On Probation

11/12/13

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Chapter II

"We've prepared a room for you in the bi-"

I raised a hand to cease the old teacher's words, not out of disrespect, no! I would never do that even in my worst moods however, I have a feeling that I know what will be coming next. And right now, all I want is some privacy and a little familiarity that only my cabin can provide. I really feel bad on turning down their offer since I know they've been preparing a room for me in the big house just to make me comfortable as possible on the duration of my stay here. But there's no need to treat me specially actually, my father sent here like one (And there's actually one existing right now…) of his demigod children so like what they say 'when in Rome, do what Romans do…' well in this case, 'when in Camp-half-blood, do what demigods do'. I'm spending too much time with my brothers…

"I'm sorry Chiron, you're being very kind, however I wish to stay in my Cabin, not in my Dad's even if he's my dad. Oh no, I'm never staying there. It would be the worst punishment he could bestow upon me." Thunder rumbled in the background but the centaur just let out a small chuckle escape his lips at his niece' antics. "I know being his egoistical self, there's a humongous statue of him in the middle that will probably look eon times creepy at night. I don't want to be plagued by nightmares during my stay here. So if you'd permit, can I stay on my silver cabin?" You may be thinking that metallic colors aren't the warmest and most welcoming colors around, but cabin 8 isn't tin-like silver, it's silvery like the moon- it glows, it provides illumination and probably a bit of warmth. It has a tranquilizing effect like the moon above.

I haven't discussed the interior design of my cabin… yet (You think only Athena and her kids are interested in designs? Wrong!) Cabin 8 isn't just a big silver molded foil sitting along the rows of 12 Olympian cabins, just to say Artemis has her cabin. It may be honorary but it's fully functioning inside. It has rows of personalized bed for each hunter (:D Yes, they get to choose what kind they want and how would it look. We don't often sleep in 'real' beds being out hunting and all so it's a little luxury for us all), a good collection of weaponry, a little library and random stuffs up and about inside. And in contrast to its almost cold demeanor outside, the interior contains dozens of pelts… different kind of animal pelts. We've got bears, deer, rabbits, squirrels, sheep and so on.

I'm really offended when people say that an animal activist would have a heart attack once they see those, because it makes me sound like a very cruel and evil forest guardian. I'm the goddess of hunt… yes. It's in my job description to decapitate wild creatures, but I also replenish the forests back to life. And come on, when I hunted those creatures, they aren't enlisted as endangered then! I also ache for dying and threatened beings.

So anyway, having gotten Chiron's permission to stay at my own place(I think he's kinda relieved that I won't be staying with them in the big house anyway, Dionysus and I can get really playful sometimes that always result to some sort of big mess…), I skipped my way to it.

"Dear Sis, as much as I hate to betray you-"

"You already did." The goddess muttered through gritted teeth.

"I must admit that I have to agree with dad that you should give yourself a little rest." Zeus kept nodding his head at his son. "Think not of this as a punishment, rather, a break from your godly duties-"

At this, Artemis interjected, finding a little hope and restoration of pride "You said so yourself, there are a lot going around here. I am needed here more than elsewhere."

"That is true, but an ineffective goddess is as good as none." Her father answered calmly.

"Ineffective! How dare you!" Artemis was livid. How could they say that? She's as much dedicated as the god next to her, if not, more so. She's not the one frolicking around getting drunk or laid. She wouldn't even take any male mortal or god, much less glance at them. She's served them day and mostly night. What does they think she do? Play around? Run across meadows to pick flowers? Chasing butterflies and such?

"Artemis, give yourself a little rest. You've lifted the burden of the sky… literally. And you aren't much needed here anyway."

"But what about the moon?"

"You and I both know you don't literally drive the moon every night just like how mortals picture you to do."

"What about my huntress? Who would look after them?"

"I can gladly take care of them!" Apollo interjected which earned him a mortified expression from her sister and an approving nod from their father.

"You've got to be kidding me?" The goddess queried between nervous laughs. "You're kidding right?" she darted her eyes directly at her father, searching for any sign of humor. She found none. Her lips began to dry and her lips began to quiver. Her huntresses did nothing to deserve this. "Father, you wouldn't-you seriously wouldn't trust Thalia to Apollo would you?" hurt flashed on her twin's expression, Artemis almost felt sorry for him if she hadn't known better. "You're crossing a very dangerous line here."

Zeus studied his twins for a while, for once Apollo was quiet and Artemis was indignant. He let out a deep breath an finally "If I trusted her with you, why can't I trust my daughter with your brother?"

"You know very well why!"

"And he knows very well what he'll get when he tries to touch her. Come on Artemis, give you brother some credit; your bother isn't a dunderhead. And he's not as much a philanderer as my brothers and I or any god at that, maybe a flirt but you know you're brother can be harmless if he wants to." Artemis gave out a horrified expression and his son just blushed adorably. Zeus chose to be oblivious to this. "The only reason why this isn't evident is because he has a cabin that rivals Hermes'. And the reason for that is… err… how should I put it, umm… you can say that you brother is more virile than the-"

"Enough!" sporting her scandalized expression, Artemis turned to her deeply red brother and said. "We should forget this ever happened. We didn't just hear father talk about your masculinity." The shame-faced god just nodded incessantly.

Their father just frowned at them. "Come on now! You're both no children."

"Anyway father…" Apollo finally cut in, tying his best to get over his embarrassment. Gods! Now he understands when Artemis complains that their father is embarrassing. "About my dearest little sister's punishment?"

