A/N: This will be very, very sad. So get out the tissues, because the feels tidal wave is approaching quickly. Ready? Deep breath. And…go.
I remember tears streaming down your face when I said "I'll never let you go"
When all those shadows almost killed your light.
Artemis stared out her window, silently mourning the death of her best Hunter, Zoe Nightshade. A single tear trickled down her face, and she closed her eyes, ripping them away from the new constellation she was looking at.
Earlier, in the throne room, Artemis had walked in. The silvery aura that usually glowed around her was almost non-existent, her eyes almost lifeless. Her and Apollo had never been close, but he immediately rushed to find out what was wrong. Artemis didn't say so, but he knew.
I remember you said "Don't leave me here alone".
But all that's dead and gone and past tonight.
Dead and gone and past…like Zoe. Another tear fell down Artemis's cheek, followed by another, and another.
Just close your eyes, the sun is going down.
You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now.
The morning light, you and I'll be
Safe, and, Sound.
Artemis had to continue with her duties of riding the moon chariot into the sky, but it was extremely difficult with the cold, wet tears clogging her eyes. "She'll be alright. She'll still be filing out the duties of a Hunter. That's what she would've wanted…" Artemis muttered, remembering the real reason she turned Zoe into a constellation.
To fight Orion, her long time enemy after what had happened between them. Zoe would still be serving her lady. Up until morning, when she could rest again.
So don't you dare look out your window darling everything's on fire.
The war outside your door keeps raging on.
That night Artemis had a nightmare (rare, for gods) and in it she had glanced out a window to see a city on fire. Zoe was stumbling through, coated in flames, trying to save as many people as possible. Artemis awoke with a scream and a muffled sob. So undignified, but so understandable.
Hold on, to this, lullaby.
Even when the music's gone.
Apollo had obviously come in. They were twins, after all. He sung her a soft lullaby. "Deep in the meadow, under a willow. A bed of grass, a soft green pillow…." Long after he left, Artemis sat in bed, clutching the sheets around her, whispering the song to herself as she fell asleep.
Just close your eyes, the sun is going down.
You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now.
The morning light, you and I'll be
Safe, and, Sound.
Another night, she looked out the window at Zoe's constellation and was able not to cry. She looked up at it, and smiled. "Don't worry Zoe," she whispered. "Just close your eyes, the sun is going down. You'll be alright. No one can hurt you now. The morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound."
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh, ooh.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh.
Hades had heard. All of a sudden, a spirit made of translucent wisps of smoke taking the form of Zoe Nightshade appeared next to Artemis.
"It's okay, m'lady," Zoe whispered. "I'm right here. I'm carrying out your duties in the sky as you've instructed me. I promise to never fail."
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh, ooh.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh.
Artemis covered her mouth with a hand and let a tear or two stream down her face. Quietly, she sniffled and looked at Zoe once more.
"You've never failed me," the goddess whispered. "Ever. Not even in death. And I'm sure you never will. You were my best Hunter by far. I want you to keep an eye on them, okay? Guide my Hunters in the right direction." Zoe nodded, and disappeared with a slight 'goodbye' forming on her pale pink lips.
Just close your eyes…
You'll be alright…
Come morning light…
You and I'll be
Safe. And. Sound.
Artemis walked back inside, with her eyes closed. "Don't cry," she muttered to herself. "She's alright. She's finally safe." Quietly, she locked herself in her room once more and dreamed of Zoe. And Zoe fought Orion in the sky, an untold Greek myth just recently invented by Artemis.
It was beautiful.
A/N: Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. Since I didn't put a disclaimer at the beginning of this, here's one: All characters (minus those from Greek mythology, of course) are Uncle Rick's. The song is Taylor's, featuring the Civil Wars. It was written for the Hunger Games soundtrack, Hunger Games rights belong to Lionsgate.