Here's where the actual femslash begins. It has more background about Sage and I should mention she is my own OC. DISCLAIMER; I AM ONLY BORROWING THESE CHARACTERS. IF I OWNED PJO THERE WOULD BE NONE OF THIS PERCABETH NONSENSE! I ALSO HAVEN'T EDITED ANYTHING SO BEAR WITH ME PLEASE?

Viking Era: Spring

A Part Of The Healing Process

Zoë's POV

"Training exercise." You call out. It's been one hundred and fifty years since Sage died and Artemis still isn't the same. Each year on her death date we still go out to that lake and light a boat with Artemis' silver flame. You try hard to be a good lieutenant and while all of the hunters think you're great, it's not quite the approval you're looking for. Artemis is watching you right now.

You take an arrow, a small wooden arrow that turns into an ermine when it hits the ground.

"Track it, bring it back alive and work together." You fire it up and out, the hunters eyes following its falling form.

"Go." The moment it passes the tree line. Within moments all of the hunters besides yourself are within the forest, tracking the ermine.

"Very good Zoë."

"Thank you milady." You glance at the goddess next to you. Her eyes are cold and hollow like the moon. Since Sage's death it's been that way. You might think Sage's death was long enough ago for all of us to heal but for an immortal, a century and a half was nothing. You can still clearly remember Sage's glassy eyes, her blue frosted lips, and the dark blood that had gushed onto her chain mail. A shiver runs through you at the memory.

"Are you all right?" You almost jump at the sound of her voice.

"Yes milady, I'm just thinking." Artemis nods satisfied and the hunters approach on silent feet. In Phoebe's hand there is a limp creature that twitches a few time.

"Subdued and still alive." She presents the weasel to you.

"Very good." You take the ermine and it switches back to a brown wooden arrow.

"Your next task is to find dinner." Theres a change in her tone, its lighter, more cheerful even. Everyone stares wide eyed at Artemis. Did the goddess tell a joke?

"Yes lady Artemis." The hunters chuckle and Artemis smiles almost shyly for lack of a better word. You move to take off with them when Artemis says your name.

"Yes milady?"

"I would like you to stay and help me plan out the hunt." Artemis nods to the others and they take off into the woods, Phoebe in the lead.

"Come Zoë, we have planning to do." She offers a small smile, almost a smirk but its the first improvement in a century and a half. You smile at the goddess and follow her into her tent. You've only been in Artemis' tent a few times. This tent unlike the others is larger on the inside. It has silver braziers and a table with a map of the world, equivalent to a war map against one wall with a rack of bows and weapons. A cot is against the adjacent wall, neatly made. On the opposite wall are various trophies and spoils of past hunts. A pure white deer was snoozing on a mound of pillows between the war table and the cot. On the floor there are several silk pillows and carpets. A slip of parchment is half hidden under her pillow. Glancing at it you see a battle axe and familiar Viking armor along with part of a very familiar Viking shield with a specific clan emblem. You know it's Sage and tear your eyes from the picture to the war table.

"Here we are in Russia," Artemis points to the emblem of the hunters in Siberian Russia. The emblem is deer antlers around a full moon. Different monsters floated around the map, disappearing and reappearing in different locations.

"It's been awhile since we've hunted a chimera." You point at the creature in China.

"Very true. We can route our hunt through India and see if we can intercept Euryale." You both make the the three fingered sign to ward off evil. You notice for the first time Sage's signature ring on Artemis' left ring finger. It carries Sage's crest and a sapphire, the same color of the Viking's eyes and her star. Woven bands of black iron and white steel weave around the shield that holds the precious gem in the center. The shields design means power, strength, loyalty and wit.

"Thou still misses her?" You ask softly and Artemis glances down at her ring before fiddling with it with her other hand.

"Ah yes. When a god falls in love with a mortal it usually doesn't last since mortals die quickly." Artemis smiles sadly, gazing down at Sage's ring. She walks over to her bed and sits down. You do the logical thing and follow her lead.

"Sage was different. She too was immortal and, it was perfect." You smile in encouragement.

"She lasted the longest as a lieutenant and since the beginning of time I knew love." This is a tremendous show of trust from the goddess.

