Thalia POV

Thalia was just standing outside occasionally glaring at the various hunters who seemed not to pay her much mind when she saw first Bianca exit and then Percy. She waved Percy over as well as Grover who was now free, as Nico was talking to his sister. " So what happened Percy?"

As he told her the story Thalia frowned hearing about how the two girls joined and also when she heard that the Hunters would be joining them in camp, her reaction was nothing compared to Grover's who visibly paled before going onto to explain, " The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."

"How'd they ever show up here?" Percy asked. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

"And now Bianca joined them that's one less demigod on our side." Thalia says pursing her lips disgusted. "It's all Zoe's fault. That stuck-up, no good-"

" Wait aren't the hunters on the side of Olympus too?" Percy asks cutting her off.

" Yeah yeah." Thalia says while thinking 'Still would she have come with us and the hunters stay out of our way.'

"Who can blame her?" Grover said. "Eternity with Artemis?" He heaved a big sigh.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "You satyrs. You're all in love with Artemis. Don't you get that

she'll never love you back?"

"But she's so… into nature," Grover swooned.

"You're nuts," said Thalia.

"Nuts and berries," Grover said dreamily. "Yeah."

She rolls her eyes again at him, " Anyways who was that other girl who joined, the weird looking one that came from the woods with Artemis, she some sort of demigod?" Thalia asks hoping they hadn't lost another one to the hunters.

" Didn't smell like a demigod to me." Grover says nervously.

Percy shakes his head, " Nah get this apparently she's a halfblood but half monster, you were right about the smell G-man apparently her father's Cerberus."

"Really? Didn't know that was possible. Hope for her mom's sake he has a human form."

Thalia glares at Grover for that comment thinking to herself 'really that's what you take out of this.'

" Not sure if she's dangerous or not I mean sure she's in the hunt now but can we trust her at camp?" Percy asks.

" Can't trust anyone in the hunt, not really." She says with a sigh thinking back to her time with Luke and Annabeth.

" Not really what I meant-" Percy started but was cut off burst of light on the horizon everyone closing their eyes opening them later to see a glowing hot sports car parked in the clearing

Acacia POV

What followed her pledge almost gave Acacia metaphorical whiplash from all that was going on. Zoe who before had seemed frosty at best, acted completely differently after Percy and Bianca left though she mostly assumed that was due to Percy leaving, she was actually very nice and acted as she would assume a big sister is like to Acacia. To begin with she was given a change of clothes and directed to a curtained off area to change. Apparently it was something mostly for new members as living with one another for eternity as well as everyone having the save parts, tended to make people less embarrassed about changing in front of one another. She was a bit sad to change clothes, she had made most of them afterall but did realize that these new ones were much better. They also fit her perfectly which made her suspect they were magical in a similar sense to her collar, which she'd already picked up a tendency to fiddle with the moon charm when in thought. The outfit was pretty nice and rather warm and in the end of it all she was wearing a silver ski jacket, blue jeans, and black combat boots. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed real shoes that actually supported ones feet until she put them on. She did still keep her old clothes, using a quick cleaning charm on them and putting them away in her bag, which she'd also received a new one of which was good because her old one was falling apart.

When she stepped back into the main tent she was confused to see everyone gone as well as a bright light peeking through the gaps in the entrance flaps. She cocked her head to the side feeling how much warmer it was and stepped out to see a glowing red sports car and artemis talking to who by the look of things must be Apollo. She also did listen in on a bit of funny conversation between two of the demigods, the ozone smelling girl and the boy who smelled like the ocean.

"Wow," Thalia muttered. "Apollo is hot."

"He's the sun god," Percy said.

"That's not what I meant."

At that Acacia had to hold back a giggle thinking to herself ' I think I get now why Zoe kept ranting about how boys are idiots, I've been living in the woods since I was 9 and I knew what she meant.'

"Little sister!" Apollo called. If his teeth were any whiter he could've blinded us without the sun car. "What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!"

Artemis sighed. "I'm fine, Apollo. And I am not your little sister."

"Hey, I was born first."

"We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue—"

"So what's up?" he interrupted. "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"

Artemis grit her teeth. "I need a favor. I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."

"Sure, sis!" Then he raised his hands in a stop everything gesture. "I feel a haiku coming on."

The other Hunters all groaned while she just waited to hear it,'he is the god of poetry, why is everyone groaning?'. Apparently they'd met Apollo before.

He cleared his throat and held up one hand dramatically.

"Green grass breaks through snow.

Artemis pleads for my help.

I am so cool."

