Chapter 17.
Back inside the living room, Artemis and Percy found the hunters sitting around her living room, looking bored. Their expressions brightened as they noticed the two return to the living room.
"Where's Zoe?" Thalia asked. "She's asleep in her bed. Flying around Olympus as a pegasus wore her out," Artemis explained gently. Thalia smiled and nodded as she turned back to the girls.
"Arty, not that everything is taken care of with Annabeth and Leo, Perhaps it's time we return to the mortal world with the girls so they aren't bored out of their minds?" Percy suggested. Artemis grinned and nodded as she turned back to the girls. "Girls, you up for some hunting?" The hunters cheered as they jumped up from their seats and ran over.
"You get them situated, I'll grab Zoe," Percy said. Artemis nodded as Percy turned and left the room. Making his way back the way they came, he returned to Zoe's room. Knocking on the door to make sure she was asleep, he waited a few moments before poking his head inside.
Seeing she was still asleep, he smiled as he watched over and gently nudged her. He waited until her eyes opened slightly before whispering,"We're returning to the mortal world. Time to get up." Zoe shook her head before she began to glow, shrinking until she looked eight.
Laughing at her antics, he picked her up gently before leaving the room and returning to the living room. When he returned, the girls smiled softly as they observed Zoe's sleeping form.
"It appears she knows how to change her age. Her control over her powers already is incredible," Thalia observed. Percy smiled as he replied,"perhaps my ascension to godhood sped up her power manifestation. Or it's Ouranos's doing. I'm not sure which."
Thalia nodded in agreement as Percy looked over at Artemis, who was gazing at Zoe with longing and fondness. Realizing that Artemis had never gotten the chance to hold Zoe as a young child, Percy walked over to her and gently offered Zoe to her.
Artemis's expression brightened as she happily took her sleeping daughter in her arms, cradling her gently. She turned to look at Percy with a mix of gratitude and adoration, her heart filled with warmth at the sight of her precious child in her arms. Percy grinned in return, feeling a sense of joy at seeing Artemis's happy expression.
"Let's get going then," Percy said, his voice filled with determination as he glanced at the girls. With a nod of agreement, they vanished in a bright burst of light.
Reappearing inside a forest clearing, Artemis looked around, taking in her surroundings with a keen eye. "We're in California. I can tell by the trees," she remarked, her familiarity with the natural world evident in her observation. Percy nodded in acknowledgment as he replied, "This is your area of expertise, Arty. I'm just here for emotional support."
Artemis and the girls shared a laugh before Artemis playfully added, "And pillow support." Percy grinned in response before looking around the forest clearing as the girls set off to create a camp for themselves. His attention turned back to Artemis, who was gently swaying with Zoe in her arms.
Smiling softly, Percy walked up behind Artemis and wrapped his arms around her stomach, resting his chin on top of her head. Artemis sighed contently, leaning back against him as they stood together.
"A few years ago, I didn't expect to be here, but I'm glad we are," Artemis said softly, her voice filled with warmth and gratitude.
Percy smiled, his heart swelling with affection. "Me too. We have a bunch of girls to look after, and our own daughter as well. Plus, all of her friends will be around, so she'll always have a support system," he replied, his voice tinged with pride.
Artemis nodded, a soft smile gracing her lips as she gently rested her head against Zoe's, her heart filled with love and contentment as they watched the hunters set up camp.
Later that evening, Artemis and Percy sat together on a log, watching as Zoe ran around with the hunters. The gods observed in amusement as Zoe easily kept up with most of the hunt, her energy and enthusiasm evident as she darted among the trees.
"She definitely takes after you more than me," Percy commented, laughing as he watched his daughter.
Artemis grinned, her eyes sparkling with pride. "She's my daughter, I would hope so," she replied with a playful smile.
Percy grinned back before reaching his arm out, snaking it around Artemis's waist and pulling her close. She leaned into him, enjoying the warmth of his embrace as they sat together in the quiet of the forest.
