Artemis stiffened. Is she sharing the whole truth?
Selene continued, her voice even. "As the Goddess of the Moon, my spirit is tied to the night, to the creatures that roam beneath its light. I could not bear to see the wolf fade, but I had no power left, for I had set it aside when I chose to live among mortals. So I pleaded with Artemis to help. But she was more concerned for the hunter, as was her nature. She had no power to save both. And so, unwilling to see me hurt, she thought of another way. She chose to merge them, to save both at once."
The arena shook with gasps and exclamations. Shock rolled through the gathered celestials like an earthquake. Many clutched their robes tighter, others whispered furiously to one another. In all their ages of existence, never had they heard such a thing.
"She did what?" the Arbiter barked, her voice cracking with outrage. "Where is the beast now?"
