Artemis finally took the time to rest. She and her hunters had been busy hunting what she believed was a mormo for ten days straight. The creature was a danger to all half-bloods, and must quickly be hunted down. She sighed, wondering how such a monster could evade her for that long.

Suddenly she heard a prayer - a prayer from none other than Percy Jackson. 'Please, guys. Just one shot. Please'.

That is certainly… an odd way of praying.

She recalled the boy. He was unique in most ways. Having a unique form of prayer wasn't unlikely for him.

She tried to trace the prayer back, but was having a difficult time. It certainly was a faint 'signal' as she supposed mortals would call it. Heroes transmitted a different, more distinctive sort of prayer compared to your average nature spirit. Not being able to trace it meant he was not in her reach. That either meant he was in lands far out from the reach of the gods, or in close proximity to danger. Or both.

She focused harder somehow. There he was in the Labyrinth, trying to fight the triple-chested Geryon. I see what he needs my help for.

Artemis was ready to bless that shot, but it seemed somebody had already interfered on her behalf. Was it Apollo?

Before she could ask, she heard a voice, Sis, did you aid Percy's shot?

No. Didn't you?

Not me.

An awkward silence passed between them.

Who would interfere with a prayer meant for us, brother?

How should I know? Dionysus? Obviously not that drunk.

…One of the gods is watching each and every step of Perseus' quest, it appears.

Who cares? As long as they are making sure he succeeds, it's in our favour.

Maybe… they had a pause in their mental conversation. So, what are you hunting Apollo?

Me? I'm hunting, uh… an empousa. Yeah. I'm hunting a group of rogue empousai. What about you, Arty?

Apollo was never a good liar. But she let it slide.

Just hunting a mormo. I think.

A mormo? Haven't heard of any in a long time.

Yes. *sigh* I'm starting to doubt there is one on the loose. This feels like a wild goose chase.

Well… tell me if you find your target, lil' sis.

For the last time, Apollo, we're twins!

Apollo didn't reply to her, choosing to cut the connection.

Which of the gods would personally watch out for Percy Jackson?

She now found herself thinking about him, as she often did lately.

Currently, he was on what was his fourth quest for the gods of Olympus. Artemis understood that his loyalty largely lay with his friends. For him, each of the four quests that involved him were something more than just a path to glory. He chose them on behalf of those close to him, even if the quest entailed certain death. As Athena told her after the Solstice, the boy had a fatal flaw of personal loyalty.

Artemis found her sister's cynical opinion of him to be quite narrow and confined, but she did not argue on his behalf. Cynical was what Athena was like, and she would find one way or another to criticise someone she wanted to criticise. To the huntress, there was no debate. Personal loyalty was a far better flaw than what heroes often have; hubris, insecurity, doubt, a lust for glory, a lust for women. A fatal flaw like loyalty not only spoke well of his character, it also made him more trustworthy and reliable in Artemis' eyes.

If anything, it meant that the gods had to make sure to keep him loyal to them, and make sure his friends were reliable and loyal to Olympus. The behaviour of the gods towards him, in particular Athena herself, was likely to drive him away when all you needed to have his loyalty was to show him respect and treat him properly. All the gods did was the exact opposite in Artemis' opinion.

May you succeed, young man, and prove to her how great you can be.

It came as a shock to Artemis, that Perseus Jackson, perhaps the greatest hero of Olympus ever, had chosen to remain a mortal. She was a bit disappointed and maybe even angry, if she was honest. He chose to lecture the gods over their behaviour, and rejected to be among them, as if they were nothing. Still, she found herself agreeing with him mostly when she didn't let her emotions and pride dictate her thoughts.

She spotted him standing near the entrance/exit of the city. As she had predicted two years ago he had grown up to be a handsome man. He looked lean and fit, not overly muscular.

"Hello, Perseus".

He turned to look at her "Lady Artemis", he said, with some surprise.

"I see you are about to leave", she said.

"Yeah, I was leaving. Just got occupied". She felt smoke coming from his shirt. Which looked charred. Hmmm.

