Archive of Our Own ^beta

The naiads roll their eyes as Haechan checks her reflection on the crystal-clear water of the lake. She’s the same nineteen-year-old girl with golden locks, honey skin and dark moles on her cheek as she was five minutes ago. Her eyes are as bright and mischievous as her father’s but her sweet smile she inherited from her mother.

“Are you gonna try to act normal or should we just stop being friends?” Jaehyun grunts grumpily. She moves her hand and Haechan’s reflection on the water is undone by sudden wind.

“I have been acting normal,” Haechan replies stubbornly while side-eyeing Jaehyun. If she could, she would burst a ray of light straight to her face but she’s afraid of being electrocuted.

“Ever since Apollo sent that arrow with a message the Hunters are coming you check your looks all the time. You even broke Jungwoo’s record and at least she looks prettier every time she changes something.”

Jungwoo, who is still checking her unstable reflection on water, sends Jaehyun a kiss. With her white curly hair decorated by flowers and her rosy apple cheeks, the daughter of Aphrodite is described by many as the most gorgeous woman they’ve ever seen. Jaehyun isn’t one to disagree since she blushes shyly at that kiss. The daughter of Zeus shakes her head and turns to stare at Haechan again.

“You’re one to tell!” Haechan exclaims in outrage. Jaehyun widens her eyes as if warning her not to say a word more about the issue. Haechan shrugs. “I’m just looking forward to playing Catch The Flag with them.”

Jaehyun rolls her eyes. “Right. And Jungwoo actually enjoys flirting with boys.”

“Hey,” Jungwoo protests, finally walking away from the lake while swaying her hips. She charmingly brushes her long hair behind her shoulders, old movie star style. “I only do it to break their hearts, they know they stand no chance as long as girls exist in this world.”

Jaehyun eats up every word she says. Haechan can almost see some drool leaking from her friend’s mouth.

“I have to be a good hostess. I’m the head counselor of Artemis' brother’s cabin,” Haechan argues, bringing her friends’ attention back to her issue.

“The Hunters aren’t her daughters. And they hate Apollo,” Jaehyun says back.

Haechan thinks that perhaps, if Jaehyun wasn’t so cocky and annoying, she could be pretty. Her eyes are blue-grey, like one of a stormy day, while her hair is as black as they come. Haechan had only met Zeus once but she knew Jaehyun to be the spitting image of her father.

“Doesn’t mean we don’t share things in common. Like our love for the bow.”

Jungwoo sighs. “Haechanie, I don’t know why you’re lying to us when you know I can sense attraction.”

“You say that but you act dumb when Jae drools over you.”

“Hey!” Jaehyun protests loudly.

Haechan thinks she’s about to be challenged for a duel — something she wouldn’t be so against herself — but Jungwoo stands between them.

“Do not change the subject!” Jungwoo says, trying to hide a smile.

“How could I be attracted to someone I saw seven years ago?” Haechan questions, but it’s more to herself than to Jungwoo.

Her friends are silent. They don’t have answers. It just is what it is.

Haechan scratches her head awkwardly, eyes darting around the lake. “Ah, isn’t this silly? I’m just… excited for her to see how I’ve grown and changed and…”

“She is a Hunter, Hae,” Jaehyun interrupts her. For the first time, Haechan sees worry in her eyes.

“So?”

“Her vow isn’t simply against men. It’s against romantic love.” Jungwoo huffs quietly.

“I’ll convince her otherwise,” Haechan says, trying to sound more confident than she feels.

“In only a summer?” Jungwoo asks, raising an eyebrow.

Haechan winks. “Watch and learn, daughter of Aphrodite, no magic can match my charm.”

Jungwoo can’t help but laugh. Jaehyun isn’t swayed by Haechan’s charisma. She crosses her arms.

“How will this start?”

Haechan’s eyes spark with a unique sun flare. “With a bet.”

➳

[seven summers ago]

Donghyuck wakes up wrapped in unfamiliar sheets. When she tries to move, her limbs hurt, so she takes a look around the bedroom. There are some old-fashioned Greek statues in the room but it mostly resembles common private quarters. Has she been kidnapped?

The door cracks open and Donghyuck pretends to be asleep. She hears soft steps and feels a hand on her forehead to check her temperature. Donghyuck opens her eyes to find a girl some five years older than her. She has straight, long, blonde hair and grey eyes that attentively observe Donghyuck. An oversized sweater almost covers the entirety of her hands and Donghyuck has flashes of the girl holding a fan in one hand and a small knife with the other.

The previous night returns to Donghyuck’s memory. She recalls running desperately from a being that could only be conjured by dreams. Out of nowhere, a fierce fighter appeared from the woods, carrying a fan and a knife with her. The monster focused its wrath on the knife but the strike from the fan was the one that brought it down.

The girl ran to Donghyuck’s direction, who was already weak from running. She passed out in the stranger’s arms.

“I know we haven’t had time to properly introduce ourselves,” the girl says, smiling shyly. She offers Donghyuck her hand. “Hello, I’m Taeil Moon, the head counselor at Athena’s cabin.”

Donghyuck frowns. Taeil looks bashful, hiding behind her shiny hair and speaking so low that Donghyuck can barely hear it. Yet yesterday’s monster had also appeared harmless at first so Donghyuck thinks it’s better not to take her hand.

“What does this all mean?”

“I know this is a lot, but you’re safe now,” Taeil reassures her with a half-smile. “What’s your name?”

Donghyuck still doesn’t feel completely safe but something in Taeil’s demeanor compels her to speak. “Donghyuck.”

“You’re the daughter of a god, Donghyuck. You have powers you cannot comprehend, but you don’t have to now. I’ll take care of you,” Taeil promises while quickly touching the younger’s hand. “We are at Camp Half-Blood. This is a safe place for children of gods like you and I to stay. Here you will train, learn how to protect yourself and make friends for a lifetime.”

Even after the complete madness that had been the previous day, Donghyuck wholeheartedly believes her.

➳

A silver arrow marks the Hunters’ entrance inside Camp Half-Blood. Haechan, Jungwoo and Jaehyun were previously selected as the half-bloods who would greet and welcome the group of girls entering camp. Jungwoo because she is the oldest head counselor, Jaehyun as the representative of a child from the Big Three and Haechan simply because she volunteered.

(In all honesty, the three were the only ones to volunteer and fit the criteria. Most campers are scared of the Hunters.)

Haechan tries to stop her squirming as she looks through the faces of thirty girls of different ethnicities wearing silvery jackets and dark cargo pants. Most of them have their hair tied in high pony-tails and carry arrows and bows on their back. Deers, falcons and other animals surround and guard them.

One of the girls takes a step further. She has sharp face features and her bright red hair is crowned by a silver circlet.

“Glad you didn’t think of greeting us with men this time,” Taeyong says with a smirk.

Last time the poor boys were hunted down by wild animals. When questioned about it by the camp’s director, Taeyong merely shrugged and suggested the boys stank.

Haechan doesn’t know for how long she has been the Hunters’ leader. Probably centuries, maybe over a millenia. Taeyong is the most trusted of Artemis’ companions and speaks of History as if she herself had been present at those old events but she could very well be messing with people so it’s hard to tell.

“Welcome to Camp Half-Blood. Make yourself at home,” Jaehyun greets diplomatically while bowing her head. “There will be a game of Catch the Flag at the end of this week. Hope we can all have fun and play fair.”

The Hunters chuckle between themselves. They’d play fair alright.

Haechan is distracted while searching for a familiar face. Where is she?

“Will you let us talk to the girls?” Taeyong asks defiantly.

“Yes, try to convince them of your loveless way of life as much as you want,” Jungwoo replies while rolling her eyes.

“Jungwoo,” Jaehyun hisses.

“Sorry, I meant lovely.”

Taeyong doesn’t seem to mind her. Aphrodite's daughters clash with Artemis Hunters constantly because of their different moral values. Haechan doesn’t think she’s ever heard of an Aphrodite daughter becoming a Hunter though there are rumors Taeyong is one. It is said she is her mother’s biggest disappointment and a constant topic of fights between the goddess and Artemis in Olympus.

“Well, we’ve made some pretty alluring arguments if we’ve even convinced a head counselor last time we came,” Taeyong replies.

Her words finally catch Haechan’s attention.

“And where is the head counselor in question?” Haechan inquires, speaking for the first time.

Taeyong’s eyes sharpen as she observes Haechan. It’s almost as if she can sense the half-blood’s hidden agenda. Nonetheless, she turns to the group of girls behind her.

“Illie.”

