Hello lovelies! I'm trying my best to publish more and more for you guys, but I'm gonna be honest with you. Writer's block sucks. Like, it really, really sucks. This chapter gave me quite the block. Luckily I managed to get through it. Transitions between the already thought-out bits are the hardest. Again, you all are awesome for favorites and follows and reviews! More to come soon and I promise I'll fight all the writer's blocks with the strength of all 300 Spartans at Thermopylae! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson nor do I own anything affiliated with it. Percy Jackson and all his friends (as well as his enemies) belong to the brilliant mind of Rick Riordan.
Chapter 8
It was the day of the boars. Artemis stood tall outside her tent, lifting a hand to the gold arrowhead tied around her neck. Her hunters were gathering around the fire, preparing their equipment and reviewing the strategy. Artemis had stashed her brother's letter in her tent and out of sight before leaving for the hunt. She watched as her hunters finished their preparations and stood before her anxiously. They moved out toward the boars, and picked off nearly every one. For a brief moment, Artemis' troubles were lost to her in her mindset of the hunt. A few hunters did suffer some head-butts from the feisty ones, but nothing to serious that can't be easily helped. They returned carrying their great haul that night with high spirits.
Artemis turned to Thalia before heading to her tent. "Tell them the hunt was a complete success. Make sure the wounded are tended to, it looked like Sierra and Kari took some painful hits from those tusks. I shall be in my chambers, and I ask that you shall not disturb me unless it is direly important."
Thalia bowed her head. "Yes, my lady." She headed to assist with the wounded and Artemis moved to her tent. She entered and was stopped dead in her tracks. A figure stood in her tent, and was holding a piece of paper. Artemis drew her bow.
"Who are you that dares to enter my tent?" She watched as the figure removed its hood, revealing the last person Artemis wished to see. "Hera." She didn't lower her bow. "What are you doing here?"
Hera simply looked at her as she set the paper down. "Is it so odd for me to visit my step-daughter?"
"Considering the events of the last time we met," Artemis slowly lowered her bow, keeping her sharp gaze on Hera. "I can understand your persuasion over Zeus, but how in all of Hades did you manage to manipulate Athena?"
Hera chuckled. "Oh please, you know Athena. You present her with any challenge and she just can't resist finding the perfect solution. Plus, you seem to underestimate my powers of persuasion." She took a step forward, and Artemis tightened her grip on her bow. "Speaking of the last time we met, Zeus told me of your punishment."
"Does it satisfy you?" Artemis spoke with a tone of disgust.
"I guess it will be satisfying to watch as your brother is put within your immediate reach, only to have your touch held back and your lips restricted. It nearly angered me to see that you had this." She gestured to the paper which Artemis recognized as her letter. "But then I realized something." A wicked grin pulled her mouth.
"And what is that?"
"That you were given a false hope. That all you know now and will only ever know is that your brother is suffering far far away and there is nothing you can do about it. That a light appeared at the end of your dark tunnel but turned out to be a firefly. What Zeus didn't have the heart to tell you was that after tomorrow's meeting your brother's presence will not be needed at any future meetings less something large and important should come up. The situation on the equator may be real, and you may have had hope before. But now, you two must learn your lessons. And until you do, I shall personally see to it that you two never make any contact of any kind."
Artemis stood speechless, mouth open agape and eyes fallen to the ground. She felt her body shake with her sobs trying to escape. Suddenly Hera was right in front of her, lifting her chin with a feminine hand. She cocked her head, a look of pity on her face. "Oh, child." She then unexpectedly pulled her in to an embrace. "You must understand, this is for benefit. I have no personal vendetta against you and your brother, anymore that is." She smiled and kissed Artemis on her cheek, tasting her salty tears and making her cringe from her lips. She then walked back to the corner of the tent. "We are family, after all." She gave a wink and disappeared in a flash of light, leaving Artemis where she stood. Artemis raised her hand to the arrowhead and walked slowly over to the letter. She picked it up and held it level to her face, rereading the words of her brother. Perhaps Hera was right. All this letter indicated was Apollo's suffering. Maybe it was just a false ray of hope. Maybe she was merely chasing a firefly in her chasm of darkness and despair. She sat on the bed and let the paper fall from her hand on to the ground. Tears continued to stream from her eyes. Maybe there really was no hope.