~ Acceptance ~

SAPHIRA

Saphira awakens after what feels like an eternity of confusion. What happened? After everything went black, she can't really make much sense out of her experiences that followed. The fight with Lycaon and Orion, then the avalanche… then images that don't really make sense. She was in a forest, running through the crisp wilderness air, instead of being on her way to the Underworld where she should be right now.

But she isn't.

The lazy morning light is shaded over her by the fabric of the tent walls and ceiling. This is not her tent, but the healers' tent. She's laying on something soft; a sleeping bag on the tarp-covered ground. This isn't right… she's supposed to be dead. There should have been no way she survived that avalanche, right? Unless she is dead and her soul is just confused as all Hades.

Then, she remembers. A shadow had appeared around her, just before she passed out. Could it have been… no, there's no way. He wasn't anywhere near-

"Woof!"

The sound startles Saphira so much that she actually hurts herself flinching in surprise.

"Ow! Gods!" she yelps, snapping her head towards the sound. Her pain is immediately forgotten as she's met by an icy yellow stare, and her breathe hitches in her throat.

"L-Lykos?" she stammers.

The wolf is peering at her calmly at first, but as his sniffing nose twitches, he seems to realize that she's really awake and alert once again, and its clear he's getting excited. His tail sweeps side to side and he leans in to gently bump her with his muzzle, to which Saphira grunts but she doesn't scold him for it. She's too shocked and this is too much to process at once. Not only is she alive, but Lykos is here, in the Hunt's healer tent, smack in the middle of their camp! Just what happened while she was out, and for how long was she asleep?!

"What are you doing here?" she hisses, already making a move to sit up, but she doesn't get very far before the sharp pain in her left shoulder puts a stop to her movement. A soft gasps escapes her. Of course… she's just been through a battle. How wounded was she?

Taking a moment to examine herself, Saphira realizes just how injured she had been. Her entire waist is wrapped in gauze, as is her right thigh and shoulder. The healers did their job, but that doesn't mean she can move as she normally would, not right now anyway. Still, she wants to get up and get out of this tent, and more importantly, figure out just what is going on. Why is Lykos in the camp? Do they know he's here? Is it safe for him to be here?

With some considerable effort, Saphira manages to shakily get to her feet. Okay, she can stand, but can she walk? Only one way to find out. Lykos watches her intently as she takes a tentative step forward with only some stiffness. Alright. Feeling more confident, she tries to take another step with less care, and her right leg immediately gives out beneath her. Before she can hit the ground though, Lykos is there for her, catching her with his head beneath her. Saphira grunts and blushes a bit in embarrassment.

"Thanks, Lykos," she murmurs as she shuffles about to support herself on him, keeping herself steadied with an arm around his shoulders. The wolf huffs a hushed woof in reply, displaying his patience in slowing his pace to match her's. She limps alongside him, heading for the tent flaps through which the sunlight is peeking its rays.

Together, they push through the flaps and step outside and to her surprise, Saphira is met by the sight of the camp's population busy with preparing for what looks like a feast. Also to her surprise, she and Lykos are not being rushed from all sides on sight by an armed horde.

"I'm either still dreaming or I'm dead," Saphira mutters.

"Heh. I assure you that you're very much awake and alive, Saphira."

The voice of the goddess startles her, and she turns to see Artemis standing right by the tent. Saphira gasps and tries to place herself in front of her companion to prevent any chance of him being attacked.

"Milady! Lykos is-"

She's silenced when Artemis raises her hand and shakes her head.

"Don't worry. He's more than welcome to be here," she says.

Saphira is stunned. "What?"

The moon goddess chuckles. "He saved your life, for the fourth time, as according to you he saved you three previous times." Then, with a more apologetic tone. "I was wrong to doubt him in the first place. I nearly led us all to our deaths for it. For that, I hope you can forgive me."

"If not for you, I wouldn't have a life at all," Saphira replies immediately. "There is nothing to forgive, but should you insist on it, then I accept your apology."

