Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Chapter four: We Meet The Sun God

When I reached Percy, Thalia and Grover they were talking intently about Percy's conversation with Artemis.

Apparently, the Hunters were coming with us to Camp Half-Blood because Artemis had some hunting to do alone and she needed to know that the Hunters were safe. Then Percy explained about Bianca joining them and I felt disgusted with her now because I had gotten over my anger but I was still disgusted that she would join them.

"Bianca joined them?" Thalia said in a disgusted tone, "It's all Zoae's fault. That stuck-up, no-good-was

"Who can blame her?" said Grover and sighed, "Ah, eternity with Artemis."

I made a face at this. It was obvious that Grover had a massive crush on Artemis.

Thalia rolled her eyes and said, "You satyr, you're all in love with Artemis."

"But she's no, into nature." Grover said.

"You're nuts," Thalia told him.

"Nuts and berries, yeah." Grover said.

We fell silent and I saw Artemis glance at the sky impatiently. Finally she muttered, "Finally, he soo lazy during the winter."

"You're um waiting for sunrise?" Percy asked. I remembered that Percy had said that we would be getting a ride from Apollo to Camp Half-Blood and I knew from Mythomagic that Apollo was the god of the sun so I could understand Percy's question.

"For my brother, yes." Artemis answered Percy.

I wondered if Apollo really drove the sun or not. Another myth said that the sun god was Helios and that the moon goddess was Selene but Artemis was apparently the moon goddess and from what Artemis had said Apollo must be the sun god.

"It's not exactly as you think." Artemis said to Percy and I wondered if he had been thinking along the same lines as I had.

"Oh," said Percy, "So it's like like he'll be pulling up in a-was

Just then a bright light flashed in the sky and a blaze of heat hit me like a slap in the face. The light got brighter and brighter until it was painful to look at.

"Don't look," advised Artemis and everyone averted their eyes until the light died down. I heard Percy gasp and I looked to see an awesome red car in front of us.

I couldn't remember what the car was called but the heat that it had generated was enough to melt the snow around the car in a perfect circle.

"Little sister," called the driver as he got out of the car. He was a teenaged guy about seventeen with golden blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He wore a sleeveless t-shirt and jeans and he was smiling brightly at Artemis.

"What's up?" He asked and Artemis sighed and said, "I'm fine Apollo and I'm not your little sister."

"Hey I was born first," Apollo said cheerfully.

"We're twins," Artemis reminded him, "How had millennia do we have to argue-was

"I what's up?" he interupted "Got the girls with you I see. Y'all need some tips on archery?"

I could tell that these two argued a lot even after just a few minutes. Artemis grit her teeth and said, "I have some hunting to do alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood until I return."

"Sure, sis," Apollo said and then he held up his hands in a STOP gesture and said "I feel a hiccue coming on."

The Hunters all groaned and Zoae said to us "Lord Apollo has been going through this hiccue faze ever since he visited Japan. Tis not as bad as the time he visited Limiric. If I had to hear one more poem that started with there once was a goddess from Sparta-was

"I've got it!" Apollo announcedand then he began to resite, "Green grass breaks through snow.

Artemis pleads for my help.

I am so cool."

I couldn't believe how terrible that hiccue was. Apparently Apollo couldn't count either because the last line was only four silibles long.

"That last line was only 4 silibles," Artemis told Apollo. "What about I am so big-headed?"

Oh so she obviously couldn't count either because that line was six silibles.

"No no that's six silibles." Apollo said and then started muttering to himself.

Finally he said triumphantly, "I am so awesome! That's five silibles." He grinned at us then bowed.

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

"These demigods will also need a ride," Artemis told him pointing to us "Some of Chiron's campers."

"No problem," said Apollo and I got the feeling that Apollo was an easy-going type of god.

"Let's see," he said studying Thalia closely "Thalia right?"

Thalia blushed and said, "Hi Lord Apollo."

"Zeus's girl, yes?" he asked and she nodded.

"That makes you me half sister. You used to be a tree didn't you? Man I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. I remember this o time-was

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

"Right," said Apollo.

I wondered what he was going to say about another girl who was turned into a tree. I tried to remember any myth about something like that but I couldn't think of one. I realized that I'd been zoning out so I blinked to clear my mind.

"Well," said Apollo "We had better load up ha?"

I realized that the car wouldn't fit all of us but I was kind of sad because it was an awesome car. I got up my courage and said, "Cool car! But all will we all fit?"

"Oh," said Apollo looking a little disappointed, "I hate to change out of sports car mode but I suppose..."

His voice trailed off and he beeped the security alarm button on his car keys and the car changed into a shuttle bus.

"Right," said Apollo who was smiling again, "Everybody in."

Zoae told the Hunters to start loading and picked up her own pack.

"Here sweetheart," said Apollo "Let me get that."

Zoae stepped away from Apollo and gave a murderous look.

"Brother," Artemis said angrily "You do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters and you do not call them sweetheart."

"Sorry," said Apollo apoligetically "I forgot. Hey sis there are you off to anyway?"

"Hunting artemis replied "It's none of your business."

"I'll fin out," Apollo warned, "I see all, know all."

Artemis rolled her eyes and turned to Zoae.

"I shall see you by winter solstice. Zoae, you are in charge of the Hunters. Do well, do as I would do."

"Yes, my lady." said Zoae and with that Artemis sprinted off into the snow.

I don't remember much about the ride a part from a lot of screaming and lurching which was mainly because Thalia was driving and not Apollo.

Apollo had also given me a lecture about the sun which I hadn't understood a word of but oh well at least the ride was quick.

It ended quite suddenly when Thalia crashed the Sun Bus into a lake and I saw several girls with long green hair jump out of the lake with wicker baskets. I wondered idly if they were naiads and I thought that they probably were because no one else could just sit underwater and make wicker baskets.

Apollo tried for a brave smile before saying, "Well you were right my dear you had everything under controol. Let's go and see if we boiled anyone important shall we?"

Yes I thought sarcastically Thalia had everything under controol.