Hi,

Firstly I am so sorry for the two week wait for this chapter, time kind of escaped me and then before I know it I've realised I haven't updated in ages....

Disclaimer: the usual.

It's likely I might take a brief hiatus sometime in the future what with final exams I need to get down to some revision, so writing will not be the priority however I will write in my free time.

So expect the next chapter within the next 2 weeks.

And thankyou for all the reviews, they are all very inspiring :)

And finally....

Enjoy :)

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Chapter Three: Power

It was 2:15 am, and the moon was starting to show the first faint signs of its descent from the sky. It had been a long night for the maidens, with the mile upon mile of debilitating trekking and the sheer emotional fatigue of the events which had passed and indeed those which were yet to come. Many of the hunters, who were simply glad that Artemis was awake had collapsed onto their bunks, and were now evading the warm embrace of sleep in case their mistress would require further assistance.

Still a handful of the girls declined the offer of rest entirely and were seated along the bunks nearest to the one Artemis was knelt upon. After everyone was suitably settled, Thalia spoke to Phoebe- who was by far the best tracker in the group, "Can you go and find Chiron?"

Phoebe inclined her head , "Yes Lieutenant." With that she ran off, out of the hole which until recently had been an actual door.

"Lady Artemis, follow me. Everyone else stay here- we will be back shortly." Thalia pulled herself to her feet, and waited for the goddess to move from her position.

With a mute nod of the head, Artemis uncoiled and stood up. Her movements were too swift and fluid, it was clear she was not just a creature of flesh and blood. As she made her way through the cabin, the hunters bowed their heads. It was an action of complete devotion and respect, the sort which only came from centuries of companionship and loyalty.

But for Artemis the entire situation she had awoken into was utterly frightening and in many ways foreboding. Nothing bound her to this place, no ounce of her being recognised this unknown location. These hunters all displayed adoration and dedication yet their acts yielded no authentic emotion in the goddess. She would smile and bow her head in recognition but deep down there was no significance in their gestures.

The goddess and her lieutenant made their way into the open air; all traces of the alcoholic slumber had disappeared and the inhabitants of the neighbouring cabins had returned to a natural sleep. The Athena cabin was the only one which still had a faint light glowing from within; evidently the children of the wisdom goddess were studying.

The moment Artemis stepped into the moonlight her aura exploded outwards-even Thalia's faint glow increased substantially. Energy surged through the daughter of Zeus as she stretched her arms in front of her; all traces of weariness had drained from her body. This was one of the more valuable advantages of the Blessing of Artemis- with the arrival of the night and more importantly the moon the hunters were granted additional strength and stamina. On many occasion it had proved not only useful but also crucial to their survival when facing a particularly durable monster.

A clopping sound signalled the arrival of Chiron who was making his way rather rapidly to Artemis and Thalia, "Lady Artemis you're awake!" He bowed deeply to the goddess, "I managed to establish a contact with Olympus, Lord Apollo was worried- it seems you disappeared from his 'radar' again. He says he will be here as soon as possible-he mentioned something about a broken lyre string. Nonetheless it is an honour to have you here at Camp Half-Blood no matter the duration of your stay- and I completely understand if you want to depart immediately." The centaur said all this in a rushed and anxious manner, almost as if he was expecting a scolding from the lady of the hunt. He frowned at the goddess who again appeared to be hyperventilating.

"Lady Artemis…what appears to be the matter?"

"Err-" Artemis stuttered, "-it is nothing."

"Chiron?" Thalia spoke, " Can I talk to you for a moment…over there."

The centaur shifted his gaze between huntress and lieutenant, making sure Artemis had no objections to the request. Finding she did not and indeed believing this rather odd he followed Thalia to a more private area, occasionally throwing glances back at the goddess who was now staring at her surroundings open mouthed. It was the look of someone who did not quite believe what was in front of them.

"Thalia what seems to be the problem…and if I may ask- what is the problem with Lady Artemis?"

