ly alerted her. The goddess knew that something was terribly wrong. Unable to stand the unease

ds. Demeter thus called upon them. When they heard her voice, the nymphs behaved frantically and looked

me are you playing?" Demeter as

t they remained silent. The Earth Goddess n

a stern voice. One of them was shoved forward to answer

d, while the rest of them lowered their gazes to the gr

ersephone has been mi

moment she was gone!" They sobbed. "We called for her and looked far

dropped to her knees from the shock. When her shock was replaced by a gnawing ra

r care. How dare you deceive

sked the goddess for her forgivenes

ed tearfully, "Let us redeem our wrong, pl

rry you across the lands and seas so that all would know of my missing child. This i

w had feathers and feet of birds. Yet to preserve their glorious song and melodious enchantment, the godd

ures by the will of Demeter, they wande

on seeking her daughter from dusk to dawn, from sunri

re, calling out, "Per

heard no

e of the earth. Consumed by worries and depression over her lost child, the goddess soon ceased to remember her worldly duties as Goddess of

an had seen a young maiden, the crone replied with a shake of her grey head. Sighing, Demeter instead asked her for some water, the woman brought out a sweet barley-flavoured drink. While the goddess drank, a

s altered limbs. To keep his mischief small, he shrank until he was tinier than a lizard. The old crone

its coloured skin -

ampled grass. Then she saw something that stabbed her heart - Persephone's little paint pot overturned. Demeter leaped from her chariot. She listened

beloved daughter. She lifted her face to the sky and howled with grief like a she-wolf. The ear

to the home of gods. Demeter charged into the throne room where the K

d justice! Your sister has sto

, compose yours

y child was taken?" Demeter cried, "You knew t

ence had happened, but he also knew how his sister was. Hades c

et out

she is my sister - our sister. Think again, sweet Demeter. It is

he earth goddess growled. "Never!

ize that it is fortunate that Persephone will be l

r child, a delicate unopened bud? No ray of sunlight has ever reached tha

e thought of losing her to the world from which no mortal could return. He wavered yet reluc

at last, "I fancy she has a talent for s

n a trembling angry voice, "will

ack to earth and be i

will bear, and no grass will spring. While she is gone and I mourn my loss, the earth will grow as dry and

ss furiously turned a