?Chapter 2

  Phineus was running for his life, and every step he took was much too loud for his liking. It's gonna find me, he thought frantically as he ran.

  The forest seemed to get darker every second. He started to breathe faster and faster until it felt as if he could breathe at all.

  It’s coming, he tried to run faster; each step was getting heavier and louder than the last.

  After a few minutes, it was getting so heavy he could barely lift his leg, his feet crashing into the ground with a ‘BANG!’ loud enough to burst his eardrums.

  His legs now too heavy to lift, unable to move, see or make a sound. He was trapped.

  Phineus heard something from behind. IT'S HERE, he practically screamed, yet made not a single sound.

  The forest was dark as the void itself yet he somehow still saw the towering eye that approached him.

  Cursing himself for flowing his map, he braced himself for the monster's approach.

  It was practically in front of him without showing any sign of slowing down, he felt it leap, crashing into him with full force.

  Phineus woke up with a sudden jerk and a scream. He was panting like a dog and was covered in so much sweat he might as well have gone swimming.

  Shivering, he tried to remember what just happened but the details had started to go thin.

  He took a deep breath and just waited. He waited for his heart rate to slow down for his body to stop shaking, taking slow deep breaths Phineus sat still in his tent.

  Once he was finally calm, Phineus decided to get an early start to the day. The dream felt too real, he shivered, ‘I was in the forest following the map and…’ Don’t follow the map that thought seemed to scream in his mind. Was it just a dream or maybe a warning?

  “No,” Phineus said out loud as if to prove he’s the one in control. ‘If everything is trying to fool me… I won’t let it.’

  If the sun is lying about its position, he won't follow it. If the markers aren’t working, he’ll stop making them. And if his map leads him to some giant Cyclops

  ‘No thank you’ if everything’s trying to trick him, then he’ll at least try and make it harder on! Standing in front of the Zeus touched tree Phineus closed his eyes and spun in a circle until he ‘…now’ stopping abruptly he took a second to reorient himself. Once the world started to straighten out Phineus skipped off while humming a little tune as he walked.

  ——

  Taking a deep breath Phineus tried to clear his mind; it's been over a month since he left. He hasn’t made as much progress as he would have liked, but that's fine.

  There’s no deadline and there's no rush he reminded himself

  With another breath Phineus started to focus not just on his surroundings but on the landscape itself. He isn’t in the village anymore, there is no civilization. Not here, not in the wilderness, not in the wilds.

  This time he listened. He heard the birds chirping in the trees, the sound of the wind rustling through the branches, the leaves and sticks that crunched under his steps.

  Phineus looked. He looked around the endless expanse of forest he was wandering, truly taking in the landscape. Vibrant greens, rich with life layered over deep earthly browns, all of it rooted into Gaia herself.

  He felt calm, steady, and intune.

  The next few weeks seemed to fly by, and he was making good progress!

  Well maybe because true to his word he hasn't taken out his map since his little nightmare.

  But the past few days marked a serious change in Phineus. Where he was once a constantly moving monster, he now took his time and enjoyed the sights!

  Walking around in the forest seemed to give him a new perspective. Always something new to discover and somewhere else to explore. Even his hunting skills have started to improve!

  Phineus was feeling good, he felt grounded, and definitely noo part of him wanted to double check the map to make sure he was going in the right way. No siree! Not this guy! Phineus trusted his gut beyond a shadow of a doubt!

  Okay that was a huge lie. In the past few days he has been getting a little nervous but he still didn’t look at the map! Well that was until he spotted a crimson red bush that seemed entirely out of place.

  The bush radiated a bloody aura that made Phineus feel he would be drained dry if he approached it with an open wound. But he was certain that bush is one of the landmarks on Elder Karra’s map! So for the first time in over 2 weeks Phineus fished through his large backpack and pulled out the hand drawn map of the island and A-ha!

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  farther ahead from the oak tree past the middle of the woods! Part of Phineus wondered how that was possible, he should be much closer to the edge not the middle. But he decided to drop the thought and thanked the gods for their guidance. With a truly renewed vigor Phineus set off post haste for his leisurely tour around the woods. Life felt good

  —

  ?Phineus had his bow in hand as he silently made his way through the forest. It's only been two months, yet thinking about how loud he used move to move made him cringe.

  Keeping his senses focused on the surroundings Phineus scanned the forest floor. Having gotten much better picking up tracks after it wasn’t long until he found a trail to follow.

  When the tracks started to get fresh he knew he was close, going by the weight Phineus suspected it was a deer, nothing else nearby and it was alone. Perfect.

  Silently speeding up, Phineus moved out and found a spot to ambush. The longer he spent in the wilderness the more he learned to belong, recognizing different animals by their tracks, predicting their movements and behaviors but most importantly learning to hide himself and his presence and becoming one who belongs in the forest. It was something he’d seen the village hunters do, and it was hard to pull off.

