-Perseus-
Lycaon. I have to infiltrate his goon squad, and report information back to a goddess that dislikes men. What a task. I've heard the stories about the king of werewolves, the reason he is one is enough to know he's a sick puppy. My first question is how I'm supposed to get all the way over to Los Angeles, while remaining incognito from the gods and goddesses of Olympus. It's not like I can take a plane, though I suppose going by boat wouldn't be a horrible idea.
Dad wouldn't risk telling Zeus or any of the other Olympians about me, he likes me too much. I'm glad that he does, because at the moment it feels as though no one likes me very much. Or maybe there are lots of people out there who still do, and the depression that I feel is just something that can be perservered over. That I will do, there is a job that needs done. Just because there is a long distance from me and my objective doesn't mean it won't get done. Too much at stake for me to just lay down and die.
Standing up with a newfound resolve to continue helping the Gods and my friends back at camp, my fists come up and pound my chest in a show of force. I would be the wolf they need me to be, regardless of what they or I feel for myself. Grabbing what little I had left, a small hunk of ambrosia and half a liter of nectar and a couple granola bars I leave the clearing that Artemis had left me in. The sun was raining down it's beautiful rays of light, making my tanned skin look light. Though it was late in the year, nearing winter the sun was still out.
I couldn't waste my precious opportunity to stay warm, and began moving. I'd have to more or less cross America, which is way bigger than it has to be, in hopefully less than a month. As long as there are no ridiculous roadblocks, which there generally are in my hell of a life, then we should be good.
Days go by, thirteen to be exact. Nothing new happening in my life, apart from the odd run-in with the local fauna and of course the damned hellhounds chasing me nearly every night. It was typical, the days shortening immensely, leaving only six to eight hours of daylight. I stopped counting after a week went by. Too much thinking, and not enough eating. The treks were getting longer, or my pace was slowing. Either one, I needed a meal, something bigger than the random berries that were scattered along in bushes.
Something tangible, meat. Protein or something big, most nights the moon was high enough that I could evoke enough of this taint to get me something juicy. The myths about werewolves were almost completely spot on, full moons were just the nights that we could go all out. The fur, the teeth, the claws. The big beautiful, pale moon was something that I began to yearn for. Nights were not as useful without the moon, and it almost made me wish I could see Artemis. That was something that I wouldn't want of course, that would just mean arrows and pain. Neither of those were things that were wanted.
Though I got what I asked for in my mental battles with myself, the moon was hanging low and dark overcast by a cloudy night sky. Stars weren't even visible beneath the thick layer of stratus clouds. Taking a rest with my back against a tree and ass in the dirt, a long silver arrow embedded itself next to my head. Shocking me out of whatever half-baked delusion I had been reduced to with the lack of food. My eyes scanning through the night, but with the complete lack of night even my vision was impared.
That was until I saw the two orbs of silver floating in the darkness in front of me, and a sick smirk that honestly scared me. The goddess of the hunt in all her glory was once again in front of me, baring what looked like an evil grin. But, again, I am rather malnourished. "No need to fear, Perseus. I know what you need." The voice piercing through the cold, silent night like the arrow she released. The scent, oh the sweet metallic smell that perked up my tired body. How could I not become a mere beast at the aroma of meat.
A small growl managed to work it's way up my throat as I stood from my position. I could almost feel her slight trepidation, there was no way that the goddess in front of me had a small bit of fear. Right? After all, I am just a lowly demi-god, we all know that the gods are perfect in thought and design. Right? Shaking my head out of my reverie, I bowed low. "I'm sorry for that, Lady Artemis. My hunger is getting the best of me at the moment... What can I do to receive what you have?" My voice soft, and my head still bowed. I knew who had the lead, and it was most certainly not me.
The smirk in her voice was not unnoticed as she spoke, "Nothing. You are going to be a valuable asset to us at Olympus. I cannot, and will not have you dying on me. Besides, Thalia would have my head if you were to perish. So, while I'm not doing this happily... Take it." I greedily took it out of her hand, shifting back into a bow before attacking the meat feverishly.
