A/N: Hooray, new chapter. I'm honestly shocked by the amount of support there had been for this story so far, I was expecting far less then what I got so thanks. Hopefully this chapter reaches your expectations, it was a teeny bit rushed because I wasn't expecting so many people to enjoy this. So yeah, on with the story.
Artemis stared at him; her eyes full of shock. It was impossible, there was absolutely no way that this boy could possibly be the Former-Hero of Olympus Percy Jackson. After all, the man was long dead; sixteen years in fact. 'Just like you were sixteen years ago'. No it was impossible, he had been cast into Tartarus; chained, gagged and stripped of his power. There was no way anybody could've survived that, let alone a boy.
"H-h-how?" Artemis stuttered out, "You should've died sixteen years ago, how are you still alive?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," Percy said, "We should probably be heading to the Hunter's Camp, else they'll be wondering where you've got to."
'I couldn't possibly have a traitor" – Percy's eye twitched – "like you be my Hunt's Guardian!" Artemis said.
"Well that's too bloody bad!" Percy spat, Artemis recoiled from the sudden hostility. She shrank back onto the floor, desperate to get away from the hate and anger emanating from Percy. Peeking up at him she saw that he had calmed down, and the aura surrounding him had calmed just as quickly as it had turned violent. With a malevolent grin he added, "And I'm looking forward to seeing Thalia again."
Thalia, Lieutenant of the Hunters; how could he not be looking forward to meeting her once more. Before the, uh, 'incident' they had been thick of thieves; but had she been there for me when I needed her? No, she had bowed to her father and milady and allowed me to disposed of. This was going to be fun.
The goddess, Artemis spoke, "Well grab on then, I'm going to teleport us in."
Teleportation, flashing golden light, the true form of the gods; which, by the way, was an extremely boring radiant burst of bright light. Artemis had stood up and was now impatiently waiting for Percy to grab on.
"Would you hurry up, I don't have all day y'know," she whined. Percy hated people who whined; they always felt entitled, like they deserved something just because they said they wanted it. If you wanted something you took it, and if anyone or thing stood in your way you destroyed it; that was the law he lived by. People who whined die first, that's something you learn pretty fast in Tartarus. Yes, those who whine are idiots, losers, maggots to be crushed underneath his feet!
"Well I guess I'll be leaving you here then," Artemis said. Percy's reaction was instantaneous; he covered the ground between them in under a second but even then he was barely fast enough. Just as he collided with her he was enveloped in a flash of light as they were teleported. They both crashed to the ground in a heap; fresh green blades of grass crushed by their falling bodies.
They had landed in a meadow, it was long and shaped like an oblong surrounded by pine trees. At the opposite end where several silver tents placed in haphazard circle around a larger, central one. It was the hunter's camp, but it seemed to mysteriously derelict of the infamous huntresses.
"WHAT THE HADES ARE YOU DOING!" Artemis screeched at Percy; looking back at her he was unable to identify the source of her anger, perhaps she just hated being pinned? Deciding that it was safe to release her Percy returned to his feet while Artemis spluttered in rage, "How dare you lay your hands on me boy, if you weren't my hunt's Guardian I would've turned you into a jackalope and thrown you to the wolves!"
"Would you just shut it already?" Percy snapped back, something was wrong, the hunters were nowhere to be found and the hairs on the back of his neck were beginning to rise; this was no time to be fussy about a little physical contact.
Resuming his survey of the nearby woods Percy caught a glimpse of silver disappearing behind a tree; he stepped forwards, just in time to avoid being gutted by a silver-tipped arrow. Instinctively he jerked to the left causing the arrow which had been intended for his head slice into his right arm, letting out a hiss of annoyance he drew his gun with his left hand. Guessing at the origin of the shots he aimed and pulled the trigger, only to hear a click as the gun refused to fire.
"Not so big now are you boy," called out a familiar sounding voice, it was joined by a chorus of laughter that emanated from the woods. Percy scowled, he didn't appreciate it when people mocked him; usually they would quickly come to regret it as their head would be removed from their shoulders not long later. Unfortunately, he seemed to be at the mercy of his attackers so there was little hope of that solution being applied in this case.
"Do you usually enjoy bullying people who can't see you or can you actually fight?" Percy taunted.
"Only a stupid boy such as yourself would fall for a trick like that," said the voice; Artemis began to laugh then infuriating Percy. He was beginning to get really pissed off at whoever had shot him, not only had they managed to injure him, they hadn't fallen for his (admittedly pitiful) trap and now they had managed to get his new employer to begin laughing at him. He really, really wanted to rip their heads of right now; maybe stick it on a pole and carry it around to strike fear into those who opposed him.
Then Percy too began to chuckle, just lightly but evidently enough for 'the voice' to notice. "What is so funny boy, why are you laughing?" it queried, fear mixed in with the confusion of its tone.
Percy was laughing because he had finally figured out who the voice was, it had been Artemis who had tipped him off. He probably should've realised when she had first said 'boy' with that patronising tone, as if to be male was the most disgusting thing possible; Hades, he should've known when that silver-tipped arrow hit him. Even his gun had offered a clue, the magic preventing the Guardian from harming their charges had stopped it from firing. And so he was amused by his own stupidity, that and the irony of the situation; he was being attacked by the very people he was supposed to be protecting: The Hunters of Artemis.
A/N: Yes, yes, I know; I've delayed the "we meet again" moment as well as the "introducing the Guardian" scenes. I plan to have them encompass the next chapter because I personally feel like they're the most important part of any GotH-esque story because they set the whole mood for the "acceptance into the Hunt" part of the story, oh and [SPOILER-ish] I plan on having the Hunt accept Percy much more difficult then is common; especially seeing as he won't have the support of Thalia & Artemis. Now, I don't now how you guys feel about Thalia, and I personally don't mind her, but in my story she's betrayed Percy so don't expect no buddy-buddy punching-annie Thalia, it ain't happening. Review, Follow, Favourite (if you enjoyed it of course) and all that other stuff; be sure to tell me what parts you liked/disliked, what I can work on and whether you enjoy short sharp updates or would rather me have better quality, longer chapters. Until next time, Ciao.