Artemis' smile widens. "I'm glad. Thank you." Then, with a regretful look to the wolf, she adds, "I hope you can forgive me as well… not just for my actions of a few days ago, but for my actions to you, all those millennia ago."

Saphira frowns at her, and glances between the goddess and Lykos. "What are you talking about, milady?"

With a sigh, Artemis casts a mournful glance to Saphira. "You know we Olympians have always been wrathful beings, but eons ago, we were much worse than we are now. Well, some of us have changed for the most part, but I was among those who were little more than vengeful deities… and I am not proud of it."

She manages a small smile.

"You were right by the way. With patience, it is possible to understand the wolf."

Saphira is incredulous. "You spoke with him?"

"Indeed." Artemis sighs. "And in doing so, I was able to interpret that I was responsible for the loss of Lykos' family."

"What?!"

The goddess looks ashamed of herself. "Like I said, we Olympians were terrible beings. You know I am the one who unleashed the boar on Calydon, and for something as ridiculous as not being paid tribute to by their king. Fitting that the same beast was beset on my own camp, perhaps the universe's way of inflicting justice. Lykos' family was among those the boar killed, and for that Lykos, I am deeply sorry."

Lykos gazes at her for a moment, before nodding his head in reply. There is a look of sadness in his eyes… perhaps for his lost family, but he seems to have forgiven the goddess.

"Saph!"

The shrill cry has her turning around, only to get met by a flying tackle hug that nearly takes her off her feet. Chloe nearly crushes her ribs with her fierce embrace. She's deceptively strong, that's for certain. Despite the soreness, Saphira smiles and laughs, returning her friend's kaffections.

"If you ever scare me like that again, I will tie you up and keep you confined to our tent where I can keep my eyes on you!" the healer scolds her.

"Consider me warned," Saphira laughs.

"Good, because we would have been right there to help her."

They're surrounded by their sisters, with Laura who had spoken, at the head of them. Others -Amaris, Thalia, Lily- are among them, with bright smiles. Before, Saphira would have been overwhelmed, and try to find a way to escape the crowds to be alone, but now… now she welcomes them into her space. For the first time in four years, she doesn't try to remove herself. They praise her and hug her, and she welcomes it.

"Alright! Enough of that for now! It's time to address an important matter," Artemis announces, bringing the girls to a silence. Saphira is confused. What could be happening now?

She gets her answer soon, when the goddess motions for everyone to take a step away and clear some space. Or at least, everyone except for Lykos. The wolf claims space in the center for himself, staring the goddess in the eyes. This time though, there is no malice in his gaze, not that it makes Saphira feel any less confused about what is about to happen.

"Lykos of Calydon, step forward," Artemis commands.

Saphira's first thought is to question this, but to her surprise, Lykos does as he's asked. Just what is going on?"

"I am about to offer you a choice, one which you are free to accept or decline as you choose. However, if you accept, then I will hold you to it until there should ever a come a day that you wish to change your mind. Do you understand?" Artemis asks.

The wolf dips his head in a single nod, showing his response, so Artemis continues.

"Do you swear to uphold the values of the Hunt? Do you swear to run, hunt, and fight alongside us? Do you swear to protect us, to defend the Hunt with your life?" Lykos nods again with a confident, gruff woof. Artemis smiles and nods in reply. Now, she addresses everyone, raising her voice, and Saphira can scarcely believe what she's witnessing. Her heart races with excitement, knowing exactly what this means.

"Very well! We welcome you to our ranks. Hunters, I give you our newest member; Lykos, Guardian of the Hunt!"

The crowd roars in approval. The falcons cry and the timber wolves release a chorus of howls to the sky. Not a single person seems to be displeased with the announcement, but nobody is surely happier than Saphira and Lykos. The wolf holds his head high, clearly proud of his new title. His prideful expression shifts to one closer to an emotion that can only be described as joy, when he turns towards her with his eyes gleaming. He bounds towards her with a wolfish grin, skidding to a halt and delightfully surprising her when he rears up to give what must be his version of an embrace.

