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***

Percy Jackson

"Remind me again exactly why we are hiding out in the woods surrounding..." I squint and peer through the tree line, "Westover Hall?"

Five feet away, Artemis looks over at me, "Do not tell me you have forgotten how we scout potential recruits."

I adjust my hood and settle into the snow, "Of course not Artemis, it is just that I don't see the point in coming to this specific location."

On my other side , Zoë leans down from the tree branch she is sitting in, "Di Imortales Perseus, Elysium really has taken the edge off of you."

"Oh yeah Z? You want to come down from that tree? I'll show you edge." I counter.

"Any time, little brother." Zoë always calls me that when she is trying to annoy me. Unfortunately, I don't have a snappy comeback, so I end up just standing there with my mouth slightly open, voicing the unspoken jab.

Before the silence becomes too obvious, Katelyn comes racing from the north-east, British accent and all, "Lady Artemis, we must move quickly! Some bloke has the Di Angelo siblings and is carrying them towards the cliff!"

Artemis springs into action, "Hunters move! We cannot allow this person to get them!"

Zoë lands next to me, "Time for us to move. Do not think too hard for a comeback."

I ignore Zoë, all business now. Someone has two demigods. Whoever it was, he or she clearly has knowledge of the mythological world.

"So, what's the plan?" I ask, falling into the same pace as the goddess of the moon.

"Move in. Kill the kidnapper. Extract the demigods."

"Good plan." I reply sarcastically, "And if the kidnapper is mortal?"

"He clearly knows that they are demigods. Besides, I sense the presence of a monster."

"What can you tell about it?" I ask.

"It is a unique monster, not one of a large species."

"That's not good." I mutter. Unique monsters, such as the Minotaur or Medusa, are considerably more powerful than rank-and-file monsters like the dracenae.

At that moment, a scream of fear and pain pierces the air. I glance at Artemis and together, the two of us pick up speed.

Artemis and I are joined by Zoë and Catania, and the four of us pull ahead of the rest of the Hunt. Stopping in the treeline near the cliff, we gaze out at the scene playing out in front of us.

"The manticore..." Catania breathes, "Why did it have to be the manticore?"

I gaze questioningly at Catania, then turn to Zoë. She waves it aside with a look the says 'I'll tell you later.'

The monster had just completed its transformation and now stood towering down over a young boy. He couldn't have been more than twelve years old. I did have to respect his determination. Despite the obvious fear (his entire body was shaking uncontrollably) he stood protectively between the monster and the prone form of a girl, maybe two years older than him. She looked to be in extreme pain.

Zoë nudges me, "The spike."

I nod. Impaled in the girl's shoulder is a large spike, maybe twenty to twenty-five centimetres long.

"The manticore's spikes contain a powerful poison. It is not fatal, but it does cause a lasting, intense pain." I mutter.

The manticore growls something, then grabs the boy by his throat and swings him out over the cliff. The boy whimpers in fear, and I know why. About two hundred and fifty metres down is the ocean. A violent, craggy section of ocean. I can sense the wild currents. Even if he were to survive the fall, the uncontrollable waves would dash him across the rocks faster than one of Artemis' arrows.

This has to end now.

"Cover my back." I say to the girls. By now, the entire Hunt has caught up and hunkered down in the trees.

"What are you going to do?" Artemis asks.

I look at her, then smirk. Before he can say anything, I walk out of the tree line and head towards the monsters.

Because the beast's attention is focused towards the boy currently clasped in his claw, I reached the fallen girl undetected. I bend down and check her pulse. It's strong. I breathe out a sigh of relief. Just because the poison itself isn't fatal, that does not mean that people haven't died because of it. There were many instances of people going into shock because of the pain. This girl seems to be strong.

"Do not worry, little one." I softly whisper, "Everything will be okay."

She moans quietly, which draws the attention of the manticore.

"Well, it appears that I have a new playmate, trés bien. These two were no challenge for the likes of me."

"A Persian monster with a French accent? And here I'd thought I'd seen it all." I stand up and begin stalking towards the manticore, left hand subtly reaching for the knife I always keep on my body, "But then again, I did miss about two thousand years of history."

the manticore growls and launches a spike at me. Expecting that move, I throw my own knife, intercepting the spike and deflecting it into the snow. I draw Riptide and continue to advance towards the monster.

Just as I reach where the manticore's spike landed, the monster holds the boy out over the cliff again. I stop in my tracks.

"Do not move boy." He growls, different-colored eyes glistening as they reflect the twilight sun off of the snow, "Take another step and young Monsieur Di Angelo learns how to high dive."

"Alright." I say, "Just calm down."

"Oh do not worry. I am completely calm. Now drop your sword and get down on the ground. S'il vous plaît."

I put down Anaklusmos and kneel down in the groud, discretely picking up the spike. I feel the tip. Razor sharp, and coated in poison. Good.