The Hunters make way for the girl to walk. She appears to be the oldest of them, yet doesn’t look a single day past her eighteen years. Her reddish-brown hair is braided with silver and even though she carries a bow on her back, there’s a fan and a knife on her waist. A red panda sits on her shoulders and its tail can be mistaken as a scarf at first glance.

Taeil has changed over the years. Her hair is a different color, her bow is an interesting addition to her choices of weapon, and she dresses differently. But Haechan’s heart beats just like it did seven years ago.

Taeil greets Taeyong and the half-bloods with a nod of her head. The red panda waves at them and Haechan doesn’t know if she should wave back.

“This is Taeil Moon,” Taeyong says, not bothering to say the names of the half-bloods. “Do you know these people?”

Taeil looks confused by the question and quickly glances at the three girls before her. Haechan’s stomach feels fuzzy.

“I left seven years ago, my old friends must be off on adventures of their own now,” Taeil says softly.

There’s a bittersweet taste to Haechan’s mouth. She is hurt that she wasn’t immediately recognized by Taeil when Taeil has been all she could think about all these years. However, not being recognized means she’s not that ugly twelve-year-old anymore. Haechan has grown to be a gorgeous woman and she knows her charms. Taeil had better watch out for herself.

“Well, lead the way! You know it best,” Taeyong says.

Taeil shakes her head and politely asks for the half-bloods to show them their quarters.

➳

It’s bright at night in the campfire. Campers laugh and sing songs while they throw marshmallows as offerings to their godly mothers and fathers. The only dark hole in the evening is a pouty young girl who sits far away from everyone, envying them as they shout their parents’ names proudly.

Donghyuck curls up and hides her face between her knees in case tears threaten to spill over. She feels a hand trailing up and down her spine in an attempt to comfort her.

Donghyuck looks up to find Taeil’s soft grey eyes. She wants to tell Taeil to stay with her cabin mates but something completely different escapes out of her mouth.

“Why hasn’t my dad claimed me yet?”

Taeil sighs. She starts combing Donghyuck’s hair with her fingers and looks over to the fire. “I don’t know, Hyuckie. Gods are… hard to understand. I don’t pretend to comprehend male gods… Especially one who doesn’t claim a daughter as bright as you.”

“Must be nice to have two mothers,” Haechan mutters.

As a child of Athena, Taeil is born in the same way Athena was: from her parent’s brain. Athena fell in love with Taeil’s mother and sent the baby in a basket. Donghyuck assumes she has a dad as her godly parent. Her mother has never expressed desire for relationships with women and she’s shown her daughter pictures of herself while pregnant.

“It has its perks,” Taeil says with a half-smile before her face becomes filled with worry again. “Are the children of Hermes treating you nicely?”

Since Donghyuck has yet to be claimed by her father, she stays at cabin eleven. Hermes' children are chaotic and messy, but also friendly and welcoming. Donghyuck can almost forget her dad doesn’t care enough about her to send a simple sign.

“Yes, they are nice, but I like you better.”

Taeil chuckles and Donghyuck’s heart warms up. “Do you want to move to Athena’s cabin?”

Donghyuck’s jaw drops at Taeil’s offer. Being at Athena’s cabin wouldn’t only mean she would share bunk beds with Taeil but also that they’d have the same itinerary, training and playing together. “Is that possible?”

“Anything is possible when you are the head counselor’s favorite,” Taeil says as she messes with Donghyuck’s hair. She leans closer with a secretive smile. “But hey, that’s our secret. Promise?”

“Promise.”

➳

Taeyong has to meet with the camp’s director to make sure the Hunters are allowed to talk to the half-bloods to propagate eternal youth with sisters in arms and Artemis while hunting down monsters — you know, the usual.

Her lips stretch into a grin while Jaehyun and Jungwoo lead the way down the hill. Haechan starts considering what Taeyong can say that will drive Jungwoo mad. Hopefully, Jaehyun will know how to deal with the two girls without the (alleged) half-sisters fight with one another.

Haechan cannot focus on this issue as of now. She finally has Taeil back at camp and she will do her best so she stays forever.

Haechan leads the Hunters to Artemis’ Cabin. It’s a simple construction made out of wood but at night it shines with a silvery glow. The girls are getting adjusted to their temporary home when Haechan feels something messing her blonde curls.

She looks up to find a pair of dark eyes and a ball of orange fur staring at her. The red panda jumps from Taeil’s shoulder to Haechan’s.

“What’s the name of this little fellow?” Haechan asks while petting its fur.

“This is Luna,” Taeil says while smiling. She pets Luna’s striped tail. “She likes you.”

“Ah, I like Luna too,” Haechan says. The red panda returns to Taeil’s shoulder, tired of exploring. Haechan offers her hand to the Hunter. “I’m Haechan, daughter of Apollo.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Taeil shakes her hand and Haechan feels sparks flying from her warm touch. “Have you heard of the Hunters before?”

Haechan shrugs while trying to hide a smirk. “A thing or two.”

“Maybe this summer you’ll consider joining our ranks?” Taeil asks, eyes shining with hope.

Haechan puts her hands inside her pockets, coolly hiking up her shoulders. “That’s not in my plans.”

“Why not?” Taeil asks, her eyes rounding to show genuine curiosity.

“Well, for starters, I am not ready to give up on love yet.”

Taeil huffs and rolls her eyes. Haechan finds her attempt to display disdain adorable.

“Romantic love is overrated,” she mutters but seems to remind herself she should be convincing the half-blood instead of driving her away. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

Haechan wants to puke at the assumption she was anything but a lesbian. “No and never will.”

Taeil’s eyes widen when she finally understands what she means. “Ah, a girlfriend then.”

Haechan smiles smugly. “That is in my plans.”

“A crush?” Taeil asks. Haechan nods. “Does she like you back?”

The second Taeil’s question comes to the world, the Hunter seems to regret having stepped over the line. Haechan replies without even blinking.

“I’ll make her like me.”

“How?”

“First, I’ll bet for the opportunity of a date. Then I’ll win the bet,” Haechan says, almost winking at the end of the sentence. She doesn’t want to scare Taeil yet so she holds herself back.

Taeil seems amused by Haechan’s diabolical plan to find love. “Good luck, Haechan, daughter of Apollo,” she wishes her. Haechan knows she meant her words.

“Thank you, Taeil, daughter of Athena,” Haechan whispers back.

The Hunter’s mouth falls open and her eyes dart through the room to be sure any of the other Hunters have listened to what Haechan just said. Haechan takes that opportunity to leave before she can ask any questions, winking at Taeil as she goes through the door.

➳

It takes some time but, eventually, Donghyuck makes a friend that isn’t Taeil or any of her siblings.

Donghyuck is talking to Taeil near the strawberry fields when she catches something dark blue moving in the crops. It takes only a few seconds for Donghyuck to visualize what that mystery object is. It’s Jungwoo’s shiny dark blue hair. Donghyuck’s heard about her before: thirteen year-old daughter of Aphrodite, newly claimed, and often sticks her nose where she shouldn’t.

She tries to focus on Taeil as the older braids her hair and talks about the newest strategy for a Catch the Flag game. Once she leaves for a head counselors’ meeting, Donghyuck looks at the spot between the strawberry crops. “What are you doing over there?”

No one answers for a sole minute. Then a blue head pops up between the red fruits. Jungwoo doesn’t appear to feel guilty. She stares at Donghyuck funny.

“Just watching you two…” Jungwoo replies vaguely.

“What is it?” Donghyuck asks again, motioning with her chin for Jungwoo to speak up.

“Nothing…”

Donghyuck sighs. She is about to leave but Jungwoo sits down next to her to share about this new cool-girl daughter of Zeus that has come into camp. Donghyuck shrugs and listens as Jungwoo complains about boys and compliments girls all afternoon long. According to her, girls are the prettiest and so much easier to get along with than boys. Donghyuck can’t help but agree, picturing Taeil smiling brightly while her sandy blonde hair is disheveled by the wind. She is the prettiest. Only when Donghyuck returns to her cabin does she realize she’s just made a new friend.

➳

Campers and Hunters are finishing their dinner in the Dining Pavilion, each of them sitting on their own cabin’s table. Haechan enjoys herself listening to Yerim share the latest argument he had with one of Poseidon’s daughters when she feels a warm breath on her nape.

“Did someone tell you who my mother is?” the velvety voice asks.

Haechan turns around to find a wide-eyed Taeil. Luna is on the ground, softly rubbing herself against the Hunter’s legs.

“You can say so,” Haechan replies while smirking.

