Legend of the Moon

From the darkness of the forest where they traveled they were watched. Not by the people who hunted the Goddess so ruthlessly, they had yet to notice that a new intruder was within the wood. No, who watched now was the eyes of the hawk hiding in a tree, or the mice scurrying silently on the ground. They watched and waited, wondering who this new person was and what he wanted within their home as well.

They didn’t go much father before Takir stopped dead, his hackles raised. Out from the trees stepped a lynx, the only wild cat within the wood that a wolf had to fear for their ferocity was well known. The cat watched Takir closely, its yellow eyes calculating and cold, and yet the animal wasn’t hissing or growling. Slowly Takir relaxed, his great eyes trained on the cat as well. Almost as if they were talking over something between the two of them, and coming to some kind of truce.

Seconds later though it seemed like hours the cat jumped back into the brush, and Takir bounded forward obviously following a path now. Turning to look at Aleksei again in a manner that was uncannily like the Goddess so long ago, it was obvious the young male wanted him to follow.

They didn’t travel alone for long. Soon it was obvious that all manner of creatures were watching their path, the eyes of birds following them from the trees, the footfalls of deer and elk pounding beside them, and the growls and snarls of wolves, bears, and lynx from the surrounding darkness. In the destruction of their forest the creatures had all gathered to protect the one thing that could save them and meant anything to them at all. For at the middle of it all, in deep recesses of the forest that still looked pristine and untouched like from the hunters memory, lay the Goddess herself.

She was in her human form, and yet her inner light was greatly dimmed. In fact, she almost seemed mortal in the half light of the deep forest, her perfectly formed fingers tracing the surface of the pond that lay beside her. She was on her knees, as if she was admitting defeat. On one side of her was the she-wolf from so long ago who had given up Takir that day, her dominating gaze immediately trained on the intruders, her lips lifting in a silent snarl.

Artemis seemed to take no notice of them at all.

((No problem! I figured you were probably busy with the holidays and what not.))

She stopped her mindless caressing of the still water, the only indication that she gave that she had heard him. Instead it was the she wolf who stood and walked over to him, her white fur glinting in the soft light. Her golden eyes were warm and calculating, analyzing his every movement. Takir stepped forward, his fur bristling at what appeared to be a threat.

She stopped and stuck out her nose, and Takir did the same thing, mother and son greeting each other after a long separation. Immediately he backed down, recognizing her for who she was both to him and to the forest around her. Once again she stepped forward and put out her muzzle waiting for Aleskei’s hand. Instinctively there was only one hand that he would want to give her, the hand that had been marked so very long ago.

Holding out his hand she touched the mark with her muzzle, and images flooded into his mind, images of Artmesis’s battles, running with the wolves in terror. The destruction of the forest bit by bit as a group of masked wizards and witches, destroyed everything. When the images finally stopped, the she wolf stepped back and looked back at her mistress, the Goddess who was so weak she could barely stand.

Suddenly Aleksei understood everything, and the truth was far more horrifying than what he could simply see. Takir whimpered pitifully, having seen the same visions as his master. He stepped forward towards the silent woman and sat. Only then did she finally turn, her light seeming to blink painfully lower as she moved to look at the young wolf.

“Takir.” She said softly, her voice quiet and enchantingly beautiful.

Artemis didn’t respond to what he said, instead reaching out and placing her pale hand on Takir’s head, petting him lightly. He crooned and growled lightly as she petted him, thoroughly enjoying the lightness of her touch. Some part of him had been missing the moment he had left the forest. That missing part had been this woman, their protector and goddess.

When she stopped and turned to Aleksei it was sad eyes.

“I cannot give you an army. We already tried that and they decimated everything. Any more loss, any more death, and I will lose the rest of this forest.”

Before Aleksei could respond the she wolf, who had been walking around them protectively picked up a scent and snarled, her fur bristling. Takir ran up to stand beside the she-wolf, growling at what appeared an empty space in between the trees. Artemis turned her sad eyes to stare at the blackness, her gaze penetrating and harsh even with her weakness.

“Come out little one. Come out, or they will rip you to shreds.”

Artemis watched the girl warily not sure if she could trust this outsider. Once upon a time she would have at least given the girl the benefit of the doubt, knowing that if she proved untrustworthy that her arrow would pierce the girls heart by sunset. Now things had changed. Artemis was not as strong as she was before and could not take out a threat if this Bellosse became one.

When the she-wolf lowered her lips and ceased snarling Artemis knew she could trust this girl. Her wolf was a suspicious creature by nature and she knew a liar when she saw one. If the wolf would trust this girl promising help, then so would the Goddess. For now at least.

“There may be a way.” She said softly, looking between the two of them with her deadened eyes. “There is a seer among them. A woman who knows the sacred arts and is using them to help whoever this force is. She attempts to see where I am, and uses my creatures as her eyes and ears. Whenever I fought against them she somehow bound my power, leaving me defenseless as they attempt to capture me. Find her, and destroy her. Then and only then, can we take away their advantage. Then I can destroy them for what they have done to my forest.”

((I'll play the seer.))

Artemis looked over at the she-wolf who seemed to nod before she disappeared into the darkness of the surrounding woods. She came back after a few moments with a single piece of white cloth in her jaws that she gave to the witch grudgingly, a growl coming unbidden from her throat as she dropped the cloth in the witch’s hands before springing back to stand beside Artemis again. The she-wolf was a distrustful creature and though she knew this woman was sincere in her desire to help, it didn’t mean that the wolf had to like her.

“I’m sure that will suffice.” The Goddess said calmly, watching as Bellosse pulled out her pendulum. “Be wary my warriors. Not all is as it seems. Remember that some times a strike of the blade is not the best course.” She nodded to herself before turning to a large elk that stood nearby. The creature stepped forward and allowed her to jump on to its back.

“I must go. The last remaining creatures of this forest need all the protection I can provide and my position here has been compromised. If Miss Bellosse could find me, it is only a matter of time before they will find me as well. Hurry. Find the seer and stop her power.”

With that said the elf ran, with many of the forest creatures gathered around following after her. Only Takir stayed, whining a moment when his mother licked his muzzle before also following Artemis.



Her name was Neferti. She had been a seer of the highest order, the last remaining women of Isis, the Egyptian goddess of women and magic. She had been the queen of the Egyptian pantheon, a powerful Goddess who only showed herself to her most loyal priestesses. Neferti had barely enough time to warn her Goddess of the danger that had been coming for her, and these barbaric people, those who thought they could harness the very power of the gods had used her ever since to find and track other gods and goddesses to add to their growing collection of power.

Now she was forced to hunt for more of the lost and forgotten gods and goddess their current target the Greek Goddess of the Hunt Artemis. She sighed as she her fingers touched the water that she was supposed to be using to see where this goddess was. Suddenly a vision rocked her, the faces of two, and instantly she knew what they were doing. She could see the pendulum and a piece of her torn clothing from the last battle. She saw the angry look on the mans face. As she came back to her own body, her breathing heavy she knew at last the time had come. Soon, she would be the hunted.