The escape from Amazon had been so incredibly hectic that it had all passed by in a blur. As soon as Hazel had come to, she had led them through the warehouse, ignoring the surprised shouts from the few Amazonian guards who had woken earlier than usual. Soon, alarms rang from every corner and post, and a stream of warriors and warehouse workers streamed out of doors that seemed to be everywhere.

They had double-timed it to the throne room. Hazel had begun showing the power Hylla was speaking about, that's for sure - jewelry and precious metals seemed to truly bend to her will, as illustrated by the boxes and boxes of necklaces, chains, bracelets, rings, and earrings that had surged towards their pursuers. Mountains of gold and silver had formed, nearly drowning the Amazonians as the warehouse turned into chaos.

He and Frank had their jaws hit the floor before Hazel pulled them along. They had reached the horse's cage that Hazel had been eyeing earlier, whereupon Hazel drew an Amazon card from her pocket and swiped it. The horse had burst forth, spewing profanity at its captors, hoofing the ground.

"This is Arion!" Hazel had positively beamed, feeding the horse a golden bar that she had summoned from the ground. Percy was very confused.

"Is he… tame?" Frank had asked.

Arion snorted derisively at that.

The trio made their mad escape thereafter. Arion had proven to be exactly the opposite of 'tame,' bowling over Amazonians and running with an unparalleled fury and grace. Hazel looked right at home atop Arion. Her spatha finally seemed to fit her, and her fighting style was simply more fluid. Percy and Frank had been dragged behind the stallion in the chariot they had seen earlier in the warehouse, barely able to hang on as Arion swerved to avoid Amazonian traps and battle forklifts. His teeth had clattered as they rode up the staircase, each step feeling like a massive pothole on the freeway.

As they reached the open air, doors flinging shut behind them, Arion let out a ferocious whinny. Coupled with Hazel's battle cry, the horse had let loose, sprinting faster than Percy could comprehend. The streets blurred together. Percy held on as strong as he could to the chariot, the wood flaking from the friction of the air.

Light and sound seemed to stretch to the horizon, the world warping into something completely unrecognizable. A sonic boom helped to indicate how fast Arion was truly going. The world seemed to get a bit bluer as their environments sped past them, and Percy had to clench his eyes shut, worried they might pop out.

He had a sudden image of three old, wispy women driving a car, arguing about an eye and a tooth or some other body part, but it dissipated before he could focus on it. Right now, he could only put his attention towards hanging onto the chariot, specifically the pieces that weren't falling off.

Soon enough, the chariot had collapsed, the wood not handling the stress of the speeds Arion was running at. Luckily, they had arrived in Vancouver, near Frank's familial home. Percy had sunk to his knees, never more grateful to be in contact with solid ground, even with the existential primordial threat beneath his feet. Frank had thrown up, and Percy had a feeling it wasn't his first time.

Hazel had uncoupled Arion from their chariot, and the horse had burst off, probably hungry after the sprint north. She had an award-winning smile on her face, the thrill of the ride seeming to set her at ease. She had looked fully comfortable on the beast… Percy was baffled.

That horse was legitimately wild.

The two guys had decided to consume a few drops each of nectar, helping to reorient themselves and get them back on their feet. Percy instantly felt more stable, and the trio made their way through Vancouver. It took an hour to arrive at Frank's residence, a secluded house in Lynn Canyon Park, surrounded by trees and over a river.

It was also surrounded by Laestrygonians. The smell of smoke was pungent, small groups of Canadians assembled throughout the forest, staking out the house. There was a real reluctance emanating from Frank, nervous not just about being home again, but possibly risking his grandmother's life.

Careful to avoid detection, and with some help from Frank's sudden spartoi summoning, they approached. The wind chimes hanging from the porch's roof rang with the zephyrs, while a wicker chair rocked back and forth.

They had barely walked inside before Frank stopped, ramrod straight. He had let out a strangled "Mars," before heading up the stairs, telling his friends to wait for him in the family room.

So now, Percy laid on the couch.

It was a soft couch, a floral design flowing across the back. It felt like something you'd find at a grandmother's house. The middle cushion seemed to not be supported by the springs of the couch, and Percy found himself engulfed in the fabric.

