The Tale of Orion: The Hunter Who Couldn’t Be Tamed | The Immortal Gazette
The Immortal Gazette was buzzing with activity, but no one was as busy as Alice. She sat perched on her chair, twirling a glowing crystal in her fingers, eyes narrowed as she tapped her foot against the floor.
Loki lounged nearby, his relaxed posture belying the wicked thoughts simmering behind his amber eyes. “What’s got you in such a mood, Alice?”
She shot him a glance, lips curling into a mischievous grin. “Oh, I’ve just been thinking about the story of Orion, the great hunter of the stars.”
Rumple, who had been sulking in the corner, immediately stiffened. “I’ve heard enough about that insufferable hunter. Every time his name comes up, I can practically hear the praise that mortal legends heap upon him. The Hunter Who Couldn’t Be Tamed. The Unstoppable Force. Please, spare me.”
Alice grinned at Rumple’s sour tone. “Oh, I’m not talking about the one who gets all those lovely titles. I’m talking about the real story behind him. The one mortals don’t quite get.”
Loki’s curiosity piqued. “You’re always full of juicy bits of lore. Tell me, Alice, what’s the real story of Orion?”
Alice leaned back in her chair, the crystal glowing brighter in her hand as her voice grew darker. “Orion. A hunter of the gods, born from the vast expanse of the stars. But let’s not get distracted by the flashy titles and immortal accolades. Let’s talk about what he really was.”
Rumple rolled his eyes dramatically. “Oh, here we go. I can already tell this will be an exercise in humility.”
Alice raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re a real delight, Rumple. You’ll like this part, though.”
Loki shifted in his seat, clearly intrigued. “Alright, alright, Alice. No more stalling. Tell us the true tale of Orion.”
“Fine,” Alice said with a small chuckle, then straightened in her chair. “Orion, my dear Loki, was a hunter who never knew when to stop. You see, he was born of the stars, destined to hunt and kill anything that moved, which was fine when he was taking down lesser beasts. But then he got cocky.”
“Aren’t all hunters like that?” Rumple scoffed, rubbing his chin. “Too full of themselves, thinking they can kill whatever they want.”
“Exactly,” Alice agreed, her eyes gleaming. “He was so cocky, in fact, that he boasted he could kill every creature on Earth. Every single one.”
Loki raised an eyebrow. “I’m guessing that didn’t end well for him?”
Alice’s grin widened. “Oh, not at all. The goddess Gaia, who created all these creatures, took offense. So she sent a giant scorpion to hunt him down. And not just any scorpion, mind you. This thing was huge—colossal. The size of mountains, with venom so deadly it could kill anything in its path. But of course, Orion being Orion, didn’t even notice the danger until it was too late.”
Loki laughed softly. “Classic Orion. Too proud for his own good.”
“Exactly,” Alice said, her tone darkening. “The scorpion stung Orion, fatally wounding him. But even in his dying breath, Orion refused to admit defeat. The gods, moved by his stubbornness—or maybe his sheer stupidity—placed him in the stars, immortalizing his image as a hunter. But here’s the kicker, Loki,” Alice leaned forward, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. “The very same scorpion that killed him was also immortalized in the stars. The constellations. Ever since, the hunter and the scorpion have been locked in an eternal struggle in the sky, forever chasing each other, unable to ever truly win.”
Loki was silent for a moment, his fingers tapping his book. “Well, that’s... quite the eternal rivalry. But why immortalize them? The gods could’ve just wiped them out.”
Alice’s smile was cold. “Because the gods, much like me, love chaos. Orion was a stubborn fool, and the gods rewarded his stubbornness—by giving him immortality in the form of the hunt—and the scorpion? It’s a reminder of why you should never underestimate the power of the universe. Of fate.”
Rumple grumbled, clearly annoyed. “And that’s the grand tale? I’m supposed to feel sorry for Orion?”
Alice tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, no. You’re not supposed to feel sorry for him. You’re supposed to remember that no one is too proud to fail, no matter how strong they think they are.”
Loki stood and stretched, clearly amused. “Well, I must say, that was a refreshing bit of lore. Some might call it a tragic tale, others might see it as a lesson in arrogance. But me? I just think it’s an example of what happens when you take on more than you can chew.”
Alice chuckled darkly. “Exactly. And let’s not forget, Loki, the story never ends. Every night, Orion and the scorpion chase each other through the stars, forever locked in that deadly dance. You could say their fate is sealed in the most ironic way possible.”
Rumple scoffed. “Ah, yes. A never-ending chase. That sounds just delightful.”
“Well, Rumple,” Alice said with a wicked grin, “maybe one day you’ll learn the value of a good chase. Who knows? You might even find a hunter of your own to teach you a thing or two about humility.”
Rumple crossed his arms. “I’m not interested in hunting anything.”
Alice raised an eyebrow. “We’ll see about that, darling. We’ll see.”
And just like that, the tale of Orion—the hunter who couldn't be tamed—was tucked away for another night. As always, the world of immortals spun in endless chaos, filled with prideful gods, cunning tricksters, and lessons learned—sometimes the hard way.
🖋️✨📜🖤
