((I'm going to intrduce another character now. I don't know what I'll end up doing with him, but I think it'd be fun to play more than one character for a while))

Artemis accepted the refill with a smile, listening to Storm's explanation. "Smart little girl, that sister of yours." She gave Storm another smile, then took a sip of the chocolate. "I think that chocolate is a comfort that the gods - especially me - could use at the moment. All things considered." She said, a hint of relief in her voice.

Then Artemis heard a strange noise outside the cave, like the snapping of a branch. "What was that?" She sat up, head spinning to look towards the entrance to the cave. There was someone in the shadows..."Show yourself!" Artemis demanded. The shadowy form obliged, slipping from the shadows to the center of the opening.

He was a lithe and graceful creature, probably about 5'8" tall. He had luminescent blonde hair, almost white, clipped fairly short but shaggy. His eyes were an icy blue-green and he wore simple hunting clothes. Artemis guessed his age to be about 17. He stood there in the entrance to the cave, looking slightly embarrassed, but mostly cocky. Artemis waved him in, slyly pulling a blade from her shirtsleeve.

"Who are you?" Artemis asked, voice appraising and wary.

"Oh, me?" The boy replied coyly, a smile playing on his lips. "I'm Starkhed Milestone. Stark." He raised his hand in salute, sly grin still on his mouth.

"Are you aware to whom you speak?"

"A centaur," he bowed deeply to Storm, "and his lady?"

Artemis chuckled and allowed Storm to answer this assumption, should he choose to. She was curious what he would say. The boy, Stark, just stood there smiling carelessly. He did seem to show Storm some respect, though.

Storm looked at Stark before speaking, " There you would be wrong young one." Raising up slowly so as not to frighten the boy and shaking his head he just smiled. Wrapping his arm around Artemis' waist he then spoke, " We happen to be a goddess and her faithful, loving centaur."

He then looked back towards Stark before speaking, " You can eat with us if you so choose. There is plenty of food." With that he bent down and handed Artie her glass once more.

Stark's eyebrows shot up into his forhead when Storm told him that Artemis was...a goddess. He looked flustered for a moment, then bowed deeply. He was normally cocky and sly, but even he knew that a goddess was to be feared and respected. He looked back up only when Artemis told him to, rising slowly should she change her mind.

"I'm sorry...?" He paused, waiting for her to name herself.

"Artemis," she answered.

"Wow!" Stark looked, if possible, even more shocked than before. To be in her presence was strange enough, to be asked to share a meal? It was nigh unheard of. Stark wouldn't dare refuse, even if he wanted to. He ventured further into the cave.

Artemis found it all rather amusing. The kid looked like he was about to throw up. She hoped he didn't. It would be a mess she really didn't want to have to deal with. She did smile at Storm when he answered the boy, setting an arm on top of Storm's. "Do sit, though. We just went hunting."

Stark nodded and sat down by the fire. He looked a bit uncomfortable...possibly even nervous. That was new. "So...what brings such an important pair out to m- this lovely forest?" He had to check himself to keep from referring to the forest as his own, though he considered it so. He had lived there his whole life, knew all of its ins and outs and hiding holes. He bet he could even keep up with Artemis while hunting, though he would never presume to be better. He didn't want his hide ripped off and turned into chew-thing for hounds.

Storm smiled gently towards the male before speaking to Artemis, " Artie my dear I think you have scared the poor boy." Shaking his head he looked over at Stark before speaking, " She is not as scary as some have her brought up to be. If you make a comment she will not give you to her hounds as a chew toy." With that he then looked at Artie before speaking, " Should I warn him about your bathing habits?"

Shaking his head he hugged her to his side gently. Playing with her hair he then yawned softly before rubbing his mouth. Grinning he then spoke, " I think I'm going to go on to bed Artie." Bending down he kissed her temple before letting go of her and limping deeper into the cave. Ever since he had stuck his hand into the plant food he had been feeling really tired. He just hoped that he would feel better in the morning.

Artemis laughed at Storm's comment before turning to the boy. "So long as you stay well away from my bathing areas, you should be fine." She turned back to Storm looking concerned. "Are you feeling all right? Or just tired?"

