A/N. I just got some reviews, I just got some reviews, I just got some reviews, let's see who they're from!

"Listen, most people say they will not abandon their story, then the next thing you see? They haven't been uploaded for months! Yeah, I will still have my doubts.

Now Back to the story.

I think we need more of the back story, you should make a long chapter and keep it as a prologue, for better understanding.

I think the story was good, it would explain some topics in the future, but how would you be able to shape it? As is this Post PJO era or HOO era with different demigods or before it?

And now that Artemis is mortal, what happens to her hunt? Plus I am pretty sure Apollo will soon accompany Artemis cause no matter what, he would be willing to battle Fates for his sister.

Overall, it was a good chapter with minimal spelling mistakes, hope to see more soon ;)

KJ...

Peace Out!" -KyrptonWrites

Fair, but I haven't really abandoned anything, AND BEFORE ANY OF YOU BRING UP THAT BEYBLADE STORY AND THAT HUNGER GAMES CROSSOVER, I'M GOING TO UPDATE THOSE WHEN I FINISH RotDA AND OtSoD!

You thought that was the last chapter for the backstory? It isn't. I recently planned out what goes in what chapters, and let me tell you, I have past chapters lined up all the way to chapter 12. Four more past chapters! So yeah, not done. As for PJO, yeah, none of that exists in this, sorry. This is entirely AU.

Her Hunt is fine for now. Apollo isn't gonna show up till the end because he trusts Percy to do his job. But he is still watching over in his chariot. If something bad happens, he'll be there to back it up.

Thank you, here is more!

"another great chapter! keep it up man, i'm really interested in the story." -torukmaktoo

Thank you, I will!

"So, Artemis isn't the hardcore man-hater. Glad to hear it, some fanfics make her sound so delusional. Loving the story so far, keep it up!" -RagingFusion

Yeah, I see her more as a feminist than a misandrist. Because the only time she really harms men is when they're doing bad shit. The rest of her cruelty is just stuff most gods do… And she isn't above harming girls either.

"Another great one! I really like the jumps between the present day and the past, it's a cool trope that I feel is underrated." -PokemonAndPJOFanboy

Thank you! I like it too. It's a really interesting way to write a story, rather than just random flashbacks.

Alright, onto the story!

Chapter Five

Apollo flashed out in a golden light as bright as the sun.

Percy sighed and stood up, Time to go sleep in the woods.

It wasn't hard to fall asleep in the wilderness. The sounds of the forest were relaxing in their own right, and mixing that with Artemis's blessing, it was the perfect concoction for sleeping in the woods.

Percy had set himself up on a branch, laying his back against the trunk as he sat up. Years of experience in sleeping in this position ensured that he wouldn't fall out of the tree when he woke up.

He stretched as best he could before standing up. He kept a hand on the trunk of the tree to steady himself. He jumped down, landing silently on the tips of his bare feet. He walked back into the temple.

It was quiet inside the temple. It usually was, but there wasn't usually someone else in it with him. Artemis must've still been asleep. Percy grabbed his bow quietly from his room so as not to disturb her. (She wasn't exactly a pleasure to deal with when woken up before she wanted to be.)

He started his daily routine of hunting for the day's food. It didn't take long. After about thirty minutes of waiting in a tree, Percy struck a bear. He examined his kill. He slung his bow over his shoulder. He would need both arms to carry this beast back. It was a fully grown male. This could probably supply him and Artemis for a couple of days. He picked the bear corpse up and carried it back to the clearing where the temple stood.

He laid the bear down and created a fire the painstakingly hard way, with his firestick and good ol' friction. While he burned the wood, Artemis eventually woke up and came outside. She was still wearing the chiton, obviously, since she was asleep, and Percy wasn't going to change her clothes when she was unconscious. You know, like a normal person.

"Morning." He said to her as he fed the fire another log.

"Good morning." She responded.

"You sleep well?"

Artemis nodded. "Comfortable bed."

Percy smiled. "Thanks. I made it myself."

"Didn't expect anything different."

