Officially taking this baby out of hiatus! Sorry for the long wait, but I think y'all would prefer that to lackluster chapters.
I just realised the chapter name abbreviates to MOP. lmao
Anyway, enjoy!
CHAPTER 6: MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE
Artemis hated immortality.
Artemis hated being immortal.
It was a bold statement, but not one she would soon retract. To be fair, she didn't dislike the premise of being an immortal - who wouldn't want to live forever with their family, all-powerful, for all eternity?
The gods were not her only family. It was her Hunters - those brave mortal girls, fleeting as their lives were - who held her heart. She lived with them, traveled with them, hunted with them - all for them to eventually end up paying Charon's fare.
"But you're a goddess!" People would say. "Why don't you save them?"
She was a goddess, that was true, but when the Moirai willed the strings to be cut, what could she do? Artemis was powerful, but that power was insignificant in the eyes of fate.
Not even the gods could defy the Moirai. It was the reason Zeus did not turn every child of his immortal. It was the reason Hades did not simply raise his children from the dead. Because fighting fate was like trying to escape quicksand - the more you struggle, the worse it gets.
That was one of the reasons she was so envious of mortals - they only lived once, and they knew it. Whether it was ancient Greece or modern-day America, they were aware of their mortality, and they lived each day as if it were their last.
Take Orpheus, for example. His wife Eurydice had died, and instead of mourning as Artemis did, he marched over to the underworld, coaxed his way into the palace of Hades, and requested an audience. Mind you, this was Hades, a being so immensely powerful he could end Orpheus with but a wave of his hand. And guess what Orpheus did? He asked, no, he demanded a way to bring his wife back, and Hades had granted that request.
Orpheus, foolish mortal that he was, refused to bend.
And Orpheus was just one of many. The most recent example was Percy Jackson. He had been pushed into battle after battle, and the son of Poseidon was so stupid, so brazen, as to believe he could win. And then he had theaudacity,the nerve to fight against her.
He had drowned Iapetus, a Titan even the Artemis feared. He fought against Titans and monsters, beings who anyone with a right mind would be terrified of. He fought against the king of the Titans, the Lord of Time.
And he was alive.
Such feats, no matter how awe inspiring, only served to distress Artemis further, It was a reminder that she was limited by fate, unable to tempt it and challenge it as heroes so openly did.
So when a hunter died, she would be devastated. Nobody would see her, for putting on an emotionless mask is mere child's play for a goddess such as herself, but inside, her heart would break.
When Zoë had died, the stone-cold facade threatened to slip. It was stone-cold, but not as sturdy. If you were to look closely, you could see tears begging to escape the confines of her eyes, you could see the trembling of her hands, you could see the way her very being threatened to curl up into a fetal position and weep.
Her hands had trembled, her lips had quivered, and behind her impassive gaze, her heart had shattered.
Still, she hadn't wept. She couldn't. Gods didn't weep.
Yet the question haunted her: had she been selfish to create the Hunters in the first place? To bind them to her service, knowing she couldn't protect them from the Moirai's cruel shears? Perhaps. But Artemis had done it anyway. She had given them purpose, adventure, a family of their own.
Was it enough? Would it ever be enough?
Was it greedy? Maybe. But Artemis did it all the same.
And now, here she was, without her hunters or companions, bound to servitude of Kronos and hunting Percy Jackson.
The thought twisted in her chest, an unfamiliar sting of betrayal. How had it come to this? She, the Goddess of the Hunt, a servant to the very force that sought to unravel everything she had sworn to protect. Yet now, she found herself hunting him, the same boy who had defied every expectation, every prophecy, and every limit fate had placed before him.
Artemis knew why Kronos had chosen her for this task. It was not just to mock her, though Kronos certainly delighted in that. No, Kronos wanted to break Percy Jackson, and there was no greater way to break a hero than to send the very gods they admired after them. Percy, like most mortals, still held onto some shred of faith in the gods - even now, after everything he'd been through. To send Artemis, someone who had fought beside him, against him would be a blow no sword could deliver.
She hated it.
She hated the cruelty of it all, the way Kronos manipulated her like a pawn, but most of all, she hated herself for succumbing to his will. For all her power, she was still bound by fate, still trapped by the inevitable. The same fate that had stolen her Hunters was now twisting her own path into something she could barely recognize.
