• **Wait! This is #3 of a story. Go to the beginning if you haven’t read it!**


    Orion stood at the edge of the temple. He looked around at the early morning, Eos just awakening. He was a normal-sized man, not like The Orion, the one everyone knew. He was not really even a man yet, just 15 years of age, his namesake being the giant son of Poseidon. He was not a son of Poseidon either, but a son of Apollo. His mother died when he was a young boy, leaving him in the care of Chiron. For years he had been training for years and finally wanted to go see what his destiny would hold. He had gotten the first appointment with the oracle, and that was when the sun was fully above the horizon. He knew that soon a priest would come to get him and he would get his audience.
    Orion pulled his hand through his golden hair for about the tenth time, trying to get it to lay flat. He had it cut short to stay out of his way. Many men let theirs grow long and just pulled it back into a club, but he skipped all the fuss and just cut it. It hung to about his ears now.
    Out of the temple came an old man wearing a robe.
    “Come,” he said. “It is your time,” Orion looked back and the sun was indeed above the horizon. He stepped into the chilly caves of the oracle of Delphi.
    “Now when you get to her, wait to be spoken to. I hope you also have a good memory because there are no repeats,” the priest. Orion nodded but remained silent. “When she finishes speaking, come right out. No sneaking another audience. Do you understand boy?” Orion nodded, still remaining silent. The priest stopped. They were at a bronze door, which looked out of place in the elegant marble walls. Orion stepped forward. The door creaked open. Orion stepped forward into the darkness.
    When he stepped into the room, he wanted to step back out. It was almost completely dark save a few short candles. There were incense burners everywhere, making Orion want to gag. There was no way of telling how big the room was. Through the haze of the smoke, Orion could make out a human figure. He took a step towards it.
    “Stop,” the voice was scratchy like it needed a break from breathing incense. Because of the rasp of the voice, he couldn’t tell whether the Pythia was young or old. He halted in his steps.
    “You seek your destiny?” it asked.
    “Yes,” Orion said.
    “Very well,” it said. The smoke from the incense got a purple tint.
    “Two will set out on the journey, son of the sun and daughter of the moon. They will meet friends; they will make enemies who will try to cause impending doom. But in the end, if all goes well, they will break the evil spell,” The purple light in the smoke went out and the Oracle fell silent. Orion wanted to hear more, but he knew his audience was over.
    He exited the room in anger. He trudged down the dark hall of the cave and came out into the early morning.
    “That was useless!” he said, drawing his sword. “That told me nothing. I don’t have enough information!” he yelled over the hills. He fell to his knees, cursing the Oracle.
    “Thirteen years I’ve been waiting for this! Thirteen years!” His sword shook with his anger. His horse waited for him at the bottom of the hill he was on. He stood and sheathed his sword. There was no use to his tantrum. Orion walked briskly down the path to his horse. It was a golden palomino named Phoebus. He was a gift from Apollo. The horse wasn’t magical, but it was definitely special. It was trained for battle, had tough skin, and would go all day without getting winded. Orion loved him.
    “Well boy, where now?” Phoebus just stared back with his strange golden eyes. They were golden like the sun, not the metal. Phoebus seemed to say, ‘I don’t know, you’re the one who directs me,” Orion mounted his horse. He would go home, back to Chiron’s school on the outskirts of Sparta. It was about three days ride on Phoebus.
    “Let’s go! Hyah!” Orion tapped Phoebus in the sides. His horse responded like an arrow shot from Orion’s bow, fast and accurate. Phoebus wouldn’t get tired as long as the sun was shining. Orion thought to the moment when he had gotten Phoebus.
    It had been a hot day, the sun shining brightly down. Orion went to the stables, wanting to go for a ride. He usually would have ridden Tivven except when he got to the other horse’s stall; there was Phoebus with a note around his neck. The note had said:
    “My son, this is a gift to you. His name is Phoebus so you can remember whom he was from. He is sure footed and will not die unless shot down while charging into battle. I will let you decide if he is magical, for I am a god and view magic differently. He will not tire as long as I am driving my chariot across the sky. At night though, he will need a rest if you have been running him all day. Take care of him,” the note had been written in sparkly gold ink and when Orion finished reading it, it burst up in flames that did not burn his hands.
