Pertemis: A Wolf’s Tale

Chapter 4 The Better Tales of Perspectives

Artemis's POV

We ate quietly in the old dinning room. But that didn't seem too kill the fact that there was a Cold War going on.

I still had a pity on Perseus. I wanted to get my vengeance, but Leto was sitting close by made it impossible for me to lung at him from across the table.

I occasionally glanced up at his direction. It wasn't that I took interest on him or something. It was just my curiosity, maybe just to give him my dangerous message via the glance.

And every time I peeked a look, I always found him already there staring back at me. At first it was kinda awkward that I immediately looked back at my food. But times go by and now we both had a staring competition.

Why does he have to possess that annoying face? Those mischievous and part innocent eyes of his that made me to lose my focus. That goofy smirk was so much annoying that I just wanted to choke him to death and his pout sometimes made me smile. It was a mixture of my own internal feeling whenever I looked straight at him. And somehow, I couldn't quite sure how to explain. Lucky I wasn't Athena, or I would've been banging my head to the wall, trying to figure out what it was.

The breakfast kept on with that. Leto at the head of the table, Perseus and I sat across and staring...well consider danger for now at each other. When thing was about to explode and we would lung at each other to rip the other's head out. Leto would let out an intentional cough and we both found the plates of soup so interesting.

"So...after breakfast, why don't you take Artemis around the island Perseus?" Leto tried to break the ice at last. "You may try to know each other better!"

I immediately gave out a frustrated groan. "Mum! I don't need a guider!"

"Yeah right" Across from me, Perseus muttered, playing with his food. "Spoken by a visiter."

I stabbed my knife down the sandwich so hard that it clashed against the plate at the bottom. Making an unpleasant sound.

"Perseus" Leto glanced at him, emphasised his name while raising her eyebrows. "She is your sister"

I smirked as he gulped from mother's dangerous stare.

"Ye-yeah" he stuttered. "Go out with Artemis. Try to know my... Sister better!"

As he said the word sister, it was like he tried to swallow a big rock. Which I felt great because I didn't want to call him brother either. Seriously, I've already got a super annoying and stupid brother. I didn't want to get another one.

"But mum!" I whined, trying to show her my apathy about her ideas. To which she responded with her infamous glance and I knew I should better be off with Perseus than to argue.

After breakfast to which I didn't feel like it much. We departed for our lovely (sarcasm) trip.

"You two have fun" Leto said. "Be back before dinner ok?"

Perseus leaned his back on a tree. Feeling more frustrated than ever and as the same as me.

"It won't take long mum" I told her.

"Yeah" Perseus said. "It will end soon before it even started."

Leto didn't say anything and walked back into the house, leaving both of us at the front yard.

I immediately reached or my dagger at my waist and Perseus folded his fists.

"By the way" Leto's voice came from the door made us both jump. "I'll be watching so don't think about killing each other off."

I gave her an awkward smile, while Perseus did a faked salute. I signal him with a glance 'Let's get outta here before everything gets worse'. He somehow understood and started to move.

"OK sister" He said amiably with a faked smile. "Let's go that way!"

We left the house as it slowly disappeared behind the lines of trees and bushes.

We walked in silence, I trailed after Perseus stepped as he climbed on boulders and slid under fallen oak trees.

The forest was always my favourite place. It calmed my nerves and for a moment, the tension I had with him seemed to ease. No gone of course.

I didn't know the forest would gain such beauty and recover that fast after a night like yesterday. The tall oak trees rose up to the sky, coated on the mossy green layers. The moist and dew made the forest so tranquil and peaceful. Occasionally you could see a bird leaving their nest, or spraying them dry after coming out from a cold morning bath of dew on some large leaves. Some would sing under the warm of the sun. The deers chewing grass on the distance, butterflies trying to find their sweet and delicious food and squirrels jumped from branches after branches with the conifer cone stick with them. All of that just made me want to lay down and enjoy it for the rest of the day. novelbin

I turned my head until I saw Perseus staring at me with a smile. I scowled.

"What are you looking at?!"

"You know" he said, folding his arms. "Maybe taking you out here isn't a bad idea."

"Oh" I said. "So you think I will go easy on you just because you lead me to some of my favourite places?"

"Please" he laughed. "I want you to get into more trouble. And by doing that, you mustn't be gentle with me."

The corner of my mouth suddenly switched. "Well, look like you are not really that boring after all" I said turning away to pick on a flower.

