Hi, guys! Yes, I am alive. I have been going through your comments and got distracted. I couldn't stop laughing, you are all wonderful and amazing, the kind of people I wished I could hang around all day every day. Unfortunately, that probably isn't going to happen, so our connections through writings, comments, and messages are about as far as it is going to get. Next, I have to go through my inbox, I dread doing that because I will be responding so late. So...yeah. Now, without further ado, your friend and biggest fan presents this chapter, my lovely readers! I love you guys!

Point of View: Ánemos 

Apollo is quite amusing with his curious expression as he studies my right hand. 

"Is that fun?" I question. 

"I thought that maybe if I looked at your hand, then I would find answers," the Sun God admits. "I am disappointed to say that there is nothing familiar here at all. I thought I had seen the hands of every living thing under the sun, but these are new to me. And your past is...missing from them." 

"I disconnected from my past life," I inform him. 

"You sacrificed it," he corrects automatically. 

"Indeed," I reply simply. 

"But should you not still see it?" Athena worms her way into the conversation. 

"No, it was willingly given up even with a longing at its absence. I can tell it was done to preserve the life of one he loved dearly. That is all," Apollo answers sadly. "Perhaps if I found someone who lived alongside him through all of it, then maybe I could see it." 

"There is no guarantee that you will know which memories belong to me, however," I remind him. 

"True. I hear truth in your words, no lies at all. I feel as if you are hiding something but I cannot hear it. Why is that?" Apollo mutters. 

"Because I am hidden from you and a man without a past is always secretive without even trying to be," I muse. 

"Enough, brother, please stop pestering my Defender," Artemis interjects, cutting Apollo off before he can continue to inspect me. 

"We may speak later, Lord Apollo. I am certain we have the time," I amend the hurt on his face easily and he beams brightly before settling on his throne once more. 

"Back to the matter at hand," Dionysus grunts. 

"Absolutely," Demeter agrees. 

"Do we even know what is causing such chaos in the natural world?" Hera wonders. 

"The Lord of the Wild keeps reporting strange and impossible happenings," Dionysus sighs out. 

"The poor dear is worried and adamant that the use of Panic is behind some of the random attacks and outbursts of growth," Demeter adds. 

"Panic?" Artemis chirps. "Is that not an ability he was granted by Pan himself in the Labyrinth?" 

"Yes, it was. He is the only living creature with that ability now as far as we are aware. We have no idea where to even start. Did you find anything on your journeys?" Poseidon speaks up and again my attention is brought to the old god. 

He looks...defeated but not broken. He still has hope, a hope that will never come to pass. I almost feel as if I should find a way to let him down gently, but he is an immortal and time will eventually heal his wounds as it always will due to his heritage. That fact is true for all those who descend from his father in some way. 

"Nothing. We were tracking an animal, but no luck. The trail suggested the poor creature was frightened out of its mind as it fled. The source was nowhere to be found, no traces. It irritates me. What could create such a problem? And right under our noses?" Artemis responds. 

"Gaea?" Hephaestus rumbles the suggestion. 

"Preposterous! Perseus would never allow that! He just needs his space!" Poseidon shouts. 

"Brother!" Zeus booms, but it does nothing to calm the Earthshaker. 

As they continue to bicker, the others just sit there nervously and I feel the animosity on the earth below us and spreading quickly. 

Am I allowed to speak again or am I to keep silent during meetings? Must I stop this? 

I clear my throat and sigh when only the ones not in the argument turn their undivided attention on me. "Enough!" I project my voice over their fight and they both freeze in place, only their eyes coming to rest upon me as they stay facing each other with their godly weapons drawn. "Children have no place in this meeting!" I scold them and they flinch, sitting on their thrones once more, albeit slowly. 

"Calm, my Defender. All is well. This is a common occurrence," Artemis murmurs soothingly. 

"Yes, my lady," I reply and the tension dissipates. "Still, this is an irritant and they have done this for far too long. Is this not what started wars not long ago?" 

