The snow crunched under his feet as he walked towards the campsite. The moon hung in the air, brighter than usual - it illuminated the snow, a divine gleam lighting the air around him. The skeletal trees dotted the ground, a frostbitten forest of boreal beauty. The sound was dampened from the snow, and the atmosphere held a certain… magic to it. One where all you wanted to do was sit silently and appreciate the nature around you. It was quiet enough where your breathing was louder than your surroundings.

He couldn't sleep. Not when his best friend was taken from him in front of his eyes.

Annabeth.

Percy shut his eyes, stemming the tears that threatened to fall. He would track that manticore to the ends of the earth. He had made a promise to his friend and to his heart, and he had no intentions of failing.

As he came upon the silver tents near the cliff's edge, he saw there was another person awake.

Zoë Nightshade.

Her black hair hung down her back, a silver circlet interwoven atop her head. Her copper skin seemed to glow in the moonlight against her silver parka. And she was ancient, as far as Percy could tell. She held a wisdom in her eyes that he hadn't seen in anyone mortal. Even in some of the deities he had… encountered. There was a long history in her eyes. Percy didn't know just how far or extensive that history went back, but he just knew she had seen things he wouldn't believe.

She sat on a fallen log, watching a campfire slowly diminish in size. Unmoving. Like her mind was in another universe. A worried look sat on her face, as she stared into the crackling blaze.

Percy approached the hunter, sitting far enough away from her where he wouldn't provoke a reaction. He didn't know whether she wanted to talk, or even if he wanted to. So he sat, watching the fire as well, his hands clasped while his elbows hit his kneecaps.

It was quiet. He stared into the fire, orange flames dancing in the bleak midwinter. He tried to find any solace in the sparks, but nothing came to mind. His mind focused on Annabeth.

He hadn't been strong enough to save her. He hadn't. He knew that, and it ate at him. He needed to be stronger. If he couldn't even save his best friend, how could he save others? It ate at his insides, like a tapeworm in his stomach. This was his fault. This was his -

No. Stop. He couldn't spiral like this. Not now, not ever. The more he spiraled, the less chance that Annabeth would get rescued. He needed to get stronger, not wallow in his weakness. He knew that.

The fire weakened even more.

"She'll be alright, boy."

Percy looked up from the fire at Zoë. Her quiver lay to her side, while her bow lay across her lap. She was constantly fiddling with the string. She had masked the worried look on her face with one of indifference, maybe even of a bit of compassion.

"How do you know? That… they could be halfway across the continent already."

Zoë gave a sad smile, looking back to the fire. "We all lose people. I have lost too many of my brethren to keep track of. I know when a person can or cannot be found. Thy friend will be found. It is the reason she was taken."

Percy snorted. "Right."

Silence stretched before them. Once more, it was just the moonbeams on the snow drifts, tents glistening with a silver sheen.

Zoë stood up then, the fire down to just embers. "Thy truly miss the pain of thine elders. I do not even remember all the names and faces. One day, hopefully soon, thou shalt understand."

She tossed some snow on the fire, the final hints of flame dying out. "Annabeth will be found. I will not let my past become yours."

With that, she stalked back to her tent, leaving Percy there to think. A black flash ended the memory.

"Then I entered a strongroom of vocabulary / Where words like urns that had come through the fire… "

"Aika!"

Percy surged forwards, wrapping his arms around Aika's shoulder as he pulled her in for a hug. He saw her eyes widen for just a moment before her face passed by his vision. Percy held tight, thankful. She smelled of pinecones, dirt, and somehow a light breeze. He held her close.

He had missed her, and after the incident in the Crypt of Pluto, he was incredibly thankful that he could still interact with her. He felt an immense pull attaching himself to her, as if he needed to be part of her story.

"Hey… Percy… What's up?"

