You honestly couldn’t believe it. You were just a minor demigod, nobody special. But out of everyone on Olympus, Artemis herself had chosen you as her hunting partner. You weren’t entirely sure what you’d done to deserve such high praise, but you knew better than to question it. So here you were in the woods with the Goddess of the Hunt, alone with only her and your own thoughts.
As we crouch in the brush waiting for her prey to show itself I turn to her and whisper "so I can't help but wonder, what made you chose me as your hunting partner?"
"Hmmm... I don't know," she says with a small shrug, glancing over at you. "Maybe it's because you seem lonely like me, or maybe it's just... destiny, I guess." She pauses, a mischievous grin playing at the corner of her mouth. "Or maybe I just wanted to see if someone else could handle hunting with an Olympian."
Her words hang in the air between you as she slowly begins to breathe more heavily. You can feel your heart racing just a little faster at her nearness and the thrill of being out here together.
Without warning, Artemis suddenly leaps from their hiding spot, launching herself towards what appears to be a deer grazing in the distance. The animal startles, its powerful legs carrying it off into the woods as Artemis pursues with surprising agility. You can't help but
"Come on!" she shouts over her shoulder at you. The thrill of the hunt obvious in her voice as she gives chase. You take off after her, feeling more alive than you've ever felt before. You can hear the rustling of leaves and the distant crashing sounds made by Artemis' prey ahead. Her words echo through your mind, taunting you to catch up.
Finally, just as you're beginning to wonder if you'll ever reach her, she slows down enough for you to catch up. She glances over at you with a mixture of pride and annoyance in her eyes. "You did well," she says curtly before returning her attention back towards the deer, which now lies panting heavily on the forest floor.
Her features soften as she studies its face for a moment. With careful precision, Artemis draws an arrow from her quiver and
Her features soften as she studies its face for a moment. With careful precision, Artemis draws an arrow from her quiver and
I watch waiting to support her preparing an arrow of my own in case the beast is not taken down by this first shot.
The deer's eyes meet hers, wide with fear and anticipation. Artemis' heart beats faster as she draws back the arrow, focusing all of her power into the shot. With a sudden release, the arrow slices through the air, finding its mark in the animal's throat. It collapses to the ground with a whimper before going still. Blood pools around it, staining the forest floor red.
Artemis stands over her kill for a moment longer before turning to you. "Well done," she says again, though this time there is genuine warmth in her voice. She reaches out to take your hand and pulls you closer. "Now help me prepare it."
He crouches down beside her helping to skin and remove the fur from the creature.
As you work together to clean and prepare the kill, Artemis can't help but feel an unexpected closeness growing between the two of you. Her skin brushes against yours as she reaches for tools or moves to discard entrails, sending shivers down your spine. She catches you looking at her a few times, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and arousal wash over her. Despite this, she continues to maintain the hardened facade she's become known for.
Eventually, the deer is ready for consumption. With a nod of satisfaction, Artemis turns to you. "Let's go back to camp," she says, surprising you with the warmth in her tone. "I'm sure we both could use some food."
"Yes, you're right," he follows along beside her.
The walk back to camp is mostly silent, with the sound of rustling leaves and birdsong serving as a gentle background track. Despite herself, Artemis can't help but feel a bit more comfortable around you than usual. Maybe it's because you seem to understand her in a way that others don't, or maybe it's just the fact that she feels like she can be herself with you. Either way, she finds herself glancing over at you every so often, studying your features and trying not to think about what they remind her of.
As they near the clearing where her small camp is set up, Artemis' thoughts turn inward. She wonders if perhaps she should just reveal her feelings to you and see what happens. But then again, she knows that honesty has never really served her well before. With a sigh, she resolves to continue playing it cool for now...at least until the right moment presents
Finally arriving back at camp, Artemis takes charge in setting up the fire and cooking the meat while she ponders on her thoughts. As usual, being around the fire reminds her of a certain someone from her past, and it's hard not to wonder if they ever think about her too...but enough with those pointless musings. Now is not the time for such frivolousness; there's hunting to be done and perhaps even more important matters at hand. So she banishes those thoughts away as best she can, instead focusing on tending to the flames and preparing their meal.
