The sun was high in she sky baking the dirt into a hard clumpy mass. The rain had come yesterday, suddenly, uninvited, but more than welcomed. Though the atmosphere was now humid causing Artemis' hair to stick to her cheeks and the back of her neck, she didn't mind. People needed the rain. They depended on it for their lively hoods and besides, she got a kick out of playing in it.
Yeah, being a young adult dressed as she was, stomping about in the mud, and playing with her horse sent rumors flying. She was mad, must have been dropped as a baby, had a bolt loose or two in the head. None of it was new. She'd heard those things since she could understand English.
"Where are you going?" Apollo asked, stepping outside where his sister was currently packing her saddle bag while Stella the horse chomped on some hay.
"Don't know," Artemis admitted, "wherever the wind takes us and wherever Stella wants to go."
"That never works out for you. You get into trouble," Apollo worried, being nuzzled by the curious horse. "Ah, you smell the butter on my hands. Nothing here. Just bread crumbs."
To avoid Stella's tongue, Apollo hurriedly wiped his hands on his pants. Stella only huffed in mild disappointment.
"Well, I'm bored, I finished whatever chores father set aside for the both of us, and I don't want to be here when he gets home," Artemis explained, tightening the straps to the saddlebag.
"You should just talk to him," Apollo suggested.
"What for? I tried talking to him. He doesn't listen," Artemis frowned. She was impatient now. She didn't want to have this conversation again.
"You know, what happened to mom-"
"Was his fault and he knows it," Artemis finished. "Now either you get on and come with or head back inside."
"Your temper will get you killed," Apollo sighed, but he backed away as Artemis swung up and into the saddle.
"That's what Father always says. Hasn't turned out yet, has it?" The auburn haired twin arched a brow in challenge. Apollo simply kept quiet. Taking his silence as an end to the conversation, Artemis gave to clicks of the tongue and Stella set forward.
The steady drum of Stella's hooves on the now heat baked dirt was familiar and soothing. Patting her sturdy chestnut colored neck, Artemis dug her heels in ever so slightly spurring their pace forward. Weaving in and out of the town square Artemis tried to ignore the looks of old women sitting on a porch or the mother's who covered their daughter's eyes unless they get ideas about freedom.
Of course, Artemis did, have to greet the church with a wide grin and wave of the hat. The priest merely avoided eye contact as she raced by. It was always worth a try. One day she hoped to catch him off guard so badly he actually did wave back. So far it had yet to happen, but she had hope.
Placing her hat back atop her head, she broke out of the main gate as it was being shut for the evening. As the sun set bandits woke, and Olympus had to be kept safe. Though hearing the string of curses from the gatekeepers always tickled her.
Once free of the town, Artemis eased Stella into a trot and enjoyed the smell of drying grass waving in the breeze. "This is the life Stella. Just open planes now. Wherever you want to go you can. What do you say? North? East? West?"
At the mention of West, Stella gave a happy clip clop of the hooves. "West it is. Come on girl!"
Like usual, Artemis expected Stella to go far. There were times they could barely make out Olympus behind them, times they became part of the horizon, but something had caught Stella's attention as they ran along that halted her.
"What is it?" Artemis asked, glancing about in worry. She'd had run ins with thieves before. Stella was usually more nervous though. "Come on, don't spook me."
With a shake of the head, Stella pivoted quite sharply, jostling Artemis in the saddle. It was as if she couldn't make up her mind on where to go. Then, at last, Stella set forth at a walk. It was slow, hesitant even, but still progress.
All the while Artemis kept an eye out for any secret threats. Then, as they rounded a small hill she noticed a sturdy looking wood framed house. Out before it stretched a handful of fields all golden with wheat or corn.
"You wanted a snack? Seriously? We are not eating a poor farmer's crops," Artemis chastised, attempting to turn Stella about, but her trusty steed refused and only pressed on. "Stella, if I get shot at because of you I will never forgive you. Farmers aren't easy going on intruders."
Stella's ear gave a twitch and a small neigh tumbled from her chest. She was pleased about something. With a defeated sigh, Artemis gave up on trying to guide Stella at all. She simply sat back and 'enjoyed' the ride.
Minutes passed as Stella picked her way across the tall grass surrounding the fields until she paused beneath a shaded tree. Her ears twitched again but this time Artemis knew why. Someone was humming a faint tune that had obviously pleased Stella. So much so that she'd sought out the source.
"Get going, don't stand here," Artemis huffed, and Stella made the small journey to another tree where she came to a dead stop. Artemis' eye caught sight of someone-a girl-bent over working at the soil. Her hair was braided carefully, her skin dark from the sun, she wore trousers and boots, a pair of suspenders, and her sleeves were rolled to the elbow. It was almost like looking in a mirror.
What's more, she seemed used to the work. So much so that the poor girl hadn't noticed their arrival. She was entirely transfixed on the task at hand. If Artemis was being honest, she could've watched the girl work all day. There was something mechanical in her movements where not much thought was needed to press the seeds into their little holes and cover them up. Yet, there seemed to be a fine skill in her actions. Like it wasn't without purpose or care.
Without much thought, Artemis slipped off of Stella's back and removed her hat. Not wanting to frighten the girl she cleared her throat before speaking, "do you need any help, Miss?"
Without missing a beat, the girl spared Artemis a brief glance. At first, Artemis thought she would be dismissed, but then the girl did a double take. She shielded her eyes from the sun and her brow furrowed in thought-no it wasn't thought-observation! It was observation.
"What's the likes of you doing out here?" The farm girl had some form of an accent but it was hard to place.
"From Olympus. I spend most evenings roaming but I've never been this way," Artemis explained, placing her hat back on her head.
