Artemis was wandering around the mountain side. She needed time to think. She had left her hunters in the care of the Pack this time. Crazy, isn't it? Having the hunters stay with a bunch of boys, but they didn't seem to have a problem.
When Artemis checked on them before she left, they were doing exactly what the Pack had suggested. They went into one of the other igloos. The hunters were surprised. They were expecting another cottage of some sort, but instead, they were faced with a training ground that has—much to the hunters' pleasure—an impressive archery range.
The Pack had said that while the first igloo was from Hestia, this igloo was from Mars. As of the moment, the Pack had offered to have some spars with the hunters, because at least this time, they aren't hiding anything from them and so they could fight freely.
Artemis needed to analyze all the information she had now, and carefully ask questions of her own later at dinner, where the Pack had offered another dinner and would continue to tell stories of their lives afterwards.
She was about to hop into a steep ground when she had noticed something watching her. She discreetly peaked to see who it was at the same time made sure that whoever it was would not know that she knew of his presence.
It was the Ace's wolf!
What was its name? Archie? Aki? Ak—Aku. Yes, that was it. It's name was Aku. Now, the question is, what was it doing here? But then again, for all she knew, the wolf was here all along and that he did not follow its master.
And then, Artemis got hit by an idea. Wolves are one of her symbol after all, right? She turned herself so that she'd face the wolf and let her know she knew of his presence. Quickly, the wolf bowed its head as if acknowledging a superior but the bow was short lived for the wolf brought back his head as if it was saying, 'I respect your power, but leave me alone'
Artemis couldn't help but laugh. That's exactly what Lupa did when she met her for the first time. This time, Aku let out a small whine and tilted his head as if questioning Artemis's laughter.
Artemis slowly walked towards the wolf as if she was wanting to tell it, 'I only want to talk'
The wolf awkwardly waited for her with a question in his eyes. Now, Aku and Artemis were just a feet apart. To Aku's surprise, Artemis kneeled beside him so that she was levelled with the wolf and had gestured to rub the behind of his ear. Aku was more than happy to let her.
"Hello, wolf," Artemis says rather fondly, after all, she loved wolves. She was closer to the wolf now and with her other hand, she scratched the part below the wolf's jaw.
"What are you doing here, wolf?" Artemis asked, and for a moment, the wolf made his way out of the goddess's hands and tilted his head down and was glaring at Artemis expectantly. What did he want?
"Oh, alright, I shall call you Aku," Artemis says hesitantly not sure if that was really what he was asking for, but it was. At the sound of his name, the wolf practically jumped on Artemis making her laugh as he licked her cheek and was now wagging is tail.
"You are acting more of a pup than a wolf now," Artemis says with a small chuckle. If wolves could roll their eyes, Artemis thought Aku would've then.
Artemis was having fun with the wolf that she had forgotten what she wanted to do. Having the wolf as one of her symbols, she was able to communicate with them similar to the way the Pack had described. She wondered, since this was something the Ace created, if she'd have any influence on the said wolf. After all, considering that he had a different creator, he was technically somehow a different type of specie all together.
"Would you speak to me, Aku?" Artemis asks gently and hesitantly. Gently so as to show him that she means no harm. Hesitantly so that she'd let her know she is giving him a choice. Again, the wolf tilted his head in a question as if to ask, 'what would you like me to tell you'
Artemis smiled one of her dazzling smiles. 'Anything' she says. This seemed to make the wolf enthusiastic. And suddenly, Artemis wasn't hearing the constant rustling of leaves. Artemis wasn't feeling the soft whispering wind. She wasn't feeling the hardness of the mountain grass. Suddenly, she wasn't there anymore.
Artemis was in a memory. She could see a small ball of silver that seems to be a pup. The pup had opened his eyes, and suddenly, Artemis felt overwhelmed.
It took a moment before she could process that she was feeling what Aku felt and that the pup was actually Aku and this was the first time he had ever laid eyes in the world. Aku was taking in everything: the smell, his eyesight, everything and all the depth of his sentence.
And then, Aku the pup slowly turned around to see a boy. He had not looked up to see his face yet, but he could feel the boy's presence. It was...weak. The boy in front of Aku was...weak, and he wanted nothing to do with weaklings. Aku was going to look up and he saw that the weakling had the nerve to be grinning like a fool. And Aku's sight travelled further up to—
Aku growled.
'Oh,' Artemis thought as she realized that— she wasn't supposed to see that. The boy was the Ace. Artemis had almost seen who the Ace was! It was so close! She saw the shape of his jaw. She saw black hair that seemed to be in a mess and was long enough to be seen at the side of his neck. She was so close! And that's when Artemis realized why she was here in the first place.
"Oh, I'm sorry Aku," Artemis cooed. "I didn't mean to see it," Artemis says because it was true. She would never force or take advantage of a wolf's kindness. Aku hesitated a bit before he allowed Artemis to touch her again.
"Why did lunge at me when we met at the Olympian Throne Room? I thought you were going to attack me only to find you cuddled in my lap," Artemis asked. This time, Artemis was sure that the wolf had rolled his eyes and barked a laugh as if to say, and I thought you were going to throw me on the ground only to find you scratching my ear and allowing me to stay on your laugh.
