As the years went by, Phaedra continued to outwit her hunters. With each annual Hunt she grew more creative and more resourceful. Of course she was always in danger when it was the day of the Hunt, but as she grew wiser, Phaedra had an easier time avoiding the hunters and escaping from their traps. And, to show her gratitude of her survival, every morning when the sun would rise, Phaedra would howl to Apollo and praise him. He had not visited her, but Phaedra knew he appreciated her devotion and rewarded her for it by giving her as much assistance as he could during the Hunt.

Phaedra also began to practice speaking. At first she could only make simple sounds, but after a few years she was able to teach herself to utter simple words and very choppy sentences. It was difficult, but not impossible.

Phaedra did not see Apollo again until ten years after surviving her first Hunt. It was the night after the tenth annual Hunt and Phaedra had decided to climb atop her cave and wait for the sunrise. The Hunt had been particularly tricky that year, and one of the hunters had even managed to pierce her flank with his sword. It stung painfully, but most of all it shocked Phaedra to see her own blood and watch her golden fur rip apart at the touch of steel. She had managed to escape, but the experience had a lasting effect on her. Of course, at exactly midnight the cut had healed itself, despite how deep it was, but it had humbled her and reminded Phaedra that she was not immortal on the night of the Hunt, no matter how adept she had become in evading the hunters.

As Phaedra stared up at the stars, gazing at the sky as it slowly began to lighten, she could not help but feel as if she was being watched. In her time as a wolf, she had grown to trust her instincts, no matter how outrageous, because they tended to be right. Turning her head to the side, she looked down upon the lone figure standing by the creek. Even in the darkness, his hair gleamed and made him easily recognizable. Allowing her heart to leap with joy, Phaedra jumped down off of her perch and approached the sun god. As soon as she reached him, she bowed her head in respect and greeting.

Apollo nodded in her direction as well. "Hello Phaedra, it is good to see you again," he said in a noble tone.

"Indeed," She responded very slowly, speaking to another person for the first time.

He smiled at her response, "I see you are slowly gaining back the ability to speak."

"Yes," she responded simply, allowing a toothy grin to cross her face.

Apollo laughed, "I am sorry I have not been able to return sooner. Zeus has been watching you too closely for me to risk coming back so soon. But now that I am here, I would like to congratulate you. You have done splendidly. You have survived for ten years, which is no small feat. Zeus did not expect you to survive your first year, but then again he did not know that I warned you. But, like I said before, I have taken an interest in you Phaedra, which is why I am here once again."

Phaedra remained silent and looked on with interest as Apollo continued.

"Because of your punishment, I cannot reward you in the same manner I do my other subjects. But, I believe I have created a suitable replacement in order to honor you, Phaedra. You were too young to bear children when you arrived at Mount Olympus, but now that you have proven your worth, I have decided to give to you the gift of offspring.

Phaedra was confused for a moment as the god smiled at her joyfully. But then it clicked what he was bestowing onto her. He was not simply granting her any offspring, but his own child. A demigod of Apollo.

Dipping her head, Phaedra tried to express her gratitude in words, but all that came out was, "honor."

Apollo seemed to understand, though, as he walked over to her and placed his hand upon her head. "I have faith that you will be a loving mother to the future hero of Greece."

Phaedra nodded again, and when she looked back up the sun god was gone, leaving nothing in his wake except for dawn's first timid tendrils of light, reaching over the land and dispelling the last remains of nightfall.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The child arrived the next morning when Phaedra awoke from her slumber. As she stepped out of her cave and began to drink from the small creek, a beam of light broke away from the sun and descended in front of her. She was blinded by the intensity of the light and turned her head to shield her eyes. When she turned back, she gazed in awe at the young boy in front of her.

He was not an infant, but instead looked to be about five summers old. His hair was a dark brown and his eyes were a shadowy blue, like that of the ocean at night. He looked at her curiously but also with a sense of recognition. Phaedra also felt the strange familiarity of the boy, as if she had seen him faintly in her dreams.

Stepping towards her, the boy asked in a light, airy voice, "Are you my mother?"

Phaedra thought for a moment. Was she truly his mother? She had not born the child properly, but it was undeniable that he looked quite a bit like her when she was still human. Also, she would now be serving and caring for him as a mother.

"Yes," Phaedra responded, feeling a sense of approval resonate within her.

The boy smiled and ran to her, embracing his arms around her neck. It was strange, but not unpleasantly so. Smiling, Phaedra laid her head onto the boy's shoulder and allowed herself to relax in the company of her son.

Her son. The thought seemed so foreign, but it also evoked a deep feeling of love that she had never truly known before. She was now a mother.

Suddenly, Phaedra realized she did not know what to call the boy. Did he already have a name?

Pulling back, she met his dark gaze and clumsily asked, "Name?"

He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "I do not know my name. What is my name mother?"

Phaedra pondered the question, trying to determine a suitable name for the son of Apollo. And, when the name came to her she had no trouble speaking it aloud. It seemed more natural than breathing to her, saying his name.

"Rastus," She said smoothly, allowing the name to echo in the still, morning air.

The boy smiled widely before saying, "I like it. I am Rastus." Phaedra also smiled in return, feeling comforted by the thought that she would no longer be alone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rastus learned quicker than Phaedra ever could have imagined. He learned to run with her when she hunted for game, and during the time of the hunt he hid so well that Phaedra would often have trouble finding him. And, after just three summers he was strong enough to catch a full grown deer with his bare hands, and he could jump high enough to climb even the largest of trees. He was also the kindest of souls; Rastus would often sing to the forest creatures and when he did even the wind would stop its howling to listen to his voice float above the trees. Phaedra loved him more than anything else, and protected him fiercely despite the lack of threats in the Forest of Aema. She also taught Rastus of his father, Apollo. She never spoke of the other gods, preferring only to tell her son of his kind father. Rastus was always overjoyed to hear stories about his father and longed to meet him one day. He had such an unwavering faith that one day his father would come to the forest and stay with them forever, and Phaedra did not have the heart to tell him any differently.

Finally, when Rastus was ten summers old, Phaedra allowed for him to come with her wherever she went. He was too old to simply sit in the cave, and he could now defend himself from minor inconveniences. He was also a great help at spotting things in nature that Phaedra could use to her advantage during the hunt. Rastus allowed his mind to think creatively in almost every situation, and by doing so he would often conceive ingenious plans and ideas.

The days began to pass in a blur as Phaedra spent her days in peace. When she would have to leave Rastus behind, she would often worry about his wellbeing. But, now that he was with her, she could relax and simply enjoy their time together.

She was the happiest she had ever been, and as the seasons elapsed in the rapidly, Phaedra soon lost track of time. She did not care whether it was summer or spring, all she cared about was being with her son. But, she soon realized her dreadful mistake when the hunting horn sounded, leaving herself and Rastus completely vulnerable and unprepared.