Phoenix'sSoul: That took a lot longer than I expected.
Percy: What? I told you I would get it.
Phoenix'sSoul: Dude we've been in here for almost a day.
Percy: What?! Oh no oh no oh no.
Phoenix'sSoul: What?
Percy: Oh Gods!
Phoenix'sSoul: What?
Percy: She's gonna kill me!
Phoenix'sSoul: Who's gonna do what now?
Annabeth: PERSEUS JACKSON!
Percy: Oh Gods! I'm dead. I'm SO dead.
Phoenix'sSoul: Uh who is that?*points at the blonde girl storming towards us*
Percy: My girlfriend, and right now she IS GOING TO KILL ME.
Annabeth: Where have you been?!
Percy: Uh, here. *motions around us*
Annabeth: And just where is here?!
Phoenix'sSoul: Well here is here.
Annabeth: Excuse me?!*turns on me* Was I talking to you?!
Phoenix'sSoul: No, ma'am!*stands up straigher* Sorry, ma'am!
Phoenix'sSoul: *watches as Annabeth shouts at Percy*Well while this happens let's continue with the story.
Annabeth: SIX HOURS PERCY! SIX HOURS!
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Chapter 2
-Things just keep getting weirder-
"Zoe," Artemis said looking at the demigods by the cliff side. "Set camp. Send a few hunters to collect their belongings from the school. Once camp is set tend to the wounded demigods. Once they are sufficiently healed bring them to my tent."
"At once, My Lady," Zoe moved with purpose as she gave orders to her fellow hunters.
Phoebe and two others went up to the school. Zoe walked into their designated medical tent. The only demigod that had been seriously injured was the one the manticore had originally tried to take over the cliff. The one that Lady Artemis herself had reacted to. It was strange that Lady Artemis would react in such a way for demigod let alone a male one.
"How is he?" Zoe ask Emily who was putting medical supplies away.
"Fine, I guess," Emily said shrugging she wasn't particulary fond of males. "He should be waking up soon. I forced some Nectar and Ambrosia down his throat."
Zoe had to surpress a smile as Emily left the tent. Even if Emily didn't care for males she would still make sure they didn't die if Lady Artemis asked it of her. Zoe walked over to the cot that the youth was laying in. She sat down on a stool and looked down at him. She wasn't sure why, but he looked familiar.
"Urgh," Ryan groaned stirring slightly. "What happened?"
"Well for starters," Zoe said in a lofty voice. "You tried to fight a Manticore with your bare hands."
"Oh, yeah. Guess that wasn't too smart huh?" Ryan tried to sit up, but winced and groaned.
"Rest," Zoe placed a hand on his shoulder to make him lay back down. "Your ribs are still mending. You are not lucky the manticore did not kill you, and you are quite right. That was very stupid."
Ryan chuckled and turned to look at the girl who was speaking to him. She had dark brown hair tied into a ponytail that was draped over her shoulder. Her eyes the color of obsidian. A silver circlet in her hair glinted in the lamp light.
"You're pretty," Ryan said before he passed out from the pain again.
Zoe blinked in confusion. Did he really just say that to her? She felt the heat rise from her neck to her cheeks. Shaking her head and scowling at him she caught the glint of metal in the corner of her eye. Turning to look at the small stool being used as a table by his cot where his sweatshirt was folded up. On top of it was a necklace. She reached out and picked it up. The chain and pendant were made of pure silver.
"What is this?" she asked aloud to herself. "Doesn't seem very masculine."
She flipped the pendant over and looked at the emblem upon it. It looked like a moon with a comet in front of it. She ran a finger over it meserized by the detail. As she reached the edge her finger tip triggered a latch and the pendant popped open. She knew she shouldn't, but she opened it all the way and looked inside. On the right was a photo of three people. A man with glasses and short blonde hair was smilling at the camera. His hand rested upon the shoulder of the woman he stood beside. The woman had long light brown hair that fell in cascades over her shoulder. She sat in a chair holding a baby in her her arm the other reaching up so that her hand lay upon the man's. Strangely enough there seemed to have been a glare when the photo was taken. The woman's face was obscured except for her smile. It looked strangely familiar, but before she could focus on it further the youth groaned again and she closed the pendant and placed it back upon his sweatshirt.
"What?" she asked leaning closer as he mumbled something.
"Thirsty," he croaked softly.
"Here drink," Zoe whispered after getting up and bringing him some nectar. "It will help you heal."
