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The rays of Helio's power rained down on the island as the two children raced across the beach. One, with deep black hair that jutted across her shoulders, her stark grey eyes glimmering with mischief. The other, with flowing golden hair that reflects the late afternoon sun, his eyes a stunning blue, filled to the brim with happiness.
A few yards away, a youthful woman stands, with her long blond hair tied in a neat bun. She laughs heartily at the playful children, her arms tightly caressing her own stomach.
Her body felt so much lighter now that the twins were born. For seven years, she had wandered the Earth desperately, unable to finally birth the children she longed to hold.
Just three days ago, her sister, her beautiful, kind-hearted sister, found her and allowed her to finally be rid of the weight of pregnancy. Although her sister was now rooted to the very spot, Asteria was happy. She finally had constant company, without baring herself to the mercy of the King.
Leto raised a hand to wipe the tears that had formed in her eyes due to such amounts of laughter. When she reopened her eyes, she noticed something. Artemis and Apollo had stopped, the latter staring wide-eyed at the sky. Artemis seemed not to have noticed her brother, her mouth indicating that she was talking animatedly.
Leto began to walk towards the two, her worry beginning to take hold, when a wave of energy hit her. It didn't hurt, not in the slightest. In fact, it was warm, a comforting feeling that Leto had not felt in many years.
Her eyes widening, she quickly looked up to check on her children, before she paused. There was a faint noise, a whisper in the back of her mind.
‘They are mine, dear daughter. Both the children are like me, though the daughter is more her father, at least in looks. The boy though…there is more to him than what the surface reveals. He will be like your mother, my darling wife Phoebe.’
The voice was cool, not negative but not recent. Leto had not heard this voice in quite a while. Her father, Koios. Leto, despite the happenings of the war, missed her parents dearly. She wished they could have met her children.
Leto wished that her mother, Phoebe, was there to help with her son. If Apollo truly was akin to his grandmother, Leto wished that she could be there to allow Apollo some sense of connection.
‘Lord Father? Why is Apollo staring at the sky? Is he truly like Lady Mother?’
Leto attempted to send her thoughts, her worries, her emotions, to her father. If they could help at all, she knew she would need it.
‘My darling child, Apollo can sense me. Artemis cannot, as I can hide my presence more easily from her. Likely due to the fact that Artemis is not inheriting any familial powers just yet. Her power and domains will come from herself and only herself. She is a lot like me.
Now, Apollo will be…a different case. A large part of him comes from…this side of the family.
The difference between the two children is just that. They have the same parents, but Artemis is more god than titan, and Apollo is the other way around. He is more like you than his father, and this fact will soon become apparent.’
Leto continued to watch as Apollo finally snapped out of his dazed state, grinning as Artemis ran off. The two had likely challenged each other to some sort of contest again. Leto watched with soft eyes as the two chased each other off, both laughing loudly.
‘Oh, and Leto?’
Leto made a noise out loud, indicating that she was listening before turning red. It was likely that Koios couldn't hear her if she spoke out loud.
‘Yes, father?’
The warm feeling returned, like arms wrapping around her gently.
‘Your mother and I miss you too. We are watching you and your sister, and we are very proud of both of you. As they get older, we hope to make contact with the twins eventually. Just so they know we are here.’
Leto wiped away the tears in her eyes.
‘Yes father. Once they're older.’
The warm feeling became a faint wisp of life in the air around her. She could picture the gentle smile that was probably occupying her father's face. Then, just as soon as it'd come, the feeling receded.
The goddess stood there for a moment, before she nodded to herself.
For now, all she needed to focus on was where the two had gone, and what was for dinner. Perhaps she could get Artemis and Apollo to hunt a pig or perhaps even a boar.