A/N: What another update in a week? Well this one is more of a transitional chapter. So short kind of boring chapter, but it was necessary. Thanks for all the reviews guys! I'll get this story rolling again.

Chapter 10

Percy's POV

The rain started to sting my skin but I embraced it. Every pierce to my skin distracted me from thoughts of that guy. Who the hades is he to show up and suggest that him and Artemis were together? And actually flirt with her and live to tell the tale? The rain was blurring my vision but I saw a small campfire in front of me. A smaller girl with soft brown eyes was tending to it and I knew there would be a fury if my storm put out the fire.

I calmed down enough so the storm was just high waves and a heavy wind. I would get a disapproving look if I approached her like this, but I needed a talk.

"Hestia." I nodded briefly at her before sitting in front of the fire. I hoped she wouldn't hear the emotion in my voice but, as suspected, she gave me a disappointing gaze.

"Hey it was worse earlier. This is an improvement." She just sighed.

"You still have much to learn, young one." Young one. I glared thinking of the insult from that giant freak. The water was just a foot away now. She just made the fire grow hotter and motioned to the place next to her.

"Tell me everything."

I don't know if Hestia has some type of power to get people to spilling their guts or if it was just the presence of my favorite relative. I told her everything, from the moment I saw her at the induction to my wedding and the most recent event.

"And I guess I was just mad that she let him get away with that. And then I started thinking that maybe she let him get away with it because it was true." I let out a huff of air noticing the storm had passed.

"Am I being crazy?" Hestia studied me across the fire. She had been silent the whole time I was talking but I needed to hear some words of encouragement saying that I wasn't crazy.

"Yes. You are." So much for that. "But I would expect nothing less." She threw some type of sand into the fire and it started to dance.

"Do you know why we have so many wars, Percy?"

"Economics?" She sent me a stern look.

"People act before they know the whole story. Men shoot down other men because they're dressed in the same colors of another kingdom. Women are stoned because another man's shirt was in their wash. It only gets worse when emotions are involved." I thought back to the storm I had just caused. Yes, I may be a little emotional.

"When you're a god, your emotions are magnified. If you're happy, there's no coming down but if you're angry…well we've seen the result of that. And all gods think they can do no wrong."

"Is this a long way of saying that I'm wrong?"

"This is my way of saying that both of you are wrong." She smiled at me across the fire, "Both of you have too many raw emotions for your own good. And you're both as stubborn as your parents." I shuddered at the thought. "It won't be easy, but love is worth it." I snapped my head up.

"Who said anything about love?"

"Oh hush. Anyone who was paying attention can see that you love her and she loves you." She loves me? I almost smiled but then remembered why I was there in the first place.

"Then why would she invite Orion into the Hunt?" The instinctive scowl that comes up when I say his name was plastered on my face.

"Yes, Orion." I swear I think even she swooned at his name. "He is a skilled hunter, which I assume Artemis must be impressed by." I felt my anger rising again. "But as for her intentions, you would have to ask her yourself. And keep the storms at bay this time."

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Artemis POV

I wanted to go find him and apologize for drawing my knives on him. I was stupid to think he would ever actually fight me. The look in his eyes was worse than any hit could ever be. I wanted to find him but looking around the camp I knew that wasn't an option.

Tents were over turned, one had a gash in the roof, and our cover by the leaves was destroyed. The air was finally still but I knew we were not out of danger yet.

"We have to move." All the hunters stopped what they were doing and looked as if I were insane. Jessa was the one to speak up.

"Lady Artemis, can we not fix the camp here? I fear that we will not make another move today." I feared that too, we had very new hunters with us that were not used to our pace.

"This place isn't safe anymore. My actions have alerted any beasts in the area that we are here. Pack quickly and we will move."

They packed the remaining of the tents silently and were ready to leave minutes later.

"Where will we be moving camp to, Lady Artemis?" Even Zoe sounded exhausted but I knew we needed to move. We had come from the west and there was no use in back tracking. I could be selfish and follow the path of destruction in hopes of finding Percy, but no good would come of that with Orion still in tow. The safest, but most difficult, path would be towards the mountains in the north. If we walked for just two hours we could make it midway up the mountain. You could see the top of the mountain so I pointed.

"Up there."

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We reached the base of the mountain and it seemed many of my hunters were slowing down. Our newest hunter, Ana, was about to fall asleep standing up. We weren't going to make it up the mountain but we still needed a more secure location. Just 100 yards uphill there was an outcrop in the mountain. It looked large enough to be our home for the night.

"We will make camp up there and I promise we will feast tomorrow."

Zoe lead the charge up the path to get to the outcrop. Only two steps in and Ana collapsed with her pack on.

"Ana!" I crouched to where she fell and checked her pulse. Still strong.

"Ana, we're almost there. Just one more hill to climb." I shook her so her eyes fluttered open but she was defiant and curled back up.

"Just ten minutes."

She was at peace, a stark contrast to how I found her two months ago. Ana was just eleven years old and she found her way into the woods. She insisted that she was just lost but I heard the voices calling her name and she kept sprinting in the other direction. I saw the drunken man calling for her with a knife in his hand and knew she needed my protection.

I started to lift her up to carry her up the mountain myself but two large arms took her from me.

"I can carry her." I was still annoyed with Orion's responsibility in the fight.

"With all due respect, Lady Artemis, you are not much taller than she is. I can easily carry her."

Everything he has done since I met him was always for the good of the hunt. He shared his snares to provide dinner and was always there to protect the younger hunters.

"So I take it that was the man in your life?" He had a smirk on his face but I couldn't help but scowl. It only took him seconds to see what I tried so hard to hide from everyone.

"You would be wise not to speak of it." I saw him grimace at my glare but that didn't stop him.

"He's not very confident about this relationship. Care to share." He sounded like we were speaking about the weather and not my relationship that may or may not get someone killed or banished or start a war. Any were possible really.

"Well how would you feel if you expect to see someone and come face to face with a tall, dark and handsome figure who is spending time with that someone?"

"Oh you flatter me Artemis." He had a stupid cocky grin on his face.

"What did you say to him to make him like that?"

"Just stated the facts." I rolled my eyes.

"Well you didn't help the situation."

"I had a theory I wanted to test, and so far, it's been proven." I pulled his arm to stop him.

"What was the theory?" He was brought down to my eye level and he just leaned closer and whispered.

"I'll keep you in the dark a little longer. That's how you like it anyway."

My hand was still had a strong grip and I could feel the blood pulsing through his arm. Did he cower in fear though? No, he still had that stupid grin on his face. He never showed his fear, and I kind of hated him for it.