She watched as he sipped at the straw. The color was slowly starting to come back to his cheeks. While it was true that the small amount of poinson secreted from the Manticore's barbs only caused severe pain they were not too sure just what would happen with how much he had been dosed with.
"Thank you," he whispered his voice no longer a croak. "Thank you."
"You are," Zoe struggling a little with the next word but managed to get it out. "welcome."
She stood up and carried the glass over to a nearby table and set it down. Turning around she found him sitting up and placing the necklace around his neck. She found it odd at how delicatly he did this. Watching his finger tips gently brush the metal pendant. Zoe shook her head as she felt the heat rising in her neck again. What was the matter with herself tonight?
"Thou should clothe thine self," Zoe said pointing to his sweatshirt. "My Lady doth wish to meet with all of thee once all were healed."
"I give thanks to you oh Goddess of the Moon," Ryan whispered not listening to Zoe who was growing adjetated with him. "Accept my offering of prayer to you Lady Artemis."
Zoe found herself rendered speechless at the words he spoke. Was the male giving thanks to her Ladyship? No that can't be right? Why would he do such a thing. As she tried to understand this he stood up and pulled on his sweatshirt wincing as he did so. His ribbs must still be mending she thought.
"Thanks, again," Ryan said as he pulled his head through the neck and pushed back the hood. "My name is Ryan."
He extended his hand to her, but she did not take it. She looked down at his hand then his face he had a warm yet confused smile on his face. Once again Zoe was struck with the odd sensation that she knew this youth. He looked so familiar, yet she was sure that she had never met him before this very night.
"You may call me Zoe," she stated with a sharp voice. "Now come."
Without another word she left the medical tent with Ryan following her. Ryan followed her out into the snow. It seemed to have stopped falling, but as he looked around he noticed that the snow had only stopped falling in the little campsite it was still coming down just on the oustide of it.
"Ok this is weird," he muttered.
"It is not weird," Zoe stated as they walked. "My Lady's power keeps the weather at bay when she will it to do so."
"Are those wolves?" he asked noticing the pure white creatures all around the camp.
"Yes," Zoe said tersley. "They make excellent hunting companions. They do not continually ask iritating questions."
"Sorry," Ryan said with a small smile.
Zoe raised an eyebrow at him as they drew closer to Artemis' tent. This youth was exhibiting strange behavior for a male. Ture he had appeared like any normal male trying to show off by fighting a monster bare handed, and yet he admited it was stupid to have done so. Now he was apologizing for causing her iritation instead of getting agressive with her. Very strange behavior or as he had just said weird.
"In here," Zoe said softly as she pulled the flap of the tent opening back and allowed him to enter the others were already there talking with Artemis.
Everyone turned to face the two new comers. While everyone's attention no one, but Zoe noticed Artemis. For the briefest of moments and still even Zoe herself could not be sure, but when the Goddess gazed upon the youth Ryan her form shifted. From that of her usual 12 year old look to a full grown woman possibly in her late twenties with long hair. Zoe blinked and looked again, but the Goddess appeared as she normally did.
"Ah I am glad to see that you are none the worse for wear," Artemis said with a soft smile. "And I accept your pray of thanks."
"My what now?" Ryan asked thuroughly confused.
"Just before you came here with Zoe you offered me a pray of thanks did you not?"
"Well I offered a prayer of thanks to the Goddess Artemis, but..." he trailed off as he looked at the young girl trying to figure out how she had known he had done that.
"I am Artemis," she said spreading her arms slightly.
"Yeah," Percy said leaning over to Ryan. "It seemed a little strange to me at first too. And I've seen some strange things the last few years."
"If it will make things easier for all of you to comprehend." Artemis glowed with light for a brief moment and changed into a woman in her mid to late twenties she had long brown hair that cascaded over her shoulder.
Zoe gasped softly. The image of Lady Artemis she thought she had seen was now in front of her, but why? Artemis had never done such a thing before at least none that she could remember. Yet some how Zoe had the weird feeling she had seen this version of Artemis some where before, but no that was not possible.
"This just keeps getting weirder," Ryan muttered to himself. "So you're really a goddess?"
"Yes, that I am," Artemis nodded. "And you and your two school mates are in fact demigods."
"Demigods?" Ryan asked scratching his head and looking at Nico and Bianca. "Do you two understand any of this?"
