Chapter VII: The Forest - Artemis

Sunlight poured into the small wooden hut, splashing light onto the face of the young woman who layed sleeping on her bed. She rolled over, waking slightly, pulling the dear-skin blanket tighter around her. Her eyes opened, and she rolled back over, throwing the blanket to the side. She yawned, stretching her arms and legs, then colapsing back onto her bed. As she sat up, she pulled her waist-length silver hair out of the braid she slept on, and shook it loose. Her large, deep purple eyes survayed the small hut that she had built with her own hands from the bark of nearby trees. She stood up, and walked over to the foot of her bed, where her clothes layed. She picked them up, and carried them with her to the small wash-basin in the cornor of the room. She clensed her hands, then splashed the cold water onto her face, drying it with the deer-skin she wore as a nightgown. Then she shedded her nightgown, and put on her normal clothes; a green halter top, with brown leather pants.

Then she walked over to the doorway, pulling on her brown boots. She sat down, and looked outside her hut. It was built high in a few oak trees. High enough to be hidden, but someone who knew what they were looking for could find it. She had lived in this hut for eight years, and enjoyed every second of it. The birds came to visit her once and awhile, especially the little hatchlings that lived near her roof. They loved to play with her long hair, and hear stories of adventure that Fang had shared with her.

Fang...that rascal. He was her wolf mentor, and best friend. He had found her as a cub, and brought her to Jake in the temple. Jake had named her. Artemis Evangelina was what he said was her new name. Artemis knew that she had a name when she lived with her father, but it was something she couldn't remember. Fang said the forest was magical, and mysterious in that way. That was the way the forest worked. It was ment to make humans who wandered into the forest forget how they got there, and forget most everything about themselves. None of the animals knew why of course, not even Jake. Some things just aren't ment to be known, she thought.

When Fang had found her though, she asked him where she was, and from that moment, they were unseperable. With Fang's help, she soon learned how to hunt with a bow and arrow, track other animals, and how to identify certian plants. Artemis now knew over fifty varietys of plants that could be grinded into different powders. Powders for healing, cooking, and even some for destruction.

Jake on the other hand, taught her many useful things. How to read, and write, how to pray, and many other useful skills. He was the only other human that she knew of, so she was able to talk to him on the daily basis, and have fun.

Overall, life in the forest was good. Artemis loved it here, and loved all the animals who were under her protection. Although she missed her father very much, she was raised by many of the forest animals, and, a very special being, Kamiko.

Yatina, it's time to go! A voice called in her mind. Artemis smiled, and walked over to the wall, picking up her bow, and quiver.
Time to go cause mischif for Jake, right Fang? She called back.
Yeah! Came the answer.