The Hunter

Chapter One

A/N: Thank you for the review topyeah19 and TeamAlekFan24. I'll try to write faster but exams are in early march. Thanks for the alerts people and I'm not like those other author who will not write until they got reviews but it really does inspire me to write more. So please do take the time to write a review and tell me how to improve things.

Disclaimer: Do I live in the US? No! So I don't own PJO.

Orion couldn't sleep. Orion twisted and turned on his bed. The sheets were wrapped around his stomach and feet uncomfortably. He let out a quiet sigh and threw the covers. Maybe it was because the moon was full. Maybe it was nighttime and the sudden urge to hunt invaded or maybe just maybe it was because the occupant of the bed beside Orion snored rather loudly. Orion slowly got out of his assigned bunk bed. He placed his foot quietly on the wooden floor. Snores came from all direction. He swore the cabin was shaking slightly.

He smoothen his shirt before walking outside. He grabbed the branch of a nearby tree and hoisted himself up. He leant against the bark whilst staring at the full-moon. He felt a pang in his heart, a hole that never seemed to heal even after all these millennia.

Then the oddest thing happened. The moon produced a bright silver light before returning to normal. The mortals might have ignored it. But it wasn't normal for half-bloods; Orion looked more closely and realized that the moon looked a little dull. He tensed just as a girl burst through the doors of Cabin Eight. Her cabin. Orion reacted fast. He landed softly on the ground and quietly ran following the girl, who he realized was Zoe Nightshade. He dove for the bushes and watched. She was about to run on the steps of the Big House when Argus stepped in front of her. In a matter of second, she had already pulled out her bow and aimed it towards Argus, who didn't even flinch. He crossed his muscular arm and stared at Zoe.

"Let Methrough!" Zoe demanded through gritted teeth.

Argus shook his head mutely and didn't budge.

"Thou better let methrough, you boil-brained lout!" she threatened raising her bow. Hints of desperation clear in her voice.

Argus tensed but still didn't move. Zoe let out an angry yell and moved to punch Argus but stopped when Chiron's sleepy voice interrupted. "What is going on here?"

Chiron stepped out of the Big House. He was still in his pajamas and his tail was in curlers.

"Chiron! Lady Artemis is in trouble!"

Chiron looked confused. "What happened?"

"Lady Artemis needs us, we must leave immediately!" Zoe answered panicked.

"No, you can't" Chiron protested. Zoe slowly turned her eyes on him. "You're supposed to stay here until you've received orders from Lady Artemis herself"

"How do we get orders from Artemis if Artemis is lost?" Zoe argued her voice cracking slightly. Orion at hearing this tensed.

Chiron looked torn but he said with finality. "Zoe, you have to wait for Lady Artemis's order"

Zoe, who looked about to explode, walked away. Chiron shook his head and returned to the Big House with Argus. Orion waited for a few seconds before deciding to go back to his cabin. He was about to rise when he heard a rustle of leaves just beside him. He heard a bleat and hooves pounded. He rose just a little enough to see Grover, the Styr, walking away looking nervously behind him.

Orion quickly returned to his assigned cabin and tried to sleep only to be plague with a dream.

"I swear on the River Styx itself that I will not stop until I hunted all of the deadly monsters to win your affection, Milady." Those words ran through Orion's mind as he looked at his next target.

He was perched on a tree staring almost unblinkingly at a gigantic hellhound eating on a deer. His legs were beginning to numb. He gritted his teeth and armed his bow with a specially carved arrow. He took aim and let the arrow go. It met its target the hide of the hellhound. The hellhound jerked its head upward letting out a howl and burst into yellow dust. He brushed out the leaves from his tunic before landing softly on the soft ground below him. He retrieved his arrow and wiped it clean. He put it back into his quiver before taking out an old scroll. He also took out a quill with it. He checked the box beside the words 'Gigantic Hellhound'

Below it was an unchecked box with the words 'Kraken'

He scrolled the paper and put it in a wooden tube. He shoved it in his tunic just as a blinding yellow flash appeared in front of him. He instinctively looked away.

