It took some doing but the second chapter of CCT is finally here.

A colossal thanks to my new beta for this story Sakura4eva, without her you would all be swimming in a stagnant pool or grammatical effluence. Well, not really all that bad, but it is infinitely better due to her influence, so props to her! So, here it is.

Chapter 2: Apprentice Hunter?

Thalia growled as she tore down the dimly lit path outside of Westover Hall. It was cold out, but her tattered army jacket provided a fair amount of warmth. Still, the icy wind coming in from the sea still stabbed at her skin. They had been running full speed since they realized Percy had run off after the kids they were meant to pick up. Her hot breath was shown white against the night air as she carried on spear in hand and her shield, Aegis, glared out at the world.

"The blockhead, does he think he can take on the monster all by himself!"

Things had gotten progressively worse for Thalia since she awoke from the pine. She finds out that one of her friends was now a traitor to the gods and that the little girl she once knew had grown up without her permission. The cherry on top of all that was that she is now subject to a prophecy that could very well mean the end of Olympus, but no pressure.

She felt a small pang in her heart at the thought of her old friends and traveling companions. One in particular; a whisker-marked boy who, for all they knew, had died that night seven years ago. She shook her head violently as they came into the clearing that overlooked the sea – such thoughts would only cloud her head in the upcoming battle.

There, at the far end of the clearing, was Doctor Thorn, and he stood before Percy and the other two half bloods as a helicopter whirled in the distance. This was good, he wouldn't see them coming. She looked to Annabeth and the girl nodded, donning her cap and disappearing. Thalia timed her charge, keeping her movements light and airy, even over the fresh snow, just as he had taught her. She saw her chance as Percy and the other two were barreled over by some unseen force, and spear raised high, she charged forward, just a scant five yards away from the enemy.

"For Zeus!" she yelled as she jabbed at the man's head.

Doctor Thorn batted the blade aside, his hand morphing into an orange-furred paw, razor-sharp claws gleaming. The beast tried to deliver a slash to her chest, only to catch sparks against the sturdy form of Aegis. Thalia flew back over a yard, landing hard on her back before shifting into a backwards roll, her spear trained back on the now bestial form of Doctor Thorn.

He growled as he launched a volley of spikes in her direction, using his spiny scorpion-like tail. They only just caught her shield, but the force was enough to knock her to the snowy ground. Grover came to the rescue, his reed pipes in hand, playing frantically what sounded like some garbled sea shanty. In response to his music rope thick weeds began to creep up Thorns legs crawling out form the thick snow and binding him to the ground.

Doctor Thorn growled and began to change. He grew larger and larger until his form was that of a lion, his face still human looking. He snarled, his leathery scorpion-like tail whipping about, sending deadly thorns every which way.

"A manticore!" Annabeth said, now visible. Her magical New York Yankees cap had come off when she'd plowed into the group.

Thalia, stilled slightly dazed, picked herself up from the snow – just in time to see Grover get hit across the ribs with the beast's tail. He flew, landing next to Percy and the others, Percy holding a ordinate which she was sure, judging by the dent, wasn't going to hold up. She began to advance on the monster's unprotected back.

"Yield!" The monster roared out at the three downed demigods and satyr.

"Never!" Thalia yelled as she charged the monster, intending to run him through.

But then there was a thunderous noise and a blaze of light from behind the beast. The helicopter appeared out of the mist, hovering just beyond the cliffs. It was a sleek, black, military-style gunship with attachments on the sides that looked like laser-guided rockets. The helicopter had to be manned by mortals, but what was it doing here? How could mortals be working with a monster? The searchlights blinded Thalia, and the manticore swatted her away with its tail. Her shield flew off into the snow. Her spear flew in the direction opposite.

"No!" Percy yelled as he ran out to help her. He parried away a spike just before it would've hit her chest, and raised his shield over them, but they both knew it wouldn't be enough.

"Now do you see how hopeless it is? Yield little heroes!" Doctor Thorn cackled over the whirling blades.

It was then that a clear, piercing sound filled the frigged night air; the call of a hunting horn blowing in the woods. The manticore froze. For a moment, no one moved. There was only the swirl of snow and wind and the chopping of the helicopter blades.