"Well-" Thalia responded, as she crossed her arms in front of her chest, "The problem with Lady Artemis is the problem."

A frown descended upon Chiron's face and Thalia clarified,"She can't remember anything."

"Anything? Oh dear this is problematic…" he trailed off, mumbling under his breath. Thalia caught several words, "Olympus", "Disastrous" and something about "the end of the world as we know it."

It was here that Thalia decided to intervene, "End of the world as we know it? She has just lost her memory!"

"Perhaps I'm worrying too much - has she entered her divine state recently?"

"Yes bu-"

"So she has a lack of control on her powers…this is very bad, very bad indeed-" he resumed his mutterings but was quickly interrupted by Thalia.

"Chiron, can you help her? You've helped hundreds of powerful demigods get control of their powers."

The centaur sighed, "Yes demigods, although I guess for the safety of the Camp, I have no choice but to offer some assistance. It's either that or Lady Artemis would have to be sent to Olympus."

Thalia opened her mouth and was about to protest, but Chiron continued," I'll try Thalia, but if my attempts yield little success she will have to go to Olympus where the other gods can help her." He paused, as the Lieutenant's shoulders dropped in defeat, " I am aware that the hunters will be unable to stay there but I see no other alternative. Apollo shall be arriving shortly, perhaps he can shed some light on the situation at hand."

"Thanks Chiron." Thalia gave a slight smile as she started to walk back to Artemis, but then spun round to face Chiron once again,"Where's Phoebe?"

"Oh, Lord Dionysus is finalising the details with her on a...monument you promised him." he quirked an eyebrow questioningly.

"We did a bargain..one that I will no doubt regret making." She dismissed, and strode up to Artemis who was watching the various nymphs emerge from the trees. The word had spread like wild fire around the spirits who would naturally want to investigate for themselves. The presence of the forest goddess in particular would spark an intense curiosity among the nymphs, for they held her in high regard. They appeared in groups, each standing with their kin. A group of oak nymphs stood at the front and were gradually edging closer; their bodies clustered together in a tight formation. The innocent maidens stirred a reaction from the goddess- the instinct to protect. It was a peculiar effect, an effect which Artemis swiftly subdued. Again she was struck by the force in which her instincts could take over. If due care was not taken her instincts could overpower every other thought. At the moment she could feel the pull of the forest, the warmth of the full moon and the raw thrill of the hunt. These feelings seemed intrinsic, fundamental to her existence. It mattered little that her experiences were gone as these sensations seemed to form the basic material of her character.

Artemis listened to the sounds around her. She could hear every noise, no matter how minute within a 5 mile radius. The heartbeats of the nymphs were like a complex symphony, each note beating life into the maidens. Some had a fast tempo, others were a slow drumming. Each throbbing heart was unique and the collective sounds produced a soothing harmony. There was the crunch of leaves as a creature made its way through the forest and the soft hoot of an owl as it stood like a sentinel on the bough of a pine tree, scanning the foliage for its next meal.

Curiosity led the goddess to explore her other senses.

She could taste the flavours which floated on the air, the sweetness of the dewy grass and the bitter tang of the tree sap which glistened along the nearest fir tree.

Her interest piqued, and so she continued. Her eyesight would focus if she left her gaze on one object for any period of time; it appeared unaffected by the gloomy darkness which pervaded the air around her. She was currently observing a single mouse which was scurrying through the grass close to the forest floor about 40 metres away. She could see every strand of hair upon its body, how it was disrupted by the slight icy breeze drifting in from the north. The slightest twitch of its nose as it dictated the route which would offer it a safe harbour for the night. She could feel the warm blood flow round his veins and if she tried she had no doubt she could strike it at a critical point with an arrow, even from this vast distance. The experience was exhilarating, every fibre of her body tingled with the sensations which raged through her.

The longer she looked upon the trees, the more her entire person was being pulled towards its comfort. A magnetic attraction which could only be held back for a short time, but would, inevitably, be drawn back to it. The call of the forest was almost unbearable and Artemis had to fight not to run to its safe confines. How she longed to soar between the organic columns and discover the secrets which were hidden behind its vast walls.

