Oh my God it's an author's note, get in the car! *Ahem* Now that that's out of the way, I've got a couple of things to ramble about before we get to the real reason you, good reader, clicked on this link. In short, new troll here – in slightly less short, I'm finally coming out into the open.

I've lurked around the site under a few different names, all of which I don't even remember at this point, for a good eight years now. I figure it's about time I start giving back to the community in some way, so I decided to toss up a bit that came to me in my study hall earlier today.

Many thanks to storm-brain and Shrrgnien for writing the various fics I've read over the past few days and getting me interested in poking around the world of Percy Jackson fanfiction. Also, of course, many-many thanks to my little brother, without whom I wouldn't have even had the books to read in the first place. Welp, all of that said and done, take a peek at my first piece put on onto the intertubes and tell me what you think! Oh, and while I'm at it, the original name of this was Huntress' Fall, but I thought it sounded a bit too downtrodden – and I had trouble saying it out loud and not feeling ridiculous.

Nightshade's Valor

The huntress falls, but does not die,

Her valor shown through the night's sky.

Will undone by father's spite,

She still stood firm, ready to fight.

An age of loss, torment, and grief,

Yet even immortal life is too brief.

Her courage saw the rest of us saved,

But hers was the blood that highest price paid.

For matron, for sisters, she took the blow,

And even a god, by sorrow, was brought low.

The enemy thought, by wound, she would die,

But at day's end her spirit soared high.

Forgotten, by some, her valor will lie,

But some is not all, not thee, and not I.

[Quick note: If any of you remember that last Quick Note, forget it. I've read all five Percy Jackson books, and me and the little bro are looking into getting the next Half-Blood book as soon as we're able. As far as PJO goes, though, I'm up to date save the mini-stories I have yet to find!]