Misremembering

 Hera gazed into the nighttime sky at the little bear. She recalled the incident differently than Zeus. She remembered that Zeus initiated the relationship. The girl was captivating. Long, lush black hair flowing over her shoulders and down her back. Full ruby lips, some said, were her best feature. She knew her husband was interested in the maiden. She knew and that’s why she turned her into a bear. Callisto’s thick, black hair became coarse fur, her long fingers elongated into claws, her full lips morphed into a snout.

The question the goddess had was about the child. Why did Zeus put the child in the sky? She couldn’t quite remember.

Zeus insisted that, yes, he was attracted to the maiden but nothing came of the meeting. But Hera, who couldn’t quite see the event, was doubtful. She knew her husband and it wasn’t the first time he had fooled a mortal with his wiles. 

“I promise you, I just felt badly for the lad. He was about to kill his mother, albeit he thought she was an ordinary bear,” Zeus reasoned.

Hera was still not convinced. When had Zeus felt anything other than lust and contempt for the mortals.

“Fine, oh great one, I believe you. But this woman, Callisto still dishonored your Queen, King God,” Hera’s voice was rife with derision. “For this she must not be honored with such a reverent place in the night sky, she must suffer eternal punishment.”

“What more can you do, my queen, you have already transformed her into a bear.”

With that, Hera asked the ancient god of the sea for help. He made it so that the bears would never set in the night sky. Zeus cast his eyes briefly to the sky and then diverted them to the ground. Hera knew she had piqued his ire but also understood that the deed was done and there was no changing that.  To this day Ursa Major and her son, Ursa Minor, roam the skies, never resting and are doomed to roam for all eternity.