Fitting, Percy thought.

He was sinking.

Deep.

His surroundings were fading out, vision blurring as he looked into nothing. The tick-tock of the grandfather clock soon became unnoticeable. Time seemed to fade out.

He sank.

There was just so much on his shoulders. Freeing Thanatos, keeping Frank and Hazel safe, escorting Aika and Zoë, escaping Seattle, protecting Camp Jupiter, avoiding Gaea's manipulations, watching out for any potential divine involvement that could hurt him, that goddamn dead bird, Aika's powers, his own powers, Koma, Dipsioi, him being a murd-

Percy clenched his eyes shut. No. Not today.

The job wasn't done.

He let out a deep breath, laying there, looking at the popcorn ceiling, the individual kernels losing themselves in the choppy terrain of the roof. The beige color soon lost meaning to him, becoming the default color he couldn't describe. Who cared, anyway? No one would remember him. He was just another tool, just anoth -

Stop it.

He reached up to wipe his eyes, rubbing, stars dancing in his vision. When would he truly be able to relax? To rest?

Would it ever come? A time when he could sit back and enjoy life? Maybe without the threat of humanity's future pressing down on his shoulders?

Hazel had gone to the kitchen a few minutes prior, and now walked back from the kitchen, a couple mugs in her hands. She stopped, noticing the slumped form on the couch.

"You ok, Percy?"

Her voice came in muffled, like his ears were blocked out by pillows or earplugs. Percy gave a noise of assent that came out more like a grunt.

She sat down in the armchair neighboring his sofa, putting one of the mugs in front of him on the tortoiseshell table. A maneki-neko waved at him besides the cup, as if it was pawing at the steam from the liquid. But it all seemed funky, like a haze in front of his vision obscured the finer details of his environment.

Hazel's hand on his shoulder brought him back to the present. "Percy?"

He blinked, and the world seemed to coalesce once more. His clarity returned, and with a bit of a groan, Percy swung his legs off the couch. He grounded himself once more.

"Hey, Hazel."

"You alright?" She had a worried expression on.

Percy nodded, hesitantly cupping the mug, warmth filling his hands. He took a sip, the taste of hot chocolate breaking through his funk. He shook his head, not in the negative, but to try and rid himself of the down feeling he had nearly succumbed to. "Right. Yeah. Thanks."

Hazel gave a soft smile. "Hot chocolate was my comfort drink back… back in my childhood. Thought it might help."

He bobbed his head, taking a sip, feeling the warmth spread through his body, bringing feeling back to his fingers and toes.

"You sure you're alright?"

Percy looked at Hazel, before his sight fell to his lap, head hung. "It's been a long week, you know? It's been a balancing act. I just… I could use some rest."

Hazel stood, moving to sit besides Percy on the couch. "If you need to get anything off your chest, I've found there's no better time than while sipping hot chocolate. Even in the summer."

He didn't speak, still staring into the mug, holding it with both hands in his lap.

Hazel sighed, taking a sip from her own cup. "I was born in 1928."

Percy looked up at her.

"My mother, she wanted Pluto's riches, despite his warnings that it would only bring pain. She was greedy, and her wish wound up with our curse." Hazel looked at the ceiling. "She sold the jewelry she made from the jewels she found, but they only caused people pain. And she wanted more. Gaea found her."

"Haze -"

She pressed on. "She forced us to move to Alaska, serve Gaea. We almost brought Alcyoneus into the world…" She was blinking back tears. "I sacrificed my mother and I to stop Gaea. I killed myself to atone for the sins of my mother. And I was satisfied."

Percy put his arm around her shoulders. "I'm so sorry."

She let out a spiteful chuckle, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Nico brought me back from the Underworld. I don't know how that was allowed, I don't even know if I should be alive. I might be sent back after we free Thanatos."

"Frank and I won't let that fly."

Hazel took another sip. "You can't fight death."

Percy swept his hand through his hair. "We can damn well try."

She smiled at him, caring eyes alight.

The silence fell upon the room once more, this time comforting, rather than overbearing. He could breathe. The world felt a little brighter. Not to minimize Hazel's pain, but… he wasn't alone.