    Phoebus was still galloping but not even breathing hard. He could’ve been taking a walk through a courtyard. Orion had gotten used to this, but he knew he had to be careful when the sun went down, for then his horse would be to tired to go another foot if he had been running like this.
    When Orion was riding Phoebus it was like nothing else in his life. It was easy. It was free. Orion felt like he was on the most comfortable chair or being rocked in a cradle. Phoebus’s gait was so smooth that Orion could have fallen asleep. Orion loved riding his horse more than anything else. When he was shooting arrows from the back of his beloved steed, at that moment, nothing else in the world mattered.
    Orion passed the city of Eleusis and slowed. He would camp here for the night for the sun was setting already, Apollo drawing in his reins for the night. He found a circle of trees with sandy ground on the inside. Orion dismounted, not tying Phoebus up for when the sun rose, his horse was always by his side.
    Orion did unsaddle Phoebus though. In Apollo’s note, it had said ‘take care of him’. Orion knew this meant making sure his horse was comfortable for the night. After he gave Phoebus a quick rub down, Orion started to collect firewood. He found a large tree down not far from his shelter and set to work with his axe. By the time the sun finally set, Orion had a cheerful little camp going. Even Phoebus, who usually wandered, stayed close to the cheery flames.
    Orion didn’t want to go to sleep, so he thought about his prophecy.
    “Two will set out on the journey. That’s me and someone else. I suppose I get to pick someone from Chiron’s training school… I wonder if anyone’s good enough. But it has to be a girl! A ‘daughter of the moon.’ It must mean Artemis,” Orion paused in his stream of thinking. “But Artemis is a maiden goddess. She can’t have children, and a daughter of the moon. Why does it have to be a girl? Girls are weak in the arm and in the mind. I can’t actually be expected to travel with one can I?” Orion looked at Phoebus. “What do you think?” the horse just looked back at him with wise golden eyes. Orion sighed and stopped trying to solve to solve the prophecy. He lay down with his hands behind his head and stared up at the stars.
    “Beautiful stars tonight Phoebus. There’s Andromeda and her husband Perseus. Her evil mother is up there too. That might be my favorite myth. Perseus got a happy ending and got put up in the stars,” Orion guided his attention to the moon. It was full tonight. How could there be a daughter of the moon? It didn’t make sense and Orion hated it when things didn’t make sense. Orion knew it would take awhile with the prophecy on his mind, but he had to go to sleep.
    “Good night, Phoebus. Long riding tomorrow too,” but his horse had gone away and Orion was left alone in the cold light of the moon.


    **Wait! This is #4 of a story. Go to the beginning if you haven’t read it!**

    The next morning, Orion set out at first light. If he were to make it to Sparta tomorrow, he would need all of the daylight he could get. He had no problems finding Phoebus in the morning; as soon as he himself was ready, Phoebus was right by his side. They settled into the same steady gallop throughout the lands of Greece. The pace was a bit faster today, but still Phoebus didn’t get tired. Orion got caught up with the joy of riding again. It was just so exhilarating running at flat out speeds and not worrying about the horse getting too tired or too dehydrated.
    Orion was riding alongside a wood when a shrill scream cut through the air. He reined in Phoebus and changed direction. Some hero he was if he ignored a call of distress. He got to the tree line and saw a terrifying sight. A girl about nine or ten was surrounded by dracaena, or, in other words, beautiful women with snake tails for legs. The snake women were hissing and closing in. Orion yelled and charged. He took three of the five out by arrows before he got to the other two. These were closest to the girl and he farthest from Orion. The two snake women closed in on the defenseless girl. Orion urged Phoebus on faster and got there as the first snake woman reached the girl. Orion leaped over Phoebus’s head and drew his sword in midair, slashing down on the snake woman.
    Surprised by the attack, the snake woman died easily. The second one lunged at Orion and he swung is sword and severed her head. She screeched and disintegrated. The girl stood petrified where she was throughout the whole fight.
