𝓑𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓭 - 𝓛𝓾𝓴𝓮 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓪𝓷

𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆, 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓

αυяσяα stood in the middle of the ocean. Waves tearing at her body, trying to lure her down. She withstood the pressure, holding up. Aurora wasn't swimming, she was standing on a rock? There was no one, nothing, anywhere. Complete and utter darkness, the only sound emitting from the waves crashing against her fragile body.

Aurora shifted, hearing thunder off in the distance. The waves got louder and more powerful. She was trembling to stay grounded. A voice called from beneath her, fall below the surface.

"Daughter of the thunder, you have been neglected and treated as young, I can help change that." The voice bellowed.

Aurora blinked, fear emitting from her aura as she stumbled on the rock holding her.

"Your powers, I can teach you all about them and how to enhance their real strength." The strange voice continued. "Since they won't, I will give you a chance. A chance of glory. Choose wisely smart girl, or balance between may fail."

The voice desiccated. Aurora was engulfed by darkness as a wave towered over her whole body, clashing over her. She was pulled below.

_____________________________________

Aurora woke up again, this time in a dark purple bed with ivy draped over the frame. She sucked in a breath of shock, her green eyes darting around frantically as she relieved parts of the dream. She saw a glass of liquid on the bedside table, reaching over to down it. She felt the sweet sensation of ice cream and mango slip down her throat. Ambrosia. Finally taking in normal breaths, she peered over the bed to the rest of the room. Artemis' room. Bits of nature scattered along the place, a forestry feeling of comfort from her sister to Aurora.

Artemis wasn't in there though. Woe emerged from behind one of the trees, pacing around the grass like floor. She realized Aurora awoke and rushed to her side.

𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴, 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺? 𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦? Woe bombarded urgently, shoving her wet nose against Auroras arm hanging off the bed.

"Woe, i'm afraid the prophecy is already gaining up on me, i'm not sure how much time I have, but I have to get out there." Aurora analyzed, springing up from the bed with new found energy from the ambrosia. Artemis must know, Aurora suddenly thought, she left her with ambrosia and somehow was in her bed.

The more important thing was that Aurora had to come up with a plan, talking to her brother and Athena as well. Aurora brushed Woe's mane, pulling off the sheet and carefully making her way to the door. Woe cried near Artemis' desk, Aurora's attention diverting to her best friend. A bow and quiver? And a note?

The bow had a stygian iron base with celestial bronze string. The quiver holding a variety of arrows. The note read...

Sis, i'm aware that you discovered the prophecy. I'm sorry I wasn't able to tell you sooner, I hope you don't blame me, you know I did it to protect you. Just don't forget our training and here's a gift from me and Hades. The hunt will be there if needed.
-Artemis

Aurora read the note over again. Did everyone know? How long? Even her siblings, and no one had told her? She was angry, angry that they kept it from her, angry that they knew the costs, angry that they acted normal with this on the line. But Aurora knew better than to act in anger. She had to put this aside for now. She didn't really understand the meaning of the words yet but she needed to before she fails it.

⚕️⚕️⚕️

Approaching Athena's palace again, Aurora entered as Woe followed. Athena was sitting on a white chair with a cross of swords embedded on the back. She rose at the sight of Aurora barging in..again. Athena was well prepared for the girl to lash out on her about the whole prophecy. But, to her surprise, Aurora composed herself, concealing the anger within.

"Athena." Aurora breathed.

"Aurora, I know what you must do and there is nothing I can do to stop you." Athena sighed, striding toward her planning desk. "I don't want you to go into this blinded. I want to help you as much as I can. You are a very strong goddess, you will come to realize that sooner than later." She pursued. Athena picked up a black book laced with gold. She pulled open a drawer to reveal a sword with black and gold accents as well.

Placing the items in Aurora's hands, Athena took her face in her hands and looked at the goddess. "Be careful, i'll be with you every step of the way. Good luck. Remember where your loyalty lies." Athena smiled and dropped her hands back down to her side.

Before Aurora could even question what the last sentence meant, Athena vanished. Aurora mentally cursed herself for not being able to understand a word anyone says these days. She noted to take a 'greek god slang' book with her to study. Taking another deep breath, Aurora nodded to Woe as they continued to their last destination, Apollo.

Before Aurora could even knock, Apollo's doors anticlimactically pushed open.

"Wow, such a grand entrance Roar. Do you want me to make you a theme song?" Apollo smiled playfully.

"Oh shut up brother, I have a serious matter to be worrying about!" Aurora shouted, ignoring his sarcastic jokes.

Apollo appeared, the sunglasses on his head slowly falling forward. Aurora saw this opportunity to snatch them and put them on, giggling.

"How do I look Woe?" Aurora turned to her lion.

Woe huffed. 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.

"Yeah, yeah, Roar. On a serious note, I need to make sure you remember this." Apollo confided. "Be safe please. Your big brother will miss your presence on this flavorless mountain." He grabbed her shoulder and turned her around, sliding a sun pendent necklace around her neck. "For when you need some sun in the dark."

"Thank you Pollo. I know my amazing aura is infectious, but try to tolerate these self centered idiots for a while until i'm back." Aurora laughed, savoring this moment with her sibling. She grasped the necklace, tracing over the grooves with her fingertips as they said their goodbyes.

"I want you to know sis, not every who looks like a hero is a hero and not everyone who looks like a monster is a monster." Apollo warned the girl.

"Be quiet, you're acting like the next time you'll see me i'll be in a casket, geez." Aurora managed to get out as Apollo squished her in a hug.

I hope not Roar, I really hope not. Apollo thought to himself as his sister escorted out the doors.