Pertemis: A Wolf’s Tale novel Chapter 12

Artemis jumped off the boat, turned back to the old boatman who was frowning in concern. She felt bad for him rolling with all his strength for her to get to the island before any other Olympians arrived.

"Thank you old man," she told him. "You should go, the gods will be here soon."

"Will you make it Milady?" He asked her. "Can you protect him?"

"I-I don't know," she said utterly, the fact that she didn't even know if she could make it out alive. "But you should go"

He just nodded and started to sail the wooden boat away.

Artemis turned to the house at the top of the hill, where Perseus and her mother were still oblivious to the danger. She sprinted to the top.

The doors kicked open, Artemis ran in to see Perseus and Leto having dinner. They stood up to look at her in shock, though Perseus looked a bit more excited to see her again.

"Hey, Art-"

"Pack your things" Artemis cut him off as she rushed inside. "Things were already revealed."

"What do you mean Artemis?" Leto walked away from the table and followed her, who was walking around without knowing what to do.

"Apollo gave out a prophecy," Artemis told them. "It somehow related to Perseus and now the entire Olympus is hunting him!"

They both gasped and looked at each other.

"B-but didn't Apollo promise to protect our secret? He wouldn't betray us" Perseus said.

"It doesn't matter anymore ok!" Artemis yelled. "You guys must pack and leave this place immediately!"

"But go where Artemis?" Perseus asked her.

At the point, Artemis suddenly stopped. She was so worried about their survival that she completely forgot the next stage after they escaped. Clearly, the entire mythological world was hunting him, she couldn't trust anyone except herself. Speaking of herself, an idea suddenly came into Artemis.

"To my hunt," she said. "That's the safest place for you right now. Being close to me, I can be able to protect and keep watch on you."

"Wow wow wow, hold up!" Perseus put his hands to a sign of stopping. "You are telling me to go and live with your hunters? They would rip my head off before I could have my first meal there!"

"Or you rather let the gods execute you instead?" Artemis folded her arms in annoy. How come he could still make an argument at the moment like this?

"Wel-"

"Perseus!" Leto cut him. "Listen to your sister"

He looked at her, but only to receive a stern look. Perseus sighed and ran upstairs.

"Why don't you go pack your things mum!?" Artemis turned to her.

Leto calmly walked up to her, she held her hands and stared straight into Artemis's eyes.

"I can't go Artemis," she said. "They haven't known about Perseus here yet. If they come and I'm not here, then they would know where to find next and that would be you. They will hunt down the last person that related to Percy and Zeus, you know he won't stop until he eliminated the threat."

"But mother!" Artemis squeezed her hands. "What if they-"

"They won't!" Leto confirmed. "as long as I don't say anything, they can't conclude a crime without evidence. I'll be fine Artemis"

Her eyes were glittering, perhaps the tears wanted to drop. Artemis knew she was holding it back, to encourage them. But she was still worried about her mother being left alone.

Just then, Perseus ran down stairs with a pack bag. He stopped between them and looked at their faces.

"Are we going or not?" He asked.

Artemis sighed and started to walk outside. "I'll leave you too alone for a moment."

Perseus looked at her confused, he then turned to his mother to whom she held his shoulders.

"Take care of yourself ok Perseus?" She brushed his cheek.

"W-what are you talking about mum!?" He screamed.

"I can't go, Percy," Leto told him. "They will find out who relates to you if I go"

"But mum!" he held her hands. "How can I support to live without you?"

"You will!" Leto said in a serious voice as she squeezed on his shoulders. "You have grown big enough, you can take care of yourself. Perhaps it's time for you to see the world Percy, time for you to seek a new future"

"Mother"

"Listen to me carefully son!" Leto snapped, to which she was trying to hold back the tears. "You can do it ok. Artemis will be there for you when I'm not. No need to be afraid because she will protect you. You must move on to survive. I'll see you again."

Artemis saw tears were pouring down Perseus's cheek as she couldn't hold but her heart trembled. Leto swept the tears of his cheeks and kissed his forehead. She held it so long, so passionate because she knew it would be long for her to see him again. They have been together for nearly two thousand years that their bond would be unbreakable. Perseus loved her as much as she loved him, but he knew it was his mother wish for him to go.

Leto let go of him and walked back to Artemis, who was trying not to cry or that would frighten Perseus even more.

"Promise me to take care of him ok?" Leto held her hands, her eyes wet from tears. "Don't leave him no matter what and protect him for me, can you do that Artemis?"

"I won't fail you mother," Artemis told her and hugged her. She pulled her so close, knowing it would be long before her second return. It could be for the next few centuries until she could see her mother again.