"No," Dr. Thorn said. "It cannot be—"

His sentence died in his throat as a something shot through the night, like a streak of moonlight. A glowing silver arrow sprouted from Dr. Thorns shoulder.

He staggered away wailing in agony.

"Curse you!" Thorn cried. He unleashed his spikes, dozens of them at once, into the forests where the arrow had come from, but just as fast, silvery arrows shot back in reply. In an expert display of marksmanship the thorns were intercepted, and sliced clean in two.

The manticore pulled the arrow out of his shoulder with a howl of pain. His breathing was heavy. Percy tried to swipe at him with his sword, but he wasn't as injured as he looked. He dodged the attack and slammed his tail into the boys shield, knocking him aside.

Then the archers came from the woods. They were girls, about a dozen of them. The youngest was maybe ten, the oldest, about fourteen. They wore silvery ski parkas and jeans, and they were all armed with bows. They advanced on the manticore with determined expressions.

"The Hunters!" Annabeth cried.

Thalia staggered to her feet with an exasperated sigh. "Oh, wonderful."

~SaWaDa~

Zoë Nightshade stepped forward, ahead of her fellow Hunters, her bow drawn eyes trained upon their target. "Permission to kill, my Lady?"

"This is not fair," Dr. Thorn wailed. "No direct interference! It's against the Ancient Laws!"

"Not so," Artemis replied, her eyes gaining a fierce shine, cold and calculating even in her child form. "The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere – and you, foul creature, are a wild beast."

She looked across the tree line her hunters all had their arrows notched and ready; "Zoë, permission granted."

The manticore growled with furry; "If I cannot have these alive, I shall have them dead!" He lunged at Percy and Thalia, knowing they were weak and dazed.

"No!" Annabeth yelled, and she charged at the monster.

"Get back, Half-Blood!," Zoë yelled," Get out of the line of fire!"

Just as Annabeth was going to leap upon the beast, three arrows appeared in its side, just below the ribs. These were made of wood, tipped with what one could only assume was celestial bronze, the fletching silvery feathers.

Everyone followed the arrows' path to their origin, and what they found left them all slightly wary. There, standing along the same path that Thalia and the others had run to the clearing, was a boy. He was tall; around five foot seven, and the rest of his features being hidden by a long sky blue cloak, with a silver crescent moon clip at the neckline. He had a wooden longbow that was just short of his own height, an arrow notched and ready.

"You need not worry yourself with such a lowly beast," the boy said, but Artemis was the only one who caught his voice. "In your name, mother – to the glory of the hunt."

His arrow flew straight and true, catching Dr. Thorn directly in the throat, he fell apart into golden dust, leaving behind only a large bushel of his deadly spines. Annabeth, who had fallen back with the others when the arrows hit, made to go to the cloaked figure. She was halted, however, by the loud, echoing sound of gun fire. They watched as the boy's cloak flew up, in a flash of silver and a series of clangs, he stood once more, a strange three-pronged blade in hand. At his feet were smoking holes where the bullets had landed.

Percy gaped, as did the others; his speed was unreal – and to deflect those bulleta... What was he?

It was then that Artemis chose to walk forward. "Mortals," she announced, "Are not allowed to witness my hunt."

She thrust her hand in the direction of the helicopter and it shook slightly, before falling apart, the black metal morphing into a large flock of ravens and disappearing into the night sky.

The Hunters advanced upon the group, but Zoë stopped when she saw Thalia, "You." She said with distaste.

"Zoë Nightshade." Thalia's voice trembled with anger. "Perfect timing, as usual," she sneered.

Zoë scanned the rest of the group. "Four Half-Bloods, a Satyr, and one unknown, my lady."

"Yes," Artemis agreed. "Some of Chiron's campers, I see."

Her eyes fell upon the cloaked figure as a smile played at her lips. "Come forth, Hunter, show us all the face of our savior."

"My lady," Zoë gasped out. "This man is hardly of any consequence."

The way she spat the word 'man' did not go unnoticed by the group, as many of the hunters nodded in agreement. Thalia scoffed, mumbling something about reverse sexism.

"I am wounded, dear Zoë," the man replied, before he removed his hood. "All those nights you sang me to sleep, and now I am of no consequence. Should I, then, just take my spoils and leave?"