He wasn't alone.

The corner of his lip twitched upwards involuntarily.

He wasn't alone.

"I… I have some stuff. But I can't tell you yet. For your own safety." Percy thought about Hylla's warning about the Olympians. They could be listening in, especially given Mars's presence upstairs. "In Alaska, I'll tell you. It's quieter up there, if you catch my drift."

She nodded. "I trust you, Percy. Tell me when you're comfortable."

"Thanks, Haze."

Percy stood up, looking around the room. They had been careful to avoid the windows, knowing the Laestrygonians were keeping close watch on the house. The spartoi had allowed them to get inside, but a fight was inevitable if they wanted to leave. Looking at the closed curtains gave Percy goosebumps.

"Hylla said I have more than my powers from Poseidon."

Hazel looked over the back of the couch. "What do you mean?"

"She talked to me before I freed you. I guess the Amazonian Queen, they can sense the power levels of guests to the throne room. She said I had three different power sets, I guess?"

"So, one of yours is the power over the sea."

He paced around the room, walking from the grandfather clock to the open hallway to the kitchen. "Right. And another has to be an ability to… well, I'll say in Alaska."

"Do you know how to use it?"

He shook his head. "It's unconscious, literally. I don't know how to control it."

She stood now, mug resting on the tabletop, while she moved to lean against the back of the couch. "What's the third?"

Percy paused. "I have no idea."

Another silence, a comfortable one, but with an overhead worry spreading into the room. Percy checked the window, glancing through a small crack in the shades. A tree fell as he looked, and the distant cries of a giant could be heard. A bird could be seen flying in circles, high above the ground, but still with the faint tinges of a menacing aura. If it was the bird… Percy hoped they were done with whatever fighting may occur later on. He couldn't afford to get distracted while protecting his friends. Because that damned cry…

Percy shook his head.

"I'm gonna check on Frank. I don't like being caged in."

Hazel nodded, moving to sit on the couch once more. "Go get 'em."

Percy walked up the wooden staircase, steps creaking more than a microwaveable popcorn bag. He reached for the banister at the top of the stairs, blue carpeted hallway stretching out in front of him and behind him. The walls were decorated with photos, many of which showcased Frank as a baby. Even more showed Frank as a toddler and a pre-teen, with classic first-day-of school photos in front of the school bus prevalent.

There was a woman in many of the photos that Percy didn't recognize, one whom clearly wasn't old enough to be his grandmother - his mother. She stood proud in one photo, her Canadian Armed Forces gear fitting her well. Percy wasn't surprised she caught Mars's eye.

As he turned once more to the darkened hallway, he realized he had no clue as to which room Frank was in. He peered in the first doorway to his right, with no luck at all, before continuing down the hall.

The next door was closed, and Percy gave a light knock. "Frank? Can I come in?"

A soft response came from within, so soft that Percy couldn't make it out whether it be affirmative or negative. But never the less, he opened the door, stepping inside. The door creaked loudly, desperately in need of some WD-40.

The room was dark. There was a twin bed in the corner, curtains drawn, just a small bit of light streaking in. A figure kneeled at the foot of the bed, scratching something into the footboard, the wood flaking off as they dragged a bronze sword against it. They were hooded, a vaguely purple cape draping over their shoulders. It was hard to make our true details about the figure.

The figure didn't even stop scraping as Percy stepped into the room.

Percy drew Anaklusmos. "You're not Frank."

They finished the final scratch, before standing from their crouch. "No."

Percy stepped forwards. "Who are you?"

The figure looked at him for the first time, golden eyes swirling. The hood hid their facial features aside, but those eyes… they penetrated the darkness, brimming with power.

"I'm sorry, Percy."

The figure raised their gloved hand, clenching into a fist. Percy found himself being flung forwards, the air at his back thrusting him forward.

His face was met by a fist, and he was cast into unconsciousness.

But before he did, he was able to read the message, hastily scrawled onto the footboard, scratchy from the awkward sword slashes.

LISTEN TO SWORD

"For often, when one is asleep, there is something in consciousness which declares that what then presents itself is but a dream."