She flexed her muscles- aware of the raw strength which rolled from them. She knew that if she did concede to the pull, no one here could stop her as she ran through the labyrinthine web of trees and plants. The wild and its wonders were calling to her, and all she had to do was embrace its enticing invitation to know that she would be complete. She coiled, ready to sprint off into the dark, clandestine land.

Her resolute thoughts and actions were disturbed by her lieutenant, "Lady Artemis- this is Chiron. He's helped train half-bloods for centuries and he has offered to help with the control of your powers."

"Have I met him before?" Artemis queried, as she eyed the approaching centaur with a look of uncertainty whilst she raised herself up to her full height (which admittedly wasn't very tall.)

"Yes, my lady- you have." Thalia answered, watching the advancing nymphs out of her peripheral vision. They had slowed, and now shuffled uneasily from foot to foot as if waiting for the right moment to announce their presence. Chiron appeared at equal unease, reacting to every slight change in the huntress' aura. The contrast between the lieutenant and the centaur was almost comical, the former calm and the latter apprehensive at best.

The centaur spoke, "I apologise if my unusual appearance is startling you, perhaps if I -"

Artemis shook her head, "No need, it is as you said unusual but I'm sure I will become accustomed to it." Her eyes flashed to Thalia, "You mentioned controlling my powers-" her gaze flicked to the centaur "-do you think you are able?"

"I can try my best." Chiron replied earnestly.

Artemis inclined her head, "What will I have to do?" She enquired tersely.

"First we need to test your basic field of powers, with that determined we can estimate how far you will need to extend your restraint."

"I don't know whether I can-I don't want to lose control over it again…I could injure someone." She muttered and looked at Thalia.

Her silver eyes stared into Thalia's blue- a message of comfort passed between them, like Thalia was telling her everything would be alright. Artemis briefly nodded her head and turned to face Chiron who was still looking at the goddess with a sombre and somewhat sympathetic expression.

"Well we better get started."

As far as Thalia knew, Gods weren't taught how to use their powers, it was mostly intuition and within their nature to instinctively know how to. They thought of the result they desired and it was done –simple. Obviously this was not the case otherwise Artemis wouldn't need to be re-educated. Chiron had elaborated;

"Well, that is partly true. But to achieve that basic control it takes many years of training. I had the honour of witnessing Lady Artemis and Lord Apollo's training firsthand when they were infants. They used to cause all sorts of trouble when they were on Olympus. It was Lord Apollo's lack of control of his heat related powers which used to cause no end of grief for the other gods. He once created a heat wave with evaporated all the water on the citadel." Chiron chuckled. " Lady Artemis was more subtle, although she did turn most of the attending nymphs into deer on one occasion…. I remember the first time they handled a bow- of course Lord Apollo was the first. Lady Artemis would watch as her brother would fire arrow after arrow into the bull's eye, and I knew she too wanted a bow of her own. It was one of her wishes, and the look on her face as she pulled back on the bowstring for the first time is one I will never forget." The centaur stopped his anecdote briefly as he looked down at the goddess before him with a warm smile gracing his features.

He sighed, it was a sound full of content, "They were naturally competitive individuals, and Lady Artemis quickly excelled at archery." Chiron's eyes had glazed over, his mind remembering a time long past.

"Chiron…" Thalia prompted, unwilling to disturb the reverie that Chiron was enjoying.

"Hmm…. Oh yes." Chiron blinked as his mind returned once again to the present. "Yes, thankfully their abilities are significantly less powerful when they are younger otherwise who knows the devastation they could cause. I remember when Lady Artemis-"

"Chiron."

"Perhaps that is a story for another time-If we take it steady, I should be able to restore a degree of control and then we can try to find the cause of this … amnesia. When he arrives, Lord Apollo could prove a useful asset in finding the cause."

"That sounds like a plan. When do you think Apollo will arrive?"

