• Back in a time before the gods dwelled in the heavens, back when they would marry humans and produce heirs to the heavens, there was a small island in the middle of the ocean. It is on this isle that our tale begins.
    The small island was lush in greenery and was covered on one half by a forest. The other half held a small shrine made for the goddess Halenisha, a small cottage, and a dock with one tiny wooden boat tied to it. This island has been called many things over time, but its name at that point was Hirani Isle.
    The shrine was kept clean and filled with offerings by its one keeper, a young woman by the name of Miserina. Miserina had dwelled on this isle for as long as she could remember. She was the product of a god and a human, meaning she was as close to a god as a human could be. She had been left on the island with her twin brother almost immediately after birth.
    This was most likely due to the fact their mother was a princess of the city Milenia, a land known for it’s purity and cleanliness. When the princess found out she was pregnant she was banished from her home and sent to the small island the twins now live on. Once the twins came into the world the princess killed herself in grief, upset with the looks of her children. Miserina had the ears, claws, fangs, and tail of a wolf. Her senses were keener than a human’s but she was as kind as a person could be. Her brother had the arms of a bear.
    Their father was in fact the god Zeus, known for impregnating women without them ever knowing. He felt pity for his abandoned children and gave them everything they needed to live comfortably on their island home. The twins, of course, knew nothing of their father’s help, simply thinking they were lucky. One day when they went exploring they found the shrine, covered with vines and cracking from years of abuse from the forest. Together the children had cleaned the shrine and decided Miserina would keep the goddess who the shrine was created for happy. It is in this shrine Miserina’s life begins it’s tragic journey.
    Miserina’s twin brother had recently been engaged to the goddess Tamineces, goddess of relaxation and enjoyment. Her brother’s name was Davio and he and Tamineces were very much in love. Like all beings in love, they were fools. They would stop whatever they were doing when they saw each other and this would cause problems. He had been helping around the shrine when his beloved showed up.
    Miserina trudged up to the shrine and sighed quietly, knowing today would be yet another long day filled with her sweeping and finding small things to offer to Halenisha. “Brother, you are in here, am I correct? I saw you leave the house early this morning and walk towards the hill.” She called out to him as she pushed open the large ornate wooden doors. Squinting her eyes, she walked through the dark shrine and had her arms outstretched in front of her, although she could truthfully hear well enough to know her brother was here and she wasn’t about to hit anything.
    “Miserina? Why are you here?” a rough voice called out. Davio stood quickly, hair tousled. A beautiful female figure stood beside him, her slim body covered by a silken dress.
    “Why hello Miserina. It’s nice to see you again.” The woman said, walking towards Miserina, who looked completely confused.
    “I came because I have work to do…It’s nice to see you as well Tamineces. Do you mind me asking why you are in the shrine of Halenisha?” Miserina walked towards the alter in the center of the shrine and picked up some offerings that had fallen to the ground.
    “Me? Well, I came to see my soon to be husband of course!” the goddess replied, skipping happily to the alter to help the wolf girl pick up the items.
    “And you had to see him in the shrine because?”
    “Because…it’s quiet here, of course!”
    “Uh-huh…why not in the meadow?” Miserina picked up an apple and rubbed off some dirt before placing it on the table and sighing. “You two are going to get me in trouble.”
    “We will not my dearest sister! Halenisha will never know!” the rugged boy said loudly, clasping his sister’s shoulders. In the next moment a statue in a corner of the temple cracked and a raven haired woman came out of it.
    “Never know, huh? Davio I abhor you! Being like this in my sacred grounds! And with a woman like that!” the woman cried in anger, pointing a finger towards Tamineces who scowled at the finger.
    “A woman like what Halenisha? As far as it goes, I am a much better goddess. Not only am I not cruel, but I don’t need everything I touch! Davio is my man, not yours.”
    “Really?” Halenisha smirked and grabbed Davio in an embrace, dissolving into thin air. The other goddess lunged at her and cried out bitterly when she went right through them. Once they were gone she turned to Miserina, who was standing shocked, mouth open, with another offering in her hands. Rage burned through the goddess’s eyes and she pounced on the girl.