He turned his eyes back to the spot and growled. "What are you doing here, Apollo?"

Apollo, who was sporting a long blonde hair and tunic, sneered at Orion. "Show me some respect, you worthless mortal!"

Orion gritted his teeth. "I will show you respect on the day I stop hunting!"

Apollo sighed. "You really are dramatic." Apollo took a step closer to him and whispered ever so faintly as if afraid the world might hear. "I came to help you"

Orion leapt back and snarled. "Why should I trust you? You tried to kill me a million times!"

Apollo waved the comment away and looked almost apologetic. "Let's just say that Artemis gave me a talk the other day"

Orion's heart skipped a beat at hearing him mention his Milady's name. "Thank you for your offer, Apollo, but I can find other ways" He turned to walk away but Apollo appeared in front of him.

"Wait! You don't even know where the Kraken is located" Apollo protested holding his hand up.

"I'll manage" Orion replied before sidestepping and proceeded to walk away.

"Fine, then accept my help as a blessing that I will allow you to court Artemis without any complaint" Apollo said. Orion stopped in his tracks. A thousand days without Apollo trying to kill him.

Orion turned around and looked Apollo in the eye. "How do I know that you're not lying?"

"Because I love my sister and I would do anything to protect her but she wants us to get along." Apollo explained without hesitation.

Orion sighed. "Fine, I will accept your help, now where is this Kraken?"

"It is located in the sea of Crete" Apollo answered. "Well, then we will leave at dawn"

"We?" Orion echoed. "I will hunt this beast alone."

"What?" Apollo exclaimed clearly baffled. "The Gods fear this beast and you, a mere mortal, think you can defeat this monster?"

"Yes. Because if it is my fate to love Artemis then the fates will make sure I live to tell the tale." Orion replied before walking away.

Apollo's face broke into an evil smile. "The plan is working." he muttered. "Now for the second part of the plan."

He clapped his hand and disappeared in a blinding flash of yellow.

Orion jerked awake. His wet nightshirt clung to his body.

"Hey! New guy! It's time for practice!" a boy yelled before running out of the cabin. Orion changed his clothes in a matter of five minutes and rushed to his first class.

That night in dinner, the air was tensed. Orion took his seat beside the Stoll brothers and ate his food while glancing at the hunters, who looked upset.

After dinner it was time for Capture of the Flag. The campers were excited while the hunters looked bored out of their mind.

"Oris!" Percy called out coming towards Orion with Thalia beside him.

"Where will you be?" Thalia asked.

"I'd prefer offense." he replied. She nodded then walked away. A second later, Nico appeared and took her place. He started to chat with Percy but Orion was too lost in thought to listen to the overactive boy. He would have to sneak out of camp then find where his Milady was last seen. He'd have to bri-

Chiron's hooves thundered on the wooden floor of the pavilion. He explained the rules and after he was done the campers exploded in a cheer and marched towards the forest.

"Blue team! Follow me!" Thalia yelled raising her spear with the flag above. The campers followed her and Thalia placed the flag on Zeus's fist.

"We'll send a decoy to the left," Thalia ordered. "Silena, you lead that."

Orion didn't pay any attention to Thalia and only when he heard his name that he listened. "Oris, you're with me."

The horn sounded for the game to start.

Orion unsheathed his sword and followed behind Thalia. Their footsteps crunched against the dried leaves and twigs. He tensed when he felt something watching them from both sides.

"Thalia, we've been spotted." He managed to mutter before an arrow landed between them. Instinctively, he hit the dirt while holding his mouth. He grunted as the cold snow was pressed against his body. When the cloud of yellow smoke disappeared, he quickly pushed himself up and pulled Thalia, who was coughing, up. Three hunters appeared in front of them. They were armed with silver knives. Thalia, who stopped coughing, glared at them. Her spear crackled menacingly.

