Son Of Artemis: Blood Red Moon

I Fight A Huge Dog And A Small Giant

The first thing I thought when I saw my house burning to the ground was my dad. Where was he? And, was he okay? Then, I heard him.

"D-Damien?"

His voice was hoarse, and he was being crushed by the remaining parts of our house.

It broke my heart.

Here was my father, the strongest person I knew, being on the brink of death. I loved him, and he was going to die. He taught me everything I knew. He was with me every step of my life.

Even if I didn't have a mother, he was enough. He made school, the bullies, even the weird monsters (which Grover had explained to me were the monsters from Greek mythology) that appeared in my life every now and again bearable.

He would go hunting, hiking, camping, really anything to do with going outside with me.

He never questioned my strange love for the wild, or how I was good with a knife and the bow that he was teaching me how to use. And he never minded when I asked about my mom.

He would always tell me she was a great woman. An independent, strong woman who was never dependent on any man. A beautiful woman, a kind woman, the woman that only he could love.

I've always been proud of who my parents were. Proud to have two strong, amazing parents. Even if I didn't know my mother, I still loved her.

But now, hearing that my father had been attacked by these monsters because of me...

I tried to resent my mother, I really did. Why had she had me if she knew the possible risks to my father and the people around me.

But I couldn't bring myself to hate my mom, whoever she is, it isn't her fault.

All I could do, was blame myself. If I wasn't born, then this wouldn't happen. How could I have let this happen? Then my father's voice brought me back to reality.

"Damien... My son" I tried to say something, try to help him somehow. But he interrupted me, "No, don't." He then let out a chuckle, but then winced as it must've pained him to do so.

"Always... So quick to help others... I love that... About you." He let out. "But... Never focusing on... Yourself."

"I tried to save...this"

He then grunted, trying to move his hand to show me something. When he did, I was surprised to see it was a dagger. A. Pure. Gold. Dagger. At the butt of the dagger was a white/silver moon, on it was a black bow. And on the blade were some words encrusted. In a different language, but I understood clearly.

It said,

'The Moon Is A Loyal Companion'

That's it.

It come from my mother. Something was just telling me that.

Why she'd decide to contact me only now? I had no idea. But I was still very glad that she'd care enough about me to give this to me.

"I... Hope you find a new... Home, my son..." My father said.

"Just... Know that both... Me and your mother... Both love you... She'd be so... Proud"

And with that, he went out in a bright, golden light. It was almost blinding... It was fitting.

I... Don't know what I felt. I felt sad... But also angry. At myself and whatever thing did this to my father.

"I'm sorry, Damien." Grover told me. "It must have been that cyclops. It probably smelled you here and then burnt it down after it saw you weren't here." Oh that's just great. A sugarcoated way of telling me, 'hey, y'know this is all your fault, right?'