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Chapter Nine: Is He Going To Change? Will He? Can He?

Point of view: Perseus Jackson

~One Year Later~

"Will you accept the gift Perseus?" Lycaon asks me seriously. 

We stand in the Ceremony House. I stand in the middle with Lycaon, the entire werewolf race surrounding us. 

"I will." I answer. I am finally healed all the way. I'm just like I used to be, with a few more tricks up my sleeve. 

Lycaon beams at me and the others all holler their approval. Sylvia bounds forward to kiss me and hug me. Charvank bear hugs me and everybody else hugs me lightly or punches me on the shoulder. I follow Lycaon to the Ritual Room and he has me lay down on a natural wooden tree stump that serves as a table or altar. Palena is fully grown and watches from the corner as she settles down.  

Lycaon smiles down at me. I close my eyes and breath deeply. "You'll be just fine. When you wake up, don't freak out." Lycaon tells me. 

"I know. I won't." I tell him and he pats my shoulder. 

"Are you ready?" Lycaon asks after a minute. 

"Yes." I answer. 

"See you when you wake up son." I hear Lycaon tell me and then I feel him bite into my neck. 

Third person pov

Once Lycaon pulls away from Percy he sits next to Palena in he corner. "Whenever I do this and bring someone into our world, I always think about what humans call vampires. Those aren't real. Empousai are the closest we have." He sighs and Palena licks his face. 

Charvank comes in and looks at Percy's form on the table. Percy's breathing and heart rate rapid and increasing. The heat he normally has rolling off of him increasing the temperature around him to unbearably hot. His chest rising and falling quickly. The bite mark on his neck already gone. The tree table's edges surround him, it's used as a table and altar when it could really be a bed. 

"He will be alright. Lady Artemis wishes to see you. She awaits outside beyond the barrier." Charvank reports. 

"Will you watch him?" Lycaon asks his friend. 

"I'd be honored." Charvank smiles and grabs a chair to sit next to Percy. 

Lycaon leaves and ears for the entrance to their home. The Wolf Entrance seems to know Percy is inside and changing. It glows a navy blue and when Lycaon steps out, he sees the Hunters and the twin gods looking at the cave with wondering faces. Artemis is the first to notice him and bounds forward. She lands in front of Lycaon and starts to fire questions. 

"Hang on!" Lycaon holds up his hands and she quiets, but she is still bouncing with energy. "Okay, one question at a time." Lycaon tells her slowly. 

"Where is Percy? Is he changing? Why is the tunnel glowing? Why is it glowing that color? Where is Palena? Is Percy okay?" Artemis asks. 

"Or a bunch of questions in a slower manner works." Lycaon sighs. "Percy is lying down. I offered the gift and he took it without hesitation. That's why the tunnel is glowing. That's just the color Percy chose to radiate when he uses his aura. Palena is helping Charvank watch over him and he is fine." 

"Will he survive?" Apollo asks worriedly. 

"I'm quite positive. He started feeling the effects immediately, which means he will most likely pull through." Lycaon replies. 

"Are you ready then?" Artemis asks. 

"Of course. This way then Lady Artemis." Lycaon offers his arm and Artemis takes it without any worry. 

Lycaon leads the group into the cave and through the city. He lets them into the Meeting Longhouse and has them sit on the other side of the table from the gathered older werewolves. He pulls out a chair for Artemis and pushes her in and settles down in a chair beside her, a show of peace. 

"How shall we proceed Lady Artemis? We can abide by many terms." A man speaks in a deep gravelly and majestic voice. 

"What have we been fighting about since the beginning?" Artemis suggests. 

"Nothing really." Lycaon sighs. 

"We were just set against each other." A beautiful woman speaks. 

"That lead to us fighting against the gods because we weren't treated all that well. I really do hate fate sometimes." Lycaon huffs. 

"How about we don't kill each other or harm one another in any way. If it's an accident, we can convene on he matter to be absolutely sure." Artemis offers. 

"I like that one." Flin tells them. 

"We won't hunt humans either. We'll stick to animals like the old days. Only started because of those men roaming the woods." Lycaon says and everybody nods their head. 

"What about turning someone?" The woman, Alicia, asks uncertain. 

"We will view of the same way as when I let girls join the Hunt. Only if they want to and it has to be offered. Everything on the table. Rules and all, so they know what they are getting into." Artemis replies. 

The werewolves all agree. "Very well. I doubt there will be any territory terms other than letting each other know when you are coming. You may come in times of need if there be a need for it." Lycaon tells Artemis. 

