1

'If we'd stuck together, we could've taken him out without the Hunters getting involved. Luke might still be here. Did you think of that?' Thalia snapped at her furiously. 'Luke would still be here!'

A stiff wind blew through the trees. The shifting of the leafless branches masked whatever miniscule sounds her boots may have made as her footsteps fell softly onto the snow-covered earth. Her next step landed her in a slight ditch, partially camouflaged by the blanket of white, and she wobbled slightly, previous rhythm disrupted by the sudden drop in elevation. Not managing to regain her balance quickly enough, she landed awkwardly on her right hand with a low grunt. The biting cold of the snow seeped through to her palm in an instant, despite remaining completely dry, and her already injured left shoulder throbbed on impact.

Wisty yelped, then sighed. It wasn't as if the cold was extremely bothersome, as she was the daughter of Poseidon, and inherited the water's affinity to many different temperatures. The pain would pass away in a moment. She was more miffed by the fact that she hadn't regained her balance immediately, or that she allowed herself to step in the small hole in the first place.

She was distracted tonight.

She stood up, brushing nonexistent dust from her jeans and testing out her shoulder. It wasn't just the headstrong daughter of Zeus that was on her mind. Despite all their fights and their apparent rivalry, Thalia was a great comrade-in-arms. She wasn't particularly concerned by her (rightful) outburst, as it had been at least partially her fault for running off alone in Westover Hall. No, that was completely normal for Thalia, especially where Luke was involved. What was actually bothering her, however…

'Wisty...I have to agree with Thalia on this one,' Annabeth shook her head, her stormy eyes piercing through her accusingly. 'That was reckless.'

Of course, Annabeth had good reason to agree with Thalia. It was just...just that Wisty didn't expect her to take the other girl's side so readily. It was almost as if she brushed aside Wisty's opinion without even considering it. She hadn't even given her a chance to speak.

This wasn't the first time, either. Ever since Thalia was magically reinstated from her state as a pine tree, there's been a subtle change in the dynamics of their close-knit group. Before, it was just the three of them - Luke, Annabeth and her - in a constant cycle where they relied readily on each other without having an obvious leader. After Thalia's reappearance, it became as if Luke and Annabeth were suddenly revolving around the punky girl who could summon lightning. They asked for her opinions and agreed with them more often than not. Their plans in Capture the Flag were based around her. When they went on quests - big or small - Thalia was the de facto leader of the group.

And while that was understandable - the trio had been an inseparable group on the streets long before Wisty came along - it didn't sit well with Wisty. She hated being controlled, and would voice her own opinions, loud and clear, over Thalia's. Unfortunately, they turned her into the devil's advocate in her friends' eyes. As a result, Wisty began to feel isolated - and started isolating herself more. She didn't hang out with them as often. She would purposely form alliances in Capture the Flag with cabins she knew weren't on Thalia's - and thus often Annabeth and Luke's - side. She - damn herself to the deepest parts of the Underworld for thinking this - even wished sometimes that Thalia had never come back, or existed. Their friendship was falling apart, slowly but surely, and Wisty didn't know what to do.

To put it simply, Wisty was lost. She was confused. She needed a way to regain the bond she shared with Luke and Annabeth, fast. And if she couldn't…

From her pocket, she pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. The sentence 'A WISE CHOICE FOR YOUR FUTURE!' was written with a big, bold font along the top of the page with pictures underneath of young maidens shooting bows, hunting, laughing along with each other, and generally having what seemed like a great time. At the very bottom of the brochure read 'A BOY FREE TOMORROW!' and 'HEALTH BENEFITS - IMMORTALITY AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU!'

This should be her last resort, the solution if there are no others, the way out if there was no other way. But after seeing the Hunters in action, how they worked with brilliant coordination with each other, how everyone seemed to be included in their tightly knit group...well, she was having second thoughts about the 'last resort' part.

It would be a permanent decision should she decide to accept Artemis's offer...she had met the maiden goddess once prior, on Olympus at the summer solstice, and although she had felt the goddess was attempting to cajole her into joining, she had been respectful and was not angry upon hearing her wishes for more time. Wisty had instinctively felt that she was being genuine, which was a first...the same could not be said for any of the gods she had encountered so far.

The goddess had a mysterious gravity, and Wisty couldn't seem to forget her. She couldn't explain the attraction. It was...simply there. And she in equal parts was curious about and dreaded the answer.

'Think about my offer,' Artemis concluded, her silver eyes gleaming with the reflected lights of the bustling mountaintop city. 'Should you accept, it would be permanent. No going back. No quitting.'