Stark watched the scene with interest. He had always heard that Artemis was a man-hating, vengeful goddess. This showed just the opposite, but how did he know she was even telling the truth? There had to be some way to find that out...He wondered absentmindedly.

"Good night, Storm." Artemis called after the retreating centaur. She hoped he would get some rest. It had been a long couple of days...for both of them.

Artemis and Stark sat in awkward silence for some moments before one of them spoke up. "To answer your question from earlier, boy, we are here investigating to disasters sweeping the countryside. There is a ranch nearby with a sick child that seemed to have some sort of connection. It was a dead end, though." Artemis hung her head, unhappy with the results of their search thus far.

"The catastrophes?" Stark had been looking at the ground and walls of the cave, but now he looked directly at Artemis. "I've been trying to find something out about them, too. I want to see if there is a pattern...if there is any chance they may end up here and if that may be avoided. I...I think I have a lead."

Storm turned towards Artemis when she called after him. Smiling gently he then spoke, " I'm fine my lady I've just been really tired this afternoon."With that he bent down and nuzzled her cheek softly. He looked into her face carefully before whispering, "I'll make a spot for you to sleep."

Nodding towards Stark he went to the far wall and laid down. Placing a blanket on the other side of him he made a small bed for Artemis so she could lay down on the blanket while using his side as a pillow or resting against him. Shaking his head once more he was soon fast asleep.

Artemis smiled as she watched Storm retreat to the back of the cave, but her head flipped sharply towards Stark when he mentioned a lead.

"You have found someone who might know something?" Artemis might have thanked the gods, were she not one herself, at this development. Finally she had some luck! This boy who had stumbled upon her hideout by sheer chance might know something about the incidents, might be able to help her! She wanted to hug him then and there, but that would have been undignified, not to mention very out of character. She raised her eyes, practically begging for him to continue.

"Yes...I heard of a man in this area who might know something." Stark hinted vaguely.

"Is he a rancher with a sick son?" Artemis asked with apprehension. She might have to kill someone if that was the case, she was so frusterated. Stark just looked at her with confusion. "Not to my knowledge."

Artemis was relieved, but suddenly realized that she was incredibly tired. She looked over at the bed Storm had made and sighed. "This is all very interesting, but I'm afraid we must talk about it in the morning. You may sleep here if you wish." She rose and walked over to Storm, then laid down next to him on the blanket. Stark looked around and found a place of his own, using his pack as a pillow. Within moments they were both asleep.

When he heard footsteps from above him Storm opened his eyes. Smiling gently he looked up at Artemis before speaking, "What did you talk about Artie?" With that he turned when she laid down. Gently rubbing her back he began to give her a slow massage.

After a little while he kissed her forehead before laying her head down on his equine back. Then lowering down he closed his eyes after listening to her answer or lack thereof. Then he was soon fast asleep not even bothering to be wary of Stark.

((I guess we should time-jump to the morning, then?))

(Yeah I guess so. Unless you want to post one of their dreams.)

((Uh, I think I'm going to time jump...my brain just isn't up to imagining a dream just now XP))

Artemis awoke to the familiar noises of a morning in the wilderness; birds twittering in the trees, faint breezes blustering through the trees, and the nearby stream babbling contentedly. Her eyes opened groggily and she peered around the shadowy cave. Storm was still dozing next to her and Stark was motionless on the opposite side of the cave, save his rising and falling chest.

Artemis got up and went to the little pit where the fire had been the night before. It was now empty and cold, only a few little ashes as a reminder of the fire that had been there the night before. She pulled some wood from the little pile next to the pit and searched her pack for flint. After successfully building a little fire, she ventured outside to try to find some food.

About ten minutes after she woke up Storm opened his eyes. Gathering the bedding supplies he then got up. Wincing at all the aches from sleeping on a couple of rocks he rubbed the spots carefully. When he could move without wincing he walked to the mouth of the cave.

Seeing Artemis there with the fire he just smiled before with a thought he got a pot out and began to make some coffee for them. Storm then looked voer at Stark gently waiting for the boy to awaken.

