Child of Artemis

Chapter 8

The Argo II sailed over the Atlantic Ocean. So far, they hadn't been attacked by monsters much, only three times. Pegasi seemed very common in this area as well.

A grey pegasus clambered onto the deck and whinnied. Avalon rushed to him. She stroked his face, and he seemed to calm down. She took him below deck and put him in one of the stables.

Taking food and drink for him, Avalon put the food and drink in buckets hanging on the side of the stables.

Avalon went back above deck and checked the time. Ivan came from the control room. "I'm hungry! Let's eat," he said. Taylor, Aurora, and Avalon followed Ivan into the dining room.

Aurora took plates, goblets, and silverware from the racks on the wall. Placing in them in front of everyone, she then sat down.

Avalon ate a mouthful of spaghetti. Taylor pushed her chicken nuggets around the plate. Aurora took a bite out of her salad. Ivan was wolfing down provolone sandwiches.

After she finished eating, Avalon said, "Can I check on Nova?" Aurora put down her fork and pulled out her coin.

She flipped it and the cabinet formed. Aurora opened the bottom drawer, slid the sheet over it, and commanded it to open.

The meadow appeared. Avalon stepped into it, and saw Selene lying next to Nova. Selene looked up and saw Avalon approaching.

'How is he?' Avalon asked. 'He's getting better,' Selene replied.

A voice called from the other side of the portal. "Avalon! We need you! Can you do that thing where you calm the pegasus down and bring him to the stables?" Ivan yelled.

Avalon sighed and got up. She looked at Nova again, then left the meadow and went above deck. A chestnut mare with a white star on her head was prancing around her bay-colored colt.

Ivan tried to get closer to her, but she reared and tried to strike him with her hooves. He dashed in and grabbed her head.

The colt tried to get closer to her mother, but the mare whinnied for him to stay away. Avalon could sense the mare's thoughts. She was calling for help.

Avalon sensed another mind closing in fast. Looking away from the mare, she saw a beige speck getting bigger on the horizon.

"Heads up," she warned. "Pegasus at one o'clock." A palomino stallion landed on the deck and scanned the situation.

He charged towards Ivan, who was still holding the mare. He then kicked Ivan across the deck and checked to see if the mare was okay.

The stallion and mare stood protectively on both sides of their colt.

Ivan tried approaching the pegasi, but backed away when he almost got a hoof in the face.

Avalon motioned for the others to stay away. She crept towards the pegasi slowly. The mare snorted but didn't move.

In a sudden move, the stallion lunged towards her. Avalon jumped to the side and lost her balance, landing on the deck and ending up touching something warm.

Looking behind her, she saw the colt gazing at her with his big brown eyes. She reached up slowly and stroked his face. The colt returned the affection and nuzzled her arm.

The mare and the stallion cantered up and looked between Avalon and the colt. The colt laid down and rested his head on her lap.

Avalon picked up the colt's head and moved out from under him. She placed his head on the wooden floor and stood up.

The stallion snorted and stepped towards her. He bent his head down to sniff her face. He then trotted past her and settled beside the colt. The mare did the same.