    “You! You caused me to lose my beloved!” she screamed, clenching Miserina’s arms with a terrifying force. Miserina whimpered and kept denying any involvement in the abduction, saying she would never want her brother taken away.
    After a few minutes of struggle Miserina was let free, but was thrown into the ocean. She gasped and struggled through the waves. She knew how to swim, but wasn’t used to waves of this size. Luckily for her, Zeus noticed her and swept her onto a beach. Coughing and shaking, she stood up slowly, not wanting to fall on her face and wind up with a mouthful of sand. Looking around she saw an old man and ran towards him as fast as she could without falling.
    “Mister! Please help me! I was thrown from my home island and-“ She was interrupted by the man though, who had put a bony finger to her lips.
    “Hush, I know what happened to you Miserina. Your brother was stolen and in rage his bride to be threw you to the depths of the sea. I also know what it is you need.”
    “Yes! Are you a seer? “She cried out happily, forgetting to be polite to the old man. He chuckled and made a hand motion telling her to follow him.
    He led her into a small cave that seemed to hold a holy glow. They wound through a maze of passages and reached a small alcove that seemed to be emitting a bright light. “Go through here and get the item you need. I have done all I can for you my child.” The man then turned and walked through another passage and disappeared from Miserina’s sight.
    “How odd…but still…I might as well go see what it is he says I need.” With that she boldly stepped into the room and saw a dagger and a large shell lying on the ground. Frowning slightly she walked to the dagger and picked it up. On closer examination it was a beautiful blade. Gems lay encrusted all along the hilt and the actual blade shone as if it had never been used before. She placed in a small side bag she wore and turned to the shell.
    She reached down to grab it, but it slipped from her grasp in an instant. “What is that?” she asked, going to grab it again, only to once again miss. After trying this for a few minutes she sat down and sighed. “Whatever this thing is, it doesn’t want to be caught.” She flipped over onto her back and stretched out her arms, unexpectantly grabbing the shell. “Whoa!” She jumped up and held it to her chest. It struggled slightly but gave up after a few seconds.
    The shell was large, big enough for Miserina to stand on. It was a royal green color, almost jade and somewhat scratchy. Grinning, Miserina went through the maze back outside and to the beach. She saw the figure of the old man rushing away and smiled. She shakily stood on the shell, made sure she wouldn’t fall off, and pushed it into the water.
    Miserina laughed as she felt the wind whip past her face. She had absolutely no idea where the shell was taking her, all she knew was there was another island looming up ahead. It was even smaller than the one she shared with her brother and had only one small building on it.
    Once she was on the beach Miserina jumped from the shell and was upset to see it speed off in the other direction. “Darn it! I thought maybe I had tamed it or something…” She sighed and began the trek to the building. Once she was close to it she realized it was a temple. Taking the last of her strength the wolf eared girl ran to the opening and went inside, panting.
    Once inside she was instantly terrified, it was Tamineces’ temple. She closed her eyes and began to mumble cuss words.
    “Are you swearing at me?” A shadowed figure asked in an annoyed tone.
    “Waah! Tamineces?” Miserina began to tug on her ears.
    “No, it’s Zeus. Of course it’s me. Who else would it be?” Tamineces came out of the shadows and glared at the girl. “I am amazed you have the nerve to come speak to a goddess you have annoyed!”
    “Well, it wasn’t exactly on purpose, but that is not the point right now! I really want to make it up to you.”
    “Really? That’s smart, don’t let a goddess curse you. Fine, I’ll look over this on one condition.” The goddess began to play with her hair, giving off an air of extreme annoyance.
    “I’ll do anything! Please, just forgive me!”
    “Okay, get me back your brother. I can’t allow Halenisha to have him!”
    “Alright…I was going to go appeal to Halenisha anyway, are you sure that’s what you want?” the girl questioned, looking quite puzzled.
    “Yes. I’ll even take you there. But, I have a warning for you; if your brother has fallen under one of Halenisha’s spells you can’t save him. He will simply be a soulless, empty body.” Tamineces looked at the ground. “Not even I can save him then.”
    “If…if he were to turn like that, then what would happen?” Tamineces shook her head and refused to look at the twin of her lover.
    “I’ll take you there.” She repeated.
