The Hunters of Archer
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me.
Chapter 10
Thalia was utterly vexed at the individual who decided to appear out of the woods near Westover Hall. She remembered the figure in front of her from the days of fleeing and scraping by. The commencement of her demigod life, on the run with Luke and Annabeth. The good old days.
Although, it was a dysfunctional family between the trio of early demigods, it was still a family. They were a tight knit group and she would never gamble away those memories and experiences to join some judgmental and distasteful hunters.
The leader was crouching beside Thalia with a hunting knife in hand. Strapped to her back was a quiver of arrows with her wooden bow slung over her shoulders. A silver aura emanated from the beautiful huntress. Royalty and authority radiated from her wonderous physique. She held her head up high ready for any threat to challenger her. The contrast of her copper like skin blended beautifully with her dark hair and eyes. She was tall and graceful, full of arrogance and pride.
"Zoë what are you doing here?" Thalia said through gritted teeth. Thalia had encountered the group of huntresses when She, Luke, and Annabeth were on the run around the country. At first, hearing the adventurous group of hunters sounded surreal and enticing. However, when Zoë proposed an ultimatum of joining the hunters or staying with a boy like Luke, she would never leave her friends, the ones she started with.
"We were informed of monsters within this school institute. We have come to conclude our mission. I would be eternally grateful, if you are not a hinderance to us all Thalia. Now get up!" Zoë looked over the ragged rocks still obstructing their line of vision. The rotor blades of the helicopter ever louder as it neared the cliff.
"I could save my friends by myself. I do not require any of your assistance." Thalia said as she angrily and foolishly got over the ragged rocks.
As she approached Dr. Thorn, blood was evident on her jacket, with scrapes on her elbows and palms. She had scraped herself with the jagged rocks as she climbed over them without care. She had small cuts all over her elbows and palms as the sharpness of the rocks effortlessly slashed and cut her skin.
"Let them go monster. I'm not going to ask again. If I do, you're going to be in a lot of trouble." Once again, Dr. Thorn screeched in laughter which caused the hairs on her neck to stand up.
"You are a reckless child aren't you. This was to easy. I expected to find you myself but turning yourself in was a much safer option. Perhaps, the general will let you live and serve us." A large shining and bright flash was evident in the patch of woods where Thalia had just departed from.
Thalia knew it wasn't Zoë, it was much too bright and much too strong for it to be her aura. It had to be something of immense power. Beside Thalia, Dr. Thorn mirrored her fear and annoyance of outside participation.
"It can't be. No this is a mistake. I expected demigod trouble but not something much greater. Of such magnitude." Thalia, Annabeth, and the Di Angelo siblings looked on as the bright silver flash began to fade slowly.
The flash seemed to melt the snow right off the branches. The most astonishing event was the newly grown bright green leaves on the tree, in the dead of winter. The helicopter was now seen on the horizon, still not close enough to land on the cliff. But still visible in the distance. It would be only a few minutes before it would land and succeed its mission.
"These mortals are too slow. Whoever is out there will reach us before they land." Dr. Thorn astutely said. Without hesitation he roughly grabbed Thalia by her arm and was utilizing her as a human shield, knowing the danger that was lurking within the woods.
An arrow was shot from the patch of woods. The arrow was going at a blistering speed, it was so swift no one comprehended where it came from or where it went. Dr. Thorn felt a stinging sensation on his left cheek and felt dust escape his disguised face. He quickly realized it was the arrow that had grazed his cheek which sliced and burned a portion of cheek skin.
"It can't be. Who sent you? Why are you here?" The monster angrily yelled out. Dr. Thorn looked around in circles hoping to identify where his assailants were located. The increasing paranoia within was slowly distinguishing and removing his superficial disguise which revealed his true form.
The skin of the presumed man turned into fur. His body elongated and stood on all fours instead of erect on two feet. His head was full of hair which eventually grew into a lion's mane. Instead of having a snout of a lion, Dr. Thorn's face remained. The more intimidating feature was the robust and sharp-edged scorpion tail.
"What in tarnation is that?" Bianca looked on horrified at the beast that had just transformed in front of her. Nico looked at the beast with fascination. He fidgeted with his coat pockets as he searched through his cards.
"It's the manticore. This is amazing, apparently he can shoot spikes out of his tail." Everyone with exclusion of Nico, looked on with fear. Nico continued to look from his cards to the monster.
"Cease monster. If you let the girl go, we will make your destruction quick and as painless as possible." Zoë emerged from the forest along with a group of hunters.