Said Percy pulled back from the hug, stumbling to his feet as Aika watched him, eyebrows steeped in surprise. He supposed that a random hug was probably a bit out of left field. No wonder Aika seemed confused, although she did have a smile on her face, however slight it may have been.

His voice came out with a bit of a tremor. "I had a… dream. It felt like a vision, almost. You were being tortured." He swallowed. "I think you know how demigod dreams can be."

Aika's face evolved into one of understanding. "Well, hey. I'm alright. Promise."

Percy nodded. "They were interrogating you. About your father."

Her face morphed immediately. Her face went from one of well-meaning concern to intense curiosity. It was almost scary how quickly she shifted faces.

"They were asking me? Maybe I know! I find out!"

She grabbed Percy's shoulders.

"Were there any hints?"

Percy racked his brain. "I don't think so. But whoever was torturing you was powerful - a god or a monster, probably. They really, really didn't like you."

Aika grit her teeth. "Shit. Ok." The girl stood up. "Let's get going. We can talk on the way - the guy you healed said to travel to Tirida, further north on the coast. He asked if we could check up on any of the other Mares, make sure they were contained."

"Sounds good. Hopefully this was an isolated case."

She helped Percy to his feet. He went to the now-scorched earth where the fire had been lit, grabbing his armor and sword from the log it had been leaning against. The armor clinked together as he dressed, making sure he wasn't leaving anything behind. He really hoped he could find a new sword - Anaklusmos just felt so much more comfortable in his hand, while this uneven gladius only served to inhibit Percy's full abilities.

Maybe Tirida would have an answer.

The two demigods left the campsite, walking northwest. The breeze was gentle today - the sun hung high in the sky, clouds a rarity. The temperature was just right. It was a picture-perfect day.

But the world felt too still. Like a calm before a storm, the Florida coast in the hours before a hurricane. Percy shuddered. Things were about to pick up, and fast.

They walked, making sure to stay in the shadows of the trees, avoiding any unwanted attention. Aika moved as fluid as ever, flitting in and out of Percy's vision, while Percy had to carefully pick through the bushes, grasses, and other natural elements that obstructed their path. She was unnatural in that regard. Percy had no idea how she could move so freely.

Aika slowed after a time, allowing Percy to walk alongside her. Tirida was only an eight hour journey away, greatly helped by the greater strength and speed afforded to demigods. They'd reach it by nightfall, but some conversations can't wait.

Aika looked at him, her eyes curious. "Why did you seem so… thankful, I suppose? When you woke up. It was like you were surprised to see me again."

Percy nodded, a thin, grim smile on his face. "Because I didn't think I was going to."

"Well it's not like you were going to die," Aika said, an eyebrow raised. "You were just sleeping."

"Well…" Percy waffled for a bit. He didn't know whether or not to give away his role in two separate timelines - who knows how it would affect the past, or who would be listening? He shuddered to think of how he and his curious time-hopping could change the world should a deity like Zeus or Athena listen in. Who knows what they would do with his power. He didn't want to be a catalyst for Olympian tyranny over more people.

Could the Olympians do good with his power? Maybe Athena would help prevent genocide, or Apollo would invent life-saving medicinal treatments earlier. The possibilities of the Olympians using his power combined with theirs were endless.

No. Percy knew, he just knew, that where Olympians tread, the ground would falter. If an Olympian tried to use another's power for what they might have thought would be the greater good, he knew others would suffer. His flashes of his fight with Ares only helped to back up his negative opinion of the Gods, too - what guarantee could the Olympians give to ensure they wouldn't misuse his talents? None. It wasn't wise.

And all this assumes the Olympians would even be paying attention to the two of them. What reason would they have for focusing on East Thracia? He knew at least three gods were still probably relishing in the naval battle from two days prior. The attention of Olympus was no doubt focused on the Peloponnese conflict. He didn't do enough to draw their attention… yet.

So why not spill the beans?

Percy had been so lost in thought that he walked straight into a tree, pieces of bark falling off from the impact of his face to the trunk.

