Although Hestia had a deep power and sense of love that Artemis could sense, Poseidon's aura was much more mysterious. Like the sea itself, Poseidon's aura had a deepness to it that made Artemis only to wonder at the power that Poseidon held.
...
Hades nodded once, to herself, before he disappeared in a web of shadows, glaring at his two brothers.
Zeus looked between Poseidon and herself, before he snarled, "By the Solstice, or there will be war." He too flashed out, in a blinding glow of white light. The ceaseless tension that had been crackling in the hall since Artemis had walked in slowly faded away, leveling Artemis to talk with Poseidon and Hestia.
"What do I owe this pleasure, Niece? The last time we spoke was during El Nino, '86, wasn't it?" Poseidon, who was clad in a tight bodice of armor etched in the scales of silver, flashed on a Hawaiian shirt and tan pants, with modern shoes and sunglasses.
"You flooded my forests on the West Coast. I responded in kind." Artemis crossed her arms, remembering the event.
"Yes, well, I don't appreciate it when you hunt sharks with your bow."
"I appreciated it." Artemis replied, a ghost of a smile crossing onto her face, as she studied the Sea God. She knew why Athena found him so handsome, and irksome. Tanned, with a thick trimmed black beard, Poseidon was playful, but also as serious as storms could be. Poseidon was a favored individual in her mind, as he had assisted her during the Macedonian expedition. "Regarding your son," Artemis began, "I am tracking him, but you know that I am not going to harm the boy if he is indeed innocent. No matter my own desires, or your own, war cannot happen between the Gods. If I can play a role in making that so, I will. My hunt is on your son's heels, and they will find him. But if you were to tell me where he is…"
"Artemis, this is my son. I know you mean well, but I cannot assist you. You may have your own grudges against Zeus, but my son has a mission. Hades thinks that I do not know, but he has taken Sally, my son's mother, into the Underworld, on the off chance that my son actually has the Bolt."
"Do you not know?" Artemis asked, wondering how such a weapon was stolen with such slieght of hand, and having been done without warning
"I do not. Yet whoever has stolen the Bolt and Helm did so with a mind to Frame my son. I am fortunate that my son has taken to his instincts so quickly." Artemis noted the hint of pride that Poseidon slipped into his speech. Ever since the Macedonian expedition, Artemis had made it a past-time to have a general knowledge on the progeny of Poseidon, even going as far as to aid some in their lives.
"A son of Poseidon… with his wits about him? Theseus reborn?" Artemis asked, smirking.
"I suppose I should be glad that I have no daughter, I 'd imagine she would make such a huntress that all of my children would be dwarfed by her strength." Poseidon agreed, before casting his eyes to the sun dial on the dais. His deep blue eyes darkened, and the grip on his trident tightened considerably. "I will do what I can to find the Bolt and Helm, but if they are not found, I will be ready for war. If I do not, Zeus and Hades will tear the world from my grasp.
Artemis nodded, before she asked what she had feared most before coming here.
"If I was Athena, would you have given the same answer?"
"Yes."
...
Artemis watched the carcass being dragged from the riverbank, along with the thousands of dead that had not been swept downstream into the sea. Artemis had stood besides it all, sitting on a rock that overlooked the riverbed. So much death. It was a different feeling than Artemis remembered it to be. Death was natural, a process of life that the Gods observed. It had been easier, though, to avoid the ramifications of death.
The Battle at the Granicus was a proper battle, but it didn't come close to the carnage here. There would be a funeral tonight, with stout wooden pyres that would burn the dead away. The final count, Artemis had learned, was seven thousand, four hundred and fifty-two. And that was just for the Macedonian and Greek dead. Anahita's words seared themselves in her mind.
'Had she been right? What was the point of sanctioning this Expedition?'
The river was still a pale pink, which the sun illuminated in its setting blaze, that dropped ever closer to the Mediterranean's expanse. Besides the river, there were still some of the hybrid beasts, ungraceful in death. Artemis had watched some being swept slowly into the sea; but most had either washed ashore or sat amidst the gentle waters, too heavy to be carried off. All the laborers, even the oxen, had flinched at even being near the beasts. Worse still, Artemis couldn't figure out what they were, no matter how hard she tried. She hadn't gone to see Perseus or Alexander, whom had ridden triumphant over the battlefield, after chasing away the shattered remnants of the Persian forces.
She had seen Perseus looked relieved over at her, before riding to camp; however, Alexander had looked furious. It wasn't hard to guess why: Darius had escaped. As Perseus had ridden by, Artemis had wanted to speak with him, only, she was prevented by many of the men whom she trained: The Pellian Skirmishers. They, even the more disgruntled of the lot, such as the man Artemis shot through the hand, were thankful for her presence during the beasts' attack on the river. The Pellians had praised her for bringing down five of the beasts herself. Only three others had been killed.
But that brought her to the present issue: Giving a report on the action. The Macedonians' would want an explanation for such a monster attack, and the probability of their return. She didn't have an answer for that. While resting she had gotten a good look at the leader she killed, giving the carcass a through examination. Her snapshot of the beasts, that she glimpsed in the air, had failed to reveal the closer details. The flat, angular ears, long beaked snouts, and the shape of the hybrid's back hips almost made her think of wolves… that flew.
