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480 BC, Greece

THE ETERNALS TIME IN Babylon had come to an end. Their next missions took them across the world until they ended up in the Mediterranean, more specifically, Greece.

Phastos landed the Domo just outside of Athens. Makkari and Artemis made their way to the window, getting a good look at the bustling city below. "It's...small!" Makkari remarked.

Artemis nodded in agreement. "I expected it to be bigger..."

A hand slid onto the small of her back as Druig appeared on her other side. "Well, we can expect all human cities to look like Babylon, can we?"

"I guess not," Artemis chuckled softly, but there was an ache in her heart at the mention of Babylon. Even though hundreds of years had passed, it still stung.

Of course, Druig picked up on her change of mood right away. He leaned down and she could feel his breath on her ear. "I'm sorry, my lady. I forgot..." He kissed her neck delicately.

Artemis turned to him, smiling softly. She shook her head. "It's okay, my love," She kissed his cheek and slid out of his grip.

Thena made her way towards them. "Artemis. Ajak wants us to scout the land."

"Of course," She nodded, leaving Druig behind, still feeling his eyes on her as she left.

They walked slower than usual down the halls. "You seem...off. Is everything alright?" Thena's voice startled Artemis ever so slightly.

"Why-why would you think that?" Artemis shook her head, rubbing up and down her arm awkwardly. "I'm fine, Thena. Druig mentioned Babylon...it's nothing."

Thena slowed down even more to walk side by side with her. She looked down at the shorter woman with a disapproving frown. "I cannot pretend to understand your...love, for these people, but even I am not blind to the fact that what happened in Babylon affected you and Sersi deeply."

Artemis shrugged. "I like to lie to myself, to tell myself that it's all part of Arishem's grand plan..." She sighed, staring straight ahead at the door they were approaching. "But it felt wrong, Thena. Watching them perish when we all could have easily saved them? That was wrong. Ajak made a mistake."

"To question Ajak is to question Arishem himself," The sharp voice of Ikaris interrupted their conversation.

Artemis turned to him with an annoyed glare. "I wasn't talking to you, Ikaris."

"Then maybe you should talk quieter next time, if you don't want me to hear," The tall man smirked. He came up beside Thena, joining them in their walk to the door.

"What are you doing?" Thena looked at him through the corner of her eye. "Ajak sent Artemis and I to scout Athens."

"She sent me, as well," Ikaris said plainly, but the amusement in his voice was clear.

"That's fine," Artemis huffed. "Just...be civil, okay?"

"When I am I not civil?" Ikaris puffed his chest out, his seemingly god-like physique enhanced by the sunlight cast on him as the door to the outside opened. He moved past Artemis and Thena, being the first Eternal to set foot in Greece. The two women followed him as they walked to the edge of the cliff the Domo sat on.

Although Athens was small, it was bustling with all kinds of people. Small children ran and weaved through the crowds as merchants talked loudly about the products they were selling. Everywhere the eye could see, pots and pitchers covered in beautiful art were scattered through at least every stall. Artemis couldn't help the small smile that spread across her lips.

Ikaris stuck his nose up. "What is...that smell?" His face scrunched up in disgust as his eyes scanned the city.

Thena chuckled. "I think...it's human excrement,"

"Still too early for indoor plumbing?" He sighed.

Artemis nodded. "Sadly yes," She looked back at the people of Athens, taking into account their clothing. "Time to blend in," She told the other two. With a simple thought, her lilac and silver armour shed, being replaced by a soft lilac tunic, similar to what the women of the city were wearing. Thena and Ikaris followed her lead. "Ready?" She looked them over.

Thena nodded curtly. "I say we split up. We need to find any signs of Deviants. If we can't find anything, we move on to the next city."

"Right," Ikaris nodded. "Good luck, everyone. Call if you find anything."

The three turned and walked off in different directions. Ikaris to the left, Thena to the right, and Artemis right down the centre. Though her clothing blended in, that didn't stop the people of Athens from staring at her. She could hear their mumblings and whispers as she walked past. She towered over not only the women but also the men, so that didn't help her case.

