Echo: The Girl That Time Forgot

The White Stag

Yup I'm dead. Zeus is going to kill me.

Why you ask? Because, remember that whole pesky deal we made about me distracting Hera for four days a week? Well I may or may not have run away to stay with Artemis and the hunt. And I may or may not have been here for the past two weeks.

Whoa! Whoa! Before you freak out at least give me a chance to explain myself. So you see I was sad and ummm.... yeah I got nothing.

But it's really nice out here. The autumn colors have just started to hit, and everywhere you look there is stunning shades of orange and red with an occasional splash of yellow.

The summer's smoldering heat has begun to give way to crisp autumn breeze and the bird migrations have just started.

Bird migrations are really good for the hunt. They provide endless entertainment and competitions while also giving us a steady source of food.

The hunt has been my lifeline here. There's something about being out in nature with a bunch of girls, shooting arrows and trying to kill things, that is very soothing to the mind.

I mean it's a very nice environment. Very peaceful. It's good for my mental health (yes nymphs have mental health too, though sometimes people, *cough* Zeus *cough* act like we don't).

Currently we are hunting a stunning white stag. It's as elusive as it is beautiful. It has pure white fur and it's antlers are decorated with stars.

The stag also leaves a trail of star dust behind it wherever it goes. It is called, believe it or not, drum roll please.......the white stag. I know so original, right?

A few days ago I had asked Artemis why humans never hunted it. Turns out humans can't see it. It's a celestial being, human eyes simply can't comprehend such beauty.

I'm here riding with Artemis and Callisto (another huntress and a dear friend of Artemis). When the stag darts through the trees and we quickly give chase.

"After it!" Artemis calls.

Callisto notches an arrow and takes fire, she misses, but nearly takes the head off of a very surprised wren.

"Careful Callisto!" Artemis says, "Remember, we're here for our prey. Don't take anymore than you need."

"Of course milady," Callisto says meekly. But her and I exchange a knowing look.

Artemis has been getting so angry at hunters lately. She can't stand how they just sweep through the woods, killing everything they can see, even though they have plenty of food at home. She always gets like this during hunting season.

It's times like this that she makes it very clear that the huntresses only hunt for what they need.

A couple days ago, a few of the girls were shooting at some ducks for fun, boy did she get furious when she found out.

Anyway back to the hunt.

We're racing through the trees in pursuit of the stag. We finally have it surrounded! A couple of the girls start cheering and Artemis notches an arrow to deliver a painless, killing blow. When just like that, it vanishes.

Artemis looks shocked and says some choice words in Latin.

Callisto groans and says, "Maybe *Hermes took it, you know he is notorious for stealing livestock." This garners a couple of laughs from the girls.

Artemis looks at her sharply, she opens her mouth as is she's going to scold her, but decides not to and instead lets out a slight chuckle.

"Alright ladies, that's enough for today I guess. Why don't we all go down to the springs and bathe after a long day of hunting? Some of you could use it," she says with a glimmer of amusement in her eyes.