I'm finally back. As always, no promises on future updates because life has been hectic. Hope you all enjoy.

I love all your reviews, and would like to hear what you all think of this chapter. As for Mark Andrew, I am sorry but I believe you are mixing fanon here. Apollo has no curse placed on children of Poseidon as far as I can remember. I can't say for sure, but alleviating a curse isn't interesting anyways so I will stick with what I'm doing. Appreciate the feedback though.

So close… nearly there…

Percy was sure of his success this time around. He inched closer to his target… and there was a light rustle in the bushes. The deer's ears perked up, and just before Percy could take the initiative, the animal was gone. Again.

He sighed to himself and plopped down to the floor. Hunting proved to be almost as elusive to him as archery was. At least this was his first day.

The idea was to stay hidden from the prey, until he was close enough to pounce and catch it as quickly as possible. Very simple in theory, but in practice, not so much, His first attempt was horrendous, the deer ran away before he could comprehend the situation. The second told a similar story. On his next few, Percy decided to change tactics and strike early; only to make a fool of himself by chasing deer around like a headless chicken. The previous three or four times, he tried the stealthy approach, but as with the first time, he was spotted before he could make a move.

Percy groaned. He was so tired of this… training.

"You failed once more," a familiar voice said from right next to him. How she'd gotten there without Percy noticing, he had no idea. Actually, he did. She was the goddess of hunting. It just came with the domain to sneak up upon unprepared victims. Unlike him.

She was smiling subtly when he turned to face her, and Percy tried not to take offence. She was just being friendly, and he knew that she held him in high regard. But the reminder of his failures was not welcome.

That's your ego talking. Artemis had told him yesterday that his ego was getting in the way of development. It was hard to imagine, Percy never thought of himself as an egotistic person. Heck, no one who knew him for more than a day would agree with the assessment.

But maybe the goddess was right? Ever since finding out he was a hero, Percy always relied on his instincts, going with the flow of battle and pushing himself to the limits when he needed to. It helped him in sticky situations, but he rarely put in the effort to improve his skills when he wasn't pressed by someone trying to harm him or those he cared about. He didn't study as well as he could because he felt like it wasn't for him. He gave up on archery because he was not a natural. Even his swordsmanship was a result of his natural proficiency and Luke's training back in his first week at camp. Percy hadn't done all that much to improve the one thing he specialised in, and it had cost him dearly whenever he was put to the test. Such as Chrysoar. The memory of being bested by the pirate in the Mediterranean resurfaced. Sure, they scraped by in the end, but he had been outmatched in a battle of swords. Percy might have to take some time off from hunting and archery and focus on swords again.

Artemis sat next to where he had decided to lie down. It had been a gruelling session. Who knew hunting would be that hard?

"I can tell you exactly where you're struggling, Percy," she said. "You still haven't grasped yesterday's lesson."

"Huh?"

Artemis chuckled, choosing to lay on her back. "The lesson I gave you was one of patience, hero. You don't wait long enough to succeed in any of your hunts."

"But I did!" Percy protested, "I waited until I was close every time. Stupid animal just runs away at the last moment," he grumbled.

"Are you going to challenge the goddess of the Hunt about this?" she asked wryly.

"I-" Percy's tongue caught it in itself, unable to form any words for his defence. He just groaned, not sure if it was the frustration or the exhaustion. "I don't know. When I'm waiting, they just… spot me."

"Exactly," she said, "You lack focus. You are either very prone to getting distracted when you are stalking close, or you are too impatient to get the job done. The way you approach the hunt is always going to give away your position."

"Patience is to be prepared to wait;" She turned to face him, the intense eyes drawing a breath from Percy. "waiting in boredom and not getting caught in your restlessness. Waiting and maintaining focus for as long as possible for the perfect moment to catch your prey. Making your move they are within arm's reach; far too close to escape your grasp. That is what makes a good hunt."

She licked her lips in anticipation, a certain gleam in her eyes that made him shudder. In that moment, she truly looked like a lethal predator the likes of which she represented as a goddess of hunting.