Taeil tilts her head and her lips pout slightly. “Who?”

People start gathering around the center table where the centaur that takes care of camp-activities is clearing his throat.

“Let’s listen to what Chiron has to say,” Haechan says, getting up and holding Taeil by the wrist. She leads their way into the crowd and Taeil allows herself to be guided.

Chiron is going over the general rules of Catch the Flag. There are two teams, campers and Hunters. Each team must have the same number of people and have one sole objective: to find and take the flag away from the enemy’s territory. Weapons and magical items are allowed. Cold blooded murders are best when avoided.

“Who wants to be the captain of the campers?” Chiron asks.

Haechan doesn’t wait for anyone from the Ares’ cabin to even consider the question. “I do!” she shouts, proudly raising her arm and running to where Chiron is.

“Donghyuck— I mean, Haechan of the Apollo Cabin volunteers,” Chiron announces. Haechan notices Taeil’s eyes sparkling in surprise. She must remember Haechan’s old name. “Anyone else?”

No other camper volunteers. Perhaps this has to do with Haechan’s underlying threat to blind their eyes if they even dared. Perhaps.

“May I challenge a Hunter to be my opponent?” Haechan asks Chiron, in an overly formal manner.

Chiron is startled by Haechan’s polite behavior and her request itself. Usually the Hunter’s captain is their leader — in that case, Taeyong. For the last few centuries, at least. However the (alleged) Aphrodite daughter must be really tired of it after more than centuries of Catch the Flag games so she shrugs.

“Well, I guess…” Chiron says.

Haechan’s eyes sparkle. She stares directly at her opponent, a daring smile on her lips.

“Taeil Moon, will you accept my challenge?”

Taeil’s relaxed expression changes instantly . Her eyes sharpen, her lips become a thin line and she crosses her arms.

“What for?”

“If you win, you can preach to me all about your loveless way of life,” Haechan offers, walking closer to Taeil so she can whisper loudly. “If I win, you agree to go on a date with yours truly.”

Campers woo in surprise while the Hunters gasp in outrage. Haechan thinks she can hear Jaehyun’s whistling in the back. Taeyong grabs Haechan’s arm faster than the speed of light. “Listen here you Apollo bright child, do not dare to offend a Hunter like this—“

“Taeyong, it’s fine,” Taeil reassures her, getting Taeyong to drop her hold. Taeil stares back at Haechan, acting unaffected by what’s at stake. “I accept the challenge.”

“Swear on the River Styx,” Haechan requests. She has once made the mistake of not making that demand before and Taeil didn’t keep her word then. This time will be different.

They both swear on the River Styx, binding them to their oath. Before the crowd disperses, Taeil stops Haechan from leaving.

“If you are the one crossing the line with the flag you get a kiss on your cheek,” she promises, turning her back and walking with the Hunters to the cabin.

Haechan smiles to herself. She is going to get that kiss and many, many more.

➳

They have just lost another Catch the Flag against Ares’ cabin. Even if Athena’s children are the best strategists, it’s hard to beat their opposition when they make alliances with Apollo’s children and the sole daughter of Zeus in camp.

Taeil can’t stop cursing them. She had to be dragged away when the Ares’ head counselor said something about women not being born to lead. After her siblings split apart the fight, they advised that it’d be best if Taeil took Hyuck away to get some fresh air. They go to their favorite place: the yellow flowered hill.

Donghyuck has nothing to say so she stays quiet as she hears Taeil complaining how the other team had won only because a girl joined their ranks and they remain as sexist as they come. She is exhausted after the game so she lays back on the grass to watch the stars. Donghyuck lays next to her.

“Ah, it’s been over a month, is it that hard for a god to claim you already?” Taeil says, eager to change the subject and still slander men.

“You shouldn’t say that, Illie. Dad might hear you,” Donghyuck replies with worry. She knows gods have ears in the winds and one is smart not to badmouth them.

“Maybe he should hear me! Then he’d do something about you.”

Taeil is angry and therefore reckless. Donghyuck decides it’s better to change the subject.

“I like Athena’s cabin.”

Taeil huffs and messes Donghyuck’s hair. “You like being spoiled rotten by us.”

“Yes!”

Taeil’s smile slowly fades. “You deserve a home, you deserve to know who your siblings are.”

The tone of Taeil’s words spark some curiosity in Donghyuck. “Do you know who my dad is?”

“I have a hunch,” Taeil mutters begrudgingly.

“Who is it?”

“I… I hope it’s not him. I’ve met him once and it wasn’t pleasant… In fact, I punched him.”

“You punched a god?” Donghyuck asks, mouth gaping. Taeil is definitely the coolest person she’s ever met.

Taeil rolls her eyes. “He was over the line with Yuta… Acted like he owned her or something…” she says defensively. Donghyuck is confused. What does the oracle have anything to do with her dad?

The counselor smiles softly. “Anyways, he has many talents and I see them in you. You’re really special, Hyuckie, almost like light itself.”

Donghyuck feels her cheeks warming. There’s a weird feeling in her belly.

“Don’t say that,” she snaps, sounding ruder than she meant.

Taeil is taken aback. “Why not?”

“I—I…”

One of Taeil’s brothers calls her name. Apparently a friend has just returned from a quest saving Persephone from Zeus-knows-who kidnapped her again. Taeil looks at Donghyuck apologetically before running down the hill. The butterflies inside Donghyuck’s stomach stay there.

➳

Haechan makes good use of her abilities, reflecting the light of the sun to get Luna away from Taeil’s shoulders. The playful red panda follows the ball of light on the ground, trying to catch it before Haechan moves its direction. It only takes a few minutes for Taeil to notice her animal friend is gone.

The Hunter turns around to find Luna on Haechan’s lap being spoiled by pets.

“Bad Luna,” Taeil scolds fondly as she takes the red panda away from Haechan’s hold. Luna opens her arms as if welcoming the Hunter into a hug.

“She likes me,” Haechan points out confidently. “Maybe her owner will like me too.”

Taeil side-eyes her. “I don’t own Luna, she is as much my companion as I’m hers,” she says harshly. Taeil takes a step closer but Haechan doesn’t lose her half-smile. “And you should be more respectful when talking to a Hunter.”

Haechan watches her walk away, observing her elegant steps and bouncing silver braid. She looks even prettier when she’s angry.

“Is this how you plan to woo Taeil? By infuriating her?” Jaehyun asks.

Haechan hadn’t noticed that her friends had popped next to her but they had caught Taeil’s last words.

“No, I plan to win the bet,” Haechan replies while winking.

“And how are you gonna win this, you dumb dumb?” Jungwoo inquires while raising her eyebrows.

“Well…”

➳

Some moments don’t have a beginning. They only have a middle and an end. Donghyuck doesn’t remember what she’s done to deserve this. Perhaps it is one of the arrows she hit bullseye or maybe it’s a sweet thank you for the wound she healed in Taeil’s leg.

They are alone in their yellow-flowered hill when Taeil approaches her to kiss her cheek. Donghyuck feels her face warming up and the place where Taeil’s lips had touched is tingling. The heat inside Donghyuck’s heart continues expanding and expanding and expanding.

Taeil’s eyes are filled with wonder. She says, “Hyuckie, you’re glowing.”

Donghyuck looks at her hands. It is true, she is producing light with her own body. This means… This means…

Taeil looks up to a spot above Donghyuck’s head, squinting her eyes. Donghyuck tilts her head up though the globe of fire doesn't hurt her vision. A small sun shines over her.

Donghyuck Lee has been rightfully claimed as Apollo’s daughter.

“I was correct,” Taeil muses with a secretive smile.

Donghyuck bites her bottom lip. “Do you hate me?”

Taeil chuckles until she realizes the fear in Donghyuck’s eyes. She gently pets her head. “What? No, Hyuckie… You’re not your father,” she reassures her. “You’re ten times better than him. In fact, I think you’re the best person on this entire planet.”

Donghyuck doesn’t know if she’s telling the truth or just wants to appease her heart. Her thoughts are taken away from her mind when Taeil kisses her cheek again and Donghyuck glows. She has to learn how to control this stupid newfound power.

➳

Chiron makes the team captains shake each other’s hands before the game begins. Haechan smiles smugly. Taeil tries not to show her true emotions. It’s hard to picture that this tanned golden haired woman was once the toothy wide-eyed twelve year old who slept in Taeil’s bed when she missed her mom.