Children giggled as they ran past her and it didn't take long for word to spread around Athens to hear of not only Artemis but Ikaris and Thena as well. "Who are they?" She heard a woman whisper as she passed.

But Artemis was not there just to look, she kept her eye out for Deviants. She could feel their presence, though the beasts were staying out of sight. The sinister feeling of dread followed her everywhere she went, but she kept forward, something pulling her towards the centre of the city. The feeling grew stronger the closer she got.

The centre of Athens was the beginnings of a temple. The white stone pillars clearly had just been put up and tools and rope were scattered around the sight. Artemis stepped out into the clearing, where the sun shone the brightest and hottest. In her peripherals, she could see Thena and Ikaris stepping out along with her. "Can you feel that?" She signed to them.

Thena nodded. "They are under the temple," She looked to Ikaris. "What's the plan? Let them come to us?"

"Yes. If we destroy their buildings before the Deviants show, they'll see us as a threat," He signed back. "Let's head back to the Domo and get the others ready."

As Ikaris turned to head back, the ground rumbled, ever so slightly. It wasn't enough for the humans to notice, but every Eternal felt it. In a blink, Makkari was next to Artemis. "Gilgamesh and Kingo are on their way." She told them.

"Good," Artemis nodded. Another rumble, this time bigger. Shouts and gasps came from the humans. They had felt that one. "Makkari, get as many as you can out of the city."

Makkari saluted. "On it." She was gone in a cloud of dust.

Artemis's tunic disintegrated as her armour came to replace it and her quiver filled with its cosmic bows materialized onto her back. "Thena!" She shouted. "On me!"

The blonde nodded and in a graceful leap, landed next to Artemis, her white and gold armour on in a flash. She opened her hand, golden magic flowing through her to create her spear and on her other arm, her shield. Then, another quake, cracking the stone in the centre of Athens, followed by three sickening roars. Deviants. "Be ready..." Thena warned, positioning her spear for an attack.

Artemis pulled an arrow from her quiver and locked it into her bow, drawing back the string. "As soon as they emerge, I'll separate them, get them out in the open. That'll give you and Ikaris clear shots."

Thena nodded silently and then the final quake hit and from the stone and rubble emerged three Deviants, scaly and scrawny, with razor-sharp teeth and claws. Screams of terrified humans echoed throughout the city.

Artemis shot her first arrow, quickly followed by a second, right at the Deviants' feet, in the centre of the three. One broke off from the group, allowing Ikaris a clear shot. His golden beams shot the Deviants' chest, sending it flying back into one of the pillars, knocking the architecture over. As he dived after it, the two other Deviants began their hunt on the humans.

Turning on her heel, Artemis ran for the nearest building, stepping onto a windowsill to launch herself to the roof of the building. She got a better view of the Deviants, sticking their noses into houses and shops, trying to find any humans. Luckily, Makkari had gotten them out of the city centre just in time.

This time, Artemis pulled two arrows from her quiver and placed them on her bow. Holding her breath for luck, she drew the string back and narrowed her eyes. The Deviants stayed together, hunting in a pack. That made it easier for Artemis to get a shot on both of them. She waited for the right moment, until the Deviants were in open space once again, to fire the arrows. They soared through the air, nailing each Deviant in the back and sending a blast through their bodies, separating the two. "It's your pick, Thena!"

The blonde Eternal smirked. "Why not both?" She tilted her head and wasted no time in charging the beasts. With the grace of a dancer, Thena stabbed with her spear and sliced with her sword, truly a spectacle for the eye.

"Artemis!" She heard a shout from below. Artemis turned her head downwards to see Kingo and Gilgamesh.

"You're just in time for the show, boys!" She smiled. "Thena is putting on a wonderful performance!"

"Does she need help?" Kingo asked.

"Doesn't look like it to me, but I'm keeping my eye out!" Artemis called.

"She will be fine," Gilgamesh smiled softly, rounding the corner of the building to see his Thena fighting, never once faltering, always a soft smile on her face as she destroyed the monsters.