"And I didn't know you are that girly after all" Here sneered at the sight of me playing with the flower.

I dropped and blood boiled up inside. If there was one thing I would trade for in this world that was to pull out and cut of that annoying tongue of his. Since the day I was born until now, no one had ever come to say 'oh, Artemis is girly' Not even Apollo would dare to make a joke about that topic. And yet, this male!

"You said what?" I gritted my teeth, while turning back at him slowly with my power was radiating out.

Perseus turned pale. Yeah right boy, you should be. He stood up on the boulder and took a step back.

"Wow wow relax...uh...sis," he stuttered. "No need to be angry with a joke right?"

"Yeah right" I stepped forward. "Except that was a bad joke."

I could tell his soul already driven away from him. He stood their, face pale as a sheet. I gripped on my dagger and moved another step to him.

Suddenly, there was a strong flapping wing. Then came a crow landing in front of me. It stared at me with its dark eyes. A weird sensation sent shiver down my spine. It was like someone was watching me through the cow's eyes and I knew who was standing behind it.

Perseus seemed to realise the crow and awkwardly cough.

"Oh I forgot to show you this place!" He said out loud, like trying to let someone know from far away. "Come on Artemis!"

He jumped down and grabbed my hands, then dragged me away. Behind, I could still feel the crow was observing me through it voided black eyes.

I kept on my feet with the speed of Perseus. I glanced down and realised one important thing was happening. I was holding hand with him.

The feeling just so strange and yet...great. I have never been so close to a male, most of the time they wouldn't come out I one piece. And now, right here in this island where people call prison of Leto. Under the shades of old oak trees, holding hands with Perseus seemed so normal.

Perhaps it was a sisterly feeling between us. Then again, have I actually accepted him as my brother? The was the only question I tried to answer. Sure I have only met him for 1 day. And most of the time we had a conflict whenever we met. But right now, holding hand with him, while he guided me through the trees and bushes. As if all the antagonism we had awhile ago just vanished.

Then slowly, my finger started moving as I grabbed at his hand. It was soft, yet strong, enough to protect someone he truly cares about. I didn't know where all the feelings come from, or how did I have that sudden urge to hold his hand.

After awhile, we came to a halt and Perseus let go of my hand. I felt so strange when we are not contacted. Like spring just suddenly switched back to winter.

"Few" he tried to catch his breath. "Leto can be quite intimidating sometimes. Gosh that was scary."

I chuckled as his sight. "She wasn't looking at you, you know."

"Still..." He paused for awhile. "Uh...did you eat anything?"

I blinked hard and merely sneered at him. "Yeah, the nice breakfast the we BOTH eat this morning."

"I don't know I have it" he said. "Cause for cheeks look red like you are drunk or something"

That was when I realised it. I had been blushing the entire time. And now the thought made me blush even harder. I looked down immediately, trying to hide my tomato face or else that idiot would soon realise it and pestering me for hours.

"It's none of your concern!" I snarled. "Now where the hell are we?"

I looked up, feeling better from the fact yelling at him.

He looked around, trying to get his bearing while I stood there, disoriented. I hated whenever I was like this, unable to look out my direction. Perhaps, from being a hunter and all, it was my job to verify the bearing.

"There is a spot at the edge of the forest." He said. "But if you keep on this speed, we won't ever be able to reach it by nightfall. But if you move faster, I don't think you can-"

"Hey!" I snapped. "Don't you realise what you just said. I'm a goddess of the hunt Perseus. Running is nothing difficult for me and beside." I held my chin high. "I'm afraid that you can keep up with my speed"

"Now that offensive lady" Perseus frowned.

"Race to there!" I said.

"Who ever lose has to give up the bedroom tonight!" He added in.

"Deal" I agreed.

We stared at each other then at the goal ahead. I took a step back to prepare for a boost.

"Now be careful cause it can be quite slippery" he smirked.

"I hope you can keep your pants up till the end" I said.

With that I sprinted ahead him. I ran across the trees, dashing through bushes, jumping on high ground and slide down the other side. Occasionally I had to dodge some long branches grew out on the way. I glanced at my direction, Perseus was no where to be seen. I just smirked. He was stupid enough to make a running competition with me. I've spent thousands of years just for this, even if he had his super ability of werewolf, he would never catch up. Look like someone gonna sleep on the floor tonight.