Zoë was plenty strong enough to steal all the spotlight. But one female radiated command, dislike, and overall power. She was about twelve or thirteen, no older than Annabeth or Thalia. Her eyes were a silvery yellow color which contrasted well with her auburn hair. Her eyes held seriousness and coldness deep within. Her beauty was unimaginable, with no physical impurities on her body. Her jaw was set and tense as if expecting an argument.
"It's Lady Artemis and her hunters." Annabeth looked on with awe and admiration.
"Great. Just what we needed." Thalia replied with such sarcasm, it earned a distasteful look from Artemis.
"Do not think I am afraid of you goddess. My patrons and king make you look like a simpleton." Dr. Thorn stuttered out. He tried to put on a façade of intimidation and courage, but the goddess could see through his deception.
With extreme quickness and precision Artemis unslung her bow from her back, loaded an arrow and shot Dr. Thorn straight into his front leg. The group looked in astonishment, it was a blur it could be barely seen. Dr. Thorn howled in pain as the arrow was sticking through the muscle of his leg. Golden dust was flowing from the wound instead of blood or golden ichor.
"You arrogant goddess, you can destroy me but not without killing the girl I'm holding." Dr. Thorn was nearing the cliff. He was holding Thalia with his paws as he inched his way near the bear edge of the cliff. The gusts of wind and chilly air from the water easily passed through Thalia's coat which made her shiver.
To make matters worse, the group of demigods and hunters were nearing the manticore. The manticore was getting cornered and was already at the edge of the cliff. When you corner an animal, it does everything to fight back.
"Let her go monster!" Zoë yelled as she had her bow aimed and fixed on the manticore.
None of the hunters had a clear shot at the beast. Their marksmanship skills were almost second to none, but they wanted assurance to kill the manticore. Artemis on the other hand, had her bow aimed at the manticore's forehead ready to launch. She took a deep breath and blew a soft breath into the arrow. She was ready to release.
"If I can't take any of these demigods prisoners, I'm bringing them down with me." Dr. Thorn aimed his robust scorpion tail at the Di Angelo Siblings.
"I can't let you do that!" Annabeth yelled as she leapt onto the manticore's back, momentarily stunning him and obstructing his aim for the siblings. While Thalia slipped away from Dr. Thorn's grasp.
"Archers at the ready." Zoë commanded, which every hunter obliged. Everyone set their bows ready to send a downfall of arrows.
"You cannot not just do that. My friend is on the damn thing." Thalia glared at Zoë with a challengingly look. The rest of the hunters were looking between the quarrel of their lieutenant and the daughter of Zeus.
"I do as I please. Archers Fire!" The apocalypse of arrows flew through the air in an arch as they fell onto their target. It resembled a deadly rain ready to pierce its enemy to death.
Thalia spectated in horror as the arrows, seemingly in slow motion, fell down on her beloved friend. Artemis was rather displeased at Zoë for involving a pass feud to cloud and affect her judgement of putting a demigod in harm's way. But she trusted and believed that Zoë's call was correct and didn't intercede on her own behalf to save the daughter of Athena.
Just as the moment seem to reach its climax and the inevitable death of Annabeth was engraved in stone, a miraculous ball of silver light shielded the manticore and Annabeth. All the arrows that were in the vicinity of the shining white light, disintegrated. Everyone, including Artemis were stunned at the phenomenon that befell them.
"I cannot believe that you were willing to sacrifice a demigod's life to destroy a mere monster. Now that isn't hunting, that is of utmost laziness and lack of respect for fair game." A voice said as a group of individuals emerged from the silver light. The light was searing and torching hot, but it had no effect on the individuals who emerged from it.
The group that emerged was of twelve characters. Their faces serious and withheld apparent hatred for the opposing group of hunters that were on the opposite side of them. Unlike the male hunters, the hunters of Artemis looked at the Hunters of Archer with confusion but still with dislike for them being males.
"I remember you." Thalia pointed to the silver eyed teenager. But was easily pushed aside by Zoë.
"You dare insult Lady Artemis and her capabilities. You wretched and stupid male." Zoë easily insulted Perseus who was at the head of the group.
Altair meanwhile, quickly came to Perseus' defense unable to listen to such disrespect to his leader. "You discourteous female. You huntresses always jumping to ill-advised conclusions."
While the staring contest was going on, the helicopter reached its destination. Well-armed mortal mercenaries let the bullets fly. Bullets were shot and were causing snow to be shot up into the air. All the hunters and demigods went in the direction towards the woods. With the exception of Artemis and Perseus who looked at each other warily.