    Miserina began to lose consciousness, when she awoke she was on the very border of a large isle. She jumped to her feet and twirled around to look in amazement at everything. “I can only bring you this far I’m afraid. Halenisha has a barrier keeping other gods outside her home. Since you’re half mortal you should be alright. Please bring me back my beloved.” Tamineces’ voice began to fade out like a wave that lapped on the sand and Miserina trudged onto the island.
    She had been walking for about half a day when she saw something that looked very much like a castle. “I’m guessing this is her house.” When she got closer a large tiger leapt from the brush towards her. Grunting, the girl narrowly dodged getting cut to ribbons. Her bag was torn from her and her dress was shredded on one side. She lunged to her bag and pulled out the dagger she had been given earlier. As the feline readied itself for another attack she rushed towards it and struck it in the neck with the dagger. The beast fell and she sighed, falling to her knees beside it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to kill you, really I didn’t…but I need to do something.” After saying that she stood back up and walked to the mansion-like building.
    She began to knock on the door, hesitated, and then simply opened the door, hearing it make a large groaning noise. “Jeez! That’s loud.” She whispered, tiptoeing to the center of the manor. Every once in a while something that seemed to be a soldier would walk past, but Miserina always seemed to find a place to hide.
    Once she reached a door that was pressed with gold leaf the canine like teenager rolled her eyes and threw it open, making a huge scene. “Halenisha! Please release my brother! H-“ She stopped short when she saw her brother, whose eyes seemed gray and hollow. Gasping she rushed at the goddess, her eyes filled with horror, terror, and bloodthirsty hatred. “What did you do to him?”
    “Me? I simply talked to him. It seems I took his breath away, wouldn’t you say?” the goddess cackled, not in the least bit worried.
    “You! How could you! He didn’t do anything to deserve this!” she screamed, pulling the dagger from her dress. Swiping furiously at the goddess, she was always just a paper width away from her skin.
    “Give up, even if you hit me with that it won’t do anythi-“ In that moment of inaction, Miserina jabbed the dagger through her gut. Blood dripped onto the marble flooring and the goddess gasped loudly. “How?! How did you touch me? I’m immortal!” Halenisha looked at the blade sticking through her and gasped. “You have the god killing blade, Heminara? What?!” After that she slumped over onto Miserina who promptly shoved her onto the ground.
    “God killing blade? So…I killed her?!” Miserina began to sob uncontrollably. Her brother’s shell of a body walked over to her and swiped at her. “What? Davio?! Why are you doing this! I don’t want to kill you!” Her brother lunged at her again. Without thinking she extended the dagger and sliced open her brother’s chest. Color began to return to his eyes as he fell to the ground. Miserina whimpered and pulled her twin’s head onto her lap and stroked his face. “I’m sorry, brother! I’m so sorry!”
    “It…it’s alright Miserina…thank you…for protecting me. I love yo-“ Davio’s voice ebbed away and his body fell limp. The girl closed her brother’s eyes and chuckled quietly.
    “It’s alright, yes it’s okay. We can go back home now Davio. You have your wedding soon, remember? Let’s go home.” With that she stood up and hefted her brother over her shoulder. “OH dear, brother you can’t walk…that’s alright, I can carry you home.”
    Miserina dragged her brother through the mansion, destroying every sentry she laid eyes on. Once outside she met Tamineces. “Hello Miserina! Did you save my beloved? Oh! Why is there blood all over you?” Miserina shook her head and the goddess broke down into tears.
    “Shut up…shut up! You didn’t do anything!” Miserina shrieked like a madman and extended her dagger so it swept through the goddess’ neck. An expression of surprise was etched upon her face. “Oh…” Miserina stared at the body and then at her hands, filthy with crimson. She giggled and continued on to the beach. When she reached the shore she placed her brother’s body in the waves and watched it disappear. She watched it lifelessly, her eyes very much like what her brother’s had been. “Goodbye brother, I’ll miss you.” She stared at the sky and saw that it was a full moon.
    “One of the things I remember being told by Halenisha,” she said to no one “is that the full moon makes people crazy…but I don’t feel crazy at all.” She smiled up to the heavens and felt one small tear slide down her face.