Cheers to chapter seven.

Silver Hearts

Chapter 7

"Wolves and… Explosions?"

Strider POV

I have to admit, waking up with Artemis on me was rather unsurprising yet not unwelcome. If the smirks and teasing prods directed at us by her hunters is anything to go off of, I'd presume they wholeheartedly support our growing relationship.

Granted, it's only been a few months, but progress is progress.

I was currently sparring against three huntresses in the arena at the camp and I was having a blast. As an oncoming spear whistled over my face by inches as I bent backwards, I simultaneously struck out with my staff in a sweeping motion, causing Phoebe and Atalanta to dance away to avoid being slashed in half. In a show of agility, I snapped myself upside down while plunging the bladed head of my staff into the dirt, launching myself feet-first at the lieutenant of the huntresses directly in front of me. As my body aligned horizontally and moved parallel with the ground, the female froze in shock as I shot towards her like an arrow. My arms were stretched straight out over my head, and then I made impact, smashing into Thalia's shield and sending the daughter of Zeus crashing into the wall a good twenty yards behind her. A cloud in the form of a ring puffed into existence when Thalia made impact. She crumpled to the ground, groaning in defeat and pain as the other hunters descended upon me. My mind went on autopilot as I dual-wielded my staff and sword with masterful technique and prowess.

My staff hummed every time I spun it, my sword gleaming in the sunlight as I blocked and parried strikes sent my way.

After maybe ten minutes of them hammering at my guard, a foot smashed into my outer right thigh, causing me to drop to a knee with a grunt. I growled as Phoebe delivered a follow-up cross punch to the left side of my face, causing me to stumble back. A knife whistled as it cut through the air before I felt the cold, sharp metal open a shallow gash on my forehead above my left eye. Snarling with annoyance at my own complacency, a red spherical aura briefly crackled around me before dissipating as I hurled my staff at Phoebe, sending it spinning horizontally at her, where she ducked to avoid it.

Unfortunately for her, that was my plan.

In seconds I was upon her, delivering a vicious elbow strike to her temple that sent her to the ground immediately. I then spun around, instinctively raising my arm and redirecting a slash from Atalanta. Her blade screeched as it slid across the pitch black metal that made up my vambrace. I then grabbed her right wrist with my left hand, causing us to begin grappling in hand to hand combat.

She lashed out with a fist, only to yelp in pain as she hit the shoulder pauldron on my right side. Using that to my advantage, I reached around her lower torso, just above her waist, twisted so my back was more in her direction, and heaved. Atalanta went airborne while my arms guided her momentum into slamming onto the hard ground, knocking the breath from her lungs and causing her knife to clatter out of her now open hand.

The arena was silent, save for our rasping breathing and the gasps from Atalanta as she caught her breath.

That silence lasted less than thirty seconds as there was a sudden eruption of applause and cheering. Looking around in confusion, I could see several Iris messages hovering in the air around the stands as people watched the spar.

"Well done!" Apollo congratulated from the 'screen' showing from the throne room, clapping his hands with the others around him.

I raised an eyebrow before my lips twitched into a slight smirk. "They're a lot better than you could ever be, that's for sure." The sun god visibly deflated at that, the others snickering at him, before I continued explaining. "I only won due to superior technique, knowing when to apply it and experience in life or death situations." My voice lowered as I crouched next to the unconscious Phoebe, checking to ensure she would be fine. "I have fought alone against hordes of enemies in the past. When all you care for has been lost, you learn that nothing else matters aside from seeking vengeance and justice."

Athena cleared her throat and I nodded to her respectfully, allowing the goddess to voice her thoughts. "How did you not lose yourself in your rage?"

I smiled humorlessly before answering. "I did. I cast aside all morals and ideals that I held dear and went to work eviscerating those that had harmed my people. Took a few years, but in the end, I prevailed. I buried those I held dear to me, took up new hobbies, made new friends and lived a relatively peaceful life. Until I came here, that is. You see, I-"

I was cut off as a shockwave from an explosion rocked the ground, causing me to lose my footing and fall. More detonations followed the first, green fireballs exploding into the sky from the forest. The ground and air shook, and to be honest, so did my brain, with each explosion. After several minutes, everything quieted down before several soot covered figures staggered out of the woods and collapsed, their bodies shaking from their coughing fits.

Without a second thought, I rushed forward into the trees upon hearing a howl amidst the coughing of the Hephaestus campers. Crashing through the underbrush, I began choking on the asphyxiating smoke before an aura of rich blue surrounded me and filtered out the air I breathed around my person. As I stumbled through the forest, I heard a whimper of pain off to my left and veered toward the sound until I saw it.