As if on cue a burning meteor soared from the sky, leaving a blazing trail in its wake. It cut through the darkness and plummeted through the air, veering down towards the lake; its light intensifying as it neared the assembly. They closed their eyes for but a second as the object parked and the light dissipated to a mere shimmer.

A man stepped out of the car, his golden bangs glowing from the car's fading luminescence.

He appeared about 19 years old; with a tall swimmer's physique and sun-tanned skin he could easily be described as handsome. He had a glistening smile that was almost as blinding as the sun car itself, which made most of the nymphs giggle hysterically and a couple even faint as he diverted his attention to them. He winked at the mass of maidens before finally fixing his gaze on Chiron ,"Lyre string fixed…. now where's my little sis?" His eyes briefly fell on Thalia, who he flashed a smile to before he returned to Chiron.

The centaur stepped aside, to reveal a very awestruck Artemis who was staring with wide- eyes at Apollo.

"Hi sis!" he beamed, "Well she doesn't look unconscious. What's the problem?"

"Lord Apollo…Lady Artemis has lost her memory. She can't remember you or Lord Zeus- anything."

His smile disappeared, "She can't remember anything?" His voice was thick with concealed emotion.

Apollo's question was answered but not in the way he expected, "Who are you?" Artemis murmured.

This single statement alone hurt the sun god more than a physical blow ever could. He took several deep breaths as he approached his sister slowly. He knelt down and looked into her silver eyes. The goddess didn't move an inch as she returned the gape. Neither stirred for several moments.

Thalia would swear she saw the slight pool of golden tears appear in the god's eyes. "Lord Apollo…"

He cleared his throat, "I'm fine- just remembered that I left the primordial fire burning." He spun round, determination smouldering in his eyes, "I'll find who did this Chiron. Nobody messes with my sister."

Chiron inclined his head, "I'm sure you will…. But first we would be most grateful if you can assist with Artemis-"

"No problem, besides she'll just need to learn the basics- everything should be natural to her after that."

Chiron bowed his head, "Thank you Lord Apollo."

Apollo held the air of someone who was decidedly more sanguine of the events which moments ago he grieved over. It was a purpose which fuelled him now. He held his hand up, and Thalia groaned, not another one.

He raised his head dramatically and recited his latest piece,

"The Virgin Huntress

Has lost her memories and

Forgot her brother"

He turned to Thalia, and raised his eyebrows in expectance. The lieutenant cocked her head, "That was very good Lord Apollo."

"I try." He grinned, and clapped his hands together, "Right, where to start-" He paused and turned slowly to Artemis, "She's still in her 12 year old form..That's odd." He stated, his eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

"I would assume she would revert to her older appearance, it is after all her choice to remain as a 12 year old. Curiouser and curiouser." He frowned and faced Chiron, "That might be something you want to check out, later."

Chiron nodded, "Yes Lord Apollo." The centaur hesitated, glancing at Thalia before he continued, "Do you think we should keep her here at Camp Half-Blood, or would you deem it prudent for her to go to Olympus?"

"I think you should keep her here for the time being, just while I sort things out…who knows she might get her memories back by the end of the week."

"You seem more optimistic-" Thalia interceded.

"Well she's been in worse situations, let's just say I've learned not to get in the way of an annoyed Aphrodite." He shivered, recalling that most unpleasant memory.

It was quiet for a second, the only sound was the sporadic squeaks of excitement from the nymphs. But then…

"If her memories are completely gone, how can we recover them?" Thalia questioned.

"I don't think they are completely gone… just deeply buried in her subconscious- I think she frowned at me a second ago, it's a good sign." He nodded his head, "Also the fact she's still in her 12 year old form tells me that they are still present, as she should look much older if they were erased completely- abut 19 years old in fact."

Apollo ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He actually missed the glares and sarcastic remarks his sister would give him. It made her…well her. She was the older sibling after all, arguably the more mature one and on the rare occasion his voice of reason. And now he had to undertake her role in her time of need. The change was different but not completely unpleasant, he revelled in the responsibility he had been given and he bathed in the knowledge that he had returned to the role of protector. It was time to prove himself to his sister, in atonement for his previous failings. He needed to find who had done this and force them to undo it. That was his purpose. He could not fail her.

