Hey everyone. I'm back. Okay, I really need your guys' opinion on this story. Do you like where it's going? Is it going to slow? Do you want to see something or someone else in the story? Just say so.

Hope you enjoy. Me no own.

Meet The Seven

Artemis slowly regained consciousness. Her head was pounding really hard. She noticed her wrists and ankles were tied together. Artemis slowly opened her eyes and looked around.

Sitting in front of her was a young man with dark skin. He was wearing a black mask and a long black cape. He had short blonde hair and was holding a long sword.

Then Artemis glanced around the room. The whole room looked like it was inside some kind of cave. Or some kind of a dug out hill.

Sitting at a table to Artemis's right were three young ladies eating something. They wore masks and capes similar to the young man's. One of the girls had beautiful, auburn hair that went to a little below her shoulders. Another one had raven black hair that went to her upper back. The last one had darker skin and short black hair.

To Artemis's left were two more young men. They both had black hair and they wore masks and capes like the others. One was shorter than the other, though. They were sitting in a corner, conversing quietly, and watching her.

Artemis looked back to the young man in front of her. He was facing the other two young men. Then suddenly the man stood up and walked towards the other two men. Then the smaller of the two other men came over and sat in front of her.

Artemis looked at the boy. He seemed to be about her age, maybe a few years younger. Artemis stared at his half hidden face; there was something familiar about him.

That's when another girl came out of a room behind the boy in front of Artemis. She had long, gorgeous red hair and, like the others, was wearing a mask.

'It's her. The girl from the village. The one who brought the tax collector the things from the Seven.' Then Artemis looked around. 'Seven other peoples in here. Some random place that looks like it's inside of a random hill. Oh wow! It's the Seven!'

Artemis turned back to the red-head that she had seen back in the village. Besides the fact that Artemis had seen her in the village, there was something else about the girl that was extremely familiar.

"So," Artemis said breaking the silence, "You guys are the Seven Bandits, aren't you?"

The seven other people exchanged glances, and then the dark skinned male said, "Depends on who's asking."

Artemis smirked, "Depends on who's asking, 'Who's asking?'"

The dark haired boy and the red haired girl in front of Artemis both held back gigantic grins.

Artemis sighed, "How 'bout this. I'll tell you my name, if, and only if, you tell me your names, or your code names among each other."

The seven exchanged glances again. The dark skinned girl asked "How will we know you're not lying?"

Artemis looked at her and said, "How will I know you're not lying?" Nobody said anything in answer to that. "I have no reason to lie, other than the fact that I'm being held against my will. I wouldn't be surprised if one of you seven knocked me out and dragged me here."

Again silence filled the room. "One question," the shortest male said. "Why was the queen trying to have you killed?"

Artemis rolled her eyes, "Let's just say we don't agree on everything." The seven looked at her curiously. "I did something that she didn't like very much. I think it offended her and her 'darling' daughter. And if it makes you feel any better, seeing as how you guys are the Seven," this got her a few looks, "I'm the one who gives food to the villages."

Artemis wasn't sure if she should be telling them that, but it seemed like a way to get them to trust her.

The Seven all exchanged quick, curious glances, but they stayed silent. Then the red-headed girl spoke up, "I think we can trust her."

5 of the other 6 looked at her curiously. The dark haired boy in front of Artemis spoke up, "I agree."

"If they believe that this girl can be trusted, then I do too." The dark skinned man said. The auburn and black haired girls nodded their heads in agreement. The other boy and girl still looked unconvinced.

"What if they're wrong about her, and she squeals on us." The dark skinned girl asked suspiciously.

"Huddle." The dark skinned boy called out. The seven walked to the other side of the room. Artemis stayed right where she was. She didn't want the two members of the Seven to trust her even less.

Finally after many hushed whispers and pointed gestures, the Seven walked back over.

The youngest male walked up to Artemis and started to untie her, "Guess what? You get to join our club!"

Once she was untied Artemis stretched her arms and stood up. "Thanks. Call me Artemis." A look was passed between the two members of the Seven who had originally stood up for Artemis.

The dark skinned man nodded, "Hello Artemis. My name is Alpha." Then he pointed to the girl with dark skin, "That is Dynamite." Dynamite nodded in greeting. Then Alpha pointed to the boy who had originally not trusted Artemis, "This is Crabby." The boy just glared at her. Artemis had to hold back a laugh at his name, although he was well named.

Then the rest of the team introduced themselves. The girl with black hair held out a hand in greeting, "Hi. My name is Swan." Artemis shook her hand happily.

Then the one with the auburn hair came forward. "It's a pleasure meeting you. My name is Glimmer." Artemis put on a cheerful smile as she greeted Glimmer. The girl seemed a little too cheerful for Artemis's taste.

Then the other man came forward, "Hey Artemis. I'm Ninja. It's whelming to meet you."

Artemis shook his outstretched hand hesitantly, "What's 'whelming' mean?"

"Don't even bother asking him about his special usage of the English language. We've been best friends for over 10 years and I still don't understand it all the time. My name is Falcon." The last girl said.

"Thanks Falcon. I'm fine with Ninja's use of English. I had a friend like him once."

"Yeah well, the world is full of crazies. We just happen to be friends with some of them." Falcon said in a loud whisper.

Artemis smiled as everyone laughed at the joke and Ninja crossed his arms and frowned indignantly. Artemis looked over the seven. They were all about her age, some a little older and some a little younger. Artemis decided that this was going to be the start of some awesome friendships.

Well there you go. Hope you all liked it. I guess this was more of a filler than anything else.

~WB