    “Are you okay?” asked Orion. The girl nodded, her eyes wide. Orion strode over to her, sheathing his sword.
    “Thank you,” said the girl quietly.
    “What’s your name?” asked Orion.
    “Thecae,” said the girl.
    “Are you hurt Thecae?” said Orion. Thecae shook her head. Her face was sweaty and smeared with dirt and her blue eyes and red hair stood out from her dirtiness.
    “Where do you live?” asked Orion.
    “I live on my own,” she said, looking defiantly at him.
    “Where are you’re parents?” he asked.
    “My mother is dead,” she said. “I didn’t live with her anyways,”
    “What about your father?” he asked.
    “My father is Dionysus,” she said. As Orion looked closer at her eyes, he saw small flecks of purple in their blue depths. They still stared defiantly at him. Orion thought it was no wonder the monsters attacked. The girl was a demigod and she needed protection.
    “You should come with me,” said Orion. Chiron accepted girls as well as boys sometimes. Orion didn’t agree with it, but this girl needed help.
    “Where would we go?” she said. Her eyes were still defiant but now there was curiosity and a slight bit of trust in them.
    “To Sparta. You would be taught by my tutor, Chiron,” said Orion.
    “Very well. I will accompany you to Sparta,” said Thecae. Orion put Thecae on Phoebus first and then mounted. Phoebus didn’t seem to notice the new weight. They set off at the same speeds, but Phoebus soon slowed down. His breathing got faster. He started to sweat. And then he stopped. Orion was dumfounded. His horse never tired.
    “Phoebus? Are you alright?” He dismounted and looked in his horse’s eyes. They were drooping. Orion looked at the little daughter of Dionysus sitting on his back.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked.
    “You. He will not tire unless only a son or daughter of Apollo is on him,” said Orion with realization. He also realized that he had to leave the girl if he wanted to get to Sparta on time. He sighed. There was a stream next to them. Orion turned to the girl.
    “Stay here,” said Orion.
    “Where are you going?” she asked.
    “To send a message,” said Orion. He jogged to the stream. When he got there, he put his hand in the water.
    “Naiad of this stream!” he called. There was a ripple in the water and a head emerged from the water. She was beautiful and petite. Her skin had a slight blue tint in it. The current carried her to the edge of the river.
    “Yes?” she said. Her eyes sparkled like sunlight on water.
    “I need mist, if you don’t mind,” said Orion. The naiad sighed and squirted water upwards.
    “No one ever wants to talk to a stream. They just want something from us,” she sighed again and looked depressed.
    “I’m sorry but,”
    “You’re in a hurry, you’re not interested, you don’t care, after all, you’re a hero and what does a small stream matter? Just for another Iris message, and you’re not even a son of Poseidon, you’re son of Apollo!” she sighed again. “All right, a batch of mist coming right up,” she said.
    “Wait!” said Orion. He tried to grab her arm, but she slipped into her stream. Orion felt horrible. But sure enough, a sheet of mist rose up from the water. Orion got a drachma out of his bag and threw it in to the mist.
    “O, goddess accept my offering,” he said. The mist shimmered. “Show me Chiron,” he said. The mist shimmered to form Chiron drawing back a bow.
    “Chiron!” said Orion. The centaur turned to him, releasing the arrow on accident. It still whizzed to the target, making a bull’s-eye
    “Orion! How’d the prophecy go?” he asked,”
    “Terrible, but that’s not the point. I have a new demigod and I’m bringing her to you which means Phoebus can’t gallop, so I’ll be late. Maybe five days instead of three,”
    “Very well. Thank you for informing me. Good traveling,” he said. He slashed his hand through the mist, ending the Iris message. The naiad surfaced.
    “Anything else, O wonderful hero?” she asked flatly.
    “Yes,” he said.
    “What now?” she asked.
    “Thank you,” said Orion. He tossed her a sand dollar he had found once on the beach. She caught it, turning it in the light, making it sparkle. She looked up at him and smiled.
