• Hera stood up, a grim expression on her face, as she soberly said, "I should go back home now. If my teachers find out I snuck out, they'll beat me to death for sure."
    The moment the words were out of her mouth, Apollo bolted up and grabbed the girl's small shoulders, his gold eyes bewildered and concerned. Hera looked up at him with confused eyes.
    "You mean they actually hit you?! How can they do that?!" he cried, gripping her shoulders tighter. Hera only nodded, dumbfounded at her friend's reaction.
    "Only when I do something wrong. But I have gotten a few bruises. And it does hurt quite a bit." Hera told him, removing his hands from her shoulders.
    Apollo thought on this. He simply couldn't allow his friend to get hurt again. He would definitely inform his father, Zeus, about this. He would do something about Hera's situation. But until he could get a moment with his father, all he could do was accompany Hera in the hopes that her mentors wouldn't dare harm her in his presence. He could at least do that.
    He took her hand and said, "I'll walk you home. Who knows? They might not hurt you with me around to witness them."
    Hera smiled reliably at her friend and nodded hopefully, then they set off. But not before Apollo stopped to grab a golden bow and a quiver full of golden arrows. Hera quickly put her hands to her mouth so as not to reveal that it was open in awe. They were so beautiful! She wanted to touch them just to prove to herself they were real. Apollo smiled at Hera.
    "They're a gift from my father. I take them practically everywhere I go." he informed her with a grin. Then he again took her small hand and they continued on their way.

    As they progressed, Hera noticed how different Apollo appeared in the bright, warm sunlight. His gold eyes were brighter and shined as if his eyes were two suns. His golden hair reflected the sun's light and shone brilliantly. His hand became warmer in her grasp. In fact, she felt much warmer in his very presence. He smiled kindly at her.
    He must be the son of a god? she thought, ducking her head, bluish-black curls hiding her pretty face. He can turn into a wolf at will, he said his father gave him that gold bow and those arrows. And what I'm seeing now seems to confirm that.
    Hera looked up and put a hand to her mouth to stifle a small gasp. The girl immediately ducked behind Apollo and pressed herself against his warm back so she wouldn't be seen by the old, frail figure only a few feet in front of them. She didn't want him to see her.
    Apollo stared worriedly at her. "What's wrong?" he asked, his eyes bewildered as to Hera's sudden fear.
    The girl peered cautiously over her friend's shoulder. She gulped. "That's one of my teachers. He hits me the hardest." she whispered, her voice fearful.
    The boy looked from Hera to the horrid old man. Then he quietly rasped, "Just stay behind me and act normal. He probably won't see you then."
    Hera nodded and followed him. However, as soon as they stepped in front of the old man, he grabbed her arm and yanked her over.
    "WHY YOU INSOLENT LITTLE GIRL! HOW DARE YOU SNEAK OUT, FEIGNING ILLNESS!" he shouted, gripping her arm tighter, causing her eyes to tear up.
    Apollo's temper took control of him then. He gritted his teeth in anger and punched the old man, making him land roughly on his rump.
    The boy grabbed and Hera's hand and ran. "Come on! We gotta get outta here before he wakes up! Someone's coming and if they see him like that, who knows what they'll think?" he exclaimed, hurrying, Hera struggling to keep up behind him.
    "How do you know someone's coming?" she asked worriedly.
    Apollo looked back at her and hastily replied, "I have what you might call foresight. It's not perfect yet, I can't control when it happens."
    Hera clamped her mouth shut as a question tried to rise to her lips.

    The two children hadn't run far when they suddenly crashed into something and fell. As Hera shakily stood up, she nearly fell down again. For right in front of them stood Zeus, King of the Gods himself. He was tall and muscular. His black hair and beard were neatly trimmed and he wore the absolute finest clothes. Hera took a nervous step back, almost tripping on her own feet.
    "Father! What are you doing here?" Apollo exclaimed with a surprised look on his tan face.
    "Merely passing through, Apollo." answered Zeus in his deep, booming voice. Then he turned his gaze to Hera, then walked over to her. He gave her a fatherly smile. "Well, aren't you a pretty one? Would you happen to be a friend of my son's?"
    Hera merely nodded, every rapid beat of her fluttering heart deafening. Apollo, on the other hand, wasted no time in acting foolish as she did. He immediately told his father of the incident and what Hera's teachers had done to her.
    "Allow me to examine the arm that the man grabbed." Zeus ordered when his son concluded. Apollo jerked his head for Hera to obey. The girl hesitated, but let him hold her arm and look at the noticeable bruises. Hera wanted nothing more than to yank her arm back and run away. She knew straight away that she did not like this man. And she hated the feel of his brawny hand touching her.
    "I will be sure to see to this situation of yours, Young One. You can be sure you won't be harmed again." the king said after taking his strong hands off her arm. "Farewell children. I must be off."
    And with that he was gone, leaving Hera trembling with unknown and unreasoned hatred, and Apollo smiling.