C1: A Beast Unknown:

xxx New York xxx

They moved swift and silent through the dense forest cover. No words were spoken, none were needed. This group had spent years, some decades or even centuries together. they were a unit, a team, a family. They were the Hunters of Artemis. A group of young women in eternal servitude to the Goddess of the Hunt. Women that had been abused by their families, some treated even worse by the male population.

But none of their pasts mattered at this moment. Right now they were tracking. For the past few weeks something had been had hunting the deer in the area heavily. Roughly one or even two deer a day was being killed. But what truly drew the hunters to try and find the killer, was the fact that they only ever found pieces of the deer. Never a body or bones. Something was eating the deer most whole.

As they appraoched the next clearing they could hear them. The sound of the flies. They all stop and look around for the source. A shout from one with red hair drew the leader's attention. A brunette with a long ponytail approached the girl that shouted. Said girl pointed up to a branch a few trees over. But it wasn't a piece of deer this time. As the moonlight revealed it was a bear arm and paw. Speared onto a branch.

The two girls quickly covered there faces as the wind changed slightly. They were force tocatch the smell of the fly encrusted decaying flesh. That bear paw was the only piece of the animal they found. The girl with the long brown ponytail sighed in frustration. Just what where they hunting that could rip animals apart? Why couldn't they find any clues to it besides where it had already been? Day or night, it didn't seem to matter. They never seem to get any closer to their mystery targert. Two thousand years of hunting experiance and not once had she ever encountered a creature like this.

"Hunters, it seems are target is still ahead of us. For now we shall stop and rest. Prehaps when daybreak comes and our Lady rejoins us, we will once again make ground on this beast. Make camp and burn that bear paw!" At her words the girls instantly started getting to work. A campfire was quickly made to provide some extra light and burn the remains of the bear. Tents were assembled. First night watchers were picked. And a light dinner was being prepared.

"Zoe, we've been after this... thing for weeks," The red headed girl from earlier stated from behind the supposed leader of these girls ,"Are we at least getting closer to it?"

"I don't honestly know Phoebe," the now named Zoe replied. "This animal seems to be fully adapted to hunt and kill. Then leave as little as possible in its wake. Not even bones are left behind. The number of beasts who eat like that are very low." Zoe sighed as she rubbed her temples.

Phoebe nodded as she followed her leader, "What about Echidna? could she have created some new monster?" Phoebe grabbed the tent flap for Zoe as they walked inside it.

Zoe shook her head at her friend's question. "Highly doubtful. Most of her... 'children', view it as beneath them to feast on animals."

The red head went silent with a small nod as the two of them sat down to look over the map of the area. The hope was that they could keep on its trail. By plotting where it had been they had been able to most track where it would next hunt.

"Any luck tonight Zoe, Phoebe?" A new voice sounded that surprised both of the young teen looking girls. The surprised looked continue when they saw who it was. While she was wearing the same silverish-grey hunter outfit and dark purple cloak with hood. Her shoulder length auburn hair and bright silver eyes indentified her as only one person. Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt, Moon, Maidens, etc. Despite her godly status she was never one to flaunt her postion. Unless it was disgusting males of course.

The two girls quickly bowed as Zoe spoke, "Apologies milday. But we seem to be no closer to finding this beast. We did find another kill. This time, a black bear was the prey this time. Only a single paw was found. It seemed to be ripped off just like the deer."

Artemis nodded at her oldest hunter. While her voice was silent, her mind was racing with all of the clues they had found over the past couple of weeks of hunting. First, this animal was fast as it always seem to be ahead of them, or at least out of their area. Second, it was powerful, for an animal. To overpower a bear enough to rip it apart was no small feat. This would also make the animal very cunning. She also suspected the animal in question was fairly large. Secretly should hoped the animal could be tamed. It would be a worthy addition to the hunt.

Her musings were broken when a girl outside shouted for Phoebe or Zoe. They claimed to have found something. Phoebe quickly ran out of the tent as Zoe continued to plot where the beast would next hunt. All in hopes of catching this elusive creature. A few moments later Phoebe rushes back into the tent carry something wrapped in a Hunter's cloak. Artemis quickly nodded and the red head opened the cloak. It revealed a large bloody tooth. It was roughly the size of a banana. Artemis was speechless as she slowly picked it up. It had heft to it, dense. It was thick, heavy impact. There were no serations, very blunt teeth, bone crusher.

"Fascinating, I've never seen a bone crushing tooth so large, Not even the biggest crocodiles that I have hunted had teeth this big." Artemis' eyes seemed to gleem with delight as she examined the tooth. For whatever beast could produce banana like teeth. Was sure to get her ichor flowing like nothing in the past millennium. But, in light of all this, new questions were brought to the forefront. With teeth this large the animal had to be massive. How had it never been seen before? Why hadn't it attacked any humans? Just what in Hades where they tracking?

"Milady," Zoe stated, "Do you have any idea what that tooth could belong to?" While she wouldn't show it. Zoe was slightly nervous about this hunt now. If they were indeed hunting the owner of that tooth, many of Hunt Sisters could die if the animal was hyper aggresive.

Artemis sighed as she took the tooth and dismissed Phoebe to lead a small group to search for more clues or signs. "I'm afraid not Zoe. This tooth doesn't look like anything I've ever seen before. While The Hunt rests tonight, I will have to go visit Athena and see is she can give any insight as to what are query is. Continue to track this animal in the morning and I shall return once I have Athena's aid. But, do not engage if you find it. Maintain a safe distance and observe. Only fight if it's about to attack female humans or demi-gods."

Zoe nodded as she now had her orders. She stood from her seat to tell the rest to prepare for bed soon and that they would be getting an early start in the morning. A quick flash of golden light signalled that Artemis had left. Returning to Olympus to see the Goddess of Wisdom and her ever growing library.