The days following Artemis's revelation were anything but ordinary. Percy tried to settle back into the routine of Camp Half-Blood, but the bond made normalcy an illusion. Every time she thought she had a moment to herself, the connection surged to the forefront of her mind. A whisper of silver in the corners of her vision, an unshakable pull toward the forest, even a faint echo of emotions that weren't her own. It was as though she had been rewired overnight.

Artemis, for her part, had returned to her duties as the goddess of the hunt. She didn't linger at Camp Half-Blood, but Percy felt her presence all the same—a faint hum in her chest that ebbed and flowed like the tide.

It wasn't long before the bond began to manifest in ways that went beyond dreams or subtle emotions.

Percy's day had started normally enough. Training with the campers, dodging Clarisse's taunts, and grabbing a quick lunch in the pavilion. But when the afternoon sparring session began, things took a bizarre turn.

"Alright, Percy," Annabeth said, tossing her a practice sword. "Let's see if you've been slacking."

Percy grinned. "Slacking? Me? Never." She caught the sword with practiced ease and took her stance. The rest of the campers cleared the area, eager to watch the friendly duel between the camp's two most formidable fighters.

The match started like any other. Annabeth was quick and calculating, using her smaller frame to her advantage. Percy relied on her instincts, deflecting her attacks with the confidence of someone who had faced far worse than a sparring partner.

But then, mid-swing, something strange happened.

Percy felt a sharp pain lance through her shoulder—not from Annabeth's blade, but from something else entirely. She staggered, her free hand flying to the spot as if to check for a wound. There was nothing.

"Percy?" Annabeth paused, lowering her weapon. "Are you okay?"

"I—I don't know," Percy stammered. The pain was gone as quickly as it had come, leaving behind only confusion.

Before she could say more, a flash of silver appeared in the corner of her vision. She turned her head, expecting to see Artemis herself, but the forest beyond was still.

"Percy, you're freaking me out," Annabeth said, stepping closer.

"I think I need a break," Percy mumbled, handing Annabeth the sword. "Tell Chiron I'll be at the Big House if he needs me."

Annabeth nodded, her concern evident. Percy didn't wait for further questions. She headed straight for the forest, the bond tugging her along like an invisible thread.

Artemis was in the middle of a hunt when she felt it. A sharp sting in her shoulder, like the bite of an arrow that hadn't actually landed. She faltered, her silver bow lowering as she scanned the dense forest around her.

"Lady Artemis?" one of her hunters asked, stepping closer. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm fine," Artemis replied, though her voice lacked its usual confidence. She straightened, brushing off the phantom pain as nothing more than a trick of the mind.

But as the hunt continued, the sensation didn't fade. It pulsed faintly, a reminder that somewhere, someone else was feeling the same thing.

Percy.

Artemis sighed, gesturing for her hunters to continue without her. She would need to address this sooner rather than later.

By the time Artemis arrived at Camp Half-Blood, Percy was pacing in front of the Big House, her expression a mixture of frustration and relief.

"You felt it too, didn't you?" Percy asked as soon as the goddess appeared.

Artemis inclined her head. "Yes. It seems the bond is... stronger than I anticipated."

Percy threw up her hands. "Stronger? That's putting it lightly! I thought I was having a heart attack or something."

Artemis frowned, stepping closer. "You weren't injured during your sparring match, were you?"

"No, but it felt real," Percy said, touching her shoulder as if expecting the pain to return. "Like it was my injury, but not mine at the same time."

The goddess's silver eyes narrowed. "The bond is more than just a connection of emotions. It appears to extend to our physical well-being as well. If one of us is hurt, the other will feel it."

Percy blinked. "You're telling me I'm going to feel every scratch you get on your little hunting trips?"

Artemis's lips twitched in amusement. "It would seem so. And I, in turn, will feel the consequences of your... recklessness."

Percy scowled. "Hey, I'm not that reckless."

"Two words: exploding volcano," Artemis replied, arching an elegant eyebrow.

"Okay, fair," Percy muttered.

The humor between them quickly gave way to seriousness as Artemis placed a hand on Percy's uninjured shoulder. "We'll need to be cautious. If the bond allows us to share pain, it could also become a liability in dangerous situations."

"You think?" Percy said, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "What happens if one of us gets seriously hurt?"

Artemis's expression darkened. "Then the other will bear the burden as well. We must avoid such a scenario at all costs."

Percy sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Great. Just what I needed—another thing to worry about."

The goddess's gaze softened. "I know this is overwhelming, Percy. But you're not alone in this. We'll figure it out together."

Percy met her eyes, the sincerity in Artemis's voice calming her frayed nerves. "Yeah. Together."

That night, as Percy lay in her cabin, she couldn't help but replay the day's events in her mind. The bond was no longer just an abstract idea—it was real, tangible, and inescapable. She didn't know what the future held, but one thing was clear: her life had changed forever.

And somewhere under the same moonlit sky, Artemis was thinking the exact same thing.