They were twins, they had actually been created from the same essence. They were two halves of a whole. One of the same. They were bound together, no matter how much she pretended to wish otherwise.

After all, behind her scorning and her glares- her mask- he could see the affection she held for him. They were brother and sister. And he had told her all his secrets, his dreams and his worries. She was the one person he would ever openly admit such feelings to. He knew she would understand, sympathise, listen.

True they were opposites, he the god of the sun- light and she the goddess of the moon- darkness. Yin and Yang. She had sworn eternal chastity and he well…. he was familiar with the domain of Aphrodite. Yet they were bound nonetheless. These differences were just the natural order taking its place- fate as one would say.

But despite their many differences, they also had many similarities. Not just their shared features, but their morals- what was right and what was wrong. And Artemis certainly did not deserve her memory to be wiped clean.

Was this act driven by revenge or for pure malice? If he was to include the gods in his equation it would be the latter. Aphrodite would have a motive, but could she do it?

Ares? A titan? His list of suspects was short, very few people held a grudge against Artemis. She was one of the more unpretentious of the Olympians, both fair and honest. So who would do this, other than for pure chaos and strife?

It mattered little, even if Kronos himself was to blame he would hunt him down and demand to rectify the situation.

After all, Artemis was his sister and he would do anything for her.

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The Nymphs sat down on the grassy incline and waited in anticipation for the training to begin. The time was 2:25am. Apollo encircled the area, kicking the stones from his path and away from Artemis.

Chiron watched, visibly worried. He threw frantic glances at the cabins, "Is it wise to train so close to the cabins?" Chiron gestured to the semi-circle of structures.

"They won't be a problem." Apollo dismissed with a wave of his hand.

Thalia's frown deepened, she turned to Chiron who merely shook his head.

The centaur spoke, "Lord Apollo, can I be excused for a few moments? I must inform Lord Zeus-"

"Yeah go ahead." Apollo replied nonchalantly, his demeanour suggested to Thalia that he hadn't in fact listened to the centaur.

Said centaur galloped off, with but a parting nod to Thalia towards the Big House, leaving the daughter of Zeus with her half siblings.

The sun god didn't waste any time in getting started. Strangely Thalia felt the first stirrings of unease in her stomach, after all anything could happen in the next few minutes.

"We'll start with something easy." Apollo stated, "Artemis can you destroy that tree stump? - Keep focused , think about what you want to happen" He cocked his head to a worn stump directly in front of the goddess.

She inclined her head, "I'll try."

Her brow furrowed in concentration, Artemis thrust her hand out. The effect was instantaneous, and in a flash of silver light the tree stump had been reduced to dust. Her jaw dropped, and Apollo laughed.

"Perfect, now can you reform it? Imagine it as it was."

Thalia watched in astonishment as Artemis twisted her wrist. The splintered fragments danced around their counterparts, gradually reassembling themselves. Each glowed as they slotted into their place, like a very complex jigsaw.

After the tree stump had been reconstructed Apollo nodded his head, "Good, keep going until you feel you've learnt it."

Apollo made his way to the edge of the makeshift training area to the place Thalia was standing. His eyes were fixed on Artemis the entire time as she pulverised and reformed the tree stump in front of her. "I've got the sudden urge to play 'Eye of the Tiger'" Apollo smirked. He lowered his head, "I guess this must be pretty hard on the hunters."

"We're dealing with it."

"I've no doubt you are… it would take a lot to faze you," he watched Thalia out of the corner of his eye, "And…I guess-" the sun god shuffled slightly, "- I guess that I should be thankful you were there." Apollo rushed.

"No problem-thanks accepted." She smiled, but it faded quickly, "Do you … have any ideas who would do this?"