"She was a true Viking, different than a Greek yet the same in many ways. Head strong, cunning, loyal and devoted. Also very stubborn." You both chuckle at the memory of Sage's protests of not being able to wear her armor. She managed to convince Artemis to allow her to wear Viking armor as a lieutenant. Granted it was a chain mail shirt (sometimes a leather chestplate or if it called for it, a steel breastplate) that carried the same enchantments as a hunter robe, and a white wolf fur cape. You can remember Sage using the head as a hood and helmet, her sapphire orbs filling the wolf's hollow eye sockets.

"Out of all of the gods and goddesses, I had the longest faithful relationship. Ironic considering that my own vow swears off romance." Artemis shakes her head and smirks as if thinking 'I regret nothing'.

"To have my rock, my Sage ripped away from me so unfairly," She doesn't need to finish that sentence. Her eyes are brimming with tears.

"We all miss her." You place your hand on hers. The goddess turns her hand over so she's holding your hand in hers. Her skin is smooth and cool like the finest silks opposed to your own calloused, time worn hands. You cover the top of her hand with your other, unable to meet the goddess's eyes.

"It is the worst pain I have felt and the only that didn't heal almost instantly." Her voice was close to cracking.

"I know what it's like to have my heart broken." You sigh and Artemis squeezed your hand gently.

"Hercules." Is all she says. You nod.

"Men and heroes." You scoff at the word 'heroes'.

"The vow is the best thing that's happened to me."

"I am glad." It's a comfortable silence after that. Neither make a move to retrieve your hands from each other. Her presence is powerful, intimidating to most like your own but there is something comforting, soothing about it.

"Goddess we bring-" Helena peeks her head into the tent. Both you and Artemis glance up at the startled hunter.

"Yes Helena?" The goddess's tone is formal once again.

"Oh umm we have brought back rabbits for a stew." You realize how compromising this looks. You and Artemis, sitting extremely close on Artemis' bed and holding hands. It takes every bit of willpower to fight your blush.

"Ah yes very good."

"I will go prepare it now." Helena bows her head before quickly vacating the tent. Artemis chuckles softly.

"Thank you Zoë, this has been helpful." The goddess squeezes your hand and smiles.

"Thou is welcome milady." You meet her eyes once again. Not for the first time you find yourself mesmerized by those glowing silver orbs. Something about them draws you closer to the goddess. Artemis too is leaning in, closer and closer. The distance between both of you is disappearing by the moment. Her lips are a mere breath from yours and you close the distance, eyes sliding shut. Her lips are soft, warm and its but a feathery brush. Drawing away you begin to open your eyes only for Artemis to press her lips against yours again, firmer now. You begin moving your lips against hers, drawing her bottom lip into your mouth. The goddess lets out a soft groan as she pushes her tongue into your mouth, both hands cupping your cheeks. Moving your hands you place them on her slender, muscled waist. Your tongue seems to know what it's doing better than you yourself as it twists around the goddess's tongue. The cavern of her mouth is warm and inviting, you want to stay there forever. Cocking your head to get a better angle on the kiss your passion resurges, drawing a groan from the goddess. Using your height to your advantage you lean Artemis back, capturing the dominance of the kiss. The goddess's hands are stroking your cheekbones, pulling you closer and you moan softly. They slide down before her slender, muscled arms are wrapping around your neck. Oxygen becomes an issue but you really, really don't want to stop kissing the thirteen year old goddess. Her lips pull away and you open your eyes. Artemis is blushing like the maiden she is, her bottom lip drawn between her teeth and a cute smile graces her lips. Those lovely kiss swollen lips.

"Is it too soon?" You ask, scared that she might be moving on too quickly.

"Moving on is part of the healing process." She smiles and pecks your lips once more, almost shyly. Her eyes stray from you to the door and widen almost imperceptibly. Glancing at the door you see Diana frozen in place, eyes wide with shock. Embarrassment colors your cheeks red and you bury your face in the crook of Artemis' neck to hide it.

"Yes Diana?" You can tell Artemis is struggling a little to keep her voice even.

"Hmm oh yes umm the stew is ready Goddess." She squeaks. Artemis nods stroking your back.

"Thank you Diana. We'll just be a moment." Diana bows and makes a hasty retreat from the tent. Drawing back you look into Artemis' eyes which are full of mirth. Rolling your own eyes your drop a quick kiss on the goddess's lips before standing.

"We should go if we want any stew." You offer your hand which she takes and smiles. A true and genuine smile. Together you walk out of the tent and into the wolf whistles and teases but you couldn't care less.

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