A tree stood tall on a hill, a golden cloth of some sorts spilled over a branch

Aika laughed, collapsing to the forest floor.

A girl, growing out of the trunk, before collapsing to the ground

He glared. "Shut it, you absolute donut."

Aika kept laughing, her words coming between giggles as she tried to catch her breath. "Hey… there's a… tree… there."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Percy's frown deepened as he wiped pine needles out of his hair.

Aika giggled. "What's a donut?"

Percy whipped his head around, the back of his neck heating up. Obviously she wouldn't know what a donut was. "Uh, don't worry about it?"

She shot him a suspicious look. "Ok, sea boy."

Aika got up, breath finally caught as the two began walking towards Tirida one more time. "So… what were you saying?"

Percy took a deep breath, but nodded. "Right. So. It's weird to say this, but I can sorta travel through time."

Aika stopped one more time. Her head whipped around to face Percy, her eyes wide and her muscles tensed. "What?"

He turned to face Aika, before dropping down to the ground, resting his back against the tree. He motioned his hand, gesturing for Aika to sit down. This was a weird story, and he was going to make sure she paid attention.

"So, a few days ago, I woke up on that trireme with no memory, right? You saw that." Aika nodded. "Well, when you knocked me out… thanks by the way… I didn't just dream. I practically time-jumped. To the future."

Aika leaned forward, a frown on her face. "You're not joking."

A shake of his head. It was weird, that's true.

She looked down, her foot jumping, before looking up. "How far?"

"I don't know exactly. But at least… two millennia in the future, I think." Percy breathed out through his nose.

Aika gaped. "Well, shit."

"Yeah. Pretty much. So every time I sleep here, I go there, and vice versa. But there was one point when I went to sleep and I didn't show up here - I just had dreams. So when I woke up there twice in a row, I freaked out. But I'm back, thank the gods."

His leg outstretched along the ground, his foot moving back and forth in an arc, fidgeting. He stared at his foot, not bothering to look at Aika.

Aika leaned back, resting on the log. "So… you don't know why you do that? You can't control it or anything?"

Percy shook his head. He wished, but as of now he hadn't been successful. To be honest, he hadn't really known how to even try. "I mean, maybe if I knock myself out. Not really rushing to try that right now."

She let out a breath. "Fair."

A momentary silence fell, Aika figuring out what to ask next. Percy felt a bit more relaxed now - someone else knew his secret. Finally, he could confide in someone.

Hopefully no one else important was listening.

"So… did you learn about anything in the future?"

Percy couldn't help it. He smiled. It felt really good to talk about his experiences.

"Well, it's a very complicated world, and I probably shouldn't get very detailed, in case of a hidden listener nearby... but the most notable event thus far is the, well, this guy tried to kill me because I said your name."

Aika reeled back. "What?! The hell did I do?"

Percy shrugged, his hands to the sky. "I don't know! Shit makes no sense to me! He had one book with him that I took, but I don't see why you'd be in a book about a completely unrelated hero!"

A tilt of her head was followed by a shrug. "To my knowledge, you're the only demigod I've actually talked to for more than what, half an hour? Must be something in our future."

Our.

Percy hoped that would be a long while. And that they could avoid whatever struggle he saw in his dream.

Scars run deep, and yours run deeper. Don't forget.

Fingers crossed.

Aika stood back up, her hand outstretched to his, pulling him to his feet. "Let's get to Tirida. Make sure those horses are safe, and maybe it'll have some leads. Predicting the future won't get us very far."

The travelers darted off.

"…Stood in their bone-dry alcoves next a kiln / And came away changed, like the guard who'd seen…"

Percy sat in a sea-green Lamborghini. It absolutely was a luxury car, a beautiful interior that was just incredibly comfortable. The stereo played some rock band Percy wasn't familiar with, while the GPS map showed them moving at a near-unnatural speed. Not the most common occurrence in his lifetime, that was for sure.