Aristotle

Percy found himself watching Aika get tortured again.

"AIKA!"

Once more, a shadowy figure pulled the strings behind the scenes, flinging Aika around the room, blood leaking from all parts of her body. The light once more followed her as well, like the spotlight on a main character - Percy didn't know if that was the figure's doing, or the dream's. Either way, it was terrifying.

Blood stained the pure white floors beneath Aika. Percy felt sick looking at her. He was shocked she was still alive, if he was honest.

And Percy once more couldn't move, chains holding him in place.

The darkness shifted and folded, the movements of a hidden torturer still hidden from Percy's observation.

"Where is your father, girl."

The darkness seemed to take the shape of a man, thrice the size of a regular mortal, stepping down from a throne.

The tone was different, too. In Percy's first dream, the figure spoke distortedly, an angry inflection all too present in its words. But now, he spoke with an unnerving calmness, a stoic timbre evident. That's not to say it didn't have a commanding aspect to it, though - there was a demand behind the figure's question, a demand to be listened to. The difference was like fire and ice.

The figure stood, but didn't move any closer. Aika was simply flung through the air, bouncing off a column before coming to a stop at the figure's feet, practically kissing its toes. Her head hung down, until the figure grabbed her by her hair, lifting her head to initiate eye contact.

"Speak. You wouldn't like what happens instead."

Aika was silent, staring daggers at the shadowed being. Percy felt the need to speak up, to try and redirect some of the torture, if any.

But as he went to speak, blood spat out of his mouth. He found himself choking, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth, like a werewolf after feeding. His eyes bulged as he tried to rid himself of the blood, but it just kept coming.

The figure pivoted, looking straight at Percy. A sardonic laugh filled the air.

"You're not a hero. Don't try to be."

The figure's hand raised, and black lightning once more jolted out of their fingertips, arcing through the air, before slamming into Percy.

His head once more lolled back, the dream cutting off as soon as the electricity hit his chest.

"Dreams are the touchstones of our character."

Henry David Thoreau

Percy jolted awake, sweat beads dripping down his forehead. Breathing a sigh of relief, he wiped his eyes, clearing away the crust formed in the corners of his eyes. He shut his eyes thereafter, taking a deep breath, before reopening his eyes.

Fuck nightmares.

He blinked once more, shaking his head to empty his mind once more of the intrusive thoughts. It was too early to try and decode that message. Or figure out who the hell would just be chilling in Frank's childhood home. Or who was torturing Aika.

LISTEN TO SWORD? What the hell could that mean?

Just more weight on his shoulders.

He glanced to his right, seeing Aika sleeping up against a tree, a dagger dangling from her limp left hand. Zoë was laying next to her, head resting on Aika's shoulder, black hair spilling in front of her face. Their bows lay on the ground next to them, armor scattered around the impromptu campsite.

They had been watching over him. Ever since the Dipsioi battle.

A warmth filled Percy's chest.

Was this… was this what peace felt like?

Was this peace?

He smiled.

Yeah, this was peace.

Percy wanted to wake them and press on, but not yet. He'd let them sleep for a bit longer.

They deserved it.

He settled back down, shuffling closer to their bodies, and laid himself down once more. The stars were beautiful tonight, sparkling amid the dark void of space. The moon hung right above them, full, craters visible. It beamed down on him, the moonlight illuminating the world.

Percy stared at the moon, knowing who sat behind it. He smiled, sending Artemis a silent prayer, thanking her for the beautiful night, before he found himself slipping into Morpheus' grip once more, next to Aika and Zoë.

But before he could fully succumb to the grip of sleep, he felt something tap his forehead.

"Wake up, boy."

Percy's eyes shot open.

Artemis stood in front of him, moonlit dagger in her hand, pressed up against his head. Her godly bow was slung on her back, while her eyes were lit of a glaring white-yellow, power pulsing behind her irises. Her lips were set in a fine line, examining the male, and two sleeping demigoddesses, in front of her. Except for a tuft, her auburn hair was hidden by her silver hood. She was strikingly beautiful, as goddesses are.

