The last few months have been amazing, I’m finally settled as Luna and since the first time I cooked for them all its now a weekly occurrence, all though we have had some awful meals from my not so flawless cooking skills.
Things seemed to fall into place Cynthia and Sigi moved out of there room and into a larger one with a nursery attached on the top floor and we decorated it together, spending several days shopping for baby clothes and accessories.
Both the newly anticipating parents getting more nervous as the time got closer and now here we are Sigi passed on the floor Cynthia's claws extended and ripping into her sheet.
*"AHHHH SELENE !! WHERE IS SHE ?" *
Cynthia squeezes my hand again and I hear a few bones crack.
"Cynthia I’m sure she’s going to be here any second now just concentrate on the baby "
She tries to focus on our breathing while I try again to link Arti but with no luck. I link Calder instead hoping he’s found something.
"Calder have you found them yet, it’s been three days since we heard from them and she said they were not here way back"
*"Selene. The scouts haven’t found anything yet the last place Arti told us she was is clear there is no trace of anyone being there "*
I take a deep breath and turn my attention back to Cynth.
*"AAAHHH. Sel. Please where is she I can’t do this without her "*
The sweat is dripping from her forehead as she slowly pants trying to numb the pain she is feeling.
It’s been just over three months since she left, and he has kept in contact every other day without fail no matter what time of day. When we last spoke, she told us she had caught up with Sekreta and spoken to her she stayed with them but when they woke she was gone again.
She wanted to chase her down but Cynthia was so close to giving birth she turned around to keep her promise, she let us know she was 2 days away from the edge of the unchartered land and she would link us when she hit civilization but that never came.
*"Sel I need to push is she coming ?"*
"Cynthia she is on her way right now, don’t worry focus on the baby and if you need to push then push"
She nods and lets out another loud cry, as the doctor checks her over he confirms that the baby is coming out.
"Okay Cynth push"
She does and lets out a loud growl in the process her eyes now glowing as she focuses intently on getting the baby out, her hand once again crushing the already broken bones in my hand.
I wince in pain as she pushes once more, Sigi now scrambling up off the floor to take over as hand holder. The nurse in the room moves her attention to me to ask me about my hand but I usher her back to my sister.
A short while later my beautiful nephew has been bought into the world. While Sigi got lost in his new sons’ eyes and Cynth got cleaned up I’m met in the corridor by Calder.
"They had a baby boy Calder and he’s amazing "
He doesn’t react the way I hoped instead he has a sombre look on his face.
*"Selene, we found them "*
"Normally I would say great amazing news but from the look on your face, it’s not good news at all. Where are they "
*"Ryan is surgery some of his wounds are too deep to heal on their own so they need to get in and sow them up to urge the healing"*
"Okay so where is Artemis "
He stays silent and looks away from me.
I grab hold of his shirt feeling the panic rising in my throat.
"Calder. Where is she ?"
He takes my hand in his and pulls me to the bench, so I’m sat on his lap.
*"Selene. Artemis is missing. When they caught up with Ryan he was calling out for them covered in blood and he just kept screaming for them to get Arti. They reached a spot further back the didn’t find her, but her blood was present the followed the trail and then it disappeared "*
"She's injured and out there alone ?. We have to talk to Ryan and find out what happened "
I go to stand up, but he stops me.
*"Selene, Ryan is in pretty bad shape he won’t be in any fit state to talk and besides that, your other sister is in that room expecting you to come back in with Arti. What are you going to tell her ?"*
"Calder I have no idea all I know is that Cynthia is going to be devastated. Will you come back in with me ?"
He nods and we stand on from our seat and head back into the room. Sigi has joined Cynth on the bed and they are both staring lovingly down at their new world.
Cynthia lifts her head to look at us and then gazes behind, the moment she realises that Artemis is not stood behind me.
*"Selene, where is she what's happened "*
As if she already knows what’s happening she scoots upright a little in the bed. I move towards her and take her hand sitting down beside her I explain everything Calder just told me. I let her know how many times I’ve tied to link Arti but got no reply and as I’m talking she does the same.
I watch as she takes it all in, her face changing into one of fury, nothing like I’ve never seen from her before.
*"Calder I assume there are still people looking for her "*
He nods.
*"Okay great give me a few days to get back on my feet and if they haven’t found her then I will "*
Her tone is serious and Sigi and I begin to plead with her as she has just had a baby.
*"I hear what your all saying but Selene, Arti and I share a connection. If anyone is able to find her then it’s us "*
"Cynthia is right if anyone can find her it’s us "
A few days later we are packing up the car.
*"Selene please let me come with you, it’s not safe for the two of you alone "*
"Calder I will be fine. We will be fine. She is out there alone and Cynthia and I are the only ones that can find her. I have to do this Calder just link me when Ryan wakes up and tell me everything he knows, And besides you cant leave Sigi and the baby alone"
I turn to look at the new family beside me, how Cynthia is keeping this all together after just giving birth is beyond me, I would be glued to that baby like there was no tomorrow, but she is set on this and there was no telling her otherwise.
They head towards us and I find myself again asking if she is sure she wants to leave so soon.
"Cynth I can go on my own, it will be fine honestly "
I don't know if I will be fine and it already been two days and we still can reach Arti, my panic levels are actually at an all-time high but I'm not going to tell her that.
*"Selene, will you stop asking me !. Yes I had a baby, yes it hurt like hell, no I won't be staying behind, yes I do feel bad for going so soon and yes I do think Sigi and Calder will manage for a few days"*
I nod sensing the anger slightly rising in her voice opting to not start this trip with an argument I Climb into the car. Calder kisses me through the window one last time while Cynthia gets in the car.
We say our goodbyes and start the journey heading towards the edge of the unchartered lands.
I try to link her one more time, praying this time she will answer but it's still silent and my stomach drops as the realisation hits, when we find her she may not be alive.
**Artemis**
"You can't keep me here forever you know "
The taste of blood still pooling in my mouth. I get no reply from her only a soft chuckle as she carries on messing around on the table. I try for the thousandth time to pull my arms out of these straps but they are full of silver and bound so tight my arms are starting to bleed.
She turns to face me leaning over me and blocking the harsh white light above me.
*"Oh Artemis, you came after me thinking I was a damsel in distress. Wanting too... what did you say 'Offer me the family I never had' and yet here we are"*
She motions around the room with her hands.
*"I no longer need saving, everything I need I found right here "*
She pulls a syringe from the table and I flail desperately to stop her from injecting me again.
The needle hits my neck and I feel myself going numb my eyelids drooping before darkness encapsulates me.
*A/N
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you have enjoyed this journey as much as i have writing it. Please be sure to leave any comments and keep an eye on my page for some exciting new works coming soon !*