As Kate's feet hit solid ground the familiar scents of the forest assaulted her senses, normally she loved the smell of the woods, but after the smoke from the fire, the fresh air was overwhelming. The hand that held Cassandra squeezed a little tighter making sure she was still there while her eyes skimmed the area. The trees were so large she couldn't see the tops of them, they must have been planted eons ago.
"This is Artemis' home, they have been here since she has been," said the Mother.
"I probably should have figured that," Kate muttered, she turned to Cassandra who was mimicking her, her face was a little paler than it had been in the cave home.
"Are you alright Cassandra?"
The girl looked about her, her eyes frantically searching for something Kate couldn't see.
"Are we in Artemis' forest?" she was so quiet Kate had to lean in closer to make sure she heard her correctly.
Studying her closer she noticed not only was she much paler but she was shaking and her hand was squeezing Kate's so tightly she couldn't release if she had wanted to.
"Yes, we needed to come here to find Hekate's wolves and her body," Kate was confused where else did Cassandra think they would be going? Then it hit her like a brick wall, Artemis was Apollo's sister, and Cassandra and Apollo weren't exactly on great terms. Surely Artemis wouldn't hold a grudge against Cassandra.
A hysterical laugh erupted in her head and she flinched, "Ow! Gods!"
"I am sorry Kate, really I am. I couldn't help it, Artemis is the best at holding grudges, in my opinion, the only other goddess who holds more grudges than her is Hera. Especially when it comes to her twin or her mother," the Maiden said trying to stifle her giggling.
Kate groaned and looked at Cassandra again, what was she supposed to do she had promised to take Cassandra back to the mortal world, she wouldn't go back on her word, but she had to figure out a way to keep her safe too.
"Cassandra, I have to find Artemis, but I don't want you to be in danger. I don't know what to do."
Cassandra studied her face, her eyes searching for any sign of betrayal, when she saw none she relaxed slightly and nodded.
"I can't hide from them forever, once we are back in the mortal world they will be able to find me if they look hard enough," she squared her shoulders and released Kate's hand, "I can do this, just....please don't leave me alone, and whatever happens keep your word and take me home."
Kate smiled softly, "I gave you my word I would get you there, and I always keep my promises."
They had been trudging through the dense forest for about an hour, Kate was starting to huff and Cassandra decided it was time to take a break. They found a few rocks large enough for them to sit on. They were sitting munching on granola bars and sipping water in comfortable silence. A snap behind Kate made her jump to her feet and spin around.
"What was that?"
Cassandra had come to stand behind her, "I am not sure, but I don't think it's Artemis."
"How can you be sure?"
"Artemis is the Goddess of the Forests, she can travel miles through any woods in seconds without making a sound."
That made sense, but it didn't help her to figure out who or what had made that sound. She closed her eyes and opened herself to Hekate's magick letting the goddess decide what to share with her. She smiled as the cool splash of water hit her arms, she wiggled her fingers and could feel them splash against the water.
"Stay here, I am going to find out what's back there," she stepped forward but a hand on her shoulder had her stopping and turning around. Their eyes met and Cassandra gasped and stepped back, Hekate's eyes had replaced Kate's.
"It's okay, it's still me," Kate started to explain but another snap had her turning back to the sound. She took a few steps toward the dense forest behind her. She wasn't sure what was there but she wasn't about to wait to find out. She got closer, let her senses open up to Hekate and she heard a low growl she hadn't heard before. She started to reach out and let a ball of water form in her hands before she moved aside a branch and aimed for whatever was there.
Hekate jumped into her body with a jolt pushing down her magick, the thing that was hiding stared up at her its body crouched, its teeth bared and its tail tucked between its legs. The beautiful wolf staring up at her was the reason Hekate had stopped her from potentially drowning it. Its bright blue eyes stared deeper into hers.