He had reclined his seat. His body ached - it had been a long day of running, and the train car was the first place that let him rest. Those fucking spartoi were awful. He hadn't moved his head in half an hour while resting his eyes. He would nap, but the adrenaline hadn't fully subsided yet.

And why shouldn't he take some solace in 'Fred' helping them out? Divine intervention wasn't common, he knew.

As he sipped on a blue Gatorade (it was the only blue drink he could find in the vending machine of the train station), he heard the door to the passenger seat open. He sighed, opening his eyes before turning his head, coming face to face with Zoë Nightshade.

He turned his head back to its prone position, closing his eyes once more, setting his Gatorade back in the cupholder. "Hey Zoë."

"Hello, boy."

Percy rubbed his eyes. "Please, just call me Percy."

"...Percy." She tried out the new word, testing it.

A small smile sneaked onto Percy's face. "That's more like it. What's up?"

He had yet to open his eyes, but he could hear Zoë shifting around a bit. She seemed almost nervous, something he didn't think was possible for a multi-millenia-old huntress.

"Percy, I wanted to ask thy about a couple things… but are thee alright? Thou have been… distant."

He sighed. "Just, a lot on my mind, I guess."

There was a short silence, the quiet music filling the air. Percy could feel Zoë's eyes on him, and turned his head, popping open his eyes. He came face to face with the lieutenant of the Hunt.

"Percy… my apologies. Thy name seems familiar. From an older time." Her voice wavered a little bit.

Percy's eyebrows creased. "I don't know. Maybe you met the old Perseus? He might've gone as Percy for a time, I don't know. You've lived a long time Zoë."

She didn't seem convinced, settling into her seat. "Yes, maybe. It might be the curse of immortality, memories blur together."

The rumble of the train car was constantly in the background, a dull noise softened somewhat by the car's exterior, and a bit more from some Apollonic intervention.

"Percy, do you remember the Mare?"

Percy blinked. "The what?"

Zoë swallowed. "The earliest monster thou fought. What was it?" Her voice brimmed with an inner sadness. As if she was hoping for a certain answer.

"Uh, it was a minotaur. Outside Camp."

Zoë was quiet for a moment, before turning away. Percy could see her face fall. "Ah. I must have mistaken thy tales for another's." It came out as a mumble. She left the Lambo.

Percy didn't know what she had expected, but he couldn't help. It definitely threw him off though. Zoë had always presented herself as an infallible demigoddess, and for her to show that kind of vulnerability… Percy smiled. Maybe she was cracking a little bit.

He was here to save Annabeth and Artemis, but maybe… maybe he could find some new friends too.

"...The stone move in a diamond-blaze of air / Or the gates of horn behind the gates of clay."

Seamus Heaney, To A Dutch Potter in Ireland

The duo had finally crested one final hill, the sun at their backs as they looked down into the city of Tirida. Percy bent over, his hands resting on his knees as he panted. They had run a long way today, and he could use some rest.

The city was small, Percy could tell. It was a jumble of buildings of stone and wood, all slapped together in a haphazard way without much planning. Seemingly the only thing with much thought behind it was a large building set in the middle of the town, with torches standing alongside an impressive set of columns and a massive stable attached to the side. There was plenty of space between this building and the surroundings, and Percy could be confident in saying it was likely half the real estate of the whole city.

The city stuck to the coast, spreading laterally along the water like it was hugging it. He could see multiple docks with fishing boats moored, extending into the Aegean. Percy smiled as he looked to the sea - it had been a good companion during their travels, and more than once did he step in to revitalize himself.

But Percy could tell something was off about the place. It was too empty - he could see people here and there, but it seemed like they were outnumbered by buildings. Many of the houses seemed to be falling out of repair, abandoned. Weeds and grass tumbled out of the cracks in the cobble.

And the people… they didn't seem very happy. Percy couldn't make out one smile. Or even one kid, for that matter.

