My Collection of Short Stories

Goddesses of Grace

A/N: I wrote this short story for a contest where we were to write a Greek Mythology themed story inspired by the given cover (see attached image).

"Keira!"

The branches frisked their leaves together above Morgaine's head as she patrolled the forest in search of her youngest sister. The sun had begun to set. As she took every step forward, the forest seemed to grow darker. Morgaine knew Mother would not be pleased if she arrived with Keira after dark. Her sister, of course, did not concern herself with this. They both knew the eldest would get the blame. Morgaine sometimes felt her mother truly despised her.

"Keira!" Morgaine tried again with more strength in her tone. "Where are you?"

"I am here, sister!" Her voice came from behind a group of trees.

Moments, Keira appeared, pulling leaves out of her light brown curly hair.

"Where have you been, Keira?" Morgaine demanded, running her fingers through her blonde hair in exasperation.

Keira looked down, twirling her hair. "Just keeping an eye on the forest as we are supposed to."

Morgaine did not buy this. Keira never actually cared for the forest in a tender way. Rather, she chose to explore it. Mother did not even bother to enforce this responsibility on her. Lately, young Keira has found a new obsession.

"You have been spying on that hunter again, have you not?" Morgaine accused. "You know Mother would not approve."

"She likely has not even noticed," Keira retorted.

"She will sooner or later." With a sigh, Morgaine grabbed her sister's hand to take her home. "Have you even talked to him yet?"

Still twisting her hair around her finger, Keira shook her head. "No, but I plan to do so. He seems different from the others. I wonder why he always alone." She turned her head to look at her sister. "Where is Alayna?"

"Probably with Mother," Morgaine responded, trying to conceal her pique.

Alayna was her younger sister by just a year and their mother's favorite. In time, Mother would retire from the forest and exceed to Olympus to live with the other gods. Then, one of her daughters would succeed her as the next Mother Nature, Goddess of the Forest. Zeus intended her to choose her eldest daughter, but Morgaine had a strong feeling Mother would pick Alayna instead. Despite this, Morgaine still had a strong relationship with her sister. Alayna had a kind, loving nature that Morgaine could never hate. She would be a fair Mother Nature, but she lacked the strength Morgaine had.

The four lived in a home that consisted of trees. Mother had made it so they would grow in a rectangular shape where they could live inside. Morgaine pushed up the branch that covered the entrance and found her mother and sister sitting at the wooden table sorting berries they must have collected. They both had dark thick curls that they wore down. Alayna did appear the most like their mother of the three, but she always wore softer facial expressions than Mother.

"Well, it is about time," Mother said, sternly. "Morgaine, I would have expected you to have your sister home sooner."

"It only grew dark just moments ago," Morgaine replied in exasperation. "Caring for the forest takes time."

Alayna smiled at her as Mother answered, sternly, "Do not think I do not know what goes on in my own forest." She twisted her head to Keira. "I know about the hunter..."

"She has never even spoken to him, Mother," Morgaine interrupted.

"And I will assure she does not," Mother retorted. "I do not want any more hunters in my forest. I plan to get rid of them."