Hello and welcome back to Under the Silver Moon

AS ALWAYS I DO NOT OWN PJO OR HoO

AS ALWAYS PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW

Chapter 32: A Bond Forged in Quiet Moments

The night in the forest was quieter than usual, the soft murmur of the breeze through the trees mingling with the distant chirping of crickets. Percy and Artemis sat together by a small fire, its gentle glow illuminating their faces. The Hunt was scattered throughout the camp, some preparing for the next day's journey while others rested. Yet here, on the outskirts, it felt as though the world had shrunk to just the two of them.

"You're getting better at blending in with the Hunt," Artemis remarked, her voice light but carrying a note of teasing. "Thalia told me you even helped sharpen the arrows this morning."

Percy chuckled, poking the fire with a stick. "What can I say? I'm learning. Besides, it's better than sitting around feeling like an outsider."

Her expression softened as she looked at him. "You've always been adaptable. It's one of the things that makes you… unique."

Percy tilted his head, a playful smile on his lips. "Unique, huh? That's one way to describe me. What's the other?"

Artemis rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Reckless. Stubborn. Infuriating at times."

"You forgot charming and heroic," he added with a grin.

Her laughter was soft but genuine, and it made Percy's chest feel lighter. These moments of levity were rare, but they were also what kept him grounded amidst the chaos of their lives. He'd faced monsters, gods, and even the wrath of Zeus, but somehow, this quiet moment felt just as significant.

"You know," Percy began, his tone shifting slightly, "I didn't think it was possible to feel this… steady. With everything going on, I thought I'd always be looking over my shoulder, waiting for the next disaster."

Artemis's gaze met his, and there was a depth in her silver eyes that made his heart skip a beat. "You've been through so much, Percy. It's natural to feel that way. But you're not alone in this. You never have to be."

He nodded, the weight of her words settling over him. "I've always been good at fighting for others. For my friends, my family, even the gods. But this…" He gestured between them. "This feels different. Like it's not just about surviving. It's about building something worth fighting for."

Artemis's expression softened further, and for a moment, she reached out, her hand brushing against his. The touch was brief but spoke volumes. "It is different," she said quietly. "And it's not something I ever thought I'd have. But I've learned that sometimes, the things we don't expect are the ones that matter most."

Percy's eyes lingered on hers, the flickering firelight casting dancing shadows across her face. He wanted to say so much—to tell her how much she meant to him, how she'd become his anchor in a world that constantly threatened to pull him under. But words felt inadequate, so he simply smiled, the warmth of her presence enough to quiet his restless thoughts.

They sat in companionable silence for a while, the fire crackling softly between them. The weight of the day's events seemed to melt away, leaving only the here and now. Eventually, Artemis spoke again, her voice thoughtful.

"Do you ever wonder what comes next?" she asked, her gaze fixed on the flames. "After all this? The fights, the trials, the… uncertainty?"

Percy shrugged, leaning back on his hands. "I used to. But I've learned that trying to predict the future is a good way to drive yourself crazy. I think it's better to focus on what we can do now. What we can control."

Artemis nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Spoken like someone who's seen too much of the future already."

He laughed, the sound carrying a note of self-deprecation. "Yeah, you could say that. But honestly? Right now, I'm more focused on making sure we get through this together. One step at a time."

Her gaze shifted to him, and there was a glimmer of something unspoken in her eyes. Gratitude, perhaps. Or maybe something deeper. "One step at a time," she echoed.

The fire burned lower, its embers glowing softly as the night deepened. Around them, the forest seemed to hold its breath, as if granting them this rare moment of peace. Percy felt a strange sense of contentment, a quiet assurance that, for now, they were exactly where they were meant to be.

And as Artemis leaned slightly closer, her shoulder brushing against his, he couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, they were building something that could withstand even the storms of Olympus.

Thank you for reading Under the Silver Moon

As always PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW FIRST 5 TO REVIEW GET SHOUT OUT.