A/N
Short chapter I know, but on the bright side 2 chapters in 8 days that has not happened in a while.
Zoë POV
It had been a few days since the incident with Orion, Artemis had the girls hunkered in a valley and Persephone hadn't left Maia's tent. Phoebe has been camping with me, she says that all Persephone has been doing is crying, hasn't even left Maia's bed, been sleeping there as well. The whole hunt had mourned for her but it hit Persephone the most, what she had almost gone through. Every now and again when I'd go and see her, even if she was asleep, she'd flinch when I walked in, even more so if I'd put my hand on her shoulder. Artemis had to soundproof the tent because she woke some of us up when she had a nightmare. The way she'd just scream bloody murder until Artemis walked in and it would quiet down, but sometimes when I would walk to the front of the tent I could hear her cries, and the soft words of what had to be both Artemis and Nyx in there comforting her. Artemis still hasn't named the next lieutenant, everyone expected it to be Phoebe or Naomi, but when I asked them about it they said they didn't want the position, that they felt they weren't the right person to take it after Maia, then they would get this look in their eyes and look towards the tent that Persephone was in. I understood, since she joined Persephone had gotten closer to Maia than anyone, the way those two could hunt together, neither saying a word, it was like they could read each other's mind. They were never not on the same page. Sometimes I wonder if even Artemis agrees that Persephone should be the next lieutenant and that's why she's trying to get her back on her feet as quickly as possible. It makes sense, when it comes to skills tracking or with the bow, no one but Artemis is better and she has great decision making skills, but that's just because she's old.
I understand why this is so hard for her though. I have nightmares of that night, when I walked into that clearing with Artemis and Phoebe. Seeing Maia dead on the ground, Persephone just stabbing Orion over and over. Clothes torn and blood all over her, I thought we'd never get the blood out of her hair, and that's not talking about the state Orion was in. Almost unrecognizable, she was using so much force the celestial bronze knife she was using snapped half way up the blade. It was pretty obvious what Orion was trying to do, before Maia stepped in.
My musing was interrupted by Phoebe sitting down next to me while asking, "Still hasn't left the tent?"
Before I could answer we saw the tent flap open up to see Persephone slowly walking out into the night air and what looks like Artemis at her side coaxing her out. Persephone looked like hades. Her hair was matted, skin pale, eyes bloodshot, but she was walking so I will take what I get. I immediately got up moving towards the pair, stopping short when Artemis put her hand up. Artemis leaned down and whispered something in Persephone's ear, when she nodded Artemis gestured for me to come forwards. When I got within five steps of them Persephone latched on to me, hugging me tightly she just started apologizing repeatedly.
"Sorry Zoë, she's been doing that lately." Artemis's words made me look up at her. Shaking my head towards her to let her know it's okay, I hugged my friend back, trying to help her as much as I can. Pulling away from her, I gave her a quick look over to make sure she was in one piece. It was then that I noticed the silver tiara sitting on her head. When she noticed me looking at it she started to look at the ground. Grabbing her face to make her look at me, I looked her right in the eyes .
"It's fine Sephy, Maia would be proud to know you took up the mantle of Lieutenant, you will do great. I found a nice pomegranate for you whenever you're ready, I got it today." The thanks she gave were almost inaudible and I let go of her face and she went to go back into the tent only to be stopped by Artemis. Together the three of us steered Persephone towards the area we were having dinner, Artemis sat at the head of the table with Persephone to her right and Phoebe to her left. I took my seat next to Persephone as I have always for the past 1100 years and all the other hunters sat down in they're spots. Artemis waved her hand and everyone had a large chunk of meat in front of them, except Persephone and Artemis, Artemis had some nectar and ambrosia and Persephone had the pomegranate I had gotten for her. Persephone immediately started taking the pomegranate apart and eating it, like she hasn't eaten in days, which she probably hasn't except for small snacks.
Artemis stood from her seat, addressing all of us. "Alright girls as you may have noticed, Persephone is the next Lieutenant, she will be leading you from now on. I know right now she isn't in the best shape, but then again none of us really are. We took a heavy loss a few days ago, that's why we all need to lean on each other and build each other up. I have faith that Persephone will be one of the best Lieutenants we've had in centuries, right up there with Maia. I know that if Maia had a choice on who should follow in her steps Persephone would have been one of those choices. So for tonight and all nights going forwards we live for them, we hunt for them, and we pray that when it's our time to go, we join them on the fields in Elysium. Tomorrow we have a new hunt, a group of mortals are hunting demigods. Now we don't know how they know about them or how they are finding them but demigods are dying. The boys are dying quick, the girls not so much, the council has decided that enough was enough, we have permission to deal with these mortals however we want. So we leave no survivors. Rest well tonight tomorrow we tear down camp and move as soon as the sun sets."
All the girls got up and headed for bed, as I walked into my tent I laid down waiting for Phoebe, but when the tent flap opened it was Persephone that walked in. I got up to walk towards her but paused, causing her to give me a small smile. She took a few steps and pulled me in a gentle hug.
"Welcome back Sephy, I missed you."
"It's good to be back Zo"
"How many times do I have to tell you there is no point shortening my already shortened name, your shortening Zoë which is already a short name."
I shake my head at Persephone's insurance sometimes to act like such a child. I watched her as she walked over to her bed laying down after grabbing her fur cover and wrapping it around herself and laying down. Laying down, I fell asleep quickly.