Artemis smiled weakly as she looked at Laman. "Then let's get to it." She said simply as she walked over to the water. "Is there anything we can use to carry the water? Like a cantine or something?" She asked as she looked at the purity of the pool. "I've heard rumors about the water in the towns, that it's tainted. I don't want to have to drink it. And if you're really a god, then I'm sure you wouldn't want to drink it either." She said looking strangely calm and serene.

Artemis didn't really have any room to carry anything. She had been travelling for four years, finding things as she went along. She didn't even own a pack or a cantine of her own. How she had survived for so long without these things was a mystery to her, and perhaps to everyone else as well. She could only begin to wonder why she was even still alive to this day. "Do we even have anything that can be used to carry supplies at all? Because I most certainly don't have anything." She said as she turned to look at Laman.

"Something to put it in? I don't really know... I suppose we could probably find or make something... Perhaps there will be something back at the citadel were we slept at. There are many things there still intact." HE scratched the back of his head. He never really had to worry about these sort of things. Still didn't' really. Although now that he had become more human, and nutrients did do him good, he couldn't starve to death.... Although he would go into a comatose state.

((sorry brain is dead...best I could think up))

Artemis nodded and walked by him, she was looking towards the citadel, the tallest and most intact building in the entire city. "I'll know what to look for, if I see it, so let's go take a look inside." She said softly. She remembered how to get back to the citadel. Laman had led her to the pool, so she simply had to reverse her directions, follow her steps backwards.

It only took a couple of minutes to find the way back, and she walked inside the building. "I hope you don't mind letting me explore." She said as she made her way down a hallway on the first floor. It was dark and desolate in the hallways, so she made a few stops to enter rooms on the side. In one room she managed to find a pack, one that resembled an old hiker's bag. So she picked it up and weighed it in her mind. It would be able to hold at least thirty five pounds.

"Well, I found something." She said indicating the pack. "Now we just need to find supplies to pack inside it." She said simply and went around, busying herself with looking for canteens or bottles, or even containers of any kind to hold water in. She knew that she had conjured the sword out of nothing, but she wasn't sure how that power worked, and she wasn't sure she wanted to try it for such menial tasks as looking for canteens or supplies.

Artemis stopped to look at Laman. "That could work. But you'll have to carry it." She said lightly as she searched through some old cabinets and storage units. She managed to find a few things; an old swiss army knife, packaged food, the kind that never expired no matter how long it was kept. As she found things she put them in the pack. Over the next few minutes, the pack was already getting heavier than usual, so she knew there shouldn't be too much room left in it.

(Major block right now.... that's why it took me so long to reply in the first place.... Sorry... )

((I know what you mean.. I'll wrap up the supplying and get us going))

"alright, I will go fetch it and go get it filled. WE can meet out at the city gates on the West side." He took one last glance at her, making sure she was doing alright then left the room. He stepped quickly through the halls to fetch the article he needed, then instead of walking back, he found a large open window. Although it was more of a hole in the wall than a window now. As he was about six stories up he decided flight would be easier and quicker. he lept from the room opening his wings as soon as he was far enough away from the building wall. his wings caught the air and he pumped them furiously to get lift. once he was a little higher, he found a thermal and glided toward the spring they had been at previously. he landed, using a building's wall as a perch and climbed down to collect his bounty. Once he had it full, he then re climbed the wall and launched into the air again.

Although he had said to meet at the entrance, he circled around the estate building to wait and follow her from the air. He wasn't sure if an attack could come again so soon, but he didn't' want to risk it.

"That's probably about all there is around this place." Artemis said softly as she packed away one last item and lifted the pack. It was around twenty-eight pounds heavier than it was earlier. But knowing the strength of old hiking packs, she knew that it could hold eight more pounds easy. So with a little effort she managed to get the pack on her back and she walked out of the estate building.

She looked back at the broken doorway, a somewhat guilty and sorry look on her face, as if she was apologizing to the building itself for damaging it. After a moment, she turned away from the building and began walking. Laman had told her to meet him at the West Gate. Hopefully it was the same way she had entered the city, or else she would never find the place he was talking about.

Suddenly she remembered that her sunglasses were still inside, so she thought about going back to get them. Instead, she simply thought about making them appear and they did. "Who would have thought that conjuring would be so easy?" She asked herself lightly as she managed to make her way to the old city entrance on the west side. She looked up at the gate and noticed that it was indeed the one she had entered the day before.

Artemis turned to see Laman landing on the ground. She smiled and nodded lightly as she looked at the large horn he was carrying. It certainly was large enough to be used as a container. And from what she could see, there was no water dripping out of it through the cap. Knowing that, she could tell that they were ready to go. So she smiled again. "Yeah, we should definitely get going." She said calmly.

Artemis continued walking as she thought about the question. "Well, it's been long enough that I've lost track of the exact amount of time, but I would say it's been about four years, give or take a few months." She said with some consideration. "I can't be sure of exactly how long, but I try to at least keep track of how many years, and I'm sure it's been that long." She managed to keep a calm look on her face, even though she was screaming internally at how long she had been without memories.