Artemis with apparent annoyance shot a ball of energy towards the helicopter which easily exploded and was sent it into the water filled abyss. Whilst the immortals continued to stare on, Dr. Thorn jumped off the cliff with Annabeth still attached to his back.
"No Annabeth!" Thalia yelled out as she made her way towards the edge of the cliff. She still had her phobia of heights, but her friend had just fallen hundreds of feet into the raging seas, it was an afterthought.
Altair ran to Thalia's side and began inspecting over the side of the cliff for any signs that Annabeth might have survived, but none appeared. The huntresses warily approached the edge but not before giving Perseus' hunters a look of distrust.
"She is still alive." Perseus answered, who finally broke eye contact with Artemis.
"Can you confirm it Lady Artemis? I do not trust the cunningness or deceptions of these males." Artemis nodded not wanting to verbally acknowledge that Perseus was correct.
"The manticore and the demigod did not reach the bottom of the cliff. They vanished before doing so." Artemis said as she rallied her hunters.
"Count up who is in the vicinity now. I do not want to leave any of our hunters or demigods behind." Artemis ordered Zoë, and she quickly nodded her head in submission.
The hunters of Perseus were sitting down awaiting orders. They consisted of younger teens and unexperienced hunters. Altair had decided to let the unseasoned hunters to gain some experience and see what an extraction mission was when it was planned out. However, this extraction mission was particularly out of the ordinary. None of them expected to find Artemis, Perseus's most hated individual.
"Milady it's the count of three demigods and the satyr. The rest are a part of the group of the male." Zoë pointed towards Perseus who just awaiting and contemplating the next course of action. He couldn't exactly yank the demigods from the goddess of the Hunt. Until Perseus finally broke the silence.
"You sense it Artemis? The creature that is stirring, the one who can destroy the gods." Artemis faced turned into one of annoyance as she looked at Perseus threateningly. She didn't like the sparkle in his silver eyes from the mention of the downfall of the gods.
"I have been slow to realize the circumstance of what is to come. Now I must hunt this old foe to prevent our downfall. However, you seem genuinely unaffected and excited at the prospect of our downfall. I must ask why?" Artemis's eyes bored into Perseus's hoping to extract the information by reading his thoughts and mind. But she quickly realized that entrance to his mind or thoughts were immediately blocked.
Visual frustration was very apparent on Artemis's face as Perseus was laughing internally "Attempting to penetrate my mind to drive me to lunacy already? Perseus noted.
"How is it possible that you can obstruct my sight from interfering into your mind. Are you a god?" Artemis inquired. Her paranoia was constantly increasing as she found new ways this 'Perseus' showed off his power.
The magnitude and sheer heat of the silver light from which he appeared from, was as hot as the sun. The ability to withhold her from penetrating his mind is unheard of, especially for an Olympian. Just from viewing him she could determine that she had never seen him before. Over the centuries she had encountered almost every god (minor or major) on her encounters with the exception of the silver eyed teen in front of her.
"Correct, but specifically a titan." He stated casually. As everyone was eavesdropping, they immediately were on guard. Thalia and Zoë, for once that day, took their weapons with extreme synchronization.
Artemis hoping to surprise Perseus with her blinding speed, grabbed her bow and had an arrow notched and aimed at him. Perseus was staring destruction in the eye. But what confused everyone was the expression of apathy and boredom on his face as he had various weapons fixed in his face.
"You really are a vacuous male. To just say you are a titan and not expect hostility. The titans are our enemies." Artemis angrily stated. She was ready to release her arrow, but Perseus just began laughing.
"You are a hypocrite Artemis. Isn't your mother a Titaness? Isn't your father one of Kronos's sons. Do not dare treat me as an enemy when most of us are direct descendants from the Titans." Artemis's fury developed to another level.
"You have a smart mouth male. I hope it saves you from my wrath." The arrow was released and went directly towards Perseus chest.
Perseus didn't move as the arrow slowed down in his view. The arrow caught on fire midair and quickly fell to the ground in ashes. Perseus's primordial bow, Midnight, materialized in a black smoke into his hand. The bow was of an extravagant black wood which emitted a soft silver glow. Throughout its simplicities, no one with exception of his hunters, knew the power coursing through the man beholding the bow and the bow itself.
"What the hell is going on here?" Thalia asked as she witnessed the small skirmish between Artemis and Perseus.
Perseus had a playful, yet, sinister smile on his face. "Nothing. Artemis and I were just having some fun. Were we not?" Perseus looked at Artemis to see if she would deny and she didn't.
