Disclaimer: I don't own PJO.
Chapter 4
Percy's POV
Artemis called together the Hunters and explained about the group of trouble that was heading their way, while I sat protectively in front of her. She had saved my life and although she could clearly take care of herself, I was going to try and repay the favour.
"Alright Hunters!" Artemis yelled, hushing the excited whispers escaping their lips. "I have informed you of the threat and our plan against it. Do you have any questions?"
A Hunter, whose name I think was Pheobe, raised her hand and spoke. "Why is the mutt still here? He looks a lot better, now."
"I want to keep him," Artemis stated as if that should be obvious. Several Hunters groaned and a brunette with hazel eyes stepped forward.
"But Milady, you want us to keep every filthy mutt we come across," she said in a voice that was definitely not from this century.
Thalia stepped forward. "Guys, calm down. He can't do us any harm. And besides, Milady already gave him a name." Thalia sniggered like she couldn't wait until the others heard. "He is called Perseus Jackson."
All the Hunters immediately burst out laughing, all clutching their sides. Artemis looked livid and had gone as red as a cherry. "What's so funny? We should be preparing to fight the monsters."
Everyone was quiet at that, occasionally giving me a glance and grinning madly to themselves. I didn't really know how I felt about this because I had no idea what was going on. Why were they all laughing? I mean, I knew it was kind of odd that she picked my exact name for me but, was there some kind of inside joke about me that I didn't understand? Eh, who cares?
The Hunters gathered their weapons and followed Artemis into the woods. I followed closely behind. After a while of walking, Artemis ushered everyone to a stop and hand signalled that the monsters were up ahead and that we were to stick to the shadows.
The Hunters moved out so that they could dispatch themselves evenly around the clearing that the monsters were occupying. I stuck to Artemis' side like glue. Once we were in position, Thalia, who had also stayed by Artemis, brought out an elegant hunting horn, engraved with images of the moons and stars. Thalia blasted one long note from it and the Hunters attacked.
Of course, since there were 14 of them we should have easily dominated them with our 25ish, but they all towered above us and were twice as strong as the usual which meant that they weren't as inexperienced as the younger ones. Arrows and throwing knives flew from both sides. It was totally mental. I dodged and dived away from blades and arrows until I reached the edge of the clearing and looked back.
About 8 of the Hunters were down and only 3 of the monsters. Luckily I could see the fallen Hunters chests rise and fall, so they were still alive, thank Zeus. I looked around a bit to find Thalia wrestling a Cyclopes to the ground and stabbing it in the eye with her hunting dagger. Good for her. That's when I spotted Lady Artemis.
She was battling, dagger to club, with a Laistragonian giant, slowly retreating because of his brute force pushing her back. She managed to lunge under his huge arms and stab him in the side, not enough to kill him but enough to make him step back in surprise. I could see this is what she had been hoping for and she managed to pull out her bow and string it. I saw something move in the grass towards Artemis. A snake like creature, obviously very poisonous, was slithering towards her, a sloppy grin covering its face. It was slowly drawing back, getting ready to pounce. Artemis however was still occupied with the Laistragonian fool. She was just finishing him off but she hadn't noticed the sly critter behind her yet. Once she realised that she was in danger from this thing it would be too late for her to string another arrow. Without thinking, I sprinted across the clearing, leaped through the air and jumped into the path of the striking snake.
It dug its sharp fangs deep into my shoulder, but I slashed and clawed at it until it wasn't moving anymore. I turned around to face the rest of the fight which had pretty much ended. The clearing was coated in a thick layer of monster dust and blood. Artemis had defeated the giant and had turned around and was now staring at me dumbstruck. More specifically staring at my shoulder where the snake thing had bitten me. I turned to look at it also.
I wish I hadn't. Blood was matting the fur on that side of my body. It was steadily leaking from the wide, messy gash just above my shoulder blade. The snake had been holding on for dear life when I was beating it so the small bite it had been to start with was pulled apart into something much worse.
I was starting to feel woozy and I sank to the floor. Yep. Definitely poisonous. Great. Artemis dashed forward calling for her Hunters help. She pulled my head onto her lap. This is happening way too often, me almost dying in her arms. Then I blacked out.
