To MasterTrident: That is an embarrassingly simple mistake on my part, thanks for pointing it out. Also hope you like the tridents lol.

Percy

'Clear!' I called up. I heard a rustling in the trees before Artemis dropped down to the ground. 'One of these days you're going to have to show me how to do that.'

Artemis simply flashed me a smile. 'If we survive this.' It had become something of an inside joke between the two of us over the last week.

The pine trees of Muir Woods National Park glittered with the rays of the sun, throwing shimmering lights on the two of us. The terrain extended for miles in each direction, the monotony of it all really setting in as we walked.

'Remind me again, why can't we just teleport there? Even I could get us way closer.' I protested.

'Perseus, we are close enough to mount Tam that if I was to use or expend even the smallest bit of divine energy, Porphyrion would be able to sense me. I can feel his aura even from here, faint as it is.' I sighed in defeat.

'But wait, why can't I teleport us closer? I'm just a demigod.'

Artemis wrinkled her nose in distaste, although I could see the mirth in her eyes. 'I don't trust you not to mess that up.'

I threw up my hands in exasperation. We continued walking in comfortable silence after that.

I started fidgeting after a while. Gods-be-damned ADHD. I needed something to distract myself.

'So what will you do after we defeat Porphyrion?' I blurted out suddenly. Woah partner, that came outta nowhere. But I was feeling bored and hell, why not.

Artemis cocked her head, deep in thought. 'I suppose I shall return to my duties with my hunt.' I noticed doubt seemed to be creeping into her voice. Huh. Odd. Perhaps she had had some sort of disagreement with them before her departure?

Artemis seemed to be lost in thought as she stared ahead, her eyebrows furrowed adorably as she seemed to develop a sudden interest in the needles on the pine trees up ahead. The sunlight flickering through the treeline flickered along her countenance, giving her eyes an ethereal look that seemed capable of staring through my soul if they were turned on me.

'And you?' Artemis asked. I had been so distracted that for a moment I stayed silent, before uttering the incredibly intelligent 'Huh?'.

Artemis gave me a strange look, studying me as she kicked a particularly round stone, glancing as it skimmed over the thin layer of moss blanketing the ground, coming to a stop some paces away.

'What are your plans for after the war? Being a praetor I'm sure you have a lot to do.' Artemis looked at me expectantly as we walked.

I came to an abrupt stop as I came to a harrowing realisation.

I hadn't thought about praetorship and my plans since we had left Nereus three weeks earlier.

'What is it?' Artemis asked as she too stopped and stared at me worriedly.

'I was just thinking, I don't think I turned off the lights in my villa before I left.' I lied easily.

Artemis rolled her eyes playfully, an easy smile present on her features. The smile always made me happy, even when I was thinking of praetor business. Which apparently I haven't thought of in a while. I sighed. My head really was a mess.

Some praetor you are. A snide voice called out from somewhere deep in my mind.

XIXI

Percy

The water flowed at a moderate pace, barely reaching my waist as I revelled in the feeling of rejuvenation I always felt even when only near water.

The river was slow-moving, barely affecting the wildlife that lived in it, and I was the only being in the body of water stirring up the sand at the bottom, which spiralled outwards, like watching a sandstorm through a looking-glass.

There was a small beach near the waterline, where Artemis was sitting down, still keepìng distance from the water, although I noticed with a small sense of victory that she didn't seem as paranoid of the flowing body of water as normal.

Small grasslands dotted the surroundings, before slowly transitioning into woodland, which surrounded the clearing.

'If you take much longer we'll have to set up camp here.' Artemis called irately from where she was impatiently.

'Just five more minutes!' I called back as I trailed my hands through the water, forming small shapes in the air with small wisps of water.

Artemis scoffed in exasperation. 'We still have a good quarter of Mount Tam to scout out.' Artemis reprimanded.

'Yeah, stressful, if only we had an immortal goddess of the hunt who could-'

'Perseus!'

I drifted lethargically to the edge of the river lying flat on top of the water.

'Yes?'

'We've gone over this a million times.'

'We've also travelled like a million miles at this point.'

'Touché. But it is our burden to shoulder.'

'At least the company is alright.' I muttered.