At the removal of his hood, many of the hunters gasped in surprise. Zoë herself was at a loss for words, as if she had seen a ghost. Some of the hunters were confused, as they had only recently joined the hunt and thus, knew nothing of this boy. For there stood a young man of about sixteen, long blond hair tied back in a pony tail with a few unruly strands here and there. On his face were three whisker-like marks which gave him a slightly feral look as he flashed them all a toothy grin.

The first to recover was Annabeth, who rushed forward, looking up at the boy with stars in her stormy grey eyes. "Is it really you?"

"Annabeth," the boy greeted as he rubbed her head, mussing up her hair. "Look at you, you just grew like a weed, didn't you? Who said you could get so old without me, huh?"

"Naruto..." She laughed, tears trickling down her face. "What happened? We thought you had died!"

"It's a long story, Anna," he said solemnly. "Right now isn't the time."

"Okay," she relented, before she tossed herself at him, hugging him tightly. "I missed you, Naruto."

"I missed you too; you're my one and only little sister, after all."

While all this was happening, the hunters were exchanging whispers as Thalia approached the boy. Annabeth moved aside and the two just stared at one another.

"Whiskers…" Thalia whispered.

"Thalia," he greeted, his tone appraising. "You…have also grown."

"You idiot!" She yelled suddenly, slapping him halfheartedly in the face. "How could you go and do something so stupid? You nearly died, and that's all you have to say?"

"I missed you, Thalia, very much," He sighed. "But I was in the same position as you, I hear. I only just awoke near the end of last summer."

Thalia's voice caught in her throat. "Everything's gone wrong, Luke is-"

"I know all about that," he said. "We will confront him together; he is my friend as well."

Naruto was taken aback as she caught him in a fast, powerful hug before releasing, a light blush adorning her lightly freckled face; "That's all you're getting, so don't ask for anymore."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

As Percy watched from the sidelines, he wondered who this boy was – he was familiar with Annabeth to the point of calling her his little sister and, even more surprising was that he managed to drag a show of physical affection out of Thalia. Not an easy feat, that's for sure.

"Who are you?" he finally asked, much to the relief of the more confused Hunters.

"I don't feel the need to explain myself to you, boy."

The way he said it was the same way Zoë had addressed Thalia, if not a bit lighter. It still served to raise Percy's ire. He was about to speak again, when Grover pulled at his arm, shaking his head.

"Naruto," Artemis spoke up. "Why have you not come to me until now?"

"I apologize," Naruto said, turning his full attention back to his mother. "Someone decided to return me to my birth forest; it took me months to return to the place of my apparent demise and retrieve my belongings."

Artemis seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding, and she stepped up to him, looking him up and down. Then, much to some of the hunter's surprise, she embraced him tightly, her smaller form catching him just above the waist as he leaned over, wrapping his arms lightly around her shoulders.

"You have grown well," she said with a laugh. "Before I could at least reach below your arms."

"What can I say, Mother; I wasn't going to stop on your account."

That struck a chord with the audience and had some of the hunters gasping in surprise, while others smiled softly, having fond memories of the starry-eyed young boy that they had raised from infancy: the only man on this earth they would ever trust again.

"Lady Artemis," one of the younger girls called. "How is it you have a son? I thought you were a virgin goddess..."

Many of them nodded in agreement, as did Grover. He had never met Naruto, having only heard about him from the others. They all skirted around the issue of his death, and only ever spoke about him in passing. He was astonished at this revelation – was the purity of his dear Lady Artemis going to be in question? His little goat heart was breaking under the weight of his anxiety.

"He was gifted to me by my father," she spoke, leaving the embrace. "An Immaculate Conception. I have never been with a man; my vow is still held."

The hunters sighed in relief, and though some were still wary of him, the others assured them that he was a good man – the only good man, much to the ire of the only other two males in the clearing.

"Whoa," Bianca di Angelo said. "Hold up. Time out."

Everybody looked at her. She pointed her finger at all of them in turn, like she was trying to connect the dots. "Who… Who are you people?"

Artemis's expression softened."It might be a better question, my dear girl, to ask who are you! Who are your parents?"

Bianca glanced nervously at her brother, who was still staring in awe at Artemis. "Our parents are dead," she explained slowly. "We're orphans. There's a bank trust that pays for our school, but…"

She faltered. She could tell from the surrounding faces that no one believed her. "What?" she demanded. "I'm telling the truth."

