Artemis and Caspian: The Awakening

Chapter Twenty Nine

Caspian catapulted out of the sky and landed clumsily on the ground in a heap of vibrant red feathers. A flash of bright light temporarily blinded the trio as the phoenix's form melted away and exposed a very gleeful looking Caspian.

"That was....amazing," he panted, breathlessly. For the first time since meeting him, Wylie looked at Caspian with eyes that reflected a glimmer of pride.

"And now we wait." Badrick piped up, twirling his heavy ax over on his shoulder. "Midnight will be here soon." He turned to Artemis with a stoic glare. "Then will the moon goddess receive her daughter."

...

Artemis stood there quietly rubbing her hands together with a smile plastered on her face. Caspian knew her too well to fall for her artificial disguise. She was nervous. Caspian could see the fear welling up inside her soul and pooling in her mind. Before he could do anything about it, Badrick swung his ax into the soil and confronted the witch.

"Will you be ready my savior?" he asked with a gentleness to his voice, also sensing her unease.

"I'm not sure," Artemis replied, biting down on her lower lip. "I've never slipped into a vision on my own before."

Badrick murmured a prayer under his breath in an ancient language Artemis recognized as the moon goddess's tongue. He gently grazed his thumb against the surface of the water and marked the witch's forehead.

"The goddess expects you, my savior," he smiled "Use the moon as your guide, let it speak to you."

Artemis closed her eyes for a brief moment and nodded softly, taking the elf's outstretched hand and wading into the clear pool. Her body responded immediately to the cold waters churning against her legs and a shiver ran up her body. She looked up at the full moon in the sky, which lit up her face with its hazy grey light. The stars in the sky twinkled brightly against a blanket of darkness, wishing the savior good luck on her journey. When Artemis reached the center of the pool, Badrick placed a palm on her forehead. Artemis let herself go with his touch, replacing her anxieties with a sense of harmony mixed with a newfound determination.

"Goddess of the moon," Badrick bellowed into the midnight sky. "I give you your descendant. Give her your blessing to fulfill her destiny as our savior!"

The waters lapped anxiously against her legs and Artemis surrendered to a blur that overwhelmed her senses. The noise of the forest grew to a soft din. She saw the moon grow brighter in the dark night sky as it called out to her. The world around it spun faster, the moon growing in her vision, blocking out the rest of the world with its radiant grey light. Artemis let the moon engulf her and drown her in a vision, gently closing her eyes to fall into its captivating embrace. She opened her eyes again and found herself in a pitch black clearing.

Before her stood a woman in silver flowing robes and a headpiece marked with the symbol of a dragon. She turned her head ever so slightly to look at the young witch, her ivory hair softly falling over her milky white shoulder as she did so. Artemis bowed deeply to the woman who placed a delicate hand on her forehead.

"Rise daughter," she commanded gently. Artemis stood and the moon goddess touched the crown of her head. "I bless you savior of the moon and grant you full use of my powers to save the world from the great war."

"Thank you," Artemis cooly answered humbled, her timid nature making it impossible for her to look the goddess in the eye.

"With my blessing, I give you the spirit of a moon guardian, the great dragon to help you on your journey."

Artemis could feel the great best stirring inside her, newly born and anxious to be let free. She could feel her body giving into temptation, letting the beast bewitch her soul, her powers. She was gently stopped by the goddess with a delicate yet firm grip on her forearm.