They were silent. The fire crackled until Artemis spoke up again. "What are you cooking?"

Percy gestured to the dead bear beside him. "This should be enough to feed us for a few days."

"Want help?"

"If you want to."

Artemis sat next to him and took the knife that he raised in offer. She started to skin the bear. Probably out of habit, she skinned the near in such a way that they could use it as a bearskin rug. She started to cut the pieces of meat off of the animal's bones.

She handed some meat to Percy who put it on the fire and started to cook it. The crackling of the fire filled the silence as the meat cooked. Percy flipped the meat over to cook the other side.

"Can you watch that; I'm going to get us some plates." He said, standing up. Artemis nodded in response. With that taken care of, he left, not noticing Artemis staring at his retreating back.

Not staring at his unclothed torso. Not his muscular back and arms. Totally not. Just noticing that he wasn't wearing a shirt. Probably didn't sleep with one on. She watched as he entered the temple before finally turning to the meat.

Percy was back only a minute later. He sat down next to her and set down plates, knives and forks next to them. He picked the meat off of the fire and set it on the plates. He handed a plate to Artemis.

"I would sacrifice some to you, but, you know." He said.

Artemis cracked a smile. She stuck her fork into the meat and started to cut away. They ate in silence. There seemed to be a lot of comfortable silence between them. The fire continued to crackle until it died down to embers.

Percy set down his plate when he finished. Artemis was still eating, so he laid down on his back. The sun had just risen, but not enough for his to need to close his eyes.

"Your brother needs to not move right now."

Artemis snorted as she swallowed the last bit of her bear meat. "I highly doubt that. He's gonna want your attention."

He sighed. "You're right. He's too flashy for my taste."

The Sun seemed to speed forward to be right in Percy's face. He laughed good-naturedly before putting a hand up to block the Sun's light. Artemis rolled her eyes.

Percy sat up and moved so that he was facing her. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Nothing." She wouldn't meet his eyes.

"You didn't yell at Apollo for messing with the natural balance, and for 'being an annoying little brother'." He put air quotes as he continued his questioning.

"Nothing's wrong, Percy."

"You're not looking at me." He pointed out. "Besides, Artemis, I've known you for four-thousand years. I can tell when you're lying to me."

"You've been in the forest for most of that time." She said, narrowing her eyes.

"Worshiping you." He retorted.

Artemis rolled her eyes again. This time in good fun rather than annoyance. She looked at him in the eyes. "I hate being mortal." She muttered.

Percy sighed. "Sucks, huh?"

She nodded. "I feel trapped. I'm powerless. I'm useless!"

Percy reached forward and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Artemis, you aren't useless. Just because you don't have powers doesn't mean you are any less amazing than you were when you had them."

"Percy, I can't hunt, I can't talk to animals, I can't do archery–"

Percy interrupted. "Archery is basically just muscle memory for you at this point. You don't need powers for that."

"Yes I do."

"How about an archery match, where I prove you wrong, huh?"

"You have an extra bow?" She asked.

"I can make one. Shouldn't take too long."

She nodded. "Sure, I'll take you on." It was subtle, but Percy could tell that she was only saying it half-heartedly. Being mortal was taking its toll on her. She was already experiencing depression, and she had only been mortal for about two and a half days.

Percy stood up. He held his hand out. She looked at it, puzzled.

"I'm not just gonna have you sit here while I slave away making you a bow. You're coming with me."

"But aren't you my slave?" She asked jokingly.

Percy put his other hand over his heart. "GAH! And here I thought we were friends… Arty." He used her forbidden nickname. She would jump up and chase him now. Except, she didn't. Her cheeks went red, probably in anger, and she took his hand and stood up.

She leaned in close. "We are friends, Sea Boy." She said leaning back. Percy chuckled and started to walk into the forest with her.

"It's been forever since I've seen the sea." He said.