"You are a half-blood," Zoe Nightshade said. Her accent was hard to place. It sounded old-fashioned, like she was reading from a really old book. "One of thy parents was mortal. The other was an Olympian."

"An Olympian … athlete?"

"No," Zoe corrected. "One of the gods."

"Cool!" said Nico.

"No!" Bianca's voice quavered. "This is not cool!"

Nico danced around like he needed to use the restroom. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that does six hundred damage? Does he get extra movement points for—"

"Nico, shut up!" Bianca put her hands to her face. "This is not your stupid Mythomagic game, okay? There are no gods!"

The Half-Bloods in the audience looked on in sympathy at her outburst, and even Artemis seemed to feel for the girl.

"Bianca, I know it's hard to believe. But the gods are still around. Trust me. They're immortal," Thalia stated. "And whenever they have kids with regular humans, kids like us, well… Our lives are dangerous."

"Dangerous…?" She repeated quietly.

"Yes," Percy interjected," you and Nico need training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet. You need to come to camp."

"Camp?" Bianca asked.

"Camp Half-Blood," Percy clarified. "It's where half-bloods learn to survive and stuff. You can join us – stay there year-round, if you like."

"Sweet, let's go!" said Nico

"Wait," Bianca shook her head. "I don't—"

"There is another option," Zoë offered.

"No there isn't!" Thalia yelled.

Thalia and Zoë glared at each other, daring the other to make a move. Things hadn't improved since their initial meeting; they were all set for an all out stare off when Naruto spoke up.

"I believe you are forgetting the third option."

Artemis regarded her son strangely before it set in and she smirked slightly; "And what would that be, Naruto?"

"Simple," he replied as he collapsed his bow into its charm form at his belt. "I invoke the right of apprenticeship."

This drew an outcry from some of the hunters, but they were quickly silenced by the more experienced ones.

"Even if I am no longer with you, I am still a senior hunter," Naruto continued. "By the laws, I can take an apprentice if I please, to be evaluated and receive Mother's blessing at a later date."

Thalia looked confused having never heard of this, as did many of the others – especially Bianca herself.

"As my son, Naruto, has my blessing, he embraces the hunt. His arrows shall fly straight and his feet shall be swift, but he is not a part of the hunt, since he is indeed a man," she stated calmly. "However, as one blessed by myself, he has the right to seek an apprentice if I am impressed by said apprentice, and then they shall also receive my blessing. She would be like any other half-blood only with the same training that my own hunters undergo. Also, although it vexes me, she is free to seek romantic endeavors, as the blessing is based upon skill not choice."

At this she looked slightly disgusted, showing that despite being a caring mother to her son, she despised other men with a passion.

"It has not occurred in years as any who gain my favor normally join the hunt. Miss Di Angelo would make a fine addition to the Hunt. I ask why you would deprive her – and myself – of the chance, Naruto."

Thalia sent Naruto a thankful look; she didn't want to lose the girl to his mother's little club. At least this way, she would be free to do as she pleases, instead of being chained to the hunt.

"My reasoning is simple," Naruto stated. "If Bianca were to take your offer, she would become immortal and bound to your hunt, Mother. With all due respect, Mother, she has a brother, and to join would be tantamount to abandonment."

"I see your reasoning, and although it saddens me to lose a potential sister, I know you would teach her well. Zoë, we will rest here for a few hours. Raise the tents. Treat the wounded. Retrieve our guests' belongings from the school."

"Yes, my lady."

"Bianca, come with me; we will discuss what your choice will be."

"What about me?" Nico questioned the goddess.

Artemis considered the boy; he was still young and very much innocent. For a second, he was overlaid with the image of a young, spiky-haired blond boy, a squirrel perched on his head, giddy at the thought of a little animal companion. She shook her head, it was best not to dwell in the past. Her son was grown now.

"Perhaps you can show Grover how to play that card game you enjoy. I'm sure Grover would be happy to entertain you for a while…as a favor to me?"

Grover just about tripped over himself getting up. "You bet! Come on, Nico!"

