you.” “No” I shushed her in my arms. “You’ve done so much for me. Thank you” She smiled as she collapsed into my chest. She evaporated into thin air and a misty dust swept her up with the breeze, toward the moon. All my remaining hunters and I looked up at the stars as we saw Zoe and my hunters riding through the constellations of stars with bows drawn. And to this day, Zoe and my Hunters live on in the stars, forever honored as the brave, willed and true girls they were. 

Apollo’s ray cast down, 

But I hid in the shadows, isolated. 

July 29, 2021 

Atop the throne sat Zeus 

Rapped in cloth and silk, 

Cloth, Silk and Rope. 

He called for injustice, unfairness and jubilee 

For me to travel across the world 

Defeat Atlas 

But nothing anyone could do 

But the cosmos 

July 31, 2024 

1 year stretched out to 2 

Then 3, 

Come it was a tragedy 

Or so it goes; 

Hellhound leaping from the trench 

Mouth seething with gue, 

A flick of my wrist was all it took 

To get rid of such a heed, 

Little me. 

It snatched me to its deadly jaws, 

Nemis’s voice echoing through my mind: 

Kick it in the palate-or say goodbye 

I ran for the trees, 

Side aching, 

Dying; 

Therefore, I slept 

For hours until I woke again. 

August 1^st 2024 

One ancient oak 

Held the key to rest 

Eyes flickering open, 

Amber eyes, 

True hearts, 

A throng of dedicated worth was not my worth, 

The hunters of Artemis was established right there and then 

To be carried on from eternity, 

Bound by vows; 

Join the hunt. 

August 7^th 2024 

The valuable had came to mind 

Whether I should continue my quest- 

To endanger my hunters 

My Team, My crew, 

Zoe beside me said: 

Zoe: If you are willing and brave enough to join me, follow in my path and sacrifice your lives in the name of justice. To join the Hunt, step forward.” About 170  girls raised their hands whilst the remaining whispered among themselves. “Alicia, take our remaining for to the north. We’ll see you there” Zoe commanded, her sky eyes shining with excitement. 

Tore through thickets, land and sea,  

Nothing was a galliant as we, 

100,000 came and gone 

For I rested in the sun. 

Sin, vanquished, Forever cleansed 

Was not in question in the light of sun. 

August 9^th 2024 

After days of sharpening weapons,  

Dusk fell, 

Stars dancing gleefully,  

Free of customs and rules 

Snow falling,  

The air fresh with banqueting 

Our tents huddleled around a blazing fire 

Zoe Nightshade: A toast! A toast for Artemis and her wisdom, adopting us as her own. We shall invade Othrys with pride and grace, defeating all who stands in our wake. Three cheers for Artemis! 

And our cheers echod to the end of the cosmos untill dawn woke the next day. 

August 10^th, 2024 

All Girls/Hunters of Artemis: Victory!! 

Monsters Aarose but no matter how hard we fought: 

They drew us back 

Windswept arrows and screams was a yell in its own, 

Evaporating to dust as we shot; 

Wounded girls carring unmoving souls,  

Sweat blood and grime was the answer: 

It was tears. 

Sweat blood and tears. 

Atlas sat smugly atop a bullging throne,  

Titan of endurance and strength 

Bewitching scence had been sent from the heavens- 

July, a fearless hunter- 

Was withering under the weight of the world. 

Sliver was the colour of her hair and 10 yeears turned to 1, 

Rising from his chair,  

Cosmos cracking with his voice 

Atlas: Artemis! Finally, You have come to my party!  

Artemis: Let her go! She’s just a child! 

Atlas: One in which you care about 

Skin glowing it was my time, 

Evolving from my human state 

Atlas: I see you met my daughter. She was such a disgrace when I sent her away. Now, she has seemed to prove herself worthy. 

A second turned to a minute, 

Pausing in fright, 

Was enough time to conceal my fate, 

Atlas tumbled toward me to deliver the blow, 

Zoe charged out from underneath her bubble, 

Stepping outside her zone 

Saving me from eternity more, but sacrificing herself in place, in the world. 

Atlas returned to eternity punishement, 

Looking up at me her eyes bleeding, 

Ears melting, mouth steaming. 

Shrinking back to my human size, 

I rushed to her side, 

But it was too late, 

I was forever too late. 

Artemis: Zoe! Come back to me! No! 

Her legs perished to the human, eye,  

Then came her nose 

Zoe: I’m so sorry.. I was meant to betray you. 

Artemis:Shhhh you’ve done so much for me. Thank you. 

A smile was the last thing ever on her face, 

Collapsing into my chest. 

Misty dust was what she became, 

Staring up at the stars, 

Zoe, Riding through the constellations with my hunters at her side, bows drawn, 

I guess you could say it ended happily, 

With them living on boldly, willed, true 

But I was back to the beginning, 

All alone. 

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