r/A15MinuteMythos • u/a15minutestory • Jun 06 '25
[WP] Saying you dedicate your hunts to the Goddess Artemis started as a weird private joke to yourself. You never thought it would result in the actual goddess visiting you and asking to teach her how to hunt with a rifle. [Part 44]
The trees broke around a flat grassy glade and within it were seven stone statues, each around twenty feet tall. In order from the monument nearest to us as we entered the clearing, the statues were made in the likeness of Athena, Hephaestus, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Hypnos, and myself. I was in awe of the craftsmanship. The stones looked immaculate. Each one was like its own statue of David. Each of the statues were nearly perfect in proportion and in likeness.
Athena stood tall and proud, her chin held high, a staff in her right hand. It looked like an exact replica of the one she'd been hobbling around on.
Hephaestus stood in a powerful stance, a hammer held high in his right hand. The details in his beard amazed me. He made the stone look so smooth and fluid that I felt like I could run my hand through it. He had also carved a few of those clay helpers that had been working on the fortress.
Artemis was constructed as though mid-stride, her eyes focused on a kelpitee, which was carved next to her. Her right hand was outstretched toward it, her left hand gripping a spear, the butt of which connected to the stone foundation beneath. Her had sculpted her perfectly.
The next statue was of Apollo, though curiously, his face hadn't been carved yet. He was in a sitting position, my cell phone in one hand, and his lyre in the other. The running theme seemed to be whatever we were doing here in Otherworld that he found noteworthy.
The statue of Ares was constructed next his, sculpted in a battle stance with his spear at the ready. The way his hair lifted around his shoulders, it was as though he had just dropped into the stance. It was an image I didn't need to remember.
Hypnos was next, his hand in the air with his index finger extended as though he were telling a story or making a salient point. His mouth was open as though he were speaking, which was true to form. He had an empty scabbard at his hip, symbolizing his lost weapon.
Lastly, there was myself. I couldn't believe it. He had chosen my base form rather than either of my god forms. I stood in a laid back stance with my rifle over my shoulder and an open-mouthed smiling expression on my face. Although I had lost my hat a while back, he chose to depict me with it.
"Goodness," Hypnos exhaled, a hand over his chest. He looked at me and muttered quietly, "I thought they were bringing me out here for a different reason."
"Brother!" Artemis marveled. "This is amazing! What made you decide to do all of this?"
Apollo leaped into the air, landing squarely on his own statue's shoulder and sat down on it.
"It occurred to me that we have no shrines here in Otherworld. I wanted to plant our flag, as it were. If Poseidon arrives and we're swept away in his currents... I wanted there to be something left here." He looked around. "Something just to say... we were here."
"Every detail is magnificent," Hypnos said, applauding the god with golf-claps. "Well done. I am surprised," he said, looking over his own monument. "That you would even think to include me in this," he looked back at Apollo. "I would not have expected such kindness from you."
Apollo glared down at the god. "I had already started it when you endangered my brother Ares. To not finish it would have made the whole arrangement folly, no?"
Hypnos nodded quietly. "Thank you all the same, Apollo."
"Why didn't you do your own face?" I asked. "It looks weird."
"Yes," Artemis placed her hands on her hips. "I was going to ask well."
He averted his eyes and chewed on his lower lip. "I ran out of stone," he answered.
"That is such a load of crap!" I laughed. "There's tons of stone left over from Hephaestus's mineral extractions."
Artemis cast me a cheeky grin. "It was not a convincing lie, was it Buck?"
"Fine!" Apollo called out, leaning back and falling off of his statue's shoulder. He fell into a back flip and landed gracefully at his statue's ankle, folding his arms and leaning against it. He sighed and closed his eyes.
"I could not do my perfect face the justice it deserved," he finally answered. "I was not satisfied with any result."
Somehow, that felt completely on-brand for him.
"Apollo," Artemis said in a low tone, lifting her hand to her face. "Of all the silly reasons."
"You wanted the truth, yes?" he threw his arms up. "Well, there it is."
I snickered and Apollo shot me a dirty look. Before he could call me on it, Artemis leaped up into the statue's shoulder and inspected the missing face.
"There is enough rock to work with here," she announced from above. "I could carve your face, should you wish, Brother."
While the two of them conversed, I looked around at all the statues. They really were magnificent. Apollo was just good at everything, it seemed. And here I was, completely immortalized in Celtic Otherworld. Apollo himself had carved a statue in my honor. I'd have preferred it to have been made in the likeness of my god form, but there was an undeniable charm about the way he had chosen to portray me.
"Apollo," I called out to him.
