hi please review sorry for being gone so long but family life has been very very stressful but I am hoping to get back to writing as a stress release.
music-speaks-to-me
"Kids, Zoë died." Artemis replied.
"No!" Both kids whispered as they stepped back, "You're lying! She can't be dead!"
Artemis sighed and wiped her eyes, "I'm sorry but she's dead, her father, Atlas killed her."
Alan and Elizabeth ran off into the forest.
Alan and Elizabeth sat in a tree silent tears running down their faces when they heard two people yelling at each other in some other part of the forest. They watched as the people came into view and were revealed to be Percy and Nico.
They watched as Nico began to yell at Percy, "How could you let my sister die!? You promised you would protect her!"
"Look I tried I really did but I'm sorry I couldn't protect her!"
"But you didn't did you?!" Nico yelled as the ground began to shake and cracks appeared. Out of the cracks crawled skeletons with swords dangling from their hands. They launched themselves at Percy and he fumbled for his sword to defend himself. Percy managed to hold them off for a bit but eventually they were too much for him and he was spent spiralling to the ground. Two held him down while another stood above him and drew their sword back above him and Percy closed his eyes and braced himself for the final blow but it never came.
Nico fled further into the forest and Percy stared after him as Alan and Elizabeth scurried through the trees and followed him.
"Hey Nico! Wait!"
He turned round, "Don't you try and stop me! I don't belong here!"
Alan and Elizabeth held up their hands in a placating gesture, "Neither do we, we're both mortals not demigods and we're not really hunters."
Nico raised his eyebrows at them and Elizabeth drove on, "We just wanted to let you know we understand what you're going through right now and if you need us we'll be there for you."
In the distance they could hear Artemis and her Hunters yelling for Alan and Elizabeth and Percy and his friends calling for Nico.
The three nodded at each other once before running off, two towards camp and one further into the woods.
When Artemis saw her children running out of the woods she nearly wanted to cry, Zeus had iris messaged her and demanded she bring her children with her to the godly meeting.
In all her years as a goddess Artemis had never been more scared, she loved her children with all her heart and she feared Zeus would take them away from her.
Flashback
Zoë stood to the left of Artemis as the hunters and her children gathered around the fire telling stories and eating food.
Alan and Elizabeth sat next to each other between Alyssa and Phoebe. Both of Artemis's children were sporting bandages and Elizabeth had a sling while Alan had his ankle bandaged.
Due to them being mortal Alice had gone to the nearest shops and got over the counter painkillers for her brother and youngest sister as Ambrosia and Nectar would kill them.
"They did well, mi lady." Zoë commented as they watched everyone laugh at Elizabeth's joke. "To be nine and beat a monster that size together shows great confidence and promise of great warriors."
Artemis nodded, "I just worry that this life will lead them to an early death."
Zoë closed her eyes painfully and Artemis knew the same torturous thoughts had flown across her lieutenant's mind probably as much as they had flown across her own.
"Mum!" Alan and Elizabeth motioned for her and Zoë to join them at the fire and after sharing a long meaningful look they did.
Five years later
Artemis held her lieutenant close to her as Zoë's breathing slowed.
"Look after them mi lady," she begged.
Artemis nodded, "I will"
Zoë nodded appeased, "I can see the stars mi lady."
Artemis nodded again, "Yes, and you shall always see them and your brother and sister."
As soon as the promise was out of Artemis's mouth Zoë's breathing stopped.
Artemis lowered her head to Zoë's and whispered a few words in ancient Greek and Zoë turned into a new constellation of stars in the night sky.
End Flashback
Artemis was pulled back to reality by the sound of her kids' feet coming to a stop in front of her.
She stared at them for the moment drinking in the sight of them as she feared it would be the last time she could do so before clearing her throat, "The solstice begins shortly and we must get to mount Olympus before it begins-"
"Wait, me and Alan are going?" Elizabeth said slowly as though barely daring to believe it.
"It's Alan and I," replied Phoebe, "and yes you are."
The two turned to their mother eyes wide.
Artemis sighed, "Lord Zeus has requested your presence."
She watched as this sunk into her children before leading them away from the camp to Olympus.
Lord Zeus looked down from his throne as the questers and the hunters of Artemis were lead in by the goddess of the moon.
He said nothing to her about the two additions, which as they had never before been to the hall of the gods were staring around in awe as they bowed to the gods and goddess before sitting in their appropriate places.
The gods began their meeting they thanked the questers for saving Olympus and spoke of the honour with which Zoë and Bianca died.
Before Artemis asked Thalia to replace Zoë as her Lieutenant and Percy breathed a sigh of relief as she accepted and he got to keep Annabeth by his side at camp.
Zeus turned to Artemis, "Now we do have the matter of your children to discuss."
