REVIEW REPLIES:

haneelonglegs: Thanks! I'm really glad that you like this story! I hope that you like this chapter! Thanks for reviewing!

DaughterOfHecate: Hi there! I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting to see you here. It's a pleasant surprise. I'm glad that you liked this story as well! It's great that you find both of my stories interesting enough to leave a review! So thanks a bunch! Yeah, the road trip was a pain, spending 9 hours in a car with a 6 year old is NOT fun. But it's over now, which means that I've got school to worry about instead 😑. Anyway, thanks for reviewing! I always love reading your reviews!

ON WITH THE STORY!

"Now" Artemis said briskly as she paced in front of the lord of the Underworld and his son, "Let's establish a few things before I take the boy to meet the Hunters."

She paused and clasped her hands together, "First of all, there will be absolutely NO flirting with any of my Hunters, do you understand, boy?" she asked.

The son of Hades made a face, "I'm twelve ! Why would I flirt with anyone? That's just gross!" he said with a shudder.

Artemis rolled her eyes. Boys. Always so immature. The kid reminded her of her brother Apollo from back when they were just young gods, before he became such a hopeless romantic.

"Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to make sure. Second, you will do as you are told. If the girls tell you to do something, you will do it. "

"But-"

"No buts, son of Hades" she stated firmly, "My group of eternal maidens, my rules."

The boy pouted, "Fine."

Hades gave her another forced smile, "Great! No that we've got that out of the way-"

Artemis raised a hand, "Not so fast! I'm not done yet." she turned back to the boy, daring anyone to interrupt her again, "You will not pick fights with the Hunters, you will not share a tent with any of them, you will not wander off by yourself, and you will do your part to help out. Do I make myself clear, boy?" she asked.

He nodded, "My name is Nico by the way, not boy."

Artemis rolled her eyes while Hades winced.

"I am aware of that boy, now are you coming or not?"

Hades sighed, "Just a moment Artemis, I'd like to say goodbye to my son."

Artemis watched as the god of the Underworld pulled his son aside.

*****Line break*****

Hades took one look at his son's hurt expression and winced.

"Nico, I..." he began before he was cut off.

"You're what? Sorry? Yeah, of course you are." Nico spat out bitterly.

"I really am!" Hades protested, "I wish I didn't have to send you away, but it's-"

"For my own good?" his son asked sarcastically.

"Yes!" Hades yelled, before he noticed Artemis raising an eyebrow at him, "Yes." he hissed quietly, "Do you think I want to send my only living son away?"

"I don't know?" Nico said waspishly, "Do you?"

"Of course I don't!" Hades snapped, trying to control the shadows reacting to his anger and frustration , "What is wrong with you today? You're not usually so... testy."

"What's wrong with me?" Nico asked, shadows beginning to swirl around him as well, " What's wrong with me? Gee, let me think. I'm on my way to join a group of eternal male-despising girls. They'll probably hate me, and I'll need to live with them for the unforeseeable future. I won't have anyone to talk to, and I'm being kicked out of the only place I've ever been able to call my home. Yep, I can't imagine why I'm in a bad mood." he gritted his teeth, as the ground began to shake. Who's doing it was, Hades couldn't tell.

He recoiled, "I know that this is hard, but it's the only option! Would you rather let your Uncle kill you?"

"Maybe," Nico retorted, "At least then, I'd know my way around. And I'd have friends to talk to."

"Nico!" Hades admonished, "That was a rhetorical question!"

"Whatever." Nico muttered, already starting to turn away, " See ya dad."

Hades stared at his son, unable to even say goodbye, as his son disappeared with the goddess of the Hunt.

*****Line break*****

Nico and Artemis resurfaced in a dense forest, which appeared to be isolated.

Artemis raised an eyebrow at him, "Daddy issues?"

He nodded, "Yep." he answered, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I know the feeling." The goddess said sympathetically, "Father and I may get along better than my siblings do, but he's still rather... overbearing. Honestly, sometimes he seems to think that he has the right to control everything I do!" she complained. Her eyes softened, "He has your best interests at heart, you know."

Nico sighed guiltily, "I know." Nico half-expected Artemis to ask him why he hadn't even let his father say goodbye properly if he knew that he meant well, but the goddess simply nodded.

"Follow me. The Hunters have set up camp nearby. " She gave him a mischievous smirk, "You might want to stay behind me. The girls don't take kindly to visitors. Especially male ones."

Nico gulped and followed the goddess to a clearing where several silvery tents had been set up.

A young girl, who had been tending to the fire and looked about Nico's age, noticed their arrival.

"Lady Artemis is back!" she called.

Immediately, several girls whose ages appeared to range from 10 to 15, all dressed in the same silvery frocks and leggings, emerged from the tents.

Their eager, smiling faces changed abruptly once they noticed Nico standing next to their chief.

In less than ten seconds, almost all the girls had drawn their bows and were pointing them at him. He raised his hands cautiously, not entirely sure what the best course of action would be when confronted by man-hating ,prepubescent girls.

"Halt!" ordered one of the older girls, who had flowing black hair and coppery skin, "What business would a male have with the Hunters of Artemis? Who art thou? What idiot would dare trespass on our camp?

"Hi? I'm Nico." he said cautiously, although it came out as more of a pathetic squeak.

Artemis rolled her eyes at his attempt at conversation, "Girls," she announced, "Meet your newest member.

A.N:

I'm back! Yep, it's been way too long, but... yeah I got nothing.

The only excuse I have is that I've got tests this week, and I haven't even STARTED studying. I mean, the teachers haven't even finished teaching, and the exams start on Wednesday! Even though the entire city has been affected by floods for a week or so, our school still refuses to postpone the exams. I mean, who does that?

Sorry for the short chapter, but I've got a lot on my plate right now. This was mainly just a filler chapter, to set the scene for the next chapter. And I'll admit, I've been focusing more on my other book, 'An Unlikely Duo' recently, since it's almost finished. Anyway, I'll still be updating this whenever I get time though.

Nico and Hades argument was based on the idea that Nico wouldn't appreciate being forced to leave his home. The reason he didn't react so aggressively before, was because of his ADHD. I'm pretty sure that Percy once mentioned that, because of his ADHD, deadlines never seem real to him until they're staring him in the face. I'm guessing that this situation would be similar.

As usual, please review! I'd love to see what you guys think!

I'm always open to suggestions, so if there's anything you want to see in this story(or my other one) feel free to PM me, or you could just leave your suggestion in the reviews.

See you soon!

-Keera