Percy kissed the top of Artemis's head affectionately before speaking again. "I'm going to visit Dad to schedule a dinner with his family so Zoe can meet them," he said, his voice filled with determination.
Artemis nodded in agreement as Percy vanished into a sea-green mist, disappearing from the forest clearing. Reappearing in his father's court, Percy waited patiently for him to finish speaking with an attendant before making his presence known.
"Dad," he greeted.
Poseidon turned around, breaking into a grin as he saw Percy standing there. "Ah Hello Percy. What can I do for you?"
"I wanted to see when your family was available for us to have dinner with you guys so they can meet Zoe." Percy explained.
Poseidon smiled widely as he replied," Any day would work Percy. We aren't exactly busy with the war behind us."
Percy laughed as he nodded. 'How is she doing?" Poseidon asked, curiously.
"She's doing good. Her godly powers have manifested early. She can change her age and her body and can even summon storms as we found out when Artemis's living room took an unexpected rinsing," Percy replied laughing.
Poseidon laughed as well before he shook his head playfully. "I can't wait for Triton and Amphitrite to meet her. They are going to love her." Percy smiled as he replied,"I hope so. I'll see you soon dad." Posiedon nodded as Percy vanished from his throne room.
Reappearing inside the hunters camp, Percy laughed as he witnessed Artemis chasing Zoe around the tree line. Being the goddess of the hunt, Artemis was faster than Zoe, but she stayed behind Zoe so she could find more enjoyment being chased by her mom.
He watched as Zoe noticed him and made a beeline for him, quickly reaching him before hiding behind his legs. Percy chuckled as he felt Zoe's tiny form pressed against him, finding amusement in her attempt to hide.
Artemis grinned as she followed Zoe, stopping in front of them with a playful glint in her eyes. "Zoe, hiding behind your father's legs isn't going to save you," Percy teased, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"Or is it?" he added with a smirk, before turning, scooping up Zoe, and taking off towards the tree line. Zoe giggled with excitement as they ran, her laughter filling the air.
"You're not going to outrun her, Dad," Zoe exclaimed between giggles, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Percy laughed heartily as he replied, "I'm not trying to. I just have to reach the lake over here." Zoe's eyes widened in realization as she caught onto his plan.
Sensing Artemis quickly catching up, Percy made it to the lake and used his water powers to run on top of the water's surface. He turned around, laughing as he saw Artemis's shocked expression as she reached the edge of the lake.
"Percy, that's not fair," Artemis exclaimed with mock indignation, her lips twitching with suppressed laughter.
Percy and Zoe shared a laugh before Percy responded cheekily, "All is fair in love and war, Babe." Artemis couldn't help but smile at his playful retort, although she pretended to pout.
"Aww, Mom's sad now," Zoe said with a hint of mischief, noticing Artemis's playful pout. Her expression quickly shifted to one of concern as she added, "But don't worry, Mom. Dad loves you!"
Artemis immediately brightened up at Zoe's reassurance. Percy laughed as he gently shifted Zoe onto his shoulders before walking back towards the shore. As they reached the water's edge, Percy extended his hand to Artemis, a soft smile playing on his lips. She took his hand, feeling a sense of warmth and security as he led her onto the water's surface.
They walked quietly along the top of the water, the gentle lapping of the waves providing a soothing backdrop to their steps. Percy squeezed Artemis's hand affectionately before pointing upwards. Artemis followed his gaze and gasped in awe.
Above them, the moon hung low in the sky, its soft glow casting a radiant reflection on the surface of the lake. Artemis's eyes widened with wonder as she took in the breathtaking sight.
"Perhaps it's time to take Zoe to your chariot?" Percy suggested with a gentle smile. Artemis's eyes lit up with excitement as she nodded in agreement. In a flash of silver light, they vanished, reappearing on the moon chariot.
Percy lifted Zoe off his shoulders and passed her gently into Artemis's waiting arms. Zoe's eyes widened with wonder as she took in her surroundings, her small hands reaching out to touch the shimmering surface of the chariot.