Artemis felt a pang of guilt in her heart. He was so devoted to her he deprived himself of basically any kind of self-indulgence. He spent all of his time protecting her from the worst fate for a God—fading, that he didn't do anything for himself. She was eternally grateful for it, of course. Especially in these modern times. When mortals scarcely believe in them. She would always have at least one supporter. She would always have him, and a place to go. But she also hated that he was so devoted to her. He would die for her, but she didn't want him to.

It wasn't until Percy let go to break a branch off of a tree that she realized that they had been holding hands still. She instantly missed the feeling of his hand. She shook her head to clear herself of those thoughts. Her vow— wait, she was mortal, did her vow even still matter? Was she still shackled by the Styx?

"What do you think?" Percy's voice cut through her thoughts.

"I think it's good." She said, observing the branch.

He nodded and slung the branch over his shoulder. They walked back to the clearing. Percy laid the branch next to the knife they had used earlier that morning. They sat side by side while Percy started to carve.

It wasn't until the sun was directly above them that Percy finished the bow. Sweat drenched his hair and body. Artemis watched as his hands carefully carved the finishing details. It was beautiful. He seemed to carved little antlers into the ends that served no functional purpose, but suited her mighty well.

He handed it to her. "No, Percy, this… this is beautiful." Her words seem to catch in her throat.

"There's string in the temple. Let me go get it."

As he left, Artemis ran her fingers over the wood. It was so smooth, like it had been sanded.

Percy returned with a piece of string as well as his own bow and quiver full of arrows. He gingerly took the bow from Artemis's hands and strung it, before handing it back. She tested the string and nodded to herself.

"Ready?"

"Yeah."

Percy led her to his archery range. Well, to describe it as such would be giving it too much credit. It was basically a target on a tree about fifty feet away.

"How are we doing this?" Artemis asked him as she stared down at the target.

"One shot each, best one wins?" He suggested.

Artemis nodded. "You first, since you challenged?"

Percy took his stance as Artemis stepped back. He pulled an arrow out of his quiver and nocked it. Percy's breathing shallowed as he pulled the string back. He closed an eye and envisioned the shot.

"You're not going easy on me, are you?" Artemis teased.

"Never." Percy let the string go and watched as the arrow hit the target. Yellow. The shot was just a millimeter from the center of the yellow dot. Suddenly he felt the small gust of wind in his hair. A small gust must've slightly altered his shot. He sucked in his lips and stepped out of the way.

Artemis took an arrow out of Percy's quiver and nocked it in her bow. She felt the wind and lined up her shot. She felt her entire life's practice come into effect as she stared down the target. Her eyes narrowed as she held her breath. Her fingers let the bowstring slip as the arrow came out flying.

The arrow hit the target just next to Percy's. It was a perfect shot. Upon closer inspection, one would see that her arrow cracked Percy's a tiny bit. Just to ensure that it would hit the direct center of the target.

Percy held out his hand for a handshake. "Like I said. Muscle memory for you."

She shook it and allowed a small smile to grace her lips. She let go of his hand and slung the bow over her shoulder.

Suddenly, her eyes widened. "O h my Gods, my hunters!"

Percy's eyes widened too.

"What's going to happen to them? Are they going to be okay?" Artemis started pacing back and forth.

"Artemis, you've taught them well. I'm sure they can handle themselves."

She sighed and looked down, her hair falling in her face. "I just… I know."

Percy picked her chin up and pushed the hair out of her face. She stared at him for a second before hugging him.

Percy froze for a second before hesitantly putting his arms around her. She started to cry onto his shoulder.

"I feel so lost." She said through her tears. "I have no idea what to do. When Apollo and Poseidon were turned mortal, they were given tasks to earn their immortality back. But I… I have been told nothing."

Percy rubbed her back soothingly. "I might… I might have an idea." He said.

She pulled out of his arms. She looked at him hopefully, tears in her silver eyes.

"I might know someone who can make you immortal again."

"Who?"

Percy was silent for a beat. "The Fates."

A/N. Another chapter done, hope you enjoyed it. We're starting to get into the conflict now.

Thank you to Zaeng_ once again!

Thoughts?