Interlude: Artemis

Artemis! Sister! I need some advice. Even as her brother's words continued to echo in her head, a product of their bond as twins allowing them to always communicate with one another, Artemis focused on where she was at the moment.

"Now, Aaliyah, you need to remember to keep low to the ground," she listened to her lieutenant explain. Her blessing might grant a special grace and greater strength to her hunters, as well as a certain aptitude, but she'd always chosen not to have it grant skill in and of itself. Perhaps that was unfair of her, given that archery was simply inherent to who she was, but her other skills in hunting were also honed herself, not just a part of her divine domains. So, for now, she simply enjoyed watching Thalia teach their newest hunter.

Sister! I know you can hear me! Artemis continued to ignore her brother. She loved him dearly, even more than most of her hunters, but he really could be annoying. For example...

I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves. I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, and this is how it goes- Well, he'd been trying that song on and off for the past hour or so. Of course, it still sounded melodious, but gods, she regretted responding to it in the past, since now he'd gotten it in his head that it'd work. Much to her regret, it sometimes did. But not today.

Today, she was busy overseeing the training of some of the newer hunters. Nikki had only joined a few months back, after Orion's killing of some of her best. Like always, she felt a pang when she thought of him– she'd loved him, if not romantically, and she felt sorry when she thought of what Gaea, and, unwittingly, her brother had turned him into. The Orion she knew would never have said what her hunters had relayed to her, and it was hard to even see them as the same person at times.

She shook her head, a human affectation she'd picked up. To her right, a pair of hunters were sparring, knives blunted, but still going at it furiously. The older one, Brynhildr, was clearly far more experienced, and was going easy on her partner. Still, it was a beautiful display of bladework. On the other side, a hunter was practicing her archery, aiming at a tree trunk at the edge of the clearing they were in. She observed for a while, then walked over. "Natalie, you're focusing more on power than on accuracy," she noted, adjusting the girl's hands.

The girl eeped as she realized who was guiding her- she was also rather new, and hadn't yet gotten over the inherent awe that mortals felt towards the divine. Well. Most mortals.

Artemis guided the girl for a bit, then eventually stepped back, returning to watching from afar. It was then that Apollo gave up, or at least, changed tactics. Okay, fine. Can I borrow Thalia, then? She knows Percy, maybe she can give me some advice?

Upon realizing why Apollo had been contacting her, Artemis couldn't help but let out a small snort of amusement. Really, Apollo? Perseus?

What? He's hot, he's nice, he's quick-witted-

He's also taken, is he not? A pretty sweet relationship, too.

Sure, yeah, I wouldn't have a hope of breaking them up without borrowing Cupid's bow-

Apollo!

I wouldn't! And even if I wanted to, we both know Uncle P would try and drown me if I did that.

So what's your plan? Hope that she'll let you date him?

I mean, she kind of implied she'd be okay with it?

Suddenly, Apollo communicated a memory to her. It was... enlightening.

Oh, little brother. Still as blind to how women work as always. Along with the words, she also sent a feeling of teasing at him.

What? And everyone knows I'm the older one.

I literally delivered you. Anyways, she was obviously trying to get you to drop the subject without telling you no outright.

What? No, that's ridiculous. If she wanted to turn me down, she'd just say so.

Not if she was scared of the consequences. She's already on Hera's bad side, after all.

So you're suggesting I don't try this monogamy thing in order to get with Percy?

I mean, I think the women of the world might be better off if you tried the monogamy thing, but Perseus is likely going to turn you down.

The ladies love me! And- hm. Maybe you're right, but I feel like shooting my shot anyways. Who'd turn me down?

Artemis almost wanted to object, but... why should she? In fact... You do that. Maybe the hunters and I should swing by in time to watch it. I've been meaning to say thank you to Perseus for a while, besides. And the other demigods, of course, but I feel like Zoë was... happier, towards the very end of her life, thanks to him.

He is pretty great, isn't he. So, will you help me workshop my confession?

No. Find one of your groupies to help you work on it. And don't bother Thalia, she's busy.

Fine, if you insist.

To a mortal, the whole exchange might have seemed as if it happened in the blink of an eye. But now it was over, and at least Apollo would stop annoying her for a bit.

Later that night, though, Artemis couldn't help but feel an odd tug. The hunters were setting up camp for the night, and Thalia was standing next to her, giving a report on how the hunters were doing overall. But now, this tug was distracting her.

It was as if a portion of her power, or at least, something she'd vested her power in, was transforming. She'd felt a similar sensation a few times before, of course. The successive destructions of the Artemision had felt akin to this. But those were instances of destruction, while this... this was different, somehow.

"My lady?" Thalia asked, noting her change in mood.

But Artemis didn't answer. Instead, she turned her gaze skyward. It was as if the feeling came from there, and at first, she wondered if somehow Orion was returning- but no. The feeling did not come from the constellation of the Hunter. Rather, she suddenly realized, it came from the constellation of the Huntress.

"Zoë?" Artemis whispered to herself, under her breath.

"My lady, are you okay?"

And then, with a flash of silver light, Zoë simply appeared. Her appearance was unruffled, her skin unmarred. She looked nothing like the woman that Artemis couldn't help but picture whenever she remembered Zoë, nothing like how she had looked on that night upon Mount Othrys.

"Zoë!" Artemis exclaimed, running forward to embrace her. Perhaps her oldest friend, returned to her.

Thalia's mouth fell open in shock. "Zoë? But... how?" All around her, huntresses were emerging from their tents, confused and then amazed at what they saw. For the newer ones, the older ones explained who Zoë was in their ears– at least, those of them who were not too shocked to respond. Then, they all converged upon her, in a massive group hug.

