The Wolves of Artemis (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Chapter Thirteen

Updating again! Here we go, my lovely readers!

Chapter Thirteen: Consoling A Wolf Pup

Point of View: Ebony

"Ebony." Artemis comes over and stands in front of me. "Ebony, look at me. It is going to be okay."

"No, he's not." I sob. "He's going to leave me all alone."  

"No, Ebony, Aroen is going to live. He is not going to die on you. I promise." Artemis tells me as Phoebe comes in. 

"You're lying to me." I cry and struggle to get out of Thale's arms. I get away from her and crawl onto the the cot with my father. I lay next to him and cry into his chest. His skin is blazing and a sheen of sweat covers his skin, but I do not care. I snuggle into his arms and refuse to leave.

"Ebony." Phoebe whispers.

"Please don't leave me, dad." I whisper and fall asleep in his arms. 

Point of View: Phoebe

"My lady, will Aroen survive?" I ask, worrying for Ebony. He will not be able to handle losing much more since Perseus' life and he told me what would happen if something like that happened again before we bonded. 

"Yes, I managed to repair the damage done to his core, the rest is up to his ability to heal. But, Ebony will not believe me. He will be like this until Aroen is up and about. Perhaps if you were to talk to him, he might believe it." Artemis tells me. 

"I will try to convince him." I nod. 

"How did you help Aroen's core, milady? It is very hard to heal that of which makes us whole." Thale questions.

"He had a very strong will to stay for Ebony. It allowed me to aid him in fixing what damage there was. As you can see, it exhausted him. he will sleep for a little while. Hopefully when he wakes up, Ebony will listen to him. Ebony will be very hard to console while his father is like that and will want a vendetta against Lycaon. Ebony is going to be hypersensitive until Aroen is one hundred percent better. be gentle with him." Artemis informs us. 

I grab a chair and sit next to the cot, watching Ebony sleep. Thale leaves to go report father and son's conditions, while I stay here.

After a while, I lay my head on my arms on the edge of the cot and close my eyes.

The Next Morning

Point of View: Ebony

"Please don't go, father. I do not want to be all alone. I do not want to lose another father. Do not die, please." I sniffle and burrow closer in his warmth,  cooler by the minute. He is dying. I weep into his chest and I know my Phoebe is watching. She is comforting, but I hate Lycaon. He killed my father, just when I got one back. 

"Ebony, Aroen is not going to die. Lady Artemis helped with his core. He is just tired and healing. Do you really not trust me?" I hear her.

"I love my Phoebe. I will always trust her." I sniffle again. 

"Then believe me. Aroen is going to be fine." She urges.

"But he looks so hurt." I sob. 

"Come here, Ebony." I hear her speak softly.

"I am not leaving father." I tell her quietly.

"We are staying in the tent until he wakes up." Phoebe assures me. 

"I like my father's fur." I murmur, curling further and tighter against my father.

"Ebony, your dad is just fine." She lays her hand on my head.

I lean into the touch and look at her. "He hasn't woken up."

"He will soon, Ebony. I am going to go get you something to eat. I'll get Aroen some food, too." She runs her thumb across my cheek and I nod, turning back to my father.

As Phoebe leaves, I feel my father's arms tighten around me. 

I perk up immediately. "Dad?!" 

His eyes flutter open and he smiles wearily at me. "Hello, son."

"Are you okay?" I ask and he pulls me closer. 

"I will not leave you alone, Ebony. I promise. I am just old." He chuckles. I sit up and hug him, him grunting from the impact. He laughs more, the pain in his voice plain as day. 

I crawl on top of him and he smiles at my playfulness. "You're not old, father." I tell him, making him sigh. "Are you sure that you promise?"

"Yes, I am sure. Now, come here you." Aroen pulls me up to him, this time facing toward the tent entrance. 

"Father!" I laugh hysterically and giggle as he tickles me relentlessly. 

"No more worrying, son. I am going to be fine." He tells me as he lets up, but he wraps his arms around me and I nuzzle his neck. 

"Okay." I agree. 

"The only thing that worries me is why Lycaon came for you. There has to be more to it than what he said. I want you to stick by Phoebe and I for a little while." He informs me.

"Even when I grow up?" I ask as I close my eyes, I am really tired and my abdomen hurts.

"Just for a little bit. Until I can teach you how to fight in your other form." He says.

"Dad, I don't feel good." I murmur and lay my head on his arm.

I feel him shift around and whimper when he inspects the gashes and the hole. "Ebony, why didn't you tell anyone? Lycaon's claws are very harmful to an underdeveloped pup of the Hunt. You are young and younger still for our kind."

"I was worried about you." I tell him. "You are warm, dad." I press against him more. "Why is it so cold? I am tired." 

"Son, how bad does it hurt? What did Atalanta give you?" I hear him ask. 

"Phoebe went to go get food, but I'm not hungry. My middle hurts. I want to sleep." I answer and darkness envelopes me. 

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