Artemis' Dream*

Artemis walked into a forest clearing; she was hunting at night, the moon shining brightly up in the sky. Her bow was loaded, ready for the kill. But before she could continue after her prey there was a rustle of the grass behind her.

She twirled around and in shock she released the arrow. The silver missile cut through the still night air before coming to an abrupt stop in the grasp of a man. When he lowered his hand he sent his famous crooked grin.

"Hello my love." He said and opened his arms.

"Percy..." her voice was small and fragile, if there had been the slightest of breezes it would have been lost. His windblown hair was still messy, his smile was exactly the same as the last time he used it. Everything was the same except his muscles and height had grown and his eyes. His eyes were older, like he had lived longer than her and seen great joy and sadness. Tears brimmed from her eyes, threatening to fall before she bounded into his opened arms. "I missed you. Where are you? Why didn't you come back for me?" She cried in his arms.

"I never wanted to leave you Artemis but the man that brought back Zoë says it isn't the right time for me to return, that is why he brought back Zoë, but I will be watching over you. I will never leave you." Percy was holding her to his chest stroking her hair. "I love you Artemis"

Artemis took a shaky breath through her dying tears and looked up at him, his sea green eye calming her. "I love you too Percy."

Percy leaned down and kissed Artemis, bringing a warm sensation through them both. It didn't last long but to Artemis it was perfect.

They spent the rest of her dream in a comfortable silence until Percy broke it, "You have to wake up now my love."

Artemis shook her head, "No I am going to stay with you, I don't want to ever leave. You can't leave me again."

"I will return, when it is necessary I will be back to fight for you. But for now I will see you in your dreams. I can't always be here or you will always be sleeping. But I need you to be happy. I knew Zoë would help you be happy. She is your sister and you need to spend time with her." He smiled a sad smile at her, "But I need to go and you have to wake up."

"But how will you know when I need you? I need you now." Artemis argued.

"I sent your protector for a reason. He is my gift to you because I won't be there to protect you. I need you to be strong, like you always are. Wake up my love," with that he kissed her forehead and she slowly drifted from Morpheus' realm.

When Artemis awoke she felt better than she had for a long time, a general feeling of happiness and warmth surged through her. But what surprised her was seeing her wolf in bed with her, lying next to her and arm was wrapped around him. His fur was softer than any wolf fur she had ever felt but she had a theory that it was like the Nemean lion's fur.

The wolf was not sleeping, he was simply lying next to her, keeping her warm. She smiled at the wolf, he was a gift from Percy and she loved him because of that. The wolf hopped down allowing Artemis to get up and flash on her usual hunting dress. Walking out of her room she saw all of her hunters already up and out at activities.

Followed by the wolf who remained really close to her, not giving her much room but she didn't mind. Having him close to her made her feel better, he radiated an aura of comfort and trust.

She found her hunters around the campfire conversing amongst themselves, the returned members being told stories about what happened at the war. When the topic got to the end of the war, hunters glanced at Artemis before saying his name. Many of the resurrected hunters went silent after hearing of their sacrifice but the hunters that were there looked at Artemis; they knew there was something between their mistress and the hero.

Many of the returning members glanced at their mistress and began to whisper with the other members, Artemis knew what they were asking about and was concerned what they would say when they learn that she had fallen in love with a man.

But it was Zoë that came to her about it. She got Artemis to join her for a walk to the beach, Artemis knew what was coming but she didn't care, she knew Zoë had respect for Percy and was almost certain she would accept.

Once they reached the beach Artemis sat down and looked out at the sea, Zoë stood next to her and the wolf laid next to Artemis on the other side. "You loved him didn't you milady?"

"Yes very much and he loves me too." Artemis' words confused Zoë; she had heard through the grapevine that Percy didn't exist anymore.

"What do you mean milady? Percy died and his soul was lost, or at least that is what Aphrodite let slip to her daughter. How do you know he loved you?" Zoë was convinced by all these facts that Percy was dead.

"Zoë I need this to stay in the hunt, I can't let others know that I fell in love. My father would be very angry but when he recovered he would feel I was ready for marriage." Artemis didn't move her gaze from the blue horizon.

"Of course milady." Zoë sat next to Artemis now, trying to keep their conversation quieter.

"Percy visited me last night," Zoë gasped at this but Artemis continued before she could interject, "He came to my dream, he spent the entire night with me. He called me his love and we... kissed" Artemis' voice was soft at this and Zoë could see a blush grace her cheeks. "We confessed our love and he said he would visit me at times in my dreams but made sure I wouldn't try to stay asleep at all times because he said that he couldn't always come to me." Artemis rubbed the wolfs head now, looking down at him, "He also gave me this wolf, he sent him here to protect me while he could not."

Zoë took this all in, "I am happy for you sister, he is the best man this world has ever seen. But how could he do so much?"

