The leafy green of the forest trees prevented the majority of sunlight from streaming through, the thick branches concealing the large campsite. The tents were made from a similar fabric to the camouflaged surroundings, and the occupants wore identical colors. They were the Hunters of Artemis, women who'd sworn off love for immortality. Their numbers had diminished over the centuries, but they'd also increased. A balance had been struck, though their forces had significantly declined after the Second Gigantomachia.
In another world, another timeline, dozens would've been struck down by Orion's blade, their lives taken in the blink of an eye. In this universe, the death toll had been reduced drastically, and the meddling of Perseus Jackson during the final battle allowed Artemis to save her followers. For that, Artemis was eternally grateful. She'd grown fond of the boy, and his actions had proven his loyalty, courage, and heroism unmatched.
Artemis was alone; the rest of her hunters spread throughout their makeshift home, tending to various tasks. She'd chosen to remain by herself, and the others had respected her wishes. Her thoughts were centered on a certain raven-haired boy. Not for love, though her heart yearned for it, but for the abilities he'd displayed shortly before his disappearance.
Very few of the gods witnessed the full extent of Perseus' might that day, but those who had were astounded by his power. Artemis remembered his display of strength, the ease with which he'd handled Orion and his army. She was one of the few who'd been close enough to witness the event, and the memory had haunted her since then. The skirmish had occurred days before the final battle in Greece, and Artemis was still struggling to come to terms with what she'd witnessed.
A magical aura unlike any she'd seen before, an unending flow of power that dwarfed Thalia Grace and Nico di Angelo's displays, a storm rivaling Zeus himself. Artemis was a powerful goddess, but she knew her limits. Perseus was dangerous. No, not dangerous. Artemis knew he was no threat. The boy had proved his loyalty and dedication. No, not dangerous. Potent was a better word. His power was raw, a force of nature itself. He was like a hurricane, a destructive and uncontrollable strength.
It was nothing compared to what he would unleash against Gaia.
A wave of terror, an endless sea of carnage, and an onslaught of fury, the boy had decimated the forces of evil. It was an awe-inspiring sight and one she would not soon forget. He had fought like a man possessed; his strength and speed were unnatural. He had cut through the enemy forces with disturbing ease, the bloodied and battered corpses littering the battlefield. Another thing that had terrified Artemis that day.
The corpses of the monsters slain, they had not turned to dust. Perseus was fading the beasts, their existence wiped out permanently. He was a being who had the power to erase the monsters from reality. It was not unheard of, but the last person who'd wielded such authority had been during the Trojan War millennia ago. Achilles had killed the giants, the children of Earth, and his might was legendary. But the hero had died, and his power had vanished until now.
A knock on the door pulled Artemis from her thoughts, and a young girl, a brunette, entered. "Tierra, what need do you have of me?" The girl was a newer member but an enigma. A mortal-born, Artemis was loathe to admit she knew nothing of Tierra's heritage, the girl's physical traits, as beautiful as she was, commonly seen worldwide.
She'd been abandoned at a former campsite Artemis and her followers had resided at, and the goddess had been unable to refuse her huntresses' pleas. Tierra had been a baby then, her name a play on words from the tiara she'd constantly stolen from the Lieutenant, Thalia Grace. She was a strange child and grew up alongside the huntresses. She was a sister to them, and they had all been protective of her. Artemis eventually blessed the mortal, granting her the immortality of the Hunt, and her training had begun.
Artemis cleared her thoughts, her attention turning to Tierra's nervous gaze. "Yes?"
"I wanted to know if anything's been found with the whole ice thing?" Artemis sighed at her tone. She'd forgotten. Tierra had been present the day the surge of ice magic had been detected.
"No, I'm afraid not. We have not found a perpetrator, and there has been no further activity." Artemis watched the girl closely, Tierra's face a mask of disappointment.
"What's wrong, child?" Tierra shook her head.
"I was really hoping it would be Khione." Artemis smiled softly. Tierra's hatred of the Ice Queen was not uncommon. She'd become particularly outraged when she'd learned of what Khione had done to Perseus Jackson, though none knew precisely why she was so obsessed with the son of Poseidon.
"I have to ask, Tierra. What is your connection to Perseus? You were a baby during his time, you couldn't have possibly met him, so why is it that you are so concerned about him?"
"He was important to the camp, and I'd always heard stories. They all told me how much he'd done for them, and when I was a bit older, I started hearing stories about how he was the greatest demigod of his age." Tierra rubbed her neck nervously, a habit Artemis was sure she'd seen at some point in the past. "I feel this sort of kinship with him, and I know that's weird since I've never met the guy, but I feel like I have a bond with him. It sounds stupid, doesn't it?"
Artemis smiled playfully. "Just a little."