The meat sizzles merrily over the fire, filling the air with an appetizing scent that makes both of their stomachs rumble in anticipation. As Artemis turns a chunk of venison on her spit, she glances at User#17233394
"Do you have something on your mind Artemis?" he looks over at her from his seated position on the other side of the fire.
"Hmm?" she says absently, not quite meeting his gaze as she continues to tend to the fire and cook their meal. "Oh, no, just thinking about our next hunt is all." She pauses, glancing at him from the corner of her eye before quickly looking away again. "It's been... nice having someone else out here with me for a change."
Her words hang in the air between them, filled with an unspoken meaning that neither of them seem quite ready to confront head-on just yet. The sounds of the forest - birds singing, leaves rustling, distant animals calling out to one another - create a soothing backdrop against which their awkward silence plays out like an intimate little concert only they can hear.
He nods his head in understanding, and after the meat is cooked they share a meal together in contented silence.
Despite herself, the soft tenderness of his voice and the unspoken understanding between them make her heart skip a beat. "It's not just the hunting," she murmurs quietly, meeting his gaze for the first time since they started eating. "I... I think I like having you around." Her cheeks flush bright red as she realizes what she's just admitted, and quickly looks away again. "Anyway, enough of that. Let's get some rest; we've got a long day tomorrow."
She moves to crawl into her sleeping bag, aware that he's still watching her even though he hasn't said anything yet. For once, she doesn't mind the attention. In fact, it feels... comforting somehow. She lies there for a moment longer, her heart racing and her skin tingling with anticipation at what might happen next between them underneath the starry
As they lie in their sleeping bags, staring up at the stars, Artemis feels a warmth spread through her body that has nothing to do with the heat of the fire or the closeness of her furs. The air between them seems charged, electrified by something deeper and more powerful than mere attraction. She can feel his gaze on her, penetrating her skin like an arrow, making every nerve ending stand at attention.
"Artemis?" he whispers softly, breaking the silence that has fallen over them since they finished eating. "Can I ask you something?" There's a hint of hesitation in his voice that makes her heart race even faster.
"When you said you liked having me around for more than just hunting...what did you mean by that exactly?"
She swallows hard, feeling the heat rise up into her cheeks again as she contemplates how to answer him honestly without revealing too much of herself. Finally, she speaks softly, her voice barely a whisper in the stillness of the night. "I don't know," she admits truthfully. "It's just... I feel like there's something about you that I can't quite explain. And when we're together, it feels... right." Her eyes dart away from his gaze for a moment, unable to meet his intense stare anymore.
There's a long silence as she waits for him to respond, her heart hammering in her chest. She wonders if maybe he thinks she's crazy or strange for feeling this way about him. But then again, what does she know? She's never been very good at understanding her own emotions,
"Its okay to not know exactly how to put it, I understand how you feel...truth is as a minor demigod I never really felt like I fit or belonged, but you've shown a true kindred understanding to me. Its a warmth and kindness I've truly been grateful for."
Her eyes flick back to his face, studying his expression closely. The sincerity in his words is palpable, washing over her like a cool breeze on a hot summer day. It's unlike anything she's ever experienced before, and it takes her by surprise. For once, the strong, silent goddess finds herself at a loss for words.
She reaches out to touch his cheek gently with one hand, her thumb brushing across his skin as she gazes deeply into his eyes. "I think..." she starts hesitantly, searching for the right words "...that I might feel the same way." Her voice is little more than a whisper now, barely audible over the rustling of leaves and distant nocturnal animals.
There's another long silence as they continue to stare at each other, their breathing growing shallow and quick as they draw closer together under the cover of darkness. The