Artemis walked slowly through the Death dimension. Her gaze never rested in one place as long as she walked. She kept a close eye on her surroundings. A young doe followed her, pressed up against her leg. It was there as moral support more than anything else. Artemis inhaled sharply as she reached her destination. She stood and stared blankly at the door for a moment before she reached out and knocked on it gently. She waited but a heartbeat before she turned to leave. She froze when she heard the sound of the door opening.

She turned around slowly and stared at the shadowed figure in the entranceway. When it did not speak, she said. “I’m so sorry to drop by like this… And so late too. But I thought if anyone could help me, If anyone could understand what I’m going through and how I feel, it would be you.”

The shadow interrupted her but never left the doorway. ”This is about the school, right? I guess you can say both our reputations,” they paused for a moment, “precede us. But tell me, what exactly do you think I could help you with?”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Artemis wrapped an arm loosely around her deer companion and played with their fur to calm her nerves. When she spoke again, her voice shook a little. “I want to go to this school. I want to win back the freedom of my friends, my brother… I don’t know if I’m up for this, though. None of my training has prepared me to face such creatures, and I don’t trust that we’ll be safe. What do you… What do you think?”

Silence filled the air for several moments before the shadow spoke again. “What you need is a base of trust. People around you that you know will have your back. I can be one of those people, but you need more. Aren’t you close with the nymphs? I’m sure several of them will go along with you to that place.”

“You’re right.” Artemis stared at them in awe. “I think that just might work. Thank you so much.”

“We outcasts have to stick together, right?” The figure started to retreat. “Just remember. I have your back. That means you need to have mine too.”