Chapter 2
Within the first few moments that Artemis had stepped onto the grounds of Camp Half-Blood, a flow of constant whispers started. Artemis, seemingly unarmed, led her young huntress through the camp grounds. Rome, much like Artemis, held her head high as she followed Artemis. Figuring that she'd see the camp later on, Rome avoided making direct eye contact with anyone or anything.
Rome's eyes went from interest to shock when a centaur walked up to them. Being in a forest for the first seventeen years of her life didn't help with this kind of stuff. As she stood there staring at him, she pondered on how he was created. The man's kind brown eyes looked from the young girl in front of him to the goddess standing aside her.
"May I be of assistance, Artemis?" His voice sounded like that of someone who would narrate a book. Artemis nodded in response while Rome was in awe staring at his height.
"Where is Dionysus?" Artemis asked before she narrowed her eyes, wondering why he hadn't originally been the one to meet her.
"Why are you here, Artemis?" A gruff voice asked from behind Artemis. She and Rome turned to be met with condescending purple eyes.
"This is Rome," Artemis nudged her head in the direction of the young huntress. "We believe that she's a demigod."
"Welcome, Rome." The centaur gave her a genuine smile while she attempted one back. "I am Chiron, and this is-"
"Rome?" The man with the purple eyes, Dionysus, spat in disgust. "You named her Rome?" Both Chiron and Artemis gave Dionysus a warning glance.
"It's a nickname," Rome growled out, clenching her teeth in anger. Rome wasn't too fond of her actual name; therefore, she refused to use it.
"She doesn't know who her parents are," Artemis began, clearing her throat due to the silence that Dionysus had created. "She need not be trained as a huntress, but as a demigod; hence why I've brought her here."
"Then she is welcome." Chiron spoke up and Rome smiled at him gratefully.
"She will be staying in my cabin," Artemis added.
"Remember the deal, Artie? Your cabin is only for when your Hunters come to visit." Dionysus remarked, causing Artemis to glare. Dionysus stared at the arrow that was now pointed at his chest, Artemis holding the bow only a mere two feet away.
"She will stay in my cabin. She is my ward, oh brother." Artemis spat out the word brother, despising the fact that Dionysus was a fellow child of Zeus. Ignoring the nickname he had just given her, Artemis lowered her weapon and turned to Chiron. "Would you be willing to lead her there?"
"Of course," Chiron bowed before trotting a few feet away, waiting for Rome to follow.
"You're in good hands here," Artemis insisted while she sat her hand on Rome's shoulder, not completely comfortable with showing affection in front of others. "Apollo will keep me updated on your progress until I can visit."
"Thank you," Rome nodded in Artemis's direction before giving her a small smile, her eyes becoming somewhat glossy. Rome took in a big breath and followed in the direction Chiron had gone.
"See you later, Ronnie!" Dionysus called after Rome and turned back to look at a glowering Artemis. "She looks just like her mother." Dionysus stated, causing Artemis to sigh.
"I know… But she needs to find out on her own." Artemis responded as she hooked her bow around her chest.
Rome
"This is Artemis's cabin." Chiron held the door open and watched Rome walk inside, her eyes covering every inch of the room. Rome was trying her hardest to make herself comfortable with the room, but her eyes kept drifting back to the bow and arrow carved on the wall. Without any other words, Chiron left the cabin to allow the young huntress to adjust.
'You'll be safe here, Rome.' The man's voice told her as she ran her hand along the engravings on the wall. Each engraving told a different story of Artemis's many battles.
When Rome turned, she was shocked to find a bow lying on the top of a table. There had been no bow laying there before. Hesitantly, Rome walked over and lifted the weapon, running her hand along it. The bow was golden in color and, when Rome held it, felt right in her hands. Having never used the weapon before, Rome sat it back down. Rome was confused as to why it was sitting there, as there were no arrows around.
A note lay under the bow. She saw the small piece of parchment and took it into her hands, reading the script slowly – being thankful that one of the others had taught her to read.
My gift to you, my dear Rome. I know that you will use it wisely.
–A.
Rome tightly scrunched her eyebrows together. There were only three people she knew whose name started with an A: Artemis, Apollo, and Ava. Ava was out of the question, as she was another huntress who was thousands of miles away at this point. Artemis never called her 'my dear,' as she didn't like terms of endearment. Apollo did enjoy visiting Rome on occasion, but why would he be giving her a bow?
Putting all of her thoughts to the back of her mind, Rome sat the note back onto the table. She adjusted her stretched and torn tank top, only for it to fall loosely off of her shoulder – threatening to expose her bare, braless chest. Sighing, Rome found a nearby dresser and pulled the top drawer open. Clothes left over from the other hunters lay inside, causing a smile to breakout on Rome's face.
Within minutes, Rome was no longer wearing her worn tank top and cargo shorts. Instead of her typical getup, she was wearing a charcoal colored V-neck and matching black pants that were made of some type of spandex material. Testing the clothes, Rome started stretching to see the elasticity.
The sound of hooves on wood caused Rome to freeze in position. When she turned her head, Rome met the sight of a female satyr. Rome's leg was lifted vertically whilst stretching and the satyr was gawking at the position.
"How are you doing that?" The creature asked while twisting her head to the side and squinting her eyes. "I didn't even know something like that was possible."
"It comes with the territory of being a hunter," Rome answered wearily, watching the satyr with untrusting eyes. The huntress didn't know what to make of the creature; she had heard of many male satyrs, but never any that were female.
"Hi, I'm Melitta." The half-goat introduced herself and stuck her hand forward. "I'll be guiding you while you're with us at Camp Half-Blood." Rome dropped her leg and raised an eyebrow. Melitta was a few inches shorter than Rome, donned honey colored skin, and had wavy black hair that stopped below her shoulders, matching the dark fur of her satyr legs. Melitta's jade colored eyes watched as the huntress in front of her analyzed her being.
Rome took Melitta's hand, despite her lack of trust, and shook it gently. "My guide?" Rome questioned before Melitta pulled a pair of boots out from underneath of a bunk.
"Indeed, your guide. For starters, you need shoes." Melitta stated as she looked down at Rome's bare, dirt covered feet. "And a pedicure," Melitta added after she glanced at Rome's toenails.
Rome got her feet into the boots, zipped them up at the sides, and tried to walk. "They feel… unnatural." Rome explained as she clonked across the room.
"Because you've gone seventeen years without shoes," Melitta explained before she grinned, "Speaking of which, what is Artemis like?" Giving the satyr a look, Rome started for the door. "Where are you going?"
Rome turned back, halfway out the door, and smirked. "You're my guide, guide me."