Surrounding her were a group of girls, dressed in a similar manner, silver tunics and hoods hiding exact facial features. Each held a bow aloft, readying for a possible manner. The hunt had found them.

Percy bowed his head, slowly, the dagger following his motions. "My lady Artemis."

Artemis lowered her dagger. "Hmm. A good start, boy. Wake your friends. We have much to discuss."

The wandering trio sat around a fire with Artemis in the waning hours of the early morning. The sun was due to come up within the hour, the wisps of flame crackling in the darkness. Tinges of light were beginning to come on the horizon, just barely illuminating the horizon.

One of Artemis' hunters, introduced as Aura, had set up a second fire, spit-roasting a few hares over the flame. The Hunt seemed small, at least to Percy. Only six hunters followed Artemis - that number seemed low to Percy. But that was a later question. He also couldn't identify a lieutenant - no tiara could be seen, nor did any of the hunters seem to be that well-acquainted with Artemis. Percy wondered if the Hunt's structure was that different in this era.

Artemis took a sip of water, sizing the three of them up. She spoke with an edge, albeit not tinged with anger or other negative emotions - it was a hint of compassion behind steely persistence.

"You've been praying to me, I believe."

Percy, Aika, and Zoë bobbed their heads simultaneously.

Artemis smiled slightly. "Thank you."

Percy breathed out. He was slightly nervous Artemis would smite him on the spot.

The goddess held her silver dagger with both hands, twirling it in the firelight. "I had heard your prayers, Zoë Nightshade, when you were in Tirida. But I would not abandon my Hunt, not in these dangerous times. Thus, I had to wait." She sighed. "We were all the way in Messenia, believe it or not. Four of my hunters were severely hurt in an ambush, and I had to escort them back to Olympus."

She gestured. "I am glad your… acquaintances helped bring you closer to Olympus. You made the right call."

Zoë smiled, still looking down at the fire. "Thank you, milady. I'm glad to have met them."

Artemis sat back, looking at the former Hesperid. "Zoë, I'd like to hear your story."

She raised her head from its bowed position, confusion on her face. "Milady?"

Artemis offered Zoë the dagger she held, hilt outstretched. "There's a reason you sought out my Hunt, yes? I'd like to hear what that is."

Zoë took a breath, glancing at Percy and Aika. Percy met her nervous eyes with a confident look, trying to help her with her resolve. He inclined his head out of encouragement.

She hardened herself, taking the dagger from Artemis, before beginning. "I was a Hesperid. I tended to the Garden of the Hesperides for centuries, watering plants and feeding Ladon. He trusted me enough to feed him by hand. It was wonderful, back then." Zoë's eyes held a wistfulness to them, thinking back to fonder memories.

"A few months ago, a man approached the garden, seeking one of Hera's golden apples." Artemis gritted her teeth, but Zoë didn't notice. "He tricked me into helping him, and then he… he cast me aside. Spitefully. I was only a tool to him."

Aika's arm snaked around Zoë's shoulder in comfort.

"All I had was the clothes on my back and my sword in my pocket. My sisters wouldn't let me back in. I was lost, helpless, nowhere to go, all because of that asshole. I lost my home, my family, and any chance I had at a nice life. I wandered around the Mediterranean for months."

"How did you find your friends?" Artemis asked.

Zoë stared into the dagger. "I was in Syracuse for a time, and a hooded man came up to me while I was eating one morning. He told me he had the gift of foresight, and that I was troubled." She cracked her neck, sharp pops blending with the flame's cracks. "He told me to go to Tirida to find peace. There, he claimed, two travelers would seek my company. And so it happened."

Percy cocked his head. "I didn't know that."

She shook her head. "You were foretold to me, Percy. I wanted to leave Tirida for a few weeks, but Gregorios told me to stay and keep him company. I think he enjoyed having a new person come by the city for longer than a night."

Damn. Percy hoped the old man was holding up alright.

Aika raised her hand, looking at Zoë. "That… same? Someone slipped a note in my pocket when I was in Athens, telling me to join the fleet headed to Aegospotami. They promised me answers, but to find a demigod first."

Percy waved his hands in confusion. "Wait, wait, wait. You… both were told to wait for me, basically?"

