Chapter Text
(EVERY CHARACTERS ARE 18 AND ABOVE UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE)
Zoe Nightshade would never regret joining Artemis in a million year, but there's always one thing she'd always regret not being able to have in her several thousand years of service.
A child, a tiny beautiful soul she could teach and raise. Something she could nurture and love with all her heart without ever fearing it to be broken, but with her vow of maidenhood and her love for her mistress, she doubted her wish would ever ne granted.
Until it ate at her so much that Artemis ended up noticing. She brought her along on a hunt in order to speak to her privately.
"What troubles you my friend?" She asked as they both crouched behind a bush.
Zoe sent her old friend a nervous side eyed look. Deciding that it was best to be honest she answered.
"I wish for a child." She stated looking up at the stars, tinge of sadness invading her as she could barely see any of them anymore.
"I know I could adopt one, but I truly wish one of my own, my flesh and blood. I don't even care if it somehow ends up being a male. It is what my heart and soul desires above anything else."
Zoe waited for her mistress to be outraged, but Artemis hummed "I see." Was all she said for an uncomfortable ammount of time.
"I cannot make a child for you. At least not without the child being severly deformed or even worst, but if you do find a woman strong enough and willing to bear you're child, I can give you the mean to have one of you're own."
Zoe stared at the goddess completly flabbergasted.
Artemis glanced at her friend and smirked "don't seem so surprised old friend, I do not think highly of love, but I know the love of a mother is more pure than anything else. If it is needed to eventually create a breach between us for you to be truly happy then be it. I doubt anyone will say anything if I let one of if not the most loyal servant of Olympus break a few rules."
Zoe bit her lip, her heart bursting with pure happiness. She threw her arms around the Goddess. Dwarfing her smaller frame in her own.
"Thank you." She said shackily, a single tear dripping down her cheek.
Artemis patted her friend's arm nearly completly smothered by the tight hug.
"But" she pulled away "how will I know which one is the righg one?" Artemis smiled "that my dear friend is for you to decide."
They shared a smile before finishing this hunt.
Her sisters were informed of her desire. Even though many were sad that she would eventually leave them. Even more were happy for her, if anyone deserved to live their life it was the eldest huntress ever.
But if would take many years for her to meet whom she would choose go bear her child.
It was a hunt like any other. The Manticore was causing trouble and it was their job to slay the beast, but they were met with some... Complications.
When they got there the Manticore had two children's as hostages. Zoe felt a pit of dread unlike anything else she ever felt form in her stomach at the tear filled eyes of the young children's.
Then it was replaced by rage. She shot the beat in the eye without warning. It distracted it, but she knew it was only temporary.
She charged the monster and jumped upon it's back, hunting knife drawned.
She repeatedly stabbed the Manticore in the back. Each stab sent the monster tumbling closer and closer to the edge.
She tried to jump off at the last moment, but the monster grabbed her by the ankle as he fell. Dragging her off the cliff.
What she expected even less throught her panicked mind was for someone to leap after her. She was of the sea, that much she could tell with just a glance of her deep sea green eyes. With her dark hair and mediterenean skin, she almost reminded her of her mother.
She dived towards Zoe and wrapped her arms around her. With a fierce roar the water erupted into a geyser that pushed them both back onto the edge of the cliff.
Zoe sat up, but the girl didn't. It's then that she noticed the green veins stretching towards her neck from the puncture wound in her shoulder.
She had done all of this while being poisoned by the Manticore.
She tried to sit up, but Zoe gently pushed her back down. "Are the kids okay?" She asked trying to look in the direction of the young ones.
"Yes, yes they are, now stay calm the poison will only hurt the more you move."
"Yeah I noticed." She winced, her head falling back in the snow. Not wanting her savior to suffer more Zoe rose to her feet and grabbed the girl by the hood and dragged her towards the group.
She gestured at the satyr to come forward. He did so with a barely controlled smile. Zoe rolled her eyes and pointed down at her friend.
"Of course my lady." He said chuckling akwardly.