Percy Jackson had been foolish to challenge her, to challenge the gods. But maybe that was what made him so dangerous. His refusal to bend, to accept defeat, was the very thing she had always envied in mortals. He had fought monsters, titans, even gods, and emerged victorious. And now, he was her quarry.
He was dumb. Dumb and stupid and much too smart. He relied on dumb luck, but at this point he might as well have been a legacy of Tyche.
Artemis gritted her teeth as the weight of her bow rested against her shoulder, a symbol of her eternal duty, now turned against someone who had once been an ally. She knew Kronos wasn't playing fair. But then again, neither did Percy.
She held a… grudging respect for him. She knew of no other mortal that would have lasted as long as he did against her. And even now, he refused to back down, even as the odds mounted against him.
It was foolish. It was reckless. But it was also admirable.
There was something about him, something different. Not just the blood of Poseidon, not just the prophecies that surrounded him - it was his indomitable will. His defiance, that refusal to accept the hand fate dealt him, was something even the gods had to acknowledge.
Now, with Kronos twisting the rules, forcing her to be his weapon, Artemis couldn't help but feel the bitter taste of betrayal - not only toward Percy, but toward herself. Kronos thought that by sending her, he could crush her spirit. Perhaps he could.
But Artemis knew better. Percy Jackson was not so easily broken.
Still, the hunt was on. And Artemis was bound to her role, to the command of the Lord of Time. She would do her duty, just as she had for eons, but as she prepared for the confrontation that was surely coming, she couldn't shake the feeling that fate had more in store for them both. Something bigger than gods and titans, something even Kronos couldn't predict.
Because try as they might, no-one could predict the enigma that was Percy Jackson.
Artemis couldn't even sense him anymore, meaning one thing - he was in Alaska.
So she nocked an arrow and set her gaze on the horizon, toward the cold and untamed wilderness of Alaska. The land where the gods' power was muted, where even her own divine senses would be dulled. The edge of the world.
Artemis's fingers tightened around the bowstring, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. She had always been certain of her purpose, of her role as a protector of maidens, a huntress, and a leader of her Hunters. But now, doubt gnawed at her like a persistent predator. The hunter became the hunted.
For the first time in millennia, she felt uncertain. Not of her abilities, but of her path.
Her prey was just a mortal; he was just a boy. A boy who had faced the unimaginable and lived to tell the tale. A boy who had won the loyalty of gods, defied the odds, and challenged the Olympians themselves. He was unlike any mortal she had ever encountered, and it frustrated her to no end that Kronos had manipulated her into this twisted game.
The mountains loomed ahead, jagged peaks of snow and ice. Alaska was unforgiving terrain, the perfect place for a hunter like her, yet also the perfect place to hide.
Percy was once again doing the most stupid things imaginable, and it was once again working.
"I will find you, Percy Jackson," Artemis whispered to the cold winds that howled around her. But even as she said the words, she couldn't help but wonder - when she found him, what would she do?
Would she truly deliver him to Kronos? Could she live with herself if she did?
She shook her head, pushing the questions away. There was no room for hesitation. She had a duty, a command to follow. But beneath that icy resolve, buried deep within her heart, was the faintest spark of something she hadn't allowed herself to feel in a long time - hope.
Perhaps, just perhaps, Percy Jackson would surprise them all once again.
The question was: would she, the goddess of the hunt, be ready when the time came to make her choice?
THE IRON HUNT
Apparently, Percy had a knack for getting himself into impossible situations.
Quests were decidedly not fun. For anyone who wanted a summary of Percy's very fun and totally not life-threatening week:
1. Him, Frank, and Hazel nearly drowned in a river.
2. Percy killed an old blind man claiming to be his half-brother. (Well technically, the dude killed himself, so assisted suicide?) He also got the location of Thanatos. Hubbard Glacier, if you were wondering.
3. Hazel became best friends with a horse she found. Said horse might or might not have also been his half brother. She called it 'Arion', though it insisted to Percy it was 'a fucking awesome horse'. Of course it had a sailor's mouth.
4. Frank killed a cyclops with a cool spear thingy. Percy didn't tell them it reminded him of Tyson.
5. Frank could also shapeshift, apparently because he was a legacy of Poseidon. Unfair, if you asked Percy.
6. They found a harpie called Ella, who was intent of following them around.
All things considered, Percy thought he was holding it together pretty well.
