Breathe and Release | Dante

It was a quiet day, the sun barely able to pierce the thick canopy of the trees causing shadows to step into and out of, using them as camouflage. Danisande used those shadows well as a hunter. Even before she had been blessed by the Goddess Artemis, she had been a hell of a shot. Now though, she could close her eyes, face an entirely different direction and loose the arrow she held and it would still find its mark. Of course, she wouldn't abuse the powers she had been blessed with. She could recall her weapon at a moments notice, still she chose to carry it as she hunted. She was not one to abuse a gift that she had been given.

She continued her slow walk, careful of the ground she set her feet on, careful not to bend or snap any bush or twig, to make any sound at all. Sound in this place wasn't just foolish, it was dangerous. There were things in these woods aside from the animals she hunted when she grew hungry. There were all manner of beasties. Beasties she would prefer to stay far away from. She may be blessed by a goddess, she may heal faster than normal and live immortal, but that didn't mean that she didn't want to tempt the fates by getting into a shoot out with the monsters that lurked about.

Her eyes rested upon a stag she had been tracking for the last three miles and now she just was waiting for that one, perfect moment. That one moment she could loose the arrow and see the the old stag onto the final world until his spirit could be reborn into a new life. That is what her parents used to believe, and she still held to her family's beliefs even if she no longer had them with her. She lifted her bow, took in a deep breath as she pulled back in the knocked arrow and released...

@kkram265

Dante decided a run in the woods was a good release from the training at the garrison. Owain and Braxton were great leaders and friends even still he needed to take time away and clear his head. He had only been running for quarter of an hour when he heard the sound of an arrow being loosed then the sharp pain as the arrow buried deep into his shoulder. "Who the hell!" He looked around and saw an older stag and sighed he happened to be running in someone's hunting zone. He quickly took a look at the injury and saw he was lucky where it was there should be no damage and with his x-ray vision he saw that it hadn't hit any bone, to say he was lucky would be an understatement.

"Hello out there? I am sorry I got in your way, if you would show yourself I could give you your arrow back." He called out hoping that he wasn't going to get hit with another arrow.

created by rynstone.

It was almost as if it were in slow motion, watching the arrow fly, but as it was in mid-flight, the shaft arching and bowing as it did to steady it against gravity, A male ran out, and for the first time in ages since she had been blessed with perfect accuracy, an arrow that would never miss its target - it missed. She let out an ear piercing scream that literally echoed through the woods and off of the trees and through what she was sure was the entire forest. The stag scattered, as did the birds, and she could even hear some of the smaller animals running for cover.

When he spoke, Dani stepped out of the shadows, her eyes wide with horror and disgust. Not at him. At herself. For missing her shot. For harming this male that she was almost sure didn't deserve it. She shot a Demi-god. How in the name of tartarus was Artemis not stripping her of her power? "My gods... I'm so sorry!" She squeaked out, lowering her gaze as she stepped closer. "I'm so very sorry." she whispered, as if she were on the verge of tears. How could she miss? Her arrows, like herself, were blessed never to miss. How could this happen?! She thought to herself.

Dante took in the expression of the girl who kept apologizing for hitting him, she looked like she was going to burst into tears for hitting him. Why was she so upset, it wasn't as if the gods were going to smite her, it was an accident. If she looked at his body he would see that there were several scars all over his body from different training accidents this was nothing. Sure he would have to get it looked at and he most likely would have another but it didn’t bother him as there was no serious damage.

"Hey I'm not upset, don't worry about it. I doubt the gods will punish you, I ran into the path it was an accident. You have terrific aim though, had I not gotten in the way I am sure you would have hit the stag. I don't think I have seen you before, you can call me Dante." He held out his hand for a handshake.

created by rynstone.

As he spoke, she took a breath and slowly raised her gaze to his, she tried not to look at his body - as attractive as it was - for fear of the things she might think or say. So Dani kept her eyes on his or flickering momentarily to the arrow before she swallowed and as she reached to shake his hand, she actually allowed her bow to vanish from sight. She so rarely used her power, it seemed wrong to do so, but it was easier and faster that way. She placed her hand in his gently, giving it a quick shake before pulling it back and taking a step back.

"I-I'm Danisande and I keep to myself on this island, I never wish to bother people." She said and then looked back at him for a moment. "It actually should have hit it anyways... they are blessed to never miss their target. I guess that only counts though if someone or something doesn't get in the way mid-flight." She rambled for a moment and then bit her lip to keep herself from going on. This whole thing was just a little to scary at the moment. So she took a breath and looked at that arrow. "Can I help you with that?" She asked quietly.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Danisande, well you are not a bother your arrow is." Reaching up to the arrow he pulled it out wincing a little, "I will be fine, just need to go to the hospital and speak to my half brother, he will be able to help clear this up, though as long as it doesn't affect my job I might let it heal naturally." Dante rolled his shoulder to make sure nothing felt to out of place, it didn't feel all that bad, nothing pinching or sharp pains so other than the oozing blood he was in pretty good shape.

"So why do you think you would be a bother?"

created by rynstone.

Dani watched with wide eyes as he pulled the arrow from his shoulder, and when he winced so did she, though hers was far more visible than his. Pulling an arrow could do some real damage, her father had taught her that if it were possible it was always better to push the arrow all the way through then break the shaft. But then, her father was old school and used those old style heads instead of the newer points that would allow hunters to easily pull their arrows back from their chosen prey. Still, Dani had to think it hurt like Tartarus.

His question brought her out of her thoughts and she looked up at him through her long lashes. "I'm not a true Demi-god... I'm a huntress of Artemis." She said as if that would explain it all, explain why she kept herself hidden away most days inside her little apartment. She felt as if she didn't belong, didn't deserve to be here. Yes, she was blessed with power and immortality, she had tried to help at Camp Jupiter, but when one came down to it, she really was just a lonely normal girl.

Dante smiled a little, a huntress of Artemis, so that was why she was trying to not look at him. Chuckling a little he said, "It is a pleasure to meet a cousin of sorts. I am a son of Apollo. You know Artemis chose you for a reason, you shouldn't be out here alone." He saw her wince as he had pulled the arrow out of his shoulder, he knew he should have waited , but there was nothing damaged and anyway his brother could help him with it if there was anything truly wrong with it. "Though this has been fun, I had better go get this looked at, so at the very least it doesn't get infected. Its been a pleasure Danisande." Dante turned around and began to run back to the town, he could just hear Braxton's comments in regards to his injury. Smiling he knew it would all be in good fun.

created by rynstone.

Dani had kept her eyes for the most part either on his face or anywhere else but his extremely attractive body. She nodded a little as he spoke of Apollo but she couldn't help the small smile that broke free when he had called her a cousin of sorts. 'Of sorts' was the key statement there. She was blessed by Artemis but she was not her child like he was of Apollo.

She had smiled at his words just a bit but understood that he needed to leave and get someone to look at that wound. Dani was half tempted to offer to help, but really, what could she do? Nothing of great importance so when he made to turn she called out meekly "It was nice to meet you too, Dante." Then she turned and at that moment as he took off in one direction, she took off in another, calling her bow to her as she ran through the woods.