Through the few months they spent together seven years ago, Taeil had seen Donghyuck bloom into a confident girl who fought with Zeus’ offspring without thinking twice and spoke openly of her feelings. She was never impolite or audacious enough to challenge Hunters and look as superior as she does now. Taeil doesn’t understand how she’s changed this much. She can still see some of her old Hyuckie in those eyes. Sometimes she spots a glimpse of kindness, other times that wonderfilled glow.

From what Taeil recalls, Donghyuck is stubborn and loves any chance for physical affection. That’s where the cheek kisses come into play. If this Haechan has a crush on her, she will definitely do her best to be the one crossing the lines. Taeil and the Hunters on defense only need to pay attention to her while the rest go after the flag.

Taeyong lets Taeil lead. As Athena’s daughter, she is the unofficial strategist for the Hunters and employs their usual formations when hunting for monsters in the game. Two girls will take care of the flag, while the rest will stay on defense and a small team will attack under Taeyong’s leadership. Taeil’s advice for the defense team is simple: keep an eye out for Haechan because she will be the one carrying the flag.

Chiron blows his whistle and the game starts.

Taeil hears the clash of swords with shields and the rapid sound of arrows being shot, but she doesn’t move from her position near the creek. It marks the end of their territory and Taeil is set on not letting Haechan get past the line.

Haechan’s team strategy is, simply put, “attack is the best defense”. The quantity of half-bloods quickly overwhelms the Hunters and she hears a battle cry that means the flag has been taken. Taeil’s attention to the woods is even more intense now. Any camper that tries to fight her is struck down in a few blows.

Like a flash of light, she sees her. Haechan’s golden hair glows even during the night. Taeil can’t quite say if it’s her natural beauty or one of the powers she inherited from her dad.

Taeil shoots some arrows at Haechan, who dodges them quickly even if she is carrying the flag in one of her hands. Haechan throws a dagger at her but Taeil opens her fan and the dagger falls onto the ground. Seeing as there is no other option and Haechan is fastly approaching the creek, Taeil jumps over her, pulling her to the ground. Haechan drops the flag but doesn’t look annoyed.

“Hey, hey, wait for our date before you jump on me,” she murmurs smoothly.

The Hunter finally sees what position they find themselves in: Taeil pinning Haechan’s wrist on the ground while sitting near her crotch with her legs spread. She becomes embarrassed. “S-shut up.”

Haechan takes the opportunity to turn the game around and pins Taeil to the ground.

“Make me,” she whispers, hot in her ear.

“I’ll get you to the prison cell,” Taeil threatens, though she has no real power to threaten her with. She didn’t expect Haechan to be this strong.

“Are you sure?” Haechan asks, raising an eyebrow and then looking over at the creek.

Taeil looks to her left to see someone with curls not as golden as Haechan’s but certainly similar, picking the flag on the floor and running over the creek. She tries to scream for the Hunters to get this Haechan double but they are busy fighting the other half-bloods and Taeil knows it’s too late. Fake Haechan has crossed the line.

Taeil is finally released from Real Haechan’s hold, who goes to greet the victor. The two Haechans hug and jump together. When they part, one remains Apollo's daughter while the other is the white haired Jungwoo. Taeil curses under her breath. She had forgotten powerful Aphrodite children could change form.

For a second Taeil questions if the one who teased her a few moments ago isn't Jungwoo, but no magic could possibly imitate Haechan’s golden hair and the glow in her eyes.

“Half-blood team is the winner!” Chiron announces.

Taeyong offers a hand so Taeil can get on her feet.

“You cheated!” she yells, pointing a finger at Haechan.

Haechan crosses her arms. “Did not! I crossed the border myself.”

“That wasn’t you!”

“Can you prove that?” Haechan asks, effectively shutting up the Hunter. Haechan leans closer, a taunting smile on her lips. “Are you going to keep your word?”

Taeil huffs and leaves the forest. She wants to be alone.

➳

Donghyuck groans when she is paired up with Jaehyun for sword lessons. Jaehyun is only three years older than her and yet still projects a scary image with her pale complexion, dark hair and sharp jawline.

Unlike most campers, Donghyuck has no respect for her whatsoever and does her best to beat Jaehyun on the sword even when she is supposed to yield for the sake of the lesson.

If their sword teacher notices, he doesn’t mention it. It takes Jaehyun being pushed to the ground three times for her to shout in outrage, “Hey! What is wrong with you?”

Donghyuck shrugs but Jaehyun holds her sword against her throat. Hyuck wants to fight but she’s caught unguarded.

“You support those sexist idiots from the Ares cabin.”

Jaehyun lowers her sword. “Stop talking like one of Athena’s daughters, you’re from Apollo’s Cabin now,” the Zeus’ daughter almost spits at her. “You’re as much allied with them as I am.”

Sword or not, Donghyuck is ready to jump on Jaehyun. Before she can, a wave of blue hair gets on her way.

Jungwoo has charmed Jaehyun with a spell, causing the Zeus’ daughter to be literally shooting heart eyes into Jungwoo’s direction. Donghyuck doesn’t know much about Aphrodite’s daughters’ powers but she thinks for it to have worked that quickly and that strong, Jaehyun most probably has a crush on Jungwoo.

Jungwoo giggles before turning to Donghyuck and crossing her arms. “Do I have to get Taeil to calm your little heart, Hyuckie?”

“Shut up,” Donghyuck grunts before walking away.

“Hyuck,” Jungwoo calls, frowning in worry as she runs after her friend. “What is upsetting you?”

“Stop bringing Taeil up!”

“You know who my mother is so you must suspect why I do it,” Jungwoo replies, straight to the point.

Donghyuck’s heart aches. It can’t be true and yet something tells her it is.

“She is a girl,” Donghyuck argues.

Jungwoo smiles. “Even better.”

Donghyuck is on the verge of tears. Jungwoo holds her hand and takes her to a private place in the woods. They spend the rest of the day together and Jungwoo explains all the matters of love. She tells her friend no one chooses who they love but that no one should deny their feelings. Love is one of the most powerful feelings in existence, one of the few things capable of breaking oaths and curses. Donghyuck shouldn’t be afraid of what she feels for Taeil. Instead she should embrace it.

Love is love.

➳

Taeyong has her most trusted wolf guarding the exit of Artemis’ cabin. Luna is feral but she can only hiss at the white animal, who ignores her attempts to clear the way for her companion.

“This is absurd! You shouldn’t go on this date,” Taeyong exclaims while Taeil is braiding her hair.

“I swore on the River Styx,” Taeil replies calmly. She ties her hair with a silver band.

“Your vow to Artemis is more important.”

Taeil knows Taeyong doesn’t mean to imply Taeil is breaking her vow but it hurts nonetheless.

“It’s just a date,” Taeil brushes it off.

Best case scenario, Haechan and Taeil will take a trip down memory lane and remember the summer they spent together at Camp Half-Blood. Worst case scenario, maybe Haechan feels a little too cocky and gets punched in the face. Maybe the second option is the best scenario.

“I don’t trust that Haechan!” Taeyong insists, stomping her feet on the floor.

Taeil doesn’t know if the rumors are true. Taeyong has been her most trusted companion these last years but she knows better than to ask her friend who her mother is. Her absolute despise of romantic love is common among most Hunters. Taeil doesn’t share the feeling but avoids talking about it. Taeyong’s disgust runs deeper in her veins. Even after hundreds of years, her eyes still flare up whenever a Hunter falls for another person and leaves their group.

“She is an old friend trying to mess with me,” Taeil says evenly.

She walks towards the wolf and whispers for him to move. He abides by her request. Taeil is already out of the cabin when Taeyong asks, “Oh so you know her already?”

Taeil pretends like she hasn’t heard it and continues walking to the meeting place Haechan had written on a piece of paper. She ignores her frenetic heart. It is only beating this fast due to her disobeying Taeyong’s guidance.

➳

The sword teacher kicks Taeil out of class after she draws blood from the head counselor of the Ares cabin. She got tired of hearing him brag about winning Catch the Flag yet again and how since only men were the leaders of the last successful quests, he will probably lead the next quest outside camp.

Taeil doesn’t think twice before landing a blow to his chest. He tries to fight back, managing to scratch Taeil’s arm but she skillfully slides her feet under his, causing the boy to trip and accidentally stab himself on the arm. Taeil argues that she isn’t the one who caused his injuries, he has only himself to blame, but it is to no avail. She is dismissed from class.

She wanders around the camp with no set course. Apollo’s cabin is practicing archery and she watches with an envious smile as they get a perfect score almost every time. The only people more precise than Apollo’s children are the Hunters.

