Prologue

October, 1992

In the dead of night, a group consisting of five or so women trudged through a cluster of trees, each avoiding the low branches that threatened to easily mark the skin. The leader of the group, a woman with youthful looks and a hard expression, froze when a twig snapped behind them. In an instant, the woman went from unarmed to holding a bow with an arrow pulled back and ready to launch. Her cold black eyes scanned the forest for any sign of life that wasn't animal.

"I am no danger to you," A man announced as he stepped onto the small clearing that the group had wandered into. "You should know this already." He flashed his pearly white teeth toward the woman and scanned the group behind her with his golden colored eyes. She let out a frustrated huff while lowering her weapon, knowing that this man was no longer a threat. Waiting for her heartbeat to slow, she nodded for the group to disperse and find something to make shelter with.

"You only visit to either torment me or tell me of a great importance… What is it now, brother?" The woman's voice was as cold as her piercing eyes. The man ran a hand through his flaxen hair, while the grin never left his face, and pointed further out toward the forest.

Light reflected from the moon onto the siblings, showing the golden tan features of the man and the pale, nearly translucent, features of the woman. While the man had golden features and everything that represented light, his sister was the opposite and represented the night. His eyes golden, her eyes black. His skin tan, hers pale. He had blonde hair, her brunette – nearly black.

"I see you've cut your hair," the man told her as he touched the hair that now stopped short just below her ears.

"What do you want, Apollo?" She asked with a slightly irked expression, her demeanor changing not even the slightest despite the presence of her twin.

"I've spoken with the Moirai… Clotho has told me of some dire news." The man, now known as Apollo, spoke quickly. His eyes drifted off to the trees before he spoke again, "There is a child."

"A child?" Artemis asked, her eyebrow rising at the tone Apollo was using. "I see no reason whatsoever for you to tell me of a child-"

"She's not a mortal," Apollo interjected before he turned to look at his sister once more. "This child has been abandoned by both of her parents. She needs a home, she needs you." Apollo cleared his throat and straightened his shirt out, brushing the nonexistent dirt from the hem. "She was born not even three weeks ago and has already been abandoned."

"Can't you find her parents and take her back?" Artemis asked, not completely thrilled of the idea of her having a newborn child.

"We know not of who her parents are… Just that she isn't completely mortal." He wasn't going to beg, both twins knew this, but Apollo knew that Artemis would do what was right. "You will find her nearby here tonight. Please, Artemis, do this for me… Do this for the girl's future." Apollo popped out in a flash of bright light, leaving Artemis alone in the dark night.

Later That Night

Artemis sit awake while the rest of her huntresses lay asleep, each of their respective minds dreaming of happier times. The orange reflection of the fire danced across Artemis's skin as the real flames moved in a similar fashion in the night. A small shriek echoed through the trees and Artemis was off, following the echoes to the source.

A small infant lay in a burgundy blanket on a pile of leaves, moving her tiny fists in fear as she wailed and cried. Artemis lifted the child slowly as she was unsure of how to hold her. The baby's crying ceased when Artemis ran her hand through the small amount of hair atop the baby's head. The hair was dark, nearly charcoal in color, and looked odd against both the pale skin of Artemis's hand and the baby's head.

Hundreds of emotions flooded through Artemis as she held the baby, consisting of fear, anger, sadness, pity, and… happiness. Fear of what would happen, anger against the parents who left this child in the middle of the forest, sadness and pity for the sake of the baby and her true parentage, and happiness because of the protective instincts that started to kick in.

"They would never have me take you if it wasn't for the sake of your safety…" Artemis whispered to the baby whose eyelids started to lift. Artemis was met by the dark shade of brown that nearly every baby was born with. "I will make you strong; I will make you like me," Artemis allowed the baby to take her pinky. "You'll be a great huntress one day."

Disclaimer I do not own any of the original characters from Percy Jackson, nor do I own any of the Greek Gods/Goddesses. | I did, however, give Artemis and Apollo their appearances, as well as the original character I've added.

Before I finish this, there are a few things I want to go over. 1) I am not following the books, as I haven't read them. Think of this as an AU story with some [but not all] of the book/movie's features. 2)I'm a Greek Mythology fanatic, so I can guarantee that most of the things I write will be based upon the original Mythology.

If you see anything you're unfamiliar with that is mentioned in each chapter, just ask. (:

-Cwarnic93