Discouraged, Daphne sat and ate in silence. She had seen a lad with shiny golden hair roaming around her forest but admittedly didn't pay much attention to the boy. She had only caught glimpses of him, but the man had kept his distance. She felt her beauty was a curse. "Why are you pushing this issue? It feels like I'm being punished."

"You're not being punished, my lovely hunter. Even though I love you, I see greater love in my baby brother's eyes. He loves you immensely, borderline obsessive, I must admit. I'm surprised he's acting shy when it comes to you. He's normally bombastic, but when it comes to you, he's a blushing mess. I wouldn't mind seeing you return his affections," Artemis said as she picked on her food. "I'm going as far as to encourage it."

Mulling over what Artemis was proposing, she remained silent for the rest of their meal. Daphne wasn't in the mood to continue their conversation. As she finished breaking her fast, Daphne noticed the goddess fidgeting with a flower from a nearby tree branch of her tree. "Why do you want me to become his lover when I can be yours?" she finally asked, love and honesty dripping from her words.

Artemis reached out to kiss her forehead in a motherly gesture. "Oh, Daphne, my fearless huntress! I adore you over the other maidens. But my love for freedom, nature, and the moonlit nights is far greater than my love for another being," Arthemis said with a sweet tone.

She looked away, dejected. "I understand!" She had hoped Artemis would reciprocate. She was a short-lived fling.

"Do not despair, my dear. You are special to me and have a piece of my heart. We have a task. Hog and venison have been requested for the festivities. Will you help me?" Artemis asked, looking like the moon on a cloudless night as she left the treehouse.

Staring at Artemi's empty spot, Daphne couldn't contain her sadness as a tear rolled down her plump cheek. A water sprite approached her to kiss the tear away before turning away to tidy her place. "I'll always help you," Daphne said as she tried to hide her emotions from the other woman. Shaking her head, clearing her troubling thoughts, she gathered her equipment and rejoined Artemis by the base of her treehouse.

Laughter echoed around the forest as she spotted the goddess climbing a tree and jumping from one branch to another. "Try to keep up," Artemis warned as she set off into a run.

Daphne cleared her mind to push down the slight sting of rejection in her chest as she ventured deeper into the forest. Jumping from one limb to another, Daphne followed Artemis. Soon, they reached an ample and fertile clearing. Without waiting a second longer, Artemis let loose a few arrows. Her movements are fluid, like that of a dancer. Daphne watched in admiration as the goddess. Inspiration washed over her as she aimed and released multiple arrows, and before long, they had enough game for a feast that could last several days.

"I think this should do. You can go and get ready for the celebration. My servants clean and prepare these for the festivities," Artemis said, leaving without looking back.

Daphne felt an emptiness in her chest consume her. She momentarily stared in the distance before trekking back to her house. She took the long way back to her little cottage in the tree, enjoying the peaceful forest. Being surrounded by nature helped her calm her mind–it made her feel at ease even after a crushing rejection. As she approached her home, Daphne decided not to join the others, feeling indisposed.

After cleaning her weapons, Daphne lounged in her hammock overlooking the mountains, trying to find peace from her racing mind. At first, she tried to rest, but her emotions were on the verge of bursting out of her chest. I don't want to be surrounded by strangers. I want to be alone, she thought as her tired muscles screamed in pain.

The rustling of leaves warned her that she had visitors. “Daphne, I know you're hiding. I caught wind of what happened..." The melodious voice of one of her hunter sisters, Ismini, came from below. "Are you coming to celebrate the new lord of Delphi?”

Daphne's heart fell apart. “Ismini, I don't feel like celebrating.”

“Forget about Artemis! You have me. Besides, her brother honors the python with many competitions. He's also handsome and searching for a wife. Rumor has it he has a crush on you, you lucky nymph."

"We are supposed to remain chaste, like our goddess, Ismini," Daphne replied, glad Ismini was part of her life. "Besides, I thought we had a thing."

"Oh, we still do. I cherish every second we spend together. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the company of someone like Artemis' brother. He's quite the sight," Ismini said as she giggled. "I would be willing to renounce my vows for someone like him."

Daphne rose from her hammock, heading towards her balcony and leaning on its railing. "Didn't you vowed to remain a maiden, Ismini?" She asked, intrigued. Sure, Daphne was fascinated by the man who had become the subject of everyone's conversations, the phyton killer. Wanted to meet the lad who lingered in the shadows, watching her. She tried to face the man who sent the hawk to keep a watchful eye when he wasn't around. But noticed Ismini's pout. "Alright! You cherish your free will, but... I need to bathe first."

"Hey-ho!" Ismini shouted in excitement. "I'll be waiting and bring only your best."

