Bad news my lovely readers...............

Chapter Sixteen: Camp Half-Blood

Point of view: Nico di Angelo

Demeter flashes us away and we end up in the Artemis cabin. Artemis smiles at Kyla and I.

"This isn't my doing! Sorry!" I get out quickly so I don't get turned into a jackalope.

"Relax, son of Hades. I asked Demeter to send you here. I expect you have something to ask me. A favor from your father perhaps?" Artemis comes towards me.

"Daddy wants us to travel with Percy!" Kyla exclaims excitedly. "Are you the Hunters of Artemis Percy told me about?" She asks curiously.

"Yup. In the flesh." Thalia comes up to Kyla. "This your little sibling, Nico?"

"Yes!" Kyla shouts at Thalia.

"C'mon Thals. I only have two little sisters." I whine.

"Whatever, Death Breath." Thalia rolls her eyes and turns her attention to Kyla. "Your name is Kyla, right?" Thalia kneels down to her level.

"Yup!" Kyla pops her 'p.'

"You want to hang out?" Thalia asks Kyla.

"Yeah!" Kyla jumps up and down.

"I must take care of a few things." Artemis tells us.

"Moon carriage, my lady?" Phoebe asks.

"Sure. We'll go with that. I must check on the Guardian. Demeter has him...under watch." Artemis disappears in a flash of silver.

"I hope brother is okay." Atalanta says.

"Auntie Demeter wanted to talk to Percy. Does that help?" Kyla asks Atalanta.

"Yes it does!" Atalanta tells her happily and walks over.

"What do you want to do first, child?" Phoebe asks Kyla.

"What is there to do?" Kyla asks.

"Anything really. Thalia is in charge since Lady Artemis and Percy are gone." Phoebe says.

"Why does it matter if Percy is here?" I ask.

"Because the Guardian is our protector and he has a say in everything that includes us. But he doesn't care if Lady Artemis thinks it's best. When she isn't here, he's like overbearingly protective. Like a mother bear." Thalia answers my question.

"Now I got it. It makes sense." I nod and nudge Kyla further towards the girls. "I have no clue what girls like to do. Kyla, I'll be in the cabin that looks like father Hades if you need me. I need to take care of a few things with the news uncle Percy got us." I say.

"Uncle Percy?" Thalia asks in confusion.

It's my turn to roll my eyes. "Yeah, I told her to call him Uncle Percy. She was concerned even though she never met him because I told her he is like a brother to me."

"Oh, gotchya." Thalia says.

"How old are you, Kyla?" Atalanta asks.

"She's eight right now." I answer for her. "I do have one question though."

"Which is?" Thalia asks.

"Is Lady Artemis going to ask her?" I ask quietly.

"It depends." Phoebe says.

"Hades wants her to come back when a matter is resolved, but I think he knows she might join. I try to take her with me on the tasks that aren't horrifying or dangerous, which are like never. But she normally hangs out with the servants in the Underworld. Sometimes she'll play with Daedalus and his family, but I think she needs more people to nurture her. And I don't know how to. Hazel is busy and the gods can't interact with their children all that much." I say.

"I suppose you aren't all that bad, boy. You care for your little sister, don't you." Phoebe states.

"Yes. But I'm away too much and I can't raise a child. I don't know how." I tell her.

"We can ask Lady Artemis. She always loves having new hunters." Atalanta says.

"Was Art-Artem..." Kyla tries pronouncing it.

"Artemis, Kyla. Try again." I laugh.

"Artemis." I smile at her. "Was that the girl who went away?" Kyla asks.

"Yup. That was Lady Artemis." Thalia says happily.

"Is she nice? Percy says she's nice." Kyla asks.

"Uh huh. She's the best." Thalia tells her.

"What's the question she might ask me?" Kyla wonders at Thalia.

"She might ask you to join our family with Percy and the rest of us." Thalia tickles Kyla and she giggles.

"Can I?" Kyla turns to me.

