The Great Adventure of Perseus
Chapter 1:What a life!
The night was quiet and peaceful with the moonlight illuminating the dense forest. The predators that hunt in the darkness were hunting its prey. Like those predators a lone wolf was stalking a rabbit, following it slowly and carefully, not wanting to give its location away. As the wolf was about to strike down the rabbit, the rabbit jerked its long ear up, detecting a sound. The sound got closer and louder. The rabbit ran away as a roar came for the back of the wolf. The wolf looked toward the direction of the sound to see a big bear running toward him. After seeing the bear and the wolf forgetting about its prey cowered and ran in fear of being smashed under the bear's massive paw.
The bear was chasing a boy about the age of 12 who had a black messy hair. His sea green eye which was once filled with happiness was now filled with fear. Carrying only a bow with a quiver full of arrows and a pair of hunting knife the boy ran and duck just before the bears paw swiped. The boy who looked out of breath was currently was hiding behind a tree catching his breath. He took a peek from behind the tree to see the bear just a meter away from him, facing its back toward him. He notched an arrow and took a deep breath and came out of his cover. It was his only chance and if he blew it, then it was the end for him as he was tried and weak to run from an angry bear. He whistled. The bear looked then swiped its paw toward him. The arrow slipped from his finger. He closed his eyes, "This is it. My life ends here." the boy thought.
He waited for the bears paw to land for him but nothing happened. He opened his eye to see a big bear with a wide eye with an arrow sticking out of its throat. Thud! The bear fell down with blood oozing out of its throat. "Well, tonight it's not my day buddy." the boy said looking at the bear before notching another arrow and shooting it in the head. "Now how do I take it back to the hunter's camp? Wait a minute. Was hunter's camp in this way or that?" he said while pointing toward to his right and left.
After an hour of dragging the bear without any particular direction, he came to an opening. Then suddenly an arrow flew and hit him on his right thigh. He gritted his teeth together so he won't scream. "What took you so long, boy." a girl said glaring at him. "It takes time to fine a bear and kill it you know. It's not that easy to drag it here all by myself. Also I lost my direction. And is it how you welcome someone who just brought your meal Zoe." Percy asked sarcastically. Zoe just sneered, "Boys are all stupid! All are whiny, arrogant and idiot." "Hey! I am still here you know!" She just rolled her eye. "Now don't be a crybaby Perseus. Bring it quickly, we're hungry." "It is Percy not Perseus." "Whatever. Quick bring the bear to the dinner table. We'll call you after dinner and please wash the dishes." Percy sighed, "Yes Madam, I know it. It is everyday's routine in my life." Other hunters glare and made fun at him while he dragged the bear to the dinner table.
When he reached the camp fire three hunters came and took the bear from him while he went to the medical tent to treat his wound. While pulling the arrow out of his thigh he thought, "What did I do to have a life like this? Hunt their meals, wash their clothes, do their chores. And in return what do I get? Non-stop pranks, leftover foods, more chores and now an arrow in my thigh. What now? Kill me. Even Lady Artemis, she doesn't do anything. She is the one who is supposed to stop this but even she helps them in doing these things. Is it because of my previous life's sin or is it because I am their mode of entertainment? Whichever it is I am sure of one thing. I don't belong here." After bandaging his injury he went to his tent which was in the outskirt of the camp to take a nap. As he about to go in the place of relaxation somebody shouted, "Perseus! Go eat your dinner. And don't forget to wash the dishes."
He groaned, "Why is it that whenever I try to do something these hunters pokes their nose in it." He got up and went to eat his dinner. As usual, all he got was a small portion of meat which wasn't even enough to fill his stomach. But today he was smart enough to catch some rabbits while returning. He got the rabbits from its hiding place, knowing the hunter will snatch it from him, roasted it and was eating his hearts contain when he heard footsteps for his back. "Well, well, well. Look what have we got here. Rabbits! But there no rabbits meat in today dinner." Percy turned his head to see the entire hunt including Lady Artemis watching him with disgust is their eyes. Percy bowed, "Lady Artemis. I see you returned. As for the rabbit I caught it while returning so I can eat it while you eat the bear I hunted for you all." "But shouldn't you be serving it to the goddess first and eat yourself later."Zoe said with anger in her voice. "But if I served it to you all first you will take the finest one for yourself and leave the unwanted for which is just a small portion will won't replenish my hunger." Percy said respectfully, not standing up from bowing.
"Are you saying that we are not treating you well enough!?" Artemis said while her face was going red form anger. "My Lady I wasn't saying that…" "No, no, no. You are saying that we are not treating you good enough. Is it hard to work this much? Is giving you the food we eat not enough? Aren't giving you a place to stay not enough!? Aren't saving you're life not enough!? All this girls you see here are those who have being violated by men so they are doing their best to treat you well." "Yeah, by shooting me and giving me all your chores." Percy replied. "What did you say? What did you… no! Shouting at you is not going to help. It's I to blame. I should have left you in that forest when I had the chance. I should have killed you right then…." "THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU!" Percy shouted back not standing up, looking straight into the goddess' eye. "WHY DID YOU SAVE ME DIDN'T YOU KILLED ME THEN. IS IT BECAUSE TO USE ME AS A SLAVE, AN ENTERTAINER? WHY DO YOU KEEP ME IF YOU HATE ME THIS MUCH? WHY NOT THROW ME OUT LIKE A TRASH? WHY NOT KILL LIKE THE ANIMAL YOU KILL?"
"You stupid pig! I didn't throw you out because I did so much to you that you have so much left to repay to me…"Percy laughed cutting off Artemis, "So doing all your chores everyday not enough to repay you? Hunting your meals not enough to repay you? Hell, playing pranks on me or using me as a target practice not enough to repay you? If that much do not repay your deed then killing me like a deer, skinning me and eating me might repay you, wouldn't it? Answer me. I SAID ANSWER ME!" The hunter flinch as they have never seen some this angry. So angry that he step up to a god, not any other god but a man hating goddess. Artemis said nothing but glared at him and was about to turn him into a stag like Actaeon when thunder went off, "You are lucky that a have an important matter to attend so instead of me my hunters will attend you." With that she flashed away.
Percy watched as the hunter surrounded him while unsheathing their hunting knife. They attacked him but he dodged their attacks easily. Then something hit of his head so hard making him bleed while darkness was engulfing him. The only thing he saw before completely going in darkness was a very evilly smiling hunter holding a rock which was now covered in blood.