'Only alright?' Artemis asked with a raised eyebrow.

'Damn deities and their augmented senses.' I grumbled, now aware she could hear me.

Artemis swatted me playfully on the shoulder as she got up. I studied her as she fiddled with some strands of grass, forming them into intricate little chains.

'How come you aren't a maiden goddess?' I asked curiously.

Artemis's head jerked up oddly. 'Why do you ask?' She enquired dubiously.

I shrugged. 'I remember you mentioned it before. At the start of the quest.'

Artemis sighed. 'I simply never found interest in any males. Marriage was different in ancient Greece. I couldn't preserve my values as a married woman. I'd have my independence taken away from me. And anyways, I never liked those mortal flings the others have.' Artemis made a face as she recounted that last part.

I stayed silent for a moment, thinking I had hit a sore spot.

'Let's get going, I want to be as far from this river as possible when we make camp.' Artemis shuddered involuntarily as she stared at the river dubiously.

I snorted in amusement. 'There is not a single deity in that body of water.' Despite her newfound control of water, Artemis still seemed to maintain her strong revulsion towards the liquid.

Artemis looked at me curiously. 'How do you do that?' She asked.

'What?'

'Sense stuff around you. Like at the Arby's. You knew the empousa was behind you. I've never even seen your father do something like that.' She explained.

I took a moment to study her. Artemis seemed genuinely curious. This isn't New Rome. She just wants to help. You promised to trust her.

I pointed to the ring on my finger. 'My trident. It happened during the fight with Nereus. Ever since, I feel more connected to the water. I could always sense things through the water molecules in the air, but now, I can sense every single being in that river, even as we walk further away.' I explained

'An artefact of the sea, no doubt.' Artemis mused out loud. 'How did you get it in the first place?'

I hesitated. This was getting more personal than I had originally bargained for. My mind instantly went to my dream with Aphrodite, and the conversation about my anonymous backer. I felt the now familiar weight of apprehension in the bottom of my stomach as I was reminded of the memory.

I opened my mouth to respond as my mind raced for a believable lie when a sharp shriek sounded from the woods behind us.

Artemis turned to look out at the woods, and after a moment of intense staring she smiled.

'I didn't know they came to inhabit these lands.' I was on the verge of asking her what she meant when I spotted the first one coming out of the treeline.

It was majestic, with powerful legs, akin to those of a horse, or an antelope, with fearsome tusks on a face that seemed to be a cross between a wildcat and a warthog. But its most striking characteristic were its long horns that seemed almost too big for its body as they measured over half the length of the animals' own body length, shining with its ivory hue in the midday sun.

'What is it?' I asked suspiciously as I unconsciously traced small grooves in my ring.

'She is a Yale.' Artemis said with a small smile. 'They are some of the few mythological animals still in existence, not yet forgotten about by the wider public. And her children.'

Artemis nodded towards what seemed to be two carbon copies of the now-identified mother, now also emerging out of the treeline. The two younger ones walked over, weary of us as they kept their distance, coming to the edge of the stream off to the side to drink apprehensively from the water.

The mother padded forwards, placing herself between the young and me and Artemis, her eyes holding the silent challenge should we attempt to approach her.

'I am tasked with their conservation in the wild.' Artemis said softly. 'Although the project is at a phase in which I barely have to intervene anymore. I have many fond memories taking care of these animals.' I watched her observe the monsters with a smile.'

'But… They're monsters.' I replied disbelievingly.

Artemis shrugged. 'They will attack if provoked. But does that make them intrinsically evil? No. Any species would retaliate to protect their loved ones. They do not associate themselves with any forces that conspire against Olympus.'

I considered Artemis' words as I stared at the Yales while they drank and the mother stood guard.

I shrugged. 'I guess when you figure out everything is trying to kill you, you start to forget why the weird antelope wildcat hybrid also wants to kill you.' I responded.

Artemis rolled her eyes at the crudeness of my rejoiner. 'Of course, I forget some of us lack the brainpower to expend on such complicated speculation.'

She sat down on the soft grass under us, summoning her bow as she went about maintaining it, despite it already being in pristine condition.