Nico and Grover walked off toward the woods, talking about hit points and armor ratings and a bunch of other geeky stuff. Meanwhile, Artemis led a confused-looking Bianca along the cliff. The Hunters began unpacking their knapsacks and making camp.

Zoe gave Thalia one more evil look, then left to oversee things.

As soon as she was gone, Thalia stamped her foot in frustration. "The nerve of that girl! She thinks she's so… Argh!"

"I'm with you," Percy said. "I don't trust—"

"Oh, you're with me?" Thalia turned on him furiously. "What were you thinking back there in the gym, Percy? You'd take on Dr. Thorn all by yourself? You knew he was a monster!"

"Calm down guys," Annabeth said, playing the voice of reason. "It all worked out in the end and we'll be back at camp by this time tomorrow."

"Yes," Naruto said lazily. "And look on the bright side, if not for this boy here, I wouldn't have had such a fantastic entrance."

"Whiskers, you dunce," Thalia admonished, trying to hide her smile. "Only you could say something so stupid."

Percy felt far out of the loop, and decided to give his question another shot. "So, could you tell me how you all know each other?"

Naruto was about to say something, Percy wondered if he was going to be as gruff as before, it would seem he picked up some of his mothers distaste for men. Much to Percy's relief Annabeth spoke first, effectively cutting the other demigod off.

"I'm sorry I never told you before," she started. "It was a sensitive subject for all of us…"

Percy noted that her eyes shifted to Thalia with the last statement, and he began to wonder if there was something between the two.

"We met him a few months before Grover found us," Thalia explained. "In Virginia…"

"On the Pontimac if I remember correctly," Naruto added. "You were all bumbling about, trying to set up a decent camp, and poor little Anna was left to get the drinking water."

Naruto punctuated the 'poor little Anna' statement by comically hugging her about the neck; this display of affection didn't sit right with Percy. What really hit home with that gesture was the slight glare Naruto sent his way, as if to say 'she's mine and you aren't good enough'.

"If it wasn't for Naruto being there, I might have been eaten that day," Annabeth agreed.

"Indos Worms; nasty little things – they drag in anything close to the water's edge and then tear it to pieces." Naruto said this in such a cheery fashion that it felt odd.

"So wait, if you met all that long ago, where have you been?" Percy asked. "They said you had died...?"

Annabeth averted her gaze and Thalia growled, "That's none of your damn business."

Percy held his hands up in a placating gesture as one of the hunters came by with their packs, Grover and Nico having finished their walk were there as well. Grover went to work at fixing up Percy's arm, which, much to Nico's apparent delight, was a sickly green color.

Before Grover began to dress the wound, Naruto produced a small wooden box from his hip pouch. He handed it to Grover who looked at him questioningly, and Percy winced due to the pain from the gangrenous wound.

"It's a healing salve," Naruto explained, "It's made from wild herbs and fights infection as well as promotes quick healing."

Grover nodded, hastily applying the salve to Percy's wound and, much to his surprise, it began to lose its green tint before his eyes. He quickly set about bandaging the arm as Percy asked, "What's in that stuff – it doesn't hurt at all."

"Just an assortment of various herbs…" Naruto replied nonchalantly.

Thalia and Annabeth nodded as they had seen him do similar things with herbs and natural oils before. Percy looked skeptical but nodded in acceptance, and Grover just trusted that a son of Artemis would be well versed in all things of the forest.

Naruto inwardly sighed. In reality, he had no idea exactly how he came across the knowledge of that particular salve. He had been foraging one day, when he began to seek out particular herbs, with seemingly no meaning. He had flashes of what he could only assume was a far off memory, as a lavender eyed girl explained the various uses of these seemingly simple herbs. He assumed it was one of the hunters and he had only just then remembered that particular lesson. Still, he couldn't place the voice; there wasn't a huntress who stuttered so much.

Thalia had stalked off, thankful for the change of subject, and she found herself walking among the white wolves that the hunters seemed to have summoned as guard dogs. She was just getting comfortable with the silence when she felt a presence behind her, and she turned to find Naruto standing in the snow with one of the wolves at his side, pining for a treat. Thalia idly noted that Percy was having his ear talked off by Nico in the background, before turning her full attention to the blond.

"What did you want?" She asked, sounding harsher than she had meant to.

Naruto sighed as he stepped towards her. "Just wanted to let you know that it's not your fault."