"It would do you well to keep that in mind," she continued. "don't let your anxiety or your excitement get the better of you when you are close. One small misstep and your quarry will spot you. Maybe your other skills could help complete your job, but the purpose of hunting and stealth is to not leave anything to chance. Sometimes you cannot take the risk of a rash encounter."

Percy hummed in agreement. A few minutes passed as they lay on the dirt. He felt the barest trickle of water from above. A refresher for the son of the sea god. "When am I getting my assignments from Apollo?" he asked, "a month is quite the long time. From the way he behaved, I thought the matter was urgent."

Artemis gave a hearty chuckle, "Very eager, are we? You don't need to worry a lot about the whole thing. I'm handling most of our issues with the Hunt - there's been some activity, but nothing that requires your assistance so far. But I'm sure we can find something for you if you're too embarrassed at what you call training."

Heat rose to Percy's face as he turned to face the goddess. She was sporting a broad smile, earnest from the way her eyes twinkled- a beautiful sight that was - but the jibe certainly hit a mark. He dispelled the negativity quickly, though. At least he could rein in his ego if he couldn't deliver on the hunting front.

"It's just, I was expecting a lot more action. Training is good, but I prefer to do things instead of preparing for them."

"Or, you lack patience. Which I've been trying to drill into your thick head," she gave a sigh of disappointment at the end, and Percy scowled at her.

"Oh. don't give me that look - you know it's true."

The words caused Percy to cringe. He'd just made a face at a goddess. It was sheer dumb luck that she took it in stride. "We're not going to send you out every day. Monsters that need to be hunted aren't as frequent as you're expecting. Take some time, and relax. It is a a pleasant day."

He turned his head to see her with a look of peace and content, staring idly into the sky. Artemis was proving to be a far better goddess to hang out with than he'd realised. He could speak freely without having to worry too much about accidently offending her, and Percy with his habits definitely might. On multiple occasions. Never had he imagined being so frank with the goddess who Zoe spent thousands of years hating men with. Olympians were full of surprises, but Artemis was probably the most unexpected.

The light drizzle was slowly turning into a moderate case of rain, and he could feel the energy seeping into him and taking away some of his exhaustion from the day.

"Do you like the rain, Artemis?"

"Mhm. Rain mixes well with the wild. The serenity it brings is always welcome in my domain. Along with the growth. You must enjoy the feel of water against your skin, don't you?"

"Yeah. I feel better whenever it rains. It heals me and, uh, amplifies my abilities. I defeated my first monster with a power boost. Second, actually. But it was the first time I actually fought one instead of just wildly slashing at your maths teacher with a pen that your Latin teacher throws at you."

"The second one, as in the Minotaur?"

"Yes. Snapped the damned horn off of him."

Artemis laughed. "Really? This was before your first quest, right? You were twelve back then. A feat like that should be…"

"Awesome," he answered when she trailed off in contemplation, grinning cheekily. He caught the playful glare she sent his way from the corner of his eyes, but didn't look at her directly.

"I would refrain from using that word around myself. Don't need two people with the same vocabulary to get on my nerves all the time."

"As you wish, my lady," he stifled a laugh, "As you wish."

"Hush you. I said no formalities with me." She paused for a moment, taking in the rain which was now pouring heavily. "You've led an interesting life, Percy Jackson. I would love to hear from you what you think about it."

"I wouldn't call it interesting. Just a cosmic conspiracy to ruin my days and prevent me from having time to kick back."

"I didn't take you as such a pessimist when you came running to Apollo for more quests," she replied nonchalantly. "Still, those are the most entertaining stories to listen to. Why do you think all famed heroes and stories are about people beaten by life?"

"Hmm. I guess that's fair."

They lay there, taking their time. Being with Artemis was a nice change from your typical immortal. Percy wouldn't be opposed to more time with her.

She stood up, "Come. I think some time with the Hunt would do you some good." She held out her hand towards at him expectantly. Percy didn't have the heart to refuse, and so he grabbed on with his eyes closed. He could only hope that the girls there were as friendly with him as Artemis wa

After the flash, Percy opened his eyes to find himself in another gathering of trees. A different forest, and not as quiet. He suddenly found himself missing the goddess' hand, and saw her motioning him to follow. Slowly, the sounds became clearer, and he realised that of course, it was the hunters. They weren't loud, but here every sound travelled far and clearer than it would in a jam-packed city full of people, and vehicles and in general way too much noise.

