Son of Fire

One Year After the winter solstice

A year had passed since the fateful council with the gods. The world had changed for Alexander, and so had his bond with Artemis. What had started as an alliance had deepened into a true friendship, one built on mutual respect and shared trials.

They were now training together in a secluded clearing deep within the forest, the sunlight filtering through the thick canopy above. The air was crisp, and the earth beneath their feet was soft from the morning dew. Artemis, graceful and swift, moved like a shadow, her bow drawn and arrows flying with precision. She had always been a master of the bow, but Alexander had improved significantly in his swordsmanship and agility. They were a formidable team.

Artemis loosed another arrow, which soared through the air, hitting the target with pinpoint accuracy. She turned to Alexander, who was practicing his swordplay nearby, his movements fluid and focused.

"You're improving, Alexander," Artemis called out, a rare smile tugging at her lips. "I can see you've mastered the art of balancing offense with defense."

Alexander wiped the sweat from his brow, then nodded in acknowledgment. "I had to. I couldn't afford to be weak, not with the monsters and enemies we face. I'm not just fighting for survival anymore. I'm fighting for something more—something that's worth protecting."

Artemis lowered her bow, intrigued by his words. "And what is that, exactly?"

He paused, leaning on one of his swords, considering the question. "It's not just the hunt anymore. It's about the people I care about, the friends I've made. It's about keeping them safe. You, the Hunters... you've all become my family."

Artemis studied him for a moment, her usual stoic expression softening. "That's something rare for a mortal. Most would be content just to survive. But you..." she trailed off, her voice filled with a mix of admiration and curiosity. "You've become something more than that. You've chosen to fight for others, even when it's not expected of you."

Alexander smirked, a glint of determination in his eyes. "I'm not like most mortals. I won't back down, not from a challenge, not from a fight. And certainly not from protecting the people I care about."

The wind shifted, rustling the leaves around them. Artemis took a deep breath and walked toward him, her eyes locked onto his. "Well then, let's see if your actions match your words."

With that, she sprinted toward him, her movements swift and precise, her bow already in her hand. Alexander had just enough time to react as Artemis shot an arrow toward him, moving with the speed of a god. He barely had time to raise his sword, deflecting the arrow at the last second.

"You're getting faster," Alexander said, grinning as he blocked another arrow with his blade. "But I'm not going down that easy."

Artemis laughed, her eyes flashing with challenge. "We'll see about that."

She charged again, closing the distance between them with lightning speed. Alexander parried her blows with his swords, each strike reverberating with the force of their training. Despite her speed and agility, Artemis found herself struggling to land a blow as Alexander danced around her, his movements sharp and calculated.

"Impressive," Artemis said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "You've learned how to anticipate my movements. Most would have already been on the ground by now."

Alexander's smile widened. "You taught me how to fight smarter, not just harder."

But Artemis wasn't one to be outdone. With a swift motion, she disengaged and took to the air, using her natural grace to gain the high ground. From above, she fired several arrows in rapid succession, each one aimed to strike at Alexander's weak points.

He wasn't caught off guard, though. His reflexes, honed over the past year, were sharp. He deflected the first arrow with his sword, dodged the second, and caught the third mid-flight with a swift swipe of his hand. The arrow landed harmlessly at his feet.

"Impressive," Artemis said, landing gracefully beside him. "You've come a long way."

Alexander breathed heavily, but his grin remained. "I couldn't have done it without you. Your training pushed me beyond what I thought was possible."

Artemis placed a hand on his shoulder, her eyes softening. "And you, Alexander, have proven that mortals are capable of much more than we often give them credit for."

For a brief moment, they stood there, the bond between them stronger than ever. They had come a long way, from a reluctant alliance to something far deeper. And though they were both warriors in their own right, it was their friendship and trust in each other that made them truly unstoppable.

The sun hung low, casting a warm glow over the forest. The air was still, and the sounds of the woods seemed to fade away as Artemis and Alexander settled down after their training session. Artemis leaned back against a tree, sipping her nectar, while Alexander, as always, had his sketchbook in hand, drawing in the quiet of the moment.

After a few moments, Artemis, curious as always, leaned closer to get a look at his drawing. "So, when will the others be back?" Alexander asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

Artemis smiled.They're over to the library across the forest. It could be a couple of hours." She paused, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "The girls really enjoy books, you know? It's one of their few quiet moments when they're not training or hunting monsters. I let them have their time."

Alexander gave a knowing nod. "Sounds like they deserve it."

Artemis chuckled softly, relaxing into the moment. "Exactly."

