Artemis [Lesbian Version]

Chapter 16: The Atonement

Callisto, in a bear form, ran out as fast as she could. Yet as she ran and tried to hide in the safety of the woods Callisto discovered she was beginning to grow weary. She felt heavy and it was like her whole body was beginning to drag. Perhaps it was because she was carrying a child?

Sharp thorns and bushes began to brush against her skin and yet she felt no immediate pain. Callisto did not dare stop and look back out of fear that she'd face Artemis's hounds. There was no time to relax or to get comfortable, even when she was littered with small cuts and bruises.

A splash shocked her and she realized she had run so far she had reached the deep center of the woods, where the lake formed and would split into three rivers that bled into the sea. Callisto was thirsty and she figured she'd collapse soon from exhaustion. She must take the time to rest and drink. She needed to replenish herself lest she falls and makes herself an easy target for other wild things.

Callisto took a moment to sit down by the lakeshore. She tried to scoop up a handful of water to wash her face but the fluid would not stay in her hand. She tried again and then again but no matter how hard she tried she could not hold the element.

Frustrated, Callisto tried to scream at the lake but only a deafening roar erupted from her throat. Shocked, she looked down and saw the reflection of her new visage staring back at her.

What have I become? Callisto thought in horror. Did Artemis do this to me? Did she warp me into this hideous beast? Is she hunting me down as if I was just another game for her and her posse to pin to their wall of trophies?

Callisto roared in grief. She had loved her mistress. It was true, but Artemis had no love for her anymore. The sound of her cries echoed throughout the valley. Birds fluttered in panic and she could sense the wildlife coming to a standstill.

Callisto looked around and quickly realized she had to eat and then look for a place to hide. Even Artemis could not hunt her down in just a day. That would give her at least some time to give birth to her child and then try to fight back in any way she could.

The bear-woman hunted for fish, ate one quickly when she caught one swimming close to the shores of the lake, and then ran deeper into the forest and looked for a cave for her to rest in. It was late at night by the time she did and she took another hour dragging leaves in her maw and fallen branches to cover the entrance.

But there was a rustling in the foliage and Callisto shut her eyes, expecting Artemis to arrive and bury her arrow between Callisto's eyes.

It was Eileithyia, the former goddess of childbirth.

"Fear not," the goddess called out. She laid his palms on the nymph's bear snout. "I cannot defend you from Artemis and her wrath. I can, however, help you taking care of the child."

Eileithyia, Callisto tried to say her name but it only came out as a low rumbling and roar. Thank you.

By morning, Callisto felt her spirit rise in determination but her body was beginning to weaken even further. She would enter labor at any given moment and this cave was a suitable location to give birth in it. And give birth she did.

"We shall name him Arcas, father of all Arcadians," the daughter of Hera declared. "He will lead mortals into triumph and cities shall be built in his honor. Through him, your legacy shall live on."

Zeus later sent Hermes to take the baby to King Lycaon so that he could grow up among men.

Callisto agreed to this arrangement and continued to live her life as an animal, roaming aimlessly in the jungle.

Many months had passed and then years. But as the fates were the cruelest, the bear wandered and heard footsteps coming towards her. Her heart pounded with fear, but her body couldn't move.

She needed to run. She needed to hide, but she knew she had no time. The hunters found her. They were her former friends, but they did not recognize her.

An arrow pierced a tree beside her.

No! Callisto roared in a bear voice. She ran, and fortunately for her, the new bear form had strong muscles, giving her the strength to press forward. Callisto's heart began to beat faster as she began to panic.

Artemis stood on her chariot, watching a large bear running along the bank of the lake. She did not intent to kill any game today, but as her band traveled by, the girls spotted a gigantic bear. And when the breeze blew past her, she felt like taking up her bow and shoot.

Hera, with her magical persuasion and bitterness still fresh, urged the Huntress to aim at Callisto, who dashed through the foliage, hoping to lose her pursuers.