"Yeah," Nico said pulling out some cards from that Mythomagic game he loved to play and held up a card for him to see. "Demigods are humans, but with the powers of gods."
"One of thine parents was an Olympian," Zoe said as she took a position at Artemis' side.
"No way," Ryan said with a forced laugh. "There was no way my dad was ever an olympic level athelete."
"I'm afraid you missunderstand," Artemis said shaking her head. "One of your parents is a human the other is one of the Olympian gods."
"No that can't be right," Bianca said shaking her head. "Both of our parents are dead. All three of ours."
"But, Bianca," Nico said tugging at her sleeve.
"Bianca," Zoe said her voice softer to the younger girl than she had used with Ryan. "I know thou must be confused, but think carefully. Being a demigod is not a bad thing. Though it does make you different. Think back have you ever experienced anything strange in your life?"
Ryan stayed quiet thinking about what he had just heard. He barely heard Nico and Bianca retelling certain events that had seemed strange. Ryan thought back and wondered if anything had been strange. He frowned when he remembered something, something that had always bothered him whenever it popped into hs head.
-flashback-
Ryan around seven years old was crying and shivering in a forest. He had been lost for two days. He was hungry, thirsty, cold, and tired. He just wanted his dad and to be home. A twig snapped near by and he flinched at the sound crying harder.
A long low growl caused Ryan to look up. A large pair of golden eyes glowed at him from the bushes.
"Stay away," Ryan stammered as he tried to press himself further into the tree. "Don't eat me."
He was too tired to try and run. Too cold. Too hungry. He watched in horrified fascination as a large black wolf pushed through the bushes and began to walk towards him. Ryan held his breath as the large beast stood right in front of him lowering it's head to his face. It sniffed him for a bit then licked his face.
"Blegh," Ryan said as the wolf continued to lick him. "Stop that."
The wolf did as he said.
"You're not going to eat me?"
The wolf gave him a look that to Ryan said 'Seriously?'
Ryan watched the wolf as it moved closer to him and layed down beside him. It was a few minutes before Ryan moved closer to the wolf and curled up beside him taking in the warmth of his body. After a long while Ryan fell asleep. The sun rose several hours later. A young woman in jeans and a green shirt, her red hair tied in a ponytail, stood over the two. The wolf looked up at her and growled. The noise woke Ryan.
"Woah," Ryan tried to push more into the wolf. "Who are you?!"
"I'm Holly," she said in a cheeful voice. "What's your's?"
"Ryan," he stammered.
"Nice to meet you, Ryan," Holly said holding her hand out to him.
The wolf growled again.
"Oh your protector doesn't have to worry about little ol me," Holy giggled.
"Protector?" Ryan asked looking from her to the wolf then back to her.
"Well that's what he says anyway," Holy said still holding her hand out. "Come on up you get."
Ryan took her hand, and she helped him to his feet.
"So what are you doing out here?" Holy asked smiling at him.
"I got lost," Ryan sniffed.
"Now why did you go and do something like that?" Holy asked with a laugh.
"I didn't do it on purpose," Ryan pouted.
"Oh no don't be like that," Holy smiled. "Come on let's go."
"Go where?" he asked as she walked away.
"We're going to get you found."
They walked for what felt like hours to Ryan. Holy laughing and whistling as she walked. The wolf silent as he padded along beside Ryan. Ryan sniffed and mumbled as they walked. Finally after forever the sound of rushing water was carried on the wind to their ears.
"Water!" Ryan cried out as he took off running to the sound.
"Hey wait kid," Holy shouted. "Ryan!"
Ryan dropped to his knees at the waters edge and dunked his head into the water drinking as much as he could. He pulled his head out of the water gasping hard.
"What do you think you're doing?" a cold voice demanded.
"Oh?" Ryan turned to see a tall woman with with short dark hair, wearing shorts and a blue shirt. "I just had to have a drink of water."
"Well, who said you could?" she asked crossing her arms.
"I uh, uh," Ryan stammered.
"Go easy on the kid, Brook," Holly said as she stepped out from the tree line. "He's lost."
"Lost?" Brook asked looking at Holly. "Why would he go and get himself lost?"
"I didn't do it on purpose!"
"Yeah yeah," Brook said waving her hand. "So why did you bring him here?"
"I dunno," Holly said her hands behind her back rocking back and forth on her heels. "Just thought he could use a drink, and well ya know people are found a lot easier by rivers."