That's concerning.

Percy looked at Aika, whose face had fallen. Her mouth was agape. Like this was antithetical to everything she believed in.

Her voice wavered. "This is…What… what happened here?"

Percy's voice was grim. "Let's go ask someone." He could already see people noticing them against the sun's outpouring, and walked down the hill. A bell started to ring, and an older man in the city began walking towards them.

As Percy continued, he could see the citizens of Tirida retreat into their homes. As if gearing up for a fight, or to flee. He wondered what had happened in the five years since Aika had visited.

As the man approached, Percy was able to get a good look. There was no lack of apprehension about him - he was an older man, a beard hanging from his chin. His face seemed worn, aged far past his true years. The stress had become too much for him. He walked with a bit of a limp, too. Percy couldn't help but feel bad for him.

The man spoke up, his voice wavering, his strength seemingly failing him. "Hello, travelers. My name is Gregorios. How can Tirida help you this evening?"

Percy stepped forwards. "We are just looking for a place to spend the night, but we were also sent by a man we saved - he was being pursued by a horse that had already bit off his left arm, and he asked us if we could come check on the others to make sure they were still in captivity. We had to kill the one we found."

Gregorios had sighed, before waving them towards the city. "Ah yes. Welcome to Tirida. Let me set you a room, and I'll explain everything. Glad to hear you survived the mare however. Those aren't easy to put down at all.

The trio headed down the hill, Gregorios guiding them towards a smaller building. They ducked under the brick archway, entering what must've been a hotel. Percy could see numerous beds inside different rooms, and there was what looked like a front desk near the entrance. Gregorios took them to the room at the end of the hallway, the largest room in the entire establishment. Percy let out a low whistle, inclining his head towards the man.

"Thank you so much." Percy set his helmet down on a chair, before reaching to his chestplate, removing the straps from around his torso. Aika stepped into the room as well, placing her bow and quiver on the ground by the bed.

Gregorios sat down on a chair, gesturing for the two of them to sit as well. His face seemed resigned.

"I should first warn the two of you about the Mare you killed. That Mare, one of the escaped Mares of Diomedes, was a sacred animal of Ares. If you were trying to fly under the Olympian radar, well… he likely won't take that lightly. Should the war end soon, you might be a target."

Aika cursed, while Percy's feet started tapping. That wasn't good.

His companion looked at Gregorios. "How long do you think we have? Before Ares tries to… I don't know. Kill us, I guess?"

The man shrugged. "I'd have to guess however much longer the war goes on. I don't know when that is."

Percy looked at Aika. "So, we're on a clock."

Aika paced back and forth, the stone echoing underneath her shoes. "We have what, two weeks tops? Athens can't last long with no navy… I have two weeks to figure out something I've spent my whole fucking life trying to figure out? How in the fuck am I supposed to do that?"

Percy stood, catching Aika's wrist as she paced. Aika whipped her head around to meet him, her blue eyes staring into his sea-green irises.

They really were a beautiful blue.

"Trust me, Aika. We'll find your father. I swear it."

She stood, staring into his eyes before shaking his grip. "Ok." Her eyes had softened a bit, and Percy knew there was no bite behind her actions.

The two sat back down. Percy looked back at Gregorios. "What happened here?"

The man sighed, slapping his knees. "Right. That Mare, it was one of five. They were termed the Mares of Diomedes, after our King. Well, former King." He winced. "They weren't really his; they had run wild on Thracia for years and years, terrorizing the land. Diomedes was a hero - he went out of his way to try and rein the creatures in. He came from Tirida, and we all told him it would be impossible. But he did it."

He was interrupted by Aika, who had tilted her head as he spoke of Diomedes. "I had heard Diomedes was cruel?"

