Artemis

The mare had been gone some time. Confusion of her own self worth had dripped from her pours and corrupted her mind. Loneliness evolved into self doubt. Self doubt turned to self hatred. Was her title just that? A word? Or was she worth the name Apollo had given her? She was unsure, and thinking back to those brief moments she had glimpsed the former general, she knew she had a lot to learn to even come close to gaining the power that he had held.

But that did not excuse her. She was needed in her home.

Her wanderings had taken her far and she had very little clue as to the goings on in the herd. Her steps were slow and cautious as she grew closer, hair slick and heavy as the rain saturated her pelt. A thick stream of water tumbled from her plait, untangling tendrils from the bindings and slapping her thickset leg as she moved. Steps began to become more difficult the closer she got to home - moving up even shallow hillsides was tough in the sludge that had formed and she stumbled once or twice, mud stains smeared over her kneecaps and tracing down the contours of her legs and chest. She did not mind - the mud cooled the burns that had since become warm 'hot spots'. The wounds were slowing healing into large scars. maybe if she had found Apollo sooner, she would have not suffered, yet she had felt like her injuries were only a burden to the stallion. Going to him for help felt weak.

Her feathers were tangles about her ankles and the hairs formed rats-tails that trailed behind her as she walked. Perhaps she would bathe once the rain had passed. She was't one for appearances, but her ivory pelt was now a murky brown and even she knew that it wasn't an overly good look for her. The rest of the herd would surely mock her if she appeared at their doorstep with with a bedraggled appearance. She smirk at herself, wandering why she cared what others thought of her. Shaking her head slowly, she sighed, then gazed about with half lidded eyes.

She was home.

Yet through the wind and rain, it felt eerily quiet. Something was amiss.

Ears perked and head raised and alert, she stood quiet for a moment before bursting into a slow canter. Any faster and her heavy form would slip quite easily in the sodden earth. Her heart sped and her eyes widened. What had she missed? An invasion, perhaps? She swore to herself inwardly, cursing her own stupidity. She hadn't been here - she had failed them all, had she not?

As she moved as swift as she was able, she soon spotted a familiar golden pelt through the trees and relief quickly washed over her as she recognized Phaedra, yet her relief was short lived. As she slowed, taking her place by the side of the pegasus in silence, she turned her gaze downward. Below, she spotted the two horses as they began their combat. Squinting through the darkness, she saw the glint of blue atop the painted stags head. Apollo. And the other? She had no idea, but this was no simple spar. Her teeth gritted and gnashed angrily, banner slapping her heels as she took a step closer, wanting only to defend her lord but unable to do so.

From the corner of her eye she spotted Archibald and Ktulu. Maybe they had returned, she thought, though she doubted that. It seemed more likely, from their grim expressions, that they had come simply to witness this fight. Something within her stirred with shame a the sight of the Dauntless. Shame at being gone, at almost missing this fight, at not being there for her friend. yet it couldn't be changed now. All she could do was stand and wait - and kill that fucking bitch if she dare steal the crown from atop Apollo's head.

"chat here."

669 words.

YOU CAN TAKE AWAY THIS MESS AND
I COULD NEVER THINK ANY LESS OF YOU