"Oh so you brought him to MY river?"
"Well I found him by my tree."
-end flashback-
"Sorry what?" Ryan asked having been lost in his train of thought.
"Do you have any experienes like these two?" Thalia asked her arms folded across her chest.
"I don't know," Ryan muttered not meeting her gaze. "Maybe."
"I know this is a lot for you all to take in all at once," Artemis said in a kind voice. "Why don't we all rest for the night?"
There was a muttering between all of the demigods present and finally Thalia spoke. "That sounds like the best thing to do, Lady Artemis."
Just then a commotion came from outside. Artemis and Zoe looked at one another. Zoe nodded and headed outside a bow suddenly in her hand. The rest of the demigods followed after her Ryan the last one out of the tent. If he had turned around at that moment he would have seen the Goddess watching him. Her eyes almost on the verge of tears.
"What is going on?" Zoe demanded as she reached where the other hunters had gathered.
"That," Phoebe pointed to edge of the camp where are large dark figure was approaching from the tree line. "It was on the grounds of the school. It followed us back."
"Is it a monster?" Zoe asked.
"I do not think so," Phoebe shook her head. "It has not tried to attack us, but it has stayed down wind and in the shadows. We have not been able to get a good enough look at it, but we should any moment now."
The demigods joined them just as the black dark figure reached the group of wolves that were between them and it. It stood there silently for a moment before the wolves bowed their heads to it and moved aside.
"No way," Thalia whispered.
"That is so cool!" Nico grinned boncing on the balls of his feet. "What is it, what is it?"
"A very rare sight," Artemis said as she walked through the demigods and her hunters having changed back to her 12 year old form. "That is a dire wolf, and not just any dire wolf but an ALPHA."
As the dark figure approached it became more defined. Just as Artemis said it was a wolf. So large that most of the hunters could have ridden it. It approached the group without fear. Once it was close enought the beast sat on it's haunches and stared at Ryan.
"I believe he is here for you," Artemis said looking from the beast to Ryan.
"Hey he's the one who's been out on the grounds at night," Nico chimed in. "Yeah we saw him last night."
"Wait a minute," Bianca said turning to her younger brother. "Are you saying you were up during the middle of the night? NICO!"
Ryan moved passed the demigods and hunters as Bianca began burating her younger brother. As he made his way to the wolf some how he knew this animal. Kneeling before it he lookd into it's eyes.
"You're the same one aren't you," he said thinking back to all those years ago.
The wolf closed it's eyes and leaned forward pressing it's forhead to Ryan's.
-later-
She rolled over in her sleep and felt something a miss. She reached out in her sleep, but did not feel the warm body that was supposed to be there. Sitting up in bed she looked around. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes she got out of bed and pulled on her robe. As she stepped out of her room she smiled softly as she heard the song.
She followed the sound and found herself at the nursery. The door was open looking inside she saw the two that ment the world to her. She smiled as she watched them silently as he sang to the baby in his arms. After awhile she made a soft noise in her throat.
"What are you doing up?" he whispered to her. "Go back to bed, I've got him."
"I can't," she giggled as she moved into the room over to them. "I need a lullaby as well. Let me hold him."
She held her arms out and took the baby. He started to get up, but she pushed him back down with a smile and craddling the baby in her arms sat down in his lap. She sighed as he wrapped her in his warm embrace. She closed her eyes and gently rocked the baby as he started to sing for the both of them.
"I love you," she whispered softly.
"Who?" he answered chuckling softly.
"You silly," she giggled her heart fluttering at his chuckle. "Well you and the baby."
"I love you too," he kissed the top of her head. "Both of you."
Her heart pounded against her chest at those words. Always those simple words made her heart soar. Holding the baby to her chest she leaned against his. Reclining her head back she smiled up at him. His face half hidden in the darkness of the room, oh but that smile of his. That smile that had made her fall in love with him. She leaned up for a kiss. He leaned down to oblige. Her heart pounding faster. Their faces closer, her heart raced faster. Their lips almost touching...
Zoe's eyes snapped open her hand flew to her chest. Her heart pounding hard and fast. The images of her dreams still fresh in her mind. Gods why was I dreaming something like that? She reached out and picked up the circlet she wore as her mark of lieutenant. After running her fingers through her hair now free of her usual braid she placed it upon her head and stood up from her cot. She walked to the entrance of her tent and and pushed the flap open. She was greeted by the cool night air and her faithful wolf, Shanara.