"But really?" Thalia questioned, looking at Zoë who was still being held tightly by Artemis. "You just... knew there was a way to come back, and you did?" The three of them were sitting a bit apart from the group, upon a fallen log.

"Perhaps it's a side effect of the doors of **** having been opened, for a while," Artemis offered. "But it doesn't matter. You're back now, Zoë, and I'd rather not risk Hades insisting you go back. It may be for the best to simply not question it." Perhaps it was rather odd that she wasn't questioning it... but the phrase of not looking a gift horse in the mouth dated back to when she was young. It wasn't worth the risk of losing Zoë.

"I suppose," Thalia acquiesced. Then, she suddenly looked rather awkward. "Oh, uh. Do you want your position back? As lieutenant, I mean?"

The revived huntress waved her off. "No, not at all. In fact, I'm not sure I want to return to being a huntress– not a proper one, I mean. Not for now, at least."

Artemis looked stricken. "You don't?" she questioned.

"I– even on the trip to save thee, my lady, it felt like my horizons were broadening, in a different way, and it felt... good. I was thinking of perhaps visiting Percy, and the rest of Camp Half-Blood, and then maybe Emmie and Josephine."

"Percy first, huh?" Thalia teased. "You want to tell us something, Zoë?"

To Artemis' surprise, Zoë's cheeks turned red. "I simply a consider him a worthy friend. And he may be willing to help me adjust to a life more connected to mortality, at least for a bit."

"He is," Artemis agreed, though it was odd that Zoë would be even a bit flustered. "And if you want to try that, you have served me loyally for millennia, and I would be glad to let you do as you wish."

"Thank you, my lady," Zoë replied. "But may I travel with you for a bit nonetheless? I would like to see how the hunt has fared in my absence."

"Of course. As a matter of fact, I was actually considering visiting Camp Half-Blood, at some point. I believe my brother is planning on asking Percy out, and it might be amusing."

"Oh? Is Percy single, then?" Zoë asked coolly, almost as if she was holding back her interest.

"Nah, he's dating Annabeth," Thalia offered. "How much could you see from up there, anyways?"

"It was... odd." Zoë started. She sounds unsure of herself, an emotion that Artemis is rather unfamiliar with coming from her oldest friend. "Time was different, up there. I understand the broad strokes of what happened, but many of the details escape me."

And so the three of them talked the night away. They talked about the giant war, the lost hunters, and, surprisingly often, Percy Jackson.

Eventually, Artemis had to take the moon chariot for a ride. "I'll be heading out for now, you two. But Zoë, I'm so glad that you're back." As she said it, she pulled Zoë deeper in for a hug. Then, she left to take the moon chariot out, leaving just a small sliver of her essence behind with the two of them, just in case something might happen. It was unlikely, but she didn't plan on taking any risks when it came to Zoë. As Artemis revved up the moon chariot, which she tended to prefer in the form of a motorbike these days, she let the pleasant buzz of conversation wash over her. She couldn't quite make out what they were saying without focusing on it, but it was enough for her to just hear Zoë's tones, and know that she was back, and safe.

It was an enjoyable ride, with her spirits higher than they had been in months. Perhaps she hadn't let herself realize just how much she had missed Zoë. But as she rode, she suddenly heard something that made her focus on the conversation that her two lieutenants were having.

"– crush on Percy?" She heard Thalia asking, still teasing, but with an undertone of seriousness.

"Perhaps a small one," Zoë admitted reluctantly. "But it matters not. Even if our oaths do not bind us when it comes to him. I wouldn't want to hurt Lady Artemis in any way. That matters far more than any crush. Perhaps under different circumstances, I might seek him out. Besides, he's already dating someone anyways."

In the sky, Artemis' eyes widened at the admission. She'd never known Zoë to have any crushes at all, and part of her wondered if she'd had others that Zoë had simply never told her about. But, no. It was clear that Perseus had deeply affected Zoë. She had just never realized quite how much.

"It doesn't have to be in order to date him, you know?" Thalia argued. "Just... why not spit it out?"

"And why hast thou not?" Zoë shot back.

Thalia too? It was less surprising than Zoë, at least, and certainly Perseus was a better choice to have a crush on than perhaps anyone else. But still, it was a surprise.

"Honestly, it just never felt like the right time," Thalia shrugged. "I was kind of into him before our quest, and then a bit more into him during the battle for Olympus. But before, we were more interested in fighting, and afterwards I was a hunter, and he and Annabeth were clearly into each other."

Zoë hummed in agreement. "Somewhat similar to mine, then. Even though I could theoretically get into a relationship with him, it'd still feel wrong, like I'd be betraying Lady Artemis in some way."

"Sure, yes. But, okay, let's have a deal," Thalia suggested. "You tell Percy, and so will I. It won't lead to anything, but we'll have said it. You literally got a second chance at life, and you're not even willing to take a small risk like that?"

Artemis could hear the competitive spirit flare up in Zoë's voice. "Fine. If you insist, we'll both do it when we're at camp. No big deal or anything, but we both have to do it."

"Huh," Thalia said. "To be honest, didn't think you'd accept. But okay, deal."

From there, the conversation moved on to other, safer topics. Yet Artemis couldn't help but feel a bit odd. Perseus was, of course, excluded from the oath implicitly, and she truly did trust him with her huntresses. It wouldn't matter, since he was already dating Athena's daughter, but... perhaps she should make clear that at least in his case, she'd be willing to trust in her hunters' judgements?