They nodded.

"That is just bizarre."

"The Moirai work in… mysterious ways," Artemis said, although she herself looked a bit unconvinced.

"Could it have been someone else?" Percy queried. "Is there any other being that could see that far in the future? And what's the motive for them to get us to meet up?"

Both Aika and Zoë looked baffled, shaking their heads at the recent development.

Percy tried to think of any possible way this could have happened. Perhaps it truly was the Fates, guiding his friends to him to fulfill their personal quests. But even then… the Fates were normally more subtle than that, right? Prometheus had the gift of foresight, but he was locked up on a mountaintop. Kronos was in Tartarus. Was there an Olympian to be held accountable? Perhaps Hecate had cast some sort of spell, performed some kind of witchcraft. Circe, maybe?

It just kept building up. It had to start crashing down soon.

Artemis cleared her throat as she looked at Zoë, recentering the conversation. "Perhaps this is fit for a later discussion. Zoë, you speak of Heracles, I presume."

Zoë tensed. She gave a tight nod, barely moving her head in the process. "Yes."

The Huntress sighed. "Of course. That bastard is always on the wrong side of morality. It is truly depraved how my family follows his every action."

"You watched it happen?!" Zoë recoiled, dagger slipping into a tighter grip.

"No, Zoë, of course not." Artemis put her hands in the air in a show of innocence. "I do not subscribe to any of that ridiculous nonsense. But many on Olympus do. Zeus has barely governed in the past decade, more concerned with his thousandth demigod's quote-on-quote heroics."

Zoë slumped down. Artemis reached out, putting her hand on Zoë's arm. "Trust me, Zoë. If I was watching, I'd have flashed down there and beat him up before he could have hurt you."

That got a grin out of the Hesperid. "Thank you, my lady. But I still want revenge on that dick."

Artemis' comforting smile slipped off her face. "Please, call me Artemis. I would help you, if I could. But Zeus has threatened all of Olympus not to interfere with his son. I almost did once, early on, and he threatened to strip me of my immortality."

Aika clicked her tongue. "He can do that?"

"I have no idea. But I don't want to find out."

Percy spoke up. "Why is nobody supposed to interfere? There's no way he just has free reign on everything in the Greek world, right?"

The goddess sighed heavily, but nodded. "Unfortunately, he does. Zeus has him first in line to be deified, and Zeus won't tolerate action towards a future god of his lineage."

Zoë sat up, stunned. "A god!? Are you kidding me?"

"I wish I was, Zoë. But I fear Olympus is slowly growing complacent, and is headed down the path of incompetence."

An uncomfortable silence filled the circle, each person thinking about the ramifications of an incompetent Olympus. Percy chuckled mentally - it might not be so different from the few interactions with gods he had on the Pacific Coast thus far.

A wolf padded over to Artemis, whining as it lounged its head on the goddess' lap. Artemis chuckled softly, petting the canine's ears. The wolf sighed contently, bringing smiles to their faces.

She spoke, her voice the epitome of natural beauty. "And what of the two of you? You may have sent me prayers, but I only hear truly those of pained maidens."

Percy and Aika glanced at each other, Aika waving Percy to go first.

"I'm a son of Poseidon, my lady. I woke up at Aegospotami, where I met Aika, and after we escaped from the Athenian fleet, she knocked me out, a very kind gesture."

Aika slapped his shoulder. "Hey!"

He smirked, but continued. "We had decided to… well, we didn't really know where to go, so we headed north on our way there. We were ambushed by one of Diomedes' Mares, and we went to Tirida to ensure the rest were still safe…" Percy shrugged. "We didn't know about Heracles' stunt a few years back. All it had done was ruin the city."

"And that's where you met Zoë, I presume."

Aika jumped in. "The three of us decided to go to Olympus - Zoë to find you, Percy to find clues to his memory, I to find my father."

"We ran into Dolos near Neapolis," Percy continued. "Barely escaped with our lives. We got lucky - Aika finally figured out how to use her demigod powers, and we had to run."

Artemis interjected now, a curious look on her face. "Ok, a couple of things. Your memory?"