"Hmm… I actually haven't though about that."

"The least you can do is make it productive…" the goddess of hunt muttered.

"Camp-halfblood certainly needs some instructors-"

"And don't talk about it like I'm not here!" but the gods just ignored her.

"Particularly in archery-"

"Yes, yes, Artemis can certainly mentor the camp's archers. She's certainly has the skill, the patience and time to do so."

"And that would be my cabin."

The goddess snapped her head at this and pointed a finger at her brother. "You… you manipulative, tricky, vile little cockroach! You planned this didn't you! Just because you're so incompetent in archery doesn't mean you can get your children to learn them from me! And while I'm flattered that you think highly of me father, I still refuse to mentor his children."

"Artemis, stop being so selfish and set aside your differences once and for all."

"But father-"

I'm bored! I've been trying to entertain myself for the last quarter of hour before I show myself around the camp later and nothing proves to be effective. I've arranged my possessions and re-cleaned the whole place ten times over, yet my natural restlessness and over exposure to the wild made me feel like a caged animal. Hell, I've even shifted to my variety of forms to entertain myself and that's how desperate I am. I should have brought one of my hounds here, because if you're alone, in a magnanimous cabin even if you have every possible thing that could entertain you, and you came from a extensive family or are used to numerous companies, all these things would prove useless. I'm already missing my siblings and our daily dose of ruckus. Maybe I should have taken Chiron's offer at the big house. Nah! There's no way I'm missing Apollo. Maybe a little walk and breeze of fresh air can do me good. And perhaps I can visit dad … or his creepy statue at least.

Zeus held out a hand to silence his daughter and pointed her a threatening glare should dare she interrupt. "I know you refuse to give your brother the credit, but think, it would be handy and beneficial if our demigods can shoot as good as your hunters once the war wage. There would be less casualties on our part if they learn how to fight properly."

"If that's what you think then why don't you train them yourselves."

"You do know we can't do that. You and Hestia are actually the only deity who can engage with demigods directly, except for Dionysus, he's on probation right now. But on normal instance, you're the only one allowed to interact with them. Besides, I think your punishment is a fair deal. Apollo can watch over your huntresses, and you can take care of his children."

"Can't I just take my huntresses with me?"

"Do you want to tell them I'm grounding you?"

Wow, dad really took 'close watch' to a whole new level. There's no way in Tartarus you can avoid those piercing eyes. His statue truly is a creeper. Thankfully he didn't ask me to stay here.

And I'm really happy to see that the place is being maintained well, not a speck of dust is floating around.

I was about to go further and explore the room when a light hand on my shoulder gently pulled me followed by smooth velvety voice that sounds so familiar… so close to…

"You shouldn't be here. Please go back to your cabin immediately."

I swiftly turned to meet a pair of soft baby blue eyes I've grown so fond of.

…my brother's

A smirk began to form on my lips and I challengingly stared at him. "And pray tell why not?"

His gaze began to waver yet he held his composed stature. "That's because only the child of Zeus has the permission to go in there."

It takes no genius to figure he hasn't recognized me yet. Certainly comes from Apollo. 'Hey sis, cut his some slack. You've shifted yourself to look like a ten year old kid. Of course no one will recognize you! Even Percy wasn't able to identify you being a twelve year old.' Yes but as bad as this may sound, Percy is a kelp head remember? The Athena kid often calls him that. "Oh but I am a child of Zeus." My smirk grew even wider as amusement, then confusion, then ire, then realization and finally, recognition washed over his features. "Would you look at you, you've grown quite a lot since I last saw you… little Will." I offered a gentle (I hope it was a gentle one, because I don't want to be responsible for his heart attack.) smile on the exact replica of my brother who's currently stunned to move.

Zeus palm was outstretched at his daughter who was currently holding something close to her. "Now hand me the keys Artemis." The goddess just shook her head, tears starting to spring out of her eyes while Apollo watch amusedly on the side. "You know its part of the punishment right?" the little girl just nodded her head. "As well as the 'no contacting your friends or in your case, hunters, on the span of your probation'."

"You can't do that! Please father, at least once a week."

"Do you want to explain to them why you're being kept at camp?"

"No." was her small whimper. "But they're bound to find out. They would ask Apollo."

"Oh you know your brother can cook something up around the truth. Now hand over the keys."

Reluctantly, the auburn-haired little girl dropped the keys to her moon chariot to her father's outstretched hand. "Promise me you won't let Hermes and Apollo nor any god, save for Hephaestus, near it."

"I promi-"

"Swear in the river Styx."

"Sis, don't you think you're being too dramatic on thi-" Apollo was shut by her glare for the umpteenth time.

"Swear it!"

"Fine! I swear I won't let anyone near it. Now pack your bags and go straight to camp. I'll be checking you weekly to see if you're doing your job properly." And with that, Artemis' dejected form marched out of the throne room and to her room to grab a few things.

Thanks to all who added 'On Probation' to their favorites and follows. And to the one who reviewed … and to the one who added me to her favorite … :) Thanks a bunch guys. It literally and metamorphically made my day … I hope you'd like this chapter.

So that's it! Thanks for checking this out, I don't own anything and please review. Feedbacks, comments, criticisms are very much welcomed and highly appreciated. You are free to tell me if I'm not making any sense at all … which occurs quite often. Anyway...

Good day/night! :)