"Eleni," the goddess's voice echoed as she held her hand out towards the pure white wolf. The animal didn't move at first its eyes searching hers before she smelt her hand. Something she smelt must have been familiar, she was flat on her back with a large wolf standing over her licking her face wildly before she knew it. She was laying there when Cassandra came rushing in swinging a branch like a crazy person. Hekate gently pushed Eleni off of her and stood holding her hands out in front of her.
"It's okay Cassandra, this is my wolf Eleni, she must have sensed me but was confused when she sensed me and found Kate," her voice echoed and Cassandra dropped the branch and froze.
"Kate? Are you..." She took a few steps back.
"It's okay child we aren't going to hurt you," she sighed and let Kate have her body back, the light faded from her eyes and Eleni looked up at her her head tilted in confusion. Kate giggled and knelt next to her digging her face into the plush fur of her neck.
"It's okay Cassandra, it's me," she turned her face back to her companion, the girl had a small smile on her face as she watched the animal's tail wagging happily.
"So this is one of Hekate's famous wolves," she slowly made her way closer holding her hand out to let Eleni sniff her. The wolf sniffed her hand, licked it, and then bent her head for scratches. Cassandra giggled and obliged.
"Yes, this is Eleni, the female, Aithan must be somewhere nearby, they don't stray too far from one another," she stood and headed back to the rocks to grab her bag. She swung it on her back and turned to her companions. "I guess we should keep going, hopefully, Aithan will make himself known to us soon."
"Wouldn't Eleni know where to find him?" Cassandra asked.
They both looked at Eleni, she was laying down licking her paws.
"Cassandra is right, Eleni and Aithan are one, they will always come back together."
"That's a great idea guy, but how do I ask her, she seems pretty content to stay where she is." The words barely left her mouth when Eleni's ears perked and she started looking around her. She got to her feet and headed away from them.
"Looks like we won't have to ask her," Cassandra said trying to hide a smile.
Kate rolled her eyes and started to trudge after Eleni.
"Okay Eleni, we have been walking for an hour where is Aithan?" Kate crossed her arms and looked down at the wolf irritated. Eleni just quirked her head and continued walking. Kate groaned and trudged on. Cassandra tucked her arm through Kate's, "I am sure we are getting close, the Hutress' Forest is very very large and they could be anywhere in it, have patience."
"Easy for you to say, you don't have a crazy god and his mommy chasing after you, ugh! I need a beer," she stopped moving and swung her bag around her, and plopped herself on the ground. Eleni stopped and turned to her, "Don't you start judging me," she tapped her head, "Your mommy does it enough." She pulled a couple of beers from her bag and offered one to Cassandra. She sighed, sat down next to her, and took the offered bottle. She looked at the top with a question and Kate smiled shyly.
"Sorry, I forgot," she took the bottle back, twisted the top off of it, and handed it back.
"Thank you," she took a sip and made a face making Kate laugh.
"You get used to it."
Cassandra looked at the bottle in disgust, "I don't think I want to get used to it," but she leaned against a trunk and took another sip.
Kate took a drink and looked around, it was peaceful here. She knew she was an uninvited guest in someone else's home, a goddess's home at that, but the smells and sounds were so soothing.
"It is a beautiful place, as upset at Artemis as we are for taking our children from our home if they couldn't be with us or there, here is where they should be," the Mother said softly, "But we can't stay in one spot for too long, Artemis wanders her forest, she may be on one side of the forest one moment and the other in the next."
"Can't Eleni find Aithan no matter where she is?" she asked out loud.
"I'm sorry?" Cassandra sat up and looked at Kate taken aback by her question. Kate smiled and tapped her head.
"Hekate was telling me we need to keep moving or we might lose them."
"Oh, what did she say?" she asked taking a bigger sip from her bottle.
"She can find him, but what would happen if we almost reach them and they move to the other side of the forest?" the Maiden asked a little frustrated.
"Okay fine," she downed the rest of her beer tossed the bottle in her bag took Cassandra's, and tossed it in her bag as well. She was getting to her feet when she heard the shouting. She looked up at Cassandra who nodded, she had heard it too. Kate swung her bag on her back and looked at Eleni whose ears had pricked up, her lips were pulled back from her sharp teeth making Kate happy she was on their side. Cassandra had gotten to her feet and went to stand beside her, "What's going on Kate?" she asked a tremor of fear slipping into her voice.