"Just no shooting or maiming please. We may be aggressive, but the males are courteous. They only tease you, they mean no harm." Olivia smiles at the Hunters. 

"Just the way we've become after our experiences." Phoebe holds up her hands, she admires Olivia for her warrior ways. 

"All except Thalia." Atalanta says. 

"Not true. The boyfriend thing." A hunter chimes in. 

"You guys, not now." Thalia gives them a meaningful look and they all shut up. 

"What about wars?" Artemis asks. 

The werewolves all look at each other and smile warmly. They all look at Artemis and Apollo, smiling brightly. "The young one has tempered and dissolved our wrath. Though we do not love the way he was treated afterwards, we know there are still some good people left. We will fight for Olympus." The first man, Kilporo, declares. 

"Thank you. This is great news." Apollo smiles. 

"Yes, we wish to be free and we can't do that if we are constantly being chased down by enemies. Plus, the little one tells us things we haven't been able to shed light upon. He is cherished in our kind. He will be a great influence on future and present werewolves. The past ones already like him in the Beyond." Alicia smiles kindly. 

The door bangs open and an out of breath Charvank is in the doorway. Hands on knees, trying to regain what breath he can. "Lycaon...too hard...having trouble...come...quick." Charvank manages. 

The werewolves all look at each other, worry crossing their features. "Stay with them. I will go check on the young pup." Lycaon tells the others. They nod and everybody is confused. Lycaon sprints out with Charvank. 

They make it to the Ritual Room and Percy is having a hard time breathing and his skin is far past unnaturally hot. Lycaon touches Percy's forehead and jerks his hand away. Lycaon hisses at the burning feeling. Almost worse than silver when werewolves get touched by or cut with it. 

Palena is staring at her friend in worry. She lays her head next to his, her face watching him, but his faces the ceiling. 

"Is there something wrong? This hasn't happened before. No one got to this stage. I didn't know if he was going to die or not." Charvank says. 

"You're wrong. It has happened...once before." Lycaon informs him. 

"With whom?" Charvank looks surprised. 

"Me." Is all Lycaon says. He forces himself to grab Percy's hand. "Percy, I know you can hear me. You are so close to turning. Just focus on things around you. You don't need to speak, but I need to know you are alright." Lycaon tells Percy. 

Percy clenches his hand around Lycaon's and the old werewolf brightens. Then he frowns. "My skin wasn't this hot though." 

All of a sudden, Percy's heart stops and Lycaon hears it. "Percy? Percy?!" Lycaon's hands check his neck to make sure. 

Percy's heart starts to slowly come back to life on its own, surprising Lycaon and Charvank. Percy grips Lycaon's hand, the burning skin getting hotter. Lycaon makes himself hold back his growl, the searing pain in his hand starting to flow over him. Then it changes into a comfortable heat. But it fluctuates and then Percy feels exactly like Lycaon does, cool but not cold or anything. But really, Percy is still warmer. 

Percy's eyes start fluttering until he can look up at the natural light of a crystal in the ceiling. His head lulls to the side to find Palena. A smile spreads across his face slowly and his free hand reaches up little by little until it can touch his friend's snout. Palena nuzzles his hand. He looks tired, but he is just adjusting to everything. 

Percy looks sideways at the ceiling, studying the light closely. He decides he hasn't been out too long unless it has been a little over a day. It felt like years, long peaceful years of rest. He feels old, but he feels more alive than ever. He can't explain it, he just feels like a totally new person. He has a burning desire to sleep though, but it is fighting off the adrenaline starting to pump into his veins. 

It's absolutely quiet and Lycaon puts a slight pressure on Percy's hand to help him remember where he is. Percy seems to wake up a little and looks over at Lycaon. "Did you know you died for about a mi ute there?" Lycaon asks softly. 

Percy shakes his head and smiles kindly. "I felt like I've slept for years, I wasn't paying attention. And yes, I could hear you." Percy says. His voice has deepened like it was supposed to when became himself again a little while ago, but now it's even deeper. It sounds magical and rings through the room like a bell, but it is soft and demands attention. 

"You'll have to get used to the new things. You're taller just like the rest of us." Charvank tells him. 

"Mmm." Percy closes his eyes and breathes deeply. 

"No sleeping. Come on. Last time we let someone sleep after a change they couldn't stop moving for the next two weeks." Lycaon pulls on Percy. 

"Not sleeping." Percy shakes his head and opens his eyes. He sits up. "You had my senses already heightened before I changed, now it's like I'm seeing the world in really bright colors and your voices have way too many layers." He explains. 

What do ya think you guys? Rick Riordan owns PJO/HOO. Enjoy the little break, my lovely readers!