SilverMoon Mercenaries

Reminiscent Moon

Artemis POV, Present Day

Hunter's Camp

I sat at a table with my hunters, enjoying dinner, the hunters chatting among themselves. I sat with my lieutenant, Thalia, at the front of the table. I was eating quietly, taking in the mirth around me, but not indulging myself in it. I was thinking about him. The only man to ever capture my heart. And he was gone. Thalia noticed my disturbed look and spoke up.

"You're thinking about him, aren't you?" she said. I didn't respond, still pondering my thoughts when I was shaken out of it by Thalia. "Olympus to Lady Artemis, you there?" she asked playfully. I looked at her sadly, and said, "Yes." Thalia looked at me for a second, her face incredulous one moment, angry the next. "My Lady, I mean no disrespect, but you are not the person Percy fell in love with. You haven't been the same ever since he was killed." I was shocked. I would have turned anyone else who said that into a jackelope, but apparently Thalia was unfazed.

I sniffled a bit, before looking at her sadly. "I will never be the same without him Thalia, he was the first man I have ever fallen for, Orion was just a rock in a river compared to him." I said sadly. Thalia pondered over her thoughts, then said, "Remember when you guys finally got together? That was for a long time coming." I nodded, thinking about it. That memory brought me so much consolement in my despair.

-Flashback-

"Percy, why are we here?" were the first words that escaped my mouth. Percy and I were on a cliff overlooking the ocean in Camp Half Blood, the waves crashing against the shore beneath us. He looked at me, and a long sigh escaped him. "Artemis, I have faithfully served you for 100 years, and I have felt one thing for you the entire time." was what he said. I looked at him incredulously. "What do you mean?" I asked. He tensed up, and looked out at the ocean, the moon's rays dancing across his skin, making him look like a god. "The sea does not like to be restrained. " he finally said. "What? Percy, don't bullshit me, what are you talking about?" I demanded. He looked straight at me, his sea green eyes peering into my soul, looking at my darkest secrets. "I have felt... emotions for you, I have kept them in my heart for a century. On this night, my willpower is crumbling, and I cannot restrain them any further." and with that, he leaned forward and kissed me. I was in shock, but at the same time, in pure bliss. My arms wound around his neck, my hand finding its way into his messy, jet-black hair. His arm went around my waist, his hand touched my spine, sending pleasurable shivers throughout. The kiss deepened, and we fell to the ground, I was on top of him. He wrapped his wings around me, and soon, we were in a heated make-out. I heard giggling, and I scowled, breaking the kiss. Percy looked at me incredulously, and softly said, "What is it, my love?" I got up and said, "We're being watched." Percy got up, and pulled out a canister. He threw it into the bush and it exploded, releasing a cloud of smoke. Hunters stumbled out of the smoke, coughing. "Thalia? Pheobe? What are you doing here?" I asked recognizing them among the group of Hunters. "Well milady, we wanted to see you two lovebirds finally getting together. And Percy, did you really have to throw a smoke bomb at us?" came Thalia's playful reply. "Well, My Lady Artemis, perhaps we should take this up somewhere else?" Percy said, and without warning he picked me up bridal style and shot into the air. We floated in the air, basking in the moonlight. He planted a soft kiss on my lips, and I smiled. I fell asleep moments later, in his warm embrace, feeling safe in his arms.

-Flashback End-

As the memory ended, I saddened. I wanted to be in that memory forever, be in his arms and feel truly safe. Suddenly, Hermes appeared on the outskirts of the camp. Everyone looked at him, expecting some random message to be delivered, but the look on his face said otherwise. His facial expression was one of seriousness and urgency. "Artemis, Zeus has a top priority target for the Hunt. You need to begin your hunt immediately, the target moves fast and leaves destruction wherever he goes." I glared at him with hate filling my eyes. "And why should I follow that bastard after he killed Percy?" I replied. Hermes paled, and said, "Look, I hate Zeus as well, he's a horrible father. But we have to follow his orders unless we want to get unnecessary attention. Also, this target may be of interest to you. "Who is this target, may I ask?" Thalia asked, curious. "Gration." replied Hermes in a grave tone. "Ok girls, move out. We have some hunting to do." I ordered, a bit of nervousness in my tone. Gration was the Giant of the Hunt, and my bane. He was born to counter me in particular, and in the Second Giant War, I nearly failed to defeat him. I won because of him. And now he wasn't with us anymore. I had another flashback of Percy, this one before he confessed.