"Only if you want to. I'll have Percy explain to dad. Am I allowed to visit her with Hazel on our free time?" I ask Thalia.

Phoebe answers instead. "That's Lady Artemis's decision. But she will probably let you because you are...a little different. Like Percy, just not to the extreme that he is."

I nod. "Alright. Kyla, just remember, you still need to develop your powers. You're young."

"How do I do that?" Kyla comes up to me.

"I learned on my own, but I'll show you if I'm allowed to come see you. It might come in handy in the Hunt." I say.

"Okay. What can you do, brother?" Kyla asks.

"Shadow travel, raise the dead, and other cool things." I smile at her.

"You wanna learn how to shoot a bow, Kyla?" Thalia asks.

"Okay! Is it fun?" Kyla asks.

"It's a lot of fun." Thalia promises.

"While you do that, I will go take care of things. I will not be able to return to the Underworld for awhile. Thank you for taking care of her." I tell the hunters.

"We'd take care of any female." Phoebe says.

"Yes, I knew that. Bye, Kyla. Enjoy your night." I tell her. She runs over and hugs me.

"You too, Neeki." She giggles. The hunters look at me and laugh themselves to death.

I blush an obvious bright red. "Okay. Okay! It's funny. Leave me alone."

"Sorry, Neeki. But that is just awesome." Thalia gets out while she rolls on the floor.

I pull away from Kyla. "Have fun, girls." I leave the cabin.

And you thought it was over. I'm evil, but I'm not that evil. Jeez. Look down at the words, my lovely readers.

Point of view: Artemis

I gasp. His eyes, they are the same from the first time that I met him. They have that childish light and they glow brightly. He carries himself with his old manner. His gait is easier, less tense and ready for anything, but you can tell that he is always watching. He looks just like he used to, but you have to know him to know that he is more serious than he looks.

He smiles at me. And it's that big goofy grin that I haven't seen in a long while.

Point of view: Perseus Jackson

As my eyes clear the stairs, I see Artemis and I smile at her. She smiles in return and I walk up to her.

"I came back." I state.

She surprises me by hugging me and after a few seconds I hug her back. "I see that, idiot." She says.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and I turn my head to look at the owner of the hand,  Ezekeiel. "What did you experience?" He asks me.

"My life and the time of the Moon and Hunt. I battled against my darkness. Did you?" I tell him.

He nods. "That I did. But I didn't see the Hunt or Artemis like you did. You saw twice as much."

"Your light was brighter." Selene speaks.

Artemis pulls back and I wipe her tears off her face. "That worried, huh?" I laugh.

She slaps me. "You could've died." She whispers.

"I noticed that when the evil in my soul attacked me." I tell her. "Cleansing indeed."

"Your eyes." She says.

I chuckle because she said that when I first joined the Hunt. So I ask her the same question in return that I asked that day. "What about them?"

But her answer this time is different. "They look exactly like they used too when I first saw you."

"They are, are they? Must be because i see the world differently." I tell her.

"It's because you're cleansed." Selene comes up to me.

"I suppose, my lady." I turn to face her.

"Do you remember about...?" Artemis motions her hand instead of saying it.

"I remember everything. It'd be hard to forget." I smile at her. "I am fine with it. It is locked away."

"How?" She asks.

"The moonlight." I breathe and look up at the moon. It shines brighter than it did before.

"Yes, it became brighter when you cleansed yourself and part of it. The Realm of the Moon is rejoicing. The wolves will come for you. Come with me. We must follow your Path of Light to finish your journey." Ezekeiel says and shifts into a wolf.

He looks up at me and I look at Selene and Artemis. They both smile and nod. I phase into my wolf form and Ezekeiel steps up next to me. "Are you ready?" He looks at me.

I turn so we are standing shoulder to shoulder. "I am." We both bunch up our muscles and launch ourselves forward.

