#pyrena

As your bruised body eventually rises from the dust, the whoops and hollers of the other racers speed past you into the coliseum as victors. 

Squaring your shoulders, you sigh deeply. Turning around, you fight back tears and head to check on your horse, helping it back to its feet.

A different figure soon emerges from the entrance to make their way to you.

You begin brushing the horse’s hide to rid of the dirt and adjust its reins. 

“It is believed your horse tripped on its own.” 

You scoff. “That was a quick decision.” You breathed for a second and checked yourself for injuries. “I’m assuming you saw the true story.”

The woman smiles softly. She brings a sugar cube to your horse and brushes its mane. “I also never received a fair race as a young child.”

You turn to face her and place a hand on your hip. “Princess, you still do not receive fair races.”

Diana’s head falls back as she laughs. It’s deep and beautiful and it makes you relax a bit further. She takes the reins from your hands and nods in the direction of the horse stables. “Let’s go, little one.” 

As you walk in stride, she nudges you with a hip. However still young herself, Diana was the closest thing to family you had on this island. 

Although you were told Diana was born from a small pile of clay, you were born from a mortal woman and an immortal god. Following the death of your mother and the abandonment of your father, a pair of Greek God twins took pity upon you. One marked your nose with the power of the sun, and the other placed your fragile body in the hands of Queen Hippolyta. The Amazonian queen saw that you were taken care of and planned for you to be trained as you came of age. Diana was told she would be in charge of your training when the time came. Diana was no more than 10 when you were left on the island, and now that you were nearing the same age, you understand the hardship of your origin. 

The story of your mother and father turned to gossip that grew to an overwhelming hatred from others as you yourself grew. The god known as your father was not the same as Diana’s, but instead a much more hated being; the other island women primarily avoided your demigod blood. The combined disdain would explain the outcome of today’s race. 

Diana led your horse into the stable as you stood back outside. Standing over the trough, you splashed the sun-warmed water onto your face to wash off the residual dirt. Another figure emerged from the stable and clapped a shoulder on your back. 

You splashed a small amount of water onto the woman; she laughed and dragged you into a tight side hug. 

Releasing you, she tugged your braid gently. “What a way to lose, firebird.” 

You nudged your foot against her shin. “It is not nice to poke fun at almost winners, Artemis.”

The red head scoffed. “Almost winners are still losers, little one.”

You relied on Diana and Artemis for training and companionship. The two Amazons raised you as if you were no different, and you knew how hard they had to work to block the island rumors from your ears. 

You looked up to them. It was surprising, truthfully. Diana was forced to accompany you, but she found a great love and appreciation for you. Artemis liked your fiery spirit and chose to help Diana with your training. 

Although troublesome, you enjoyed life on Themyscira. You stayed to yourself as best as you could. The palace in which you were raised was kind, even if the people were not. Diana and Artemis were your moon and stars.

Until the moon left and took the stars with her. 

Author’s note: This is the beginning of a line of stories for my OC, Pyrena! Her name stems from the Greek root of “pyro,” meaning fire.