    “You’re alright, son of Apollo,” she said. Holding her new treasure closely, she dipped beneath the water. Orion strode back to Phoebus and Thecae. Phoebus was still catching his breath. Orion sighed inside. He wanted to get home tomorrow and see what Chiron thought about his prophecy. He then looked at the little girl sitting on his horse. Could she be a daughter of the moon? Not probable, but still… He would just have to ask Chiron. Orion mounted Phoebus behind Thecae. He tapped Phoebus lightly in the side. His golden horse started forward at a walk. Orion wished he could urge Phoebus faster, but he knew with Thecae, that was impossible.
    They carried on at a walk for the whole day, Orion occasionally letting Phoebus take a drink. When the sun set, Orion reined in his horse and prepared a camping spot. Thecae stood by, just watching him. Orion turned to her.
    “Are you going to help me collect firewood or not?” he asked. She flinched back like she was scared and began to collect the wood. Orion sighed in exasperation. He was upsetting everyone today. “Look, I didn’t mean to make you upset. It’s just been a long day,” said Orion. He had set out in high spirits about getting home tomorrow, and he ended up fighting snake women, arguing with a naiad, tiring a horse that wasn’t supposed to tire, and picking up an unexpected burden all because he was a hero.
    “I know. But I’m walking into a world that used to be just for men until Atalanta,” Orion looked at her. Sitting next to their small fire, she looked small and lost. Orion was a man who did not approve of women doing men’s things, but he couldn’t tell her that. He couldn’t.
    “It’s been a long day for you too,” said Orion. He wouldn’t lie to her and say that he thought she would do fine as a hero. The only reason he was bringing her to Chiron was the probability of a gardener. After all, she was a daughter of Dionysus and all young heroes needed all sorts of healthy food to help them grow up strong.
    “I’ve had worse days,” said Thecae. She looked into the flames.
    “We have a long day of riding tomorrow,” said Orion. To the end of that sentence he added ‘and getting nowhere,’ but of course he didn’t say that out loud.
    “Yes, I suppose so…” she said. She lay down on the ground and closed her eyes. Orion looked up at the dark sky. Artemis’s chariot was barely a sliver. Orion rolled lay down too and rolled onto his back. He looked up at the constellations until he fell asleep to their glittering. He dreamt that night.
    He was in an unfamiliar forest. It was dark, only illuminated with the glow of stars and the moon. The trees seemed to whisper into the night. He looked at the base of a he hickory tree and found a girl about his age crouching inside. The tree was hollowed to about Orion’s chest and the girl hardly had to crouch. She looked calm and she was just cleaning out the tree of all hard things, nutshells, and twigs, anything that would make it uncomfortable. The girl was dirty and her hair was coming free from the ponytail she had it in. At last she found the tree fit to her liking. She curled up inside the little nest she made. Her dress was brown, even though Orion could see it was meant to be white. The girl looked right at the bush Orion was crouching behind. He was sure she could see him but she was just gazing out into the forest like a king would look out his balcony to his city-state below.
    As Orion looked closer though, he saw that her eyes were filled with tears. One tear trickled down her cheek and she wiped it away angrily. Her eyes flashed and she climbed out of her shelter. She started to go deeper into the woods. Orion followed her silently. She started to quicken her pace, and sure that she couldn’t hear him, Orion did too. She broke into a run, and he matched her speed, staying a few meters behind her. She started to sprint. Orion picked up his speed, still staying behind her. She stopped and turned around quickly. Orion stopped too, only one meter away. She looked right past him, her eyes frightened.
    “Why are you following me?” she yelled hoarsely. Orion looked behind him, startled. Was there someone following both of them?
    “Where are you? Show yourself!” tears of anger and terror streamed down her face. Orion came to a realization. She couldn’t see him, but she could hear his footsteps. He tried to speak.
    “It’s alright,” he said. He wanted to calm her down. But instead of coming out as words, only a barely audible moan came out of his mouth. The girl screamed shrilly.
    “Go back to the underworld!” she screamed.
    “No! You don’t understand!” he said loudly. The moan came out loader and scarier. She shrank back in terror and fled. Orion didn’t follow her. He had scared her enough.