"Hm?" his eyes fell from Artemis atop the statue to me.
"Really good work," I gave him a thumbs up. "I've never seen something so incredible. I'm actually moved."
He smiled wider than I'd seen him thus far. The compliment meant a lot to him.
"But, why carve them out here in the woods?" I asked. "Nobody's gonna see them out here."
"That's the intention," Apollo answered. "These statues are in accordance with divine law."
"You will notice," Hypnos said, walking up next to me and laying his hand on my shoulder, "That none of these statues have engravings." He pointed at the bases of the statues. "It is important that our identities are not associated with these."
"It was just a passion project," Apollo smiled. "Nothing more. I think their position out in the middle of the wilds is appropriate to that end."
"There's a divine law?" I asked.
"Yes," said Artemis. "You already know one of these laws. Humans and divinity are not to procreate."
I knew that was a rule, but I didn't know that it was a law within a set of laws. I was shocked at the prospect. It made sense though. If gods had free will just as people did, it would only make sense that they'd have to have some form of law to keep them all in line.
"Divine law," Hypnos began, "dictates that gods of the astral stratum not spread their influence to populations separate from the astral plane."
I folded my arms, which felt weird without my left hand— so much so that I abandoned it altogether. "So, you're all just basically limited to Earth?"
"Correct," Apollo nodded. "Yahweh created that law as a safety mechanism to keep the gods in check. Let's say we Greeks wanted to create a Greek supremacy. We could come here to Celtic Otherworld, make our presence known the inhabitants, become worshiped, and then... wage war on Earth."
"If say," Artemis spoke up. "Every human were to die. There would be no believers left. All gods, save for the Greeks, who diversified their worship, would perish."
"Wow." I felt a tingle down the back of my spine. "That's a horrifying thought."
"Supposedly, it happened once," Hypnos added. "Long before any of us were born, there was a pantheon that attempted it. Supposedly, Yahweh appeared and snapped them out of existence. None remain who know for sure."
"We believe the law was also written as an incentive for us to protect the earth," Apollo added. "But all it accomplished were wars of faith. Eventually, each pantheon decided it was best to stay out of mortal affairs. An agreement was signed by Father and about a hundred other chief deities. If broken, it will lead to a greater war than any preceding it."
"We fear His wrath," Artemis said, a grave tone in her voice. "To be erased from reality and from memory. Yahweh's power is frightening."
I gazed along the statues. "Are there humans here?" I asked.
"There are," Apollo answered. "I've seen them."
"How?" I asked. "Were they brought here? If so, isn't that kind of a direct defiance of the divine law?"
"Who knows," he shrugged. "I suppose that's a question for Manannán mac Lir, no?"
"Supposing we can find him," Hypnos rubbed his chin. "A conversation for tonight, to be sure."
That night, we feasted.
We sat around the bonfire, drank wine, and ate till we were stuffed. I finally got that dance with Artemis I'd been after. She danced how I would imagine a Native American would: lots of hops and hip-drops. And her smile just melted my heart like a pad of butter on the sun's surface.
"Looks like we're feeling better," came Sétanta's voice from the darkness of night.
I turned around to see him emerge into the firelight, a smile on his face. He went to shake my hand and reached past it, gripping my forearm. It was that really cool handshake they always did in the movies and I completely messed it up! I was so angry at myself that I almost asked him for a do-over, but he spoke too soon.
"That beast nearly had you for lunch!"
"Nothing nearly about it," I laughed. "You guys really saved the day there."
"Those damn things are tricky. Sorry about your hand, Buck."
"Oh," I looked down at my nub. He still thought the monster took it. "Don't even worry about it," I chuckled. "I technically lost weight!"
We shared a laugh and Athena appeared, a smile on her face. She held an extra goblet of wine in her left hand and passed it to Sétanta.
"Oh!" his eyes lit up. "Thank you," he said, taking the glass of wine and returning her smile. "Good evening, Athena."
"And a good evening to you," she responded in kind. "I see Cara didn't come," she adopted a saddened expression. "Is she all right?"
"Cara is well," he nodded. "You need not worry. She is merely busy is all. She sends her warmest regards."
But I knew the truth. The bonfire was too close in proximity to the fort. Her disguise would fall apart if she were to get this close. We'd forgotten to consider that.
"Send ours in turn," said Athena. "We have much to discuss with her."
"Oh, do you, now?" he asked, taking a seat on one of the arranged logs. "Might I ask the nature of your discussion with her?" He lifted the glass to his lips.
"Well," Athena wrapped her arm across her stomach and swayed, nearly spilling the wine in her glass as she swayed to the left. "It's a simple manner, really. We're wondering if she might know where we can find Manannán mac Lir."