With a huge grin, she went to her modest chambers. Going about her trunks, she noticed a package pinned with a golden arrow by a corner. "This wasn't here last night," she whispered hesitantly, opening the package to find dried fruits, nuts, silky robes, and embroidered ribbons. When did this... such exquisiteness, she thought, hands shaking. A man has been into her sanctuary and made a declaration. But do I want to accept his love and return his feelings? She smiled at the thought, wanting to know more about him. "Maybe... I should take my chances, listen to the goddess, and allow her brother's courtship. We will become a family of great hunters. To live in the wild and rear a new generation of cunning warriors." She innocently smiled at the idea. The thought sounded appealing.

With her new robes packed, she sprinted to the cave where she usually bathed with her sisters. Her heart was bursting with love, thinking of Ismini and the hunter who wanted her as a lover. Once at the cavernous spring, she shuffled to the other nymphs but was pulled to a secluded spot by Ismini. Daphne was engulfed in her lover's embrace as she stared deep into Ismini's azure gaze. Her red curls shone brightly against the sun. Daphne reached out to caress her lover. Her golden-brown skin was a beautiful contrast against the other woman's pale skin. She felt her lover's hand become bolder, exploring every surface of her body. Heart racing, she deepened their kiss as Ismini's hands became bolder in their exploration. A thrill coursed through her veins when her sweet lover found her clit and caressed her with the gentlest of touch.

Daphne wrapped her leg around Ismini in a moment of pure bliss to give her better access to her achy center. On her part, Daphne's gracious hands explored the other naiad's body until she found that spot that made Ismini blush beautifully at the attention. She ran her finger along Ismini's bundle of nerves before gently sliding one finger, then another, into her welcoming canal. Lost in her euphoria, Daphne felt her lover reciprocate and slid her wet finger between her folds, inserting two fingers into her swollen core.

"Mmmm, Daphne, more!" Ismini whispered in her ear, sending shivers all over Daphne's body. "My forever lover."

Daphne was close–she almost felt her pinnacle about to crash and overwhelm her senses. And by the gentle flutters of Ismini's dewy slit, she could tell her lover was close too. "Ahhh, Ismini! I'm close. You are, too!"

Ismini brushed her lips against the delicate curve of her ear. "I'm close... don't stop!" Her whisper sent a thrilling warmth cascading down Daphne's spine, and the soft kiss that met the tender skin of Daphne's earlobe created an electrifying sensation.

Like a crashing wave on a stormy day, Daphne found her release. Ismini joined her with her euphoric release and a moan that was music to Daphne's ears a few seconds later—she looked beautiful. Her afterglow tinted her cheeks a lovely shade of rosy red. Her light blue eyes, unfocused, held a wetness of satisfaction. Daphne felt a heaviness in her chest, trying to burst free and lay her emotions loose. "Artemis suggested I marry her brother. I don't know what to think." She confessed as she felt vulnerable, coming to terms with the goddess' desire.

"I wonder! Is she trying to play Cupid?" Ismini asked in jest, but then regret marred her beautiful face. She looked beyond disheartened. "It's an honor to be the goddess sister-in-law." Suddenly, she smiled brightly, looking as if she was trying to hide her true feelings. "Let's get you ready. I see he sent expensive presents. I hope you won't forget about me."

Daphne smiled, knowing Ismini would always be by her side. "You'll always be my sweet lover, Ismini!" She approached the other woman and planted a passionate kiss. "Tonight, we shall admire the stars in each other's arms."

After their bath, they prepared for their day with their finest robes. Daphne didn't fail to notice that Ismini had gone to great lengths to make her look beyond beautiful. In turn, Daphne made sure Ismini looked her best for the day. As they walked hand in hand, they were greeted with competition and merriment as they arrived at the games. She decided to partake in the celebrations by dancing and proving her skills as a great archer. During her break, she saw him, the hero in the flesh. The lad who had been spying on her. His hair was a dead giveaway of his past misdeeds of spying on her. He looked different. He was now a handsome man. His beauty could only be compared to Aphrodite's. They were two faces of the same coin–equally stunning! Her heart fluttered. It started to beat faster as she noticed he’d been giving his attention to his admirers, not her. But then their eyes met. She flushed and turned away, feeling shy. When she dared to change a look at him, she noticed his furious blush that tinted from his neck to the tip of his ears, an attractive shade of red.

Maybe being with a man wouldn't be so bad, she thought, as they exchanged fleeting looks. His handsome smile made her wonder if he desired her. His adorable shyness, which she found endearing, made her reconsider her vow. Daphne was at a crossroads. Like her, he was wild, which made him appealing to her. She wanted to run to him and taste his lush lips. Admit she wanted to become one with him. For the first time, she wanted to know how a man would feel inside her. Slowly delving into her dewy center. The thought sent a pleasant shiver throughout her body.