"I don't know but he must have something to do with this mystery man. He probably met him after he died and convinced him to do all of this for us. It was Percy's idea to bring you back for me." Zoë had a small smile on his face now.

"I am grateful for that, I am happy to spend my time with you milady." Then Zoë thought of something, "What is the wolf's name milady? We can't just call him wolf or the wolf all the time."

"πιστό, or Pistó"

"Loyal," Zoë thought this over, "It works, especially if he is from Percy."

When she said Percy's name Artemis smiled a little.

"We should get back to the hunters, we let you sleep in this morning because you were out late last night and you seemed so peaceful this morning."

Most of the gods were in camp now, many of them reacquainting themselves with their children and spending time with them. Zeus was checking up the immortality of the returning leaders.

The seven and the resurrected were interacting perfectly fine, Silena and Piper got along great with Aphrodite being a proud mother over her favorite daughters and the only way to get Beckendorf away from her was when he Leo and Hephaestus went to bunker 9. Luke spent time with his cabin and his father bonding over pranks, only to split off and be cornered and threatened by Athena. He and Annabeth then snuck off into the woods for a much needed make out session.

Lee Fletcher spent time with the Apollo Cabin and his dad, the general stuff: volleyball, archery flirting with Aphrodite cabin and the occasional hunter only to be shot at or pissing their pants from the glare given by Pistó. Michael and Nyssa managed to sneak off to talk and have a 'date'. Castor, Pollux and Dakota had a drinking competition watched by their father, although it was red and grape Kool-Aid instead of alcohol.

Ethan had spent time with the Nemesis cabin and actually got along with Jason, spending some time sparring and joking. Bianca split her time with her brother and father, catching up and a lot of hugging before going to be with her sisters in shooting at the Apollo cabin.

Zoë spent her time almost entirely with Artemis, they discussed what happened in the last few years, shot at the Apollo boys and laughed when they wet themselves because of Pistó. But Zoë always had this nagging question in her head all day and got her chance to ask Artemis after the campfire when all the hunters were settling down for the night after having a good day. Zoë slipped into Artemis' private room and finally asked her question.

"How was Perseus able to earn your love milady?" Zoë was cautious about asking, she didn't want to overstep her limits and this was a very personal question.

Artemis was currently in her nightwear sitting on the edge of her bed with Pistó's head in her lap. She sighed and patted the other side of her indicating for Zoë to join her.

"Did I ever tell you of my brothers fight with the Python?" Zoë wore a confused face while Pistó raised his head slightly. "Well it was 5 days after he was born, he and I were born with speed and skills to use in the forest, so when the Python came after us, we ran and Apollo took it on his self to defend us. My mother held me back when he went to try and fight him. The arrows that hit the Python deflected off and when they entered its mouth the poison burnt them up."

"He was running out of arrows when we were cornered. We couldn't keep running because my mother was tired and still wary from out births. When Apollo was on his last arrow a man appeared out of nowhere behind him with a pitch-black bow and one of Apollo's arrows. When Apollo let loose his arrow so did the man. Apollo's arrow missed but it was the arrow the man launched that hit the slit of the Python's eye."

"It was a shot that even I couldn't make, but when I looked back for the man he was gone. But the man I saw was tall, muscular with windblown black hair. I couldn't see his eyes but when I saw him I felt this attraction that I hadn't felt before and only felt once since. When we came to the clearing when we met Perseus; that was when I felt it, just when our eyes met. I don't know why but I had this feeling that they were the same person. I don't know how it is possible but if this man is so powerful then it is possible that he has sent Percy to guard me when I need it most." When Artemis finished Pistó had his head buried in the lap and Zoë saw a new side of Artemis. She had been with her for over 2000 years and she had never seen her this vulnerable and soft.

Zoë didn't know what to say, Artemis spoke again. "You were with me for the Orion disaster," at that name the wolf growled slightly, "Well when I saw him he looked so much like the man I saw that I was almost convinced that was him but I know better now. It was why I was blind to his horrid actions at the time, I tried to convince myself that it was him." Artemis carried a sad expression now.

"What is wrong milady?" Zoë asked after seeing her face.

"I don't get to have my Percy now. I want him so much but he is held just outside of my reach. I get to see him in my dreams at times but that might not be enough." She shed a tear now, "I just miss him so much." Pistó raised his head now, licking off her tear and nuzzling into her neck.

Artemis smiled at him before turning to Zoë, "I had a long day today Zoë, I am going to sleep now. I will see you in the morning." Zoë nodded wished her goodnight and slipped back to her own bunk. Artemis quickly fell asleep only for Pistó getting out of her grasp when she did and changing back.

Percy kneeled at her side taking in her peace and beauty, "I will always love you and stay by your side my love. I am sorry for any pain that I may cause you but I know that I am not needed and it will be impossible for me to be able to join you yet. Stay strong my love," Percy leaned over and kissed her forehead before switching back and laying in her bed with her arm around him.