It was disgusting... But so, so delicious that I could not stop. My hunger did not subside when I was finished with the hunk of beef, my face blooded from the ravaging I did to the slab. My eyes moving up and meeting the goddess' in front of me. She shifted back half a step, not enough that anyone normal would've noticed. Yet I noticed, and she knew that I noticed. "Perseus, do not be foolish." Her voice harsh, conjuring up the image of the powerful goddess that she was.
The fight, if we were to have one would've been so one sided it couldn't have last more than five seconds, and two hits. She hits me, and I hit the ground. Even in my hunger, the inner demon I fought with knew that it would be death. My head backed down once more, and once again I felt the smirk she had rest back on her face. Anger bubbling up within my gut once more, threatening to release at the littlest of pressures.
"Do any other Olympians know?" My voice surprised me, it was hard and rough and I knew it was the utter madness that was burning in my stomach. However, I needed to move to a different topic or there was no way I would be able to stop myself from attacking her. Artemis shook her head, not that I would've seen with my head bowed so far down before speaking.
"No, your father would take you back to his kingdom if he knew. I know you don't want that though, you don't want an easy life. I can see it in you, Perseus. You are a fighter, and living under the sea, secluded from us. You couldn't do it." Was she trying to provoke me? It certainly sounded like it. Could she really read me like a book? Was I that easy to understand? I thought that my emotions were a little bit harder to figure out than that.
"You don't know me, Artemis. Nor what I'm capable of." A dreadfully angry tone lacing my voice, as I once again locked eyes with the goddess in front of me. It was just her and I. No one else, no other hunters. My belly full, and my heart and soul ready for a true fight. Artemis was so unbelievably right. All I knew was the thrill of the fight, and my blood boiled for it.
A smirk lit her face, knowing that this was inevitable. Werewolves and hunters don't go together. She knew this, and I knew this.
-Artemis-
He needs this, I thought to myself. Looking at the disheveled young male right below me, the ferocious expression resting on his face. A few more words would be all it takes to make him spring into action. Was it really for him though? Or was it for myself. Nothing proved worthy anymore. Hunts were stale, nothing was intense anymore. It was all just so... Blase. There was no more excitement, and yet here was young Perseus making me excited. Wrong wording, but regardless.
How many years has it been since a demi-god has challenged me? A very long time indeed. The smirk stayed upon my face as I continued to stare into those sea green eyes of his. "Challenge me, Perseus. Release it, everything." This is for him, not for me. Not at all.
His eyes changed, those ocean like eyes that I had almost come to like swirled into some disgusting yellow. A tinge of ichor before going to the color of an animals. Here it was, a growl released from his lips as they turned into a snarl. "I challenge you, Lady Artemis. A fist fight to last the ages." His right swung, far quicker than I actually anticipated and it hit. It hit hard. Right rib, possible fracture. It was then that I realized he had fought Kronos to basically a standstill and that had been near a year ago. Perseus would only get stronger.
However, I wouldn't take that laying down and as his left came in for a strike my own left struck out. Slapping against his forearm and using some of my godly strength I knocked his strike off course, while using my right to punch his chest. Deflected, something that was expected. My own right was knocked off course before he went for a spartan kick. His rage was clouding his mind, and that would only spell my victory. Perseus must have known, right?
Dodging away from his kick, I grabbed his leg with both hands and flipped him. His body flipped through the air once, landing on his stomach. For a moment he stayed stunned, a growl forming out of his throat once more before jumped to his feet and charged me. This time however, his charge was far faster than his first. Nearly unbelievably fast, his large arms grappled around my ribs as he crushed. The wind released from my body like he was squeezing a damned bagpipe.
The large seventeen year old dropped me hard onto a fallen tree, if the wind hadn't already left my body then it would've then. I laid against the tree, reeling from the fact that Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon and a mere male was able to thoroughly ruin my night in such a quick fashion. But it wasn't over, as he stood above me. His eyes returned to their normal color, and a look of realization dawned on his face.
I struck harder than when he hit me, landing a rib breaking punch into the side of his body causing him to fall backwards a few steps. His blood landing on the silver of my clothing with a hideous smear. Stalking over to him I looked down at the young hero, a sad glint in my eye. In my anger at being rather beaten I may have gone a little bit too far.
