Chapter 2 - Loneliness
(Ho. Ly. Shit. HOW LONG DID THIS CHAPTER TAKE ME?! I am SOOOOO sorry to everyone who's been patiently or impatiently waiting for this! I get that you all love this couple and want more, but I am so sorry to have kept you waiting! I swear, the next chapter won't take as long as this, I swear!)====
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Artemis
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The sound of young girls talking amongst each other usually lifted the spirits of the Hunting Goddess, but something was off about today. It was the usual atmosphere; her followers were taking time off before another hunt began. Normally, this would be the sort of thing Artemis enjoyed to see. Nothing made her more happier than the safety of her followers. But this was different. Gods help her, she would even wish her BROTHER was here.
Apollo. How she hated him sometimes. His flirty attitude, laid-back approach, all the things he was, Artemis was the opposite. How were they even twins again? Artemis walked back inside her tent, and sure enough, her brother was there, waiting for her.
"Little sis!" Apollo hugged her. "What's up? Why are you looking so down?"
Artemis sighed. "How many times, Apollo? Just because you were born a few minutes before me does not make you older."
"Sure does in my books."
Artemis released herself from her brother's arms. It felt like a prison in those arms to her. Normally, his comfort feels warm and secure. Today, however, it felt cold. It was never like Apollo to act cold. But still, she laughed it off. "Oh, bite me."
"See? You're feeling better!"
Artemis couldn't deny it. She was. She giggled, and her brother patted her head.
"I think you may need some fresh air, sis."
"Probably," Artemis agreed. "Thanks, Apollo."
"Got anywhere in mind?"
Artemis thought for a minute. She couldn't think of a place that she and her Hunters hadn't visited across the states. There were 50 states, though one of them you had to travel through Canada to get to, which was Alaska. But then, she did remember one place. Somewhere she had always wanted to go, for a bit of relaxation.
Apollo smiled. "Then onward you girls go!"
Artemis froze. She didn't expect her brother to think that her Hunters would be travelling with her. Her hesitation in replying wiped the smile from Apollo's face.
"Something wrong, sis?"
"You always assume my girls would travel with me. I'll be going alone, anyway. Just... time for myself."
"Yeah, right. When you go yourself, you end up recruiting more girls."
Apollo tried to pull his sister into a hug, but Artemis simply pushed him away.
"Oh come on! Just one cuddle?"
"You already got your cuddle. Now shoo."
And he did. The God of the Sun disappeared in a dim ball of light. Artemis was by herself in the tent.
+++
No doubt about it.
Oregon was a beautiful state. Mountains, coastlines, greenery... it had it all. This was the place Artemis would have preferred to build her Hunting Headquarters. Nature was everywhere. It made her happy again, almost relaxed her.
And then, it was ruined.
In the same minute she felt happy again, a scream brought her back to reality.
The screaming of a young maiden.
Then, she heard words.
"Stop! Let go of me! Please! I won't do it again! Not the whip! No!"
Artemis feared for the girl's safety. She was, after all, the Goddess of young maidens. If only there was a way to rescue the poor girl. But for now, the moon had begun to rise. Artemis looked around for a small spot to camp for the night. Somewhere she couldn't be seen by mortals. Somewhere with the woodland animals to keep her company.
Tomorrow, who knew what would happen?
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