As we run, the pack of wolves i saw earlier joins us. Ezekeiel and I run at the head of the pack. Now I realize, these are the woves I saw when I first met the Hunt. Ezekeiel is the alpha of the pack as the Guardian, but he wasn't there because he is dead. His form flickers, even now. He must be allowed to reside here with Selene in death. Artemis must be letting Selene into her realm whenever she wants. i wonder where she stays when she isn't here. And if Ezekeiel stays with her there. Where will I go? Will I go there if I die? I shake my head, clearing my thoughts. Not now. I will ask Artemis and Selene later. I push forward, following the light from the well.

"I sense you have questions." Ezekeiel says beside me.

"They can wait. Where does my path lead?" I ask, glancing at the light.

"It was different than mine. My path shot in a different direction and it wasn't as bright as yours is. It's longer too. The Realm of the Moon is ridiculously huge. We could be running for awhile." Ezekeiel answers. "You are more patient than I am. You can ask your questions if you want."

"I'm only patient because of my past. I've lived longer than I should have with all that I've been thrrough. Are you sure I can ask?" I ask him.

"Yes. I am obligated to answer all your questions." He tells me.

"Are you and Selene allowed to visit this realm?" Is my first question.

"Yes." He replies.

"Where else do you reside when you are not here?"

"Only one place and it is not in the Underworld. It is in the sky. We reside in the Palace of the Moon. Only the souls in the stars and Ouranos may enter besides us. No gods, not even Artemis. Not until she fades like Selene and I."

"So, you can reform until Selene dies. Or that was how it was before?"

"Yes."

"So, when Artemis dies and I die, we will fade into the Palace of the Moon? We will be able to come here?"

"Yes. But if Artemis dies, you don't. You can die after she does, but you can live until someone makes you fade."

"And if Artemis dies before she passes on her duties of the Moon?"

"You must take them on yourself. If you don't die first."

"As a Guardian, what all do I have to do?"

"Depends on the Guardian."

"What did you have to do?"

"All of what Artemis should have told you already. The rest is based on the Guardian and what he stands for. You are different than I am. You will have more duties."

"Did you and Selene have any kids?"

"No. She did not want to have them. She didn't want them to have a life where they would only be pursued by Zeus. He would have killed them if it were not for the Ancient Laws. So he would have antagonized them. We decided against it. It might be different for you and Artemis."

"Hera adopted me. I don't think she'll let Zeus touch the kids if he thinks that way about them. I call him father now. It's a little weird, but I'm getting used to it." I look down and something about my fur is different. "Holy Hades! Why is my fur changed?!" I keep running.

"What color was it before?"

"Black with my patrons's colors through it. Now it's gold with their symbols on it."

"Well, it might have something to do with your tattoos. I saw them. The trident is there on your shoulder. The chains, I'm guessing the moon is over your wolf heart. Your back is the same except, oh. I see. Your old wolf form is on your back. When you shift back, it will be this wolf. My tattoos don't show in my wolf form."

"What are yours?"

"My parent wasn't godly. I was a mortal human. Selene chose me from my mortal parents long ago. I don't have a symbol for them on my shoulder. I have the moon over my heart in silver, not white. My back is decorated in a different way. It's just the moon in a bigger size with Selene, the nymph that took care of me for her, and a tree. The moon is in silver, Selene is in gold, the nymph is in dark blue, and the tree is brown with violet leaves. The tree stands for my symbol, as it was a gift from Demeter. It still lives in the Realm of the Moon, but the original was cut down by the humans who stopped worshipping in the gods and their ancestors. They thought of my tree as an abomination of nature and burned it. Once it died, they cut the remains down and threw it into the sea. Poseidon killed most of the mortals, the rest Selene cursed for eternity. I do not know where they are now. They disappeared a millenia ago. Selene said they would return when they were called upon by the Moon."

"I wish I could take revenge for you. I only have one godly parent. My mother is mortal. Was mortal."

"Was she granted immortality?"

"No. She was murdered."

"By whom?"