"Not many people come this way. Few even know about it. So how did you get here?" The girl was defensive, weary.
"Stella," Artemis informed, gesturing to the horse which was now using the tree to scratch her side. "You were humming and she liked it enough that she wouldn't listen when I told her to turn about."
"And you raised her by hand?"
"Yes."
"Seems quite stubborn. Aren't you the one in charge?"
"It's a mutual relationship," Artemis mumbled, scratching at the back of her neck. "Do you have a horse? One for the fields?"
"No," the girl nearly scoffed.
"Wouldn't it make this much easier?"
"Perhaps," the girl nodded, "but I prefer to do things by hand. The farm equipment everyone else seems to enjoy ruins the soul faster than using your hands."
"Did your father teach you that?" Artemis asked, rocking back onto her heels.
"I taught myself," she replied, "and if you wanted to help why ask so many questions?"
"You never specified what I ought to do," Artemis reminded.
"All the rows I have planted need watering. Your horse can help. There's a trough that way and some buckets," the farm girl retorted barely looking up from her work.
Nodding, Artemis coaxed Stella away from the tree and the two ventured over to the trough. It was nestled alongside the fields' edge, but most peculiar were the buckets. They had holes in the bottom only covered by a sliding piece of tin. Frowning, Artemis tromped back to the girl wearing her confusion on her face.
"Are you aware your buckets have holes?" Artemis asked.
"Yes."
"Uhm," Artemis glanced briefly at Stella as if she would help. "How do I use them?"
If looks could kill, Artemis would have been dead. It was like she was being seared alive for not know how to use a holy bucket. Taking the second pail, the girl waved for Artemis to follow.
Once at the trough, the girl dunked the bucket. Nothing leaked from it. She stepped over alongside a row of newly planted seeds, slid the tin cover out of place, and walked alongside the freshly worked soil while water sprinkled from the pail.
"Won't a watering can have the same effect?" Artemis asked.
"They don't hold nearly enough," the girl replied. Once the bucket was empty, she passed it back over to Artemis and returned to her place in the field. With a shrug, Artemis mimicked what she had seen. Making her way back and forth, to and fro, she eventually came to the end of the field. With some water still remaining she held it overhead and let it sprinkle her hair and clothes. Jealous, Stella lowered her head until Artemis held the pail over her instead.
"You're so needy," Artemis laughed. Giving a big shake of the head, Stella flung drops of water from her main. Grinning, Artemis shook her head too sending her hat to the ground as her hair became a wild mess. The act sent Stella into a fit of excited trotting and whinnying.
Stooping down, Artemis went to collect her hat when she caught sight of a set of shoes. Standing upright she was met by a younger girl than the one before. She was paler, with a set of freckles, cinnamon colored hair, and big brown eyes.
"Are you a cowboy?" She asked.
"Maybe," Artemis smiled.
"I've always wanted to meet one." The girl smirked. "Do you have guns?"
"Not at the moment," Artemis replied, crossing her arms and sizing up the younger girl. "Do you have any candy?"
"No," the girl replied, crossing her arms and giving Artemis the side eye. "Who told you I did?"
"No one," Artemis replied, "but I have some."
"You do?!"
"Want it?"
"Uh, hell yes!" The girl beamed. She held her hands out expectantly as Artemis rummaged about in Stella's saddle bag.
"Cally, you're supposed to be inside keeping an eye on the bread," sounded a familiar voice.
"But a cowboy is giving me candy!" Cally replied. Artemis could hear the pout in her voice even before she turned around.
"One, she's not a cowboy. Two, you don't get candy from strangers. Let alone ones who can ride off on you without second glance." Artemis was met by those two dark, judgmental eyes for a second time that evening.
"I wouldn't hurt a kid," Artemis frowned, finding her voice. "I'm making a friend. That's all."
"See? She's a friend." Cally smirked.
"Calypso," the eldest sighed. "Fine, take it. Then get inside and don't let the bread catch fire. I'm not about to replace the floor boards again."
Calypso snatched the candy clean from Artemis' hand and ran off back to the wooden house pausing to skip on occasion.
"There's a lumberjack in town who gives good deals on floor boards," Artemis noted.
"I'll keep it in mind," the girl replied, but it was clear she didn't mean it.
"You don't like Olympus do you?" Artemis asked, cinching up her saddle bag.
"Not the town. The people."
It was probably the only piece of information the farm girl had given away about herself.
"I'm one of those people," Artemis mused, clambering on to Stella's back. The sun was nearly behind the mountains. It would be dark soon and she needed to return home.
"No you're not," the girl shook her head, "and don't act confused. You know what I mean."
And Artemis did. She wasn't someone from Olympus. Never had been and never would be, but the fact that this girl seemed to read her like a book piqued her interest.
"Well, maybe you know me a bit more than I thought," Artemis smiled, "name's Artemis. See you around farm girl."
Before she could catch any form of a reply, she clicked her tongue twice and Stella took off.
As the sun set the air cooled, and with it the water that still clung to Artemis' clothes. She didn't mind the chill though, she'd experienced harsh winters before. If anything, this was a cake walk. Nearing the gates, she leapt off Stella's back mid stride and jogged quickly to the fence. Clambering over with care she leaned softly on the other side. Undoing the crossbeams, Artemis pushed the gate open enough for Stella to slip through. Once she made sure everything was secure like normal, she took her noble steed to the stable.
"Night Stella. Sweet Dreams," Artemis whispered, scratching at Stella's ears. Turning curtly on her heel she slipped inside and padded silently up the stairs to her room. Kicking off her boots and setting her hat aside she slid into bed and was out like a light. She never expected watering a field to be so exhausting.