#* demeter.

the sun beams down on her,   its rays golden and playful as ever,   painting a pattern on her skin.    reem lifts her face,   relishing in the summer warmth,   while her fingers sink deep into the earth.    she likes to ground herself this way;  to feel the roots and dirt and moss in her grasp,   to remind herself that even in this field,   just outside the forest artemis forbade her to leave,   she is safe.   she is home.    she can hear her sisters and cousins laugh not far away  (  a sound like bells,   almost childlike  ),   but they are far enough to give her peace.    it is odd to want solitude,   she knows that.    she is supposed to yearn for company,   for dances and songs and peals of laughter,   that or the thrill of the hunt.   she prefers the flowers instead,   to have birds for company instead of oreads,   to cradle the rabbit rather than hunt it.    she has always been this way,   despite artemis’ best efforts to make a huntress out of her,   despite the attempts her sisters have made to draw her into their merrymaking  ( αδελφή,   we have honeyed wine !   we have songs,   dance,   beautiful gods  ).   she wonders if that is why her mother rejected her,   as a bird rejects her sick chicks from her nest.

there is a rustle in the grass.    reem’s eyes snap open,   quickly scanning the yellow - green fields for wolves or gods  (  is there a difference ? ).     her gaze comes to rest on a woman,   deeply beautiful as all of them are,   her skin deep brown and curls a shade darker,  eyes the color of the forest.    “  don’t be afraid,  child,  ”    the goddess says,   and the words are soft,   comforting as the earth between her fingers.    they soothe the fear that had taken hold of her,  gently draw it from her chest,   her hammering heart.   reem finds herself relaxing,   though part of her remains vigilant,   ever aware that gods can come in many guises.

“  who are you ?  ”   she asks,   though part of her,   deep down,   already knows.   none of the olympians feel so much like family,   not even artemis,   like the earth and flowers that she has known her whole life.    “  why are you here ?  ”

          DEMETER     /          the subfunction dedicated to the reforming of the earth and the replanting of the earth’s flora from cryo-preserved seed stocks. DEMETER is based on the greek goddess of agriculture of the same name.

          results     /          the primary objective of the DEMETER subfunction seems to have been at least partially fulfilled. this is indicated by the abundant presence of pre-faro plague flora on the earth’s surface. the continued existence of terraforming machines suggests that either the program has not finished fulfilling its primary objective, or that the objective has been fulfilled, but the program continues to perform its functions despite this because of its separation from GAIA. the same could be said about other subfunctions, such as AETHER and POSEDION, which are designated to purifying the earth’s air and water, respectively.

          machines     /          the machines that assist DEMETER in terraforming the earth and planting seeds are as follows: broadhead; charger; grazer; rockbreaker; trampler; fireclaw; frostclaw.