"Well, would you mind if I occupied some more of your time?"

"Uhh, no".

Artemis looked at him softly "I just wanted to thank you for rescuing me from Atlas' burden. I realised I never did properly".

He shifted uncomfortably "It's no big deal, Lady Artemis. I, uh, appreciate it though".

She smiled "You should. Not every hero can claim to have rescued a god or goddess, Percy. I would like it if you considered it an achievement on your part. Or are you trying to say rescuing me wasn't a huge feat?" she raised an eyebrow.

"No, uh, that's not what I meant. I, uh, mean-", he sputtered out quickly.

She cut him off with a laugh "No need to fear, Perseus. I understand you. But I believe you tend to downplay yourself. While humility is an admirable trait, especially among heroes, you should know your worth".

"I also wanted to talk to you about my former lieutenant, Zoë" he looked downcast at her name. "I wanted to thank you for helping her"

He looked stunned "But, but… she died on my watch. How can you thank me for helping her?".

Artemis couldn't believe it. He blames himself for Zoë's death? She then placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. It was a little awkward, since he was taller by an inch or two. "I did not come here to hear you apologise for her death, Perseus. It wasn't your fault. You were holding the sky in my place. There was nothing you could have done", she paused "If anything, Zoë died on my watch. She died trying to protect me. Not you".

"But why are you thanking me, then? It's not like I saved her", he said, his eyes dulled from sadness.

She gave him a soft smile, despite the obvious shift in mood "I'm thanking you because you did something even I hadn't been able to for millennia, Percy. You healed her heart" she paused, sighing "I believe you know of her story. How she was betrayed by Heracles. How she was disowned by her father. How had come to hate all men. Even though she remained one of my most loyal servants, Zoë never truly healed from her past". She paused again, her lips forming a thin line. When she spoke, her voice faltered a little. "I could have saved her from dying, Percy. And I would have, had she not stopped me. I wanted to save her anyway, but, before dying, she looked… peaceful. Like she had accepted that her life was coming to an end. Do you understand?", Percy looked confused, and overwhelmed. Her eyes bore into his. "Zoë wanted to finally die, not because she was miserable, but because she was at peace with herself. In a single quest you released one of my closest friends from her burdens, Perseus. Something which I could not do. And for that you have my gratitude".

She let her words sink in. Percy looked a little better, but not completely convinced. "If you truly consider my lieutenant to be a friend, then honour her choice. I wish Zoë was here by my side as well, but I know that she is content where she currently is. Happier than she had ever been. Is it not selfish to want her back into this cruel world for our own contentment?

"Yes, but-"

"Would you want your friends to blame themselves if you died saving them?".

He appeared troubled for a moment, but soon a look of understanding crossed his face. "I wouldn't want them to beat themselves up. I would rather die in place of my friends, and it would be my choice".

"Exactly, Perseus. Zoë died fighting like a true warrior. You cannot take away her heroics by holding yourself responsible. Especially when you couldn't have done anything in the situation".

"I… I guess I understand, Lady Artemis. Zoë died a hero. She deserves the best afterlife, not, not whatever we have here".

Artemis nodded. She was a bit touched, even though Percy was only seeing her point "I see you do not lack wisdom after all, brave hero. Just do not give up hope. Know this, Perseus, as long as you remain the same, humble and loyal to your friends, you will always have an ally on the council. It is the least I could do whenever father becomes paranoid again". She retraced her hand, which had found its way down from the shoulder to the boy's arm.

Percy gave her a warm, genuine smile. The first of the conversation. "Thank you, Lady Artemis". Such a charming smile. She hoped her cheeks didn't look as gold as she thought they did.

"You're welcome, Perseus. Until we meet again.". She then walked away, departing in a flash of silver light once she was far enough from everyone else.

She was observing him in camp, celebrating his sixteenth birthday with his friends. Or rather, friend. Of course, it was pretty clear why exactly he had chosen to be mortal. The way he was looking at Annabeth said he had chosen her over the gods. Very admirable, but it left Artemis with an ugly feeling. The dedication to be that loyal only made him more desirable in the goddess' eyes. It was a dilemma on its own, but it wasn't like she could control her feelings.