Another band came from the other side of the lake. She was trapped with nowhere to go.

Callisto twirled like a giant boulder in the air when something smacked her snout and sent her crashing into a rotting log. She snarled and looked up then found the three hounds facing her with their fangs bared.

No! Callisto roared. She was bigger and far stronger than any dog, but she was also a frightened maiden inside. Quickly, Callisto dashed in between the three and swiped her claws at the two closest hounds. They managed to dodge with evasive leaps but the third did not expect her to suddenly snap her jaws and wrangle it by the neck. Callisto bit down harder and then tossed the animal to the side. The hound slammed against a tree.

Artemis watched her dogs being attacked. Then she pulled an arrow from her quiver. She would find a small opening to the bear's exposed neck.

Hera wove her words into the wind and told Artemis to shoot.

The goddess's hand trembled. She never trembled before, but now she did and she did not know why.

Callisto dashed in and clawed the hounds both with heavy swipes. She went in a rushing charge and then bolted before the nymphs could pin her down with their arrows. Even with the strong body of a bear, she could feel herself losing her breath and the muscles in her limbs begin to tense.

Callisto began to tire. Her strides were short and slow. At the corner of her large eye, she saw Artemis. She came to a stop and turned to her former lover. The goddess was the same as she had remembered. She felt a pang of sadness and grief open like a new wound, but she also knew that her fate had been forever twisted.

I will die. She knew that now. It was the truth.

Callisto stood in her hind legs as if in sentiment. Her large brown eyes glittered with tears when she finally came to accept her destiny.

Artemis felt both frustrated and confused, not knowing the bear was her beloved Callisto. The bear didn't seem to go away.

"Damn it," Artemis hissed. "Just run!"

The bear did not move, and those big eyes kept staring back at her. In a fit of annoyance and Hera's constant words in the winds, she let flight the arrow. It was quick and painless when it pierced through Callisto's heart. But the pain seemed to burst inside the goddess instead.

Not until then that Artemis knew what she had done. She watched Callisto laid her bear form down on the ground.

"No!" Artemis dropped her bow and rushed towards the dying animal. As soon as she reached the listless bear, she fell to her knees and tears streamed down. "Callisto..."

Artemis placed a shaking hand over her big snout. Her grief entered her whole being like waves. And she finally learned the whole truth. The other maidens came and surrounded them, but they now realized what happened and stood back without making any sound.

Callisto wished she could wipe away the goddess's tears, but she knew she couldn't. She felt strength ebbing and a great drowsiness overcame her. As she slowly closed her eyes, Artemis burst into tears and threw her arms around her large form.

In the moment of her sorrow, the goddess called out to her father Zeus, asking him to redeem his deed.

Father, you knew what you did.

Zeus looked down from his great throne at his daughter and pondered over her request. Only heroes who had performed great deeds and done the impossible could be placed among the stars, but to atone for his mistake, he slowly inclined his head.

Light began to form and pierce out of the slain animal on all sides. In a blinding dance of brightness, the bear was lifted, ascending towards the celestial sky. Callisto was cast into heaven. Being among the stars would grant her eternal life of peace and solitude, and at the same time, Artemis felt like they would never truly be a part of the world they once knew.

The goddess glanced up and waited. Then she saw that there, amidst the brightest of them all, was a newborn constellation that was not there before. The brightest one was the North Star. No matter where people face and no matter where they are, that star will be a guiding light for sailors, for wanderers, for builders, and for hunters.

The twinkling lights somehow brought comfort to the goddess. Artemis sat there, still marveled at Callisto's new form.

Artemis was now alone. She has tasted blood and possessed every gift that the gods could forge. She has toppled monsters and swayed the tides of war but after all this time, she would remain alone.

Artemis dried her tears and stood again. She then turned and began her long solitude trek with her hunting nymphs to her abode where the sun had already set.

~The End~