Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson but I wish I did

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On my last morning at Camp Half-Blood, I woke up early. I needed to get out.

My cabin mates, my friends slept on, oblivious, as I crept barefoot through the overly pink cabin that had become my home. I sighed. I was going to miss Camp Half-Blood. But I had to leave.

I worked my way across camp, picking up supplies as I went. I didn't know whether I would need them once I found my friends, but I wanted to seem prepared.

By the time I reached the forest, dawn was approaching.

My least favourite time of the day, when the humble, beautiful moon fades to make way for its most arrogant of brothers, the sun.

So blinding and bright, so huge and monstrous, the sun climbed into vision.

It did have on use, light, which revealed an organized row of tents.

Then, emerging from the tents, came a girl. She had choppy, black hair and dark eyeliner.

'Ariadne!' She called, 'You made it!'

'Hi Thalia,' I said and we embraced.

Thalia held me at arms length by my shoulders, examining me. 'Are you sure you want to do this?' She questioned.

I knitted my eyebrows in frustration. Why did everyone have so little faith in me? First Piper, then Chiron and now Thalia, who inspired me.

I knew I wanted to do this!

Thalia, noticed my sulky expression and quickly moved on. 'Of course you do, I'm sorry. You are here now, let's go.' She gestured towards the tents.

'Artemis is waiting inside.'

I nodded, trying to act complacent and calm, though on the inside I was shaking with nervous excitement. I was about to make the biggest decision of my life.

I was about to embark on the greatest adventure of my life.

I was about to become a hunter of Artemis.

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We were on the run.

The winter breeze caught my hair, the refreshing feeling of moving, of chasing, of being.

I felt as free as bank robbery cash (A.N- sorry I had to c'mon.)

It was an amazing feeling, a feeling I had experienced ever since I joined the hunters.

With them, I felt truly at home; truly like I belonged.

Eventually we stopped. Pausing for a breath and taking in our surroundings.

We had reached an almost circular break In the woods.

'Perfect,' Thalia said as we set up camp.

XXxXx

As the sun finally set and the dreaming, crescent moon rose, we Hunters settled around the campfire for the night. Obviously, I sat next to Thalia, and as we chatted and laughed, I noticed she had some cute, new earring son. Each earring consisted of three silver stars, glinting against the firelight.

'Thalia, I love your earrings!' I complimented. 'Where did you get them?'

Thalia looked surprised and fingered her ears, 'Oh, thanks Aria. My friend Annabeth, sent them last year. This is the first time I've worn them.'

'Well, wear them more often! They are so sweet.'

From the other side of the fire came a loud scoff: 'Trust Aphrodite spawn to be in on the fashion!'

I took a deep breath in. this was the only thing that I didn't love about the hunt.

Ava Anderson.

She'd had it in for me as soon as she found out I was "Aphrodite spawn" as she called it. Apparently I was "bound to leave soon" as I "couldn't stay away" from boys. To be honest, I found boys completely revolting ever since…

Anyway, the first time she said it, I'd quickly learnt that only made things worse. If I just stayed calm and ignored her, Ava would soon move on.

My lovely friend Thalia on the other hand, wasn't very good at keeping a lid on it.

She'd quickly risen up and glanced at Ava. Smiling smugly, Ava raised her eyebrows. I grabbed Thalia's hand and pulled her back.

'Thals, she's not worth it,' Thalia was still trembling in silent rage. 'Don't you see- it's what she wants! Don't sink to her level- it's what she wants!'

Thalia nodded and sunk down next to me, fists clenched tight.

'Hey,' I said gently, rubbing her tense shoulder, 'Thanks for sticking up for me, but Ava just wants to cause trouble for you. Don't let her. Are you listening? Don't let her.'

Thalia finally relaxed, her shoulders chopping forwards. 'I'm sorry Aria. I should be comforting you not the other way around. I'm lieutenant! It's just… Ava gets me so wound up!'

I nodded sympathetically. It's ok, Thalia. This is what friends are for, right?'

We sat there in awkward silence for a while before I asked (changing the subject), 'Thalia, aren't we due to Iris message Artemis today?'

'Oh yeah, of course!' She said face palming. 'One sec-,' She called before heading into her tent.

Artemis was away on a solo mission and last time she did, the goddess was captured by a titan, hence the fact we now Iris message her every week.

Eventually, Thalia came out of her tent holding the rainbow pot given to the Hunters- by Iris- to contact Artemis.

One drachma later. Two drachmas later. So on and so forth.

Soon enough, we realised that Artemis was uncontactable.

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Please review and say what you think and stuff you liked and want to see more of. I really enjoyed writing this and I hope you liked reading it. I will try to write the next chapter as soon as possible. Thanks for reading.

Rosie :D