Over the course of the war, Artemis now felt Perseus had joined the very few men she had ever obsessed over, and it wouldn't go away soon. Obsession wasn't new to her; she had watched men from afar before. It was always a hurtful experience. She couldn't stop thinking about them, worried for them if they were in danger, even lusted for some of them. Thankfully, she had enough self-control to not go about breaking her oath. It was sacred, a part of her identity. But at times like this, it just felt like an obstacle stopping her from doing what she wished. What use was there to being a goddess if she couldn't do as she pleased?

No matter though. Someday, the son of Poseidon would depart to Elysium. And these feelings will go away with him.

Artemis sat down at the steps of a ruined amphitheatre as her brother plucked away on his ukulele. The tone was pitiful, reflecting the state they were in. They were shells of their former selves. Stuck on the island of Delos with nowhere to go. Apollo was at even more risk outside the island, with Zeus blaming him for their current predicament.

Her father's paranoia was reaching new heights at every major threat. Ordering Olympus to be closed to the world was one of his most ridiculous decisions she had seen him make. The giants need to be stopped with godly intervention, not by withdrawing from battle! Artemis wondered what happened to the brave man she looked up to in her childhood. Zeus in his older days tackled problems head-on and was fairer than pretty much every god; it was rare for him not to live up to his name as the God of Justice. Sure, he wasn't the ideal husband by any means, but he was a good king. Now, he was just a paranoid idiot who used his position to get what he wanted.

Things had become harder for the gods now. Headaches had been killing her, with her Roman side Diana taking control at times. It was unfortunate, since Diana was quite emotional and irrational compared to her Greek side. Ever since she had come back, she was letting emotions get the better of her. Getting their father angry, fighting with Apollo for no reason, almost clashing with Venus. Artemis had to assert control before she did something stupid and irredeemable. Like exposing the goddess' latest obsession out in the open.

Speaking of Diana, things were getting worse at the moment. Apparently Hera/Juno decided to kidnap the leaders of both camps, Percy Jackson and Jason Grace, and place them in the other one without their memories. Each of them would have to establish their positions in the other camp if there was any hope of uniting the two factions. A risky move, and the moon goddess doubted the plan would work. But it was better than whatever her father was doing.

Instead of isolating themselves on Olympus as was his order, Artemis and Apollo decided to spend their time in their birthplace. As a goddess of the wild, Artemis preferred the outdoors to the cityscape. Delos was wonderful in that sense, a reminder of the carefree childhood the twins had spent with their mother. It also served the purpose of preserving their sanity, since the divide didn't affect the two at their sacred ground.

After a few moments, Artemis found herself thinking of Percy Jackson. Again. His image often found its way into her mind. Those few conversations she had with him, his demeanour in the Throne Room. The moment he took the sky from her in particular had left quite the impression on the goddess. What was he doing right now? He should be off on the dangerous quest-

"What's on your mind, sis?" Apollo asked all of a sudden, his question accompanied by an infuriating smirk.

Artemis turned to glare at him, "None of your business, Apollo".

"It's just, you had that dreamy look about you when you're thinking about some handsome-"

"Sh- Shut up! I'm not thinking about anyone!", Artemis replied, knowing full well the act wouldn't convince him in the slightest. God of Truth and all. Also, her cheeks were flushed, which was a dead giveaway.

Apollo's smirk gave way to a wide grin, "Are you sure you aren't thinking about a certain green-eyed hero?"

The goddess spluttered something undecipherable. Even she couldn't make out what words left her mouth. Why did her composure fail when she needed it?

"Come on, sis, you've never been able to hide these things from me. Why do you even try?", he said, the grin still plastered on his face.

Artemis sighed, pushing strands of hair to the sides of her head. It was true, Apollo was the only one who really knew what her experience as a maiden goddess was, except maybe Athena and Hestia. He could easily tell if a man had caught her eye, and in most cases, exactly which man held her interest. Talking to him often helped, but he could easily infuriate Artemis in this state.

