1968

Sometimes Artemis let the Hunters misbehave, many of them were still just children after all. Nothing too extreme of course, just little things like letting them have a pillow fight or run around screaming in her cabin was something she had learned to let happen when they were allowed their rare breaks. As was such the case now; what started as a lighthearted pillow fight quickly turned into a strategic game that would determine who was solely responsible for chores for a month and who got to relax.

Which was total fine with Artemis, until the two youngest Hunters—Aeva and Diamond—ran outside while she was resting peacefully in a hammock on the porch. The duo did everything they could to distract Artemis from relaxing and demand that she participate in the fight. After several minutes of unsuccessfully convincing Artemis to play with the group, they failed to hide their disappointment and ran back inside the cabin.

After a few minutes of listening to squeals and screams and thinking about the two young Hunters' faces, Artemis groaned and decided to participate in the madness. She walked into the cabin, quickly finding Aeva and Diamond hiding under their dining table, grabbed a sofa cushion and sat down next to her. The pairs' faces lit up when they saw Artemis.

"Ah. I see you grabbed some admiral ammunition," Aeva whispered.

The pair waited in silence for the next person to appear and attack. Several minutes passed when they heard thunderous steps booming around them.

"Aeva? Diamond? Where are you?" she heard Alice taunt. "You two are the only ones left. Time to give yourselves up. There's no hope."

Artemis, being the goddess that she is with her young hunters by her side, jumped up from underneath the table.

"Attack!" Artemis yelled.

Severely outmatched, the trio tried to hold their ground, throwing what pillows they had and attempting to use the sofa cushions as shields. Despite facing off against seven other Hunters, the three managed to defend themselves well with the goddess of the Hunt leading the way, eventually forcing six of them into surrendering.

One, however, had disappeared from the onslaught. Artemis looked around, clearly confused and trying to locate the hiding spot when Aeva pointed to behind the sofa.

"On three," Artemis whispered. "One… two… three!"

The two jumped over the sofa, laughing and attacking the lieutenant.

Artemis even heard Zoë laugh in their pursuit. "Ok, ok," she said. "I surrender peacefully!"

"So what you're saying is that you're doing all the chores for the next month, right?" Diamond pushed.

"Taking care of you all is a chore enough," Zoë joked and Aeva pouted. "Besides, Lady Artemis randomly decided to join your team which is unfair."

"Life's unfair, Zoë," Artemis chimed in.

"So is cheating." Artemis rolled her eyes and Zoë continued. "But I am sure that everyone on my team will be glad to pick up the slack."

"Hey! You were on our team, you have to help!" Naomi yelled.

Zoë glanced at Naomi before she looked at Artemis. "Surely you do not want me slacking on my lieutenant responsibilities, my lady?"

"I think you'll be just fine helping with laundry," she chuckled and threw another pillow at her.