Gregorios shook his head. "Not at all. He saved us. Our city had been neglected, but with the capture of the five Mares, we could thrive. Diomedes led us through all of that. He didn't want the power that came with being King, but we gave it to him. We trusted him, and he was always thankful. He built our city to be a city. Before him, we were lost, but he set us on a path to one day possibly contend with the most powerful of the city-states on the Peloponnese."

Percy nodded. "The stable built next to the building in the center of town."

"Exactly," Gregorios nodded. "He kept them there, chained. He had the finest chains made to prevent them from escaping, and he wouldn't allow anyone near them. The only reason he even kept them in the city was to be able to keep an eye on them. He couldn't kill them - Diomedes knew Ares would have his revenge. But Diomedes was dead set on never letting them escape and kill another person again."

"That all changed four years ago when Heracles came, on orders from Eurystheus and the divine goddess whispering in his ear, to steal the Mares. Diomedes refused to hand them over - he had met the man before, and knew of him as a callous man without care for the people around him. Heracles threatened to raze the city if he couldn't bring them back. Diomedes worried if he handed the Mares over to Heracles, they might terrorize another land. He couldn't let that happen. So they fought."

Percy sucked in a breath. "Did Heracles kill him?"

Gregorios continued, his voice tinged in sadness. "They battled for hours. It was some of the most intense fighting I have seen in my life. Heracles was actually bleeding by the end of it. But Diomedes had fallen.." He sniffled. "But not just Diomedes - Heracles had loosened the chains, leaving the mares in the care of his companion, Abderos. The Mares wound up eating Abderos, all three of Diomedes's sons, and sixteen others. And Heracles didn't even take them all with him - one escaped. Probably the one you killed."

Aika looked away. "Shit."

Percy stood up, walking to Gregorios before dropping down next to him, putting his arm around his shoulder. The man had started tearing up. "I'm so sorry."

The man went on. "We didn't have a leader. There was no clear successor, and the hero of Thrace was just killed by the hero of Olympus. No one wanted to welcome the wrath of the gods by trying to fill his throne. People started leaving; there just wasn't enough opportunity here. And with the mare running wild again… people were scared. They fled, some west, some south. We lost nearly half our population in six months. The city has been collapsing ever since."

Aika stood up. "What can we do? We have to help somehow!"

"No, girl." Gregorios stood up then. Tear tracks were seen on his cheeks, but he maintained his composure. "This city will be gone for good in twenty years. Those that live here just lack the motivation to continue. It's a slow death, but we have good company. All I ask is that in your travels, you find some deities willing to protect those that left. Those were good people. They deserve a good life."

Percy hugged the man. "Of course we will."

Gregorios nodded, before turning away, headed towards the doorway. "Come. There is another traveler, one whom you may wish to speak to. Then, you can rest."

The trio headed out of the hotel, walking down the weed-filled streets of stone, passed numerous failing buildings. Some people were milling freely once again, waving to Gregorios and looking upon them with a bit more leniency. Percy could see merchants shutting down their shops for the day, Apollo only an hour's away from lending the sky to Artemis. It seemed peaceful, but tinged with a sadness Percy had never recognized before. New Rome was energetic - this was the opposite.

He could see the sadness reflected on Aika's face. It saddened him more.

The lives of the people here were not lives. They were surviving, but without the energy humanity should approach life with. It was a curse. The Gods might not have cared about this place, and Percy was sure that after Heracles left, their attention had never been brought back to this part of Thracia.

It pissed him off. Talk about shitty leadership. And all just to provide opportunities to a man who had killed his own kids. Heracles should never have had the chance to atone for his sins, great as they were. This city deserves its revenge. Percy just -

Huh.

Maybe they did wind up in Heracleia after all.

They reached the outskirts of the city. Gregorios stopped, gesturing up towards the top of a cliff, overlooking the sea. Percy could make out the outline of a girl there, but he couldn't tell much more.

"She came to us a couple months ago, looking for any sign of Heracles," said Gregorios. "She doesn't sound too happy with him. At all. She could use some friends to travel with, I think. Get her out of the rut she's in."

