Set many years after the 4th instalment of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, after the 3rd Quater Quell in the Hunger Games trilogy.

Kayleigh Summerhold (OC)

Our group marched through marshes and deserts before arriving at the edge of a range of mountains.

"Almost there," we encouraged one another.

As we travelled over rocky surface once teeming with life and running water, it gave my weary mind time to wonder, had our parents forseen this? Was the complete obliviation of America as we knew it the reason we had be forced into hiding?

Initially, they had left in the dark for many years with no means of escaping or contacting our mortal families. Finally, Hermes came unannounced to the (now) underground sanctum once known as the Lotus Casino. He told us stories and share countless recounts of how he watched our civilisation change. No longer we were the democratic super-power, our country had fallen to the selfish corrupt, leaving many of our brethren in the dust – literally.

From the second civil war, rose Panem. Consisting of the Capitol ruling over the 13 (now 12) districts. Hermes had given us a detailed idea of the communist-like system and 'The Hunger Games'. As my friends and I sat in listening, anger and horror grew in our hearts and we knew something had to be done. Hermes had agreed, revealing that it had been the gods' intentions all along.

I should be disgusted, hurt and furious that the gods were at it again, gambling with their childrens' lives because they were too afraid to act on their own. I knew better than to question the gods while having been reminded by Thalia that our sole reason for existingwas to act as a bridge to the mortals who once loved them dearly.

I refused to think my father didn't have a heart, I was made for a better reason and I vowed to save as many lives as I could even if it meant my own. It was for the greater good.

Many years (an understatement) of training and proper preparation had be done. We knew what we were up against and that our simple bronze meele weapons would do no good against their 'Peacekeepers'. The thought of charging at a man with a gun using only my swords was both painful and downright ridiculous.

My friends and I learnt how to use guns and worked on our divine abilities, combined with the tenacity of our nature and skillful hand-to-hand combat moves, we evolved more lethal than we initially set out to be.

At first, we had no direction or exact plan. Once again, our parents had left us to our own devices. We trained to keep our hands busy and to pass the time - until one day.

"I assume you have good news?" Thalia cocked her eyebrow at the god of messengers, arms crossed and lazily leaning back into her seat.

Hermes's eyes survered our small numbers and sighed, "There have been whispers about an uprising within the districts and of district 13... people are starting to speculate that it had survived the nuclear attack from the Dark Days. As you know, they've gone into hiding... like us."

Shock resounded in the conference room, a loud crackle of electricity broke us out of our stupors and a buzz of excitement began amongst the younger ones. "This is our shot!" one said, "What does that mean?" others asked.

"It means," I whirled around to address them, the cogs in my brain finally working to their full capacity, "we can use this as leverage! People aren't going to take well to the fact that half-human gods have been living on earth with them since the beginning of time and I believe what Hermes here is trying to get across is that... yes-" I glanced at the young son of Apollo with an approving smile and laughed as a deep blush bloomed in his cheeks, "-this is an excellent shot. Maybe even our only shot to help the districts and we can't afford to pass it up."

Silence settled on us again, no one has heard me speak that much since that day. Everyone had been in a flurry, the tree nymphs shivering nervously and Chiron had disappeared from camp. We know now, that he hadn't just deserted us - Chiron had been ordered to seek refuge with his brethren from the impending war. A man with a horses's body would've definitely hindered our movement through the labyrinth to the Lotus Casino. Not everything had gone to the gods' plan. During the transfer, many of us had been lost (trampled to death, eaten by monsters or decided that they couldn't bear to leave behind the camp) therefore our numbers dwindled but our bonds grew stronger.

"We should set up camp here, it's almost dark," Percy annonced before slipping the camelbak off his back and onto the dirt floor, running his fingers through his untamed jet-black hair. That movement caught my eye, gaze following the fluid swish of that lone gray lock – a painful reminder of when he held the sky.

"How far long are we?" Annabeth came up from behind him, arms curling familiarily around his lean waist, her backpack joining his on the ground.

"We're making pretty good progress, should reach the border of district 13 by tomorrow afternoon," the young man of 18 answered cheerfully, turning around to meet her anticipating lips.

I looked away, letting out a deep sigh, I felt as if my heart was going to break into tiny little pieces. I had nothing against them, of course. Our little group is all I have left. Though 2 years my junior, Percy and Annabeth have more that I (possibly ever) will.

Love.

I still dream about Luke from time to time, how he use to hold me against his chest and giving me tender kisses as we sat along the beach after curfew. Often I find myself waking up in tears, the stabbing thought that he would never come back to me from the depths of the underworld haunts me every night. He was so handsome and I loved him fiercely.

After his death, I wondered if I would ever love the way I did again.

"Kay, are you okay with sharing a tent with me and Katie tonight?" Annabeth made her way and joined me on the boulder where I sat.

"Don't we always?" I shot back in a teasing tone with before hopping off to help the rest set up camp.

It was barely twilight by the time we settled around the campfire and sang softly into the flames. I sat, memerised by the dancing light cast onto the trees. It reminded me of simpler times, when Americans were living district-free and we didn't have to mull over the disturbing truth of Capitol-created 'muttations'.

"Mockingjays," someone whispered through the vibrant silence. We stopped singing ages ago and began staring into the star-filled sky.

"The symbol of the rebellion," the voice sounded once again, this time a little louder. I recognised the tremor of resignation and it brought me back to the Garden of Hesperides.

"My lady," Thalia and the Hunters stood as she emerged from the dark woods.

As elusive as ever, the goddess slinked her way into our circle and took her seat on the decomposing log by my right.

"Katniss Everdeen would make a fine huntress," Artemis held a wistful look in her eyes as she turned to me. Her piercing silvery yellow eyes looked right through me and suddenly I wasn't too sure why she had graced us with her presence.

"My dear demigods," she began once again, "by tomorrow you would have reached your destination. I know that you are full of doubt and apprehension. However, you must also know that we are always listening and are there should you need our guidance. Good luck, brave warriors," her glistening gaze met everyone else's, "you have made me proud."

Artemis left behind a basket of potato chips, soda and candy (extremely rare finds) in her wake as she disappeared into the night, with a lingering voice in the wind reminding us to remain true to our roots. I smiled at the goddess's actions and threw a portion of my chips into the flickering flames as thanks.

As I reclaimed my seat by the fire, I felt the spare handgun in my pocket grow colder. It was unconventional but mandatory however still against what Artemis had wished for us. Despite her brief appearance, it still did not remove the feeling of dread that lingered in the air amongst us. No one could forsee how the people of District 13 would receive us! Would they accept our alliance? Or would they see us as a threat and shoot us down before we would even have a chance to explain ourselves?

That is the risk we all are willing to take.

And who are we, you ask? We're half-mortal, half-divine creatures... demigods – the last of our kind.

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