The Hunter
Artemis stalked though lush forest. It was her first hunt alone a gift for her third birthday. The deer she was stalking had no idea she was there. Nocking her bow she prepared to fire, and with an exhale she released the arrow sending it speeding at her prey. With a startled cry the deer's life ended and fell over dead. Letting out a cheer she began to walk over to her kill only to see a large blond man wearing a strange cloak with two large scrolls on his back emerge from the trees. Looking over her work he then proceeded to shuffle the deer around until he found her arrow.
Emerging from her hiding spot she shouted "Hey that's my kill get your own!" her voice childlike and high pitched.
Smiling he shuffled the deer around some more and it was then the saw that under the deer was another arrow embedded within the animals heart.
"Are you so sure" The man asked smirking.
Pouting Artemis did the logical thing that a three year old god would do. She crossed her arms with a huff and pouted.
"It's ok you can have some if you want." The blond man replied the smirk still plastered on his face.
"Have some?" Artemis asked
"Yea, why were you not going to eat it?" The man asked confused.
"Why would you want to eat a deer?" Artemis asked still puzzled.
"Well it is important to only kill when you need to; you should never kill for sport." The man stated firmly.
"Oh, ok Blondy~"Artemis chirped still wondering why no one told her that.
The man's eye twitched as he turned around and started to prepare the dead animal for cooking.
After dinner was done cooking Blondy gave her a small portion of meat to try to see if she liked it and did she ever. It was like an explosion of wonderful within her mouth. It was then that Blondy as she would now forever call him would learn that his cooking skills were not even meant for immortal consumption. She then proceeded to devour the rest of the cooking before he could take seconds, with his only solace being that he took a relatively sized piece at the start.
After they ate, or in her case devoured, their dinner they sat in silence.
"So what's your name little girl." Blondy asked.
"My name is Artemis, and I'm not little" Artemis huffed.
The blond let out a hearty laugh "Well you're younger and smaller than me so in my case you are little!"
"But my brother says that I'm little and he is younger than me!" Artemis exclaimed.
"I'm sure that he means well little Artemis" Blondy replied smiling.
With a huff she turned her back and pouted.
Still smiling Blondy said "You should get home your parents must be worried."
"Alright I'll see you later Blondy!" Artemis chirped before taking off in the direction of her home.
It was the next month before she saw Blondy again.
"Enjoying the moon little Artemis?" A familiar voice asked
Glancing to the side Artemis eyes widened as she saw Blondy again.
"Wha-How long have you been there!"
"Long enough to see you try to burn a hole in the moon," Blondy Chuckled
With a huff Artemis turned to the side pouting.
"Now, now don't be like that or you won't ever have friends," Blondy said ruffling her hair earning a growl for his efforts.
"Who needs friends I've been fine so far," Artemis replied still pouting.
"Well, friends keep life worth living. They are there to share important things like secrets and to help each other out when they need help. They also fight alongside of you helping each other reach goals they set." He said smiling at her
"But how can they help me be the greatest huntress ever if I'm going to be the greatest?!" Artemis ask shouted.
"Well, being at the top is lonely so it's important to share with others. You should start your own group if you want to be at the top of hunting." Blondy explained.
"Well, would you be my friend then?" Artemis asked bashfully.
"I already am little one" He replied chuckling
"Good then help me with my shooting " Artemis huffed still slightly annoyed at how easily the blond had shown her up the last time she had hunted.
"Ok get out your bow, now your stance should be like this…."
"Blondy why do you call me so many names, and for the last time I'm not little!" Artemis exclaimed
"Well friends give each other nicknames little Arty" The Blond replied with a laugh while sticking his tongue out at her.
With a huff Artemis pouted then asked "Sorta like I call you Blondy right?"
"Yup, your right. Now come on there is a village to stay in overnight up ahead." Blondy replied smiling
The village was fairly average with the exception of a single temple to Hermes the god of travelers standing atop the hill in the center of the village that made it so travelers could pray for safe passage.
"Well Arty you can go look at the temple while I get us a room at the inn." Blondy replied as he started walking towards the inn.
The temple seemed almost like her home but had a large statue of her brother standing in the middle of the room doing on of his stupid poses. After a while of admiring the building itself she exited the temple only to see a fire off in the distance the direction of the local inn.
Rushing towards her destination she was horrified by what she saw, men were all around throwing torches onto the small wooden and straw buildings making the area almost like the inside of an inferno. Inside she saw Blondy fighting some of the bandits and with almost god like skill ripping there numbers to shreds. That was at least what was happening until he saw her.
"Artemis get out of here!" Blondy yelled
However she was frozen in horror of what she saw. Bodies were laying everywhere and men seemingly ignoring the inferno around them were defiling the women they captured.
A saw this and rushed forward at her and with inhuman speed Blondy rushed forward and took the dagger aimed at her pushing her out of the way.
In horror Artemis looked down and saw her friend bleeding and with his dying words he whispered in her ear
"Artemis run and don't look back, live a good life and make many friends, use the skills I taught you to help people, and finally don't mourn me, it was not your fault." With that Blondy died smiling and Artemis in horror followed his instructions and ran.
Later when Naruto finally healed he saw the town in ashes and heard a familiar voice in his head.
"So it's time to go then…"
"Yes, perhaps we will see her again"
"Only time will tell"
And with that he walked east.
Artemis sat crying upon her father Zeus lap.
"Why daddy, why did Blondy have to die" She yelled still bawling.
"It's ok sweet heart, everyone dies eventually" Zeus replied trying to sooth his daughter.
"I hate men they took Blondy away from me, I'm going to have all my friends be female!" She yelled
Zeus nodded sadly
Later Zeus inquired to Hades about a blond male by the description that Artemis gave him entering the underworld.
The only reply he received before Hades left was a sad smile and the words "No, but perhaps we might see him again one day"
Leaving only a bewildered Zeus behind.
AN
Well this story was inspired by why Artemis hates men through out the Percy Jackson Series I mean after all bad experiences can lead to lasting traumas throughout a persons life.
This is also to me would explain why she is perhaps the most different out of all the gods leading her camp of maidens on hunting expositions.
It is also implied that at the end of the story Zeus told Artemis about what Hades said to him if only to try to explain why he said it, although Artemis really doesn't know anything about Naruto other than what he taught her and is openly observable.