"I have a few ideas of who would do this, but it's kind of an unwritten law not to. It would cause chaos in the domain that they represent -as it is I think we should be okay, as long as she has her memories returned soon. You know before this I didn't even think it was even possible to do it to this extent to a god."

Thalia had no answer, so they stood in companionable silence watching Artemis continue to annihilate the wood and then reform it. She was getting quicker and quicker with each reformation, and now the entire cycle was taking less than a couple of seconds.

When he felt that she had become proficient in that task Apollo guided Artemis through some more exercises, each getting more complicated than the last. Artemis handled each with a practiced ease, and this of course only created hope within Thalia. Perhaps Apollo was right, Lady Artemis will be fully recovered within the week.

However there was still the ultimate fear that was still gnawing at her insides.
Perhaps Apollo was wrong and Lady Artemis never recovers her memory? Could they just go on, as if the entire event hadn't passed? An ocean of questions and worries flooded her mind.

She doesn't remember her vows…what happens if she does the unthinkable? She wouldn't, would she?

Never

Could she?

No

Thalia shoved the thoughts aside.

She doesn't remember the treasured memories of her time in ancient Greece, all those events that her lady had told her and the other hunters were now gone. Gone. Wiped clean. Non-existent.

She didn't remember Zoe. Zoe of all people. Fate was cruel that way. What had Artemis herself said as she tossed the remains of the enduring lieutenants body into the sky? Let the world honour you my huntress. Live forever on the stars.

That hadn't been it though, Thalia who had been standing the closest to Artemis had heard one more line, You will never be forgotten

The irony, it was like a punch in the gut. There were others who had etched themselves into the goddess' supposedly indomitable mind. Emblazoned there, supposedly un-erasable but they had faded like smoke in the wind.

Orion, Orion. The illicit name which was always whispered around Artemis. It was a painful, remorseful memory. Full of guilt, for she had killed him and cast him into the stars in memoriam. He too had been forgotten.

Gods, she didn't even remember her own twin.

Thalia was so lost in her own thoughts she almost missed Apollo break the silence.

"Finally…." His eyes flashed.

"Apollo?"

"She's stumbled upon another one of her powers; it was only a matter of time before her concentration lapsed."

Thalia looked closer at Artemis, watching for the sign Apollo had seen.

She didn't have to wait for long. A stream of light shot out of Artemis' hand, illuminating her forearm. Its intensity increased, until finally it erupted out and into the earth. Artemis gasped and clenched her fist in panic- the light immediately ceased. A perfectly circular hole had been blown out of ground; the bodies of fried worms and other insects were strewn on top.

Apollo sighed, "It's been a long time since I've seen her use that." He leaned against the trunk of a nearby tree, he was the picture of tranquillity.

"You're not worried at all are you?" Thalia asked.

Apollo didn't avert his gaze as he answered, "Not at all. Artemis has always had a gift for the control over her powers, although I guess all the men she turns into guinea fowls gives her practice." He added with a smile, before pushing himself off the tree and towards the clearing.

Thalia followed the sun god, who was heading straight for the goddess. Apollo bent down and whispered into her ear whilst holding his own arm up in a demonstration, he then looked down at his sister who nodded stiffly.

He backed away, "Keep it raised!"

A radiant silver ring travelled downwards from the goddess' shoulder, when it reached her hand it stayed there- pulsating eerily. Like before the glow got brighter, casting the ground around her in its luminescence.

"Hold it there….okay now slowly force it out."

The stream of light was more focused, and significantly more powerful than the last. As it exploded outwards it sent a pulse across the field which caused Thalia to stumble backwards, "Wow..."
The nymphs seemed unfazed by the wave as they resumed their awed stares. Some turned to their sisters and whispered in excited tones, their diminutive forms shaking with eager anticipation.

They were obviously enjoying the show.

Apollo was completely unaffected by the shockwave and its effects, he stood still- his eyes unmoving from his sister. The sun god's expression was proud, like a father who had just taught his only son how to ride a bike.

Artemis' hair was blown backwards as if caught in a strong gale, and as the pure force increased Thalia could just about see the first signs of the soil being razed around her.

