Smite Goddesses x Male!Reader

Artio - The Cycle of Life and Death

Life begins, life ends. This is the grandest principle that runs the world and none was a larger enforcer than Artio, Bear-Goddess. She was no goddess of anything, not even that of bears. She maintains balance in the world; winter for every spring, life for every death, defeat for every victory. For every good thing in this world, there was a bad thing to balance it out. And for her, she was contempt with it. Whether as a mystical druid or as a bear that guards the wild, Artio's job is to make sure that the world be as it is. As the cold of winter drew to a close and the cool winds of spring, Artio's hibernation ended as she awoke from her cave and shifted into her druid form, taking in all of the beautiful scenic nature that surrounded her. After taking in the nature that spring brought, Artio shifted back into a bear and began to eat once more after slumbering during the winter months.

As she wandered the forest, looking for her next meal, she came across a freshwater river that was ripe for the picking as she could spot salmon inhabiting it. She had to be mindful though, she also spotted a human not too far off from the stream. When it came to humans when she was a bear, it was a coinflip if they would run away or try to take her on. Still, until they instigated the conflict, she paid no mind. After catching a salmon, she found satisfactory, she planned to return back to her cave and eat it, until she winced in pain as she looked down and saw she had stepped into what is basically a bear trap, a very well-hidden bear trap by her standards. And the bear trap wouldn't budge, so she was basically stuck there until the hunter or huntress that set it would come back in who knows how long.

Though it wasn't long after her entrapment as a human, the same human she saw by the river, appear in front of her. With a closer look at him, Artio was able to discern many things. Judging from the pristine white shirt she would see nobles wear, the human in front of her was of a higher-class of living amongst his own people. Though, the wear and tear of the pants contrasts the brown leather boots they were tucked in, suggesting that it wasn't his first time. He was quite cautious around Artio when she is a bear, suggesting that he's ran into a couple of bears into his life. She also saw a knife strapped to the left side of his hip, a quiver of arrows on the back of his hip, and a bow slung around him. His face read a tinge of regret as he bent down on one knee, his focus on opening the trap again.

Hunter: This trap isn't meant for you, bear. Was hoping to get either a buck or your mate, I make it a rule to not hunt females. I'll have you out as fast as I can.

It wouldn't budge with his bare hands, so he unsheathed his knife and used it as leverage to pry it open, adding some more weight to open it by using his feet to fully push it open. His progress was stopped when he heard a familiar growl of a pack of wolves as they surrounded a trapped Artio and the nameless hunter, who was readying his bow and arrow. The wolves, however, would be scared off as the sound of another human voice that carried similar items to the hunter that was freeing Artio.

Hunter: Y/n, I finally found you!

Y/n: Saved me and this bear, Finn. Give me a hand over here.

Finn McCool or, if you prefer the gaelic spelling of his name, Fionn mac Cumhaill is the future leader of the Fianna. However, that would come at a later time, as Finn is still a growing boy, learning hunting and the art of war. After Finn checked the surrounding area, making sure that the wolves had fully left the area, he helped Y/n spring open the trap and freed Artio but another problem arose. The trap bit down deep into Artio's leg, rendering her unable to walk.

Y/n: Looks like we got to carry her.

Finn: Carry her? Y/n, that's a full grown bear!

Y/n: Then, we can drag her using your cloak.