"Not you too," Thalia bit out gruffly. "Everyone told me that, but the fact remains that I should never have rushed in that way."

"I agree," Naruto said plainly, shocking her slightly. "It was stupid and irresponsible, but I will never regret coming to your aid that night."

Thalia bit her lip, her hands tugging at the sleeves of her jacket, as a cold wind whipped between them.

"You could have died…" she whispered.

"But I didn't," Naruto laughed, "Did I, Day-lily?"

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?" She hissed lowly, her face red from embarrassment.

"Your name means the one who blooms, and the Day-lily blooms everyday, its petals falling at night only to bloom once again the next morning. Your name suggests a constant state of bloom, always growing, always shining."

Thalia blushed at his words, fighting with her urge to either punch him or hug the idiot. Well she was, until he added, "Now if only you would live up to your namesake."

"You rotten bastard!" Thalia exclaimed, settling for a tackle.

Taken by surprise, Naruto fell to the ground, bringing Thalia with him he felt his breath leave him as they hit the cold earth. When he regained his bearings, he was looking straight into Thalia's electric blue eyes and she was straddling his hips as she pulled him by the collar of his cloak to meet her gaze. Her eyes shining with fury, as her hands actually seemed to give off small, static discharges.

"Now that's the Thalia I know..." He smiled approvingly. "You bloom in your own special way Day-lily."

Her gaze softened, but her grip stayed strong; the damn knucklehead could be quite the smooth talker. Thalia was content to glare halfheartedly at his grinning face, but unfortunately that wasn't in the cards as a soft cough interrupted them.

Looking over, they saw a red-faced Zoë Nightshade, and behind her stood Percy, his mouth agape. Zoë quickly recovered, schooling her features, she addressed the one on the bottom. "Thy mother wished to see thee, along with Percy Jackson."

"Of course," he replied easily. "Would you mind moving, Day-lily?"

Thalia didn't need to be told twice – she was off of him in a second. The familiarity portrayed in the nickname was not lost on the other two, as they both drew their own conclusions.

"You know where her tent is, correct?" Zoë asked Naruto.

"Yes, Zoë, I remember."

"Good child," she smiled. "I will be with you soon, just lead this one there."

As Naruto and Percy headed to his mother's tent, Zoë rounded on Thalia, fixing her with a glare. "What dost thou think you were doing?"

"What?" Thalia questioned, not liking her tone. "Could you speak English?"

Zoë gave an exasperated sigh. "What was thou doing with Naruto just now?"

"I don't see why that's any of your business." Thalia smirked, trying to get under the girls skin.

"Listen well girl for I shall only say this once," Zoë growled," you are not worthy of my Lady's son."

Thalia did a double take before glaring at the girl, her fist clenched as her nails dug into her palms.

"What was that," she seethed. "I had something stupid stuck in my ear."

"You heard me," Zoë replied, now calmer that she had gotten a rise from the other girl. "If Naruto is to ever seek companionship, it should be with someone worthy of my Lady's blessing."

"You," Thalia growled. "You want to set him up with that Di Angelo girl!"

"Better than an impulsive brat."

"You old hag," Thalia snapped. "Have you stopped to think how he might feel...?"

"Do not speak to me as if thou hast a claim on his feelings!" Zoë said in kind," I helped raise the boy from infancy, I only want what's best for him."

Thalia threw her arms up in exasperation," Who ever said I wanted to be with the idiot in the first place?"

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." Zoë said with a wry laugh.

"Speak English!" Thalia replied with a huff.

"I believe thy denial would be far more believable if thou did not defend it so readily."

Thalia sputtered with her words, her face red with fury as she tried desperately to come up with a rebuttal. Sadly, Zoë was gone by the time she thought up a rather eloquent "Screw you."

Thalia stomped her way back toward Percy and the others; she would rather not dwell on why she had no argument for Zoë. She didn't feel that way for the idiot, did she?

~SaWaDa~

Naruto sat upon the silken floor of his mother's tent, his mind drifting back to nights spent in her warm embrace. She would tell stories of hunts long passed, and creatures that would have kept him up at night if not for her calming presence. The fire from the brazier at the center of the tent gave off comforting warmth that he felt he had been missing for far too long. Artemis had been speaking to Percy of what the manticore, Dr. Thorn, had said at the cliff. Percy spoke of someone called the General, as well as some great stirring. Artemis had commented that monsters from long ago were stirring, things she had not hunted in a millennia.

