Chapter Two: The Newcomer

Three weeks Later…

My new daily routine since being with the Hunt is: Wake up, get pranked, make breakfast, get pranked, eat breakfast, get pranked, sharpen weapons, get pranked, make lunch, get pranked, eat lunch, get pranked, archery,get pranked, make dinner, get pranked, eat dinner, get pranked, get pranked, go to bed, and get pranked. As you can see, the Hunters of Artemis like pranks. Especially pranking boys.

But do not prank the hunters, whatever you do, trust me. They will give you a hailstorm of fart arrows, and those things take forever to wash out the stench.

One Month away from the Winter Solstice…

The Hunters have finally stopped pranking me… as much. Now, I'm kind of like a big brother to most of these girls. Even Artemis seems to have accepted me, and she actually looks at me in a nonthreatening way. She's started training me to use my godly powers for about a month now.

I'm starting to have a problem though. I think I'm starting to form feelings for the goddess of maidenhood.

I woke up to Artemis yelling, " Hunters, Perseus. Come out here, I have an announcement!"

I got up quickly and began to throw on some clothes. I was one of the first behind Thalia to walk out, but I realize I was wearing a tank top, and I quickly went back into my tent before anyone saw my scars. I put on my hoodie and walked back out to be the last one inline. Artemis looked at me puzzled, because she saw me before. I mouthed, I'll explain later. She looked away and began to say her announcement,

" The Winter Solstice is a month away. And we all know what that means…"

I heard several groans from the group, and Artemis continued, " For those who don't know, this means we will move into the Artemis cabin at Camp Halfblood a week before the Solstice."

I almost freaked out. I still haven't revealed myself at camp yet, and I didn't plan to anytime soon. Artemis seemed to read my mind, and she said,

" Don't worry Perseus, you can still wait to reveal your identity."

I inwardly let out a relieved sigh. But I felt bad for the campers who had stayed by my side after Joey became the hero of the camp, and got the girl that I fell in Tartarus for. The memory sickened me as I thought about. I didn't notice the scowl appear across my face, and Thalia asked,

" What's the matter?"

" Nothing of importance. Just remembering a mistake."

She looked away warily, and we began packing up to head east. By we, I mean I packed up the camp, while the hunters watched me and told me what I was doing wrong. As I packed up the last tent, Apollo flashed in. He walked over to me, an astonished look on his face.

" You're still alive? Well, now I owe Hermes some money. How did you survive?"

" My charm and tact."

" Sassy are we Percy? Maybe that's why you survived."

" You know me Apollo."

" It's good to see you Percy."

" You too man."

I Heard Thalia say, " What are you doing Percy? There is still work to do!"

" Yes master. I'll get on it right away."

She hit me in the shoulder and went over to Apollo, who fist bumped her and moved on. Ashley, a newcomer, came over and handed me a note. I unfolded the silver paper and read the little note:

Meet me in my tent as soon as possible. I need to talk to you.

Lady Artemis

I was nervous that I was about to get in trouble. I walked dreadfully slow to her tent. I lifted the tent flap and walked in. She sat in the floor in front of a fireplace. She motioned me to sit, so I sat in front of her. A moment of silence passed before she said,

" Why did you go back to your tent?"

" I needed to cover my scars."

" Show me."

" Wow, that escalated quickly."

Her face turned beet red. " That's not… Just show me the scars!"

I did as I was told, and I removed my hoodie, then my tank top. I turned away from her so she could see the scars going up and down my back and shoulders. I turned around to show her the ones across the front of my body, from my torso to my chest. Her eyes began to water, and her face showed sadness.

" Are those from Tartarus?"

" Some of them. But only one monster could give me such pain."

" Your step-father, Gabe."

" Precisely. He waited until my mother had left for work, then he would cut me and hit me until I couldn't walk. He called me worthless, that I would never be anything worthy of his time. How wrong he was."

" Perseus…I didn't know… I'm so sorry."

" You don't need to be sorry. That monster is dead. He won't haunt me again."

" May I touch them?"

" If you want to."

She moved towards me and touched a scar on my side, causing me to flinch.