They stood in a clearing now, with Frank looking somewhat shell-shocked and Hazel talking softly to Arion. The horse was pawing the ground, clearly agitated, but Hazel seemed to have some kind of calming effect on him.
Percy, meanwhile, leaned against a tree, Riptide's familiar weight comforting in his pocket, and stared at the sky. He could feel the tension in his shoulders, the creeping anxiety of knowing they were still being hunted. He wasn't sure how much longer they could keep going without a real plan.
"Thanatos is up in Alaska," Percy said, more to himself than anyone else. "In the Hubbard Glacier." The words sounded insane. Who in their right mind went to Alaska to free the god of death? And why did it have to be them?
Hazel approached him. "We'll figure it out, Percy. We always do."
Percy snorted. "Do we, though? Because lately it feels like we're just barely scraping by."
Frank, who had been silent up until now, shifted nervously. "At least we have a lead. And... well, we're still alive."
"Barely," Percy muttered under his breath.
Hazel patted Arion's flank, her voice soft. "And we have Arion now. He'll get us there faster than anything."
Percy raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, about that. Did you ask if he's cool with carrying three demigods to Alaska?"
Hazel smiled slightly. "He didn't say no."
"I'm pretty sure he can't carry all of us and Ella," said Frank, ever the optimist.
Arion snorted, as if in response. Percy wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign.
"I just wish we had more time," Frank muttered, staring off into the distance. "More time to figure things out. More time to prepare."
Percy sighed, pushing himself off the tree. "Well, we don't. We never do. That's kind of our thing."
They fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of their task pressing down on them. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the forest. Percy knew they couldn't stay here much longer.
Ella, the harpy they had found earlier, was pacing nervously nearby, muttering random lines of prophecy and facts under her breath. Percy wasn't sure what to make of her, but something told him she was important.
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking at Hazel and Frank. "So, Hubbard Glacier, huh?"
Frank nodded grimly.
Percy's stomach churned at the thought. A literal glacier meant freezing cold temperatures, dangerous monsters, and worse... Kronos' forces would probably be waiting for them.
But what choice did they have?
"Alright," Percy said, trying to muster up some enthusiasm. "Let's go save the god of death."
"Sounds fun," Frank muttered, clearly unconvinced.
"Right," Percy said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth despite everything. "Because this hasn't been fun enough already."
As they prepared to move out, Percy couldn't help but glance up at the darkening sky again. A storm was coming. He could feel it.
Him, Frank and Hazel had swam through the river to a snowy forest.
As Percy crouched in the shadows of the dense forest, his heart pounded in his chest. The night air was cool against his skin, but sweat clung to his brow as he glanced around the clearing. He knew she was out there - Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, was closing in on him. He had faced her before, but this time was different.
"I can hear her." Percy said.
"Who?" Hazel whispered, eyes wild.
"Artemis."
"She's coming," whispered Frank, standing beside him with his bow drawn, eyes scanning the treeline. "Do you think we can outrun her?"
Percy grimaced, his grip tightening around Riptide. "Outrun Artemis? On Arion, maybe. But Arion can't carry all of us."
He'd always respected her. Feared her a little, too, if he was being honest. But now, with Kronos pulling the strings, that fear had grown. Artemis was one of the most powerful gods in existence, and Kronos had weaponized her against him.
"You don't think there's a chance she'll back down?" Hazel asked quietly from behind, her voice full of hope.
Percy shook his head. "She's bound by her duty. If she's ordered to hunt, she'll hunt."
A heavy silence fell over the group, the reality of their situation sinking in. They were being hunted by a goddess, and not just any goddess - Artemis, the relentless hunter who had never failed to track her prey.
Percy looked up at the darkened sky, the stars twinkling overhead. He had faced titans, monsters, and gods before, but Artemis... this was different. She was someone he had respected, someone he had even looked up to in a strange way. But now, she was his enemy, and there was no telling how this would end.
"Frank, Hazel," Percy said, his voice steady despite the weight in his chest. "Arion's tired, he's not going to outrun her, and we can't fight her - not directly. But if I can talk to her, maybe I can stall her. Maybe I can get through to her."
Hazel frowned. "Percy, are you sure? What if-"
"I'm not sure of anything," Percy admitted. "But I know that Artemis isn't like Kronos. She's not evil. She's just... caught in the middle, like we are. And if I can remind her of that, maybe we stand a chance."
