C11: Artemis:

xxx Artemis' Sacred Forest xxx

No one was speaking as Artemis and her hunt sat in a circle. They were all sitting within the area the beast had last been. Before his sudden departure due to Zeus' blind fit of rage. When Hera, Ares, Hestia and Artemis had appeared in the council chambers. The timing had been less then ideal. Percy Jackson and his group had just arrived with Zeus' master bolt. The boy's total lack of respect had been raising Zeus' ire.

Seeing his favorite son wounded in such a fashion had thrown the god king into a mental state bordering madness. He was instantly demanding that Apollo heal him. When Hera blocked him by saying the Ares was a criminal. Deserving his current prediciment and more. They had begun argueing the next moment. Zeus demanding and Hera not allowing it. Their power flexed through the room. Causing the marbled hall to shake under the power of the two rulers of Olympus. Hestia had quickly removed the demi-gods and satyr from Olympus. Returning them safely to the camp while holding on to the master bolt to give to her younger brother after he had calmed down. Only he didn't calm down. The yelling kept getting worse until. He struck Hera. Slapping her across the face for daring to defy him.

The sound had been instantly deafening. The whole room was bathed in silence as Hera bent over. Clutching her cheek that now supported the red mark from his hand. "You forget your place Hera." He said, "While you are my wife. I am the King of Olympus and my word is law. And my word states that Ares will be healed. Plus, now that the animal has been shown to be powerful enough to threaten us. I want it removed from this place and returned to its place on earth. One of those Islands!"

With a wave of his hand. Everyone knew that Zeus had indeed sent the animal away before a single soul could lead a rebuttal against him

"Father!" Artemis yelled, "We need that animal to punish the mortals that are mocking us!"

"It is a threat my daughter. Be thankful I didn't order it killed." Zeus replied with a tone of finality. He might have said more. Had he not keeled over in pain the next moment. Hera had recovered and struck back. Kicking the man right in his jewels with all of her might. He crumpled to the floor. Clutching himself as he writhed in pain on the floor. Hera kicked him again. This time, it sent him skidding across the floor. A moment later he plowed head first into his own throne. The golden chair bowling over on top of him.

"You are a fool Zeus." Hera stated. Her eyes and voice taking a cold tone. "But no more a fool then I. For only now do I see your cruelty to those most derserving of your mercy and help. Your son was clearly in thew wrong. And you think just because he is your favorite child he is to be absolved of his crime?" The dust from the impact soon cleard. Revealing Zeus laying amongst the rubble. A small stream of golden ichor running from his lips. "It seems I was blind to the fact that your son gets his arrogance from you. He gets his mindset of he can do no wrong from you. He treats women the way he does, because of you! Well no longer, either you punish your sons for the crimes he has commited. The theft of the your 'beloved' master bolt. And the attempted rape of Aphrodite. Plus you will return the animal to Artemis' sacred woods. Fail to do so, and I will petition your removal from the seat of power in front of the whole of Olympus. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how much the minor gods and goddess despise your rule. Loving nothing more then to see you removed."

Zeus coughed as he lay there at her feet. In all his millennia of life. Never had his wife been this furious with him. To actually strike him. Him the king! He couldn't understand it. A king could do whatever he wanted. By extension so could his son, the prince. What right did she have to be mad at him?!

Artemis frowned as she watched Hera glare at her father. Something was wrong. She had been expecting Aphrodite to burst in here with the animal's sudden disappearence. But she hadn't, leaving a sinking feeling in Artemis' stomach. She turned her head to gaze upon her woods. Her Olympian sight quickly raced to the spot where the animal and the Love Goddess had been left. The animal was obviously gone, but as Artemis kept looking. She could find no sign of Aphrodite.

Suddenly a voice rang out over Olympus "Zeus! As the Goddess of Beauty, Love, Desire, Passion, Sexuality and Pleasure I hearby curse you! Never shall any woman look at you with the eys of lust or passion. Never shall any woman immortal or mortal look at you with anything then less hate and disgust. You shall never be aroused in the presence of women either. And if you try to go to men for release. You shall never be on top. I swear that on the River Styx I shall not change this decree for at least the next five hundred years!" The rumbling of the clouds signalled the cementing of Aphrodite's oath.

