I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRRY!

I know. I have been waaaaaay behind schedule and I am really sorry about that.

I just got home from our trip and let me tell you it is exhausting. My back hurts and I'm just letting myself type and type and type. Again sorry.

Anyway thank you guys for your review, favorites, alerts, follows and all that. They will keep on inspiring me.

For my updating time, I'm sorry if you think I'm going slow but you know I'm just knew to these things. And besides guys, I have life beyond Fanfiction. Trust me, If I could live my whole life in fanfiction, I would. Maybe I could update every hour if th happens but I'm a busy person. Despite being summer here, I still have stuff to do. I'm not saying this because I'm mad. I just want to explain that I can't update that fast. Maybe I can, maybe I can't. I am not like Anaklusmos14 and believe me he is good. REAL GOOD. So guys, if I'm not updating fast enough, I'm sorry.

Now, I'll try to update daily if I could. I'm not making any promises but I WILL TRY.

Enough of that guys, LET"S GET READING!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN PJO.


Mortal Love

Summary: Percy Jackson, a clear-sighted mortal and a skilled hunter meets the maiden goddess, Artemis. If the mortal and immortal worlds collide, what will happen? How important can the blood of a mortal be for the sake of Olympus?

Chapter 4: Truth


Percy's PoV

Yesterday had been full of surprises and weirdness. Though, I have to say, it was one day I would always remember. It's been a while since I have really talked to a person and it felt good. I gave a small smile while sighing.

Today will be one busy day. For one thing, this is the day that I'll be doing my chores. Yes, living in the woods means we still have to do chores. The day will be starting of with breakfast. Then, the regular cleaning of the cabin. After that, I'll be sharpening my arrows. What's a hunt without sharpened arrows. After lunch, it's time to wash my clothes. In other words, laundry time. I don't want to hunt with my clothes all covered in blood.

If I will be able to finish before sunset then maybe I could go back to that cliff and watch the sunset. I do hope I can finish it. I headed to the lake and took a bath.

It was a daily morning schedule on my part. I was like a robot because my body knows when to stop and do my next task. The only time that'll change is when I have to hunt or scout around for some berries. In all honesty, I was partly happy that I got to meet Poseidon. Despite the weird situation I just entered, it just changed my life up a bit. And I am thankful to him for that.

I wasn't lying when I say that I was lonely or bored. For months, I have no human contact. I wasn't able to see my old home in New York. Not once since then that I have set foot to anything but the woods. But now, I've met people. Poseidon, who is mysterious yet someone you would always be comfortable talking with. And another mysterious person is Artemis. Despite the ferocious glare she has been giving me, there's just this something that I felt about her that I can't understand.

Is it attraction? Probably not. I met the lady for just a few minutes. Besides, she's thirteen and I, myself is just fourteen. I shook my head. Why the heck am I thinking about these kinds of things? For crying out loud, I barely know the person. It's not like we're friends or anything. And I don't think, I'll ever meet her again. I'll be living here in the woods. Who knows? She'll probably be out of here already.

After breakfast, I went to my cabin to clean it up. There isn't really much to clean except for my bed and my closet. Though I still need to do laundry so I'll have to clean up then. After those, I'll be cleaning up the floors and check the cabin. I might have fixed the rugged cabin up but we got to keep the cabin in maintenance. I don't want the cabin falling down on me while sleeping.

After I cleaned the old cabin, I took my quiver of arrows. I have about two dozens of arrow. I have to keep the maintenance of the arrows for a well performed hunt. I grabbed a whetstone and started to skid it on the edges of the arrow head with the right, hard pressure.

After that, I gently skid the whetstone to achieve the right angle. I continued the same process with the other arrows. I grabbed them each by their body and did what is needed. Some may be needed a little more pressure than the others while some are just needed for them to adjust the angle.

After an hour and a half or so, I was finished by what I am doing. The next chore of the day is laundry. Yay. The good thing is that I don't really have that many clothes. I cleaned up arrows so I can head back to the cabin.

As I was cleaning up my arrows, putting them in their quivers and all that, I heard something at my far right.

I looked at it at the right time to see the bush shake. It stopped a second then after that i heard a low growl. I frowned. Okay, something's in there. I put the two quivers of arrows down and went to the direction of the sound.

I looked around to find nothing. I went through the bush and found some tracks on the mud. It was more like a huge paw. It kept going deep in the woods. More of them kept are seen if you look farther. I looked ahead and I could have sworn I saw this big thing that I can't really describe. It was almost as big as the tree. Not that big but big enough to tower over me. I blinked and the next thing I knew it was gone.

