Just as Helios had once promised, the journey home didn’t take long. In no time at all, Artemis found herself once again at the edge of the forest, at the very spot where she had first seen the silver spaceship.
As before, the Gordan hovered silently before her, but this time, it slowly faded away until it had disappeared without a trace.
Confident that she would see her friend again soon, Artemis set her short turtle legs in motion, ready to complete the final part of her journey.
Halfway through the forest, Artemis stopped and sniffed the air. She wiggled her nose like a rabbit, for there was a strange smell in the air. It was an unpleasant scent she had never encountered before. Curious as ever, she veered off her path until she came to a small clearing.
There, standing between the trees, was an unusual creature whose clothing reminded her instantly of Helios. Like her friend, it stood on two legs, but its suit was jet black. The creature itself looked quite different as well. It had dark gray fur, a young, sheep-like face, and gentle, dark green eyes.
As the turtle approached slowly, she sensed a deep sadness emanating from this dark figure. When she was close enough, she greeted it warmly: “Hello, I’m Artemis. Are you a Linea?”
The creature turned to her, shaking its head slightly and trying to hide its emotions. “No,” it said softly, “I am an Ephes. My flock and I are just passing through. I’m allowed to stretch my legs a bit before we take off again.”
Artemis looked down at the ground between them. A greasy, black liquid erupting in large, rising bubbles was clearly the source of the foul smell. The Ephes noticed her gaze, lowered its head in embarrassment, and let its ears droop.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
“Oh… yes,” it said sheepishly. “That’s from our engines. We must have leaked it during our landing. It makes me sad to see that it’s harming nature.” Then it took a deep breath, looked up, and added, “But that’s just how it is when you travel to the stars.” Of this, the creature seemed very proud.
Artemis examined her reflection in the dark puddle, pondering the Ephes’s words. With compassion, she said, “Sometimes, you think there’s no other way because it’s all you’ve ever known. But maybe you just need the courage to try something new. That doesn’t mean you have to do it all alone.”
The young creature listened attentively.
With a smile, Artemis continued, “I have a friend named Helios. He travels to the stars without harming the environment. There are other ways, even if your flock hasn’t found them yet. Who knows, maybe someday you’ll discover a path that benefits both you and nature.”
“Is that really possible?” the Ephes asked, looking again at the black mess. “Up until now, I’ve only ever dreamed of something like that.”
In the quiet that followed, they heard a distant “Baa!” from the forest. The Ephes’s ears perked up instantly. “That’s my family. We’re about to take off,” it said, bounding away.
But before it disappeared into the woods, it turned back. “Thank you, Artemis. I’ll remember what you said.”
The turtle nodded with a smile, watching it leap until the dark creature was out of sight.
This had been a brief encounter, but she wondered what impact their conversation might have on the Ephes’s life. Would it find the courage to take a new path, or would it follow the beaten track of the flock? Would the others even believe it if told about their meeting? Artemis sincerely hoped she had left a lasting impression.
Then she wondered how her own journey might have proceeded if she had met the Ephes before meeting Helios. “Would I still have traveled to the stars?” she pondered.
Only now did she realize that darkness was starting to engulf the trees. Evening had come. Joyously anticipating her pond, she returned to the path leading home. Her legs now carried her faster than ever before.