The first person to greet Artemis was her imposing lieutenant; a sister in both arms and blood. "Welcome back, milady! Is that Kelp Head behind you?"

Artemis gave a small chuckle at the rather demeaning name, but knew it was just the banter the two had going on. "Yes. your Kelp Head is here. I wish to involve my brother's champion into our way of life for his training. A mutually benefical arrangement if you ask me."

Thalia nodded. "It would be good to have him around. I don't want another part of my life to be estranged from me."

Artemis nodded in understanding. Thalia and Percy were close, despite not having a lot of contact overall. She'd shared with the goddess that she had felt a close connection with the son of Poseidon ever since she'd first seen him. Considering the circumstances, it was understandable - waking up to find someone right in front of you and aiding you back into stability would leave an impression. Still, Artemis had lingered far too much on that. Her… concerns were misgiven, however, as Thalia didn't feel attracted to him and considered him more of a friend or sibling. For Thalia, he was akin to an anchor to her life and identity outside the Hunt, and the goddess would be ashamed if yet another of her girls had to feel closed off from what made them more than just hunters. The connections with people were what made their individuality for years to come. It was what kept them human.

"Also, Cassandra wanted to speak to you. It is a matter you would like to handle privately… and with care." She gave Artemis a meaningful look, and Artemis bared herself for what she might hear. If her instincts were right…

She watched as Thalia called Cassandra, and then jogged off towards the newest male to join them. Artemis went over to the entrance to her tent, waiting anxiously for the girl.

Once settled in the tent, Artemis inquired about Cassandra's problem, worried about whatever it was.

"Milady, I have a request for you… a request that burdens my very soul."

Artemis could feel her heartbeat grow faster when the girl chewed the bottom of her lip. "I never imagined that I would come to say this, but… I wish to leave the Hunt and set on my own path… whatever may remain of it."

Artemis could feel tears somewhere in her mind, which she shielded away from her maiden. "Why, Cassandra?" Her voice was hoarse despite her attempts to conceal otherwise.

The girl stared at the floor, unable to meet the goddess' eyes. "It is too painful for me to remain here. My sisters of thousands of years are gone now, hopefully in the gardens of the afterlife. I can never see them again, and cherish their company. The Hunt… it is not the same without them."

Her lips were quivering, hurt so exposed in her eyes it could be recognised far from the confines of the tent.

Artemis, too, was pained. Cassandra was among the eldest of her maidens, the last remnant of her party from Ancient Greece. The successive deaths of many old hunters like Phoebe and Zoe very likely took a toll on her mind.

"And you are prepared to accept a mortal life?" she asked.

Cassandra nodded shakily. "I have been thinking about this for weeks now. I do not enjoy leaving after so many years with you, but this loneliness is too much for me to bear.

Artemis nodded in acceptance, wiping a tear out of her eye. "I understand. You are released from my service," Artemis closed her eyes, taking away the blessings that Cassandra had. The silver glow around her faded, and the connection she felt with her was loosened. "May you find peace and contentment on your path."

"Thank you, milady," Cassandra was close to tears, as was the goddess. She pulled the girl into an embrace, holding her tight in her arms while silent tears flowed down her cheek. Another hunter lost to time.

"Where will you go from here?" Artemis asked, voice heavy with emotion.

"I'm not sure, milady. The mortal world has many opportunities, has it not?"

"It does, but you have the appearance of a young maiden. Finding a proper place for yourself would prove to be difficult until you are old enough."

"Maybe… maybe I can go to Camp? I can stay there until I can legally live on my own."

"That would be appropriate." Artemis agreed. The Camp was best for her. She thought to herself. "Well, we have Percy Jackson here with us today. Are you okay with leaving alongside him?"

She scoffed, "I do not need a male to escort me."

The goddess smiled, "I have no doubt in your abilities, but you would still have to adjust to the loss of my blessing. My mind will be at ease that you reach Camp safely."

"Okay, milady."

