The Champion of Artemis
Chapter Two: Drakon Juice and Campfires
Percy Jackson
12 Years Later
"Is there a reason we're here?" Zoe asked as she threw more wood onto the fire.
Zoe, Chelsea, Phoebe, and I were all sitting on logs around a roaring fire on the beach. We were setting up camp for the night at my favorite place in the world: Montauk. A while back, while hunting a creature that I can't remember, I was drawn to this beach and return here every opportunity I get. There was just something about it that I liked. The ocean was calm and inviting. Usually too cold for Zoe and the others to swim, but any water felt great to me.
A couple years ago, I found an old abandoned cabin and managed to refurbish it a little bit. Now, Montauk was just a great get away and pit stop whenever we were hunting in the area. And, it seems like we're always hunting in this area.
"Why are you complaining?" I questioned from her side. "This place is great." Phoebe poked at the fire with a stick.
"I'm going to have to side with Zoe on this one." She said. "We're on an important mission and this place isn't exactly on the way. We could've reached camp already. I don't understand why we're setting up shop here for the night." I smiled.
This was the first independent mission that my mother had ever given me. Well, sort of independent. There were four of us and Zoe was technically the leader of the group but I still say it counts.
I loved growing up with the Hunters. I really did. They became my family and I owed my life to them. Artemis told me everything about my past, including the circumstances which lead to her adopting me. I felt sad about what happened to Sally Jackson. She no doubt would have been a great mother based on what the Hunters have told me, but I never knew her. Artemis was the only parent that mattered to me and the Hunters were now my blood. Whatever god fathered me made it very clear that I was not wanted and that's perfectly fine. I'm very happy with my life and, when I turn sixteen, I will get to join the Hunters of Artemis and spend eternity with my sisters.
That being said, mother dearest sent the four of us out on our own for a mission involving Camp Half-blood. All we know is that major things are going down on Olympus and the four of us need to be at camp representing the Hunters when shit hits the fan. Zoe, being lieutenant, was leading our little squad while Phoebe was using her navigational skills to make sure we got there sooner rather than later. Chelsea and I, well…we were just the dynamic duo. And when I say that, I mean we were the ones constantly getting yelled at and causing trouble.
"Lighten up." Chelsea said. "It's nice here and we finally have a golden opportunity to live a little carefree." She pulled out a bottle from her silver bag containing a strange blue liquid. I recognized the concoction immediately.
"Drakon Juice?" I asked in surprise and all but ripped the bottle from Chelsea's grasp.
Drakon Juice was a drink that Chelsea and I had invented for nights just like this. It's extremely alcoholic, but also very tasteful. Basically, all the ingredients for a very fun night.
"You know it, Perce." She said and gave Zoe a wink. I pulled the cork top from the bottle and took a long swig.
"Great call, Chels." I said while wiping my mouth.
"Why's it blue?" Phoebe asked in wonder as Chelsea took a drink from the bottle. The blue food dye was my own touch. Consider it a signature that Chelsea stole from me. Chelsea passed the bottle to Phoebe who scanned the it with scrutiny.
"Eh, why not?" She said and took an impressive sip. She went to hand the bottle to Zoe who gave us a very disapproving look. But, after a second, the look faded and she laughed.
"Oh, my gods, you guys are idiots." She said but snagged the bottle and joined in on the festivities. We remained like that for some time. Sitting in a circle, passing around the Drakon Juice, and recalling stories from our time together. They were my sisters and my family but they were also my friends. It helped that they all decided to appear in the form of a twelve-year-old so I'd be on level terms with them.
We continued with our little party deep into the night and everyone was clearly feeling the effects. I felt pretty good still and Phoebe didn't seem to be that out of it but the other two were pretty bad. I'd seen Chelsea drunk quite a bit considering that it was usually the two of us that snuck off and did this sort of thing, but I'd never seen Zoe anything but sober. It was truly a sight to see.
"Remember Percy's first time shooting a bow." Zoe said while laughing uncontrollably. "And he screwed up so bad that he cut his hand on the arrow." Chelsea had fallen off of her log and was literally rolling on the ground in a fit of laughter. Except, her mouth was hanging open, like she was laughing, but no sound was coming out. This made Zoe laugh even harder and Phoebe join in on the fun.