Artemis had collected a few small eggs and managed to catch a good sized fish from the river when she returned to the cave. She cradled the bundle with a bit of her clothes and was surprised to see Storm awake when she got back. He was sitting by the fire with a pot of something...ah, coffee. She was startled, quickly dropping the bit of fabric supporting the food, but fortunately remembering to catch the items. The shock was quickly followed by embarrassment as she remembered the events of the previous night.

She approached the fire and laid the food down on the cave floor, then rooted around in her pack for something that would serve as a pan. She found something that would do and set it over the fire next to the pot, cracking the eggs and laying them on top to fry.

Smelling the cooking food, Stark began to stir. He turned onto his side and opened fuzzy eyes. His vision was bad in the morning, eyes groggy with sleep. He sat up slowly, watching the other two around the fire.

"Morning," he called across the cave, giving a cheerful smile. "What's for breakfast?"

When he heard something slip Storm turned his head towards Artemis. Seeing how unusually clumsy she was today he frowned. Raising up he just watched as the coffee began to boil just as she put the pot beside him. Gently touched her shouder he then whispered, "Artie are you okay?

Hearing Stark moving around he looked up and smiled gently, "Morning. Um I'm guessing eggs, fish, and coffee." With that he shrugged as he got a wooden spoon out of his saddle bags and stirred the coffee carefully.

Artemis, a bit confused by Storm's question, shrugged. "Nothing is wrong. You just startled me is all. I wasn't expecting you to be up yet." She prodded at the eggs, making sure they were still soft, then carefully flipped them over. Then she pulled the fish over to her and began the delicate process of removing its scales. When she was finished, she found a suitable rock and laid it in the fire then placed the fish on top.

"An interesting combination, but I'll try it." Stark commented, bowing a bit at each of them. He may have unconventional manners, but he knew how to show respect to a goddess and her consort. He got up and moved over to the fire. "Anything I can do to help?"

Storm looked at her gently he then spoke, " I wake up early so many times that it is basically second nature for me to wake up with the sun."With that he just shrugged as he moved the coffee over to the side to steam as he waited for Artemis's meal. Looking at Starker he laughed softly before raising up.

Shaking his head slightly he then spoke, "You do not have to bow to me. I'm just a regular centaur who has the good fortune of being friends with a goddess." With that he then got up and then he spoke, " You can come with me."

"I'll keep that in mind. Maybe next time it won't surprise me at all." She removed the eggs from the fire and set them to the side to cool off a bit, then turned to the fish, which needed to be turned over. She pulled out a little sack of spices that she kept in her pack for cooking outdoors and spread it over the top of the fish. Then she flipped it over and spread the remainder of the spices on the other side.

Stark nodded at Storm, acknowledging that he should no longer bow to him. "For the record, you need not bow to me, either," Artemis called from her place by the fire. "I would prefer it if I didn't have to constantly tell you to look up." She chuckled and continued tending to the fish. Stark followed Storm without a word.

Storm just smiled gently as he bent dow and kissed her forehead. Then with that he walked into the woods and instead of hunting he just bent down and began to pick some berries. Smiling softly he thn spoke, " So your first experience with a goddess not what you expeted?" With that he just smiled as he put the berries in a small bag.

Even from here he could smell the fish cooking and just smiled. Closing his eyes he just continued to pick the berries.

Stark laughed, throwing his head back. "Certainly not what I had expected, not one bit." He bent down and began to help Storm pick berries. These were smooth and rich, inky purple in color. They came from a plant with round, waxy leaves and felt firm when he plucked them. He gathered a handful of his tunic to carry them in, piling as many as he could fit. He also happened upon a little mint plant and plucked a few leaves from it. It would go well with the fruit. "I expected her to be more...I don't know, aloof? She seems very connected to people. I would have thought a goddess to be lofty, perhaps even abrasive. Especially one with a reputation like Artemis'"

Storm laughed softly as he gathered berries and some herbs. Then he spoke, " When I first met her she was alot like that. However we became fast friends and she was kind to me. There have been countless times my parents got on to me for spending time with her instead of doing my chores." Shaking his head he bent down stretching a scar on his side from one of his parent's punishments. He had told Artemis that he had fallen and scratched against a very sharp rock.

After a while he raised up and spoke, " I think we have enough." With that he turned and began to walk back to the cave.