"Kiss ass." Thalia Grace muttered from behind him. She stepped next to the Girl, followed closely by a blonde haired and grey eyed girl.
She remembered the daughter of Athena a little less, since the daughter of Zeus was a lot more annoying. Thus a bit more memorable.
"You still alive?" She casually asked the downed girl.
"Kiss my ass." She replied with a smile in her voice. "See she's fine Annabeth, still a bitch, but fine."
Zoe raised an eyebrow at the strangely rude, but somewhat kind exchange.
"Oh fuck off?"she slurred, quickly turning her head in Thalia's direction, only to wince from the movement.
"Calm down little mermaid, you're just gonna hurt yourself." Said in slightly more caring tone.
"That's still a lazy ass nickname." She grumbled calming down.
"And calling me thunder thighs isn't?" Thalia shot back.
"Nah, that's just being accurate." She giggled a little madly.
Thalia rolled her eyes and walked away as the huntress started setting camp. The di Angelo sibling were both exited and terrified by the prospect of their new life.
Zoe offered Bianca to join them, but she replied that right now she had a responsabiliy to her family, but that once Nico was safe she might consider it.
Zoe could appreciate someone who knew what priorities they wanted to focus on. She only hoped that the young girl would one day figure out that there was nothing wrong with being selfish every once in a while.
It didn't take long for Persephone Jackson, Penny for short to recover. Meanwhile Zoe simply couldn't help but look at her.
Percy's features were strong and often stormy, but she nearly always wore a soft expression when looking at her friends. Like an angry cat who's pupils grew twice their sizes whenever they looked at something they loved. Of course Zoe looked at other things, like the trees, her muscular but surprisingly bubbly butt, the ground or her beautiful eyes.
Zoe froze at her own train of thought. After so long, she might have found the one. Wich was made obvious by Artemis sending her a teasing look.
While Zoe was completly entranced she wasn't stupid. She needed to make sure that she fitted as many categories needed as possible.
She didn't like leaving her mistress to hunt alone, but she told her to focus on herself for a bit. She noticed how Zoe oggled the daughter of Poseidon and she wanted her loyal friend to focus on the first candidate in a century.
When Apollo came to pick them up, the lieutenant of the hunt nearly slapped the god of the sun when he looked at Penny a little too long.
When they boarded the bus many a few huntress took seats with Percy's friends. Two huntress played rock paper scisors in hopes to not be seated next to Grover. Either way they succeeded and Zoe was seated next to Penny.
Of course Apollo then had the bright idea to let Thalia drive, when she clearly didn't want too. Which resulted in quite a turbulent ride. Whih kept Zoe from speaking a word to Penny without the risk of biting off her own tongue.
When they landed in the lake of Camp Half-blood Zoe slapped Apollo up side the head when no one was looking as she exited the bus.
Thankfully the day remained a lot calmer, the Satyr was a bit of a pest, but nothing that she and her sisters couldn't handle.
They were all eager for the incoming capture the flag game. All except Zoe who hoped she wouldn't have to face Penny in battle. Not that she was afraid, she simply didn't want to hurt her.
Luckily the game went smoothly for them and the hunters won for the 67th time in a row. As they cheered for their victory Zoe noticed Thalia stomping towards Zoe, who herself didn't look too pleased by their loss.
When Thalia shocked the daughter of Poseidon Zoe nearly shot her in the back, but before she could the entire river behind Penny erupted and lifted above her. Thalia took a startled step back, Zoe eagerly watched hoping that the daughter of Zeus would be sent flying.
But her blood ran cold when the mummified remains of the oracle limped towards her.
FOUR SHALL GO WEST TO THE GODDESS IN CHAINS,
ONE SHALL BE LOST IN THE LAND WITHOUT RAIN,
THE BANE OF OLYMPUS SHOWS THE TRAIL,
THE TITAN'S CURSE ONE MUST WITHSTAND AND ONE SHALL PERISH BY A PARENTS HAND.
This is when Zoe realised she was going to die.