"Hunters set up camp, call the wolves and falcons to keep lookout. I will be in my tent" Artemis immediately created a large tent from thin air and proceeded to retire into it.
Zoë gave one loathing look in Perseus's directions before obliging to her lady's wishes. Meanwhile, Percy gave the order to set up their own camp and to whistle the red foxes and to call the ospreys to be on the lookout.
Nico decided to camp out with Percy's crew whilst Thalia and Bianca headed to the other female camp. Nico was still amazed at the world that was revealed to him, he was living his childhood game. Altair did well to accommodate him into his own tent, but he was still to innocent and afraid of being alone in his own tent.
"Perseus you must not let your emotions get away from you again. Artemis is an Olympian she is dangerous. Not only that, you are already the Titan King's enemy. He tried to persuade to his cause, but you declined. To get on the Olympians bad side is also a death wish." Altair said with graveness trying to convince his leader to settle down, after his little outburst.
"You are correct Altair. Forgive me. But she is the reason my mother is no longer with me." Perseus sat down as if all the energy within him was drained.
Talking about Selene was always a touchy subject for Perseus. He would get angry with any hunter who brought up his parentage. It was still a sore subject, even if it happened so long ago.
Deciding to change the subject, Altair asked him a question.
"What about the male child? Is he a part of our future?" Perseus immediately looked at Altair and began pondering. To be realistic, he hadn't really thought about recruiting another hunter. It had been a few years since it happened.
"I'm not certain of the boy's future. However, we must do our due for a young male like himself and prepare him for the harsh life of a demigod." With that statement, Perseus dismissed Altair and advised everyone to rest.
PAGE BREAK
Percy ventured into the wooded wilderness of Maine whilst everyone slept and rested. The blank white fire the (male) hunters had prepared, had been extinguished. Now he needed time to ponder and rethink his strategies of the upcoming war.
Many of the minor deities he was in contact with, pestered him to join the Titan king's cause. The winning side. But Percy wasn't enamored with the idea of following the orders of a tyrannical regime his relative titan kind would impose.
Whilst he was deep in thought of his situation, he caught a whisper of a voice speaking to someone. Perseus had cluelessly ventured into the woods, lost in thought, and quickly materialized his bow from the shadows in case of impending attack.
"Those are the commands of our father. You must extinguish this beast, or it will be the downfall of us all. Well that's how our father phrased it. I wasn't really paying attention." Whilst the voice was clearly audible to Percy's hearing, he couldn't sense a physical presence out in the wilderness, except one.
"What of my hunters? Where will they go? I do not trust them in your care. You are perverted as the rest of the males that litter this forsaken world." Percy couldn't help but frown. He had a sense that Artemis had no right to group all males as useless creatures.
"That really does hurt me little sister. But the least I can do for you, after insulting me, is to transport them to camp half-blood." Artemis had a look of distastefulness on her face.
"Do no try any funny business with my hunters Apollo. Or I will castrate you. You do know how long that takes to regenerate don't you?" Apollo nervously laughed through the Iris message they were speaking from.
"The message is all clear. As we both know we have an unwanted guest eavesdropping on this conversation. I advise you to take care of him sister." Perseus eyes widened as he tried to flee and escape with his dignity.
Artemis looked around, knowing of the intruder who eavesdropped on a deep conversation sent from Olympus. She automatically knew it was Perseus because it took her so long to figure out the powerful presence nearing her. He was deceptive, he knew how to tone his overall power to fit in with those of minor god.
"I know you are out there. Show yourself. Everyone knows that whoever meddles with Olympus's matter, the punishment is death. Or in your case, a temporary destruction of your body." Artemis said as she pulled out her bow. This immortal was a thorn in her side. She wasn't used to males undermining her, especially one with such apparent disrespect. But something in her mind gave her the sensation that there was a justified cause for him to undermine her and show impudence and arrogance.
"I've never been destroyed, I was born and yet to be reborn. I was always waiting for this moment. To finally battle you, to show my power and hurt I've been feeling since that wretched day." Perseus materialized from a shadow. In the moonlight, his skin was glowing and radiant. It magnified his godly looks.
"Your pride is to great. The mere of thought of you being a capable to battle against me on equal ground is laughable." Artemis couldn't help but smirk. Some gods were just too arrogant indeed.
"Well I haven't come here to battle you Artemis. On the contrary, I deeply care about these demigods. I will fight for them and so will my hunters. However, for you Olympians I have a proposal. In order for me to battle for your cause which in hindsight isn't your downfall, I wish to have one wish to be granted in its entirety. In honesty, I despise every single one of you, but I despise Kronos even more. So, you are the greater of two evils." Artemis laughed mockingly at Percy's proposal.
