Chapter 2

Majestic Decrepitude

Rheonios now followed the tracks at a near run. He had fumbled in the darkness before, but now, each track's silvery moon shown as clearly to him as a lighthouse beacon to a sailor coming int harbor. He thanked Artemis in his heart for her kindness. She was a mother and like most mothers, she protected and loved those under her care.

Rheonios tripped over a log and fell face-first into some crackling grass, but with the trail so thoroughly his. He bounced to his feet with a laugh and kept running. He slowed some as the silver tracks led him through the darkest shadows of the forest, But Rheonios sensed his hunt was almost over. The lioness could not be too far ahead and she would certainly be willing to do what her mother asked. All she had to do was breathe into the jar and Rheonios could return home to honor and joy, having taken on a task given by the goddess herself.

Rheonios felt a buzz in his system, but it was not like the buzz of wine. Wine made one stupid, clumsy, and it made people slow down. Whatever he felt was the exact opposite of that. Rheonios felt his limbs grow deft, his heart pump faster and stronger with each pump sending his blood like a torrent through is body, and everything, even in the darkest bits of shadow stood out clearly, as did every sound in the night.

"A taste of what you are coming upon my dear," A voice said, "To see what your brothers and sisters are like."

Rheonios was the only child in his family that managed to make it to manhood, but he knew what Artemis meant. He was feeling the world as one of his brothers of claw and fang.

With each stride, and with each track, Rheonios knew he was getting closer. The toes and claws were becoming clearer with each one he stopped to examine. He could take a perfect mold of some of them if he so chose.

The ground became rocky, and yet the tracks were as present as ever, some of them pressed into solid stone. Rheonios knew that he was on the track of an exceptional beast. Lions were mighty, but stone was stronger than them.

"Artemis, Great lady of beasts," Rheonios prayed as he ran up a steep incline, "Show me to the lioness."

Rocks tumbled beneath Rheonios as he half-climbed and half-ran, but the lion, which was no ordinary lion, had taken this route and he knew the tracks could not be much older than a few minutes.

"The ground leveled and Rheonios found himself on a flat hilltop high above the surrounding forest. He saw several large boulders forming a small cave in front of him. He looked around the stark hillside and saw no other places a lioness could dwell.

Rheonios felt a primal presence within the opening in front of him, though he saw nothing. But he also sensed something else. In many ways, Artemis was more like an animal than a mortal woman in the raw power she exuded, the deep devotion to the world that she was said to perform without thinking, and her way of knowing what to do without ever having had to learn.

Yet, Artemis was a wise goddess far beyond the abilities of any mortal, or even beyond what any mortal could fathom. She also did much to nurture the first humans, along with the other animals.

This lioness would not simply be a large cat. She would be a kindred creature with a mind made for her. Rheonios decided he would speak.

"First Lioness!" Rheonios announced, "I am Rheonios, priest of Artemis, your mother. I wish to speak."

There was a bit of a yowl, not at all like what Rheonios expected, and then a deep feminine voice responded, "Hail, follower of the wild goddess, you were wise to address me."

The moon seemed to get brighter as an enormous cat crawled out of the den. Rheonios marveled at the silver-eyed lion who was a good foot longer than any lion, male or female, he had ever seen.

"My name is not 'First Lioness' just as yours is not 'priest of Artemis'," The Lioness said as she glanced at the modest man before her, "My name is Damara."

"Shall I call you 'Damara'?" Asked the priest, not sure why the lioness was proving so genial but also not at all surprised that she spoke, feeling that it simply made sense for a direct daughter of Artemis.

"Please," Damara said, "And you said you were Rheonios?"

Rheonios nodded, "Artemis sent me to find you."

"I've known of your coming for days now from my dreams," Damara answered, "I hope I left enough of a trail for you to follow."

Damara casually slapped one of the boulders that was a support for her den, her paw leaving a deep impression. Rheonios watched in awe as he saw this amazing animal, the first of her kind.

