Chapter 18 - The Hunt

"Yes, and for once I agreed with his spontaneous decisions," Aphrodite whispered, walking ahead.

"So do I," Artemis said, walking through the ruined roads.

Aphrodite looked sad for a second, then cheerful the next. "Let's, forget about that. Humans always will have the chance to redeem themselves," she said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Let's go search for Helios," she murmured as he happily hopped away. Artemis glanced at her silly little friend and slightly shook her head. 'I don't know how to tell her this but relationships with Titans never work out,' she thought, peering at her friend's delicate back.

"What the hell? Wait for me," she yelled running after her ecstatic little friend.

Hopping and turning back, she giggled, "walk faster."

They both walked over to the deep crater in the ground. The ground was charred from the fire and smoke still rising from it. Dust particles flew around, making it impossible to breathe properly.

Artemis whistled with her eyes wide open, "Wow, didn't expect the damage to be to this extent,"

"So didn't I," Aphrodite whispered, walking close to the rim of the huge crater. She kneeled down as a show of respect.

"We are extremely sorry sister. For….. For all the suffering we bought you," she sighed, glancing at the empty crater.

Artemis rolled her eyes at this, "You do know that Selene is no more, right? She died the day when she was turned into that celestial rock. There is no use paying respect," she said, pulling her friend up her feet.

"Don't say things like that? Aren't you the moon goddess as well? Don't you even feel an ounce of sorrow at this?" Aphrodite questioned, pulling herself away from her.

"Aphro, don't do this. She was a sister to me too. I miss her as well, but dwelling in the past is never going to help anyone," Artemis whispered, pulling her friend's hand gently.

"I just --- I just don't want you to disrespect her, that's all," she said with a downcast look.

Artemis cheerfully smiled at her again, "Why because she is going to be your future in-law?"

She slightly swatter her friend's hands and chided, "Stop that. I still haven't convinced him to marry me," her face blushed red after saying this. She was even shuffling her feet, kicking away small rocks.

"Oh my gods, my dear friend is blushing. I really wish I had that equipment human's call camera, so that I can store this memory forever,"

"Art, stop it. Stop making fun of me," she said, slightly touching her apple-red cheeks.

Looping her hands with hers, "This is so sad. Here I thought that you would be my in-law," Artemis said with a pout.

"Oh please, why would I marry that silly oaf?" she said, rolling her eyes.

"Hmm, that's why it's sad," Artemis whispered, pulling her close. "Now, let's search for your lover boy,"

"Yes, please," she said with a wide smile on her face.

"Wait, let's not travel by foot," Artemis whispered, pulling her rushing friend to a stop. She pulled her fingers together and placed it in her mouth. A loud whistle echoed through the large carter.

Aphrodite covered her ears with her hands and shouted, "Art please warn me next time. I don't want to be deaf,"

"Sorry," the guilty goddess apologized, holding her hands up.

A huge rumble was heard above them. Both glanced up to see a small chariot pulled by four golden deer rushed towards them. Artemis glanced back at the beauty and smiled.

"Come on. Let's go," she said enthusiastically, pulling her friend to her carriage.

"Art, you shouldn't have summoned your chariot here. It might spook the humans," she silently whispered, pulling at her long skirt.

"Worry not when I am here," Art said in a condescending tone and pushed her friend inside it. She held her friend by the hips and pulled the reign. The herd of golden deer bellowed and started ascending into the sky. Wind swept through her auburn hair as she flew up into the sky with a beauty in her arms.

"Art, slow down ahh," Aphrodite screamed, holding the edges of the chariot.

Soon they flew towards another crater and this too was empty. "Looks like your lover boy Helios has been here as well," Art said, rolling her eyes.

Aphrodite pouted. "We should have come a little earlier. We might have got a glimpse of him," she whispered in disappointment.

"Glimpse? You were never planning to even see him face to face?" she raged, pulling her pouting friend.

"No, I don't want to face him yet," she whispered, biting her blunt fingernails.

"Oh god, I can't deal with this anymore. Leave me out of this," Art raged. She started walking away from the empty crater, leaving her desolate friend alone.

"Art, where are you going?" she yelled, running towards her.

"I am going heal some animals and hunt some," she screamed back and walked away.

She rushed farther away from her friend. "I can't believe her. She called me here so far away just to take a glance at that guy. Oh god my blood is boiling," she mumbled pulling her bow from her shoulders.

The evening sunlight shone on her back, creating a huge shadow on the road she was walking on. And as she walked, animals crowded around her, but still they left a path for her to walk.

A golden glow shone from her bow, casting a halo on all the animals waiting next to her. "Bask in my light and heal. It is no fun hunting without you, cuties," she whispered, holding a small chipmunk in her hands.

All the animals next to her shivered as they cast away some black impurities from their bodies. They all bowed towards her and scurried away into their hiding spot.

"Now, let the hunt begin," she whispered, nocking the arrow in her bow.