Artemis snuggled tightly against Zoe, holding her close as they soared through the night sky. Zoe's eyes sparkled with awe as she observed the world from the height of the moon chariot. "It's beautiful," she murmured, her voice filled with wonder and joy.
A few minutes later, Percy and Artemis exchanged surprised glances before turning their attention to Zoe, who had spoken suddenly. "Your deer says welcome back, my lady," Zoe said, her voice filled with innocence and wonder.
Artemis and Percy were stunned. "You can understand the deer?" Artemis asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Zoe nodded enthusiastically. "They are in agreement that I'm the favorite," she replied with a mischievous grin, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Artemis and Percy couldn't help but laugh at Zoe's playful remark. Percy looked at Artemis, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "I suppose it's not impossible, considering that I can speak to horses from my dad. I guess she can speak to deer from you," he mused, his voice tinged with wonder.
Artemis shrugged, a smile playing on her lips as she playfully nosed Zoe, who giggled in delight before returning the gesture. Percy smiled before he said,"Perhaps it's time to return to the hunt, it's getting late." Artemis nodded as they vanished from the chariot, letting it continue its flight in peaceful silence.
As Percy and Zoe appeared in the hunters' camp, the silence indicated that everyone had gone to bed. Percy affectionately rubbed Zoe's head as Artemis made her way towards Zoe's tent, ensuring her daughter was settled for the night. Meanwhile, Percy walked into his own tent, which was conveniently placed next to Artemis's.
Inside his tent, Percy went through his bedtime routine, preparing himself for sleep. Crawling into bed, he sighed softly as he gazed up at the ceiling, reflecting on the events of the day.
It had been a good day for them, Percy thought. He was aware that Poseidon was really excited to have dinner with Zoe, and he was glad that Zoe had more family members who wanted to see her. He also took comfort in knowing that his friends adored Zoe, which brought him immense joy. And seeing Artemis happy filled him with warmth and contentment.
Overall, he was happy with how things were, and he hoped that they wouldn't change. For the first time since he was a child, Percy felt truly content with his life.
His thoughts were interrupted when the flap of his tent opened, and he tilted his head to see Artemis entering. A smile spread across his face as he noticed she was joining him. Artemis returned his smile before flashing into her nightgown and climbing into bed beside him, wrapping him in her comforting embrace.
Percy let out a soft yawn, feeling the weariness of the day settle over him. He glanced down at Artemis, who had nestled her head comfortably against his chest, her rhythmic breathing signaling that she had succumbed to sleep. A fond smile tugged at Percy's lips as he admired the peaceful expression on her face.
Gently, Percy leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to the top of Artemis's head, silently expressing his love and affection for her. With a contented sigh, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to be enveloped by the soothing embrace of Morpheus's realm.
The next few days passed by in a blur as the hunt resumed their normal routines. Percy, for the most part, found other tasks to occupy himself while the hunters went about their duties. He couldn't hunt or aim a bow to save his life, and he struggled to keep up with the swift pace of the hunters. Instead, he opted to teleport to their location when they arrived.
For the past two days, Percy had been with his father, learning more about his godly abilities and gaining a deeper understanding of his control over the ocean. During this time, he discovered that dolphins were remarkably talkative creatures. Whenever he encountered them, they expressed their appreciation for his existence in their own unique way, which both confused and amused him.
"Percy, the palace staff is ready for you and the hunt to visit for dinner tonight. The palace will be enchanted so it's drained of water, allowing them to come and go without the worry of drowning," Poseidon informed his son.
Percy nodded in understanding before responding, "Alright, Dad. We'll be there later tonight." With that, Percy flashed away to the hunters' camp. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by smiles and waves from the hunters. Percy returned their greetings before his eyes lit up with joy as he noticed Zoe noticing him.
"Daddy!" Zoe exclaimed excitedly as she ran towards him. Percy chuckled before crouching down, welcoming her into his arms. He lifted her up and held her close, reveling in her embrace. "Where's Mommy?" he asked, looking around. Zoe pointed towards the edge of camp, where Artemis was assisting the younger hunters with their archery skills.
