Chapter 10: The Hunt

Percy's POV

As Annabeth and I walked in the woods just outside of Camp, we heard noises. We walked closer and saw that the Huntresses had made camp there.

"But he didn't even mention me!" Fiona exclaimed.

"You should consider that a good thing. Especially since he knows about your flings with Apollo." Thalia smirked.

"I personally don't mind that I wasn't mentioned." Chloe snorted.

"He did mention you. He just didn't use your name." Thslia corrected.

"Yep." I stepped out from behind the bushes.

"Be glad. He had to mention me by name." Annabeth joked.

"Hi!" Thalia hugged Annabeth.

She pulled me into the hug too.

"Aww. You missed me for once?" I teased.

"Shut up Kelp Brain." Thalia smirked. "So, what's new?"

Annabeth hesitated. "A lot actually. Not with Camp, but with us."

"What's new with you guys then?" Thalia smiled.

Annabeth nervously lifted her left hand and put it in Thalia's hand. Thalia looked at Annabeth's hand and her eyes widened when she saw the ring. She quietly studied it for a moment.

"It's pretty. When did this happen?" Thalia asked.

"Yesterday. Apparently he's been carrying it around for a week. But he didn't know how to say it until after I told him I was... pregnant." Annabeth was nervous.

Thalia's eyes widened again. "You are? So that means I'm an aunt? And it also means that you were telling the truth when you said you started sleeping with Percy?"

"In a way you're a great aunt." Annabeth smiled as she hit Thalia playfully. "And why would I lie in that much detail?!"

"You described it to her?" My eyes widened.

"I thought you would tell Grover, so I figured it was okay." Annabeth shrugged.

"I told him, but he said he didn't want any details." I said.

"Doesn't matter. It's not like I told anyone." Thalia snorted. "Just tell me when the wedding is so I can get Artemis to let me off duty. Whenever you figure out the date that is."

"Ooh! Let me see!" The Hunters shrieked.

Half of them stared at the ring, and the other half played with her stomach.

"I thought it would be bigger." Chloe poked Annabeth's stomach.

"I thought it would be smaller." Fiona judged the ring.

"I'm not fully developed in the stomach yet. And Percy's not that poor." Annabeth pulled her hand away from Fiona.

"I didn't think you'd react this way." I mocked their tones.

"We never get to see wedding rings and babies. We swore that off along with boys." Chloe sighed.

"The only one with any form of pretty rings on their left hands are Artemis and Thalia." Phoebe clarified.

"Mine was a gift from Luke." Thalia shrugged.

"Aww, Luke got you a promise ring?" I teased.

Annabeth and Phoebe held Thalia back from punching me.

"So why does Artemis wear a ring?" Annabeth asked.

"Because of her secret boyfriend." I said.

Then I realized what I said.

"Her what?" Annabeth stared at me.

"Artemis is going to kill you." Thalia smirked.

"He's not living. He died thousands of years ago. But I have a feeling you know him." I hinted.

"How can I know someone who died thousands of years ago?" Annabeth questioned.

"Because he's famous. And I'm named after him." I gave her the answer.

"Perseus?! She loved Perseus?!" Annabeth was shocked.

"Yes, and because I'm apparently similar to him in every way except my powers and parentage, Artemis tried to kiss me while she was drunk. Don't tell Grover, you know how much he likes her." I blurted.

"Artemis would never try to kiss you." Fiona snorted.

"Actually, she did. I had to help him stop her." Thalia admitted.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Annabeth looked at me.

"Because you have jealousy issues. Take for example Calypso, or Rachel, or Aphrodite..." I started.

"Aphrodite?" Thalia arched an eyebrow.

"Long story short, I lied when I told a certain Goddess that she was more pretty than Annabeth. And even though Annabeth knows that, she's still bothered by it." I summed it up.

Thunder boomed and doves flew overhead.

"Oh come on, you aren't offended when mortal guys say it! So what if I think my girlfriend is extremely beautiful!" I shouted upward.

A dove pooped on me, but Aphrodite probably wasn't mad, otherwise they probably would've pecked me to death.

"That was pretty brave." Annabeth hugged me.

"You guys are so weird." Thalia smiled.

"Extremely." Artemis patted our backs. "And thanks for keeping my secret Mr. 'My lips are sealed like a high security vault'."

"She would've figured it out eventually. She's smart like that." I defended myself.

"I know. Any woman who takes the time to consider if she can be a Hunter instead of jumping into it is intelligent." Artemis smiled.

"That's right. The book said you were planning to become a Huntress." Phoebe remembered.

"But Percy changed your mind." Chloe giggled.

"Oh, shut up." Annabeth waved them off.

They all giggled.

"I'm glad you changed your mind." I grinned.

"Good." She kissed me.

"Ugh. Some of these girls have been away from men so long that their lovesick. So be kind and leave if you're going to do that." Thalia groaned.

"Are you one of them?" I teased.

Annabeth and I ran as the Huntresses and Artemis held Thalia back.