It would have made for quite a dramatic moment, if it weren't for the tree which blew apart as the beam hit it and the resultant piece of wood which shot out directly for the Lieutenant. Luckily it was her battle instincts which saved her life.

Thalia dove to the ground as the wood fragment flew over her head, missing her by centimetres.

In her position she barely heard the muted order Apollo gave over the sound of demolished trees tumbling to the forest floor, "Great! Now reduce the pressure…"

After she was certain no other flying projectiles were heading her way, Thalia stood up and brushed the dirt from her clothes, "I'm going to stand over there." She muttered, backing away to a safe distance.

"Steady …..steady."

The ray thinned as Artemis slowly clenched her outstretched hand into a fist. When the fist was fully formed, the ray retreated until its dying remnants glowed around her hand. After a few seconds the glow had vanished.

And then there was silence.

Which, predictably was shattered by Apollo, "Well no one's dead- great work Artemis." He gave her a thumbs up. "Well I better get going, got to make sure the mortals get their daily dose of sunlight-"

"Wait- how do I know I won't lose control again-" Artemis whispered, her eyes pleading to the departing sun god.

Apollo paused midstride, "The easiest way to control your powers is to remain calm…you just need practice. Keep your thoughts focused on what you want to happen and your body will do the rest. With us Gods it's even more problematic; we are often volatile, temperamental beings. You will find yourself getting upset about the most menial things. If you feel yourself getting upset or angry remember the consequences of your actions- it works with me all the time."

"That was quite profound." Thalia stated.

Apollo smiled, "I have my moments, God of Poetry and the Arts remember. Plus I spend too much time around Clio and Calliope- they rub off on you." He shrugged and looked at Artemis, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"How do you feel?" His tone was caring, his sad smile full of sympathy. The joking demeanour had vanished, it had been replaced with compassion.

"I feel….different, it is peculiar." She took a deep breath, her face the perfect mask of composure. "Your advice is working- the power seems to have been tamed." The goddess looked into Apollo's eyes, "…for now." She whispered under her breath.

"Trust me-" he tapped a finger to his head, " just keep calm and nothing will happen. Think of the hunt and the moon- it's what you used to do when you were younger."

She nodded, and Apollo turned to face the two beings behind him.

The god appeared satisfied, "Well I'm sure you can handle everything from here, if you need me don't hesitate to IM. I'm going to try and find out why my sis can't remember anything." He started to stroll back to his Ferrari/ sun car, but he then whirled round to face the bemused goddess, a stray thought had occurred to him, "Can I have a goodbye hug?" Apollo beamed, a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes.

Artemis hesitantly nodded her head; there was a part of her which was still apprehensive of Apollo and she felt it wouldn't be prudent to deny his request. She walked up to the sun god who looked absolutely rapturous that she had not scolded him- which was her usual retort when he would ask.

He squeezed her small form tightly, "It's been over 2000 years since I've been able to do this….and it's probably going to be another 2000 before I get another." He laughed, as he held her at arm's length. "My sister…." He breathed whilst he shook his head slightly. "I'll be back when I find any info that is important, in the meantime take care of Artemis for me." Apollo smiled, but it didn't quite reach his golden eyes- he was genuinely concerned for his twin. He stepped into the sun car and lowered his sunglasses, giving a final wink to Thalia before they fell into place.

There was a flash of burning light and then the sun god was gone, leaving a patch of scorched ground in his wake.

"Is he always that ostentatious?" Artemis queried.

"Pretty much."

"Thalia!"

The Lieutenant mentally kicked herself, she had forgotten that Annabeth was on guard duty. She turned round to see the blonde jogging towards her waving frantically.

She skidded to a halt, evidently just realising who was standing next to her friend.

"Lady Artemis!" she bowed, "You're awake!"

The arrival of yet another person who knew her, but she did not know herself sent a surge of rage through her. The entire situation was infuriating. Her anger sky rocketed. A red haze tinged her vision and on pure instinct her senses focused on the new arrival. Artemis could hear her heart throb in her chest , and when the goddess turned her gaze to the blonde, the beat increased quite dramatically.

