Artemis |Lesbian Version|

Chapter 1: The Titaness

Leto also knew that Hera's wrath would soon come to taunt her. It was only a matter of time before the earth itself whispered into Hera's ears where she hid.

Zeus never came back, much as Leto predicted. The King of Olympus was too preoccupied with the dealings of his children, his court and the swaying politics of mortal men. Leto never expected to hear from him again but she did expect a visit or sign signaling the incoming wrath of his jealous wife.

Yet nothing came until it was time for Leto to bear her children into the world. Little did she know that Hera was always observing, always keeping herself on alert. Everywhere Leto would go, Hera would know. The Queen of Gods sent the great serpent, Python, to enforce her curse, to hunt Leto out of any sunny place she might try to rest. The Python was unleashed and as long as Leto was on the terra-firma it could find her. The poor Titaness fled to every corner of the earth, but no place welcomed her. Each time she found a moment of peace she would discover the Python was nearby, making it impossible for the pregnant woman to give birth to her children.

So far roamed Leto in travail to see if any land would be willing to make a dwelling for her, but they greatly trembled and feared, and none, not even the richest of them, dared receive the belly-swollen maiden.

When she lost all hope and thought all life had abandoned her she heard the cry of a wolf. Leto walked away from a city called Tremilis and followed the path, guided only by the howling and the light of the moon until she came into a den of wolves. The creatures welcomed her like family.

"Come, Leto," said the Alpha wolf to her as she walked barefoot into their home. "We can guide you to the land called Delos, and there you can bear your children to the world, safe from the fire and fury of Hera's jealousy."

"The Python hunts for me day and night," Leto responded in sadness and fatigue. "You are the first to befriend me. When I get out of this danger, I shall rename this city as Lycia- 'the wolf-country'- to honor your kind."

The wolves licked her feet and her face in gratitude. Leto sat still and pondered as the pack showered with her compassion. A thought struck her. Leto knew how to deceive the monster that kept chasing her. She looked upon herself and changed each limb of her body. Her hands and legs shrunk and fur grew all over her smooth skin. She had taken on the guise of a she-wolf.

Only after twelve days and twelve nights, Leto safely glided across the moonlit lands and found her way to Delos, an island surrounded by swans. The island was not attached to the ocean floor and was not considered a land. Relief filled Leto's heart for this place would protect her from the Python of Hera.

Leto uttered winged words and asked the land, "O Delos, if you would be willing to be the abode of my children and make us a temple -you will be rich in oxen and sheep, you will bear vintage and plants abundantly."

"How shall I believe a Titaness's words?" came an echoing voice of the isle.

"I bore Zeus's offsprings in my belly," Leto replied. "If you have the temple of my godly children, all men will bring you hecatombs and gather here, and incessant savor of rich sacrifice will always arise, and you will feed those who dwell in you from the hand of strangers; for truly your own soil is home to the future gods."

And Delos rejoiced and answered her plea, "Leto, most glorious daughter of great Coeus, joyfully would I receive your children, thus I should become very greatly honored. But I fear, and I will not hide it from you, Leto. The Fates say that your children will be ones that are very haughty and will greatly lord it among gods and men all over the fruitful earth. Therefore, I greatly fear in heart and spirit that as soon as they grow up, they will scorn this poor isle -for truly I have but a hard, rocky soil."

"Tell me what is it that you fear?" Leto asked.

"I fear that they might overturn me and thrust me down with their golden feet in the depths of the sea," said Delos. "I fear your offsprings will go to another land of such that will please them, and there to make their temple and wooded groves. So, many-footed creatures of the sea have made lairs in me and black seals have claimed their dwelling for I lack people. Yet if you will but dare to swear a great oath, goddess Leto, that here your children will first build a glorious temple to be an oracle for men, then you can bring your blessed self forth and make temples and wooded groves on this island."

And Leto swore the great oath of the gods.

"Now hear this, Gaia, the Earth and wide Uranus, the Heaven above," she called out against the roaring sea, "and dropping water of Styx, this is the strongest and most awful oath of the blessed gods, surely my children shall have here their fragrant altar and precinct, and you, Delos, they shall honor above all."

Once the goddess was welcome by Delos, she wedged her way into the water. But just as she tried to cross the distance between the sea and the floating land, a horrible sound appeared from behind the poor woman. The great Python swam after her.

Zeus, who could not remain silent anymore, rescued the mother. He sent her over a dark rolling wave driven by shrill winds. Before Python could reach the rocky isle and harm Leto, Zeus set the floating land swiftly away and pushed it more swiftly than Python could swim.

At last, Leto was spared from the cruel creature, and there on that lovely Delos, she would soon prepare to give birth to twins.