The reminder does its work as the atmosphere is thick with guilt. 

"Lady Artemis brought him up to me not long ago and that boy was right. You are family and though the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb, you still have fought at each other's sides enough to love one another. This is ridiculous. You throw blame left and right and it sickens me to my core. I shut myself down for a very long time and even I know better than this. You are millennia old, act like it," I hiss and Poseidon flinches, growing completely silent. 

"Easy," Artemis orders gently and places a hand on my arm until my body uncoils from a battle-ready state. "Again you speak the truth, but give them a moment." 

I do not respond and instead turn to Hermes. "And you, what do you have to say about this? Were you not disgusted with yourself after the death of your demigod son?" 

Hermes darkens, his usual smile gone. "Yes, but I kept my promise despite not speaking up in here." 

"You are immortal, all-powerful beings who only get weakened by pure idiocy. Surely you have learned your lesson, especially with the God of Knowledge and the Goddess of Wisdom among you. What more can sneak up on you? You have other gods on your side that you still cast as a mere unneeded thought. Where is there counsel? Should they not be here to at least give witness or bring news? Their children are with yours and they know the meaning of family. They switched sides last time because of your poor governing skills," I chastise and for some odd reason, I feel like the person I used to love so dearly when she would do this to me. 

Once upon a time...

I miss her so dearly. 

I will never return home. 

"Ánemos," Artemis warns and I look back at her as she shakes her head. 

"I understand, milady. I shall retire my hurtful accusations. Please forgive my transgressions," I apologize and she smiles. 

"It is all okay," she promises and I let my gaze wander back to the rest of the Council. 

"Has anyone thought about why someone else would be able to shout like Pan?" I inquire to change the subject and it seems to lighten to mood of the gods on their thrones. 

"Only Grover Underwood possesses the ability. Dionysus and I have searched far and wide and have not encountered anybody else capable of the noise," Demeter responds, elated that everyone seems to be back on the matter at hand. 

"I doubt Gaea is behind this," Athena inputs and Zeus turns to her in confusion. "I have been thinking since the last meeting and noticed that the planet seems to be appeased by another force. The disturbances come instead from the places of life. Granted I know that is everywhere, but I speak of the deeper, older parts that are rare. They spread as the satyrs get closer and some of them have vanished. Some appear later crazed, others show up and call their old friends and family traitors for not following them, and then there are those that seem broken. Gaea would not do that." 

"Nature has been a bit unsettling as of late and I sense that pollution is the main cause of that. It has increased over the years. Perhaps a god or goddess dealing with nature has had enough of humans?" I add to the considerations. 

"Are you saying humans are at fault?" Poseidon wonders tiredly. 

"We are all at fault," I comment and receive confused glances from everyone but my new patron. "Immortals have the ability to influence those that still believe and in the world with their domains. Their children even more so, but you cut off communication with your children unless absolutely necessary. So you can fight alongside them in war but you cannot spend time with them. They are not fully mortal, the law technically does not apply to them. And caring about someone does not make you mortal, it makes you a person. Surely working together with your offspring is the best solution possible." 

"I agree," Dionysus speaks up and surprise flits across every Olympian face. "I do not have demigods often, but, even so, this Defender is correct. And we did make an oath." 

"It was a promise," Zeus mutters but continues on before Poseidon can defend that boy. "Fine. We will see if they wish to help with the matter. But we still do not know the actual source of Pan's old ability. If it is not the Lord of the Wild, it has to be another immortal. This should be our top priority. Athena, you will handle relations with the demigods." 

"Yes, father," Athena says in accordance. 

"Artemis should go to Grover Underwood, see if she can make heads or tails of the distraught satyr," Hermes inputs and Zeus nods. 

"Ready, Ánemos?" Artemis inquires and I nod, setting my hand in hers. 

I hope this was a good start from being away from this story for so long! I am trying to update regularly, especially since my winter break is coming up! See you soon, my lovely readers! I missed you so, so much! It was terrible, but here we are! All with love! Bye for now!