So hi.

Admittedly, I was planning to post this sooner. Unfortunately, 4 months of hiatus (sorry about that again) means that the writing style of this fic was not resonating at all with my state of mind, which meant a lot of rereading and rewriting to make sure that my current writing remotely sounded like my past writing.

Nonetheless, the new chapter is here.

Also, I made a mistake in this chapter. Apparently, Crete was almost due south of Delos. So I fixed it.

Nani.

That was all encompassing thought in Orion's mind when he heard the words.

When he recovered enough to process the words, he almost blanked out again.

Artemis had invited him to do what now?

For one thing, he was supposed to be her worst enemy. One did not simply invite one's own worst enemy to be in a position where they could easily hurt them, not if one is sane (he was starting to doubt that bit quite a lot at this point). For another, he was fairly sure he wasn't a girl.

"Me, lady Artemis?" He pointed to himself, then glanced around, just to make sure she was talking to the right person.

"Yes."

"Um...why?"

"Because you have proven yourself to be an...hmm...adequate hunter, and does not seem to be an entirely horrible person. Also, as you're supposed to be my worst enemy, I really couldn't have someone like you running around the place unchecked."

"And if I refuse?"

"Well, I suppose I'd have to kill you. It requires more effort than it's worth, though, and quite frankly, I'm not feeling it today. Hence, the choice."

It wasn't much of a choice. Orion rather liked staying on Earth, and from the testimony he heard from one of the Cyclopes working in Hephaestus's forge, he had come to the conclusion that he really, really didn't want to join his brethren in Tartarus.

He was really not a fan of having someone else impose their will on him though. It was near the top of his List of Reasons He Didn't Serve Gaea (Yes, he had one of those. No, he didn't just make it up). Couple that with how much he'd been played a few days ago, there really wasn't a way he'd be talked into doing this without having the last word.

"If you truly wanted to recruit me because I was too dangerous otherwise, you'd come to me the moment the War was over. You easily could have set up your character test and I'd be none the wiser, or better yet, ambushed me with a demigod in tow and dispatched me. Heck, you could have done that while I was coming back to Delos. I don't think you wanted to kill me at all, Lady Artemis."

A smirk played at her lips. "I will neither confirm nor deny that statement. Anything else?"

"Why go to such lengths to recruit me into the Hunt? Not that I'm not grateful for you not killing me, but from a practical perspective, it would be much simpler to get rid of me. And why choose to do so now?"

For a moment, there was just silence. Orion was starting to worry that he said the wrong thing before the goddess spoke again.

"I'll be honest," Artemis tilted her head. "I completely forgot that you existed until you stumbled upon my birthplace. And I find you intriguing, giant. I'm curious to see what you will do next."

"I see." Orion thought that was the vaguest answer she could have possibly given, but he decided not to push it. "Then I accept your offer, Lady Artemis."

"Very well. Repeat after me. I, Orion, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt."

Orion's mind almost went Nani again.

Uh, Orion thought as he repeated the lines. He resisted the urge to comment, because he was pretty sure Artemis would have shot him in the face.

As if hearing his thoughts, Artemis continued, "Yes, I know. As I have said before, you are a special case. Just don't try anything with my Hunters. Or anybody else, for that matter, and you'll be fine," she actually sounded a bit embarrassed.

"Right."

"And I suppose I should warn you that my Hunters might not accept you immediately. There is every chance that in their eyes, you were the embodiment of everything that was wrong in their lives before they came into my service."

My gods, what have I gotten myself into?

"Duly noted," he said weakly.

"Do try to be patient. Now I must take my leave. Someone needs to make sure you do not get shot on sight. My Hunters are in the woods in Crete. I trust that you can get yourself there."

"Yes, my lady," he bowed as she disappeared in a flash of light.

He felt a very peculiar sense of deja vu as he turned southward and started running.

And with that, Orion is officially part of the hunt. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean he was part of the hunt, so stay tuned.