I froze at the sight of a pitch black wolf caught beneath a fallen tree, struggling in vain to wriggle itse– herself– free.

Surging forward without a second thought, I ran up and rolled the fallen log off of the entrapped lupine. As she lay there, gasping for air, I gently picked up the exhausted and battered wolf and began carrying it in my arms, cradling her like a child. As if sensing I meant her no harm, the wolf did not offer any resistance or fight back. She merely laid there in my arms, studying me with warm golden irises.

When we made it across the camp's invisible boundary line, I felt her stiffen slightly before relaxing once more when I didn't let her go. It was almost as if she had thought I was taking her into the camp just to show her off before killing her.

I would do no such thing.

Especially not to this magnificent creature and apex predator in her own right.

Upon seeing Artemis, her hunters and numerous campers making their way towards me, I tightened my grip slightly on the lupine in my arms. I would not let anything happen to her. Not while I drew breath and had energy in my body. Spotting the injured animal in my arms, the hunters immediately encircled me, placing themselves between the campers and I. As is per tradition, wolves are sacred to Artemis, who also happens to be their deity… and my love interest.

And many other things.

Wow, I really need to keep track.

Blinking myself back into focus, I marched through the crowd without a word and made a beeline for cabin five. No harm would come to this lovely furred predator and she would not join the others of the hunt's pack. I will capture her heart, earn her trust and obtain her loyalty.

Walking through the cabin's now open door, I placed the now snoozing wolf on my side of Artemis's bed.

"And just what is your reason behind putting this animal on my bed?" The moon goddess asked with a heavy dose of anger.

Without turning towards her, I answered her while softly stroking the wolf's lush fur. "This animal is to be my companion. Not a pet. Not one of your hunting wolves. No." I removed a stray leaf that was lodged in part of her fur on her underside before continuing. "This lovely lupine will remain by my side forever. If she chooses to accept me, I will have you grant her immortality. If not, then I will simply set her free. I saved her life and she knows this. I know she's intelligent enough to make her own decisions, Artemis."

The goddess huffed but I could sense she calmed at my explanation. She approached the bed and sat at the edge of it, looking down at the wolf who had cracked open an eye and was observing us closely.

I chuckled as the creature stared at me. "I think she not only heard what I said, but I also think she understood every word of it. Curious."

With a heavy sigh, said wolf raised her head and then promptly flopped it onto my lap as she relaxed once more.

I glanced over at Artemis who raised an eyebrow in question. "I guess you have competition now for mattress privileges." I teased while she rolled her eyes.

Thank you.

Our heads snapped down to the wolf after the soft, and distinctly feminine, voice echoed in our heads.

"You can talk?" The hunting goddess asked politely.

Yes.

I hummed for a few seconds before delivering my first question. "So, now that you're here and have heard what I wish to do, will you stay with me or go back into the wild?"

I will stay.

"Is there a specific reason or an ulterior motive for your choice?" Artemis inquired while ignoring my pointed glare.

Yes. Came the soft response, calm and collected as ever. I am lonely and I now owe this male a life debt… and he seems to have his heart set in the right places. Also, you are Artemis. I am a wolf. I will never betray him and seeing as you trust him, I will trust your mate as well.

As she said "your mate" Artemis buried her face in her hands while I snickered at her. "I love this wolf already." I stated while the goddess just groaned in exasperation. Turning my attention back to the wolf on my lap once more, I spoke to her. "You know what names are, and I doubt you have one, so may I give you one?"

I suppose having a name will be nice.

"How does Nova sound?"

The wolf seemed to ponder the name for several minutes, leaving the pair of humanoids in silence until she answered.

I like it. I officially adopt the name of Nova. And you are…?

"I am Strider." I responded, and a lovely metallic royal purple collar appeared around her neck. The word "Nova" was inscribed in silver along the side beneath her neck.

It is a pleasure to become your companion, Strider.

"The honor is mine, Nova." I replied while shifting the wolf off my lap and standing up. "Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I think I am quite overdue for a shower."

And with that, I turned and trudged into the bathroom at the back of the cabin, closing the door behind me.

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I will answer reviews en masse on chapter ten. So rest assured, I am not ignoring you. Every ten chapters, I will simply go through and answer every review for the last ten chapters before continuing to the main body of the chapter's story itself.

Until next time, Stryker out.