I looked at the spacing in front of me, wide eye. I'm imagining things. Again. I groaned. I went years without seeing things and now, here I am again, not knowing anything I see. This can't be a coincidence, can it?

I stood there deep in thought of what I saw. I went through every logical thing. I only ended up with one logical answer. A misconception. If you look back to it, it would look like a mutation, a monster, to put it simply. Yet, it cannot be real. I chuckled to myself. It can't be a monster, those things are like from ancient times when Greek mythology still exist, it can't be real.

I went back to my place thinking of it as a hallucination. Yet, I can't help but feel a cold chill going down my back.

Maybe I should eat first, this will get my mind of things. I'm probably just hungry, hopefully I am. I got the remaining deer meat from my catch last week. The one I got two days ago will have to wait because I don't want the last week's catch to spoil.

Anyway, I got the deer meat and went to the fireplace outside, gathered up the firewood and started to cook the meat. I sticked the meat to a clean stick and buried a quarter of the stick to the ground, near the fire. I gathered up the berries and went near the lake to clean it.

I was really lucky when I found this cabin. It provided me all the things I need for me to survive. And when I mean lucky, I meant lucky. Good luck doesn't really like me much so far in my life.

I finished lunch then went into my cabin to fetch my clothes. They weren't exactly many though. This was because I ran away. I shuddered at the memory. I started to remember it again. That dark night. Those menacing laughs. That bone-chilling scream.

I love you, Percy.

Back then, for a life of a twelve year old, I led a tough life. It was only supposed to be my responsibilities as a student or as a kid. It was hard back then. It was harder before than my life here, at the woods.

I shook those memories away. No matter how hard I try to keep them away, they just keep coming back. If only I could claw them off my brain. I could live happily without remembering those kind of things in my head.

I sighed. How can I live like this? Usually, this is the question that often pops into my head. How can I think that I could forget all those memories so easily when I lost my mother's life in those memories?

Yes, I lost my mother. And it was the worst experience of my life. The day I saw with my very own eyes, how my mother died. It kept itself in me. Every detail of that, I remembered. I remembered the pain I felt. I remembered how much I cried when I saw it. To not be able to do anything, I was so helpless back then. I closed my eyes to block those thoughts. Though, seeing the darkness just made me recall more of that memory.

I gritted my teeth. I may be traumatized but I can't let that get to me. I scooped up all my clothes angrily and headed to the lake. I need to cool off. Later, I'll go to that cliff again. Maybe I could cool off there.

I finished my laundry at about two hours. It was still early. I expected myself to finish a little more late if not by sunset. I took my clothes and hung them on the wire I set near my cabin.

I checked out all the chores that I have done. They weren't really that many but hey, chores are chores. I left my cabin with my hunting equipment. I made it a habit of mine to always bring them when I go into the woods. You can never know what will happen when you're in the forest. I may be familiar to it now but there are still dangers that can be faced.

There was this one time when I was able to face with a rabid bear. I wasn't able to bring my now and arrow with me at that time. Luckily, I brought my hunting knives with me but that was just because I was out to get some firewood. Not to fight some huge rabid bear.

Anyway, I was nearing the creek that I usually go across when I heard a thud. I wanted to ignore it, saying to myself that it was probably just some kind of branch that fell. Yet, my instincts stated to my conscience that I follow it. My instincts certainly gave me no harm but I'm starting to doubt it. I groaned silently. Please, if someone out there can read my mind, please let it be logical or at least believable.

I turned around and followed the direction of the sound. My senses improved when I became a hunter. Before, I could never distinguish something so far off. But now, I can pinpoint my target from afar and hit it with my arrow but not as accurate. It may hit the animal's leg or body but never the head. But my eyesight wasn't the only thing that has improved. My hearing works just as well.

I keep trudging forward to the direction of the sound I heard. I moved silently to avoid being heard even though I wasn't positive it was a human that made that sound. But something surprised me even more.

There was a small clearing up ahead but it was still a tree covered area. The one thing that surprised me was the golden dust surrounding me and that was also stuck on the bark of the trees. I tried to blink my eyes, convincing myself that it was only another hallucination but every time I open them it was just the same.

I kneeled on one knee and reach down to grab a handful of it. It felt like sand, more dry and fine. A gust of wind blew all of it away as I watch the fine golden dust slipped through my fingers. Then I heard another thud. This time I started to go faster but still keeping my grace and refrained myself from making any sound.

