Artemis

earn the gifts she asked for. He only promised she would receive t

ther's wisdom. He had given her a new gift, one she did not even have to ask

of Delos, where her mother still resided. Leto now stayed in a temple jus

u, and you shall be worshiped along with your children for I shall bring fa

said and stroked her cheeks, "but you are also a god in your own right. If y

before bidding goodbye. The young m

e meadows and forests of the mountain wilds lived. Artemis found a man with the horns, legs and tail of a goat, a thick beard, snub no

emis descended to ret

hat you?" Ar

ng his hounds. He

shot up to cover her ears. Pan was not only hideously ugly but his voice was cursed to

ns, my favorite cousin, please give me s

le since she first saw him in the house of the deathless god. Artemis was just a little t

owards Artemis. He lifted her on

such as yourself want thi

f which was of your hounds, Lord Pan. You are the watcher of nature, over all that is natural and good. I dre

isted in deep thought. He would raise his hand every now and the

admiration for your mother and a strong respect for your father. For these reasons, I grant you my blessing as the lady of

ed with a smile, "

s. Three of them were huge black and white hounds able to catch a live lion and drag it bac

ne," she cried with glee. "And th

e is a she, Art

must have her

r two deer, bidding them bring back the animals unharmed. They obeyed and chased after the most beautiful ones then brought

astered the art of the chase itself, young

n closer and planted a soft

e played a series of slow, melancholic notes. It reminded Artemis that she had to find her nymphs and singing choir that her father had promised her. But first

ther I passed by if he comes looking," she told the old go

, c

shoulders when she stood. Their fur was thick and coarse like a body armor, able to deflec

patted each o

shall visit the smi

his mother, but she hoped that the smith god would still grant her wish and fastened her the best weapon fit for a god. It was a long way and took Artemis and her hounds seven days and seven nights to r

anded her dogs. "I fear w

ur of walking that she found herself staring at the forge

felt the fires crackling underneath but with the golden blood of Ze

volcanic abode, she came to Hephaestus' mass

ephaestus! Brother! Open your door for me. It is I,

en and in the doorway stood her elder brother, a man who resembled Zeus in e

saw he was busy in his forge, perhaps smithing something new like a swo

me a magnificent bow of true silver. There is no one in the land that can forg

True silver is one of the rarest metals in the realm. I could forge you a bo

he chall

work than gold. It needs a cool light of the moon

ave all my gifts," Artemis said stubb

e strong determination in the godling's b

trough for our uncle, Poseidon. He can grant you access to the hidden armory of the Cyclopes. Brontes, Steropes, and Arges reside there and they have you what you need. They forged the l

her brother, "Thank you, Hephaestus

sun and the high blue sky, she pondered her next destination. Within the hour, Artem