Child of Artemis

Chapter 2

Avalon climbed upwards until she reached the branch where her backpack, bow, and quiver were hung. She swung the backpack over her shoulder and grasped her bow in one hand and her quiver in the other. She slid down the tree trunk until she was close enough to the ground to jump. Her brown hair snagged on the branches a little as she climbed down. Carefully holding her bow and quiver, she jumped out of the tree and landed on the balls of her feet. She woke up her wolf companions, Nova and Selene. Swinging her bow and quiver over her shoulder, she set off in the direction of Long Island, her senses leading her to her destination.

She breathed in the fresh New Jersey air, which smelled like grapes and cornmeal. About a quarter of a mile away, she could see a fence surrounding a farm, which was probably where the smell was coming from. She made her way over to the road, brushing her hand against the corn stalks that had popped up almost as soon as the forest had ended. As she neared the farm, she heard a rumbling sound from behind her.

Jumping into the corn stalks, she watched as a car pulled up to the dirt driveway next to the farm.

A man got out, carrying a cage with a brown and white chicken inside. He walked around the corner of the farm to where she couldn't see him, and according to the squawks and the sound of wings, he had released the chicken. Making her way to the red wooden building, she crept along the wall, following the farmer. He crossed the driveway and entered a small wooden house. As soon as he was inside, she dashed across the driveway and into the cornfield on the other side.

She needed food, and she needed it now. So did Nova and Selene. They hadn't eaten since two days ago, not counting a granola bar for her and some chicken remains that a chicken resteraunt had thrown out that the wolves had eaten. This was her best chance at finding food. Beyond the farm was a cow pasture, with about a dozen cows grazing peacefully in the meadow. Avalon darted over to the cow pasture and kicked the fence over. 'Run free!' She sent the thoughts into the minds of the cows. Then she hid in the nearest cornfield with the wolves and waited.

It wasn't long before the farmer and two teenagers came out of the house, staring at the cows trampling everything and scaring the chickens. They entered the barn, and in their absence, Avalon climbed onto the roof of the house.

Nova and Selene stealthily snuck into the barn in the cow's panic, tracking a chicken that was unaware of them. Then the wolves moved out of her view.

Peering through the skylight of the house, she saw a roasted lemon-garlic chicken on a plate, complete with some casserole. She didn't like stealing, but she was so hungry she didn't care. Scurrying over to the edge of the house, she knocked on the door loudly. Back at the skylight, the farmer's wife got up to answer the door.

Avalon removed the glass window quietly, then hooked her legs around the rail and hung upside-down, managing to rip off a chicken leg and grab a handful of casserole. She lifted herself up again, and stuffed the food in her mouth, barely even tasting it, before going to knock on the door again. This time, she managed to snag another drumstick and some more casserole.

The third time, the wife took time to look around, giving Avalon time to snatch the rest of the casserole and one wing. Her hunger was satisfied enough that she could stop to taste the flavor of the food. This time, the wife comes back inside and notices the half-eaten chicken. Going back outside again, she yelled, "Owen, I think there's someone here!" When she came back, she noticed the other wing gone and almost caught Avalon. Owen burst in, having returned the cows to their pasture.

"Elena, what happened?" he asked her. "Look, she said", pointing at the chicken. "No matter, we have more chickens." Owen replied. "They're a thief, and whoever it is, they will probably come back again!" Elena said angrily to her husband.

Avalon scurried over the rooftop, avoiding the skylight, and used an arrow to reach down and pull open the door. Then she hurried back and put the glass skylight back in its place and took off for the woods. When she looked back, the farm was out of sight. She nearly got caught, but at least her belly was full. Nova and Selene joined her, each holding a chicken.

Following the sound of rushing water, she found a stream and stooped to drink from it while her companions ate their meal. She drank until she was content, and then looked up at the sound of a growling noise. A black drakon stood on the opposite side of the stream, wings unfurled, teeth showing in a wide grin. It was probably only a few days old, not very big, but still a threat.

The drakon attacked as Avalon scrambled up a tree. She pulled an arrow out of her quiver and pulled the bowstring back. With a twang, she released the bowstring and the celestial bronze tip pierced the drakon's thick hide. The beast fell over with a roar, and dissolved into swirling golden dust.

Taking a handful of the dust, she threw it in the river. She had to spread the dust to make sure the monster didn't reform. Monsters didn't stay dead now, they just reformed again and again. Avalon buried another handful of dust, and buried the rest in different spots near the river. She noticed the handfuls of dust didn't each turn into a smaller monster, like the last monster she had fought.

What Avalon didn't notice, however, were the other drakons lining the riverbed. She jumped to the side as flames scorched the place where she had just been standing. 'Nova! Selene!' She called out with her mind. They were by her side in an instant, snarling with ears drawn back. Avalon whipped out her celestial bronze knife, and the wolves launched themselves at the nearest drakon.

In the bundle of drakon and wolf, Avalon could see glimpses of Nova's golden fur, flashes of Selene's silver pelt, and silver drakon scales. Within seconds, the wolves had overpowered the monster, dragging it up to her so she could finish it off. Selene stooped her head to scatter the dust, and heard a roar as a gold drakon slashed at her. Before it could, though, Nova launched himself at it and they tumbled into the stream.

Ignoring the drakon dust coming to life behind her, Selene rushed to the aid of her partner and managed to push the monster away from Nova. Selene tried to gently drag Nova ashore, but he whimpered with pain as she did. Avalon's arrow plunged into the heart of the beast, and it dissolved into dust that landed in the river and got swirled around too much to reform.

The silver drakon had revived again, and for some reason, Avalon could barely summon enough energy to raise her knife. The fight had drained everything out of her. Selene bared her teeth, ready to fight to the death. Avalon closed her eyes, waiting for her doom, when she heard the drakon roar and the unmistakable sound of a monster crumbling into dust.

Avalon opened her eyes. Standing in the midst of the drakon dust were a group of dracaenae. "Ssssssorry to interrupt, but we wanted to finish you off oursssselves." Staggering to her feet, Avalon called Selene to her. Charging at the leading dracaenae, she swiped her knife across its arm and stabbed it in the stomach. Selene charged at one from behind, knocking it towards the blade of the knife. Both monsters crumbled to dust.

The other snake-women ran at her, and Avalon dropped her knife as a spear sent her flying backwards. Selene was thrown against a tree and knocked unconscious. Avalon scrambled backwards, searching for a weapon. Bumping against a tree, she stopped and the monsters encircled her.

There was no hope for her. She would die here, probably painfully, without having made it to camp. Selene would be outnumbered and with the odds against her. Nova was already probably dead, or at least mortally wounded. There was no hope for either of them.

Black spots danced across her vision. Far away she heard the screams of the dracaenae. She must have imagined that. Unless there was another demigod. Avalon saw a figure above her. Her ears processed words, but she couldn't tell what the words were. She hoped Selene and Nova would at least live. Then she blacked out.