"Hey, that really hurt!" I exclaimed. "And I was like six!" This only made the trio laugh even harder and Zoe fell out of her seat to join Chelsea on the sand. I decided to step away from the group for a while. I walked into a little patch of woods by the beach and explored while the sounds of my friends grew further away. I pulled out my silver bow and a matching arrow appeared as I pulled back the strings. I tried shooting at a thin branch, but missed horribly. Even with all the time I spent with the hunters, I just couldn't seem to get the hang of a bow. It's like it just wasn't in my blood.
Just then, I heard a noise from behind me and notched another arrow while whirling to face the figure. A satyr stepped out from behind a tree and held up his hands in defense at the sight of my bow. I lowered my weapon and put it away as the satyr was clearly not a threat.
"Hello." The satyr said nervously. I gave him a big sarcastic smile.
"Hi there." I said. He turned a little bit red.
"I'm Grover and I was sent to bring the Hunters of Artemis to camp. But, uh…" He scanned me up and down, obviously confused as to how I was affiliated with the Hunters. I held out my hand.
"Percy Jackson, son of Artemis." He looked like he was about to faint. "Adopted son." I quickly added. He was still shocked but slightly less once I included that the maiden goddess had not broken her vow. He shook my hand.
"How did that happen?" I shrugged.
"Found me as a baby with my mother's dead corpse and Artemis adopted me. You know, the usual." I didn't want to give the poor guy a heart attack so I decided to change the subject. "We're actually going to spend the night here and head to camp tomorrow. So, we're not exactly in need of assistance, but you're welcome to join us." He shook his head.
"We actually have to get going now." I raised an eyebrow.
"And why's that?"
"Let's just say that there's a few people who want you guys dead by the end of the night." I had no idea what he was talking about but I could also tell that he was being deadly serious.
"Fine, good enough for me. We might have some trouble getting the whole crew to camp though."
"What do you mean?" I didn't respond but lead Grover back to our campsite. Zoe and Phoebe were laughing about something and Chelsea was out cold in the sand. Seeing that I had returned with a new companion, Zoe and Phoebe seemed to sober up slightly.
"Who's your friend?" Zoe asked and stumbled into me. I wrapped an arm around her waist and kept her from falling.
"I'm Grover and are you drunk?" Grover questioned. Zoe and Phoebe laughed in response.
"We weren't expecting to travel anymore tonight." I told him. I detached from Zoe and picked Chelsea up from off the sand. I slung her over my shoulder and once again allowed Zoe to hang on my other side. Grover looked skeptical as I exited the campsite with the two girls attached to me.
"Are you sure you can handle that?" He asked. I laughed.
"Don't worry about me. Just make sure Phoebe doesn't pass out." I told him.
"I can walk, Percy." Phoebe stated.
"Good. Let's go. You and Grover can take point. I don't know where we're going." The pair walked ahead of me and began leading us through the forest. We hiked down a road for some time as I struggled to keep Zoe on her feet and balance Chelsea on my shoulder. Phoebe basically just tried to sober up while Grover lead the way. Eventually, we passed some strawberry fields and spotted a large pine tree atop a hill. At that same moment, a half man, half bull creature appeared from the nearby woods. The minotaur. I looked at my comrades and saw that no one was in any condition to be fighting. The only one who could help me would be Grover and he was the palest out of us all.
"The minotaur." Grover whispered in fear. I rolled my eyes.
"You got this one, Perce?" Phoebe asked me. I responded with a cocky grin.
"Course." I said. "Just get these two out of here." Zoe grabbed onto Phoebe looking like she might throw up at any moment and Grover hoisted Chelsea piggyback style. The four casually walked up the hill as I faced off with the monster from Hades. I cockily threw my silver bow to the side and waited for the beast to make its move. It made a gesture like it was about to charge and I copied the movement. We charged each other at the same time, much to the surprise of the minotaur. As we were about to collide, I jumped straight up and over the minotaur's head while grabbing onto one of its horns. I jerked back with all my weight and the horn snapped right off. I twirled my new weapon a few times as the creature gathered its bearings. I charged once again, before it had time to make another attack, and drove the horn into its ribcage. The minotaur gave a quick shriek of pain and dissolved into dust.
The adrenaline of the fight quickly wore off and I realized how exhausted I was. After staying up to drink, walking all night long, and then fighting the minotaur, I had no energy left. I threw myself against the trunk of the pine tree so that I'd be protected by the camp and felt myself begin drifting off to sleep. Remembering the myth of the pine tree, I gave the trunk a gentle pat.
"Don't let me die in my sleep, Thalia." I whispered and everything went dark.