Suddenly, a shadow sprang out from the bush on my left. Perseus appeared and now was running ahead. He took a glance back.

"Competition isn't about speed" he grinned. "I know this forest more than you do Artemis"

I gritted my teeth. That moron just tricked me.

"You bloody cheater!" I yelled.

"Oops sorry" he said, still taking the lead. "There wasn't rule of choosing another path. As long as you can get there first. Beside, I'm holding something here."

He dodged a branch and held up my silver dagger. I looked down and realise it wasn't there. When did he? I glared back at him, smoke probably was flying up at the top of my head.

"Hey give it back!"

"Nope unless you can catch up!"

He sprinted forward left we with a cloud of leaves and moisture grass. How dare he treat me like this? This boy has gut to humiliate me. I concentrated on my power as it pushed me faster than a rocket could fly.

I passed him, snatching my dagger from his hand and gave him a knock on the head in surprise.

"Hah!" I exclaimed. "Look who's the turtle now?"

I could yeah Perseus gritting his teeth as he dived forwards to me.

"Oops" I dodged as he ate a handful of soil of the ground. "Sorry loser"

Perseus kept chasing me while I provoked him. Never in my life have I felt so much fun. Even when playing with Apollo, which rarely to happen, would never be fun just like this. Sometimes he would past me and grabbed the dagger from my hand. Then I would catch up and took it back. Suddenly, our laughter was filling the forest along with the sound from the birds.

Something of him made him special. He made me comfortable with being near his kind. Even I scowled at him a lot, I mean lots and lots. Deep down, I was grateful to have him here. Perhaps 5 thousands years of the grudge against male finally starting to show its sight affect. It was pretty ridiculous for me to think of it, but it seemed like part of that was true. And at that moment, I realised Perseus has unleashed something inside me. Something colourful of bright and joy and yet I didn't know what it was. Is it a true sister feeling? I was not confident with that. Even Apollo being annoying and jerky, I would dare say I love him the most above all my other half siblings. But with Perseus, and that feeling that I had. It wasn't like it. True that I hated his gut, I always thought of some worst punishment for him just like I did with Apollo. But I didn't love him the way I felt with Apollo. Maybe he was just a half brother, or maybe we have just met for a few moments. But what ever that is, I would find out soon enough.

As I was thinking, I stripped on a wet slippery leaf and with that, I did a skateboarding in the forest.

"Ahhh! Watch out! Watch out!" I screamed.

Perseus turned back, unable to get off his shock as he stared at me with his mouth hang open and eye as wide as a plate.

I clashed onto him, tackled him to the ground as we kept rolling ground and ground down the hill. My arms and his strangling with each other along with our leg.

We finally dropped into an open area, which I assume because right now, one thing was happening.

We both laid their, our arms around each other with me laying on top of him. We stared at each other, unable to let a word to come out. I got lost into that familiar mesmerised and beautiful sea-green eyes of his. Like I was traveling in his own world through his eyes.

The tips of our nose touched, my breath dancing with his warm and sea scent breath like the calming waves from the beautiful sea of the south.

I had an urge to move closer. Maybe just a bit, a little bit to experience what it was. That feeling came again, like fireworks came exploding in my stomach. Like butterflies flying inside.

We both suddenly snapped back to reality and quickly got off each other. I awkwardly jumped him and looked away, not daring to take a look back.

What the hell was that? I just experienced something so strange that my heart beat kept bouncing like it wanted to jump out from my chest. Why does it has to be like it whenever he's close? It was an annoying feeling and yet, it did feel good somehow.

I practically lance back only to respond with his gaze. We looked away immediately, awkwardness filled the air. Somehow, I just wanted to sit there forever, and having a new weird interest on the ground

under me. What should I say now? Maybe scowl at him to light the situation up? Well that could work, I couldn't find the strength to speak. My mouth just suddenly lost the pronunciation of words.

"Uh...hum" Perseus cleared his throat as I looked at him. The moment out eyes met, my courage to speak turned Jell-O again. Maybe that was happening the same for him to. But lucky the bastard got to clear his throat. I have to do something, can't sit here forever.

"Uh...are we at the spot?" I tried to bring up something.

Finally Perseus pulling back his strength to stand and walked to me.

"Yes, we are here"

N/A Woohoo, finally got to update again. Hope you guys enjoy it cuz this is the beginning of Pertemis. Anyway, votes and comments are really help guys. So make sure to leave one after reading the chap. Luv ya ??????