He came closer at her silence, eyes twinkling "Sooo, Falling for your saviour, huh? I knew it, I knew my tough little sis is a romantic at heart. You've always wanted to be a damsel in distress-", Artemis grabbed her bow and chased after the idiot, who ran away howling with laughter. Delos did remind the twins of their childhood.

Masking emotions wasn't easy, even for someone with as much experience as the stoic goddess of the Hunt. The Roman demigods' account of their quest was troubling. Artemis felt troubled by one particular detail. Percy Jackson had fallen into Tartarus. Willingly. That too for his girlfriend, Annabeth who was pulled into the Pit.

She worried for his mental health. Both of their mental health. Such young heroes, having to face what even the gods were afraid of. But…

The fact that he fell into the Pit for his girlfriend showed that he was truly loyal and devoted to his loved ones. Devoted to Annabeth Chase. The show of loyalty made Artemis desire Percy Jackson even more, and as a result despise the exact nature of this fall. She sighed. She had no right to feel angry or jealous here. Sad, maybe. For the couple. Truly two of the biggest heroes of this, no, all time.

The huntress had no doubt that Aphrodite wouldn't shut up about the two for ages. A couple that went through Tartarus.

The war was finally over. The demigods had helped them achieve victory, and the return of the Athena Parthenos united both sides. But the war had left her damaged on the inside. Many of her brave maidens had fallen in battle against Orion. Orion. Her first… obsession. The closest Artemis had ever been to loving a man.

Orion was many things to her. He was the greatest mortal hunter ever, on par with her in both archery and hunting in general. Whenever they hunted together, it was always a competition.

He was handsome, and possessed the charm to make her feel special in ways nobody did since. Appreciation and flattery from him felt natural, she wanted to believe everything he said about her. How beautiful she looked, how her eyes captured him. No one before him ever spoke of her in such ways without giving away their dangerous intentions.

Artemis believed everything he had to say. He always claimed that Merope had seduced him, and wrongly accused him of forcing her to save herself from her father's wrath. Given his behaviour, Artemis believed him. How could she not? He seemed so sincere, and his gaze was rarely ever lustful when he looked at her. A goddess. A beautiful Olympian goddess. There was no way he would have lost his control without invitation from Merope.

Artemis sighed. How could she have been so vain and naïve? She was a little glad, and perhaps a little saddened that Orion didn't have the patience to wait until she confessed how much he meant to her at the time. If her brother didn't save her, what would have become of her? What would have happened if she was quick to forget her vow? She would have ended up like Hera. As much as Artemis despised her stepmother, she understood her father having multiple affairs didn't help her ability to think clearly. Or lack thereof.

Artemis would be lying if she claimed to have gotten over Orion's attempt quickly. The event was what had primarily caused the Hunt to hate men overall. The goddess didn't know how to handle the situation. She herself had conflicting emotions, becoming a catatonic mess instead of the leader as she usually was.

Orion, the son of Poseidon. Hippolytus, the legacy of Poseidon. Both had such an influence on the Hunt, and the goddess' own private life. Artemis found it a little disconcerting that her latest obsession was a son of Poseidon as well. Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon.

Now guys, I apologise for the late update, but the last few weeks were stressful. I couldn't focus whenever I sat down to write, and didn't publish because I was dissatisfied with this chapter in particular. I'm still not fully satisfied but I hope it's enjoyable enough for you guys. Say what you think about it.

So, this is basically the final chapter of the "recap" arc. As you should have figured out, this was basically all Artemis. Percy at this point feels the same as he did in canon, so he doesn't feel much attraction to Artemis specifically. You can consider this a sort of ending for the unrequited love of Artemis for Percy Jackson.

Next chapter onwards we would have the actual relationship. Meanwhile, I'll be working on the next chapter of The Land of Amazon (I still need a better name) so the next update wouldn't be early.

For an update schedule, I will try to update at least once a month. It's slow, but I write whenever I feel like it and only publish when I'm at least partially satisfied. I'm sorry, but that's how fanfiction is.