Right. Well, here's the chapter I promised you. Hope you like it.
I woke up, exhausted. No matter it was my the best sleep yet, yesterday was just too much. I felt completely drained, emotionally and physically. Wounds and bruises from yesterday were still in the process of healing, but i couldn't care less about the pain. All that crossed my mind was the fact, the simple fact, that i was with Artemis again. my emotions would be running wild, if it weren't for the fact that i had no energy to allow that. What i needed was a quick bath and then food.
I headed to a nearby river, making sure i avoided the small lake that the hunters were currently using. I put a pile of clothes on the bank and got in. the water was surprisingly warm, and no one had noticed my presence yet. i allowed myself to relax, but kept an eye on my clothes. as much as i trusted Artemis and the hunters, I've spent enough time with them to know they could, and probably would, do everything to expose 'the real me'. at least i had Artemis on my side. *sigh* i have a feeling this is going to be a long, long day. slowly, but surely, creatures in the river started noticing me. first some fish, then large groups of them, then the nymphs and naiads started coming, and soon there was cacophony of greetings and praises for 'the son of Poseidon'. i greeted them and thanked them, hoping they would disperse, but no. they seemed surprised that i was thanking them, and at least attempting to be polite, and word spread. soon enough, it wasn't just water-borne creatures, it was some woodland animals and some birds as well. i'm sure the hunters were starting to notice, and i swear i could see them at the edge of my vision. i quickly thanked the animals and said one last goodbye before getting dressed and heading off.
i sprinted towards the camp to get away, and avoided the hunters as i entered. it was breakfast time, but i knew i wasn't going to be allowed food from the hunters, so i headed to the woods, taking care to hide any trace of my power signature. i could do without having the animals i'm trying to hunt talk to me. even if i don't understand them, i can imagine what they would say, and i don't think i could bring myself to kill them then. i climbed up on a tree and hoped across trees, making as little noise as possible. i spotted a rabbit and waited till it stopped running about and focused on something on the ground to prepare my shot. i aimed precisely and let the arrow fly. just then, i see a dagger flash from a bush close to the rabbit and a hunter step out, twisting the rabbit necks, ending its agony. it was the lieutenant, Thalia. there was no way i could scream to get her to dodge the arrow. i froze the air around the arrow, and then made a pillar of ice to connect the now frozen arrow to the ground.
"Shit." i forgot. i was supposed to be hiding my power signature.
she immediately noticed me, and turned towards me. now, i know i shouldn't say this, but it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen, seeing her turn around and suddenly jumping into the tree behind her. i guess it would be a bit surprising to see an arrow frozen in place in a seemingly random place. she got up and looked straight at me. oh, yeah. i remember why she looked this way now. before i could do anything, she grabbed her bow and knocked an arrow, neatly sidestepping my frozen arrow.
"What are you doing here, boy?"
"I was just hunting for food. I don't think i'll be able to get food from you guys, so, this seemed like the best bet."
"What makes you think you can hunt the same animals as us?"
i hoped down from the tree, put away my bow and rested my hand on the hilt of my sword.
"What makes you think i can't?" i asked calmly.
she got angrier. she pulled back the string so hard, i thought it was going to snap. but then she slowly released the pressure on the string, and put the arrow back. surprised, i let my hand, previously on the hilt, hang by the side.
"*sigh* Whatever you want to do, Lady Artemis trusts you. As much as i think that trust is misplaced, it doesn't matter. If my Lady trusts you, then i got no choice." wow. now there's a surprise. i was about to walk off, searching for something else to hunt, when i heard her speak up."But if you betray the trust my Lady placed in you, you will feel the consequences." she sprinted off in the direction of the camp, and i towards whatever edible animal i could find. lets hope the hunters never think i betrayed Artemis' trust.
-time skip-
i returned to the camp a couple of hours later. time for breakfast was past, and now the hunters were either doing chores or training. i decided to train as well. i had nothing better to do anyway. i stopped off at my tent, changed clothes to a pair of worn out jeans and an old, black t-shirt. i grabbed my sword, my quiver and my bow and headed towards the sword training area. the hunters had set up a special are for the men in the camp, so as to keep away from them. it was a fairly sized square with five targets nearby. Appolo and Thanatos were sparing, while hal and Alex watched from the sidelines. as far as i could see, Thanatos was better, but that wasn't a surprise. Apollo was a healer, and so didn't have that much experience in actual fighting.
i joined the sidelines, and waited until the spar was over. the spar finished with Apollo on the ground, as was expected. he got up and headed over, greeting me as he sat down.
"hey, Percy, you wanna spar?"Alex asked.
"sure."
Next chapter shall be them two sparing. and possibly a little surprise. you'll just have to see.
Werewolf rider 17 out.