It was directly behind that all too fragile structure, designed for protection. All she would have to do is reach out and…. Where were these thoughts coming from? These thoughts which were dripping with violence and bloodlust. The girl in front of her was not prey, she was a maiden. Hadn't her instincts screamed out at her to protect maidens?

The rage clouded everything, and in that moment she knew if she got angry she would be capable of such acts of violence. A single mistake which lasted seconds and which she would regret for the rest of her life.

Apollo's words echoed in her ears, words he had uttered mere minutes ago, If you feel yourself getting upset or angry remember the consequences of your actions.

She took deep breaths and clenched her fists, releasing her excess energy through her limbs like Apollo had taught her. The energy appeared as small wisps of silvery light, subtle compared to releasing all of it at once. Gradually she felt her anger subside. When she opened her eyes (she hadn't even realised she had closed them), she was greeted with two teenage girls with very different expressions on their faces.

Annabeth's expression was one of confusion, obviously the goddess' actions had not gone unnoticed. Thalia on the other hand looked anxious, like she was praying that Artemis could maintain control.

She spoke in Thalia's mind- another trick she had learnt in the brief training period,

I'm fine

She immediately withdrew from the maiden's mind and back into her own. However, Artemis realised she had done something wrong. Her focus which she had maintained constantly had slipped for but a moment.

There was a little click in her mind, like the sound of a release mechanism. The effect was instantaneous.

"Thalia, I feel strange…" Artemis said, whilst she nervously glanced down at her body.

"Just remember what Apollo said and you will be fine Lady Artemis."

"This is different."

"What-" Thalia stopped, she had turned around to notice that something was definitely happening to the goddess of the Hunt.

Let's just say that the 12 year old was now having no problems with reaching 5ft.

"By the gods…" Thalia breathed.

Moments later in Cabin 8…..

The ground quaked, rocking the cabin and causing all the hunters to jump up in alarm- their bows drawn and at the ready. A smaller smash of what oddly sounded like shattering trees echoed through the camp. The hunters clenched their bows tighter, others gripped their swords as they prepared to attack the cause of the disturbance.

Whatever it was, it was big. Big enough to create the roar of splintering wood, which could clearly be heard even from this distance from the forest. The fracas quietened, and the hunters slowly lowered their weapons to their sides. Their eyes however, were still darting around awaiting the next sound.

It was at this moment that the lieutenant strode into the cabin; her short black hair had adopted several twigs which jutted out in all directions. She glanced round at the alerted gathering of hunters.

"Olympian form- Chiron's handling it" Thalia explained as she collapsed onto her bunk. Her breath escaped her slack lips as she settled into the soft silver covers whilst slipping the silver circlet off her head and onto the table beside her.

The temptation of sleep was too hard to ignore and she allowed its soft embrace to engulf her. Within seconds she was under its manipulation, and the hunters carefully retreated from the cabin to allow the lieutenant some time alone.

Her dreams were once again of darkness and laughter. They had persisted for weeks in this manner and she couldn't help but believe that Artemis' condition and the sinister visions were somehow connected. The hunters were all under the interpretation that it was Thalia's devotion to Artemis' wellbeing which kept her awake. That was part of the truth, but the more principal reason was that these dreams had far exceeded being a nuisance; they were now beginning to scare the daughter of Zeus.

What did their menacing message hold for the future? What could she possibly do to stop it?

She had no answer……

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As usual, I have checked for spelling and grammar mistakes but it is highly likely that 1) I will rewrite this chapter at a later date and 2) there are grammar and/or spelling mistakes

So if you find any don't hesitate to tell me in message or review form.

And if you feel at any point Artemis is too under/over powerful tell me that as well.

For all those reading "The End of the Gods" I am still writing that, and an update will be soon- promise :)

Until next time (which should not be any more than two weeks)

RedFluffyBanana

:)