And by permanent...she meant permanent. Immortality. Never aging, never growing, never withering and dying. Only if she sustained a grievous wound would her spirit descend into the realm of her uncle, and judging from the fact that Artemis's lieutenant was more than two thousand years old, that seldom happened. It was tempting, for sure. To be able to permanently retain her youth, her lively spirit, her athleticism, and never get sick or grow old...few would pass up that offer. Swearing off boys was simple. Wisty figured she could happily pass up a few short years of happiness for a potentially centuries-long camaraderie with her sisters.

Plus, she's turning sixteen in a week. If she became a Hunter before that, however...escaping the Great Prophecy was guiltily tempting.

Is this for me? She wondered as she wandered aimlessly in the snow. Is it worth it?

It's a chance. A choice. A decision which would change her entire life. She might not be able to see Luke, or Annabeth, or Thalia, or her mom for a long time...perhaps forever. It was frightening, the people she would leave behind, the number of relationships she would shatter. And yet…

It's so god damn tempting. It's so unbelievably selfish, so why is it so tempting?

Her face contorting into a scowl, Wisty kicked the ground, unaware of the miniature blizzard forming around her. That is, until a clear, regal voice with a strange, somewhat old-fashioned accent called out.

'Wisteria Jackson? Lady Artemis wishes to speak with you…' Zoë Nightshade, the lieutenant of the Hunt and Thalia's mortal enemy. The girl certainly looked the part. Although she appeared to be no older than fourteen, her onyx eyes, upturned nose and healthy, olive skin gave her the image of royalty, especially with the silver tiara wound into her hair confirming her rank. She was the one who commanded the Hunters to shoot while Luke was on the manticore. That didn't exactly leave a great first impression.

'Are thou alright?' The other girl asked. 'You have a hurricane around you.'

Wisty managed a tired smile, managing to not snap at one of her potential future bosses. She just noticed the cyclone swirling around her body. 'Yeah, I'm fine. Just...tired.'

Zoë nodded. 'It has been a long night. Come, we will provide thee with healing and some food. I see thy shoulder is wounded.'

'It's nothing,' Wisty dismissed. 'My friends?'

'They are being taken care of,' Zoë promised. 'Even Thalia Grace.'

Wisty snorted. 'Of course she has drama with you,' she muttered. Raising her voice, she asked: 'Artemis wants to see me?' She was answered by a simple nod. 'Then let's get going, hm?'

Zoë eyed her but said nothing. Wisty assumed that she knew of her source of antagonism towards her, but was too proud to apologize, especially since Luke was a boy. They trudged towards the campsite in silence.

They arrived at the largest tent out of the half a dozen on the cliffside. Wisty felt that pull again, as if an invisible force was reigning her in. Artemis was inside.

'My lady,' Zoë called. A few seconds passed with no answer, then a soft but firm voice replied:

'Come in.'

Wisty cautiously ducked through the tent after Zoë. The room was furnitured practically yet with taste. A bed occupied the center, and a table clearly hand-carved from oak wood along with a few chairs were placed next to a warm bonfire at the end of the room, which cast a warm, homely orange glow across the tent. A simple silver rug made up the floor, strewn with cushions and a few bean bags. It felt - not like what she expected, but not in a bad way. She expected wilderness, primitive conditions perhaps, but definitely not such domesticity from the huntress goddess.

The walls were more like what she thought they would be - decorated with a plethora of pelts, horns and tusks of wild animals. She recognized snakeskin and deer antlers, but many were unfamiliar. They were clearly Artemis's most prized hunting spoils. Right above the fireplace, hung a huge, silver bow, engraved with Ancient Greek words and carvings of hunters and animals. Artemis's longbow.

Her eyes found the goddess, who was studying a map of America, except this one had red dots on them all over the parchment, most likely signifying the monsters' locations. Artemis looked effortlessly beautiful as always, seemingly around sixteen but carrying an ageless quality. She was clothed in simple silver long-sleeves and dark leggings, leaving her feet bare. Wisty was surprised to see silver polish on her nails. Her dark hair, usually tied into a ponytail, was allowed to cascade over her shoulders like a waterfall of ink.

Wisty had never seen Artemis's hair totally black - once auburn, another time silver - nor had she ever seen her look so relaxed, so much so that Wisty couldn't help but relax as well. Breathtaking, her traitorous mind whispered. Beautiful. Alluring. Wisty shut the thoughts out.

Then Artemis raised her head, and Wisty's breath was truly taken away.

Sure, she'd seen them before, but under the dim lighting, Artemis's silver eyes glowed like liquid moons, except even brighter. Wisty blinked, once, twice, three times, then looked away. She didn't want to get lost in them.

'Wisteria,' the goddess greeted. 'It is good to see you again. I hope you have thought about my offer.'