Damara was enormous, but there was more to her than that. Her eyes were as silver, and luminous as the full moon and they show with uncanny intelligence and untold years lived as a mighty hunter. There were bright crescent marks on all 4 of her paws, and both sides of her neck. Her mother had kissed her very often when she was little and had forever shown her love to her mighty child. Every move was an afront to every human dancer and warrior all at once, with nothing but peerless grace and unmatched vigor in every motion.

"Tell me why you've come, Rheonios," Damara said, "Mother does not send people idly to find me or any of the other first beasts, at least, those that are left."

"Others have died?" Rheonios asked, "how many of you are there?"

"In this part of the world," Damara began with a bit of a growl, "Just me, but there used to be hundreds of us, all of different kinds."

Rheonios was struck by the idea of being the last of one's generation, and he wondered at the old men of his village and what they felt when they realized that time had moved on. Human life was short and one's chances to really change the world around them were only for a very short time, if at all. What was it like for Damara to be the last?

Rheonios looked more closely at Damara and saw that she was indeed feeling the march of years, in spite of her direct divine ancestry. Damara was growing thin around her neck and flanks and flesh hung there in bags, and her fur, with its beautiful silver tips at the end of long tawny hairs was becoming patching in places, leaving bare wrinkled skin in blotchy patches. Damara's face was a head of feline beauty, but it was fading too, and as Damara moved, he saw the receding gums, yellowing teeth, and even a missing canine. Simply put, Damara was old.

Damara turned to stare at Rheonios as he glanced at her for too long, "I'm wise, Rheonios, but I am a hunter and I don't like being stared at."

"Sorry, Lady Damara," Rheonios began.

"I'm no lady," snapped Damara "That's a word only humans use."

"Very well Damara," Rheonios replied quickly, seeing the lion look pointedly at him and wondering how long this conversation might last.

"Why have you come to me in the first place?" asked Damara, "I knew of your coming but not why?"

"I come for your breath," Rheonios explained, "I am to have you breathe into this jar and then bring it to offer it up to Artemis."

Rheonios fetched the jar from his pack. It was a simple earthenware jug with bears painted on it. He offered it to Damara who growled and leapt back.

"No!" Damara hissed, "I will not make the offering."

Rheonios did not understand, "It is just breath."

"It is not something I'll give to a mere mortal," Damara hissed, swiping at Rheonios with her claws, "my breath is not for one such as you."

"No," Rheonios countered, "It is for Artemis, your mother."

Damara had gathered herself for a spring, but upon hearing those words, she allowed herself to calm. Rheonios thanked the fates as he knew he was no match for such a magnificent beast, even in a state of majestic decrepitude. Damara uncoiled and relaxed.

"Mother gave me everything," Damara mused, "and I would do anything for her,"

"It is an easy task," Rheonios offered the lines the jug as she removed the lid, "jus exhale."

Again, there was a growl, "I am one of my mother's most perfect creations. It is an easy task for me, but I want to see that Artemis has sent me a proper courier to take what she wants so badly."

"I've had dreams, I have been hearing her voice for days!" protested Rheonios.

"You could be lying or your mind could be broken," Damara growled, "I have known you were coming, as I said, and I will let you have my breath on one condition."

"Rheonios waited, allowing the lioness to continue, "I have three tasks, if you complete all 3, I'll breathe into that jug of yours. If not, I get an easy meal."

Damara swiped the air a few inches from Rheonios who flinched but did not jump back.

"You can walk away now and I will not give chase, man," Damara offered.

"Rheonios thought of how long it had taken him to get into Damara's presence and how long it would take him to get home. He realized that these challenges would have to be quick ones, because if he left any later than the following dusk, he would not get back to the sacred spring in time. Artemis demanded a lot, and he would have to be a hero like those in the legends to succeed in whatever trials Damara had for him, but that was what was needed.

"Very well," Rheonios said, looking at the lioness, "When do we start?"

"Now," Damara replied, "Now my dear human."