"That is a steep price to ask of us. I'm afraid the rest of my Olympian peers will not grant your proposal, much less to a titan." Artemis said with pleasure.
"I knew that was your response even before I asked. Shame really. Well I better prepare myself to go hunt for this beast. Its unimaginable power will serve me well when the situation arises." Perseus knowingly began to turn around and walk to his side of the camp. However, he knew that Artemis would concede to his demands.
"The beast is mine to be hunted not yours!" Artemis quickly interceded as the constant extorting of Percy pestered her.
"There are no ancient laws prohibiting me from doing so. So, I do as I please. Is that not the ideology you prideful Olympians so arrogantly display?" Artemis gritted her teeth. Never has she been disrespected as today. A simple titan was getting under her immortal skin. She never had the expectation that a male would have the intelligence, much less guts, to extort her.
She knew that a battle with the unknown titan was foolish. She could be seriously injured if she severely underestimated his power and potential. The only logical option was to concede to his demands, but to not bind or swear that his wishes would come to fruition.
"I will see what I can do. Be grateful I haven't destroyed you. That would have been a much easier option. However, I believe you will be a useful pawn." Artemis finally lowered her bow as she walked back to her side of the camp from the woods.
As she walked back in the direction of her camp she spoke, "Do not believe that we are on good terms. On the contrary, you just created in an enemy in me. The Olympian council will not be pleased for your mercenary tactics. Anyhow, I must go on my hunt tomorrow. My brother Apollo will come when the sun arises, to transport my hunters back to camp. I advise you follow him there until you are called for." With that, Artemis vanished presumably to her tent.
Rest was had for everyone that night with the exception of Percy. In clarity, he had not the slightest idea of why he extorted Artemis. It fueled his arrogance and pride, to finally gain a one up on an Olympian. But his thought process was hazy. He had not the slightest clue what his wish would be once and if the Olympians won the war. His deep lingering feeling was that Artemis and the rest of the Olympians would forget his terms and easily dispose of him once they had succeeded.
Fighting for the Olympians was also something he never believed would occur during his lifetime. He had always been strategizing and gaining the necessary pieces to create his own army of zealots and revolt on the Olympians. Maybe it was all a part of his plan. Make them believe that he was loyal to their cause and when they are severely weakened, strike when the time is opportune. His plan was worthy indeed, but Percy wasn't a sly or cunning titan that would purposefully sever binding promises, or in his case a contract. He was loyal to a fault and he was afraid that he was being hypocritical. Was it just for him to join this side?
Throughout the night he was trying to justify why he aligned himself with the arrogant and careless gods. "It's just to survive. If I don't choose a side, both of them will come after me and what I care for" Percy thought to himself. For the millionth time of many times, he felt lonely. No one present to give him wisdom or guidance if his decision was correct.
"It is the right choice. You will eventually learn to respect them and dissolve of your hate. They might not the best of rulers, but they are the better option of the two. Perseus my child, maybe eventually you could change their perceptions, but only through example of sincerity and goodness. Do not expect change to occur in so little time, for they are ageless. It may take an eternity for them to change or none at all. But do not give up hope my child" A loving and convincing voice rang in his head. He recognized that voice, it was his mother. He escaped his tent and looked at the full moon. The moon lit the night and darkness that befell the earth, and he had a sense that his mother, although faded, still lingered in the moon. The moon's light was magnified more so than any another night he had ever witnessed. His mom was giving him reassurance and watching him…
A/N Umm, so sorry for not updating. It was almost a month since I updated, but not exactly. Anyways I finally finished my fall semester and it went pretty well. But of course, my Accounting professor had to ruin my straight A streak by giving me a B+. So, I was really irritated at him for that fact. But I can't complain it went well, exceptionally well actually.
On another note I commenced Drivers Ed which is in the morning so I will still update during this small break. I hope you enjoy the update. I had severe writers block so yeah that explains the slow chapter. It's pretty uneventful and I thought an introduction was justified between Percy and Artemis at this point so yeah.
As you can tell, the next chapter will consist of them traveling to Camp Half-Blood and the capture the flag game. I will try to make it interesting, but I'm awful at describing fight or battle scenes.
Also, for this arc, Perseus will indeed accompany the questers on the quests. But still I'm going to make the quest difficult for them. Some twists and turns may occur I do not know yet. I have to plan that out.
PS: Like always pardon my bad grammar mistakes and sentence structure.
Review and tell me what's going on.