Saphira cries out with happiness, barely managing to stay on her feet as his forelimbs cling around her shoulders. Staggering only a bit, she beams up at him, wanting him to see that she's just as happy as he is. He will be staying with them, with her. No longer will either of them be alone.

No longer, will she dread having her future.

When they separate, Lykos drops back onto all fours, having regained his prideful look. Saphira has never seen him look so happy before.

"Now that Saphira has recovered, we are to prepare for a feast tonight, to both honor our fallen sisters and allies, as well as celebrate our victory," Artemis announces. "Demigods, for your help and your bravery, you are welcome to stay for this if you wish."

Clarisse steps forward and bows in gratitude to the goddess. "We accept your offer, Lady Artemis. After all, what is a party without us demigods?"

That draws an uproar of approval from her fellow campers. Normally, the rowdy behavior of the demigods of Camp Half-blood would be criticized by the hunters, but not today it seems, for the girls cheer in agreement. Artemis smirks at the reaction and raises her voice to be heard.

"Hunters, begin with preparations. Tonight is for celebration!"

. . . .

Saphira sits at the entrance of her tent, dressed in her sleeping attire and gazing up at the starry night sky. For the first time in several days, the clouds have cleared, and the millions of far-away lights shine brightly. She takes it all in, finding peace in the relative stillness. Elsewhere around the camp, the celebration continues; hunters and campers share stories and laughs around campfires while devouring their meals. A large elk was hunted and prepared for the feast earlier in the evening, and it was certainly quite the dinner. Lykos definitely enjoyed it the most, as he was given an entire hindquarter for himself to devour.

Before the celebration of their victory, the hunters and campers had taken time to burn the shrouds of the fallen, letting the embers escape up into the stars. Saphira felt her mood darken a bit when it was time for Xenia's shroud to be burnt. She had known the Spartan for over one thousand years. She fought and bled alongside her through countless battles. Even though Xenia had doubted her, in the end, she had given her life to save Saphira's.

She hopes that the brave warrior hunter would find peace in Elysium, and know that her sacrifice was not in vain, that her sisters had achieved victory.

Saphira sighs a deep sigh, exhaling as she searches for that particular constellation in the sky… there it is. The commemoration to the former lieutenant's memory. She remembers the first time she had met her… Zoe Nightshade.

It was after Artemis brought her to the Hunt's camp, after saving her from a band of barbaric centaurs. Saphira had already accepted the offer of joining the hunters, and upon arrival was greeted very warmly. Then she met the lieutenant, and she was almost frightened enough to consider running away on the spot. It wasn't that Zoe was scary… intimidating, but not scary. It was the recognition of a relative, a fellow Hesperide.

Saphira assumed Zoe would be like her mother; a cruel woman who would cast away her own daughter into the cold, violent world, but this wasn't the case. The exact opposite. Zoe was like her, an outcast, driven away by the very same ones who had driven Saphira away. For this reason, the pair had formed a bond like no other. Zoe became like a big sister to her. She taught her the ways of the Hunt, from tracking prey to battling monsters. Practically everything Saphira knows, she learned from Zoe. She loved her dearly and devoted herself to assisting her any way she could.

Anywhere Zoe went, Saphira would follow… until the one time that she didn't.

Saphira couldn't have gone with her. She was sent by Artemis with a couple others to hunt down a particularly troublesome pack of hellhounds, a mission that had taken them several weeks to accomplish as the beasts kept shadow-traveling away. Zoe had taken that quest to rescue their goddess while Saphira was still away.

That quest which cost her, her life.

When Saphira returned from her hunt, none of her sisters seemed to be in a good mood, which she found strange as they were always happy to see one of their own return home. They didn't say anything to her when she pressed them for answers, until Chloe had advised her that she should speak to Artemis and the lieutenant, the latter she assumed to be Zoe.