'Oh so that's why.' Acacia thinks with a bit of a disappointed sigh.

He grinned at us, waiting for applause.

"That last line was only four syllables," Artemis said.

Apollo frowned. "Was it?"

"Yes. What about I am so big-headed?"

"No, no, that's six syllables. Hmm." He started muttering to himself.

Zoe Nightshade turned to us. "Lord Apollo has been going through this haiku phase

ever since he visited Japan. 'Tis not as bad as the time he visited Limerick. If I'd had to hear

one more poem that started with, There once was a goddess from Sparta—"

Acacia shuddered at the thought, at least Haiku's were only 17 syllables.

"I've got it!" Apollo announced. "I am so awesome. That's five syllables!" He bowed, looking very pleased with himself.

"And now, sis. Transportation for the Hunters, you say? Good timing. I was just about ready to roll."

"These demigods will also need a ride," Artemis said, pointing to the 2 demigods and the satyr, who was still glancing at her occasionally with a mix of nervousness and suspicion. "Some of Chiron's campers."

"No problem!" Apollo checked the demigod girl out. "Let's see… Thalia, right? I've heard all about you."

Thalia blushed. "Hi, Lord Apollo."

"Zeus's girl, yes? Makes you my half sister. Used to be a tree, didn't you? Glad you're back. I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. Man, I remember one time—"

"Brother," Artemis said. "You should get going."

"Oh, right." Then he looked at the older demigod boy, and his eyes narrowed. "Percy Jackson?"

"Yeah. I mean… yes, sir."

"Well!" he said at last. "We'd better load up, huh? Ride only goes one way—west. And if you miss it, you miss it."

Acacia looked at the car confused, it didn't seem to be able to hold more than 2 people, but with all the various acts of bending reality she'd seen so far she assumed it could either be bigger on the inside or it could transform.

"Cool car," Nico said.

"Thanks, kid," Apollo said.

"But how will we all fit?"

"Oh." Apollo seemed to notice the problem for the first time. "Well, yeah. I hate to change out of sports-car mode, but I suppose…"

He took out his car keys and beeped the security alarm button. Chirp, chirp. For a moment, the car glowed brightly again. When the glare died, the Maserati had been replaced by one of those Turtle Top shuttle buses like we used for school basketball games.

'Second option then' Acacia thought to herself

"Right," he said. "Everybody in."

Acacia grabbed her things and made her way to the bus. Before she got in she saw that Apollo had noticed her and furrowed his brow, he'd turned to look at Artemis and looked to be about to ask something before being met with a glare. Acacia was filled with a warm fuzzy feeling that she hadn't really felt before and decided that she definitely enjoyed having this new, proper family, people who cared and were willing to defend you. So with a small smile she got on the bus and sat in the back with the other Hunters.

Acacia decided that while not the safest mode of transportation, sun chariot was definitely a fun one. Though she had a sneaking suspicion that the safety issue was because of who was driving, true the Thalia girl was daughter of Zeus who was lord of the sky but she certainly didn't seem at ease in her father's domain and even from the back of the bus Acacia could smell her fear, she was pretty certain she was the only one who could do that though so she decided not to bring it up. At least not with anyone else, she certainly wouldn't want her own fears spread around especially if she had been afraid of something associated with herself, like the shadows she could travel to. They'd ended up landing in the lake which, for her was very exciting, she was pretty sure she was the only one who enjoyed it however, some of the others looked rather motion sick, and the water spirits in the lake certainly didn't enjoy it.

Once she exited the sun chariot, or was it bus? The sun bus? Once she got on solid ground she spent a few moments just looking around the camp in amazement it was beautiful covered in a thin layer of snow that instead of obscuring things just added to their beauty. She saw many things there that she hoped she'd have time to try but decided to stay away from the lava climbing wall, she'd already burnt herself enough while learning her fire spell and had no wish to repeat the experience with lava. She looked around for Zoe and saw her with Percy, the demigod who smelled like the sea, and the satyr who was named Grover. She caught a bit of conversation as she walked up them.

"I know Chiron," Zoe said stiffly. "Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me."

"I'll show you the way," Grover offered.

"We know the way."

"Oh, really, it's no trouble. It's easy to get lost-"

" Hey Zoe is our cabin the silver one" Acacia asks not usually one to interrupt, well considering how she's mostly been without conversation partner for the last few years other than that brief time with the giants she isn't one to talk much, but she thought that Zoe might appreciate it.

Grover jumps a bit upon hearing her from behind him and says nervously to Zoe, " Yeah you're right of course you know the way I'll uhh just be going then." he says with a frightened look to her.