"Touche," Artemis laughed. She was really enjoying talking to this wolf, and looks like the wolf has managed to be amused by her too. "Shall we walk?" she offered and went on to walk. Aku followed beside her. To her surprise, Aku had once again whisked her away to another of his memory.
Aku was looking at the back of the Ace only that the Ace's cloak was torn, the hood was down and Artemis could finally see the wholeness of his head. He really did have jet black hair that was some sort of mess. Though, Artemis still couldn't see his face. Aku could see that the Ace was barely holding on, but Artemis could feel what Aku was trying to show her.
This was the time Aku decided to follow the Ace. She could feel Aku oozing respect. And she could feel the silent vow that Aku had felt at this time—that Aku was bested by this man and that he would follow him even against the world.
Artemis smiled warmly at the wolf just before she was whisked away to another vision.
Aku was playing with that white lion that always tailed the Lieutenant. They were cubs, and the lion cub was persistently following Aku like a child would follow his brother.
The lion cub, what was his name? Pisto? Yup, that's what Artemis remembered. Pisto, which Artemis had to admit was awfully cute because of his pup like built and feline like cute eyes plus white fur—actually he looked like a teddy bear—lunged at Aku to tackle.
Artemis could feel what Aku felt, a feeling that screamed 'not again! Oh fine, Pisto, we shall play again!'
Artemis couldn't help but laugh as Aku makes his feelings unknown, and then Artemis felt Aku the pup notice something. Aku the pup instantly felt more alive as he turned around to see a little cub that had black fur and what looked like little small white stripes—
The vision was cut again. Artemis eyes widened. Could it be? It awfully looked like her lieutenant's tigress. Seriously, it isn't like there are a lot of black tigers with white stripes. None sense! Thalia had brought back Nix when she was already big...but...
Artemis heard a ruffling sound further before them. Aku tensed. What was he supposed to do? If the wolf leaded Artemis away, it'd be only be more suspicious. Stupid! He had led the goddess to his master, and at the worst of times! Aku couldn't help but whimper.
Artemis discreetly went to the source of the sound. Who was in this forest? They were far away from any of the villages and towns. This was certainly a place that few of the mortals know. All of her hunters and the Pack were in the igloo. So who could it be?
"Take of your shirt, now" Artemis heard a voice demand. It was familiar. Artemis eyes widened. No.
As if just to prove her suspicions, "Thalia, please, I won't. Just go back. I'm tired, and I'm okay, so there's no need"
It was! Oh how emotions boiled and stormed inside Artemis.
"C'mon! Just take it off!" Thalia demanded. It was betrayal that was prominent in all of Artemis's warring feelings. And it stung the worse.
"Urgh, this is stupid! I'm okay! Fine, gah! I'll take it off!"
This was the last straw. After this, there will be no Pack. There will only be a colony—a colony of jackalopes.
"Where's everybody?" Percy asked, his body was sore and his oh-reliable-trusty-wolf (in all sarcasticity of course) decided to go on a walk, now of all times, when he needed to lie down on him the most.
"They're in the training igloos. I sneaked out. Where's death breath?" Thalia asked. Percy wanted to know everything that has happened the past few days he was away.
"Has the Pack finished telling their stories?" Percy asked, Thalia shook his head impatiently.
"No, now where's death breath?" Thalia asked.
Percy shrugged. "He's out cold. Aku was less...merciful. He just rode off so quick. Pisto decided to slow down their pace because Nico fell asleep on him. Death breath's wasted right now. He'll be here soon" Percy says deep in thought.
"If death breath's out cold, what about you? Are you okay?" Thalia asks a bit frantic.
"Yeah, I'm fine" Percy waves it off
"Kelphead," Thalia says testily examining him, there's a little red splat inside his cloak.
"Percy, your shirt" Thalia says
"It's nothing, just dried blood"
"Percy"
"It's nothing!" Percy says holding back a wince
"Take off your shirt, now"
"Thalia, please" Percy says. "I won't. I'm tired, and I'm okay. There's no need"
"Of course there's a need," Thalia whisper-growls. Percy look at her defiantly. "C'mon! Just take it off!"
"Urgh, this is stupid! I'm okay! Fine, gah! I'll take it off!" Percy says exasperated, retching his cloak off, and was about to take his shirt off and he was unable to stop wincing and flinching at the pain.
Thalia rolled her eyes, "See?" and was starting to help him take off his shirt when
"Oh, I see it alright, Thalia Grace"
Percy froze at the voice. He'd recognize it anywhere, and so would Thalia. She froze at the indifference and coldness her voiced was induced to. Plus, she flinched at her full name.
Artemis had never used her full name. Not for the whole of the 700+ years she was alive.
"M-m-m-lady" Thalia couldn't help but stutter. This was a blunder!
They turned to see an enraged moon goddess that was glowing a dangerous glint of silver- - the same silver you'd see as your last sight as a blade pierces your heart.
The forest was responding to Artemis's anger
Gamiseme Tora.
And just as Artemis was going to release her anger, the Ace and the moon goddess disappeared in a column of fire.