Third person POV focused on Artemis:
Artemis was elated to see some of her friends again. She saw Freyr and Freyja her adopted aunt and uncle, but they were busy so she would say hi later. The second she got to her room and locked the door she ran to her closet and pulled out more comfortable clothes. She had a feeling she couldn't wear whatever she pleased so she went with something a little fancy yet casual and comfortable.
A white and gold trimmed tunic that reached her knees with white tights under it. She decided to leave any weaponry in her room, well after an inner debate. With her family you never know one minute it's civil the next it's like a hurricane ripped through, that had happened on multiple occasions, thanks to her father and uncle Poseidon being children.
After getting changed she brushed out her hair, she hadn't even done anything and it was tangled, yah waist length thick hair like hers only its let down on occasions. She put it into a French braid that went down over her right shoulder. She was getting lost in her thoughts; about how nice it was to see her friends again, how much they matured well some of them, how much they had grown both physically and mentally. She was still annoyed that Loki was taller than her and not just a little bit, no, a whole head taller than her. She had a feeling he would use this to his advantage and put his chin on her head just because he wanted to.
Maybe after dinner she would go for a ride. Yeah, a night time ride, maybe someone wants to go with her or something.
She checked the time, crap! Dinners in nine minutes, she finished up and ran down to the kitchen where she was relieved to find that only she, her twin, Athena, Hephaestus, Hermes, her father and stepmom were there. She took her seat between Apollo and Hermes.
Two minutes later Ares ran in looking like he had a battle with his clothes. "I fell asleep, don't ask" he said when he saw us looking at him.
Five minutes later their guests appeared, looking neat and classy but not like they were before. They all sat down as servants came out with a variety of food and drinks. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Thor try to reach for a beer glass but Frigg stopped him, the message was clear 'no drinking now', she almost let out a chuckle, Thor loved his beer and mead and wine and alcoholic beverages. She saw Loki looking amused and a little questioning like 'really it's been 10 minutes and you already want alcohol?'. Those two were complete opposites yet they can work better together then her uncles and father.
She wasn't really paying attention to what conversation was happening around her but when her father called for as toast everyone looked up. "To another year of games, and friends!" He said. Everyone cheered in agreement. After dinner was over she went to her room and changed into her riding clothes, wow she went through a lot of outfit changes today.
She was walking down the halls to the stables when she saw Loki. "Hey" she said. He smiled. "Hello," he looked her up and down taking in her clothing. "Going for a ride? Or coming back?" "I'm going for one, do you want to join me?" "Of course" "then lets go"
When they arrived at the stables she showed him her new project horse. "His name is Chief, he's a good boy but a little unpredictable," she explained. "I'm going to try and train him to be my new hunting horse because sadly Misty is getting old and she is recovering from an injury" Loki looked and the young horse looked like his name; regal, strong, dangerous if threatened, but also playful, kind, and cheerful. "I think he will make an excellent hunting horse, sleek, athletic, nimble, yet strong and powerful" he complemented. It was true that the horse was a work of art.
"Who will I ride?" He asked. Artemis thought for a minute then let out a whistle. A tall dapple grey came cantering over. "Rain!" Loki exclaimed. "Yeah, he seems to remember you," Artemis said. "Well how could I forget him, he is the best horse for me" that was true, when Loki was on Asgard he could never find a horse even close to Rain. They got the tack out, "Artemis, where is your saddle?" Loki asked, raising an eyebrow. She rolled her eyes "Chief isn't good with a saddle yet so i ride him bareback" she explained. "Does your dad know?" She snorted. "He dislikes coming down here less he has to. I doubt he even knows what I mean when I say girth" Loki nodded that made sense.
After tacking up they heard voices coming from the end of the barn. "Hey Artemis, Loki, you guys here?" Came Apollo's voice. "Yeah!" Artemis called back. Loki inwardly groaned a nice quiet evening intruders on. A group people made up Thor, Sif, Apollo, and Athena came into view. "What are you guys up to?" Athena asked. "We're going for a ride," Loki answered. "Okay people were wondering where you two where" Sif said, "Oh," Artemis said. "Hey Sis, where's your saddle?" Apollo asked, curious. "Chief's not good with them yet, so I ride him bareback," she answered. Honestly they act like she can't handle herself. "You guys want to come with us?" She asked. "No thanks, I'm good I'm still in nice clothes" Apollo said, the little fashionista. "I'm out, you know I don't like riding horses" Athena said "you two" Artemis said looking at Thor and Sif "I'll go" Sif said she liked riding, "Me to" Thor said. "Okay, Apollo, can you hold Chief while I grab those two horses?"