Frank glanced toward the forest, where the sound of rustling leaves grew louder. "We don't have much time."
Percy nodded, steeling himself. "Then we make this count."
As the distant figure of Artemis appeared through the trees, bow in hand, Percy took a deep breath and stepped forward into the clearing, ready to face whatever came next.
As Percy stepped into the clearing, the cool night air hung thick with tension. Artemis emerged from the shadows, her silhouette sharp against the dim moonlight. She was every bit the goddess of the hunt, with her silver bow drawn taut, ready to unleash an arrow at a moment's notice. Her icy gaze locked onto Percy, filled with determination and something else - something that reminded him of the fleeting moments they'd shared as allies.
"Percy Jackson," she said, her voice steady and commanding. "You dare to stand in my path?"
Percy raised his hands slowly, palms facing outward. "I'm not here to fight, Artemis. I want to talk."
Her eyes narrowed, skepticism etched into her features. "Talk? You think mere words will change your fate? You're path of my duty."
"Duty? Or a game for Kronos?" Percy challenged, his heart pounding in his chest. "You're just a pawn in his game. You're a goddess, Artemis. You have the power to defy him!"
A flicker of something - a hint of doubt, perhaps, - passed across her face. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "You don't understand the chains that bind me. Kronos knows how to exploit our weaknesses."
"I do understand," Percy replied, taking a step closer, careful not to provoke her. "I've been through this before. We're all fighting against the odds, against a fate we didn't choose. But you can choose differently. You can choose to be free."
"Freedom comes at a cost," she said, her voice colder now, though there was a hint of hesitation in her eyes. "And I cannot pay it."
"It's a matter of perspective," Frank chimed in, but withered under her glare.
"Don't." Percy warned.
Artemis sighed. "You have tried to convince me before, Percy. What makes this time different?"
"Would your Hunters want you to be a puppet for Kronos?" he urged, his mind racing. "You've gave them purpose, strength. But what about your purpose, Artemis? Is this really what you want?"
Using the dead hunters was a very bad line to cross, Percy reasoned, but he was definitely going to cross it.
As the tension between them crackled, Percy could see the flicker of emotion behind her mask of indifference. He took another step forward, emboldened. "I know you've lost so much. You've faced pain and betrayal. But you're not alone in this fight. We can help you."
Artemis lowered her bow slightly, her expression softening just enough for him to sense a glimmer of the ally he once knew. "And if I refuse? If I am bound to fulfill my duty, no matter the cost?"
"Then we'll find another way," Percy said, desperation creeping into his voice. "But I refuse to believe that you're okay with this. You're stronger than he knows, and you deserve to make your own choices."
Frank and Hazel shifted nervously behind him, but Percy couldn't break eye contact with the goddess. "You've faced down monsters and Titans. You've fought for what you believe in. Don't let Kronos strip you of that strength."
Artemis hesitated, her grip on the bow faltering. The moonlight illuminated her face, revealing the conflict swirling within her. "You're brave to challenge me, even when I'm set against you. But if I spare you, if I let you go, what will it cost me? What will Kronos do?"
"He'll see you as weak," Percy admitted, his heart racing. "But we can turn this around. You're not weak; you're being forced into this role. You can fight back. You just have to believe it."
"You are trying to escape." She said.
"I am," Percy said. "Hundred percent. But that doesn't mean I'm lying. I- we saved you, on Othrys, remember? Zoë died for this cause."
The air hung thick with unspoken words, the forest silent except for the rustle of leaves and the distant sound of howling winds. Percy held his breath, waiting for her response, for any sign that his words had reached her.
"Perhaps... perhaps you are right," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked torn, her expression one of vulnerability. Finally, she lowered her bow fully, though her eyes remained sharp and watchful. "You have one chance, Percy Jackson. I will let you go."
Percy nodded, relief flooding through him. "I understand. Thank you."
"Now go," she commanded, a hint of authority returning to her voice. "Before I change my mind."
He turned to Frank and Hazel, who looked just as surprised as he felt. "Let's move!" he urged.
As they darted into the forest, Percy could feel Artemis' gaze upon them. They sprinted through the trees, hearts pounding, adrenaline coursing through their veins.
"Did that really just happen?" Frank gasped as they reached a clearing and halted to catch their breath.
