~Don't be afraid, the shadows know me~


"Oh."

Archer stared at her, the dagger Reyna was holding hung loosely in her hands, completely forgotten. Reyna didn't believe she would ever see Archer again since that night. She seemed different this time. Archer had a glow, which was silver in color, but other than that, she was the same. Reyna didn't notice Lily doing a short bow.

"Leave us."

Reyna frowns, temporarily confused, then Lily brushes past her and exits the tent. Archer watches Lily leave and only when the flaps of the tent entrance close again, does she look back at Reyna.

"Your name. It isn't Archer, is it?"

"Correct."

"You're Artemis."

The goddess nods. "I'm surprised you didn't get that when we met."

"I wasn't expecting a goddess to come into my camp and speak with me," Reyna says defensively.

Artemis merely shrugs and steps around Reyna, opening another box and removing silver arrows. She places them into her quiver, shuts the box, then faces Reyna again.

"Walk with me?"

"Is that a question or an order?"

Artemis frowns. "I would never order you to do anything."

Artemis steps back, holding the tent entrance open. She gestures towards it and Reyna steps out, Artemis following closely behind.

"This way." Artemis gestures towards the surrounding woods.

Reyna nods, following closely behind the goddess, her body getting increasingly tense with each step they took away from the camp. The dark hid many things.

"You don't have to walk behind me," Artemis said, puzzled.

"Oh, yeah." Reyna quickens her pace until she's walking even with the goddess.

"Are you nervous?"

"A bit," Reyna confesses, "I've never been a fan of the dark."

"Why is that?" Artemis ventures.

"It can hide your enemies. It's unpredictable."

"It can," Artemis agrees, "But that is no reason to fear it."

Reyna laughs, "The night and the moon is your realm, of course it doesn't scare you."

"I suppose."

They go quiet after that. Merely walking in silence through the dark trees. Reyna spares a side glance at Artemis, puzzled as to why the goddess asked her to walk in the woods.

"You're wondering something," Artemis said, not turning her head to face Reyna.

"Why me?"

"You're intriguing."

"In what way?"

Artemis stops walking and fixes Reyna with a sharp stare. Almost as if she's trying to find something. "I do not understand why you chose to join my hunters."

"You ask everyone this?" Reyna asks.

"I do not."

"What is different about me?"

Artemis merely smiles, in a way that might be described as sympathetic, and continues walking. Reyna starts after her, more confused than ever before. The goddess doesn't say anything after that, just occasionally pointing out roots or tree branches. Reyna, who had tuned out the goddess after she didn't answer the question, promptly tripped and fell over an uprooted root. Before she can hit the ground face first, she lands against a body.

"Please pay attention, Reyna." Artemis said as she helped her regain her balance.

Reyna nods and the goddess lets go of her.

"Have you used a bow?" Artemis asked suddenly.

"I prefer swords," Reyna admits.

"Would you like to learn?"

"I didn't bring one, you interrupted me before I could."

A sly look crosses Artemis's face. "You could use mine."

Reyna makes a move to protest this statement, but Artemis raises a hand, silencing her. Reyna shuts her mouth as Artemis removes her bow. She hands the weapon to Reyna, who takes it with a bit of hesitation.

"Show me what you can do."

She takes the arrow that Artemis offers her and moves a fair distance away, to where a pinecone hangs from one of the trees. Taking a moment to calm her nerves, Reyna nocks the arrow and lifts the weapon up, staggering a bit from its weight. She draws the string back and lets the arrow fly. Only for it to go shooting straight up into the air and through the tree branches.

"Would you like some assistance?"

Reyna glances back behind her, finding Artemis looking at her with an amused smile.

"I don't need your help." Reyna said, focusing her attention back onto the tree.

"I think you do," Artemis murmured.

Before she is aware of what's happening, Artemis slides her arms around Reyna's waist, pressing her body gently against her back. Reyna's breath gets caught in her throat, but she doesn't move away. Artemis's hands cover her own, making small adjustments to Reyna's hold on the bow.

Artemis takes Reyna's hands, moving them into position. "Let go."

She does and the arrow flies forward, hitting the pinecone dead center. Reyna feels a smile spread across her face as Artemis hums words of praise, then she steps away. Reyna hands her the bow back.

"I'll get your arrows."

"No need." Artemis said, shaking her head. "They've turned back into moonlight by now."

"What?"

"Come along," Artemis calls over her shoulder as she walks in the direction back towards camp.


Song: Darkside - Alan Walker ft. Au/Ra and Tomine Harket