She came back two minutes later with a big grey Cob and a chestnut Irish sport horse. She handed Thor the cob "Sparrow?" Thor asked the cob neighed in response. "How have you been buddy?" As Thor continued with his conversation she handed Sif the chestnut "this is Bambi" Artemis said as the other two tacked up and said hello to their horses Artemis and Loki mounted up, "Ready?" He asked her "I'm always ready" Sif and Thor mounted up and they were off.
They rode in the woods, in the fields, and they were about to go to the beach but Sif and Thor were tired and it was getting dark. "We'll be back soon, and the horses know the way home" Artemis said. As the two gods rode back to the stable. "It's kinda nice just the two-" Rain and Chief snorted. "Sorry the four of us, out here it's peaceful," Loki said, Artemis smiled. "I was thinking the same thing, race you to the beach?" "Your so on"
The two took off, soon all one could see was two dots getting smaller. Artemis urged Chief into a faster gallop and they pulled ahead of Loki and Rain. They beat them to the beach by 10 seconds. "That- was- fun" Artemis said out of breath. 'Yeah-(pant) it- was" Loki said equally out of breath. They got off their horses to give them a rest before heading back. The two sat down on the beach and watched the sunset. "I love the beach" Artemis sighed. "Funny most of your siblings seem scared or uncomfortable around water," Loki commented.
"Yeah, one of my uncles, Poseidon, ruler of the sea, for you that would be, Aver and Ran. Any way most are either scared to swim or are just uncomfortable with it, me being a deity of the wild that includes wild sea life to an extent, but yes i do like swimming," she let out a laugh. "My siblings call me crazy, but hey, better crazy than boring, and being the goddess of the moon the tides help calm me down" she explained, "Well let's be real here me and you are the oddballs of our family" Loki said. "True" she let out a laugh and soon they were both laughing.
They talked for a while longer not realizing how much time passed. They heard hoof beats coming closer, "There you two are! When Thor and Sif came back we wondered where you two were, they told us but that was two hours ago!" Apollo said. Artemis checked the time and realized that yes indeed two hours have passed. "Sorry Apollo we were talking and lost track of time" Artemis said, "It's not me you have to worry about, it's Athena, she's gone all big sister mode and looks ready to tear Loki apart or something" Loki's eyes widened a little. "It's fine I'll explain everything so we don't have to explain to the All father why his youngest son is missing a few limbs" Artemis joked. "Not funny Artemis, not even remotely funny" said a very scard looking Loki. artemis chuckled, Athena scared the living daylights out of people when she was worried, angry, or frazzled. "Ahem" Apollo cleared his throat. "Right we should get going before something drastic happens," Artemis chirped.
The three rode back the the royal stable with little talk, wanting to get back before it was to dark to see. They approached the stables to find them fully lit up. The horses trotted in and stoped so their riders could hop off. Apollo handed his horse of the a stable hand. "I'll go tell Athena you to are back" he said and ran off. Loki and Artemis brought the horses to the cross ties and started taking off tack. "Well that was fun" Loki said after a minute. "Yes, yes it was" artemis smirked. She lead Chief to the field and turned him lose, he gave her a snort, then cantered off. She shook her head and smiled. She didn't even notice when Loki came up behind her and wrapped her in a hug from behind. She let out a startled noise. "Loki!" she said with laughter evident in her voice. "Chief is a very nice horse; proud. majestic, strong, beautiful," loki said in her ear, "a lot like his owner" Artemis turned red. "Thanks," she stuttered out not used to being complemented so much. "He really is a wonderful horse" Loki nodded his head in agreement.
"Well I don't know about you but im tried so im going to go to bed, you know your way back?" Artemis asked "Yes I know my way back to my room" Loki replied. She nodded. "Uh, Loki?" she asked. His arms were still wrapping her in a hug. Loki smiled, "Not until you hug me back" he said. She let out a laugh, then hugged him back.
As artemis made her way back to her room she realized how much she actually missed Loki, the way he could make her laugh like no one else could, or the way he was able to pick up on her emotions better then the best hound. She locked her door behind her and changed into her sleeping attire