Chapter 8 ladies and Gentlemen I hope you enjoy, let me know if you have ideas for another story you want and I can start working on it.

And as always I do not own PJO or HoO sadly:(

Chapter 8: Beneath the Moon's Shadow

The quiet nights in Camp Half-Blood had become something of a sanctuary for Percy and Artemis. Though their time together often remained in the shadows, unspoken and unacknowledged by others, something had shifted. Their bond had deepened in subtle ways—small gestures, fleeting glances, moments of shared understanding that seemed to stand in defiance of the chaos that often surrounded their lives.

Artemis remained as elusive and distant as ever in the eyes of the other campers, a goddess of the hunt, and yet Percy noticed the small changes in her. When they trained together, there was an unspoken comfort in their movements. When they spoke, the conversations lingered longer, filled with meaning that stretched far beyond the surface.

But even as the connection between them grew, Artemis's fear of what they could become still hovered over her like a storm cloud. She wasn't sure how to reconcile her immortality with the pull she felt toward him, nor could she forget the way the gods had treated relationships throughout history—how love, attachment, and desire often led to tragic consequences.

Still, there was something in her heart that refused to ignore the way her world seemed brighter when Percy was near. Something in the way he made her feel... not so alone.

One evening, the sky was thick with clouds, casting the camp in a gray, soft twilight. The air felt heavy, like the world itself was waiting for something. The fire in the center of the camp flickered weakly, struggling against the wind that swept through the trees. Most of the campers were indoors, gathered for dinner or retreating to their cabins, but Percy and Artemis had once again found themselves drawn to the quiet edges of the forest.

Tonight, there were no monsters to fight, no quests to undertake. The usual tension of a looming battle wasn't there. Instead, the night was still and soft, filled with the distant sounds of the camp settling for the evening. Artemis was sitting on a large stone near the base of the trees, her silver eyes reflecting the dimming light of the sky. Her bow was resting beside her, her posture relaxed but alert, always aware of the world around her. Percy leaned against a nearby oak tree, arms crossed, watching her.

For a long while, neither spoke. It was a comfortable silence—one they had grown used to in each other's company.

Eventually, it was Artemis who broke the silence, her voice soft but thoughtful.

"Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have a normal life?" she asked, her gaze still fixed on the darkening sky. "To be free of the gods' expectations, of the constant fighting, of the weight of immortality?"

Percy's heart gave a strange jolt at her words. It wasn't like Artemis to voice such doubts. She had always seemed so confident, so resolute in her solitude and her devotion to the hunt. But tonight, something in her tone seemed different—a quiet longing that she rarely allowed herself to express.

"I don't know," Percy said, his voice thoughtful. "I guess... I guess I have thought about it, a little. But I don't think I'd want to be 'normal'—not really. I like the life I've got, even if it's crazy sometimes."

Artemis's eyes flickered toward him, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"You would," she said softly. "You always find the good in things, don't you?"

Percy shrugged, the corner of his mouth lifting in a crooked grin. "I try. It's not always easy, but... I figure if I focus on the good stuff, the rest doesn't feel as bad."

There was a long pause. Percy watched her closely, trying to understand what she wasn't saying. He could tell she was thinking about something—something deeper than just idle conversation.

"What about you?" Percy asked gently. "What do you want, Artemis?"

Her silver eyes met his, and for a moment, he could have sworn she hesitated, her gaze softening in a way he had never seen before. Then, in a rare moment of openness, Artemis spoke.

"I want to be free," she said, the words almost lost in the wind. "I want to feel like I can let go of all the expectations the gods have placed on me, all the responsibilities I've taken on. I want to feel like... I can choose my own path, not just be defined by the moonlight or the hunt."

Percy's chest tightened at her words. He hadn't realized how deeply the weight of her immortality had settled on her shoulders—how much she longed for the simple freedom to choose her own destiny, rather than have it dictated by the whims of the gods.

"You can choose," he said quietly, his voice full of conviction. "You're not trapped, Artemis. You're... you're your own person, and you can do whatever you want. You don't have to be just the goddess of the hunt or the protector of the wild. You can be more."

She met his gaze again, her eyes intense, as if weighing his words carefully. Then, slowly, she stood and walked toward him, the silence between them stretching long enough to feel like a weight.

"And what if what I want isn't possible?" she asked, her voice softer now. "What if what I want… involves someone else? Someone who doesn't fit into my world? Someone like you?"

Percy felt his breath catch at her words. They weren't spoken with the usual calm detachment that Artemis wore like armor. This was something else—a vulnerability that he could feel in the air between them. And it scared him, because he knew the consequences. He knew the risks of falling for someone who had so much more to lose than he did.

"I don't care," Percy said, his voice steady but full of meaning. "I don't care about any of that. If you want something—someone—then I'll be there, no matter what. I'm not going anywhere."

Artemis's breath hitched, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop moving. The wind whispered through the trees, but neither of them spoke. They simply stood there, facing each other, the weight of their words hanging between them.

Finally, Artemis stepped closer to him, her silver eyes locked on his, searching for something he wasn't sure he could give her. Then, without warning, she reached up and gently cupped his face in her hands. It was a gesture that felt both foreign and familiar at once, as though she were reaching out to something she had been afraid to touch for so long.

"You're sure about this?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Percy nodded, his heart racing in his chest. He had never been more sure of anything in his life.

"Yeah," he said, his voice steady, but the words carrying the weight of everything he felt. "I'm sure."

And then, before either of them could say more, the moon broke through the clouds overhead, casting a silvery light over them. It bathed the forest in a soft glow, illuminating their faces and the silent promise that lingered between them.

Artemis's fingers lingered on his skin, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she let herself believe that maybe she could have something more. Something that wasn't defined by her duty, her goddess-hood, or the unending march of time. Maybe, for the first time in centuries, she could have a piece of the world that was just hers—just theirs.

"Stay with me," Artemis said quietly, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "Let me have this moment with you."

Percy nodded, stepping closer, feeling the heat of her presence in the cold night air. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into an embrace that felt like the most natural thing in the world.

For the first time, Artemis allowed herself to close her eyes and simply be. Not the goddess of the hunt. Not the immortal protector of the wild. Just Artemis.

And for the first time, she didn't feel so alone.

The night stretched on, the stars overhead shining brightly as the moonlight bathed them both in its quiet glow. The forest around them was alive with the whispers of the wind, but for once, Artemis and Percy didn't feel like strangers in their own worlds. They didn't need words. Not tonight.

In each other's arms, they had found something that neither had expected—something deeper, something real.

And for once, Artemis allowed herself to hope that this might be enough.

SHOUD I CONTINUE WITH 3 STORIES A DAY AND HAVE THEM CLOSE TO 2,000 WORDS OR DO 2 STORIES A DAY AND E A LITTLE LONGER LET ME KNOW.

ALSO IM LOOKING FOR A BETA READER PM IF INTRESTED

ShoutOuts

JustAPJOFan- Thank you I'm glad you like it

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Until next time.