"Aphrodite," Artemis started, "she was touching the animal when father sent him away. She got sent there to."

Hera looked over her shoulder after Artemis spoke. Her foot holding Zeus to the floor. "Are you certain of this? Can you see her with the animal?"

"No," Artemis replied without hesitation. "Athena was going to say this at the meeting today. The Island are blanketed in primative mist. None of us can see what takes place on those islands. That why Athena went to that appointment instead of coming here with us. To get first hand knowlegde from the mortals who have been to those islands."

"So my husband," Hera said darkly as she turned her gaze back to Zeus. Who was still pinned under his wife's foot. Her face showed the digust Aphrodite had cursed him to face when being looked at by a woman. "Not only have you punished an innocent with your rash behavior. You attempted to absolve the crimnal of his crimes. I'd bet you'd go as far as to even abolish the fact Ares stole your master bolt. And now, to top it off. You have all but unjustly banished Aphrodite until she can get off those islands. You clearly are no longer fit to be the King of Olympus."

"You don't get to decide that." His voice ground out.

"You know what? You're right. Let's go ask mother of her opinion on your recent behavior." Before he could respond. Hera had bent down to grab him by his collar. In a blinding flash of light. They both were gone.

So now Artemis sat here with her hunt, waiting. Until Athena returned they could't really plan ahead beyond sharpening their arrows and knives. They knew they would be heading to one of the islands to retrieve both Aphrodite and their abused dinosaur brother. Artemis' opinion on the Love Goddess had greatly improved from the Ares' Incident. With her in such a state of panic. Aphrodite's control over her power had slipped just enough that Artemis felt it. The maidenhood the Love Goddess.

When Artemis questioned her about it. Dite instantly broke down into tears. Telling Hestia and herself about hiding behind all the illusions. The prison her domain had turned out to be. The constant whispers from other Gods and Goddesses. The endless staring from lechrous men and women. It all came out as she was comforted by Hestia and Artemis before passing out.

"Lady Artemis," Zoe Nightshade called. Drawing her mistress from her thoughts. The auburn woman blinked her silver eyes as she turned to gaze at Zoe. "Do you think we will make it time before the mortals find them?"

The Moon Goddess sighed. "I'm not sure Zoe. I hope time in this place has curved the animal's aggressive behavior. If not, then I hope Dite can think rationally enough to make for a tree line." Artemis rubbed her head to sooth the migraine she was now carrying. With everything going on, today seemed to be the most taxing in the Goddess' memory. While she wished there was more she could do. For now, she would have to wait for Athena to return from her meeting so they could plan accodingly.

The silence was broken once more after a few minutes. In a flash of golden light, Hera appeared before the hunters. Her face held in a stern frown as the light died down. The hunters quickly put themselves into a kneeling position while Artemis stood to address her fellow Olympian.

"Lady Hera, I must be honest in that I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon. I figured you would still be with Zeus at Lady Rhea's."

Hera frowned, "With Aphrodite's decree in effect I do not wish to be anywhere near that man right now. Besides with him currently indisposed by mother. It falls on me to maintain the order of the Council. So I'm here to see what the plan is on the return of Aphrodite and the animal?"

"I'm afraid that until Athena returns. We don't have much to plan at the moment. While I can suspect which island that father sent them to. I can't predict with any certainity as to which part of the island they would go. Plus there is the mortals that we have to plan for as well. Since we want our world to remain hidden from the regular mortal's eyes."

Hera nodded as she crossed her arms. "Very well. Please inform me when you are ready to depart. I wish to keep a close eye on everything I can while I'm in charge. These events don't feel random."

Atermis arched an eyebrow, "You suspect a plot against Olympus?"

"It wouldn't be the first time and we have made plenty of enemies over the centuries." Was the beginning of Hera's reply. "With Ares being controlled by some outside force to steal the masterbolt and Hades' Helm. To this suprise animal's mysterious ability to eat our plane's monster and even brutally harm beings like us. Make no mistake about it Artemis. Someone is moving against us, and I plan to be ready for it as long as I am in charge."