Then, her eyes turned back to the sketchbook in Alexander's hands, her curiosity piqued. "Now, tell me something more important. What exactly are you drawing in there?"

Alexander glanced at her, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because," Artemis replied, leaning closer, "you have a talent. A very particular way of drawing things, giving them life and something else... something more than just the picture itself."

Alexander couldn't help but smile at the compliment, though he kept his answer brief. "Thank you, but that's all you'll get from me."

Artemis' eyes sparkled with mischief. "You know, I could always try to sneak a peek."

Alexander quickly pulled the sketchbook out of her reach, holding it above his head. "Not so fast," he teased. "You'll have to wait until I'm done."

Artemis smirked, not one to back down from a challenge. "You can't hide it forever."

The playful tension between them turned into a full-on struggle as Artemis leaned in, trying to grab the sketchbook from his hands. Laughter filled the air as they both tumbled and rolled around on the forest floor, the fight over the sketchbook becoming more of a friendly wrestling match. In the end, Artemis managed to knock the book from Alexander's grasp, sending it tumbling a meter away.

"Gotcha," she declared triumphantly, holding up the sketchbook as if it were a trophy.

"Alright, alright," Alexander groaned, pinned beneath her. "I'll admit, you won this round."

"Just this round?" Artemis grinned, clearly enjoying her victory. "I didn't think you'd give up so easily."

Alexander smiled. "I'm generous like that."

Artemis, still grinning, sat back and opened the sketchbook, her curiosity bubbling over as she flipped through the pages. Most of the drawings were landscapes, animals, and abstract patterns that Alexander had captured during his travels with her and the hunt.

Artemis's gaze lingered on the sketchbook for a moment longer than necessary. Her eyes widened slightly as she stared at the drawing Alexander had made of her. The image was striking—capturing her grace, strength, and beauty in a way that left her momentarily speechless. Her golden blush spread quickly across her cheeks, the warmth surprising her. She wasn't used to being depicted in such a way, especially by someone who was more of a friend than a suitor.

When Alexander noticed her reaction, he blinked in surprise. "What's wrong?" he asked, not fully understanding why Artemis seemed so flustered.

Artemis quickly snapped the book shut, her blush still coloring her cheeks. "I—I wasn't expecting that," she stammered, trying to compose herself. "You... you really captured me like that?"

Alexander grinned, his own cheeks tinged with a slight blush as he scratched the back of his neck. "Well, I mean, you're not exactly hard to draw. You're pretty amazing, Artemis."

Artemis quickly shook her head, trying to change the subject. "That's not what I meant," she said, her tone slightly flustered but still playful. "I just... wasn't prepared to see myself like that."

Alexander let out a light laugh, trying to ease the awkwardness. "I just wanted to capture the beauty of the moment. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Artemis let out a soft sigh, still feeling the heat on her face. She wasn't used to compliments like that, and certainly not from someone she considered a close friend. She quickly decided to brush off the moment. "Well, don't get used to it," she teased, a slight smirk forming on her lips. "I don't want to be the subject of your artwork all the time."

Despite her teasing, there was a slight warmth in her voice that betrayed her embarrassment. She stood up, trying to move past the awkward moment. "We should get ready," she said, changing the topic, "We'll need to head to Camp Half Blood soon."

Alexander nodded, trying to move past the awkwardness as well, but it lingered in the air. "Right. It'll be good to be prepared. But, uh, you're not upset, are you?"

Artemis waved him off, still trying to maintain her usual composure. "Of course not," she said with a smile, though her cheeks were still faintly flushed. "It's just... unexpected. Let's focus on the task

Two weeks later, the Hunt and Alexander arrived at Camp Half-Blood. As they entered, the camp seemed to buzz with whispers and curious glances. The campers couldn't help but notice the group, particularly Alexander, who walked beside Artemis with an air of quiet confidence.

"Hey, that's Artemis, right?" one camper said, eyeing the goddess with a mix of reverence and awe.

"But who's the guy with her?" another camper asked, confused and intrigued.

A third camper, more informed, leaned in to share the gossip. "Didn't you hear? That's the guy who pissed off all the gods at the Council. He nearly got killed by them, but Artemis... she protected him."

The words spread quickly, and a murmur rippled through the crowd. Some campers exchanged glances, shocked by the revelation. They all knew of the Council of Gods' anger and how they almost killed Alexander for his insults. That he had survived was already a story, but that Artemis had intervened—was a bigger surprise.

One of the campers, a girl who had been listening intently, whispered, "Wait, did you hear? He's a friend of Artemis." Her eyes shifted to Alexander as she observed him. "I mean, a friend? A man, even? Artemis, the goddess of the Hunt, doesn't make friend with men."