Percy shrugged. "Gone. Amnesia. First thing I remember is waking up on the boat next to Aika, honestly."

The goddess turned to Aika. "And your father? You don't know your dad?"

She shook her head. "My mom always told me he was a god, but I didn't know… honestly, I had almost given up hope I even was a demigod. But when we fought Dolos, I was able to control the air, and it saved Percy's life."

Artemis stared at Aika, seconds ticking by in silence, before she leaned back against her log. "What a group you three are."

Percy snorted.

"Continue your story."

"The three of us, we ran into a couple more gods before you found us - Koma…Komawentaia, and Dipsioi. The first just wanted a conversation before she disappeared, and we had to fight the latter. Aika and I…"

Percy slowed his talking. When he had mentioned the names of the Mycenaean deities, Artemis had gone rigid. Her wary, confident visage had slipped from her face, a cold mask of indifference replacing it. He forged on, nonetheless.

"We were able to separate him from his water. So he might be dead? That was just yesterday, down at the…"

Her form flickered.

That cold mask of indifference had contorted into fury, and Percy trailed off as Artemis stood, eyes glaring a murderous silver towards him. Her auburn hair turned jet-black, lengthening past her shoulders and down her back. Her countenance had become more angled, cheekbones becoming ever more clear against her now pale skin.

Something had changed with her. Percy slowly stood up, reaching towards Anaklusmos.

"Artemis?"

The goddess drew a dagger from her belt. She spoke, spitting the words out like acid.

"Di-pi-si-jo-i qe Po-ti-ni-a Ko-ma-we-te-ja? Ko-ma-we-te-ja?!"

"What?"

Aika hastily threw on her armguards, drawing her own sword. Zoë held the dagger Artemis had given her nary five minutes earlier, preparing for an attack. Percy stumbled back at the spite leaking into her proclamation. She drew a dagger.

"Po-se-da-o i-je-we e-ke da-i-qo-ta Di-pi-si-jo-i a-i-qe-u?! E-ne-ka?! E-ne-ka?!"

Tears were streaming down Artemis' face. Her voice was nearing a crescendo, her voice becoming almost otherworldly angry. She pointed her dagger straight at Percy, hand shaking.

"Pa-pa-ro!"

She yelled the final word like it was a slur, shooting at Percy like a bullet, graceful and terrifying. Percy barely had time to dodge, jumping to his side, desperately parrying her strike. Zoë and Aika both grabbed their bows, giving Percy space, knowing that staying close might hurt Percy's chances to stay alive. Aika seemed to blend in with a tree.

As Artemis dove, he could also hear the other Hunters react to her change. They scrambled for their weapons, but Percy could tell in a split second that most of the Hunters didn't know what was going on.

None except for Aura.

"Ah, shit, shit, shit. A-ti-mi-te! A-ti-mi-te!" Aura waved her bow in the air, trying desperately to get Artemis' attention. But the goddess seemed absolutely feral, snarling at Percy with wild eyes, anger having given way to primal emotions.

The goddess lunged, and Percy could barely leap out of the way once more, having to bounce off the ground with a hasty boost from a bit of water. The goddess rounded on him once more, white eyes glowing with an intensity rivaled only by an angry bull.

"A-ti-mi-te!"

Aura had jumped in between the two, hands waving in the air, finally capturing the goddess' attention.

"You're Artemis. Artemis. Goddess of the Hunt, of childbirth, of the moon."

Aura approached Artemis slowly, whose eyes had slowly started to dim.

"The Hunt, Artemis. You protect us. You don't have to fight anymore. We're safe, Artemis."

The goddess started to stand from her crouch, fists opening a bit. The fire in her eyes dimmed further, until they finally returned to the regular silver. Her black hair shifted back to auburn, and her cheekbones faded slightly. The anger returned to peace… and a bit of guilt.

Artemis slumped into Aura, who's hands held her upright. Aika and Zoë joined Percy once more, all three wary of the goddess. Aura comforted the goddess, whispering to Artemis and patting her back. After a moment, she straightened up once more.

"I'm sorry, demigods. That was… embarrassing."

"Artemis? What was that?" Percy questioned.