Donghyuck has greatly improved in this last month. Her bond with her siblings is strong and she no longer begs Taeil to return to Athena’s cabin. She’s also developed the abilities of Apollo such as archery, healing and singing. Poems are still her biggest nightmare and she always skips slam poetry time but her siblings cut her some slack since she has the power no other Apollo children has; she can produce and become light itself. This unprecedented ability marks Donghyuck as someone who will be a part of legends and tales. Taeil has always known her Hyuckie was going to be special, but not even she could have imagined it was to this extent.

“You’re hurt!” Hyuck exclaims, jerking Taeil away from her thoughts.

She drops her bow and runs to where Taeil is. Donghyuck gently picks Taeil’s wounded arm to see how deep the cut is.

“You should see the other guy…” Taeil jokes.

Donghyuck doesn't laugh. They go to the infirmary. One of her siblings is there on duty but Donghyuck says she will clean and bandage Taeil’s arms herself.

Taeil doesn’t joke while Donghyuck does her job. She knows she has upset her young friend.

“Why did you fight?” Donghyuck finally asks once she’s done.

“I’m tired of camp… They only ever send male half-bloods to quests. They blame it on the oracle, but Yuta has said before she thinks some missions would be successful when led by women,” Taeil says bitterly. With her good hand she runs her fingers through her hair. “Only because I made a mistake once it shouldn’t mean other girls have to suffer.”

Taeil has never shared about this with Donghyuck but she’s sure the younger has heard about it around camp. Taeil was once chosen to lead a three-person quest to retreat an object lost in the most dangerous place of the Underworld, the Tartarus. She picked her best and most capable friends, Doyoung, daughter of Hades, and Sicheng, daughter of Hermes. Only Taeil returned alive.

“I’m sorry,” Donghyuck says awkwardly.

“It’s okay. I’m going away.”

Donghyuck is taken aback. “Oh?”

“I’ll be joining the Hunters come next month. Renounce love and be free to hunt monsters. Live forever,” Taeil says, dreamily looking at the sun setting on the horizon.

“Let me come with you!” Donghyuck squeaks out in her thin voice.

Taeil looks over her fondly. Hyuckie has grown attached to her siblings for the last couple months and she finally feels like she belongs somewhere. Taeil would never take her away from Camp Half-Blood. Her issues are her own.

“Hyuckie, you’re too young. Stay at camp, if you make up your mind when you’re older, I’ll come for you,” Taeil promises.

If Donghyuck thought like a strategist, she would make Taeil swear on the River Styx. Only sacred oaths are certain to be fulfilled.

➳

Haechan is waiting for Taeil by the lake. She isn’t wearing the bright orange shirt of Camp Half-Blood. Her outfit consists instead of a long jacket, white shirt and a bucket hat. Taeil’s heart flutters when she notices Haechan has prettied herself up for the date, but she shuts down that feeling immediately.

There’s a sudden burst of light in Taeil’s direction and she notices that it’s Haechan smiling. The half-blood gifts Taeil a yellow bracelet. She still remembers her favorite color.

The Hunter decides to refuse the gift. Taeil has agreed to a date, nothing more.

“No, thank you.”

Haechan tilts her head, confused by Taeil’s response. She raises her wrist, showing the purple counterpart of the bracelet.

“They are enchanted so other people won’t recognize us. Jungwoo uses them all the time.”

Taeil feels dumb when she notices the small Greek inscriptions on the jewelry. An Aphrodite’s daughter enchantment, a very smart one to make use of when someone wanted to avoid any gossip. Taeil accepts the gift and hopes not to act stupid for the rest of the date. Not that she actually cares about Haechan’s opinion of her.

They kayak on the lake. It is Haechan’s suggestion, she’s made the entire day's itinerary. Taeil thinks she hears the half-blood whisper something along the lines of “perfect date” but chooses to ignore it.

The day is sunny, surely blessed by Haechan’s father, and the water offers them some refreshment. They use different kayaks and Taeil is glad to put some distance from Haechan. They race through the lake and everything is peaceful until she is hit with sprinkles of water on her face. Haechan laughs openly until she is shut down by an even bigger amount of water that Taeil shoots in her direction.

They engage in a small water fight that annoys the naiads close by and Taeil manages to turn Haechan’s kayak upside down. She can’t stop laughing but she feels arms coming straight from the water and dragging her into the lake.

Taeil loses herself in Haechan’s beauty while they are dragged deep inside the lake. She has left her bucket hat at shore and her golden locks are suspended by the water’s gravity. Even deep into the lake, where little sunlight comes in, she shines brightly.

Haechan comes closer to Taeil, mesmerized by her. She touches Taeil’s braid and her eyes fall on Taeil’s lips. The Hunter feels out of breath, sucking water into her lungs. She swims to the surface, running from Haechan’s touch. She doesn’t wait for Haechan to follow her to go to shore.

If Haechan has sensed the moment they’ve just shared, she doesn’t mention it. Instead, she suggests they go to the strawberry fields to relax and enjoy some of the sun. Taeil is freezing due to the lake’s waters and Haechan reflects some of the sun’s rays to warm the Hunter and dry her clothes faster. Taeil thanks her quietly.

Taeil lays back on the strawberry fields while Luna jumps around, running through the plants. She goes back to them for pets and Haechan is more than happy to indulge her. Taeil wishes she wouldn’t. Everytime Haechan caresses the red panda’s fur, Taeil’s body shivers, as if Haechan is caressing her own hair.

Once they’ve rested and their clothes have dried with the help of the sun and Haechan’s powers, Haechan starts recalling the past. Taeil is hesitant, wondering what Haechan's motives are, and offers little commentary at first. It is hard to keep resisting Haechan’s charm when she smiles this warmly and calls Taeil by her old nickname. Besides, underneath that smug persona there is still the sweet and caring Hyuckie Taeil once knew.

Taeil asks about the people she knew back in her day at camp. Haechan fills her in on the latest gossip, talking about quests and unprobable couples that happened. Taeil is certainly surprised that a great number of the recent quests were led by girls and that finally there are as many female head counselors as males.

It doesn’t take long for Haechan to make her laugh vibrantly by impersonating Zeus. Taeil’s heart fills with joy and she visibly loses the tension on her shoulders. All the walls she’s built for this so-called date are useless against her old friend. Taeil wishes they had kept in touch but that was her own fault. The Hunter loses her smile and Haechan tilts her head, curious if she’s misspoken anything.

“I’m sorry I didn’t return for you,” Taeil says suddenly while gripping on the grass on the ground.

Haechan shrugs nonchalantly but Taeil can see beneath her act. “It’s okay, I wouldn’t have joined the Hunters anyway.”

Taeil becomes silent for a few moments. “You did well on your own, head counselor of Apollo Cabin,” she says, showing glimpses of pride.

Haechan smiles, but it isn’t as cocky or filled with self-confidence anymore. There’s fondness to the curl of her lips. “I followed your footsteps.”

Taeil darts her eyes down to the grass. She cannot face Haechan when she demonstrates such pure and undeserved affection towards her. “Why do they call you Haechan?”

“Because I can produce light, just like the sun,” Haechan explains. Taeil recalls the legends then. There are prophecies written by this hero called Haechan long before Yuta was the oracle. They are hundreds, thousands of years old. Taeil doesn’t recall the verses quite well, but something tells her Haechan’s future hangs on a balance: it might be as bright as the sun or as bleak as the night.

“Always knew you were special.”

Haechan shrugs and scratches her back. Taeil can see she’s flustered and there’s a weird sense of amusement at that.

Haechan tries to regain her cool back by smirking. “How about that kiss on the cheek, huh?”

Taeil chuckles. She doesn’t even consider refusing or promising to kiss Haechan later. She sits up and leans closer to Haechan, planting a quick peck on her cheek.

Haechan glows, this time brighter than before, just like she did the day she was claimed by her father. The Apollo daughter seems to panic for a moment and focuses on keeping her light down.

“I thought I had it under control,” she confesses apologetically.

“It’s cute,” Taeil replies without thinking twice. “You always wore your heart on your sleeve.”

Haechan raises an eyebrow. “So you believe I like you.”

“I think you like the idea of me. You only know the Taeil from years ago.”

“I’d like to know you now, if you allow me,” Haechan says, not a glimpse of a grin on her face.

Taeil lays on Haechan’s lap as they share about each other’s adventures. Haechan gently unbraids Taeil's dark hair while she talks about her first quest with Jaehyun and Jungwoo. When Taeil talks about hunting monsters on the outside world, Haechan looks at her as if she’s hung the sun in the sky. Taeil feels chills as Haechan continues combing her hair with her fingers so she decides to play with Haechan’s hand to keep it occupied. They intertwine their fingers and Taeil feels a weird feeling in her belly, but reassures herself that it’s only due to platonic love.