"The only important memory I have now is that of looking at that guy's back as he walked away and left me to die." She said as a tear betrayed her unnaturally calm expression. She wiped it away, hoping that Laman hadn't noticed it. She had her sunglasses on now, but the tear had rolled down her cheek beyond the cover of her sunglasses.

Artemis said nothing and continued to walk on, glad that Laman hadn't noticed the tear, or that he had ignored it. She wasn't really sure where they were headed, seeing as she didn't even know how she had managed to find the old city to begin with. She had just been wandering out of habit up until now, so her sense of direction was a little warped.

It was odd how he adjusted so easily to the girl's presence. It had been sometime since he was in anothers' company. He had in fact, been pouting, so to speak. He hated what the others had done to cat him down upon this world. he had spent most of that time in the ruined city they were leaving. He had scared away a few nomad groups who had tried to settle in a year ago.

Perhaps this girl was the little bit of chaos he needed in his life right now.

((Gah can't think of anything else to add.... gomen))

Artemis was simply walking along with Laman, and several hours later, she was beginning to see something in the distance. Perhaps it was a city or town. It was too hard to tell from this distance, especially for her. She sighed and pulled the hiking bag off her back. She opened it up and pulled out a package of food. "We should stop to eat for a bit. I think I see a town or something up ahead, but it'll be a couple more hours before we reach it." She said as she ripped open the package.

She handed some to him. "Here. It may not be the best food in the world, but it's better than nothing." She said with a small smile as she took some of the dried meat out of the package and took a bite.

A couple of hours later, Artemis found herself staring up at the towers of what looked to be exactly what Laman had made it out ot be earlier. An old temple complex. There was a large statue at the front of the temple of a woman, probably a goddess. She appeared to be a goddess of peace, perhaps even a creator of life. It was hard for Artemis to tell. She was still looking at the statue, when she noticed some people in white robes coming out of the temple.

Artemis stepped around from behind the statue to get a better look at them, but she didn't go too far, for fear of anything bad that might happen. That and she didn't want to stray too far from Laman. If it was true that Fate had brought her to him, then she didn't want to run off. The people in white robes came closer, and she began to notice that they had smiles on their faces. As if they had been expecting them to come.

"Welcome, to the Temple of Selene, Our Lady of Peace." The first person spoke, a woman's voice. Artemis tried to make out her face, but it was hidden by the hood of her robes. So Artemis simply smiled faintly and looked at the statue again.

"Is that your goddess? Selene?" She asked in a soft voice as well. She was awed by the statue, and she wondered if Laman would have known this goddess. Artemis could see the white robed people out of the corner of her eyes. The leader of the procession had taken her hood off. She was in her mid-thirties, her skin fair, and her eyes possessed a warm shine, despite the state of the world.

"Yes. This temple was built twenty years ago in honor of Selene. It was believed that she had descended to Earth on this very spot to bring peace between two warring peoples." The woman said softly. "Unfortunately, she also died on this spot. The people who were fighting with one another were too overcome with hatred to listen to the goddess that opted to appear before them, and they overcame her. Upon her death, the two peoples were utterly destroyed, and our founders, my mother and me among them, built this shrine in her honor."

"That's horrible. I didn't know gods could die at all." Artemis said as she turned her head to look at the statue again. "Hey, uhh, is it alright if we stay here for the night? We've been travelling all day." She wasn't sure if these people would be accomodating or nice, but so far, the leader seemed welcoming enough.

"Of course, my dear. Come in. But please, take those glasses off before entering the temple." The woman said and motioned them to follow her inside. She hardly took a look at Laman.

Artemis sighed and took off her sunglasses, when several of the robed people gasped and the woman turned to look at her again. Even she gasped and took a step back, away from Artemis. Artemis was beginning to sense a pattern. This had happened all the times that people had ushered her out of their homes, and she was getting sick of it. "OK, now this is the part where you're going to tell me to leave, so I'm not going to bother and I'll just go..." Artemis began to walk away when the woman grabbed her arm.

"No, my dear, you absolutely must stay." She said with a determined look on her face. "You see, we have a prophecy here that I think you will find interesting. I believe it applies to you, and you really must hear it. Come. Both of you." She said and began walking inside at a brisk pace.

As they came closer to the temple, Laman cast a simple illusion spell. Something that would make him appear as fully mortal as the girl. Only those who had seen him as he was before, and those with high spiritual powers would be able to pierce through it.

As Laman walked on, he grew more and more agitated. He started to recognize bits of the landscape and his stomach became unsettled. As they came within view of statue... He averted his eyes quickly.

Now he recognized where he was. A painful expression clouded his eyes and face. He clenched his fists tightly and turned away from the robed figures that walked toward them. Blood raged in his ears and he took no part of the girls conversation.

Oh yes he knew this place. Perhaps not the newly built temple, But he had been here.... here her body had lain lifeless in the dirt. He had told her not to go, that she would be vulnerable. His own powers making it so. He had been bound by rules then. The laws of the universe. It was the power of chaos, that nature that even gods could loose their lives, if they fought and led with humans upon their level.

When he had got there, it was too late for him to do anything. His fury...It was not gentle, but at least it was swift.