Naruto nodded at this, having felt the strange presence in the air since his awakening, as if the planet itself was lamenting the rise of these creatures. It was at this point that Zoë had entered the tent, looking rather pleased with herself, until the gravity of the conversation set in. Artemis stated that they had come here sensing the manticore, as did Naruto, but that it was not the monster that she was searching for.

Percy spoke further of how Thorn said they would soon have the most important monster of them all, the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus. Naruto watched as his mother sat stock still – he had never seen her shocked before, she seemed to take everything in stride as if she always expected you to do exactly as you had. Now, though, her eyes seemed unfocused and she was rigid.

Naruto feared whatever creature could have such an effect on her.

Artemis shook her head. "No. He was not. I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster."

Zoë looked like she was trying very hard not to be afraid, but she nodded. "We will leave right away, my lady."

"No, Zoë. I must do this alone."

"But, Artemis—"

"This task is too dangerous, even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me."

"As… As you wish, my lady."

"Then let me go," Naruto said, bringing his fist to his chest. "If it is so dangerous, you should not go alone, Mother!"

Artemis smiled softly. "I would like nothing more than to hunt at my son's side, alas this hunt is beyond your skill at this time."

Naruto looked dejected and opened his mouth to object, until she placed a stern hand on his shoulder. His speckled blue eyes met her piercing yellow, and he knew there was no more arguing on this matter.

"I will find this creature," Artemis vowed. "And I shall bring it back to Olympus by winter solstice. It will be all the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in."

"You know what the monster is?" Percy asked.

Artemis gripped her bow. "Let us pray I am wrong."

"Can goddesses pray?" He asked absentmindedly.

The dark mood was lifted at that comment, something Naruto was thankful for, as he hated such moments of intense silence. Artemis asked him to lead the Hunters to Camp Half-Blood, much to Zoë's highly vocal displeasure, which she made known as she valiantly protested the notion. In the end, it was decided that they would be going and staying in her cabin at the camp.

"And now there is one last decision to make." Artemis turned to Bianca. "Have you made up your mind, my girl?"

Bianca hesitated. "I'm still thinking about it."

"Wait," Percy said. "Thinking about what?"

"I have been offered the position of Apprentice Hunter under Naruto."

"Wha-? But you can't! You have to come to Camp Half-Blood so Chiron can train you. It's the only way you can learn to survive."

"Are you implying that I am incapable of teaching her?" Naruto interjected.

Percy chose to ignore him in favor of trying to woo Bianca into staying at the camp.

"Bianca, camp is cool! It's got a Pegasus stable and a sword-fighting arena and… I mean, what do you get by becoming his apprentice?"

"Freedom." Naruto stated.

"What?" Percy asked.

"With me, she is free to see the world, not bound to your camp."

"What do you mean?" Percy asked. "The campers are free to leave whenever they want."

"Then tell me why you have a curfew there, to make sure all the little heroes get a good night's sleep?" Percy seemed at a loss for words, so Naruto pressed his advantage. "With me, she will learn to stand on her own, and learn not to fear any of the creatures that lurk in the shadows of this world, for they will fear her."

"Bianca, this is crazy," Percy muttered, switching gears. "What about your brother? Naruto can't have two apprentice, can he?"

"Would you rather her join my mother's hunt?" Naruto interjected. "To become immortal, never to see her brother again, bound by oath to abstain from his company?"

"I don't want to be afraid," Bianca called. "I don't want to lose my brother, but everything is happening so fast, I don't know what to do. He has been my responsibility for the longest time, and I know it's selfish, but I just want some freedom, to be my own person!"

"I offer you that," Naruto stated calmly. "You can always return to your brother's side, but you hold the privileges of a hunter; freedom to go anywhere your feet can carry you. And I will teach you what you need to survive in this way, I will teach you what I can of my own learnings, and help you gain my mother's blessing."

"He speaks the truth," Artemis spoke," my blessing is invaluable for one who seeks the path of the hunter; it extends too many aspects of life in the wilderness."

