Moving On | Percy x Artemis

one

T H A L I A 

No one has seen Percy Jackson in two years. The last time he was seen was when he stumbled out the doors of death, Annabeth Chase in his arms. 

That was the last time Percy Jackson fought with us. He took Annabeth straight back to Camp Half Blood and he buried her, alone. He didn't stay for the huge funeral we threw for her after the battle. He just disappeared. 

Some say he killed himself. Some say he left the country. Some say he joined the other side. 

I don't know what happened to Percy, but I do understand why he left. I know all too well what it is like to lose the one you love. 

When Luke Castellan died every one asked Annabeth if she was okay. I am a hunter of Artemis, I wasn't supposed to be in love with anyone. And I'm not anymore. But so many years ago, before I was a hunter, before I was turned into a tree, before I was Annabeth's friend, I was the one Luke loved. I know what it feels like to have one person be your whole world and then have that world ripped away from you. At least Percy Jackson didn't have to watch his love become a traitor. 

So I say yes to Poseidon, I tell him I will find Percy Jackson. Artemis is beside me, I know she doesn't understand why I want to do this. But she does not say no. 

Poseidon looks so relieved. I wonder if Zeus would miss me if I disappeared. 

When we leave Olympus Artemis frowns at me. Over the past years she has let herself age. She's no longer a twelve year old girl. She looks somewhere between my age and eighteen. She told me it had something to do with the respect of the other gods. Respect didn't come easily when you were twelve. 

"You did not consult me before you agreed," She says. 

"I'm sorry, would you have rather I'd said no?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. She's used to my sass by now. 

She frowns again. "I don't know. We have other pressing matter to deal with, like cleaning up after that last battle and returning things to their proper order. I just do not think finding Percy Jackson is really that important." 

I try not to get mad at her. She's only briefly met Percy a couple of times so I can't blame her. "I promise you," I tell her. "Percy is a valuable asset. He's one of the most powerful demigods ever." I don't say the most powerful ever because let's be honest, Jason can fly and I can shoot lightning down from the sky, but Percy's close. 

Artemis studies me for a second. I can tell she's trying to decide whether my decision came from my friendship with Percy or because I really thought Percy was important. 

"It wouldn't hurt to be on Poseidon's good side, either." I prompt. 

She finally sighs, "He better be as great as you say, otherwise I am not going to be happy that my time was wasted." She looks at me pointedly.

I know what she's saying, we've all seen what happens to people when Artemis gets mad. The last thing I need is Percy Jackson being turned into a deer.

I smile at Artemis and we rejoin the rest of the hunters. They all turn to me expectantly. 

"We have been commissioned to find Perseus Jackson and bring him back to Olympus," I tell them. 

Then we set off on the hunt.