Aika nodded. "Thanks a ton, Gregorios."

He clasped their shoulders. "Of course. And please, look out for each other out there. Friends are hard to find."

The duo locked eyes, nodding and smiling. Gregorios let out a satisfied grunt, before walking back into the city. Percy looked up at the hill, before turning back to Aika. "Let's do it."

As they walked up the hill, Percy could take in some details. She had black hair, tied tight behind her head. She had copper skin, which seemed to glow in the sunset.

The girl had a bow and arrow, a target carved on a fallen tree trunk stationed a hundred meters away. A set of arrows was bundled together, shot in the center of the target, while more lay in the quiver to her side. She had one current nocked, the string pulled back to the corner of her mouth. She spoke, a cold tone oozing into her voice.

"What do you want?"

She shot the arrow, immediately impacting the wood with a thunk. Dead center.

Percy let out a whistle. "Nice shot."

She reached over her shoulder, grabbing an arrow from her quiver, nocking it, and pulling it back in one clean motion. "Thanks."

She let it loose. Just to the left of the first shot.

Aika stepped forwards, her hand out. "My name is Aikaterina. Gregorios said you were looking for a ticket out of here, and we're leaving tomorrow. Want to join us?"

She looked at them now, her obsidian eyes radiating power and experience. "Why do you need me?"

Percy spoke up now too. "We could use all the help we can get. We're demigods, but Aika doesn't know her dad. We're trying to figure it out."

She grunted, swinging the bow over her shoulder, before moving to grab the arrows from the target. She shot them a look, mostly one of caution, but with some enthusiasm in her eyes as well. "Maybe. On a couple conditions - you help me find Artemis, and we beat the shit out of Heracles."

Percy turned to Aika, a surprised look on his face, before he started chuckling. The girl was dead serious. Aika joined in, before they both looked back at the newcomer.

"I think that can be arranged," he said laughing. "I'm Percy." He extended his hand out to shake.

The girl clasped his hand. "Zoë Nightshade. Nice to meet you."

"Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it."

L.M. Montgomery, The Story Girl

Percy knelt next to Zoë. She coughed up blood, her stomach wound gushing red, instigated by her father's spear. Artemis had already lunged for her lieutenant. Annabeth, Thalia, and Grover surrounded them.

Zoë focused on Artemis, her eyes tearing up. "Have I… served thee well?"

"With great honor. The finest of my huntresses." Artemis' voice was calm, but Percy could tell she was on the verge of tears. It wasn't like a deity to show emotion, but he knew Artemis wasn't going to hold back.

Zoë took a shaky breath. "Rest. At last."

She turned to Thalia, grabbing her wrist. "I am sorry we argued. I… should not have pushed thee."

Thalia held her hand tight, eyes misty as she struggled to speak. "No, you were… you were right. About Luke, men, heroes, everyone."

The huntress turned her attention to Percy. "Not all men. Your sword, Percy."

She called him Percy.

He couldn't speak. He uncapped Anaklusmos, putting the hilt in Zoë's hands. She held it, old friends back together one more time.

"This… this sword has found its true owner in thee. I am honored it is yours."

Percy blinked away tears. Zoë began whispering, staring directly at him. He bent down, bringing his ear over her mouth, her barely audible words escaping her lips.

"And, Percy… I wish I could see thee again… come find me when thee wake."

Percy pulled back, startled. "Zoë - "

She looked at Artemis once more, her breathing growing steadily weaker. A look was shared between the two of them - a look of silent understanding, of trust, of compassion. Of two millennia together.

"Stars," she whispered. "I can see the stars again, my lady."

A/N: Please follow and favorite this story, and if you're kind enough, maybe drop a review! It really helps me out. Going to target once a week releases, although if I have a productive stretch it might wind up a bit quicker than that. Hope y'all have a good weekend and week!