As the owl neared, it morphed into the tall lithe form of Athena, clad in her grey sashed toga. The tall goddess walked forward, bowing her head in greeting to Artemis, "Well done sister, both in your fight against the Drakons and for noticing me. I thought that I had hid my aura well."
...
Artemis instantly relaxed, as did her hunters. Athena was an irregular visitor to the hunters, but common enough for the hunters to know that they need not fear the Goddess of Wisdom and Battle Strategy. Only Angelina had wide eyes for Athena, but Artemis found that to be warranted, as the girl hadn't seen many of the Gods and Goddesses in her short time among the hunt.
"You did, but the forest whispers to me of peculiar things. What do we owe the pleasure to your visit sister?" Artemis replied, deliberately using the word sister, to Athena's delight.
"I bring news from Hermes. He would have come himself, but I was already needing to speak with the you and the hunt about another matter. The demigod has been located. He seems to have killed Medusa, after she attempted to kill him, presumably to take the bolt from him." Athena wrinkled her nose after she mentioned Medusa. There was a mix of satisfaction and annoyance in her eyes, as if she couldn't tell if she wanted Medusa dead, or to continue to suffer her curse.
Artemis nodded slowly. Killing Medusa was no small task, especially if the boy was alone.
"How did you come by this information?" Artemis asked, speaking over the muttered conversations of her hunters, who were discussing if they could kill Medusa as well.
Athena's composure faulted, "There was a small council meeting happening. I led peace talks between Poseidon and Zeus. Hera and Hestia were there was well. It didn't go well. In the middle of the meeting, a parcel appeared in the dais of the throne room. Medusa's head was inside. After that, thing's only got worse when Hades flashed in, accusing Zeus of stealing his Helm of Darkness. War is coming sister." Athena said, pacing before Artemis.
"What's worse, I believe my daughter is with this son of Poseidon." Athena admitted.
That brought the Huntresses' other conversations to a close. If Hades's Helm was indeed stolen, and now there was a possible hostage demigod, the situation at Olympus could only escalate.
Artemis couldn't understand what Athena was trying to say. Was her daughter aiding this vigilante demigod? Had she stolen Hades's Helm?
"What do you mean Athena? Do you believe that your daughter is in league with this son of Poseidon?" Artemis asked sharply, raising a hand to quell the voices of her hunters.
"I certainly hope that is not the case." Athena replied, "My daughter Annabeth is simply gone. Gone from Camp Half-Blood. Chiron will not speak to me about it, and I confronted Poseidon at the meeting this evening. I am now convinced that Poseidon has placed a mist around his son, so that this demigod is untraceable to the Gods. It is complicated magic, a magic that Poseidon has perfected over many centuries. I know little of the intricacies, but I estimate that it is a proximity enchantment, thus, my daughter Annabeth is also hidden by its effects."
Artemis nodded slowly, taking in Athena's story. Her sister was deeply troubled about this, Artemis knew. Athena did not wear her emotions on her sleeves, but Artemis knew her well enough that Annabeth's disappearance was eating at her mind. Annabeth was a special demigod, as Artemis had been on the receiving end of proud talks from Athena, who was overjoyed at having such a prestigious young child. Artemis, however, had carefully masked her feelings on the matter, as a child… it was something she desperately wanted, but knew that she would never have. Not with him gone from the world.
"Medusa was still in her last hiding place, I assume, when this son of Poseidon killed her?"
"To my knowledge, yes. While not a top priority, I made sure to know general information about Medusa at all times." Athena replied.
"Then that is where I will pick up the search sister. If these two demi-gods are within my capabilities of being found, then I will not fail to bring them in." Artemis said resolutely. The Hunters all straightened up and affirmed her statement. Artemis felt the resolve from her hunters' auras. When a maiden was thrown into the mix, the Hunters of Artemis had a personal vendetta to fulfill.