"Thalia, you go on first, I'll distract them." Orion muttered. Thalia nodded and ran.

Orion made the first move. He attacked the closest one and defeated her easily. They may have Artemis's blessing but he still had his years of training plus Chaos's blessings. The two began walking around him intending to confuse him. He followed them with his eyes. It would have worked on a normal person but he was a hunter. The one who was behind him attacked first. Orion moving faster than usual turned around and the flat of his blade smacked against the face of the hunter. She landed behind him unconscious. While distracted, the other one used this opportunity to attack. She jumped three feet in the air and delivered a powerful kick to Orion's chest. He staggered a step back and quickly regained his balance enough to block another incoming attack. He grabbed her wrist and jerked it towards him. She lost her balance but before she could regain any, Orion twisted his body and kicked behind her knees making her fall face-first on the snow. He hit the base of her neck knocking her unconscious.

Orion ran towards where Thalia went and was just in time to see Zoe Nightshade crossed over the boundary. The hunters exploded in cheers and Orion could only clap his hands politely, a little proud that his Milady trained her hunters well.

"The Hunters win!" Chiron announced with little pleasure and Orion thought he heard Chiron muttered. "For the fifty-sixth time in a row."

"Perseus Jackson!" Thalia bellowed. She passed by Orion, who felt his hair stood up. She was emitting high powered electricity. Orion feeling a fight was coming followed Thalia cautiously from behind.

"What in the Gods name were you thinking?"

"I got the flag, Thalia!" he yelled back, anger and frustration clear in his voice. "I saw a chance and took it."

"I was at their base!" Thalia yelled. "But the flag was gone. If you hadn't butted in, we would've won."

"You had too many on you!"

"Guy, cal-" Orion tried to say.

"Oh, so it's my fault?"

"I didn't say that."

Percy yelled as Thalia pushed him. It was a big mistake as her hand was crackling with electricity and he got blasted backward ten feet into the water.

"Sorry!" Thalia yelled, turning pale.

Percy let out a battle cry. A wave erupted from the creek. Orion had seconds to act. He quickly stepped in front of Thalia grabbing her arm and a palm facing the incoming water. He focused and the water stopped in mid-air. He returned the water back to the creek earning surprise reactions from campers and Chiron. He prepared himself fo-

"You tried to blast me!" Thalia accused angrily jerking her arm away from Orion.

"Yeah," he growled. "I didn't mean to, either"

Thalia glared at him breathing heavily.

"Enough!" Chiron ordered.

Thalia held up her spear. "You want some, Seaweed Brain?"

It seemed to make him angrier when he was called Seaweed Brain, Orion noted.

"Bring it on, Pinecone Face!"

Orion took a step back away from them. They both reminded him of Hercules and himself when they used to go to camp. He felt anger boiling in him. They've just lost a Goddess and here they were fighting amongst themselves when his Milady might be in pain.

Chiron trotted beside Orion and muttered to himself. "Just because they lost Annabeth, they're acting this way, better be a little gentle to them."

That snapped Orion. He let out a bellow of anger and formed a ball of water. He extended both of his arms dividing the water. One wave for Percy while one for Thalia.

"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Orion yelled stepping in between them. They stopped looking at him in disbelief and shock.

"You're a son of Poseidon!" Percy exclaimed.

"What gave you a clue? The fact that he stopped you from blasting me with water awhile ago." Thalia snapped.

"Oh, you thin-"

"I SAID ENOUGH!" Orion snapped. Unconsciously, he was adding pressure to the water. One blow could lead to death.

"YOU THINK YOU LOST SOMEONE?" Orion bellowed. Thalia and Percy looked away in shame. "But what about us? Everyday somebody loses their loved one. And by fighting amongst ourselves isn't going to help her." Orion thought of the image of Artemis. His heart ached.

He looked Percy then Thalia when something caught his attention. He dropped the water above them giving Thalia a cold shower.

