Need a Hero | Heracles
@herculeskouros
Hera hadn’t really gone horseback riding since she had been sent back in time. She had been kept busy with the campaign, and then of course she had been grieving before that. But now that she was starting to see good again, she was starting to get a light, feel joy in things again, she was venturing out more. And today that meant going to her horse, who had been exercised by those who ran the stables, but had been separated from Hera for too long.
And that was part of the mistake that day, as people exercised her mare Artemis whenever they could, and not as often as might be necessary. So Hera had made her horse ready, she had mounted up and found herself on one of the nice trails through the forest. A part of her started looking around, as if she might catch sight of the Great Prince randomly in that section of the woods.
Now she knew that was illogical. Still, if she happened upon him she would definitely greet him as she could. But, in that moment of distraction, a squirrel darted across the path and it startled Artemis. Before Hera really registered what had happened, the mare took off with Hera on her back. Now, Hera wasn’t the most inexperienced rider, but it had been a while, and she didn’t have the balance she needed.
She lost one stirrup quickly, and wobbled dangerously, clutching onto the horse’s mane. “Help!” She cried out, although logically she knew there wouldn’t be too many people in the forest. Hera tried to tug back on the reins, but then she lost grip of those too and ended up only holding onto the mane, and the one stirrup for dear life. “Woah Artemis, woah,” she tried next, wanting to steady her in some way. The mare kept taking them deeper and deeper into the woods, causing Hera’s heart to race like mad. Would they find their way back like this?
And then it was over really. Artemis leaped over a log, and Hera was unprepared for it and toppled off the horse, hitting the ground hard, and watching in a daze as the mare galloped off into the forest. “Artemis!” She called out weakly, struggling to sit up and catalogue her body, see if she had hurt anything. Her tailbone was throbbing, and so was one of her legs. She was somewhat certain she had hit her head. “Shit,” she mumbled to herself as she tried to determine both how far into the forest she had come, and whether she would be able to track down her horse like this.