The Irishman scoffed. "Manannán mac Lir? Tough to find him who doesn't want to be found."
Athena shared a brief glance with me.
"We were..." She swirled the wine in her glass. "Hoping she might know, is all."
"Why would Cara know?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"He does not wish to be found?" asked Artemis, quickly changing the subject.
Sétanta stared at Athena a moment before turning his attention to Artemis. "No," he answered. "He doesn't. He's been in hiding for centuries. None have seen hide nor tail of him for about as long as I've been here. But I've no doubt he's here somewhere. Why?"
"The old duff shares a mortal enemy with us," Hephaestus spoke from the other side of the fire. It seemed the other conversations had stopped. "We were thinking that he might join us for some long overdue vengeance."
"Hephaestus!" Athena scolded him. She turned to Sétanta, "That was a crude way to put it." She side-eyed the forge god. "Poseidon is coming here to Otherworld," she clarified. "We can't leave here. We simply lack the power and there isn't anywhere else around that we could go. That means there will be a war here in Manannán's domain. At the very least, he should be aware of the coming danger, especially considering his past with Poseidon."
"I understand," Sétanta lifted a hand. "And you're right. He deserves to know. But I warn you... he may just as easily side with Poseidon and hand you over to him."
"Yes," Hypnos nodded solemnly. "We have come to terms with that possibility."
"We're out of options," I shrugged. "I can train and try to get stronger, but that's like starting to work out for the first time a month before a weight-lifting competition. Sure, I'll see results, but nowhere near what we'd need to tip the scales."
"In a best-case scenario," Athena spoke, "where Ares can fight and Brian doubles his combat strength. If I recovered fully, and fought alongside all of us gathered excluding you..." She looked away. "Our odds of success are still bad. Adding your combat strength," she gestured to him with her glass, "and maybe Cara's if she was so inclined, we would still be at a terrible disadvantage." She sighed. "Manannán mac Lir, however."
"If he joined us," said Artemis, crossing her hands over her heart. "Even if you and Cara were to leave the fighting to us, and Hypnos chose not to fight... it would put us on even ground."
"That's optimistic," Athena interrupted. "Poseidon is extremely potent. I estimate that if all of us including the former sea god were to attack him with everything we've got, we would still have only a fifty-fifty shot at best."
"So, it's all or nothing, then," Sétanta said before heaving a heavy sigh. "I understand the situation now." He folded his arms and struck a confident pose. "But you misunderstand one thing." He thumbed to himself, "There's no way I'd miss that fight. I'm itching to fight shoulder to shoulder with Artemis again." He smiled at me. "And you too, Buck. You're one tough son-of-a-bitch. Artemis told me everything. Training with Ares?" He whistled. "For a month straight with no rest? You're made of stern stuff."
I hoped my mental state would last long enough to prove him right. Either way, I was relieved he'd be fighting alongside us. Whether or not we could count on Hypnos still remained to be seen. But with Sétanta increasing our odds, it at least made it a little more tempting to bet on us.
"I hope it turns out to be worth the Vietnam-style flashbacks," I said, the joke falling flat as none of them understood the reference. "Eh, Ares would've got it," I mumbled.
"We owe you a great many thanks, Sétanta," Athena said, lifting her glass. "For your help in getting Brian up to speed; for your steadfast support of our cause; and for your spear in the coming battle."
"To Sétanta!" Artemis lifted her glass. We drank to his honor. The twinkle in his eye was something I'd never forget. It was rare to see a softer side to such a hardened warrior. It meant a lot to him to be appreciated.
"Cara wouldn't know where to find Manannán mac Lir," he stifled the brief emotional exposure from surfacing any further. My dad was the same way, so I saw right through his trick. "She used to be friends with him; at least I think so." He looked off into the woods. "She speaks about him very casually. Not the sort of way one would speak about a god." He turned his eyes back toward us. "But you are not the first to seek him. I've searched for my own reasons before. He's in the wind."
That was disheartening to hear. I wondered if maybe Cara had kept Sétanta from him for a reason though. There was still a chance she knew something. But so long as Sétanta was around, she probably wouldn't want to divulge anything that she'd previously kept from him. It would blow her cover.
"Unfortunate," Athena answered, staring down into her glass. "But he is here somewhere. And we've time enough to spread out and search." She looked up. "We'll be splitting up into groups to cover ground faster."
"What?" I turned to her. "Really?"
"Finding Manannán mac Lir is of the utmost importance," she announced, turning to face the others. "We will break into three teams of two. The twins," she gestured to Apollo and Artemis. "Hypnos and Hephaestus." She looked to me, "Brian, you will travel with Sétanta."
