At a young age, when she first started to grow her hair, some of it was white. Her parents and the rest of the people thought it was weird, and the other children would call her, “Granny.” At the age of 16, her parents kicked her out and made her live on the streets. They said they kicked her out because, “They didn’t want a 16 year old granny as their daughter.” As she began to walk the streets, she came to Mt. Olympus. There, she sat down at the bottom and began to weep. She hated the fact that she was kicked out for something she couldn’t control. As she was crying, Athena walked down from the mountain and heard her cries. “Child,” she called and stood in front of her. “Why do thy cry?” Willow looked up at her, tears evident on her face. “My parents kicked me out because of my hair.” Athena crouched down in front of her and put some of the hair in her hand. “It’s beautiful to me.” “Really? I thought it was weird.” Athena looked her in the eyes and asked, “Why?” Willow wiped some of the tears from her face and replied, “Because everyone else thought so.” The goddess of war sat down and said, “Your hair is just too pretty for them to understand.” “Why do you like it?” Athena smiled and said, “Because it’s a perfect contrast of the night sky and the pure snow on the ground.” Willow looked at her contrasting hair. She had never thought of it that way. “How about you come with me? I’ll give you a place to rest your head.” Willow thought about the offer and nodded. “Good, now follow me.” Athena took her up the mountain, something that mortals cannot do with a god/goddess’s help. When they arrived, Athena introduced Willow to all of the gods and goddesses. “They’re all so amazing.” “And so are you, in your own way.” Willow smiled at that thought. “Would you like me to train you in the ways of war?” Athena asked her randomly. Willow looked at her, questioning why she asked. “Will I be able to help the people below?” Athena nodded and looked down at the teenager. “Then yes, I would like to be trained in the way of war.” Once that was said, Willow trained with Athena for six years. By the time she was done with her training, she was bigger and stronger than before. “Mother,” Willow called Athena. “May I go down to the village?” Athena smiled at her, “Of course my child. Go and explore.” Willow left and went down to her old village. Her old home. Screams began to be heard when she arrived, and she saw fire blazing high into the sky. She saw people running for their lives, and she took off towards the direction of where they had come from. She finally skidded to a stop. Blood was everywhere, bodies covered the ground, no grass was able to be seen as its natural color. Cyclops attacked villager after villager, and there wasn’t anything anyone could do to stop it. That was, until Willow’s eyes began to glow a dark red color, her anger making her blood boil. The remaining villagers will forever tell this tale to the generations after them because of what they saw her do. She began to, unknowingly, turn into an Azi Dahaka. An Azi Dahaka is a three headed dragon, like the one you see in Hercules before it grows more heads. Her head split into three and her skiing turned into an amber reddish color. That was when the battle of the century unfolded. One girl with Therianthrope against a pack of cyclopes. The battle was bloody and gruesome. The remaining villagers swore to remember everything that had happened this very day. Once the battle was over, the skies above cleared and the sun shined bright. “Where is the sorceress who saved us?” After that was said, Willow raised up from underneath the bodies of cyclopes. “Is that her? Is that Willow?" Murmurs erupted from the small crowd of survivors. Willow turned to face them and saw her birth parents. The same parents who hurt her more than anyone else. That was when Athena came down from the mountain. "You have done well, my child. Even though they have wronged you, you still risked your life to save them and unlocked your god-like powers." Everyone looked shocked. "What do you mean? I am no goddess but a mere mortal." Athena smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. "You are my daughter, that's why you have such abilities. You can shapeshift into anything that will help you in battle. That's why you finished your training so soon." Willow's eyes began to water as she stared at the goddess. "So why was I left on earth? Why did you leave me?" "I left you so you could fulfill your destiny. Just as the sorceress had spoken." Willow hugged the goddess and spoke softly, "Thank you." Now that everything had been settled, Willow and Athena began to help the villagers rebuild their village. Her “birth parents” came to her and began to beg for her forgiveness. "I shall not forgive you, but I will always care for you." Willow hugged the two and Athena smiled. This was what the sorceress said would happen. Willow became a well-known goddess and was now also known as the goddess of protection and mercy. The villagers built statues and temples of her, begging her to keep them protected. Wolves were the main thing that symbolized the goddess, for her strength and wisdom. Now that you know the tale of Willow, would you like to learn about Ashi, the god of serpents? Or what about Derse, the goddess of music? There are many more you can learn about that aren't as well known, but you can change that by reading about these ancient gods/goddesses and spreading word of them. Αντίο και ασφαλή ταξίδια αγαπητέ αναγνώστη. (Goodbye and safe travels, dear reader.)

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