I went to return fire in the banter before noticing the grownup Yale seemingly getting more and more agitated, snorting repeatedly as it pawed its hooves on the ground and threw around its tusks menacingly.

I instinctively scooted a bit closer to Artemis as I stared at the thing dubiously. 'Uh, does it usually do that?'

Artemis looked up from her bow, frowning as she noticed the beast's behaviour. 'Strange. I've never seen one act like that around me or my hunters.'

I took an instinctive step back. 'Maybe we should leave?' I suggested tentatively.

Artemis nodded. The goddess got up, turning her back to the Yale as she stretched out her arms and back, getting ready for the hike ahead of us.

The Yale didn't take this well, as it let out a massive roar, before lowering its head and charging straight at us.

Muscle memory took hold as I pushed Artemis out of the way, summoning my trident in the meantime and brandishing it in front of me at the Yale as it charged towards me.

I felt power flow through me and I knew my eyes were glowing as I summoned water from the river beside me as gallons upon gallons of water coalesced in front of me, before being launched at breakneck pace at the Yale.

While this should have stopped the thing right in its tracks, it simply angled its head as the massive horns on its head cut cleanly through the water sent at it, cutting the water apart, letting it fall harmlessly to the ground.

My eyes widened in surprise as the Yale kept picking up speed, getting ever closer to me.

I prepared my stance for a heavy impact as the thing got close, preparing to meet the ferocious beast head on with my trident.

'Wait!' Artemis called out from beside me. She had scrambled to her feet since I had shoved her out of the way, and had both of her hands out as she stared intensely at the Yale, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration as she seemed to communicate with the thing.

The Yale trotted to a halt, and I let out a big sigh of relief as I lowered my guard.

I really didn't want to upset Artemis by killing one of these things, as they seemed to be very important to her from what she had told me.

…Which was exactly when one of the young Yales decided to ram me from the side.

Luckily for me, this particular young Yale had not grown out it's horns properly yet, or I would have been skewered in half.

I fell on my back, my bent elbows softening the blow for my head as I winced in pain.

Gods these things were getting on my nerves.

I picked up the Yale that had just rammed me, throwing it into the river, where it lay practically immobilised, as I realised with a feeling of dark enjoyment that it couldn't swim very well.

I was once again guarded as I expanded my senses through the molecules of water in the air, through which I could pinpoint the second Yale also charging me from its original position by the rivers edge, which I now had my back faced to.

Artemis once again came to my aid, thrusting out her hands towards the Yale, the thing trotting to a stop as it came directly under Artemis' control.

XIXI

Artemis

My heart slammed straight down into the ground as one of the young Yales attacked Perseus, ramming into his side.

Suddenly, my mind flashed back to a similar scene, many millennia ago, a large, brown-haired boy crying out in pain as he dropped his bow and blood spurted from a wound in his chest.

I had felt relief then, but now I only felt horror.

Luckily, these specific specimens were still months off from developing sharp horns, and Perseus fell to the ground amidst muffled curses.

I let out a sigh of relief. That had been too close to home.

Too much like him. I frowned, my mind going back to the conflicting sadness and satisfaction I had felt simulatenously. I quickly shook my head clear of such memories.

That type of thinking wouldn't get me anywhere.

And anyways, it wasn't the same with Perseus.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as I extended my authority, bringing the remaining free-willed and seemingly very bloodthirsty Yale under my direct authority.

'Okay, this better not be some Mandela effect type of situation, because I distinctly remember you telling me these things don't attack without provocation.' Perseus remarked testily from beside me, staring distrustingly at the Yale I was commanding to cease attacking.

'Just give me a moment.' I murmured softly as I approached the mother Yale, stretching out my hand to her forehead.

I felt Perseus's gaze on me as I attempted to calm down the Yale enough to ask it for its intentions and its reason for attacking Perseus after I had expressly told them he was a friend.

Although I did have the ability to compel all animals and beings that live in the forest and wilderness to do my bidding, it was very rare the time in which I actually had to utilise this ability, as my respect alone usually garnered full compliance with all woodland creatures I had encountered up until now.

I felt the Yale's breathing slow and its heartbeat lessen in strain as I poured my power into the being, a wave of calm passing through its body.

