Chapter XXIII: Final Farewell-Artemis Evangelina

"Artemis, please reconsider. You don’t know what you’ll be up against." Jake said for the umpteenth time. Artemis, in turn, replied casually,
"I’m sorry Jake, but I’m not going to reconsider. My fate was decided for me long before I was born. I have a sworn duty to this forest, and I must sanction that. If it means that I must travel to another dimension in order to do it, then that is how I will perform." She was then backed up by Fang, who growled at Jake whenever he tried to argue.
"Jake," Artemis said as the trio reached the temple’s library. "Do you think this has anything to do with Parallel Earth?" Jake stopped short, and turned to face her.
"I don’t know Artemis. No matter how many times you’ve tried to explain that topic to me, I’ve never been able to grasp it. I think Kamiko could answer that question better then I could ever hope to." He replied. Artemis walked over to a table where a long, thin object laid. She sighed, and placed her hands on the table, leaning on them. She dropped her head, causing her hair to fall over her face.
"I’ve already thought of contacting Kamiko to ask him, but it’s all a matter of time. As every second passes, I can feel the forest coming ever so close to the edge of vanishing. There’s no time to ask him." Artemis told him. Jake sighed, and said regretfully,
"You’d better get going Artemis. I know that you would never forgive yourself if you were left behind." She nodded, and threw back a piece of cloth that covered the long, thin object on the table; revealing an elegant-looking sword, and an envelope. Artemis picked up the sword, and slid it into a sheath that hung from her belt on the left side. After securing the sword, she picked up the envelope. It was addressed to "Artemis ‘Yatina’ Evangelina," something that only Kamiko called her.
"I’ll read it when I get some time." She muttered to herself as she stuffed the envelope into her belt. Jake walked up to her, and opened his mouth to say something, but thought the better of it.
"Take care of the forest, got it? If anything happens to it..."
"Everything will be fine Artemis. I assume Fang will be going with you?" Jake asked.
You had better believe it pal...I have better things to do then to sit around and guard your butt all day. Fang said aloud in his mind. Artemis chuckled, and nodded.
"Yes, he’ll be coming with me. We...should get going now." Artemis said hesitantly. He walked by her side as they exited the temple, and gave her a short, tight hug. Artemis returned the sudden display of affection, and took a deep breath to hold back tears.
"Take good care of yourself." He told her as she mounted Fang’s back. "And you’d better protect her with your life Fang." The gray wolf made a gesture like a nod, finally agreeing with Jake. The two humans exchanged a brief smile, and then Artemis nudged Fang into a fast sprint. As Jake watched Artemis ride off into a future that was very unclear, his last thought to her was,
‘Come back to me Evangelina...’