The Moon Always Shines

By Meghbarna Ghosh

I]The musing of Leto

She was different. She didn’t choose a nice homely domain and settle down nice and quick.

The daughter of Leto and Zeus always had been a little bit too outspoken, or so they thought.

Her twin brother Apollo had followed a more conventional path for young gods. Having chosen archery as his domain,

he was rather popular.

But the girl, Leto was worried about the girl.

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Ever since she had given birth to Artemis, she had felt something was missing. When Apollo had been served nectar, Artemis had been cast aside like a background character, seen but never understood.

Of course, she loved her son, but somewhere in her maternal heart hid pity for her only daughter.

Had she too been treated like this in her younger days, she didn’t remember. It all had been so long back… she couldn’t even remember her parents’ faces or even names.

She had always been peaceful, she had avoided wars, been obedient, but instead of being loved and respected, she had been cast aside and forgotten.

She wondered if the same fate awaited her daughter.

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II]The Awakening

She has sealed her fate, thought Leto. Her innocent daughter would now be punished. She has assisted in Apollo’s delivery, why couldn’t she just have chosen childbirth as her domain and lived in peace?...

A few days ago Artemis had got into a fight with Apollo and left home in a fit of passionate rage.

Only Hephaestus had seen her since, the encounter hadn’t been a pleasant one.

Apparently, Artemis had threatened him and forced to fashion a bow for her.

Leto wondered if she would ever return…

She still remembered her daughter’s last words before leaving...

“I will indeed be a goddess of childbirth mother, do not burden yourself with anxiety for my future.”

But goddesses of childbirth didn’t need bows... or did they?

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III]Crescent

  1 century later

 Her daughter had succeeded where she has failed. Artemis had chosen archery, childbirth, the moon, and many more as her domains. A diverse pallet yes, but no less than she deserved. Afterall, she had proved herself, and in terms of power, she had the ichor of titans and gods, a dangerous yet rewarding combination. Artemis had recently returned after a long while in the wilderness.

Leto couldn’t have been happier for her daughter, for despite everything she had earned her place and role.

But she couldn’t help thinking that this was only a crescent of her true power, only a crescent.

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IV]Reign of the Moon Huntress

7 million years later

Over the aeons Artemis had slowly yet steadily risen through ranks to go as high as being an Olympian.

She was now both loved and respected, the two things Leto had desired most.

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Leto had started remembering her days with her wolves, she had been so like her daughter back then, so fearless, and full of life. The tiniest particle of bitterness mingled with her pride; this life could have belonged to her.

But it didn’t matter; not any more.

She knew what she had to do now.

It was time for her to retreat; it was time for the moon huntress to reign.

The time of wolves was long over, but she had been clinging to the illusion like a drowning man to a lifeguard’s hand.

She desperately wanted to reverse time and return to her days with the wolves and perhaps she would some day in some other life and story.

But for now, she would return to the great mother, the place where there is neither joy nor pain, neither birth nor death...

She would once again be one with Chaos.

The end 

By Meghbarna Ghosh