Their last stop is at the beach. They watch the sunset on the sandy shore. The sky is colored orange and purple. Taeil doesn’t remember when she last paid attention to the sunset. She holds Haechan’s hand as they quietly listen to the waves and watch the sun part for the night.

Once the sky is completely dark, it starts raining. Haechan confesses she’s asked Jaehyun for a quick summer rain as she remembers Taeil used to love the rain.

Taeil feels her shoulders being wrapped by a warm fabric and notices Haechan has lended her her jacket. She’s about to thank the half-blood when she feels her arm on her shoulder.

“Aren’t you being too bold with a Hunter?” Taeils asks, squinting her eyes in suspicion.

“I’m just keeping you warm. You know, I’m the daughter of the sun,” Haechan replies with a sly grin. Haechan is indeed warm. Taeil hadn’t even noticed she was trembling moments before. “Besides, I’m older than you, so I should care for my Illie.”

Taeil’s heart flips inside her chest.

“Technically I’m older than you,” she argues, trying to keep a straight face.

“You stopped aging at eighteen. I’m nineteen,” Haechan says back, leaning her head even closer than before.

“You’re infuriating!”

“And you love it.”

Their faces are so close to each other now that they are breathing each other’s air. Taeil’s eyes wander from Haechan’s to her inviting mouth. Haechan touches her chin to bring her closer but Taeil jerks her head away.

“Hyuckie, I can’t…” she murmurs.

“You can’t or you won’t?”

“The Hunters offered me a home.”

“I know, but I’m offering you one now,” Haechan replies with a fire that is hard to describe. “When you left you turned your back to the company of men. You never thought of any different company.”

Taeil’s heart flutters. She indeed hadn’t thought of it back then but that was seven years ago. Times changed fast.

“Still… I want to go on quests and explore the world.”

“We can do just that together,” Haechan insists, holding Taeil’s hand tight. “Camp has changed ever since you last were here. I changed too.”

Taeil doesn’t reply. She can see camp has changed. More women are accepted in places of power — there isn’t a token woman head counselor anymore — and quests are divided equally. It even seems like non-heterosexual relationships are accepted easily now. Taeil’s heard Jungwoo is pretty famous with the girls. She wants to believe Haechan’s words.

Haechan stares at her with her bright, endeared eyes. She faintly touches Taeil’s lips, wet by the summer rain.

“Have I ever told you how pretty you look under the moonlight?” she whispers.

Taeil almost gives in but her vow calls to her. She gets up without another word and drops Haechan’s jacket before fleeing.

➳

The Hunters leave without Taeil in their ranks. Taeyong has asked Taeil to make a decision but she couldn’t do it. The Hunter’s leader doesn’t hide her disappointed frown when leaving.

After Doyoung and Sicheng sacrificed themselves on their mission, Taeil found it hard to grow any attachment to the camp. Even her siblings decided it was better she took a temporary leave from her head counselor duties.

Donghyuck changes everything. Without ever meaning to, Taeil starts taking care of the young, bright girl who illuminates her grey days. She makes sure to protect her from harm or any bad influence. In return, Donghyuck relies on her like no one else. Taeil can't leave now.

Still, she cannot stand having to share a table at a meeting with people who doubt her capacities. Taeil has to hold herself whenever she sees a disgusting eighteen year old camper whistling when young girls go by. The issue of “proper campwear” drives her nearly insane when the head counselor of Apollo suggests the girls shouldn’t wear short skirts or else they would distract the boys from fighting by causing improper thoughts. The last straw comes when her accusations against a lack of a system to handle the young girls who feel harassed aren’t heard. She leaves the Big House in tears and runs to the creek.

She wishes her mother had given her actual powers, not simply a thinking brain and skillful hands. If she was Poseidon’s daughter she could use the sea to escape, if Zeus was her father she would wash her anger with the rain. Instead, she is relegated to trying to think rationally of something that doesn’t have justification.

Taeil uses a big rock to lean to as she cries. Faint hands touch her hair. Taeil looks up to find a woman in her forties. Her eyes glow silver in empathy and Taeil blinks to be sure if she hasn’t just imagined it. Somehow she knows what greets her is not mortal. The camp keeps all that are a threat away so Taeil cries on the woman’s lap.

“What bothers you, my child?”

“I’m tired and I feel lonely…” Taeil says, muffling the words against the woman’s cargo pants. “I already have to prove my strength to them and I can only do so by giving up my vulnerability. If I don’t follow their rules, I’m simply an object of their desire. I hate them, I despise them, I want them gone.”

The woman wipes her tears and raises her chin so Taeil can speak more clearly. Taeil lowers her eyes. She cannot stare at this stranger in the face, she is too gorgeous, too indescribable, to hold her gaze.

“My best friends are dead and they disrespect their souls by claiming they were weak. They don’t say it’s because they were women but it is implied… I only wish to honor their lives…”

“Oh, my child,” the woman says. She whistles and a small ball of fur shyly and clumsily steps out from the bushes.

The animal is roughly the size of a dog. Its fur is dark brown on the paws but orange on the rest of its body. The fluffy tail’s stripes are both colors. With playful insight, it runs towards Taeil.

“This is Luna,” the woman explains. “She is happy to meet you.”

Taeil giggles when Luna picks on her hair and starts climbing on her shoulders. “I am happy to meet her too.”

“Luna can be your companion. Along with many other girls and animals,” the stranger says. Taeil finally looks up to her once again and sees she wasn’t imagining the silver in her eyes. “What is keeping you from joining my Hunters?”

She bows her head in respect. “I am still attached to the camp. I want to protect the girls that come here, so I can make this place safe for them.”

Artemis shows worry in her eyes. “You’ve tried your best but there’s only so much you can do. Come with us. Live adventures with your sisters in arms. Then you will finally know relief.”

Taeil bites her bottom lip. The offer is tempting. Her heart has been aching for so long… Still, she would have been forgetting all those wonderful years she spent playing Catch the Flag with Doyoung, picking strawberries with Sicheng. Is running away enough for her demons to vanish?

“Your fallen friends know you honor them every time you use Doyoung’s knife and Sicheng’s fan,” Artemis reassures her softly. “They would support you in this journey towards happiness.”

More tears escape Taeil’s eyes and, this time, Luna is the one that wipes them. She does so clumsily, stumbling on her big red panda paws, but Taeil smiles through her tears and thanks the animal. When she looks up again, the goddess is gone.

➳

“Everywhere the sun touches is his domain. Therefore, no matter how much you want to avoid Apollo, he is there,” Artemis says whenever the Hunters suggest they hunt during the day. There’s always a touch of annoyance to her voice whenever she mentions her brother.

What the goddess says must be true about his offspring as well because wherever Taeil goes Haechan is there. One afternoon, Taeil goes to the library to study Greek and Haechan is coordinating an activity between the Apollo and Hermes cabins. Just after waking up Taeil visits the armory to avoid lines so a child of Hephaestus can check on her old knife and there is Haechan, getting a new supply of arrows. Sunset is the perfect timing for Hunter activity so Taeil hosts a small meeting for girls from Camp Half-Blood who are interested in joining the Hunters and… guess who is there? Jaehyun. Accompanied by Haechan and Jungwoo, who make fun of the entire thing and almost push Taeil to the verge of insanity.

Haechan’s presence alone would be enough to mess Taeil up but then there’s the Haechan effect, which manages to be worse. Whenever Haechan appears on Taeil’s line of sight, her heart beats faster. Something inside her screams to do something so Haechan can look at her. Whenever their eyes meet, Taeil feels shivers down her spine. It only takes a wink from Haechan for her cheeks to become hotter than Hephaestus’ forges.

One day, Taeil thinks she’s found peace. Due to some god’s blessing, she hasn’t met Haechan all day. Maybe there’s a sting in her heart teasing about how she misses Haechan’s presence but Taeil decides to ignore it and takes her shots on the bow while she still has peace. Her streak is perfect. She is one of Artemis’ favorite companions after all. Campers stop to watch her mastery of the bow.

Through the tail of her eyes, she sees unique blonde curls shining under sunlight. Haechan is observing her. Taeil’s hands become sweaty. She blinks, trying to keep her balance straight before shooting another arrow. It misses the target.

“Hey, hey, hey, need some help?” Haechan asks, walking confidently to where Taeil is.

“I’m fine,” the Hunter replies, though her words come out strained.

