Chapter XLVIII: A Friend In Need -Artemis Evangelina

Artemis barely had the time to gather her wits before the two creatures took off in a dead sprint. She cursed under her breath, and looked off in the direction that they had headed. She smiled slightly to herself, as she realized that he was heading deeper into the forest. In the direction of her hut none the less. Artemis had half a mind to run after the two unusual creatures, but she did have a duty to the forest. Without any more delay, she picked up the tree branch that had broken due to her inability to spy correctly. Artemis climbed the tree, and worked her way over to where the branch had broken off.

While one hand stayed around the tree, holding the branch and keeping her from falling, the other reached into a belt-pouch, and took out a handful of a bluish powder. The hand that held the branch, moved slightly, and slid the branch to where it would normally be, had it not been broken off. Artemis brought her other hand, and sprinkled the bluish powder over the branch, and the portion of the tree that it had been broken off of. She murmured a small prayer to Kamiko, the high god of the forest, and watched as the tree took on the same blue color as the powder, and seemed to be growing new bark, which covered the broken branch, now securing it back into place.

Artemis slid off the tree, landing softly on the ground. A gentle wind blew through the forest, making the leaves seem to pat Artemis on the head. She looked up at the tree, and smiled.
"It was the least I could do, I should have remembered that we have not had much rain recently, and that your branches were weak from the lack of nutrients." She said to the tree. The tree rustled vigorously in response. Artemis frowned slightly, and nodded.
"Yes, that was rather rude, wasn’t it? He said the word ‘paralleler’ didn’t he?" Artemis asked. The tree rustled its leaves again in response.
"Yes, that is what I thought I had heard. Maybe that big black creature is the one I seek to help me figure out about this place…" She thought aloud. Artemis looked up at the tree, and gave it a polite bow. "Thank you for your help, sorry again about the branch." At that, Artemis took off into a run back upstream, hoping to catch up with the two creatures.

Yatina, Yatina, where are you? Fang called from a close distance. Artemis slowed herself to a fast walk, looking around for any sign of her wolf companion.
I’m by the stream Fang, you’re very close, and I can sense you. Artemis replied. Within the span of a minute, the sound of swift paws upon fallen leaves reached the ears of Artemis. Fang altered his path slightly, and now walked along side of her.
I saw him Yatina, I saw him! He was running from your direction, did you see? Fang said excitedly. Artemis chuckled softly, and patted Fang on the head a few times. As big as he was, Fang was still considered a pup.
Yes my rambunctious wolf, I saw him. I literally stumbled upon him, and his blue companion. I believe he is the one whom I seek Fang, because in his many ramblings, he muttered the word ‘paralleler.’ Was he still traveling this way Fang? Artemis inquired, slightly quickening her pace. Fang stopped momentarily to scratch his ear, and trotted up beside Artemis once again.
Not this way exactly Yatina, he shifted slightly north, after he made a quite impressive display of aerobatics. Right over my head he went Yatina, and landed nearly three feet behind me. I never thought someone else could do that besides you. Came his reply. She chuckled again, and replied,
Fang, I am not as you think I am. You know that I am only human. The large timber wolf emitted a soft bark beside her in disagreement.
Yatina, how can you say that? You are much more than human; you are the goddess of the forest? You are Yatina! He exclaimed. Artemis sighed, and shook her head.
I only carry the powers of a goddess Fang. If goddess I am, then why am I stuck in a mortal body? It is because society could never accept an immortal human. Even Jake is somewhat mortal. Longer lifespan he may have, but he will die one day. Even as Artemis said those words, she hoped her friend was all right. Come on Fang, precious time is wasting, it is nearly nightfall, and I would much rather sleep in my own hut, providing that I have found the one I seek.

Fang heaved a heavy mental sigh, and Artemis climbed upon his back, entwining her hands in the soft, silvery fur. When she was secure, Fang took off at a rapid pace, running in the direction that he thought the two creatures to be.
Can you not follow their sent Fang? Artemis asked as she rode.
No Yatina, there is no sent but yours, as if neither is animal.‘Not animal?’ She thought to herself. ‘How can neither be animal? They are not human, for they are animals as well…’ Artemis shrugged off the thought, focusing on the task at hand. She had to find that big black creature, and make him listen to her. The two guardians ran through the forest, and Artemis started looking around for any signs of the two creatures.

They ran through the forest, passing Artemis’ hut, going north. Noises were carried downwind, and Artemis pulled back on Fang’s fur slightly, and he came to a stop. She climbed off his back, and gave him a short pat on the head.
I think I’ll go on alone Fang. Who knows where I’ll wind up chasing this thing to? Artemis told her wolf companion. Fang bowed his head, and trotted off into the forest, leaving Artemis by herself. She climbed up into one of the trees, scaling the entire height of the tree. She looked off into the direction of where the noises were being carried from, and was just in time to see a small, but good-sized blast. Artemis stayed where she was, not trusting herself to move, incase something really bad happened. Not much long after the blast, Artemis caught sight of another. This time it had a bluish hue to it, and it was lifting a black object slightly over the treetops. Artemis shook her head, and strained herself to see the object better. All of a sudden, the black object shot into the sky like a bird, and it seemed to land around the edge of the forest.

Artemis let out a small curse. That had not been a black object, but had been the creature she sought, and he had landed very close to the town. Artemis shuttered slightly, hoping that the dimension change had not brought along the town in which she had lived. She slid down the tree a little bit, landing on a sturdy branch. Tree hopping would get her to where she wished to go much quicker than walking. Securing her weapons and hair, Artemis began her small journey, hopping from one tree branch to another, never having to hesitate. She knew these woods like she knew her own hut, since she had been living there for close to ten years. Artemis went through the trees, finally smelling an odor of something burning. She stopped, and looked around, then she spotted him.

He was leaning up against the trunk of a tree, a small burnt path in front of him. The smoke was being emitted from him, and what a site he was. Burn marks all but covered his body; dents could be seen as well. He was banged up badly, and Artemis knew that it wasn’t supposed to have happened. She jumped down out of the tree, approaching him slowly. There were fire-type licks shooting from where his eyes looked up at her. She knelt down beside him, and brushed off a few leaves and twigs off of his body, smiling slightly.

"As nice as you’re looking right now, I have a slight feeling that your little flight wasn’t supposed to happen." She said softly. He gave her a strange look, that seemed slightly mixed with amusement, and irritation. She sighed, and shook her head sadly. "I’ve been trying to find you for the longest time, hoping to speak with you, but right at this point in time, I don’t think that is such a good idea. Would you like me to help you get where you wish to go?" The creature coughed, a few more fire-type licks flying from his body.
"Do what you want." Artemis heard him reply flatly. She ignored his lack of gratitude, and took the reply as a yes.
"Well then, I might as well introduce myself. My name is Artemis Yatina Evangelina. Fang told me that you had a short meeting." She laughed softly at his skeptical glance. "The wolf that nearly ran into you, so you and that other creature flipped over." He nodded a confirmation to the event, still not offering his name. After several moments of silence, Artemis finally asked for it outright.
"The name’s Multex707, Agent Extraordinaire." Artemis smiled slightly, and nodded.
"Are you from Parallel Earth?"