Percy smiled as he and Zoe approached Artemis. "Mommy!" Zoe called out happily as they drew near. Artemis turned around, her face lighting up with a radiant smile as she noticed Percy approaching with Zoe in his arms. She hurried over and enveloped them both in a tight hug, returning Percy's kiss on the cheek.
"Hello, Arty. How's the hunt coming along?" Percy inquired, his voice filled with warmth. Artemis returned his smile before responding, "It's going well. The younger hunters still need some practice with their bows, but we're making progress." Her tone was optimistic, reflecting her confidence in the hunters' abilities.
Percy nodded as he replied,"Dad's palace is ready for us tonight. So whenever the hunt is ready, we can take them to his realm for dinner." Artemis nodded before walking back towards the younger hunters, who were struggling to pull back a bowstring.
Percy smiled as he watched her go before turning his attention to Zoe, who was perched happily on his shoulders. "Zoe, have you learned to shoot a bow?" he inquired, genuinely curious. Zoe's eyes sparkled with excitement as she nodded eagerly. "Yes, Mommy taught me, and she's going to have Uncle Hephaestus forge me a bow that matches hers," she replied with enthusiasm.
Percy chuckled at her enthusiasm before remarking, "Well, at least you take after your mother in that regard and not me. I can't shoot a bow to save my life." Zoe giggled mischievously before declaring, "I'll teach you, don't worry." Percy grinned at her response before gently patting her leg. "I'd appreciate that," he said before deciding to go find Thalia.
With Zoe still riding atop his shoulders, Percy made his way through the camp, scanning the area until he spotted Thalia in the distance. With a determined stride, he headed towards her, eager to catch up and spend some time with his cousin.
"Thalia!" Percy called out as they neared her. She stopped shooting her bow and turned around, a smile spreading across her face as she watched the two approach. "Hey, Percy, what's going on?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Percy grinned before replying, "We're going to Dad's tonight for dinner. Are you ready for an undersea adventure?"
Thalia laughed before nodding. "As long as it's not the air, I'm perfectly fine," she replied, her grin widening. "You know, I wonder how my dad would feel if I was terrified of the ocean. The son of the sea god, scared of water. Oh, the irony," Percy teased, a playful glint in his eyes.
Thalia shot Percy a mock glare as she retorted, "Watch it, Kelp Head. I can still zap you with lightning." Percy grinned mischievously in response, "Wow, and you'd hit Zoe? How rude." Thalia's eyes widened in surprise as Zoe started giggling at Percy's remark. "It's fine, Daddy, I'll just run away when she attempts," Zoe chimed in innocently, earning a playful pout from Percy. "Traitor," he mockingly accused, feigning hurt.
Zoe and Thalia erupted into laughter at Percy's playful banter, and Percy soon joined in. After they had calmed down, Percy bid Thalia farewell and watched as she returned to her training. With Zoe still perched happily on his shoulders, Percy made his way back towards where Artemis was, a smile still playing on his lips from the cheerful exchange with his cousin
As they walked, Percy suddenly felt the air chill around him. Grinning, he turned his head and greeted, "Hey, Nico." Nico grinned in return, replying, "Sup, Perce." Zoe beamed and added, "Hi, Uncle Nico!" Nico chuckled warmly, waving at Zoe. "Hello, Zoe. How are you?" he asked kindly.
Zoe smiled brightly before responding, "I'm good, especially now that Daddy's back." Nico laughed and nodded before turning his attention back to Percy. "I came to let you know that Dad apparently heard through the grapevine that the Olympians want Zoe to visit for an Olympian feast. Apparently, the goddesses have been watching over her and want the chance to spend time with her."
Percy's eyes widened in surprise for a moment before he composed himself and nodded. "Alright, I'll let Artemis know," he promised. Nico nodded in acknowledgment before waving goodbye and disappearing into the shadows. Percy shook off his surprise and continued on his way back towards Artemis, his mind already buzzing with plans and preparations.