I felt a barrier. Something was resisting me. I poured yet more power into the animal, purging it of the obstacle.

I felt her shudder in relief as my relentless harrying of the obstacle bore fruit, the blockage melting away as I fully cleansed the being.

What ails you, who compels you to disregard my wishes? I asked softly.

My lady, the woman from the ground, she controls us. She tells her minions to take control of our bodies, makes us prisoners within our own minds. She wishes to sow division between yourself and the seaweed-smelling one. The mother Yale explained frantically.

I tried to suppress my smile in this tense moment at its unfortunate naming of Perseus. The information that the Yale revealed, however, was troubling.

The earth mother had discovered we were travelling together, and further still, wished to make Perseus think that I was trying to kill him?

I glanced back at Perseus nervously, seeing him leaning forward slightly with his hands on his hips, studying the Yale he had immobilised in the river with narrowed eyes as he regarded the animal with suspicion.

I walked over to the other Yale I had directly controlled with my power and repeated the same process as with the mother, cleansing it of the being which was controlling it with the same disintegration of a barrier on its body, allowing it to retain motor control over itself once again.

'You gonna clue me in?' Percy asked sceptically from where he stood as he noticeably kept the Yale he was watching within his peripheral vision at all times.

'Gaia. Again.' Was all I said as I stood up from the newly freed Yale. 'Trying to get you to think I was trying to kill you.'

He raised his eyebrows. 'She failed pretty miserably in that case.'

I frowned, pondering the strategy further. What if Perseus had actually killed one of the Yales? Would I have actually gotten angry at him? At the very least it would have sown distrust between the two of us.

Perseus was still looking at me, a strange look in his eyes. 'Just so you know, I trust you. I know we've been through this a couple of times already, but I really do mean it.' He said seriously.

'I just… I'm not worried about you. I worry about myself. Truthfully, I do not know what I would have done if you had slain one of the Yales.' I explained quietly.

Perseus frowned at that. I cursed myself for my transparency.

Now you've done it.

After a moment of silence Perseus brought the Yale he still held from the river over to the two of us. It bleated helplessly as I reached out to hold it, the water dispersing into the air.

I held my hand to its temple, cleansing him as I had with the previous two Yales.

'I was going to, for a moment there.' He said eventually as we watched the young Yale rejoin his mother and brother as they once again made their way away from the scene.

'Kill him, I mean.' He elaborated at the confusion evident on my face. 'But… They seemed important to you, so I kinda just let it be?' He explained sheepishly.

I'll never know how long I stared at him, only barely registering him fidgeting uncomfortably under my stare as I processed what he had said.

He risked his life for me. For a couple animals that were important to me.

My heart melted as I realised what he had done for me.

'I'm uh, I'm going to go get some wood.' Perseus said uncertainly.

It took me a moment to realise he was waiting for a reply.

'Yeah, sure.' I said quickly, barely registering him walking away.

I didn't really know how to feel.

I didn't even know how I felt.

What Perseus had done for me…

I smiled to myself. He had exceeded everything I had thought possible from him.

I heard a thump behind me, and I jumped up with a reinvigorated vigour, my mood soaring in the sky.

'Did you really trip again?' I asked lightly as I looked for him.

Then everything went black.

AN:

Aaaand scene. So yeah. In case somehow you couldn't tell, this story is definitely pertemis. Uh, I've been hinting at it pretty heavily, so if you didn't pick that up, I'm not sure what to tell you.

So, there has been a time skip of two weeks, and I came up with the idea of Orion. The reason is that I don't want Artemis to be some kind of damsel in distress that falls for the hero, and gets relegated to the sidelines and has no sort of personal identity.

Cliffhanger? Not for long, I plan to have the next chapter out pretty soon if everything goes to plan.

Let me know what you think, things I could improve. I'm not going to demand you to write a review, but it's much appreciated.

Apathetic God: I'm so glad you noticed that. Since this fic is majority fluff, especially at the beginning I thought it would be important to establish Percy's general power, but not like shove it in your face like 'Hey look Percy's powerful because I said so!'

So yeah, that's about it. I'll try and get the next chapter out as soon as possible, hopefully it should be longer. This was more filler to expand Artemis and Percy's relationship.

Murph, out.