“Hey,” Haechan says, this time softer. Taeil lowers her guard for a moment. Haechan places one of her hands on Taeil’s waist as she teaches her how to take better aim.

Taeil tries paying attention to it, but it’s hard when Haechan’s warm body is touching her and her breath hits Taeil’s nape every time she says a word.

“You’re tense,” Haechan points out.

“You’re not helping,” Taeil says back.

Haechan arches her eyebrows in amusement. “How so?”

Taeil rolls her eyes. To be honest she isn’t even that annoyed by Haechan’s cocky attitude but by how her heart flips whenever she smirks like that.

She decides to walk away before doing something stupid but, in a swift move, Haechan holds her wrist. “You know… Maybe we could bet on some target practice for the chance of a second date,” she suggests, hoarse voice turning Taeil’s head fuzzy.

Taeil’s eyes lower to Haechan’s lips. Then, from behind Haechan’s shoulder, she catches Taeyong watching them. She pushes Haechan away, leaving the Apollo daughter so she can look for somewhere where the sun doesn’t shine.

➳

Taeil asks Donghyuck to meet her on the hill where the yellow flowers grow. Yellow is her favorite color and she loves laying down there and watching the sun set as she sketches new inventions.

Donghyuck runs up the hill. She is breathless and sweaty from practice. Taeil smiles at her disheveled state and wonders if she’s been fighting Jaehyun. Once her enemy, the daughter of Zeus had begrudgingly become Donghyuck’s friend once she promised to give her some information about Jungwoo. Taeil smiles nostalgically, missing her early teenage-years antics with Doyoung and Sicheng.

She knows she doesn’t have much time. Once the sun sets she must leave. Still, she indulges herself in asking Donghyuck questions about her day. Donghyuck talks but she also lays Taeil’s head on her lap while decorating her short blonde hair with yellow flowers from the hill.

It has been a slow change but more and more Donghyuck is the one who tries to take care of Taeil instead of the other way around. At first Taeil isn’t sure what caused the change but then she notices Donghyuck’s warm and fond gaze towards her, how she glows whenever Taeil touches her and the constant wave of compliments she showers over the daughter of Athena.

Donghyuck has a crush on Taeil.

The older doesn’t know how to feel about it. On one hand she is endeared by such adoration. However she fears for the safety of girls in this world, especially the ones who love other girls. Taeil wishes she could protect Donghyuck from everything evil and bad. Instead, she will be the first one to break her heart.

“I will be leaving tomorrow to join the Hunters, Hyuckie,” Taeil splutters out suddenly while she raises her head from Donghyuck’s lap. Donghyuck is astonished by the news. “I—I hope I’ve helped you adjust to camp and that you enjoy it here for as long as you want.”

Donghyuck blinks but doesn’t move. She remains silent and immobile. The sun is lowering in the sky. Not wanting to drag this further, Taeil signals towards getting up. Donghyuck holds her wrist.

“Wait! Illie,” she pleads.

Taeil abides by her request.

“I-I have something to tell you,” Donghyuck says, darting her eyes through the hill. Finally she looks up to find Taeil’s eyes. “Don’t go with the Hunters. I love you.”

Taeil’s lips curl. How can she ever resent a feeling so pure and sweet. “You do?”

Donghyuck nods eagerly. “Yes. A lot.” She picks something that is behind her back. “Here is a flower for you.”

In her hands there is the prettiest sunflower Taeil has ever seen. She recognizes it instantly. Apollo’s Blessed Sunflowers are known for their gold petals and silver leaves. Apollo only grants them to his most promising children and they can choose to keep it or gift it to someone they trust their soul to. Taeil doesn’t know of its powers, they are one of the best kept secrets among half-bloods. The last Blessed Sunflower in recorded history came about three hundred years ago.

Taeil is sure Donghyuck doesn’t know what she’s trusting her with. Yet she cannot refuse or she will face the wrath of Apollo. Taeil quickly wipes the tears that threaten to escape her eyes and takes the sunflower from Donghyuck’s hand.

“You’re cute, Hyuckie. I love you like a sister,” Taeil tells her while softly pinching her cheek. “You’re too young for me. Even if I stayed we wouldn’t be together, not like that.”

“Will you give me a chance when I’m older?” Donghyuck asks boldly.

“We will see about that…” Taeil muses with a half-smile. She’s too weak to break Donghyuck’s heart apart. Taeil kisses the younger’s forehead. “Never change, Hyuckie, stay as bright and brave as you are today.”

The sun is setting. Taeil cannot stay to hear Donghyuck’s last words. She carries the Blessed Sunflower close to her heart.

➳

Haechan tries not to whine about Taeil but it’s hard when Jungwoo and Jaehyun cannot stop teasing her about it. She cannot hold it anymore when Jungwoo gives her a sunflower to play the “she-loves-me” game.

“Why is she making this so hard?” Haechan complains, the sunflower bringing back embarrassing memories back to her mind.

Jungwoo shrugs. “Well, she likes you. That much I know.”

That piece of information would certainly make Haechan happy, hadn’t she heard it weeks ago. Just after the first date, Haechan asked for Jungwoo to speak a little to Taeil and sense her attractions. When Woo proclaimed to be certain of Taeil’s mutual affection towards Haechan, the daughter of Apollo almost passed out.

“Then why won’t she give in?”

“She has denied love for eternity, Haechan. I’m sure she was ready for worse than you when taking a vow,” Jungwoo explains reassuringly.

“Haechan is weak!” Jaehyun yells, barely able to finish her sentence from how much she laughed.

“You say that but I’ve never seen you ask Woo out on a date,” Haechan spits back, puffing her chest.

Jaehyun loses her smile. “Now you little shit—“

“What you gonna do? Electrify me?!”

“I might as well—“

“Girls!” Jungwoo yells, standing between the two of them. She uses some of her Aphrodite ability to appease Jaehyun. Haechan knows how much she avoids using her powers on Jaehyun unless extremely necessary and decides to let the issue go.

The initial subject has almost been forgotten until Jungwoo hums. “How about… we hurt her?”

Haechan’s eyes widen. Aphrodite daughters are supposed to be peaceful. Apparently that isn’t so when love is the matter. “Woo, no.”

“You know healing is your best gift. After… you know, that weird glowing up stuff you do.”

“You only wanna do this because she hates love.”

“It’s unnatural!” Jungwoo whines while stomping her feet.

“Do not hurt Taeil,” Haechan warns. She shoots a glance at Jaehyun, afraid her friend will support Jungwoo in an attempt to win her heart.

Haechan fears leaving her friends alone but her duties as head counselor call for her. She prays to the gods Taeil is kept safe.

They hurt Taeil.

Haechan is leading an arts and craft activity when she hears that “one of the Hunters got hurt.” She asks who she is and the person replies “your girlfriend.” The daughter of Apollo is too worried to fight back this harmless teasing and passes hold of class to the next in line.

“I told you not to fucking do it!” she yells as she slams her way inside Zeus’ Cabin.

Haechan is shut down by the image of Jungwoo making out with Jaehyun while sitting on her lap. Jungwoo parts the kiss but remains seated where she is, not an ounce of shame on her expression.

“She just tripped…” she murmurs while shrugging.

Jaehyun takes longer to recover. She has lipstick all over her face and her eyes are cloudy. She shakes herself back to reality.

“After I faced her for two hours in the arena… That girl is tough…”

Jungwoo hits her on the shoulder so she stops talking. Jaehyun looks offended for a second but is still too dopey from the kiss to fight back. Jungwoo giggles and gives her a quick peck. Haechan is disgusted.

“Now off you go, take care of her,” Jungwoo says, waving her hand at Haechan. “Maybe a kiss will heal her.”

Jaehyun nods though it doesn’t seem like she has actually heard anything Jungwoo just said.

Haechan rolls her eyes. “I hate you two so much.”

Taeil has sent Taeyong away. Her friend said she’d wait by her but Taeil knows she has more urgent issues to handle. Three campers have expressed interest in joining the Hunters, a record number, and Taeyong should oversee their training while they have time. The Hunters depart come next sunlight.

While waiting for her healer, Taeil pets Luna and fills her brain with thoughts to ignore the pain on her leg. Her mind wanders to shiny curls, honey skin and golden lips. Taeil tries to shake these thoughts away but they seem to have materialized the person itself in front of her.

The Hunter blinks, confused about what has brought Haechan in front of her. Is that a mirage? Is love so powerful it drives people insane?

Her gaze falls on Haechan’s chest. She is wearing a healer badge.