As I walk farther and farther, more sounds are heard. The thuds started to get plenty and I was starting to hear low growls.

I'm starting to get agitated. That growl... I know that that was the one that I heard last morning. My eyebrows scrunched in confusion. Can it be that it was the same monster that I saw? I shook my head. That was a misconception. At least, that is what I'm telling myself now. I got to the destination of the weird sounds. And I found myself watching an on going battle.

A group of girls wearing silver parkas were armed with silver bows. They were surrounded by these packs of huge monster-like dogs. I frowned. I've seen that look somewhere. My eyes widen in realisation as I recognize these monsters from my book in Latin class. They were monsters in the Greek myths. Hellhounds, I think.

I watch in awe as the girls fired their arrows flawlessly at the monsters. Each arrow hit the monster at the head. The monsters all turn into golden dust as the arrows hit them. Each hunter moved with such grace and speed while doing such great accuracy with a bow. It made it hard to look anywhere but them.

I saw one hunter in particular that looks awfully familiar. That luscious auburn hair was something I remember fairly well. Artemis, I thought. She was the same person that I met for the first time in two years.

My jaw dropped when I saw how good she really was. If the other hunters were fast they can't compete with Artemis even if they tried. It was really hard to follow her especially when she was bouncing around firing each arrow perfectly. If it wasn't for my trained hunter eye, I wouldn't have seen her because it would take a lot to really see her than just a blur. She took every aim perfectly. Many of her hits were between the monster's eyes.

Just then, reality hit me. This isn't supposed to be happening. Monsters everywhere, this isn't even near the fabric of reality. A group of girls fighting monsters like it was nothing, just passed the scale of the unbelievable.

Minutes later, the monsters were all gone and the girls were standing in the middle surrounded by piles of golden dust. Artemis turned to the group of hunters and said, "Good job, hunters. Come, let us find a place where we sleep overnight. The number of monsters are still large here."

Connecting the dots wasn't really hard when you're in mu situation now. It's harder to admit that all I am seeing is just a hallucination seeing as I just saw a battle between people and monsters right in front of me. Artemis, hellhounds, they are just part of the Greek myths and then that means they are real.

They didn't die or anything. They weren't legends either. They're true. But I need answers. If this is true then why is it that I am the only one seeing these kind of things. Back at New York, no one ever tried to believe me. They will always laugh at me saying that I'm imaginin things.

The group started to go back farther in the woods. That was when I stepped out from where I was then spoke, "Wait."


Artemis' PoV

"Wait," A voice spoke behind us.

I drew my bow along with the hunters and pointed it at the source of the voice. There stood the same person that confuses me more than anything else. He has a quiver and a bow slung at his back and you can see his hunting knife sheathed as his belt. All in all he looked like a real hunter. I would have praised him if he weren't a boy and if he hadn't disrupted my hunt.

"You," Zoe growled. The hunters and I still haven't dropped our bows. I was surprised to see that he isn't cowering in fear. I was more surprise that he hasn't fought back. Men are known to have really short tempers. At least, that's who they are in my book.

He was about to open up his mouth but I spoke before he ever could, "No one is allowed to witness my hunt."

The hunters tightened their grip to their bows while I dropped it to my side and stepped forward. I saw him stepped backward, unsure.

"Artemis," he started. I would have shouted at him for disrespecting me before I remember that he is a mortal and does not have any idea that I am a goddess

Unfortunately, Phoebe doesn't realise that. "Do not disrespect our patron." She growled. "Bow down to Lady Artemis, boy."

Many of the hunters growled in agreement. He frowned as if he is trying to figure something out. "Your patron… Artemis… That means, you hunters are the hunt. In the Greek myths, you are maidens who serve Artemis, right?"

I raised an eyebrow. He knows a lot. He sees a lot. For a mortal. I was a bit taken back by his calmness. Ignorant mortal usually get surprise or freaked when seeing these sorts of magic. With my keen hunter eye, I was able to see his slight widening of his eyes. I guess he was also surprised by his calmness.

"Hold fire first, girls." I ordered my hunters. Despite the less of reason for me to do this, I feel a need to question him. "You know a lot, mortal."

He shrugged but he kept his eyes on me. The only difference was his eyes did not hold any intent or want like any other men when I am in my teen form. For someone so young, his eyes held something different. His eyes glows in seek of knowledge while it glows in fiery determination. I never thought I could ever see such eyes that held so much thought and emotion.