"Hello, my dear friend," she crouched down and scratched the wolf's ears. "I know Lady Artemis said we should rest, but I find my sleep troubling. Shall we take a walk together?"
Shanara stood and gave a soft yip in response. The two walked among the tents. Zoe noted that some of the hunters were still awake. Though it did appeare that the demigods were asleep. The tents that they had given them to use had dim enough lights that revealed shadows. She frowned when she reached the furthest of the tents. The one being used by that boy Ryan. She frowned when she noticed the black wolf wasn't outside of it. As they drew closer she noticed that his silhouette was not visible either.
"Strange," she said looking down at Shanara. "Well?"
Shanara sniffed the ground and yipped then trotted off towards the cliffs. Zoe followed in silence brushing her hair out of her face as she stepped through the barrier that Artemis cast to keep the weather at bay. The light of the full moon was more than enough to see by. Looking around she caught sight of Shanara making her way through the snow. Zoe followed and after coming closer to the cliff she could see the large black wolf sitting blocking the wind from the small figure sitting looking up at the moon.
"Thou should be asleep," Zoe said as she approached.
"So should you," Ryan responded not looking over at her, he held his pendant in his hand.
"Thou art not wrong," Zoe said as she stopped beside him. "My dreams had other ideas."
"Want to talk about it?" he asked looking up at her still holding his pendant.
"No," she snapped.
"Oh," he said softly looking back up at the moon. "Sorry."
"My apologies," Zoe said sitting down beside him. "I did not mean to take my anger out on you."
"Oh so that's what's going on?" Ryan asked smiling at her. "You're angry. Good to know."
"May I ask you something?" Zoe asked looking over at him as Shanara lay down beside her.
"Sure," Ryan said looking back up at the moon.
"That pendant."
"It belonged to my mother," Ryan answered looking down at it and poping it open. "Our love shall forever be etched in the stars."
"What?" Zoe was taken aback by his words and felt the heat rising in her face.
"That's what the inscription says," he said facing her a small smile on his lips and showed that the pendant had not only the picture, but also words on the opposite side.
"Oh," Zoe said softly.
"Can I ask you something?" Ryan asked closing the pendant and looking back up at the moon.
"If you must," she responded though not has harshly as she could have.
"Is all of this for real, or am I just going crazy?"
"The answer to both of thine questions are the same," Zoe said with a smirk. "Yes."
Ryan looked at her incredulously for a moment then threw his head back laughing. Once gain Zoe was taken aback by this young man. True many demigods when first finding out about their true nature they would have what they called now a days a freak out, but Ryan seemed to be taking it quite well in some manner. She shivered and rubbing her arms wishing she had the foresight be wear her parka. While thinking this she did not realize that Ryan had stood up and moved until she felt a thick cloth being draped over her shoulders.
"What art thou doing?" Zoe demanded shying away from him.
"You looked cold," he said standing up now in only his tshirt since he had drapped his sweatshirt over her to keep her warm.
"Is this some kind of trick?" Zoe asked looking from the sweatshirt then to him.
"No," he said shaking his head. "I just know my mother wouldn't approve if I let a lady sit in the cold snow while I stayed warm."
"So you know thine mother?"
"Not really," Ryan said looking up at the moon again. "The picture in the pendant is all I have and it's not even that good, but somehow from what dad told me about her I just have a feeling that's all."
He shrugged and smiled down at her. "I guess I'll try and catch a little sleep. Thanks for the talk."
Zoe sat there in silence for a long time. She sighed as she stood up and pulled the sweatshirt closer around her shoulders as she turned back towards the camp Shanara walking beside her.
"Smells like boy," she muttered and Shanara gave a derisive growl. "I'll need to take a long shower later."
-hours later almost sunrise-
"He's late," Artemis muttered. "He's always so lazy in the winter."
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Percy: Annabeth I am so sorry.*kneeling at Annabeth's feet begging for forgiveness*
Annabeth:*not paying attention to Percy* Ok seriously that is not what happened.
Phoenix'sSoul: You know what he said the same thing.*points at Percy*
Annabeth: Just who are you?*narrows her eyes*
Phoenix'sSoul: Just a story teller. *holds hands up in front of myself*
Annabeth: Why don't I believe you?
Phoenix'sSoul: Uuuuuuuuuuhhhh. "Until the next chapter"
Annabeth: Wait what?