“I should have imagined,” Taeil sighs but she can’t help shivering under Haechan’s attention. “Do you have all the magical abilities of Apollo?”

“I suck at poetry, if you don’t recall,” Haechan confesses with a modest smile. She walks to where Taeil is and gently takes Luna away from her arms. Taeil feels naked and unprotected.

“Thank the gods.”

“It’s quite a pity, I’d love to recite something of my own to praise your beauty,” Haechan says, looking straight into Taeil’s eyes. Her irises glow golden.

Taeil lowers her head, hoping her blush isn’t apparent. “Do you heal your patients by flirting with them?”

“Special treatment for you,” Haechan replies while winking. She offers Taeil a glass of yellow juice. “Drink it up.”

The Hunter knows it to be the blessed drink of the gods, nectar. She hasn’t tasted it in years. With apprehension, she takes the glass from Haechan’s hand and takes a couple gulps. It tastes like Coca-Cola at the perfect temperature, cold enough to be refreshing and yet not freeze the brain. The pain in her leg subsides but she isn’t healed just yet.

Haechan touches her leg and whispers some enchantments. She has to repeat the process from hour to hour so she stays next to Taeil, playing with Luna. Taeil cannot stand the silence and asks Haechan if she’s met with her father ever since she left camp.

While massaging Taeil’s legs, Haechan shares about her father being playful and kind-hearted but too stubborn for her liking. Taeil has to suppress a giggle at Haechan’s lack of self-awareness. Haechan tilts her head and Taeil decides to share about the meeting with her mother.

Even though Athena is a maiden herself, she was disappointed by Taeil’s choice of joining the Hunters. She claimed it wasn’t wise that Taeil ran away from the world instead of trying to fix it. As the goddess put it, it was unlike her children to be so selfish and thoughtless. Her mother has always been distant but those words broke Taeil’s heart. Thankfully Artemis interfered before the situation worsened. The Hunter hasn’t seen her mother since.

Tears wet her face as she tells Haechan the story. Taeil hadn’t even noticed she was crying before. She rushes to wipe them but Haechan’s warm hands reach her cheeks first. Haechan has listened attentively to everything she’s just said. Without even noticing, Taeil has relied on her.

“Regardless of how I feel about your status as a Hunter and on the risk of being cursed by your mother forever, I don’t think it was very wise of her to estrange her already distant daughter,” Haechan says. Taeil doesn’t know what to reply. When did she become this mature?

Haechan doesn’t press on the issue and they change the subject to lighter ones, such as favorite minor gods they’ve met, worst monsters they’ve fought against and the latest music playing on their Spotify. The night has already fallen when Haechan announces Taeil’s leg is completely healed.

“You’re discharged,” she says. “Unless… you want to walk by the yellow flowers with me?”

Taeil’s heart skips a beat. She purses her lips in apprehension. “Hyuckie… I don’t want to break your heart…”

“Then don’t.”

“I have a vow to keep,” Taeil says, more sternly this time.

Haechan nods and seems to have settled on the matter. She’s about to leave when she stops herself. “Is it honest to keep your word when you’ve had a change of heart?”

“Do not speak of what you don’t know!” Taeil shoots back.

They fall into silence. Even Luna watches them quietly. Haechan doesn’t face Taeil and goes to the door.

Tomorrow, come sunrise, Taeil will leave with the Hunters and she will only see Haechan seven years from now. Maybe, seven years from now, Haechan will have found another woman to fall in love with. Maybe when she returns to camp, Haechan won’t even be there anymore, gone off on her own adventures.

“Wait, Hyuckie,” she calls out. She runs to hold Haechan’s wrist. “The Hunters leave tomorrow. Let’s walk by the yellow flowers one last time.”

Even at night, Taeil swears that Haechan glows with happiness.

“Are you upset I’m leaving?”

Taeil’s question cuts through the quiet night. They lay on the hill of flowers. Haechan has pulled Taeil close to her chest even if the Hunter groans in protest. In the darkness, they cuddle. Haechan wonders if this sort of affection would qualify as vow-breaking.

“I wouldn’t mind you leaving if I knew you’d return,” Haechan confesses with a deep sigh.

“I’m sorry, Hyuckie…” Taeil replies, curling up against Haechan’s chest.

Haechan holds her close. The return of Haechan’s old nickname sparks more fondness towards Taeil. It’s unfair that she falls more in love with her by the second and yet come morning she will still leave her.

“Do…” Haechan starts saying, but regrets it. Taeil looks up and waits for Haechan to ask again. “Do you still have my Sunflower?”

“I carry it with me everywhere I go,” Taeil reveals. Haechan is static. “If I couldn’t have my personal sun, at least I could keep a piece of her.”

“You have me,” Haechan replies, eyes lowering to Taeil’s lips.

Taeil chuckles. Haechan is afraid she’s starting to become immune to her attempts of flirting.

The Hunter loses her smile. “I wasn’t worthy of such a gift.”

“Don’t ruin this,” Haechan asks, voice no louder than a whisper.

She wants to kiss Taeil but stops herself when she’s already leaning forward. Their foreheads touch and Haechan closes her eyes. Taeil doesn’t move. They breathe air into each other’s mouth, so close and yet none of them dare take the first step forward.

Haechan thinks she can cherish this moment. It’s an almost moment but it’s what Taeil can give her and she takes what she can.

A strong wind and swift steps disturb their privacy.. Taeil lightly pushes Haechan away.

Before them is a woman in her forties. Her hair is silver, not white, but bright and metallic, and she carries a bow on her back.

Taeil kneels and Haechan follows her.

“You know why I’m here,” the woman says solemnly.

Taeil shakes her head. “No… no.”

“It’s okay, my dear,” she says. Haechan didn’t expect Artemis to have such kind eyes. She always pictured the goddess as cold and fierceless but her warmth embraces even the half-blood. “I know that your feelings are true. You vowed yourself to me and you served well, my young strategist.”

Taeil keeps shaking her head. She holds herself to the goddess’ dress.

“I too was tempted by love once.” Artemis cups Taeil’s face gently while petting her hair. “I’m only glad you love a woman. There’s no truer love than that.”

“I still wish to serve you,” Taeil insists, tears shining in her eyes.

Haechan feels like an intruder, watching an older sister bid goodbye to her young pupil from the sides.

“You will. I know who to look for when we are in danger,” the goddess tells her. It seems to finally appease Taeil’s heart. Artemis touches Taeil’s head and says, “I release you from your vow, Taeil Moon.”

Taeil breathes in relief. The goddess kisses her forehead and walks down the hill.

Luna, who was watching everything next to Haechan, lowers her head sadly and follows her master’s steps while still observing Taeil.

Artemis kneels to talk to the red panda as equals. “Keep an eye on her for me, will you? Make sure that Haechan respects her.”

Luna doesn’t need to be told twice. She runs to Taeil’s arms and is embraced by her weeping companion. Haechan approaches Taeil to comfort her. When she looks down the hill, the goddess has disappeared into the night.

Haechan is hesitant about touching Taeil. She is afraid Taeil will lash out, blame her for what has happened and she wouldn’t be wrong. Haechan never expected for Artemis herself to make the decision but she didn’t count for how much in denial Taeil would be.

Taeil continues crying. Haechan can’t take it anymore. She runs circles on Taeil’s back, hoping to ease her heart of guilt and sorrow.

“I’m sorry, Illie…” she whispers.

Taeil’s hiccups slowly vanish and she wipes her tears with the back of her hand.

“I like to ponder over my options. I’m my mother’s daughter after all…” she says, voice hoarse from her tears. “I just didn’t think my heart would make a decision for me.”

Her gaze falls on Haechan. There’s no anger or spite towards her, only warmth, fondness and love.

Haechan wipes what is left of the tears on Taeil’s cheeks.

“I promise to make you happy,” she says, holding her face close. “That is, if you take me.”

Taeil bites her bottom lip. “Are you sure of this, Hyuckie?”

“Years ago, I gifted you my soul. I haven't regretted a single day since.”

Haechan leans closer and their lips finally meet in a sweet kiss. Taeil’s tender and lenient personality shows itself in the kiss and Haechan takes control easily, devouring her lips without missing the softness of her mouth. When the kiss ends, they chuckle nervously and Haechan steals another peck from Taeil’s lips.

They lay on the hill, watching the stars on the sky while holding hands, and wondering if one day they would have a constellation to call theirs. At this moment Haechan and Taeil are still clueless to how their adventures will turn into the most famous of heroic tales and that, unlike most heroes, their story wouldn’t have a tragic end because, at each sunset, they will still have each other.