But when Saphira went to Artemis' tent, she didn't find Zoe to be there with the goddess. She had found Thalia. After some confusion, they told her the details of what had happened, more so Artemis did than Thalia.

Saphira cried for four days and four nights. She neglected herself of food and water, until Artemis, Thalia, Amaris, and Chloe took it upon themselves to force-feed her ambrosia to heal her body of the afflictions caused by her own self-neglect. At their insistent pleading, she finally began to eat and drink again, but for four years, she was never the same.

Looking up at Zoe's constellation now, she still feels some of that same sadness and pain. How could she not? She loved Zoe, her closest friend for millennia, but at least now, she doesn't feel totally lost. Her despair has left her. She no longer believes that her future will hold nothing for her.

But she will still miss her.

"If you are watching from up there, I hope that I make you proud," Saphira murmurs.

"Of course she is watching, and there isn't a doubt in my mind that she's proud of you." Chloe has arrived to sit beside her on the mat in front of the tent flap.

Saphira smiles, grateful for her company and for her constant comfort. "You think so?"

"Like I said," the healer replies, "not a doubt in my mind."

The pair then sit in comfortable silence, gazing up at the stars together. The frigid air is of little bother to Saphira, in fact she welcomes it as it helps to clear her thoughts and put her at ease. She can hear the critters of the night singing their eerie songs; the hoots of owls and the howls of the timber wolves. How long has it been since she's truly appreciated the wilderness this way? She cannot remember the last time she felt such peace, but the realization hits her like a tidal wave. It's as if an immense weight was lifted from her chest, so much unbearable pressure and tension just gone. How did she even manage all this time?

Glancing over at the girl beside her, she realizes she knows the answer.

"Chloe?"

"Yeah?"

Saphira shuffles around to face the daughter of Apollo, leaning in to take both her hands gently into her own. Chloe blinks at her surprise and confusion.

"Thank you."

"For what?" Chloe asks.

"For sticking by me for all these years," Saphira says. "For always being there when I needed you, no matter what it was and no matter how difficult I was being. For never giving up on me and for always making sure that I was going to be okay. For being such an amazing friend that I could never deserve."

It all came spilling out, and Saphira was barely able to choke back her sobs so that she could speak as clearly as possible. She's not the only one about to tear up, as Chloe sniffles and squeezes her hands.

"Like hell you don't deserve me!" she says with a laugh and a cry, as the two embrace each other. The hug is fierce, and Saphira can feel just how much Chloe cares for her. She hopes that her friend can feel the same on her end. Their moment is soon interrupted, though not unpleasantly, by a soft but urgent huff. The girls separate to see Lykos peering at them from around the tent, his icy gaze seemingly concerned when he notices their tears.

"We're okay, Lykos," Saphira assures him, regaining her composure and wiping her tears away. "No need to worry."

"Heh. He's just fulfilling his duties as the Guardian of the Hunt, making sure everyone is safe. Isn't that right, Wolfy?" Chloe giggles.

Lykos replies with a soft rumble and a dip of his head. He seems especially pleased at the mention of his new title, judging by the wolfish, fanged grin.

"Wolfy?" Saphira questions humorously.

"His new nickname. He likes it, right?" Chloe says, looking to the wolf.

Lykos huffs and shakes his pelt. Saphira knows him well enough that the reply means 'no,' and relays the translation to Chloe with a shake of her head.

"He'll learn to like it," the healer decides.

Saphira giggles and leans back against the tent, returning her gaze to the stars. Silence falls over them, with Chloe mirroring her posture and Lykos stretching out beside her. Saphira embraces the moment of peace, letting it wash over her and cleanse years of pain away.

Everything is going to be okay.

Author's Note

Well, that is the end of The Wolf and the Hunter. I know it was probably a little rocky, but it is my first attempt at creating a story, so I don't think did too badly. I want to thank everyone who stuck around for the ride, and I hope you continue to stick around for more adventures. It means the world that you gave me a chance.

Until next time...

~ Shadow