At that exact moment, a volley of arrows rains down, carefully avoiding the boy. The manticore flinches, giving me my opening to strike.

Standing up quickly, I throw the spike right back at its owner. The projectile drops quickly and pierces the manticore in its right leg, just above the knee. The monster roars in pain and relases his captive onto the ledge behind him.

"Curse you Hunters!" It yells out, firing off a volley of his own into the trees.

Before the spikes reach the trees, another round of arrows replies, neatly striking the poisonous projectiles.

This distraction allows me to get within striking ranging. He barely dodges my strike and growls.

"Une autre fois boy. And you Huntress, you shall pay for interfering!" With that, the manticore flings itself off of the cliff.

I race to the edge and peer down, but the fog is so thick, I cannot see anything.

"He gone." I mutter and turn around, just in time to get slapped by a very angry Goddess of the Hunt.

"PERSEUS JACKSON!" She yells, "What in Hades were you thinking?!"

"First, OWWW!" I hold a hand to my face, "And second, there were two demigods who were about to be killed or worse. I couldn't have let that happen!"

"But if you had gotten hurt or..." Artemis decides not to finish the thought, "I just got you back, I do not think I could handle losing you again." Her voice shifts almost to a whisper with the last comment.

I smile softly, "Don't worry Arty, I'm not planning on leaving anytime soon."

Artemis gives me a weak glare, "You'd better not be.

At that moment, Zoë and Catania walk over.

"That was incredibly reckless." Zoë notes as Catania yells, "That was so badass!"

I smile slightly, "You are both correct, but right now I believe we need to focus on the two siblings."

Zoë nods, "Amanda is already tending to the girl's wounds."

"Very good." Artemis nods, "I suppose we should set up camp here. It is getting late, and these two will need their rest."

The Hunt nods and immediately breaks out and begins to build a temporary camp.

"Woah... What just happened?" The boy says from beside me.

I jump slightly, I'd almost forgotten about the little kid who had been hanging over the side of the cliff, "Hey kid, why don't you come with me? I'll get you something warm to drink, and I'll try my best to explain everything to you."

Ten minutes later, the two of us are sitting inside my tent. The boy, Whose name I learned to be Nico, had an untouched cup of hot chocolate in front of him.

"Will my sister be okay?"

I smile, "Don't worry. Amanda will take good care of her. Your sister is in good hands."

Nico nods in response and looks down.

"hey, look at me." I say softly, "What you did today was very brave. You stood up to a very powerful monster to protect your sister. And there are many more monsters out there."

"Monsters?" The boy looks quizzically at me.

I sigh, "What do you know about Greek Mythology?

***

Artemis

Amanda had taken the young girl, whose student ID named her as Bianca Di Angelo, into the infinrmary as Percy brought the girl's younger brother into his tent, presumably to explain things to him.

"Lady Artemis?"

"Yes Zoë?" I look curiously at my Lieutenant.

Zoë frowns slightly, "What are we going to do from here? You will attempt to convince Bianca to join the Hunt, I presume."

I nod, "And her younger brother shall be sent to Camp Half-Blood, or New Rome, whichever applies."

"Of course." Zoë's face remained neutral, though I know better.

Over the centuries, the Hunt has come in contact with numerous demigods of Roman descent. Many of the Hunters find both the males and females to be less than welcoming. Its history as an empire of slaves does not sit well with some Hunters who are former slaves either.

"Perhaps Perseus will be able to tell you if we must visit the Romans this decade or not."

"I pray we do not." The daughter of Atlas mutters under her breath.

I smirk slightly, "Your prayer has been received, though I cannot promise anything."

At that moment, the entrance to Percy's tent opens and the two boys walk out, laughing about something.

"So I'm halfway up the climbing wall when the thing starts shaking and the two halves start coming together. Grover tells me to pick up the pace and practically walks up the side of the cliff."

I shake my head as Percy continues his anecdote about his first experience with the camp's climbing wall. The little boy is laughing right alongside my Guardian as the two approach when they get about five feet away, Percy stops and bows. The other boy stands there for another five seconds before Percy manually pulls his head down.

"Lady Artemis, it is an honor." The boy says quietly, though I can tell that there is a hidden excitement in him.

I nod in response to their bows and Percy straightens up, "I have explained everything to Nico Di Angelo. Shall I contact Chiron to send a team from Camp Half-Blood to pick up him and his sister?"

Beside me, a little of the tension in Zoë's shoulders disappears.

"Yes." I reply absent-mindedly, distracted by an annoying fly buzzing through my head.

'Just ask him.' Aphrodite's voice floats through my head.

'Shut up.' I growl back.

'You know you want to.' She purrs back.

'I said shut up.' I'm beginning to lose my patience with the goddess of love.

'No.'

Now she sounds like a whining teenager, 'If you do not leave me alone, I will riddle you with arrow wounds.'

'Killjoy.' She mutters, but then she stops, much to my relief.

"-temis... Artemis, did you hear me?"