" Are you okay?"

" Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just not used to being touched."

" Do you want me to stop?"

" I need to get used to it, do what you want."

She neared her hand. But before she could touch my skin, Apollo and Thalia barged in. I rushed to cover my scars. Artemis jumped back, clearly surprised by them barging in. Thalia covered her eyes and said,

" My Lady! I'm sorry, I didn't know you were… busy!"

" Whoa cuz, not cool!"

" What are you talking about!?"

" Making a move on my sis like that! Disgusting! Bleah!"

" Are you serious dude? If I was making a move on her, I would be a fish right now!"

" Oh yeah, and that totally explains you shirtless while my sister tries to touch you!"

I uncovered myself, showing the sun god my scars. He winced as he saw them. He nodded in understanding and grabbed Thalia's ( who still had her eyes covered)arm. They both exited the tent, leaving a blushing god and goddess. I put my shirt and hoodie back on, while Artemis simply sat there. Before I left though, Artemis said,

" I'm sorry for judging you at first Percy. You are different from most boys I knew."

" Most guys have no idea what they have until they lose it."

As I left the tent, I saw Artemis ponder over what I had said.

One week before the Winter Solstice…

Apollo took us to camp on his chariot of the sun across the country. I looked down at camp in the morning. No one had awoken yet, and the camp seemed abandoned. I put my hood up as we unloaded off the chariot. We put our things in the Artemis cabin and waited for the rest of the camp to wake up, and I was ready to face the memories.

As usual, the campers didn't take kindly to the hunters. I mostly stayed in the cabin all day, no matter how many pleas the hunters gave me. I didn't want to see any of them right now. When the conch horn for dinner sounded, I gave in to the hunters' begging and joined them for the meal.

I went in with the hunters, where I saw someone new at the Poseidon table. A little girl with sea green eyes and wavy black hair was sitting as far from Joey as possible. My pompous little brother doesn't seem to have changed. He had a gangster look to him now. He had dark sunglasses, piercings all over his face, and sagging pants. The image annoyed me, and it painted a bad picture for the Poseidon kids.

I ignored it best as I could and sat down at the Artemis table. I felt everyone's gaze on me. I realized I was still wearing my hood, so why was everyone staring at me? As if on cue, Thalia leaned over and whispered, " They're surprised there's a boy at our table that we haven't killed."

" Of course." I whispered quietly.

Chiron stomped his hoof and raised his glass. " Campers, as you know, the Hunters of Artemis are staying with us until the Winter Solstice."

I heard a random camper ask, " What about the boy at the Artemis table?"

Artemis said, " Because he is the Guardian of the Hunt. He keeps the hunters and I safe from anything, or anyone, meaning harm."

" Then that is your answer child. Anyways, we will have a meeting at the Big House after dinner. To the gods!"
We and the campers lifted their glasses and repeated the chant. I scraped my offering to my father into the fire. Joey walked right up behind me. He asked,

" What you doin' in my spot, newbie?"

I ignored him and continued to pray to my father for patience.

" I said what are you doing in my spot?"

I finished my prayer and began to walk away. Joey attempted to take off my hood, and I grabbed his hand and twisted it. He fell to his knees, and I released him.

After dinner I joined Thalia and headed over to the Big House. I stood behind Thalia and took a bodyguard stance. Joey and Annabeth walked in together, and Joey rubbed his wrist and glared at me. Annabeth glared too, which hurt worse.

Chiron joined us last, and he looked over to me. " Would you please share your name to us Guardian?"

I whispered to Thalia the names of those that could stay.

She heard me and said, " He asks for only Nico Di Angelo, Leo Valdez, Piper McLean, Katie Gardner, the Stoll twins, and Clarisse LaRue to be here to share such information."

" Very well. Those who weren't called leave."

All of them shuffled out. Joey and Annabeth glared at me one last time before leaving the room. I made the room soundproof with my power.

" They call me the Guardian of the Hunt. They called me Praetor for a time. But you know me as…" I said and lowered my hood slowly. Everyone gasped, even Chiron.

I grinned as I said, " … Percy Jackson."