Perseus glared, and growled at me but he knew it was over. Too many of his ribs were broken, and he was smart enough to stay down. "You did good, Perseus. Anger is something you must control though." My tone honest as I reached into my small bag and pulled a piece of ambrosia and a small bottle of nectar out. Holding out for him to take, he grunted in pain and grabbed both before greedily sucking both down.
"My lady, that was unbelievably dirty." A tiny smirk pulled at his lips, but his glare didn't lessen. I couldn't tell if he was being cheeky or not, shrugging my shoulders lightly I gained my own smirk. "Yes, well. That hold of yours wasn't exactly fun for me." It was definitely possible my ribs were fractured, but my immense healing factor would solve that problem in a few minutes.
Young Perseus looked away from me, up into the sky as if he was searching for something. A small clearing of clouds opened up as if he created them. The pale moon shone down on us, relieving us both slightly. A groan came from the son of Poseidon as he corrected his seating on the ground, his head hung low. "Thank you, Lady Artemis. I feel much better."
A grin made it's way up to my face, and I nodded slightly. I had already spent to much time with the young man. A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of spending anymore time with him, but then again... it wasn't exactly painful for me. "Get some sleep, Perseus. You have a long journey ahead of you. I will not be bringing you food often, as much as I hate to say it. Use the curse, it'll keep you alive." And with that, I was gone. Leaving to go find my hunters, wherever I left them.
Of course, I could always just flash to where they were. Yet where would be the fun in that. It was after all... The thrill of the hunt.
-Perseus-
Pain, something that I'd become far too used to while only being seventeen years old. Aches, and bruises crossed my chest and side. The rather short fight with the goddess of the moon made me realize that the gods may not be as powerful as they lead us to believe. Unless of course, she wasn't even going all out on me. Which, is a definite possibility. She did say that Poseidon would have her head if she hurt him. Something that I wouldn't put my father past doing, I would probably do the same thing if my metaphorical son got killed by a man hating goddess.
Regardless, the night was nearing it's end and I still hadn't slept. My eyes closed unconditionally as Morpheus slowly allowed me into his realm and my dreams began to take place. However, just as luck would have it that I would not be having any normal dreams. No, of course not. Peaceful slumber was not allowed for demi-gods like myself.
Wolves patrolled the forest, not noticing as I strolled into the camp. Nay, town. It wasn't small enough to be considered a camp. Large tents set up haphazardly, but one stood out above the rest. Large, with skulls and other bones criss-crossing over it like some kind of macabre quilt. Lycaon's tent. Only he would have something as large and grandiose as that. Howls began, the cacophony of hundreds of wolves was horrid on the ears.
Even if some of them were pleasant to listen to, the sheer amount of them was the problem. That's when I saw him come out of his tent, an aggressive expression resting on his face. I turned and ran, I was positive if that if I were to stay then he would notice me. That could not happen, not while I still had a job to do for Artemis. I felt something prick the back of my neck before I was awoke with a shock.
My eyes bursting open as my hands grasped at the back of my neck, squishing the damned ant that stung me. "Prick." My voice harsh, and filled with annoyance at the rude awakening. Yet, I much preferred this over being found out before my mission had even truly began.
So I walked, and I walked... And I walked some more. My mission would see an ending, whether it be at the claws of Lycaon or at the painted nails of Artemis. One way or another my mission would end, and I still couldn't foresee if it would end if success or failure.
Author's note: So, I couldn't help myself. 2 chapters in one day? I'll be honest, probably not gonna happen. But I was kind of excited and it just had to come out. Again, if I made any spelling errors or whatnot please let me know so I can edit them out. And criticism is welcome, I'm definitely not perfect. Also, I know it's looking like it'll be a Percy/Artemis story but I haven't exactly figured out who I'd like him to end up with. I think it would be cool, but if you guys would rather have him with someone else, I'm cool with it. My preferences happen to be mostly goddesses, but I feel Thalia could be a good option. I don't see too many Percy/Thalia stories.
Anyways, thank you for reading. And have a good day!