I DO NOT OWN PJO OR HoO

Thank you to all who are reading and I hope you enjoy. Also I wrote this chapter tonight because I got bored so enjoy.

Without further ado ladies and gentlemen Chapter: 4.

Chapter 4: The Unseen Bonds

The days following the hunt were strange for Percy. At camp, everything felt like it always had—chaotic, unpredictable, and full of demigod problems—but when he thought back to the night with Artemis, he found himself distracted. There was something about her that lingered in his mind, like an echo he couldn't shake. It wasn't just the fact that she was a goddess, or even that she was more powerful than anyone he had ever known. It was the way she looked at him, as if she could see something inside him that no one else could.

Percy wasn't used to this kind of attention. Most gods and goddesses saw him as either a tool to be used or an annoyance to be dealt with. But Artemis... Artemis had seen something else. And for reasons he couldn't quite explain, it made him feel both special and vulnerable.

One afternoon, while the sun was still high, Percy decided to visit the woods again. It had become a habit of sorts, even though he knew Artemis wasn't likely to be waiting for him there. He didn't really know what he was expecting, but something about the quiet solitude of the forest felt different now. It was as though the trees themselves held a secret.

As he approached the familiar clearing where they had fought the chimera, he spotted her standing at the edge, gazing up at the sky. The moon was still several hours from rising, but Artemis was always aware of its approach, as if she could sense its pull.

"Didn't think I'd see you here," Percy said, his voice light but unsure.

Artemis didn't immediately turn to face him, but he could hear the faint rustling of her silver armor as she shifted. "I didn't think you'd come back."

"Guess I can't resist a good mystery," Percy replied with a grin, walking closer but keeping a respectful distance.

She turned her head slightly, her silver eyes glinting. "You're full of surprises, Percy Jackson."

He laughed, though it felt a little hollow. "I'm not sure that's a good thing."

Artemis tilted her head, studying him with that calculating gaze of hers. "Maybe it's a good thing for me."

For a moment, there was a silence between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was different—charged, as if they were both feeling something that neither knew how to express. Percy wasn't sure what Artemis was thinking, but he knew she was aware of the unspoken connection growing between them. It felt too obvious to ignore, yet neither of them seemed willing to acknowledge it.

Finally, Artemis spoke, her voice softer than usual. "I've been thinking about something you said... the night of the hunt."

Percy raised an eyebrow, wondering if she meant the comment about the moon needing the stars. "What about it?"

"You said the moon needed the stars," Artemis repeated, her gaze far away, almost as if she were speaking more to herself than to him. "I never thought of it that way."

Percy took a step forward, drawn to her words. "But isn't it true? The stars always surround the moon. Without them, it wouldn't shine as brightly. They don't take away from the moon's power. They just... compliment it. Maybe that's what makes it so beautiful."

Artemis looked at him then, a soft light in her eyes that made her appear almost... human. It was a fleeting moment, but it was enough for Percy to realize that, despite the distance she kept, Artemis was more than just a goddess of the hunt. She was someone who understood solitude, who knew what it felt like to be surrounded by others but still feel alone. And maybe, just maybe, she was beginning to understand that the same was true for him.

"Perhaps," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I've never needed anyone. Not really."

Percy felt a pang of sympathy. "Maybe you don't need anyone. But that doesn't mean you're not allowed to want someone."

Artemis seemed to consider this, her gaze flicking to the sky once more. The wind blew gently through the trees, rustling the leaves in a soft, rhythmic sound. For a moment, neither of them spoke, and it felt like the whole world was holding its breath, waiting for something to change.

Then, finally, Artemis spoke again, but her voice was quieter, almost vulnerable. "I've been alone for so long, Percy. It's... difficult to imagine sharing my life with anyone. Especially someone like you."

Percy blinked, surprised by the weight of her words. "Someone like me?"

"You're not like the others. You're... unpredictable. Wild. And yet, you have a heart that's bigger than any of them. But I wonder..." She trailed off, turning to face him fully now. "I wonder if you'd still be so willing to help me if you knew the truth."

Percy's heart skipped a beat, a sense of urgency rising in him. "What truth?"

Artemis stepped closer, the space between them now small enough for him to feel the warmth of her presence. "That being around me... that knowing me... means you'll never have a normal life. You'll never be able to walk away from this. From me."

For a moment, Percy was silent, the weight of her words sinking in. He had always known that his life as a demigod was a dangerous one. But with Artemis... it felt like more than just danger. It felt like a choice, one that he wasn't sure he was ready to make.

But looking into her eyes, he saw something that made him certain of one thing: he wasn't afraid.

"You think I'm afraid of that?" Percy asked softly, his voice steady. "Of living a life that's anything but normal?"

Artemis's expression softened, and for the first time, he saw a hint of something that could be called hope. It was so fleeting, so fragile, that he wasn't sure it was real. But it was there, in the curve of her lips, in the way she looked at him, as if she were waiting for him to say something—anything—that would prove she wasn't as alone as she thought.

"No," she said quietly, her voice almost a whisper. "But I don't want you to suffer because of me. I've seen what happens to those who get too close to me, Percy. I've seen the heartbreak. The loss."

Percy reached out, gently touching her arm, his fingers brushing against the cold metal of her armor. "Maybe it's not about avoiding the loss. Maybe it's about deciding it's worth it."

Artemis looked at him for a long time, her gaze searching, as if she were trying to decide if he truly understood what he was saying. Then, slowly, she took a deep breath and placed her hand over his. Her fingers were cold, but there was a warmth in her touch that melted the distance between them.

"Maybe it is," she murmured.

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