Hazel shook her head in disbelief. "You talked her down? That's incredible!"
"I don't know if I talked her down," Percy replied, still reeling from the encounter. "But I think... I think we might have a shot at getting through to her."
Frank nodded, determination sparking in his eyes. "Then we need to keep moving. We've got to reach the glacier and free Thanatos before Kronos makes his next move."
"Right," Percy said, steeling himself. "Let's get going. And keep your eyes peeled. We're still in danger."
As they plunged deeper into the forest, the thrill of hope mingled with the ever-looming threat of Kronos' forces. The hunt wasn't over yet, and they were far from safe. But for the first time in a long while, Percy felt that maybe, just maybe, they had a fighting chance.
They ran and ran until they found themselves in a small town, the cold biting at their skin as they slowed to a walk, panting from the sprint. The town was eerily quiet, with snow-covered streets and dimly lit houses casting long shadows in the pale moonlight. Percy glanced around, feeling the weight of exhaustion tugging at his limbs, but they couldn't afford to rest just yet.
Not with Kronos' forces on their tail.
Frank shifted his bow, eyes darting nervously as they passed by an abandoned gas station. "Do you think we're safe here? Even for a little while?"
Hazel looked uncertain, her breath forming clouds in the frosty air. "I don't know., but we need to rest. We won't make it to the glacier if we collapse from exhaustion."
Percy nodded, scanning the empty streets. "We need to find shelter for the night. Somewhere we can regroup and figure out our next move."
Ella, still trailing behind them, was muttering softly under her breath. Percy caught a few snippets - "Alaska, freezing cold, death god trapped in ice" - and shivered, though whether from her words or the biting wind, he wasn't sure.
They continued through the town, moving cautiously until they came upon an old, boarded-up motel at the edge of town. The sign was barely legible, its neon lights flickering weakly. Percy motioned for them to stop, eyeing the place warily.
"This looks like it hasn't been used in years," Hazel remarked, peering at the darkened windows.
"I mean, it probably hasn't," Percy said.
Frank shrugged. "It's better than sleeping out in the open."
Percy agreed, pushing open the creaky door to the motel lobby. Inside, it was just as rundown as the outside - dusty furniture, peeling wallpaper, and the faint smell of mildew greeted them. But it was dry, and for the moment, it was safe.
They made their way into one of the rooms, which was just big enough for the three of them and Ella. Hazel collapsed onto one of the worn-out beds, and Frank sat down heavily in a chair by the window, still clutching his bow.
Percy, however, couldn't relax. His mind was racing, replaying the encounter with Artemis over and over. He had managed to convince her to let them go, but he couldn't shake the feeling that their reprieve was only temporary. Kronos was still out there, and they were running out of time.
He stood by the window, staring out at the snow-covered streets, lost in thought. They were headed for the Hubbard Glacier, the literal embodiment of freezing danger, to free the god of death. And after that? Who knew what awaited them.
Hazel's voice broke through his thoughts. "Percy, you should get some rest. We all should. Tomorrow's going to be... tough."
Percy sighed, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, you're right. But keep your weapons close. Just in case."
They settled in for the night, the weight of their journey hanging heavy over them. Percy lay on the floor, staring up at the cracked ceiling, his mind still buzzing with the events of the day. He could hear Frank's steady breathing, Hazel's soft murmurs as she drifted into sleep, and the occasional mutter from Ella in the corner.
Tomorrow, they would face the glacier, face Thanatos, and who knew what else. But for now, Percy allowed himself a moment of rest, knowing that soon enough, the fight would begin again.
In the distance, the wind howled, and he couldn't help but feel that the fight was far from over.
Sorry for the wait guys. Just had to regain my muse. Actual action next chapter, this was more of a filler. Not sure how to feel about this chapter.
Review responses:
A Plump Hutt: Thank you so much! Sorry for not updating. Dude, math is not fun at all, agree with you there. I decided to follow your advice and make an Artemis POV. Just know that your review was the reason I decided to continue this fic. Thanks again!
Darth Kyuubi Bugge: Thanks!
Fuck Names: Fair enough man, each to their own.
Cefricus: I appreciate that!
danielchester998: Finally got around to updating it.
Guest: Thank you!
That's all for responses. I'll hopefully update again within a week.
Hopefully.
Much love, and I'll see y'all soon.