I do not own PJO OR HoH enjoy.

Percy Jackson had spent most of his life battling monsters, saving the world, and making new friends. But when Chiron, the centaur, asked him to go on a routine scouting mission near the outskirts of Camp Half-Blood, he didn't expect to be in the presence of a goddess.

The sun had dipped behind the trees, leaving the woods bathed in the soft light of the rising moon. Percy had grown used to the eerie, quiet beauty of the woods at night. The stars blinked through the gaps in the branches, and the cool night air carried the scent of pine and earth.

As he trekked deeper into the forest, a shadow moved swiftly between the trees. He stopped, his hand instinctively reaching for Riptide, the pen that turned into a sword. A low, soft laugh echoed in the air, making his pulse quicken.

"You've become far too predictable, Percy Jackson," a voice said, cool and commanding.

He turned to find Artemis, her figure a sharp contrast against the darkened forest. The moonlight reflected off her silver armor, giving her an ethereal, almost unreal quality. Her expression was unreadable, her silver eyes flashing with a light that felt ancient and full of secrets.

"Artemis," Percy said, lowering his sword but not completely. "What are you doing here?"

"That's supposed to be my question," she said, her voice laced with an icy humor. "The woods are not your domain, son of Poseidon. What brings you here?"

Percy was used to the gods being cryptic, but Artemis seemed more distant, more... mysterious than he remembered. It wasn't just her appearance. There was something about her presence, a weight that hung in the air like a storm about to break.

"I was just checking in on some strange activity Chiron noticed. You know, routine stuff," Percy said, trying to keep the tension from his voice.

Artemis studied him for a long moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And yet you were not expecting to find me."

Percy hesitated, unsure how to respond. The truth was, he hadn't been expecting her at all. Artemis, goddess of the hunt, had always kept to her own domain, far from the hustle and bustle of camp life. And yet here she was, standing before him, like a shadow that had come to life.

"Yeah," he finally said. "I guess I wasn't."

A brief silence stretched between them. Artemis's gaze softened, just slightly, and for a moment, Percy swore he saw something like curiosity flicker in her eyes.

"You're always so much more direct than the other demigods," she said, her tone shifting. "I suppose that's why you're interesting."

Percy blinked, confused. "Interesting?"

"Yes," Artemis said, taking a step closer, her presence commanding but not overbearing. "I've watched you, Percy Jackson. You've grown, but you still carry a recklessness that is... amusing." Her lips curled into a rare, almost imperceptible smile. "Though I wonder if you realize just how much you've changed."

Percy wasn't sure how to respond to that. He had always admired Artemis from a distance, but the idea of her watching him—seeing him in ways he couldn't fathom—was unsettling. Still, he couldn't deny the strange pull he felt when she spoke, something that resonated deep within him.

"I don't know about that," Percy said. "But I know one thing. You've never been this close to camp. What are you really doing here, Artemis?"

She tilted her head, her silver eyes glinting. "I've been hunting something. Something... dangerous. It's too close for comfort, and I prefer to deal with it on my own. But I suppose, if you insist, you could help."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Help? I thought you were the goddess of the hunt. You don't need me."

Artemis's eyes darkened with an emotion he couldn't place. "Even gods need help sometimes, Percy. Even I."

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