Zoe must've not noticed Acacia's negative reaction to the satyr's own negative reaction, her eyes dimming and her tail and ears drooping slightly as she jested, " Well if nothing else you will be good for keeping the Satyrs away." This just caused her to show more obvious signs of sadness ears fully drooping and a pouting.

" I wish they weren't scared of me." She mumbles.

" Huh? Oh gods I am sorry Acacia, I spoke without thinking."

She just shrugs " it's alright let's just go to the cabin" Acacia says and she assumed she successfully conveyed her wishes not to continue as the matter was dropped and Zoe lead her and Bianca, them being the newbies, to cabin 8. Acacia did not notice Zoe's occasional concerned glance her way.

After they'd arrived and gotten settled things were a bit better for Acacia, she'd properly been introduced to all the other Hunters who seemed to have no problem with her being half monster, one of them even joked about it being good in case they ever got sent to the underworld on a hunt for whatever reason, they could probably get by her father pretty easily, which did cheer her up thinking of the positives of her heritage. She quickly became good friends with one of the veteran hunters, apparently second oldest after Zoe, called Phoebe. They bonded over their skill for tracking and natural strength, Phoebe was a daughter of Ares who joined the Hunt a few centuries back and had great strength from that coupled with the blessing of Lady Artemis, Acacia herself got her strength from her monster half which was also boosted by the blessing. She also learn that the next day they'd be having a capture the flag game against the campers. There was the awkward pause when she had to ask what capture the flag was having never played it before but that was covered quickly. She was also given a book on ancient greek which she found she could pick up the basics of very quickly, she was told this was another part of the blessing, not enough to read her grimoire but she got one of the other Hunters to translate a few simple spells, one of them being a handy minor healing one which she spent a fair amount of time practicing even if she did have to explain to the others at first why she kept cutting her arm with one of her new knives.

Later she was given a bow and Zoe took her and Bianca down to the archery range to test what natural ability they'd picked up from the blessing. Bianca was a natural, she herself had less luck however, she wasn't bad with the bow by mortal or even camper standards, she was told she was close to the average child of Apollo but for a Hunter she was pretty poor. This had brought her down a bit before Zoe talked to her.

" Do not worry if you are not good with a bow, you will have much time to improve and you possess skills that no one else in the Hunt can use and I do not mean just the traits you got from your monster parentage but your magic is already impressive and from what you've told me of your book you're only just scratching the surface. You will improve with the bow but even if it never becomes your primary weapon you are already a true Hunter."

Acacia smiled at that and that was when she truly saw what made Lady Artemis chose Zoe as her Lieutenant, not only was she the best hunter and the oldest but she was truly great at leading and taking care of her fellow Hunters.

Percy POV

I was pretty miserable at dinner that night.

I mean, the food was excellent as usual. You can't go wrong with barbecue, pizza, and never-empty soda goblets. The torches and braziers kept the outdoor pavilion warm, but we all had to sit with our cabin mates, which meant I was alone at the Poseidon table. Thalia sat alone at the Zeus table, but we couldn't sit together. Camp rules. At least the Hephaestus, Ares, and Hermes cabins had a few people each. Nico sat with the Stoll brothers, since new campers always got stuck in the Hermes cabin if their Olympian parent was unknown. The Stoll brothers seemed to be trying to convince Nico that poker was a much better game than Mythomagic. I hoped Nico didn't have any money to lose. The only table that really seemed to be having a good time was the Artemis table. The Hunters drank and ate and laughed like one big happy family. Zoe sat at the head like she was the mama. She didn't laugh as much as the others, but she did smile from time to time. Her silver lieutenant's band glittered in the dark braids of her hair. I thought she looked a lot nicer when she smiled. Bianca di Angelo seemed to be having a great time. She was trying to learn how to arm wrestle from the big girl who'd picked a fight with the Ares kid on the basketball

court. The bigger girl was beating her every time, but Bianca didn't seem to mind. Afterwards the big girl challenged the other new girl, the half monster who he was pretty sure was called Acacia if he remembered correctly, and Jesus was that girl strong. You wouldn't think it from how tiny she was but she was putting up a hell of a lot more resistance than Bianca, at one point he was pretty sure they had said something to rile her up because when they arm wrestled again she slammed the bigger girls hand down on the table so strong he could hear the sound of it. This had left the Hunter's table momentarily quiet and Acacia seemed to be apologizing but then all the hunters cheered patting her on the back, Zoe ruffling her hair. He made sure to remember to tell Thalia not to underestimate the girl at least not her strength just because she was small. When we'd finished eating, Chiron made the customary toast to the gods and formally welcomed the Hunters of Artemis. The clapping was pretty halfhearted. Then he announced he "good will" capture-the-flag game for tomorrow night, which got a lot better reception.

