I will be really busy on the weekends, for a while, so I wanted to put up a nice even if small update today to compensate for that.

Sorry.

'The hell is that?' Aaron thought as he slowly came to, rising from the darkness of Morpheus' realm. 'Such strong magic, and so nature based, almost as much as Persephone's aura, and so strong!' Struggling, he managed to slowly open his eyes, only see the top of a silvery tent filled with pelts of all types. A Silver braizer roaring with warm fire just to his left. He smelled herbs, and after turning saw them. Herbs of all kinds, healers herbs he recognized. The taste of Greek magic filled the air, healers magic. "Where am I?"

"You are in my tent, Aaron Mathews." The presence, the raw essence of a godly being made him almost jump. He looked over to the source of the voice and saw a stunning... child? Around fifteen or so, she had auburn hair and eyes the color of moonlight. She wore a silvery dress, barely masking her well built form. She oozed power and maturity and he knew who it was.

"Lady Artemis, I would bow but I am not sure how badly injured I am since I just woke up."

She nodded, her eyes oddly warm. "It is not an issue and you are no longer injured, though you may be sore for some time." She gestured to his arm, the once wounded arm, and he saw a thin scar leading from his wrist to his shoulder where the celestial bronze. "Had you been more magical, the wound would have been fatal, I was barely able to heal it."

He bit his lip. "I am not being ungrateful, but why did you heal me? I am no maiden."

"Nature, and your respect for it... your service to Persephone and Hestia... and frankly for healing Medusa. I long desired to save her from the curse Athena placed her under." She smiled at him. "You have a reputation for being respectful towards women, a rarity in our world. I appreciate that."

"And I appreciate living, so thank you. Um... is Bryce still alive and not a deer?"

That got the goddess to laugh. "You mean Breanne?"

"Huh?"

She snapped her finger and someone entered the tent, a tall girl with black hair and green eyes, looking a lot like Percy only buffer and more girlish. She was gorgeous and warm and smiling. She was also holding his blade and wearing the Silver outfit of a Hunter... and it was then that he put two and two together. Her aura was too familiar. "Oh like with Sipriotes, you changed genders?"

Artemis clapped her hands. "Yes, very good, I wondered if you would know that myth."

"I know most myths, even before I joined into this pantheon." He turned to the newly minted Breanne, who looked comfortable and pleased. "Hello, Breanna, I am happy to see you doing well. I take it you joined the Hunters?"

She nodded. "Yes." She spoke with a strong, husky tone that suited her well. "Hearing how poorly children of so called minor gods were treated was the real selling point. I am the daughter of Triton... oh and speaking off, Dad sort of blessed the blade you gave me, made it mine and enchanted it to be more powerful. It was the tool of my first kill, after all."

"It's fine." he waved off her words. "I am glad you are happy, my goal was to save you, be it by coming to camp or with the Hunters since you are a physical girl now not just a spiritual girl as I presume you were."

"I always felt like a girl, I never had the best way to describe it but Artemis, she could sense it and helped guide me. I am myself now, I am happy. Thank you, seriously."

He sat up and gestured her over, which she did, and he hugged her. "Any time." She hugged him tightly. "I know you're supposed to be anti-boy, but I am asexual and romantic. You have little to worry about."

Artemis smiled. "Hypollotus was like that, my old friend. Sadly is made an enemy of Aphrodite for you. She won't risk angering Persephone or worse Hestia, but she will never be your ally, so be careful. Now, onto business, you cannot stay here much longer, We are going to move tomorrow. You will be at full strength then, so rest and eat and leave when night comes."

"Thank you, expect a nice sacrifice."

"That would be appreciated."

"""

"What an interesting soul." Oceanus muttered in his watery realm, looking through his portal into the mortal world. The boy before him, young Aaron, had a kind soul and cared for nature. The moment the boy entered the lake, after saving the newly minted Breanne, he had sensed the boy's purpose and power. His respect for nature, his skill for magic... It was all intriguing. "I foresee that he will be more useful than any of us realize, he will make a greater difference than we can understand."

Tethys, his beloved bride, turned to him and their portal. "Maybe, instead of siding with our dear brother, who promised to save our children from Pollution and human destruction, we can work through the boy. He seems up to it and he is tied to Hestia and Persephone, a powerful family goddess and nature goddess. If anyone understands our plight, he might be it."

"We will see, my love... perhaps a white flag will be best, but we must wait, let the boy prove himself... and only then shall we speak to and through him."

And so the two powerful deities sat there, in their aquatic home, considering the future of their lives... and how it would affect those they loved most.

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a joy to write.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.