"Not really, when you have a world so different from mine." He said.

"And how did you know that this is my hunt?" I asked. "If I remembered correctly, Mythology is not really a popular belief with you mortals since science is now discovered."

"What can I say?" he shrugged. "Greek myths are always in my A-list. As far as I know, science has always just been a pain in the neck since I was at school."

Phoebe scoffed, "A mortal boy like you wouldn't understand the meaning of intelligence."

He frowned but he ignored her comment and said, "Science doesn't really explain what I saw a while ago."

He surprised me yet again with his long patience but I can't let him knowing more about the other world. He may be a clear-sighted mortal but I cannot let any more ignorant mortals know about our immortal world. I snapped my fingers and controlled the Mist.

"We are just regular hunters, hunting for our next catch." I spoke. The Mist controlled by goddesses cannot be easily ignored. We can make the Mist strong and thick to change what other thinks. We can add false memories with it and probably more. But I would not like to change someone's thoughts or memories for something as small like this.

He frowned a bit, "I don't think so. No regular hunters fight monsters that can tower over them and not be afraid. Apart from that, no regular hunter can shoot that perfectly while moving that fast."

I frowned. He resisted that thick of a Mist with no difficulty at all. Even demigods can't get pass that. "How did you do that?" I asked.

"Do what?" He shook his head. "Look, I just want to know, what in the world is going on here?"

One hunter let her arrow go and it almost got to him if he didn't move just in time. All our arrows are sharp for a one hit kill on monsters. It is also silver so it can kill any monster, demigod, wolf or mortal. The arrow buried itself to the bark of the tree while he looked at it surprisingly. He turned to our direction, "What was that about?" he said a bit angrily.

"Do not yell at my hunters, boy." I said to him.

"You know as much as I do that I was not yelling." He said. "I just want you to answer some questions for me. I get why you don't like me but I'm just asking you here. Why can't you tell me?"

"No mortal is allowed to see our side of the world." I spoke to him.

"And why not exactly?" He asked. His tone was with genuine curiosity but with a touch of sarcasm. Though when I first heard his voice, it has always been like that. It goes well with his trouble-maker look.

"Ignorant mortals tend to think that we gods can do everything for them. We do not per se. You mortals think that we can grant them anything like immortality." I said.

"Are we really that low to the gods?" he asked as he frowned. "You should that sometimes, some people are different than what you think."

I gritted my teeth. What exactly does he mean by that. He spoke again before I could ask him what he means. He said, "I don't mean to offend at all and I just want to point out that I just want answers not because I want immortality. For years, I've seen these kinds of things that make no sense to me. I was treated as a fool when I was a kid because of these. You're the one that could give me the answers and I just wish for things to be clarified."

I was expecting a rant not an explanation. I know I've said enough and we've stayed long enough, we still have a hunt to finish and I don't have time for this…different mortal man.

"Enough," I said. I am Artemis. I will not let him slow my hunt down. "I cannot give you the answers you want. I'm not the person the person to explain these things to you. I am busy. You have disrupted my hunt enough."

I faced my hunter and said, "Back to camp now, girls. Leave him."

Some of the hunters growl while the others glared at him fiercely. He frowned at their obvious distaste of him and bowed his head. He was avoiding the hunter's sharp eyes. I smirked a bit but I never thought he will not fight back. Usually, the boys back at that blasted camp will glare back at them, never giving them the satisfaction even though fear was evident in their eyes. Men and their pride.

"You are lucky for today, mortal. Though I warn you, never mess with my hunt." I turned and started to follow my hunters. We all leaped into the tress as graceful as ever and went back to camp hidden from sight. I vaguely heard a "Hey." In the background but I ignored it.

The mortal confuses me. For a short amount of time he was able to change my opinion about him. Not for the other males or mortals though. A mortal male that doesn't want power over immortality is surprising. I've many people who would choose immortality above all others yet he asked for answers. He seeks knowledge. Though I know if he will know more about our world it will be the end of him. Demigods get killed in our world, what more of a mortal.

I skipped on the trees with my thoughts still in distraught. I shook my head and kept my head in the hunt. I can't let myself dwell on this small matter.


Honestly, I really think that this is not my best chapter. Do you get the feeling that you know what your idea is but you just can't put it in words? That's exactly what I think of this chapter.

Oh well, if you have any comments, suggestions (which will be REALLY helpful), opinions or anything else, you can all say it in the review.

THANK YOU FOR READING AND REVIEW!

-KGJCHAOS