Another camper, a boy, scoffed. "What? Are you saying Artemis... likes him?" He raised an eyebrow, incredulous at the thought. It was unheard of. Artemis, a fierce protector of her independence and a sworn virgin, liking a man was a concept the camp had trouble processing.

The girl shrugged, looking back at Artemis and Alexander. "I don't know... but it's certainly unusual. You don't protect someone that fiercely unless there's something more, right?"

The murmurs continued as the two of them walked ahead, the campers unsure how to interpret this strange dynamic between the god and the mortal. Artemis, unfazed by the gossip, walked on, her attention solely focused on what was ahead. Alexander, meanwhile, seemed indifferent to the whispers, though a small part of him couldn't help but feel the weight of their words.

"Come on," Artemis said, glancing over at him with a slight smirk. "Let's not keep them guessing for too long."

Alexander just nodded, knowing that no matter what they said, the camp's whispers would always fade away eventually. But for now, it was the quiet truth between him and Artemis that mattered.

After putting down their bags in Artemis' cabin, Artemis, Alexander, Zoe, and Thalia made their way to the Great House, where the camp's council meetings were held. The large structure stood at the heart of Camp Half-Blood, a place where the most important discussions regarding the safety and well-being of the camp took place.

Inside, Chiron, along with the heads of the various demigod cabins, had gathered around the long wooden table. The air was tense, filled with the weight of the upcoming threat that loomed over the camp. The usual chatter and banter were absent, replaced by a quiet focus as the leaders of the camp discussed their next steps.

Artemis took a seat at the table, her usual calm and authority filling the room. Zoe, ever the loyal Hunter, sat beside her, her gaze sharp and calculating. Thalia, with her electric energy, settled into a chair across from Alexander, who stood tall beside Artemis, his expression serious but unbothered by the murmurs of the others around him.

Chiron, positioned at the head of the table, began the meeting. "We've received troubling news. Monsters are beginning to gather in large numbers around the camp's perimeter. We've confirmed the presence of a powerful group led by a Titan—a Titan whose name we can no longer ignore." His voice was grave as he addressed the group, but his gaze shifted briefly to Alexander, remembering the mortal who had crossed paths with the gods before.

"The monsters seem to be preparing for a large-scale attack. We can't afford to take this lightly. Our borders need strengthening, and we must prepare for an onslaught," Chiron continued.

Thalia looked up sharply. "A Titan? Who is it?"

"Perses," Artemis interjected, her voice cold but resolute. "The Titan of Destruction. He has the power to annihilate anything in his path, and he will not stop until he reaches his goal."

Zoe, always calm under pressure, added, "We need to increase patrols and reinforce the boundaries around the camp. The monsters will be more relentless than ever."

Alexander crossed his arms, his mind racing. "So, we fight? I'm used to that, but you all seem pretty confident. Are you sure your defenses are enough to stop a Titan?" His words were blunt, but there was a quiet challenge in his tone.

Thalia grinned at Alexander. "Don't underestimate us, mortal. We've fought worse before."

Artemis, glancing at her Hunters, spoke next. "We'll do what we can to hold the line. Our Hunters are the best-trained, and we know how to deal with monsters. But we will need help from the other cabins as well."

Chiron nodded in agreement. "The Ares cabin will provide backup with their weapons, while the Apollo cabin will assist with healing and providing ranged support. As for strategy—"

Before Chiron could continue, Alexander spoke again. "I'm not interested in sitting around. I'm no stranger to battle. If you need more hands on deck, I'll be ready to help."

Artemis looked at him with a mix of affection and exasperation. "You know, you don't have to prove yourself, Alexander. But if you insist, we could use all the help we can get."

Zoe, Thalia, and even Chiron gave a slight nod in agreement. It was clear that Alexander's presence—despite the circumstances—was a strong addition to their ranks.

The meeting continued with detailed plans, each cabin leader offering their strategy for the defense of the camp. As the council session went on, the tension in the room mounted. Everyone knew the upcoming battle would be nothing short of a struggle for survival. Yet, there was also a shared sense of determination. Camp Half-Blood would not fall, not as long as its defenders were willing to fight with everything they had.

By the end of the meeting, Artemis stood, ready to return to her cabin. "We'll prepare," she said firmly. "And when the time comes, we'll fight together." With that, she turned toward the door, leading her Hunters—Zoe and Thalia—out of the Great House, Alexander walking at her side.

The camp had its work cut out for them, but for the moment, they were united in purpose. They would face the monsters, the Titan, and whatever else came their way. Together.