I snap my attention back to the present, "My mind had wandered slightly."

"Oh." Zoë looked uncertain, "Well, Bianca has been sufficiently healed. Perhaps you would like to talk with her now?"

"Yes. Thank you Lieutenant. Come with me." I start to leave, then turn back, "Oh, and Percy..."

"I'll get in contact with Chiron." He promises, "But Nico will have to remain with us until the extraction team arrives."

I nod, "Very well. I shall leave him in your capable hands."

Perseus nods once and directs the younger boy to the outskirts of the campsite.

***

Two Hours Later
Perseus Jackson

I frowned, watching the skies for any sign of a retrieval team from Camp. So far, no one has shown up.

"You are on edge." Artemis comes up behind me and stands next to me.

I shake my head, "I do not know, Lady Artemis, it's just that I cannot shake the feeling that something isn't right."

"Would you care to elaborate?" My goddess turns her head to look at me.

"Do not concern yourself with my problems, Artemis. My job is to protect you, and thus I shall do so."

"But is it wrong?" The goddess of the Hunt's voice drops to a near whisper.

"I'm afraid I don't follow." I tilt my head slightly as I look back at the woman.

"Is it wrong for me to be concerned for those I care about?" Artemis asks again.

I turn my head back towards the south, "I am your Guardian. It is my job to ensure that you remain in absolute physical and mental health. I cannot allow personal issues to interrupt my duties."

Artemis growls, "I hate it when you do that!"

"Do what?"

"You act as if I cannot be concerned for you! But I can and I will." She has started to get slightly angry and has closed the distance between us as she continues ranting.

I put my hands up and step back slightly, "Now, Lady Artemis, please be reasonable."

"That line will not work on me this time Perseus." She grabs my collar, "This time it is you who is not reasonable. We have been friends for millennia, why do you refuse to let me in?"

Artemis' voice had become quiet again, and her grip on my collar lessened, but I did not go to free myself. Instead, I did the first thing that came to my mind. I opened up my arms and pulled the Moon Goddess in for a hug. We stood there for a minute before I said anything.

"If you want to know what troubles me, then I shall tell you. but first, we must ensure that the Di Angelo siblings make it safely to Camp Half-Blood."

At that moment, I hear a slight cough, and Artemis and I jump apart and look towards the noise.

Apparently, the two of us had been so engrossed in our...discussion that we had not noticed the retrieval team arrive. Annabeth and Lee Fletcher stood in a chariot pulled by two pegasi.

"Chiron told us that there are two demigods here that need to be brought to Camp." Lee reports.

Artemis recovers quickly, "Yes. Wait here boy. One of my Hunters will bring the two out shortly.

I notice Annabeth glaring daggers at me, "Is there anything I can to for you, Daughter of Athena?"

"I want you to tell me who you are." She demands.

Artemis opens her mouth to reprimand the girl, but I beat her to it, "Okay."

Everyone looks at me, surprised, "Really?" Annabeth asks, "I mean, of course. Tell me."

I grin under my hood, "I am a man of the myths."

Annabeth's face turns bright red, and out of the corner of my eye, I can see Artemis suppressing laughter. Of course, not many people would be able to tell that she is trying not to laugh, but I am not many people. I am he closest friend and confidant.

And she is mine.

"Best you go about your business and leave as quickly as possible." I say to the two demigods, "The Hunt does not appreciate the presence of a male in its camp, especially one sired from Apollo."

Lee opens his mouth to reply, but at that moment, Amanda brings the two siblings out to the chariot. Before they get on, I call out.

"Hey Nico." He turns and comes over to me, "Be careful, okay? And look out for your sister."

He grins and puts his thumbs up, then allows Annabeth to pull him up onto the chariot.

Before the campers take off, Annabeth says to me, "Don't think I'm done with you. I will find out who you are."

I watch as the chariot flies away, then turn to my goddess, "You want to talk? Very well. I know a good place in New York. It's quiet so we will be able to discuss these matters in peace.

Artemis nods, "Then why are we waiting?" She grabs my hand and teleports away to New York City.
As we do, a strange thought passes through my head.

Did I just ask Artemis on a date?

***

Artemis

'Oh my goodness.' Aphrodite's voice pops back into my head, 'This is amazing! Artemis is going on a date!'

'Yes, it is quite am- Hold on, it is NOT a date.' I mentally sputter out.

'Of course it is.' She replies, 'It's going to be just the two of you.'

'Yes. But-'

'Alone?'

'Yes. But-'

'And you two are going to talk? About personal matters.'

'SHUT UP APHRODITE!' I mentally scream and shove the the annoying love goddess out of my head.

However, as Percy and I appear on the streets of New York, I cannot stop a slight blush from creeping up my face.

***
Well now, here is that update you have all spent some time demanding. Don't worry, the story is going somewhere, but I like to work my characters slightly before the main story comes along. But you all should be pleased to know that the next chapter is the Heracles one!
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