The sight intrigued her so much, that the blood which was dried onto her face, hair, and bare collarbone didn't even bother her.
There was a sudden rent in the air besides her, and before Artemis could even react, her sister Athena was sitting besides her. Artemis had barely grasped her bow, before her eyes finally saw the smirking expression on Pallas' face.
"It is good to see you again sister." Athena spoke calmly, an eyebrow arched at the late movement of Artemis's hand, "I was not aware that I am a threat?"
"After today, I'll have to be on guard." Artemis huffed, setting her bow down, her nerves slowly coming down from the sudden rush of adrenaline. Athena sat calmly besides her, clad in a long white toga, with silver ropes holding the garment together. Artemis could only imagine the sight from above. Two immortals, one impeccable, the other still drenched in the blood of an unknown beast.
"They are not unknown." Athena responded, her voice creeping inside Artemis's mind, like a snake coiling around her thoughts that squeezed the life out of its prey. It was an unsettling feeling, that Artemis dreaded. However, as she concentrated on expelling Athena, her invading presence vanished entirely. The mental strain taxed Artemis's strength though, and she struggled to not let out a large gasp as the toil caught up to her breathing. 'Was she that vulnerable?'
Artemis glared at Athena, as she recovered, "Yes, I am aware you can visit my mind, now stay out of it." Her sisters dropped the amused look, before turning serious. "You know these beasts? I admit I do not." Artemis continued, gesturing to one of them, caught on a protruding rock in the river, its wings and body mangled from its plummet into the Pinarus.
This time, Athena frowned, a common sight for Artemis to see. The wisdom Goddess was perhaps the most learned being on earth, yet there was knowledge that even she was unfamiliar too.
"I will also admit I did not, at first. I watched you fight the beasts, and immediately attempted to discern their origins. However, there is no record, no knowledge of them, even from the Persians of Anatolia. Yet, they flew from the mountains, and clearly liked the sea… so I asked him."
Artemis perked up, "Poseidon knew? Of all the Gods and Goddesses...?"
Athena pursed her lips, "Yes, and he took great pains to inform me of his glee. He boasted that, centuries ago, He made a foyer up the Pinarus to… exchange pleasantries with Anahita. She, in turn, divulged to him about a beast of her creation: the Simurgh." Artemis did not miss the tenseness from Athena as she conveyed the message, but she kept her thoughts from mind, in case Athena suddenly looked in.
The word was foreign to the tongue, and Artemis tried it out, "Simurgh, did he say anything else?"
"Only that… Anahita was very happy to divulge that information… as she was very satisfie…" Athena cut herself off abruptly, the seething rage in her voice slowly mellowing out, "But with the name, I was able to find out more. Simurgh are usually described as being knowledgeable, wise beings: Keepers of knowledge in the high altitudes of the Persian-Iranian mountains. Never are they told to be creatures of war."
Artemis mind flashed to the images of the Simurghs' talons slashing, and their beaks piercing through breastplates. Beasts made for war or not, they certainly could wage war.
"Anahita has a fixation on me, is there any chance there are any other unknown surprises waiting for me?" There was a certain legend Artemis had in mind, only fabled, but if the Simurgh existed, perhaps they did as well…
Athena replied instantly, "I looked into it. There are for certain Karkadanns that roam the parched plains of the East. I don't need Poseidon to tell me that. However, … I cannot say for other beasts. There will be many monsters, most of which you know. There is… the Azhdaha. I asked Poseidon as such, and even he could not confirm such creatures to exist. However, if there are none left in the seas then…"
Artemis drummed her hands on the damp rock. She knew about Karkadanns; they were an exciting exotic beast, but they did not scare her... the Azhdaha did.
"I know of the legends," Artemis spoke to her sister, "If there are any Azhdaha left, they will be old, and powerful. I will take care to not anger any more Persian Gods, and hope that even Anahita cannot call on their primordial force." Artemis finished, looking to her sister.
"I am sorry I cannot do more, sister." Athena gazed at her, before looking to the sky, "Apollo calls, and you have your own company now."
Artemis nodded, before turning at Athena's warning. She had been so deep in thought that, upon looking down to the base of her perch, she saw Perseus, looking at her, and Athena. The latter in astonishment.
"Lady Cleoxene," Perseus began carefully, "And…Lady Athena. It is a privilege to meet you." He bowed low, and even Artemis had to admit, that while still covered in blood and dust from battle, he was respectful enough.
"Greetings Perseus, I wasn't sure it would be, as you said yourself that you 'didn't want to meet any other Goddess.'" Athena responded smoothly, before turning her gaze to Artemis. She fixed her gaze onto her eyes, and Artemis looked deep into the swirling pools of grey, that once again flickered with amusement
'He is a charming man.' Athena's mental comment burned through the weak shields Artemis had put up, and reverberated throughout her mind
With that, Athena dissolved her form, morphing into a small owl that beat it's wings rapidly, flying towards the setting sun. Artemis scowled at Athena's final mental comment. Worse still, she couldn't disagree… but she did disagree with Athena finding him charming.
...
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