Artemis could hear cheers, a thunderous wave of them. She scanned the city and found the people of Athens, moved to a hill just outside of the city by Makkari, clapping and hollering for Thena. She decided to join in, loudly clapping her hands and yelling, "Go Thena!"

Gilgamesh laughed. "She has fans."

"It's about time!" Artemis chortled.

It almost looked easy, watching Thena kill the Deviants, and once the demons fell to her feet, motionless and void of all life, the cheers of the Athenians grew and in one large hoard, they ran down the hill towards her. Artemis jumped down from her perch next to Kingo and Gilgamesh. "Should we do a little crowd control? She looks...frightened." She chuckled at the look of surprise and horror on Thena's face, being surrounded by so many adoring humans.

"I think so, yes," Gilgamesh nodded.

They didn't rush, by any means. As much as they loved Thena, it was amusing to watch her deal with the humans. Makkari ran up next to them, indicated by the wind that breezed through Artemis's hair. "Jealous, Kingo?" The speedster nudged him playfully.

"Yes!" Kingo huffed. "Where are my adoring fans?"

"Well, when you kill two Deviants all on your own, you'll get them," Artemis nudged his other side with a chuckle.

"Whatever," Kingo grumbled, shaking his head and pouting. Artemis and Makkari laughed, patting the disappointed Kingo on the back.

The Athenians noticed as they approached Thena and a few of them pointed at Artemis and Makkari. "You saved us!" A few of them said. Some children rushed over to them, looking up in awe at the Eternals.

Artemis looked down at the little girl that stood in front of her, her big round eyes filled with wonder. She knelt down to get closer to her level. "What's your name?" She asked.

The little girl let out a small gasp. "...Euthalia," She smiled sheepishly.

"I'm Artemis," She greeted softly.

"You're amazing! What were you shooting?" Euthalia asked curiously, leaning in.

"Oh! My arrows!" Opening her palm, Artemis slowly conjured an arrow, careful not to frighten the girl or any onlookers.

Euthalia's widened even more, sparkling in the golden glow of the arrows cosmic energy. "Wow...can I touch it?"

Artemis chuckled and shook her head. "Sadly, no. Only I can touch them,"

Euthalia's face dropped ever so slightly, but the disappointment didn't seem to last long. "Thank you," She smiled brightly. "For saving us."

"It's what we do," Artemis smiled and patted Euthalia's head softly, before standing back up. She closed her palm and the arrow disappeared in a small cloud of golden dust.

Euthalia gasped happily and giggled before running back into the crowd of people, most likely to find her parents. Artemis watched her go with a soft smile, but the feeling was bittersweet. She couldn't help the thought in the back of her mind knowing one day, that sweet little girl would eventually die. "My lady," Druig's voice cut through.

Relief flooded through her as she arched her neck to look at him. He was practically beaming. His hand reached hers, and he pulled them both to his mouth, softly kissing them before wrapping his arm around her waist. Artemis sighed, placing her head on his shoulder. "Why do humans have to be so...so fragile?"

Druig paused and thought for a moment. "It's how the Celestials made them, for whatever reason. I don't know why they did it, but it's our job to keep them safe."

"From Deviants, yes, but not from themselves," Artemis huffed. She watched them dance around Thena and Ikaris and talk excitedly to Kingo and Gilgamesh, so happy and blissfully unaware of their ultimate fate. "In the blink of our eyes, they contract diseases, grow old and die and there is nothing we can do about that, no matter what Phastos might create. And what about their wars? They kill each other by the thousands and yet Arishem says not to interfere."

Druig sighed deeply. "I know..." He tilted his head downwards and placed a kiss on her forehead. "It's not right, but..." His sentence fell off. He didn't know what to say because Artemis was entirely right. What they were doing, fighting the Deviants while humans still suffered? It was wrong. But how could they make it right?

AUTHORS NOTE
WELCOME BACK EVERYONE!!! Boy oh boy, am I excited about this chapter. I absolutely love how this turned out, normally I'm 50/50 on my action scenes but I actually liked this one! I hope you enjoyed and thank you for 7k reads!! Happy first post of 2022!