He followed along almost in a daze, lost in the past and the misery he still kept within him, a dark stain upon his heart.

As they came closer to the temple, Laman cast a simple illusion spell. Something that would make him appear as fully mortal as the girl. Only those who had seen him as he was before, and those with high spiritual powers would be able to pierce through it.

As Laman walked on, he grew more and more agitated. He started to recognize bits of the landscape and his stomach became unsettled. As they came within view of statue... He averted his eyes quickly.

Now he recognized where he was. A painful expression clouded his eyes and face. He clenched his fists tightly and turned away from the robed figures that walked toward them. Blood raged in his ears and he took no part of the girls conversation.

Oh yes he knew this place. Perhaps not the newly built temple, But he had been here.... here her body had lain lifeless in the dirt. He had told her not to go, that she would be vulnerable. His own powers making it so. He had been bound by rules then. The laws of the universe. It was the power of chaos, that nature that even gods could loose their lives, if they fought and led with humans upon their level.

When he had got there, it was too late for him to do anything. His fury...It was not gentle, but at least it was swift.

He followed along almost in a daze, lost in the past and the misery he still kept within him, a dark stain upon his heart.

Artemis began to follow the woman inside but stopped and turned to see Laman simply standing there. It looked like his hands were balled into fists, and that he was remembering something painful to him. She walked over to him and lightly laid her hand on his arm. "Are you coming?" Artemis asked softly. She could hear the woman's footsteps drawing closer again.

"I deeply suggest that you come inside, Laman. This prophecy may be of great interest to you as well." The woman said in a soft whisper as she gazed at him. "I am not going to reveal you to the others, but I know something of your history. Of how much Selene meant to you. Our prophecy speaks of her rebirth." She said in a calm, soothing voice.

Artemis looked at her, but she turned her attention back to Laman. "Come on, we can't just stand around out here all day." She said softly. She looked to see the temple woman walking off into the temple. "I'll be inside. I want to hear this prophecy." Artemis said softly as she turned and walked away.

The temple was truly beautiful. It had been touched by time, it was not newly built, nor had it been repaired in the last twenty years. But it was still beautifully crafted, built to honor a goddess, and it suited the purpose well enough. Marble columns rose to hold the ceiling above, almost the entire place seemed to have been built out of marble. Artemis found herself staring in wonder at the place.

"So, you know about Laman?" Artemis asked the woman as she followed her through the temple.

"I only know of his history. How he came down from the heavens and destroyed the very people who had taken Selene's life. How years later, his mind broke and he pushed the world into further chaos. And how he was banished to live here on the Earth until he could find a way to redeem himself." The woman answered. "Other than that, I do not know him personally. But I am the high priestess here. I recognized him from the old stories my mother once told me. And from the very stories I tell to the other children and priestesses of Selene."

Artemis nodded her head, but she didn't really understand it. "So, wait a sec. That means Laman was upset that Selene was killed, if he avenged her death. What does that mean?"

"My dear, even I don't know that much. She could have been his sister, or more than that." The older woman answered. "The deepest part of the temple is just a bit further. The prophecy awaits for you to hear it. I can feel the power flowing through the temple. It seems to have become more active upon your arrival."

Artemis looked from side to side wondering what the temple woman could possibly mean. How can a temple become active just because I'm here? She thought inwardly as she followed deeper into the temple.

***

"DAMMIT!" A dark figure paced across the dimly lit area. "She has found the temple of Selene. This is not good. If she learns of the prophecy, her memories may come back."

"Calm yourself, Lazareth. Simply because the girl knows the prophecy, does not mean that her memories will come back." A second figure was sitting down, gazing at the crystal ball. "Why don't you send another monster after her?" The second voice said with a sarcastic laugh.

"SHUT UP RAKA!!" Lazareth snapped at the second figure. "The girl must not be allowed to know the prophecy, or she will seek to put the world in order again. And in doing so, she will regain her memories. In doing so, Selene will be reborn through her." Lazareth said with a snarl.

"Oh, Lazareth, I never did understand how you could get so worked up over a simple mortal. And a simple prophecy. Then again, you are Laman's brother. I can understand how you would not want him to return. By keeping him on Earth, you were granted his powers, at least until he returns." Raka said with a smirk as he stood from his chair. He walked into the dim light. "How the Trickster continues to meddle in the affairs of humans." Raka said simply.

"And you dont meddle? You are the God of FATE for crying out loud. You control everything. You could stop this easily. So why don't you?!" Lazareth snarled as he snapped at the other.

Raka simply smiled in a mischievous manner. "Because I like watching you struggle, my friend. I like watching you work your hardest. Besides, once I set a path in motion, I prefer not going through all the trouble to stop it."

"Like not stopping the girl from running into my brother's exile. And not killing her before she could reach the temple. And not stopping her from hearing the prophecy. I really hate you, Raka." Lazareth growled as he continued to watch the crystal ball.

Raka smirked. "Yes, I know. I'm so cruel." He laughed in a sarcastic manner again. "Good luck, Lazareth, you're going to need it without my help." Raka vanished from the spot leaving the other to work alone.

"Oh, I'll manage." Lazareth smirked. "I'll manage."