"The one I was going to give my life to. The reason I am here and not where I went because of her."

"Her name."

"Annabeth."

"Then may she be cursed by the power of the Guardians of Old."

The moon glows brighter for a few seconds and all the wolves howl, including Ezekeiel and I. "Thank you. How many Guardians are there?"

"Two. I am one and you are the other. I became the old one when you accepted Artemis's offer. I only said Guardians because one day, the unthinkable may happen again. But I think it will require the gods being defeated and a new age to start before that happens. I have a feeling you'll be a guardian far longer than I was."

"How long were you a Guardian in life?"

"You already know the answer. The Well of the Moon showed you."

I think back. "Two millennia."

"Yes."

"That's reassuring."

"Indeed." Ezekeiel wolf chuckles.

"Any other traditons I should be aware of?"

"Selene tells you those, not I."

"I guess I have to finish this journey before she tells me."

"Exactly."

"Will I be able to speak with you and Selene?"

"Any time you need us. You must come here first. Call our names and we shall come. Or if you need help, we will try our best to help you if you should need it."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome. Do you care for Artemis like I care for Selene?"

"More than she thinks I could." I answer softly.

"Do me a favor."

"Anything."

"Watch Artemis more than I watched over Selene."

"I will."

"Love her better. I fear I did not love Selene as much as I should have."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because, when I died, I felt like I loved Selene more than I did when I lived."

"I think you loved her just as much, but you were more worried about her. Now that the strain is lifted, you are able to be more free than you were."

"Do you truly believe that?"

"Yes, I do. Your duties no longer needed to be filled when you were both gone. You are able to have more time to just take it easy, rather than watch her constantly and worry about her dying on you."

He thinks it over and doesn't speak for a long while. "Thank you."

I look at him. "My pleasure, friend."

"I think, no I believe, that you will never let Artemis perish. The Moon will never fade again. You won't let it happen."

"Never." I howl at the moon and Ezekeiel howls with me. The pack takes after us and we run faster, weaving in and out through the trees.

"We near the end of your light." Ezekeiel says after a few minutes.

"We have been running for a long time." I reply.

"Yes. The First Moon and the Second Moon await us."

"You speak of Selene and Artemis."

"You catch on quick."

I laugh heartily. "I suppose."

We break through the trees and run through the garden. The pack runs off to Selene and Artemis while Ezekeiel and I bound two separate ways around his tree. Once we meet up we run around each other and moonlight envelops our bodies. We circle around and twist the moonlight in a pattern. When we finish, my flower blooms underneath the tree in a gigantic copy of the original one. Its stem wraps around the tree and the flower pops above the tree, like a canopy. The four leaves look like steps up into the branches. We keep running until the moonlight brightens and shoots up into the stars, leaving our bodies, and makes a new constellation. Our symbols together. We bound over to the Moons and take our places by their sides. We shift back into our human forms.

"Now I see what your path is." Ezekeiel breathes.

I look at him with an eyebrow raised. "I still don't."

He walks in front of me and holds out his arm. I grip his arm as he grips mine and a white light shines between them.

"I understand." I say and we release our grasps.

I remove the pendant from around my neck and walk over to Selene. "I think this belongs to you, my lady." I gently place it around her neck. "Now I must avenge my predecessor. Call them."

Selene smiles at me. "Thank you for returning my lost gift. Now I will help you on your path to become a full Guardian. Avenge my Guardian, Perseus. With your symbol intertwined with his, his tree will bear a seed and you can plant it in the world below again." She waves her hand and her voice turns cold. "I call upon the ones cursed by the Moon, may they walk in the Realm ofthe Moon and die by the chosen one's hand."

A cave appears to my left in the side of a mountain that hugs the forest. I lay a hand on Ezekeiel's shoulder. "I will avenge my brother." I smile at him and head towards the cave.

And that's where I stop this chapter. Another cliffie for the books. Lol. Rick Riordan owns PJO/HOO. Enjoy, my lovely readers!