"Thank you, Artemis, that… that relieves me beyond measure. I would aid in any way I can, however, much of my attention and abilities will be tied up with mediating our precious elder Gods and their squabbles."
Artemis could only bob her head to that. Zeus and his closest brothers had been a centrifuge of chaos for as long as she had existed. Zeus had always been the prime instigator among the three, yet Hades and Poseidon both too stirred the pot of the world. Hades and Poseidon had meddled in her own affairs, through the abduction of Persephone and the cursed demi-god Orion. Athena had her own reasons to hate the three elder Gods, a certain sea God above the others. The situation that was unfolding with Poseidon's involvement with Annabeth's disappearance certainly wasn't helping Poseidon's case.
Artemis had a grudging respect for the Sea God, even with Athena's immense distaste for Poseidon. Not only had Poseidon stood up for her on numerous occasions against Zeus, but he and Athena both had assisted her together during the Macedonian expedition. Athena's fear for her daughter, or her continued resolve of hatred against Poseidon, kept her from seeing, in Artemis's opinion, that both Athena and Poseidon worked rather well together…
Of course, as Artemis thought about it, Poseidon had a lot of questions to answer, if what Athena feared was true. Of the big three elder Gods, Poseidon had always been quiet and calm in his position. He had never made a grab for power, never once had he instigated a fight between Zeus and Hades for the position of King of the Gods. Storms and earthquakes continuously plagued the world, but the Sea God that Artemis knew did not come to anger quickly. But when he did, the whole world shook from the tremors of such rage.
Artemis came to a decision. If anyone was able to get the information out of Poseidon, she figured that she stood a plausible chance of doing so.
"Athena, I think a change in plans is in order. My hunt will go to Auntie Em's Gnome Emporium…"
Angelina coughed lightly in the background, before being cuffed over the head by Phoebe. Athena and Artemis both cocked an eyebrow at this, before exchanging a glance. 'Youngsters.' They both seemed to agree.
"The Hunt will go to Medusa's Lair, and pick up the trail of the son of Poseidon. I will join them, after I have questioned Poseidon myself." Artemis asserted to her sister. She knew this point wouldn't be gained without hostility.
"Artemis, I have already questioned him, he will release nothing to me, or anyone else." Athena cut back, a semblance of a frown deepening on her forehead.
"Yes, but I stand a better chance than you in doing so." Artemis replied her mind working quickly. There was a need to question Hades, Zeus, and Poseidon about this entire situation herself, if she was to make any attempt to quell this coming storm. However, she immediately regretted her phrasing to Athena, as a flash of light followed her sister's answering scowl. A moment later, the Goddess of Wisdom was gone from the battle site of the Drakons.
"My Lady, in all of my years, I have never seen such… emotion from Athena." Phoebe remarked, seeing Artemis frowning at the place were Athena had just stood.
"That was a mistake on my part," Artemis conceded, berating herself for laying bare that old wound. She turned to face her huntresses, "As you know Athena was a great assistance to me in the Macedonian expedition. She cemented my place in training his men by placing a Drakon in my vicinity: for me to kill in front of those young Macedonian boys." She wouldn't call them soldiers, or even skirmishers, at that point of their young lives, "Yet something happened between myself and Poseidon, at the Siege of Tyre, which Athena has quietly resented me for."
Mara was the first to reply, "Wait, so does Athena know all about the expedition… about… Perseus?"
Artemis felt like her ichor was being boiled as she answered, "Yes, she is the only one besides you who knows. I suspect Poseidon might have a few lingering ideas, but he has never confronted me on the issue." That was the truth. Artemis didn't even know if Poseidon knew what he had looked like.
Phoebe and Zoe were looking intrigued as well, and her lieutenant voiced her thoughts, "The Siege of Tyre My Lady? Thou left thine mark in that battle?"
"Sounds like quite the tale needs to be told Lady Artemis." Phoebe followed up, nodding her head to Zoe.
...
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