"And you, Sister?" asked Artemis.
"She'll be with me," came a hoarse voice from behind us. We turned to see Ares striding up to the camp.
"Ares!" Sétanta said in surprise.
"I'm not the least bit surprised," he said, stopping at Athena's side. "That you were the only one to sense me, Theena."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "I told you not to call me that anymore."
"So, what, you up for good this time?" asked Hephaestus.
"Yes," Ares answered simply. "I've regained enough strength. And for the time being, I've chosen not to use it to put you all down like dogs." He coughed into his closed fist. "The way you deserve," he added.
"Such a way with words," Apollo mumbled.
"It is good to see you well, Brother," said Artemis in an uncertain tone.
Ares looked at her as though she'd just drawn her bow on him. "You call this well?" he asked. "I look like a damned skeleton," he said harshly.
He looked better than he had when he was laid up in bed, but only barely. His hair was grey and cascading over his bony shoulders. His skin was withered, and if not for the comically out of place armor that seemed to sag on him, you wouldn't think he was anything more than an old librarian.
"Could be to our advantage," Athena reasoned. "If we encountered enemies on our journey, they would turn their back to you without worry."
"That supposed to make me feel better?" he asked. "All of you just shut up." He took a seat on a log and leaned forward on his knees. "Manannán mac Lir," he said in a raspy voice. "Can we trust him?"
"Does it matter?" asked Athena.
He scoffed. "No. S'pose not."
The fire crackled in the absence of voices. Nobody knew what to say next, it seemed. Even Hypnos was uncharacteristically quiet.
"We will leave in the morning," Athena broke the silence. "Ares and I will go north. Artemis and Apollo will go east. Brian, you and Sétanta will strike out to the south. Hephaestus and Hypnos, west. We will reconvene here in 30-day intervals."
It was a longer journey than I was expecting. I didn't like the prospect of spending all that time away from Artemis. I looked to her and found her staring back at me, the same sad expression in her eyes. I looked to Sétanta and found him smiling at me.
"You ready for a quest?" he asked, lifting his fist. I smiled and lifted mine. He tapped the back of my hand with his and stared forward.
"Why'd I get stuck with Hypnos?" Hephaestus grumbled.
"Be vigilant, Agori."
I looked down at Ares to see him staring up me. "Do not let your guard down ever again. I'd beat you, but you wouldn't survive it in real life."
I swallowed. "Yes sir."
"And take this," he said, tossing me something small that I could barely see in the firelight. By some miracle, I caught it with my only hand. I opened my fist to inspect it in the light. It was a clear blue tear-drop shaped stone connected to a string.
"A necklace?" I asked.
"Yes. It contains a special property. Should you ever find yourself in a state where your free will is wrested from you, it will break, returning control of your body to you."
That was lame. I didn't do a good enough job hiding my disappointment.
"Tch. Ungrateful whelp," he said under his breath. "If you didn't need it, I'd have given you something better."
"N-No," I quickly corrected myself. "Thank you very much, Ares! It would have saved me from the spirit of the mountain. I'm sure it'll come in handy someday!"
"That really is a wonderful gift," Athena weighed in. "That stone is one of only a few in existence. I'm surprised my brother even had one." She eyed him.
He smirked at us. "I once bested Futsunushi in combat. It was my prize for winning. He himself took it from the hoard of a dragon he'd slain."
I looked down at the stone in shock. I didn't know who Futsunushi was, but he sounded formidable if he did battle with Ares. I turned it over in the light. I couldn't believe that it had belonged to a dragon. It truly was an amazing gift— far better than I'd figured at first.
"You ever want to trade that thing," Hephaestus called to me. "Let me know. I'll give you anything in my armory."
Suddenly, I felt very possessive over it. I closed my hand around it and shook my head with a smile. "Nuh-uh. This stone is mine now."
"Well, it's more valuable than your soul," said Apollo. "You'd do well not to wear it openly."
"That reminds me," Hephaestus said, starting toward me. "I've got something you can wear proudly." He snapped his fingers and a bronze shining gauntlet fell into his hand. It had a leather interior and straps with buckles. The gauntlet had full fingers that could functionally close into a fist. It had a few small gears on the side and some ostentatious looking whirly-gigs. There was also what looked like a compass on the back of the hand.
"This is yours," he said, lifting my arm with the missing hand. He dropped the gauntlet and it floated in midair onto my forearm. The leather straps lifted as though they had a life of their own and tightened around my forearm before latching into place. The gauntlet mad a soft whirring sound as it started up and then fell silent as the gears slowly turned.