"Come, you should the last with your sisters. We shall celebrate your heroic services, should we not?"

Cassandra gave a teary smile. "I am humbled, my lady. Without you, I was naught but a maiden with aspirations bigger than her stature."

"You were a wonderful and capable huntress, daughter of Hermes. Never let anyone tell you otherwise."

News of Cassandra's departure made for a bittersweet occasion. She was a popular girl in the Hunt, and had several friendships even among the younger ones. Everyone greeted her with mixed emotions, but Cassandra did her best to keep it festive.

She was that way. Lithe, agile and lively, often taking part in competitions of one form or another. She positive influence on the Hunt and kept the mood upbeat, contrasting with the likes of Zoe, serious and unforgiving as she was. Despite hailing from the times when women were almost suffocated by society, she was very comfortable with the other gender, bearing no ill will towards them. It was a wonder that she stayed with the Hunt for so long, as almost all the others of her kind didn't stay for long.

Physically, she was a permanent fifteen-year-old with brown hair and eyes, not very tall or imposing in appearance. A daughter of Hermes, and one of his favourite children. Hermes would often visit her whenever he had a message to deliver to Artemis. Perhaps her father's influence was enough to not trouble her concerning men. Hermes did have that effect on people, even if some of his actions were in poor taste.

Artemis felt a certain sadness in her heart throughout the ordeal, but the decision was for the betterment of everyone. It was fulfilling the very purpose of this small community.

The Hunt was the pride and joy of its patron goddess. She had spent millennia with her group of girls who had dedicated their lives to becoming independent women. Learning to be strong, brave, and living with as little reliance on the world as they could. It was also a place for healing the traumas that had been inflicted in past lives, and moving past them to do some good with their new ones.

Some, like Zoe, took forever to heal. But others did heal in their time with the hunt. It was primarily what the Hunt was for. A place to recover their confidence, their wellbeing, and to learn to live their lives again. And Artemis had done everything in her ability to shape them into everything they deserved to be.

Lately, though, the Hunt had gone through troubling times. Bianca was lost on her very first week as a hunter. Zoe, their long-time lieutenant and a sister to Artemis was the second casualty of the Titan war, which had gone on to claim the lives of some more of her hunters. And if that wasn't enough, Orion had killed many more. The atmosphere that was once fresh and adventurous had decayed into a sombre, guarded one that was not hospitable for those who longed for good times. Such as Cassandra.

Cassandra was close friends in particular with Zoe and Phoebe, who were some of the earliest members. So many of them were gone, such as Cassandra's best friend at the time, Sipriotes.

Ah, Sipriotes, the young boy Artemis had transformed into a maiden. It was one of the most regretful decisions of hers. A pang of guilt always surfaced when she thought about him… her.

"You wish to leave, Sipriotes?"

"Yes, milady" the boy in a twelve-year-old maiden's body replied, shuffling on her feet. "I have thought this over. This life is one that I wish to escape."

Artemis sighed. Sipriotes was always nervous and skittish, never getting comfortable with his skin. It was a part of what made him a target for some of the… less-behaved among the girls. They jeered at him, often making a show of themselves when bathing, showering him with taunts. She had done whatever she could to quell these mischiefs, but what could she say when she herself was the primary culprit behind this unease?

"Is there no other way? I could make this easier for you. The girls only need to be taught a lesson and it will be better."

"Respectfully, milady, I disagree. This is my wish."

"Alright. Do you also wish to return to your gender?"

"I… appreciate the offer. But I am a maiden now, and returning to form would be even more… unnerving," there was a trace of bitterness in her otherwise subdued voice, which made the goddess wince internally. "I would just like to be left in peace for the rest of my life now. Wherever it may lead."

Artemis nodded her head. "I hereby free you of my services. May you find peace and contentment on your path."

"Thank you, Lady Artemis. I will always be grateful for this."

She couldn't decide whether to accept the gratitude or feel offended.

This confusion was also her own creation, she thought. Perhaps some change was due.

I'm no expert in hunting, so please bear my bs if you can. Good day to you all.

Here's a link to my personal Discord server for the week. I should be updating the one in my profile otherwise.

discord gg/w7wzD3ba