"Oris, I am going to ki-" Thalia's warning was cut off as a green mist began walking towards them. He unsheathed his sword.

"What in the Hades is that?" Orion exclaimed.

"The Oracle." Someone gasped.

The green mist faded revealing a mummy. Shivers ran up Orion's spine. He sheathed back his sword and took a step back away from the mummy. The Oracle stopped in front of Zoe.

A voice said in a scratchy tone. "I am the spirit of Delphi. Speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, Seeker, and ask.

Zoe swallowed. "What must I do to help my goddess?"

The Oracle's mouth opened, and green mist poured out. An image of a mountain formed, and a girl standing on the peak. It was his Milady. She was chained and kneeling raising her hand as if fending off something. It took all of his willpower not to jump into the mist.

Six shall go west to the Goddess in chains,

One shall be lost in the land without rain,

The bane of Olympus shows the trail,

Campers and Hunters combined prevail,

The Titan's curse must one withstand,

And one shall perish by a parent's hand,

The truth shall be disclose

And a decision shall be chose.

Then the mist retreated into the Oracle's mouth and she slumped down.

Chiron and the other camp councilors went to the Big House while Orion went to his cabin to pack. He had to be on that quest. He then silently went to the Big House. He hid behind the bushes, the window above his head. Voices rang through.

"Let's start with the Hunters. Which three of you will go?" a deep voice asked.

"I shall go, of course, and I will take Phoebe. She is our best tracker." Zoe's voice answered and Orion could hear her chair scraping against the floor meaning she had stood up.

"The big girl who likes to hit people on the head?" a voice asked.

"The one who put the arrows in my helmet?" another voice added.

"Yes," Zoe snapped. "Why?"

"Oh, nothing," the first voice said. "Just that we have a T-shirt for her from the camp store. It's collector's item. She was admiring it. You want to give it to her?"

Zoe sighed. "As I was saying, I will take Phoebe. And I wish Bianca to go."

"Me? But…I'm so new. I wouldn't be any good." A stunned voice said.

"You will do fine," Zoe insisted. "There is no better way to prove thyself."

"And for campers?" Chiron asked.

"Me!" Grover's voice yelled. "Anything to save Artemis!" Orion silently agreed with him.

"I think not, satyr. You are not even a half-blood." Zoe's voice said.

"But he isa camper," Thalia said. "And he's got a satyr's senses and woodland magic. Can you play a tracker's song yet, Grover?"

"Absolutely!"

"Very well," Zoe gave in. "Who's the second?"

"I'll go." Thalia volunteered.

"And the third?" Zoe continued.

Orion abruptly stood up exposing his face to the gathered half-blood. "I'll be the third member!" he said firmly.

Surprised gasps resounded through the room. The only one who wasn't surprised was Dionysus.

"Oris, what on earth are you doing?" Chiron scolded.

"I want to be on this quest." Orion repeated.

"What?" Percy exclaimed. "No offense, dude, but you're new here and I want to be on the quest."

Orion looked at him and unsheathed his sword. "Then let's see if I am such a weakling as you have thought."

Percy yelped. "Oris! I didn't mean it li-"

Orion smiled at him. "Yes, I know you meant no disrespect in your words but I want to unveil the doubt you have in me."

"Oris." Percy said unsurely.

"I challenge you to a duel, Perseus Jackson." Orion announced gesturing towards the arena.

"Thou art wasting time." Zoe drily said.

The campers and Hunters walked towards the arena. Orion was confident he could defeat Percy Jackson because he had years of training and he was determined to save his Milady. Unconsciously, he twirled his sword.

He took up a defense position and Percy uncapped his sword. Both of their sword gleamed under the moonlight.

Orion looked up the full moon and thought. For Milady Artemis.

He then charged first meeting Percy half-way. Orion fought with all he had. He had to save Lady Artemis and if by defeating this boy then he will. He jumped up three feet in the air and kicked Percy in the chest. Percy staggered back and Orion used this to his advantage. He knelt down on one knee and swiped at Percy's feet. Percy landed with a grunt. Orion stood up and pointed his sword on Percy's neck.