Acacia POV

The next morning all the hunters were on edge, they'd all heard about Zoe's dream of Lady Artemis in trouble and how Chiron had refused to allow them to leave. Their hopes rose a bit after a camper came telling Zoe that Chiron and Mr. D, who as she had learned was Dionysus, wanted to speak with her. Her hope was replaced with fear when she was told she had to come along as well.

She was in the process of internally freaking out about what could go wrong when she was distracted by Zoe's hand on her shoulder, " Do not worry Acacia, you are a member of the Hunt and we all stand behind you." Acacia was once again reminded of why she was glad she found Lady Artemis and the Hunt, well to be accurate Lady Artemis found her.

As they walked to the big house Acacia couldn't help but notice how the campers looked at her, some weren't as bad but a vast majority could only be described as hateful. It was at moments like this when she lamented her hearing capabilities because even with her ears drooped so low they were indistinguishable from her hair she could still hear what some campers were saying about her, hearing one of the groups talking about capturing her then hunting her down for sport. Acacia felt her eyes water as they approached a ping pong table where Chiron and Mr. D were. When they got there Acacia despite her fear did remember her manners and bowed to them first to Mr. D "Lord Dionysus," Then to Chiron "Mr. Chiron y-you wanted to see me." She saw Chiron's slightly surprised face and heard Mr.D mumble about how at least she showed some proper respect, and hoped these would be points in her favor.

" Now Ms. Potter was it? We just have some questions about you-" Chiron started but was cut off by Zoe.

" Do you doubt My Lady's judgement? If Artemis had accepted Acacia into the Hunt there should be no more questions you need to ask her."

"Given her heritage you can understand our concerns I'm sure."

" Her heritage? Yes her parent is a monster but one in service to Lord Hades himself, surely a more trustworthy pedigree than either of ours Chiron considering our fathers."

This seemed to stun Chiron for a moment before he continued, " We've had centuries to prove our loyalties whereas she has not."

" Lady Artemis is sure of her loyalties and if that is not enough, she has been entrusted with gifts by both Lord Thanatos and Lady Hecate, she has proven her loyalty more than most of your Campers one of whom I believe is leading this war against the Olympians is he not? And haven't many others joined him as well."

" There is no need to bring that up." Chiron says looking ruffled, " And she has truly earned the trust of Thanatos and Hecate."

" Gifts for which she was asked no repayment, in fact gifts offered in reward of what she's done." at this point Zoe was just slightly stretching things as technically all she'd done for Thanatos was on accident, but she was amazed at the ferocity with which Zoe defended her.

" I see, you must understand we have to ask these questions when it comes to the camper's safety."

" Their safety? They are the ones talking about murdering a member of the Hunt, simply for her parentage which may I remind you is the same reason why monsters themselves hunt your precious campers. Who is to say they will not attempt something at the capture the flag game."

Now Chiron looked truly cowed and apologetic he glanced once at Mr. D to see if he'd get any support but it was clear he wouldn't. " I see yes of course forgive me, I'll be sure to remind the campers that any violence to the Hunters outside of capture the flag and any unnecessary force during it will be punished severely." With that both he and Mr. D left leaving her and Zoe there alone.

Zoe turned to Acacia and began saying, " I am sorry you had to go through th-" but was cut off by a hug from the small girl.

" Thank you thank you thank you." She says having teared up a bit but now they were tears of joy.

Zoe just smiles putting a hand on her head and ruffling her hair, petting her ears a bit. " Think nothing of it, you are a Hunter now, and we're family."

So this ended with some feels now didn't it. I like it when Zoe goes all mama bear on people's asses and I felt like Dionysus would also rather side with them than the campers because well for one he hates the campers, but he also hates demigods and so as she is a non demigod and Mr. D is well aware of how much assholes they can be ( the whole thing with his wife) coupled with how Acacia bowed to him and showed proper respect would have had him not really support Chiron. I do sort of feel bad for having Zoe and Acacia bond so much ( in a totally unromantic way mind you they are NOT getting together ) when of course Zoe dies, but yeah this was a fucking long ass chapter to write 3800 words without the authors not by google's count, I won't say if future chapters will be of similar length because honestly I have no idea, originally I had thought that this was going to be a shorter one anyhow hope you enjoyed.