Here it is! Chapter 1 of my first multi-chapter story that I will not give up on a couple chapters in!

If you enjoy it, review it! If you see any flaws or mistakes, or anything I can improve on, let me know.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or Percy Jackson and the Olympians. All rights to their respective owners


Interference

Chapter 1: The Reapings

Artemis was never good at not interfering. Not that the other gods were, but Artemis was especially known for interfering.

Of course, that's because her huntresses' actions, especially Thalia's, were often blamed on her. Many of the hunters still had the demigod brand of ADHD, so despite the wisdom immortality was supposed to give, many of the hunters were impulsive - especially when it came to young girls in danger.

And especially Thalia.

So, really, the gods should be glad it took 19 Hunger Games, a rogue pack of Hellhounds, and a sudden increase in security in District 6's security for Thalia (and hence Artemis) to finally interfere.


Thalia clenched her fists as she watch the female tribute walk to the stage. The poor girl looked like she was going to break down sobbing. She was about fifteen, highly petite and wouldn't have stood a chance in the games.

"Do we have any volunt-" the mayor couldn't even finish his sentence before Thalia was stepping up.

"I, Thalia Grace, volunteer as tribute," she declared loudly and confidently.

As Thalia bravely marched to the stage, the girl gave a thankful smile. Thalia could feel the mist warping the audiences minds - she wasn't from District 6, she had never even stepped foot into District 6 until that morning. Not to mention that her hunter's outfit no doubt looked strange compared to everyone else's vintage-looking fancy outfits.

Once on stage, Thalia made a point to glare directly into each noticeable camera. Let the other tributes be warned - she was not a force to be messed with.


Drara, Molly, Tina, Megan, Jae, and Lilac all squished into the small room.

"You know I get multiple visits, right?" Thalia questioned, raising her eyebrows at the hunters.

"We decided to go in three groups," Drara, the most experienced of the group, explained. "Not spread out too far."

"We're going to miss you horribly," Molly added. At eleven, she was the youngest of the group and second youngest of the hunters, and tended to be the most emotional.

"Yeah, and Artemis left you in charge," Lilac pointed out, crossing her arms. "You can't lead us from the arena."

"Drara's in charge," Thalia declared. "Until Artemis returns."

"Or you return," Jae added. "Given the rate of the Zeus's 'emergency' meeting, you might be sooner than Lady Artemis."

"You will return, right?" Molly asked.

"Of course," Thalia replied, ruffling Molly's blonde hair.

"Those mortals are hardly any match for Thalia," Tina added with a throaty laugh.

"You'll give those Game-makers a run for their money," Tina said.

"Oh, I will." Thalia agreed. "But I need you to do something for me." Carefully, she slipped off the bracelet that was Aegis in disguise and handed it Drara.

"Your shield," Drara gasped.

"You know you're allowed to have one token with you, right?" Megan questioned.

"I don't want the Capitol to get its dirty hands on it," Thalia explained. "Besides, I have something else I'd rather keep." She touched the circlet on her forehead - a symbol of her status in the hunters. Then she turned back to Drara. "You'll take care of that for me?"

"Of course," Drara replied. "And I'll lead well while you're away."

"Of course you will," Thalia agreed, grasping Drara's arm. "Now, it's time to go give the Game-makers a run for their money."


The other tribute - Spike Steele - looked rightfully scared of Thalia.

Thalia felt bad for the other tributes, even the boys, but she always liked inspiring fear. So when Spike shifted his chair away from Thalia when she sat down, she really didn't mind.

Spike had to be eighteen, or at least close to it. No doubt he had been celebrating his last year in the reapings, but now that was dashed. His black hair laid flat on his head. His bangs nearly touched the top of his hazel eyes, but the back of his hair didn't even reach his collar. Judging from his ironed clothes, new-looking shoes, straight posture, he was from a richer family, maybe a relative of the mayor.

District 6 had yet to produce a victor, so the only other person at the table was their escort. His name was Flavius, and he had an outfit to match the stupid name. His neon green hair stood up an entire foot above his head, as if he was about to be stroke by lightning. He wore a matching green jacket, a button-up shirt in a hideously bright shade of orange, and neon green pants. Orange jewels bedazzled the jacket and pants, and he had more eyeliner, foundation, and mascara on than Thalia had ever worn in her life. His top lip was green and his bottom lip was orange, and he had an orange ring in his nose that made him look like a bull. The whole outfit clashed worse than Zeus and Poseidon did.

"The reaping should be replaying soon," Flavius stated eagerly. He sounded like he had just breathed in a helium balloon. "So exciting to see who your competitors are."

Thalia ignored helium breath and kept digging in her dinner.

"I hope there's lots of drama," Flavius added when no one replied. Thalia took her face out of her food long enough to see if Spike was as unconvinced by Flavius as she was. Spike looked so mortified that Thalia nearly laughed. Obviously he had never met someone so eccentric as Flavius. Thalia, on the other hand, could name several immortals alone that were worse than Flavius, and maybe twice that in mortals.

Seriously, the idiots you met when you were immortal.


"A hero can go everywhere, challenge anyone, as long as he has the nerve." - Rick Riordan