"Dead." He muttered. Percy closed his eyes and focused calling the power of the sea. Percy pushed the sword away grazing his neck and hand slightly. He had to save his best friend Annabeth. Percy tried to kick Orion's knees but Orion flipped back.

Percy clumsily stood up and glared at Orion. Percy stabbed Riptide on the earth beside him and raised both of his hands. Sweat pouring down his face. His face scrunched up as he focused. Orion stood waiting for Percy's next move. The crowd seemed to hold their breath.

Then a wave, the size of a three-stories building headed towards Orion careful not to accidentally attack the gawking half-bloods. Orion knew he had a second to act. He stabbed his sword near him and focused. He placed his hands in front of him and he took a deep breath. It has been years since he had used his water powers. He wasn't so sure if he could handle something as big as this. As it neared him, he pushed back the wave towards Percy, who looked red from all the strain.

The water bent on both sides deciding who to follow. Sweat trickled down on Orion's face. His right eyebrow twitched in focus.

"Percy! Oris! Stop this nonsense!" Chiron ordered but nobody paid attention to him.

Suddenly, Orion had an idea. He gritted his teeth. He had to be precise in doing this. One bad move and he could end up washed away. One, two, three, NOW! He clenched his hands as if pulling the sheet of a bed and pulled. He took half of the water and twisted his body wrapping the water around him protectively. He added pressure to the water and waited for Percy's other half to attack him. When it did, Orion's teeth clattered against the force. The water that was protecting him vibrated a little but he managed to hold it down. When the attack was finished, Percy was doubling over breathing heavily, his face full of dripping sweat.

Orion got out of his shield after making sure that Percy was too tired to make another wave. He formed a ball of water and hardened it placing it on his hand.

"Please, I need to save Annabeth." Percy mumbled.

"I'm sorry but I need to be in this quest." Orion answered before the ball of water to Percy. It hit him in the chest and his body was thrown back five feet before landing unconscious.

He was met with stunned silence then followed by clapping from the awed campers.

"Have I proven myself?" Orion asked panting heavily.

"Yes. But you're still not on the quest." Zoe replied coldly.

"What?" Orion exploded.

"We do not need boys on this quest for they will only make it worse."

"I know that I will do everything in my power to make sure that we succeed in this quest."

"You speak as if you're already on the quest, boy, but we do not accept boys." Zoe scowled.

"But what about that satyr?" he pointed a finger at Grover, who bleated nervously.

"Because that satyr can play the tracker's song." Zoe answered.

"Well, I am a very good tracker." Orion argued.

"My final answer is no, boy and why do thou wants to save Lady Artemis?" she retorted. Orion then froze. Questioning eyes stared at him. He clenched his hands.

"That's my business." He gritted his teeth.

"Well, then let's find some other girl camper." She emphasized the word 'girl'. She turned around and began walking to the Big House.

Chaos, I'm so sorry but I have to tell her. He prayed.

Do it, Child Chaos's voice said in his mind. He sent a prayer of thanks and yelled. "Zoe, wait!"

She froze in her steps and looked at Orion. "What?"

"I have something to show you, please come follow me." Orion said.

She scowled. "What is it that thou wish to let me see that the other can't?"

"I will tell you if you come with me." Orion said emotionlessly. "But I do swear on the River Styx itself that I mean you no harm." Thunder boomed.

Zoe hesitated before following Orion towards the forest. She raised a hand to stop Bianca from following them. They stopped into a clearing and Orion turned to face her.

"If this is a tri-" Zoe started.

"No, it isn't."

He slowly removed the silver bandana around his hair revealing his brown hair. Then he ever so slowly removed the black mask revealing him to her.

Emotions played on her face. First it was confusion, then disbelief and finally shock.

"Orion." She breathed out looking like she had seen a ghost.