The First attack against demigods.

|Chapter 9| A Dark Day

Artemis had been gone barely twelve hours. There had been a wild animal about seventy miles north that could only be killed by an immortal. She had left Thalia in charge and went out just as her brother made his presence known to the world.

The kill had been easy, but it came after long hours of tracking the Gods forsaken thing. Artemis had returned to camp, excited for dinner with her hunters. She was excited to see what they had killed throughout the course of the day, but that's not what she got.

Artemis did not expect to arrive back at the hunters camp to see it in ruins.

There were a large number of arrows embedded in the mud, and a few silver parkas discarded on the floor. The goddess picked one up and saw it was torn and had a large bloodstain on the side.

Something was wrong.

All of the hunt's animal companions were passed out on the ground. She noticed with narrowed eyes the darts sticking out of them. Artemis started searching for her hunters, dread and anger filling her stomach with every second that ticked by. Where were they?

Eventually, Artemis found one. Her lieutenant was passed out on the floor, hand loosely around a spear with blood dripping off it. Thalia's silver parka had been stained gold over her midsection. Artemis' heart leapt into her throat. What had attacked her hunters this way? What had been powerful enough to knock out an immortal?

Looking around to make sure she was truly alone, Artemis picked up her sister. She walked over to her tent, which was torn on one side. She set Thalia down on the cot and searched for some bandages.

Strangely, they were nowhere to be found. Artemis figured that whatever took out Thalia, took the medical supplies, and whatever extra provisions they had, seeing as those were missing as well. That unsettled her because that would mean it had some level of sentience.

It couldn't be a normal animal or even a monster. Gods knew better than to attack the Hunters, lest they risk the unbidden wrath of Artemis. Which left one deeply disturbing option.

Mortals.

Upon finding all her medical supplies gone, Artemis sighed. She had never been the best at conjuring objects out of thin air, finding it an unnecessary skill. One shouldn't rely on a snap of their fingers to supply themselves. They should know how to pack accordingly for any event and be able to know when the stock was running low.

She focused, then snapped her fingers. A roll of bandages appeared in her hand, along with some nectar and ambrosia. Just as she was about to start healing her younger sister, Thalia stirred.

Her eyes blearily opened, and she groaned. Artemis reached out over her, pinning her down, and reducing the risk of Thalia making her wounds even worse. Thalia didn't struggle, but she did speak to Artemis "I'm so so sorry." she slurred.

She started to sit up, and Artemis helped her. She winced at every movement she made but managed to sit up. As Artemis started to heal the wounds on her body, she started telling the story.

"We were just about to go out hunting. Everyone was geared up when, fuck-" she cut off as Artemis poured nectar on the wound. She bit her lip at the harsh stinging. Taking a ragged breath, she continued "When we heard gunshots. We didn't think it was much, maybe just some mortals hunting or something. But we were wrong."

"They were upon us in a moment, and they shot me first. I think the bullets had something in them, probably a very powerful sedative, because I couldn't even summon an ounce of power. They took the girls and shot any of them who didn't comply. But it was only in the legs or something and-" she wilted. Artemis' lips were pursed, but she was focused on her task.

Thalia cursed as Artemis started to apply the bandages. They sat in silence until Artemis had finished, and it was Thalia who broke the silence. "I failed. I couldn't protect them, it's my fault, I should've reacted faster, should've been stronger-"

"You tried your best my sister. Get some rest, we go to Olympus tomorrow. We need to speak to Father." Artemis said. Her eyes were blazing but they softened when she looked at her sister.

Thalia nodded and laid down for sleep. She was out in a minute. Artemis reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind the daughter of Zeus' ear, a warm smile on her face as she did.

The next day found the two daughters Zeus stalking into Olympus.

As they passed, minor gods and spirits would openly gawk at them, and concerned glances were traded. The Huntress was not a common sight to see in Olympus' halls.

The only two times Artemis could be found gracing the grounds of Olympus was during the summer and winter solstices. The next solstice was months away, so she hadn't arrived early. And for her lieutenant to be with her, leaving the hunt without a leader?

They weren't sure what, but they knew something had happened with the hunt, and it couldn't be good.

They entered the throne room which was much quieter than either of them were used to. The only sound was the crackling of Hestia's hearth and a quiet conversation between Zeus and Hera.

The conversation paused when the Huntress' footsteps echoed off the marble floor. Zeus' eyes narrowed at the sight of his daughters. Artemis looked unharmed, yet absolutely furious, while Thalia's clothes were mud-splattered, and she was limping ever so slightly.

Hera's first reaction to the daughters of Zeus -two more symbols of her husband's infidelity, and more proof of the crumbling state of her family- was to curl her lip and glare, but something stopped her.

She may not like either woman, but she had a grudging respect for both, especially Artemis. She respected their strength, wits, and their unmistakable power to control a battlefield.

She found herself confused at the state of them, especially Thalia. She knew that Thalia Grace was a talented fighter, so why was she so badly banged up? Dread found its way into the Queen of Heaven's stomach as she listened to their story.

Thalia told the King and Queen of Olympus their story, the same one she had told Artemis. But where she had cut off last night, she managed to continue here.

"-and those mortals, those disgusting revolting mortals, they-" she bit her lip as tears started to fall, and Artemis rubbed her back. Thalia had told Artemis this early this morning, barely making it through. "-they wanted to sell 'em." she barked out a harsh, pain-filled laugh.

No one saw Hera's eyes widen, then narrow into thin slits. Artemis clenched her jaw, still furious, but allowing her sister to continue her story. She couldn't punish these mortals without her father's permission.

Thalia balled her hands into fists, then let out a painful, yet very true statement. "Gods know those sons of bitches could put one hell of a price on one hunter. And they have almost 120 hunters to pick from." Thalia bit her lip, trying to keep her raging emotions under control.

Stay calm, she chanted to herself. Stay calm, Stay calm, StaycalmStaycalmStay calmStaycalmStaycalmStaycalmStaycalm, STAY CALM. But it was too much, as she let out a shriek of anger, pain, and regret. So much regret.

Once Thalia was done, Zeus spoke. "My daughters," he said, hand clenching his master bolt tightly. "You have my blessing to rescue your hunters." His eyes narrowed as he gave his final order, directed solely for Artemis. "Show them the Rage of Artemis, my little lightning." His final words were spoken with, was that warmth?

The huntresses were gone only moments later.