Gods School Book One: Into the Forest

In The Wild

Elisha arose on her first day in the wild. It was uncomfy but warm. She stretched and packed up her bedrolls. Then she left with a quick note to Royoko that she was going to get some nectar ingredients. Soon, she arrived at a place she could collect the sweet ingredients. Most gods don't know the ingredients, but Eris made Elisha memorize them. She scooped honey out of the nest of sleeping bees, and bay-sugar leaves. Then, she walked back to the cave. She swirled the honey till it was so thick she had a hard time moving it. Then, she squishes the juice out of the bay-sugar leaves while still stirring. Then, she adds to drops of star honey, from the mother star, Maia, Maia would doll out star honey with every wave of light. Then, she stuck her finger in and licked it. "Mmmm." She turned some into Ambrosia by adding star blood and then set out a nice breakfast. Cookies and ambrosia with some nectar cereal. Yum!

"Royoko, breakfast."

Royoko awoke and sat at the rock in the center. She added to the fire and ate at its side. "I can't believe it. Hylla: gone. Us: lost. We're doomed!!!" she collapsed backward dramatically. Elish just rolled her eyes.

"You are such a drama queen. We'll be fu-ine." Elisha packed their stuff. A soon as they left the cave, they were on top alert. They stole into the camp once more and stole a couple of canteens of water. As they walk, they tell stories. Soon, Royoko is telling the story of how her brother managed to defeat a stray rock demon that happened when the only survivors of the great flood made more people out of rocks. So now, when someone has a flood, they walk out of a cave throwing rocks behind them. This will make a small group of people repopulate the town. But, if you aren't walking out of a cave they will become a rock demon.

"So," said Royoko. "there he was. He was just walking along when some damned rock demon came out of the rocks. He lept ten feet in the air, then told me and Callina, Riso, Chinmay, Liso, and Mother, the rest were at home, to hide in the great field to the left. We did and he started to break the rocks, looking for the one that kept it rooted. Soon, the demon had given up chasing me and mom and sisters and went after Closon. He turned and started to let it leap after him. He then dodged and the demon broke a rock. He kept doing this. Suddenly, it cracked one of the rocks and disappeared. I and my sisters and Mother all cheered. When we went home there was much celebration."

"Just how much do your people celebrate?"

"Anything we can. We have so little to celebrate that it is a big honor to have something."

"Oh."

The girls walk quietly for a few minutes before Royoko asks how Elisha became friends with Heather. "Actually, funny story..." And so they continued telling their story. Soon, they reach a small river with a shimmer of unicorns. Elisha's mouth drops. She immediately shuts it and approaches slowly, one hand out. They circle her and make a quick bow. They lower their horns to the floor. This is a sign of trust. That they believe one isn't dangerous. They do the same to Royoko. The girls glowed in delight.

"We travelers were once three," said Elisha. You had to have the perfect kind of manners to live outside of the paradise towns in any of the mythology hotspots, I guess you could say. "End eternal our pain in the harsh winds and the cold blood that spills on our hearth."

The girls smiled. Then, the unicorns parted to make a path. One small unicorn trotted up behind them with something. It was some horn shavings. These were very useful. The unicorn's parents came out and ushered her back into the shimmer. The girls bowed their heads and left.

"Wow!!! My very first shimmer of unicorns. They are more be-u-ti-ful than in the stories." Royoko's voice is full of admiration over her favorite animal.

"They are dangerous," warned Elisha. "My mother brought one home so we could observe it. But it wanted to get out. I had to let it go." Elisha rubbed her hands under her eyes. She looked at the sky. "They aren't pets, they are wild animals."

"Then why is Mellisa always bragging about her unicorn!" shot back Royoko.

"They raised from before it's memory." snapped Elisha. "It thinks it needs to be a pet. It wouldn't survive the wild."

"Oh."

The girls walked for a little bit. Suddenly, Elisha raised her hand and ran a hand over the ground. "We went in a circle." She said, shell shocked. "Oh my god." She walked backward and came out into a lovely clearing. It had a bubbling river. She looked back into the old area and saw Royoko gawking. "You just disappeared."

"Come this way. I found something!"

And in they went. They saw a girl there, a Titaness

"Aggh." shrieked Royoko.

"Hi," said the Titaness. "My name is Phoebe."

"Phoebe!" said Elisha excitedly. "Why are you working for these titans and giants?"

"I am not. I have been captured. Themis turned me in in exchange for Tethys. As if she is more important than a titan that can tell the future. Really!"

"Oceanus did throw a mega fit last time Tethys was captured." pointed out Royoko. "And Posiden had one hell of a time stopping him."

"Worst," continued Phoebe, ignoring Royoko. "is that they used me to capture Leto, and are going to use her to capture Apollo and Artemis. You know how much they love her. I weep to think they'll believe that I willingly agreed to this. I had a hard time convincing Leto." She is full-on sobbing now. Elisha is shocked stiff Phoebe, Leto, Artemis, Apollo, these were some of the few gods/titans that cared for you. Themis too, she knew Elisha wasn't a threat. And she could always count on Tethys to make visits to the beach safe. Hearing such terrible things. Well, it hurt like Tartarus.

"How DARE they!!! Take us to Leto."

"Pheobe points to the northeast meadow. "Overthere."

"Thanks."