  But the improvements he’s made no matter how minor managed to keep him going. And frankly on the top of the world. Refocusing Phineus spotted the stag about 50 away and knocked his arrow. Unfortunately the stag walked behind a tree messing up his shot path, so careful of his surroundings Phineus moved to a better position to fire when a dry

  Snap seemed to punch through the quiet forest, the stag instantly started to run but Phineus loosed his arrow slamming in its side.

  Phineus was confused; he was absolutely sure that his step was clear yet before he could think too deeply about it the stag took off again. Not one to let prey or a perfectly good arrow get away, Phineus started to chase after it drawing another arrow as he ran.

  The stag despite a slight limp in its left side seemed to bob and weave between the trees at ease. Phineus ran faster yet every time he lined up a new shot the stag would suddenly turn, as he chased after the stag he realized it was leading him into a denser part of the forest. He was already starting to get tired but he didn’t want to be a quitter.

  Putting his bow around his shoulder Phineus unsheathed the two hunting knives he wore around his waist and put all of his efforts to run as fast as possible. Running in the wake of the stag they skated through the thick cluster of trees that just got thicker and denser the more he ran. When he thought there was no possible way for the trees to get any closer together they merged.

  Now so massive towered past into the olympus itself with roots so thick they could ensnare a horse. Weirdest of all it was night, and the moon was shining in full glory despite it being around noon. The stag sprinted ahead with speed that shouldn’t be possible for an animal so injured when suddenly it stopped.

  Phineus was quick to sheath his knives pulling out his bow as fast as he could. He reached for an arrow, pulled back his arm and aimed, it was in his sights and it WOULDN’T get away again. For it was just an animal and I am the hunter. He felt good, like he was on top that he was the apex predator of the forest. No… not the forest of the Wilds. Phineus was on top of the food chain ready to take his shot focusing on the stag about to release his fingers when he noticed something that seemed to pull him out of a trance.

  Phineus was confused, those were not his thoughts, he was very lost and starting to get a little scared but he still couldn’t bring himself to look away from the stag.

  Where before its antlers were like a pale and weathered branch now they shined with a golden luster that clinged to the moonlight. It stood tall and proud of showing off its majestic form, and his earlier shot was no longer there.

  But Phineus caught his eyes being pulled to the figure standing next to it. She looked young, unmistakable so yet no part of her felt fragile or naive. Her forest green eyes were sharp. Watching, like a beast ready to pounce.

  Yet there was also a kind and nurturing feeling for mothers looking after their child. Phineus had the unsettling sense her gaze peered right through him. When his body finally caught up with his mind, he finally felt the presence wash over him stronger than the rising tide.

  His finger slacked on the bowstring realizing that there is nothing he could ever do to put up a fight. Fear started to build and Phineus started looking for any way to escape but what did it matter.

  Mortals can never stand up to a God.

  Then a different thought crossed his mind, ‘Is this how it happens to everybody?” could he be about to receive a blessing? There's plenty of signs from gods, but to be face to face with one? Has every adult he knows met a god before?

  “Phineus Calder” her voice was calm, almost musical yet it carried with it a weight that rattled through the whole forest.

  His throat went dry, words lost before they could even form. Thankfully he didn’t have to reply as she kept going.

  “You’ve wandered far from home” she said in a mischievous tone “Welcome to the divine wilds, my personal hunting ground. Please relax, no danger.” After saying that Phineus felt the pressure on him lift and he was finally able to stammer out a word

  “W-why?” was all he could manage

  Artemis goddess of the hunt let out a little giggle “I have been watching you for a while Phineus, part of my domain is to watch over the children as they age into adulthood” the young girl said “Yet we gods are always on the lookout for more” letting the word hang for a moment before continuing “Always looking for more children to carry our blessings, mortals worth nurturing”

  Hearing ‘blessing’ seemed to change a lot of his nerves into excitement and he finally got the nerve to ask the biggest question on his mind.

  “Do gods meet with everyone they bless?” that caused Artemis to laugh cracking up like it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard

  “No Phineus, this is a very rare occurrence that can only happen under ‘unique’ circumstances ” she said in a playful voice “Now unlike some others I could name I’m going to give you the choice to accept or not” Her voice now firm “Will you Phineus Calder, embody my will and act in my name? Would you accept my blessing?”

  Phineus didn’t even have to think about it, this has been his dream, this is the first step. “Of course! there is no god I’d rather follow more” he replied eagerly why would anyone ever decline.

  He saw a mischievous smile appear on her face before she corrected "Apologies, I don’t believe you understand. Will you Phineus Calder of Blackstone, child of the forest accept my one true blessing, Will you take up the mantle and become my next Demi God?”