Kate put a finger to her lips and indicated she should stand behind her as she pulled out her knife and stood beside Eleni.
"Okay Eleni, let's figure out who that is," they moved closer to the sounds of shouting letting the trees and foliage provide cover, the closer they got the clearer the voices became and the more sweat made her shirt stick to her back.
"Where is the other one Aunty?" a smooth voice asked, there was something there that sent shivers through her though she couldn't say why.
"I told you he is mine there is no other one, and I do not remember granting you permission to enter my realm," replied a strong female voice, it held a note of defiance.
"Artemis," all three goddess voices whispered.
"No you are right, I didn't ask permission to be here but we are family are we not?" the man's voice asked.
Artemis snorted, "I am not your family Phobos, your father is a monster who should have been put down the day his traitorous mother birthed him." There was a loud smacking sound a snarl and then the ground shook.
"Go, Kate, she may need help," the Maiden said panicked. Kate turned to Cassandra and Eleni.
"Stay here, don't come out no matter what you hear, I will come back I swear," She slapped the knife into the girl's hands, pushed her into a dense mass of foliage, and took off at a dead run towards the sound.
"Do it," she whispered under her breath. As she broke through the tree line she opened herself up and let Hekate in. She felt it as she was gently pushed back and the goddess took the reins. Her boots hit the ground as flames irrupted from her hands.
Both Phobos and Artemis froze and turned towards her, the goddess looked annoyed to see her but Phobos was leering at her.
"Aah Kate, I was hoping to find you here," he was a tall, slender man, his arms and legs lanky, and his hands seemed to be large enough to cover her face completely and wrap around to meet behind it. His thin white hair hung straight and limp down his back, his skin was so pale she could see the blue of his veins as they pulsed his tainted blood through his body. His lips were thin and so pale she wouldn't have seen them if they weren't currently pulled back in a cruel smile showing his sharp yellow teeth.
"What are you doing here?" hissed the young woman who had to be Artemis. She stood almost six feet tall with long powerful legs, her hands were fisted on her wide hips, and the skin that showed was moonlight pale dusted with a fine mist causing her to shine slightly. Her lips were painted a deep blue and her midnight black hair hung down her back in a tight braid. Her storm-gray eyes stared daggers at her as she waited for an answer.
Hekate ignored her and turned to face Phobos, "Why are you here?" the voice of the goddess was so disgusted Kate felt her stomach flip, Hekate didn't like Phobos.
"Why I was looking for you of course, my father very much wants you to go to him willingly, there is no need for anyone else to get hurt," as he spoke he took a slithering step towards her that did not go unnoticed by her. Before he could take another she let loose the fire in her hands singing the ground where his foot would have been. He took a few quick steps back and glared up at her his slimy smile replaced by fury.
"How dare you! Do you know who I am? I am War's son, I am Love's son, I am fear itself and you would threaten me?"
"Oh yes Phobos, I know who you are, you are a sad, pathetic excuse for a god. Your mother can't stand the sight of you and your father only sees you when he finds it convenient, even your brother is more seen than you," she saw him try to slide closer and shot a few sparks at him. He hissed and glared at her.
"I think it's time for you to leave Phobos, and you can tell my brother," utter revulsion filled Artemis' voice, "He and his people are not welcome in my forest, if I catch you or any of your siblings here I will kill you." She stared him down unwavering in her hatred of him. Suddenly a howl was heard and Eleni came crashing through the trees followed by Cassandra.
"Kate told you to stay hidden Cassandra!" Hekate said looking between her and Artemis whose faces contorted in even more anger.
"I didn't have a choice," she was shaking uncontrollably and looking frantically over her shoulder.
"What do you mean you didn't have a choice?" Before Cassandra could speak she got her answer, Demios strode out of the trees and looked at the scene in front of him.
"What have I missed?"