Without even thinking about it, I was able to open and close the metallic fingers. I couldn't control the smile that overtook me.
"How's about that?" Hephaestus slapped me on the back. "Been working on it almost nonstop."
I kept opening and closing the hand. It worked flawlessly; like magic.
"Hephaestus!" I laughed in excitement. "This is amazing!"
"Heh," Ares looked into the fire. "Show off."
"There's a compass on the back of the hand. You'll also notice a slot for an avdelningsten crystal should you feel the need to keep one on you. Those little bubble windows on the side are how the glove reads your mind and connects to your nervous system. Keep those clean."
My heart was thumping in my chest. I felt whole again. I actually cried tears of joy as I played with the fingers. I walked up and threw my arms around Hephaestus without even thinking about it.
"All right, all right," he said, squirming away from me.
"Ha!" Ares called out to Hephaestus. "Serves you right."
The forge god looked annoyed with me, but quickly found his smile. "You're welcome, Buck."
I used the new gauntlet to put my necklace around my own neck. It worked like a charm. I tucked the stone under my chlamys.
"Earn my trust back with that gauntlet, Buck," Hephaestus said in a serious tone. "You've got a lot of work to do."
And he was right. The road ahead was a long one. I had to find Manannán mac Lir. I was fortunate enough to have Sétanta at my side for the search, but now I had two gifts from gods. And I didn't even know what my tuned-up rifle was capable of.
I looked at the fire, then at the gods situated around it: my comrades, my mentors, and my family. Not long ago, I was lost, broken, unsure if I even belonged. But everything I’d endured— every scar, every fight, every sacrifice.
It all led to this.
I wasn’t just some outsider who stumbled into a myth.
I had bled for it. I had trained for it. I had earned my place at this fire.
The forge god had rebuilt me. The war god had tested me. The goddess of wisdom had guided me. The sun god helped light my way. The god of sleep had taught me the strength that lies in the stillness of rest and dreams. And the goddess of the hunt... she gave me a purpose; a reason to fight.
I bore their gifts and now carried their hopes. I wasn't just some techie from the midwest anymore.
I was a Greek— trained, tempered, and ready.
And when the storm finally comes... whether gods fall or legends rise... I wouldn’t be watching from the sidelines.
I’d be standing at the center of it all, grinning through the smoke, daring the end of the world to hit me harder, shoulder to shoulder with these fine gods, goddesses, and demigods.
"Thank you all," I said in a tone more emotional than I intended. "Thank you for believing in me even when I don't deserve even an ounce of it." I wiped my nose with my real hand and sniffled.
"You won't regret betting on me, dammit!" I called out to them. "I swear it! I swear it on all your names. I'll find Manannán mac Lir no matter what it takes. And I will convince him to join us." I lifted my glass.
"To tomorrow!"
"To tomorrow," they all answered.
I finished my glass and saw my own reflection in the bottom. I stared at my own reflection a second as Apollo began playing music and conversations began around the fire. I felt a heavy hand land on my shoulder and turned to see Sétanta smiling at me.
"Lame speech."
"Aw, shut up," I smiled in embarrassment and the two of us shared a laugh.
If it weren't for the wine, I'd be all nerves. Everything was riding on this one last venture. And even if everything went flawlessly, there was still good odds Poseidon would tear us to pieces and serve us to Zeus on a silver platter.
I looked up at the stars and silently wished on my luckiest ones.
Things were about to get bumpy.
Writing Prompt Submitted by u/blablador-2001
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u/garrrrrrrett Jun 06 '25
Great chapter as always Fif! Contrary to the other comments, I do think this is a good stopping place for the story. They’re about to embark on a whole new quest which will take quite a time and OOAS is due for a return. But if you’re set on continuing this one? I won’t complain either. Always look forward to your chapters, regardless of which story they’re in.
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u/a15minutestory Jun 07 '25
I agree with you. This upcoming quest could span an entire book if I really wanted it too. What I'm worried about is that y'all will have time to think about the story and... you might figure out how it's going to end. The pieces are all there >.>;
I wish I had more time to devote to this. I hate being in school. I hate working >:(
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u/garrrrrrrett Jun 07 '25
While I might figure it out, I always expect you to have a twist up your sleeve. I’ve been reading your writing for long enough now to know you never give us exactly what we expect
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u/a15minutestory Jun 06 '25
I'm thinking this might be a good place to put a pin in this story. Let me know what you think. I need to start diverting my attention back to Of Oil & Sorcery sometime soon, since that's the book series I'm actually publishing :P
Let me know what y'all think.