"What do you say?" Naruto asked," I promise you will not regret it; there is so much beauty in this world that many miss out on. You can see it all Bianca, and one day even share it with your brother."

"I accept," Bianca said much to Percy's vocal displeasure," is there some sort of special way to do this?"

Naruto nodded, he reached into his pack and pulled out a small cloth wrapped bundle unwrapped it and lay it at his mother's feet. In the wrappings was the spikes left behind by Dr. Thorn.

"Mother, please except my offering of manticore's quills, in exchange for your blessing upon Bianca as an apprentice hunter."

Artemis eyed the quills, her eyes a touch appraising, before speaking, "Bianca, do you swear to uphold the honor of the hunt set forth by your teacher, and to follow his words without question until such a time as your apprenticeship is deemed complete?"

"I do." Bianca replied.

Artemis nodded as she took up the quills, they fell apart to golden dust in her hand which she blew gently into the brazier at the center of the tent. As it hit the flames, they reached up higher into the air, as if trying to grasp at the small golden specks. A gust of warm air flew into Bianca's face, tousling her long brown hair as the wind whipped about her form. When the breeze died down, Bianca took a deep breath before letting it out, smiling madly.

"I feel so, so…"

"Alive?" Naruto supplied.

"Yes," Bianca agreed. "I feel like I have been trapped in a bubble my whole life and it just popped."

"The initial blessing of an apprentice hunter is meant to aid in your learning," Artemis said. "It gives you a deeper connection with the earth itself, intensifying your senses."

"I can feel it," Bianca murmured, in a state of wonderment. "The life all around me – it's faint, but if I focus I can feel it."

"Good," Naruto said, "You're well on your way, it's this sense that allows us to find the location of monsters at long distances, like my mother and I did with Dr. Thorn. Had I not sensed him tonight, we may not have met until I made it to Camp Half-Blood."

The entire time this was going on, Percy had folded in on himself. He felt like a trespasser, and a complete failure. He couldn't believe he came all this way and suffered so much only to lose Bianca to a pretty boy hunter. He admitted to himself that Naruto had a point, and he preferred him over her joining the hunters. His wounded pride, however, insisted that Naruto was wrong, and that the camp was the best place for her.

"Do not despair, Percy Jackson," Artemis said. "You will still get to show the di Angelos your camp. And if Nico so chooses, he can stay there."

"Great," he said, trying not to sound surly. "How are we supposed to get there?"

Artemis closed her eyes. "Dawn is approaching. Zoe, break camp and get Bianca outfitted with some basic equipment. You must get to Long Island quickly and safely. I shall summon a ride from my brother."

Zoe didn't look real happy about this idea, but she nodded and told Bianca to follow her.

As she was leaving, Bianca paused in front of Percy. "I'm sorry, Percy. But I want this. I really, really do."

Then she was gone, and he was left alone with the twelve-year-old goddess, and her sixteen year old son.

"So," he started glumly. "We're going to get a ride from your brother, huh?"

Artemis's silver eyes gleamed. "Yes, boy. You see, Bianca di Angelo is not the only one with an annoying brother. It's time for you to meet my irresponsible twin, Apollo."

"Uncle Apollo, can be quite the handful," Naruto chuckled fondly. "My advice: earplugs."

~End~

I am working under the assumption that you have all read the book, so I may glance over certain aspects of the story as explaining them in the same detail would just leave you reading the book again. I want the focus to be Naruto's journey through the world, and the effect his mere presence has on the destiny of the world. In all actuality, I plan to continue the story past the book.

~Tidal Blooper reel~

Just as Annabeth was going to leap upon the beast, there was a loud cry of; "DYNAMIC ENTRY!"

Out of nowhere a green clad figure flew at Dr. Thorn, legs extended, kicking the beast off the edge of the cliff. In his place stood a tall blond haired figure in green spandex with orange leg warmers. Naruto Namikaze has returned! He was giving a thumbs-up sign, as he smiled brightly teeth shining.

"How was that?" Naruto questioned.

The hunters at the tree line all held up boards reading straight tens, except Zoë who held up a nine point five. Naruto looked at her incredulously to whom she replied; "Thy feet were separated upon Dynamic Re-Entry."

Artemis nodded holding up a similar sign, as Naruto sighed forlornly; "Et tu Mother?"

~End~