"Sit, please." She gestured once more at the fire, righting her log once more before sitting down. After a moment, the trio joined her. Aura sat nearby Artemis as well.

"That was my… my Mycenaean aspect." Her tone was leaking with guilt, a weakness Percy hadn't expected out of an Olympian. "We gods, we have multiple aspects. Our Greek aspects are the most prominent, of course. But our past selves, they still remain within us."

"So when Percy said… said the names of the gods we fought, your Mycenaean side popped out?" Aika asked.

The goddess nodded, sadly. "We try to squash those aspects, but… we sometimes slip. They're typically a bit more violent and volatile - we don't particularly love that part of us. I'm sorry it was now."

"It hasn't happened in decades," Aura interjected. "Honestly, I didn't think the gods you said were even still around."

"It's alright," Zoë spoke. "None of us were hurt."

The goddess shuddered. "It truly does sadden me to hear about Mother Koma. She always was kind, and honorable. I know you didn't kill her, my aspect can just be… quick to jump to conclusions." She sighed.

Artemis took a deep breath, settling herself. "Alright. Anyways. Zoë, are you aware of what membership in the Hunt entails?"

"Immortality, eternal maidenhood, traveling the world for eternity."

"Mostly right, yes," Artemis responded. "You can still die in battle. You'll be able to communicate with animals, too."

"Huh."

Artemis raised her hand. "I will warn you, some of the girls do get lonely. We never stick around one place long at all, and it's hard to keep friendships or relationships outside of the Hunt. But we try our best to be there for each other, like sisters."

Zoë hummed absentmindedly, clearly busy thinking. She glanced at Percy, a bit of conflict in her eyes, a bit of confusion causing havoc in her mind.

Artemis continued. "Zoë Nightshade, I will welcome you into the Hunt, should you accept."

She sat there for a moment, considering.

The sun finally rose above the horizon, Apollo's rays illuminating her face.

Finally, she shook her head, but with confidence, not indecision.

"I can't. Not now."

Percy and Aika sucked in breaths, eyes going wide.

Artemis nodded. "Your friends?"

"They've been there for me, and I can't just abandon them now. Not until they've found their peace. But one day, I'd love to join, if you'll have me then."

"Are you sure, Zoë?" Percy asked, shocked.

Zoë smiled. "Can't go quitting on you guys yet."

Percy grinned. But on the inside, he was concerned. His dreams in his past had shown Zoë as a Hunter, as a semi-immortal being. If she didn't join the Hunt now… did he alter the future? That can't have been, given the Moirai's stinginess.

Perhaps she would simply join later. But it made him slightly uneasy.

Artemis clapped. "Some words of advice, Zoë. Your past, it's yours, and yours alone. You will need to heal, but you must never forget where you come from. Forgetting is worse than proving yourself better than him. Understand?"

"Of course, milady. Thank you."

Artemis adopted a wise look, giving Zoë her dagger once more. "Let me lend you this, for your journey. I hope to be reunited with it one day. I'll be listening for your prayers."

Zoë accepted it with a grin. "Of course."

Artemis clapped once more, rising to her feet. "I will allow the three of you to accompany my hunt to Olympus today. Given the amount of threats you've faced, I'm sure you could use some more protection."

Percy stood, a confident look on his face. "To Olympus."

A/N: Linear B Rough Translation:

Dipsioi and Mother Komawenteia? Komawenteia?!

A son of the temple of Poseidon killed Dipsioi in battle with a sword? Why?! Why?!

You barbarian!

Artemis!

Ya know, I meant to put this chapter out a few days ago. But the google rabbit-hole I dove into, trying my hardest to find actual Linear B characters to use, turned up empty. It may have been a silly thing to begin with, but authenticity is key. Would have been a cool little feature.

Anyways - shoutouts to so many people who left reviews! Y'all are crazy! Surya25addanki, Hooded007, Bobthebuilder, thelordoptimus, Dethcat, N. Epic Fael, Walter Ha, EldritchTerror, Le Connoisseur, HecticHylian. It's great to see some old and some new faces!

Hope you all have a great rest of your week :) Probably won't get a chapter up this weekend (having a little road trip) but I hope to have it out by next midweek!