Chapter 10: The Hunt (For Love)
Phoebe's POV
After things calmed down when Thalia and I got back, we went on a Hunt. Lycaon has been sending in his wolves again, so we're hunting him down so we can stop him. But everytime we stop him, it's only temporary, he never just gives up. Sure, it gives us a purpose, but we have other important things to do too. For instance, that stupid Dr. Thorn still hasn't died and Artemis now has a personal vendetta with him. He took an innocent girl with him as a captive to his master, so that's one problem Artemis has with him, plus, if he hadn't used Annabeth and taken him with her, Artemis probably wouldn't have even held up the sky, and Zoë would still be alive. Stupid monster.
"Ouch! That's my foot you clutz!" Fiona screamed at Thalia.
"What are you talking about?" Thalia seemed confused.
"You put a bear trap on my foot and then unclenched it, and now you're hiding it with the mist!" Fiona was angry.
"No I didn't, and if I were using the mist, Artemis would know." Thalia looked agitated.
"Be quiet, you'll give away our position!" Artemis whispered.
"If it wasn't Thalia who hurt Fiona, then they might already be here..." I suggested.
And the blood dripping down Fiona's leg was coming from a bite-shaped wound. Everyone suddenly froze in fear.
"You are right Phoebe, nice to see the Huntresses are getting smarter." Lycaon growled.
Everyone gasped and turned to see Lycaon with a pack of his wolves.
"Artemis." Lycaon respectfully greeted.
"Lycaon." Artemis returned the favor.
"And where is that horrible little daughter of Atlas? To afraid to face me again?" Lycaon got a sickening grin.
"If I remember correctly, she won against you, so why would she be afraid?" Artemis countered.
"Many reasons. I want a rematch, so where is she?" Lycaon snarled.
"Dead. Atlas killed her." Fiona was shaking with fear.
"Dead, eh? Well who's the new first lieutenant?" Lycaon grinned again.
"I am." Thalia walked forward confidently.
"Then you shall take her place." Lycaon prepared to pounce.
The wolves looked hungry, like they wanted to eat us.
"Fine. I have a reputation to live up to now." Thalia agreed.
Then Lycaon tried to pounce, but Thalia manipulated the mist so Lycaon landed five feet to the left.
"A worthy opponent." Lycaon winced as he got up.
He tried to strike again, but Thalia shit an arrow into his shoulder.
"Gah!" Lycaon roared.
"I'm more than worthy." Thalia retorted.
Lycaon growled, told his wolves to attack, and started to pounce on Thalia. But before he could land on her, I shot an arrow straight into his heart. His eyes widened, he whined, and he landed away from his target. He whined like a dying animal and disappeared in a cloud of yellow smoke. His wolves panicked and ran.
"Impressive." Thalia commented.
"Thanks." I sighed.
"Well done, now you get the same reward Zoë got when she defeated Lycaon." Artemis looked relieved.
"What's that?" Thalia asked.
"Anything she wants. Lycaon's extremely hard to kill, so Huntresses can get a large reward." Artemis explained.
Anything?
"How do you define anything? Like breaking vows anything? All hypothetical of course." I questioned.
This could be my only chance.
"You can find a loopull to your situation." Artemis smiled sadly.
"We'll have to talk about it later, Lycaon's wolves are attacking for revenge!" Chloe started running.
Then we saw a bunch of wolves coming to attack us from a hill.
"Run!" Thalia yelled.
"Every girl for herself!" Fiona screamed.
Then we all started running and screaming. We got to a deep part of the woods where Artemis, Thalia, and I hid in a tree.
"In case something happens, I need you to grant my reward, please." I begged in a whisper.
"Just ask for it, and I'll grant it." Artemis whispered back.
"Let me be exempt from the no boys policy. So I can date, get married if it goes that far, and possibly children. Let me break my vows and still be a Huntress." I begged.
"You have to keep it a secret, if Zeus finds out, he'll make me revoke it somehow." Artemis pleaded.
"Deal." I agreed.
"Deal." Artemis held her hand out.
I took it and I felt something change inside of me. I could feel again. Love that is, the other feelings never left. But love hit me like a ton of bricks, especially the heartbreak. I started crying because I could feel my heartbreak all over again.
"Phoebe, are you okay?" Thalia looked worried.
"It hurts so much. All over again." I was whimpering.
I haven't whimpered since he hurt me.
"I promise it will pass. I promise." Artemis looked like she knew from experience.
In a way, she did.
"He left me for him." I was crying.
"I know. I'm the one who came to you afterwards, remember?" Artemis reminded me.
She did. She came to me as I cried by the beach watching as Ganymede left with Zeus.
"It's alright child. I understand that my father is a fool for stealing your loved one, but you must not dwell on it. If Ganymede chose Zeus over you, he is not worthy of you, he is adulterous and cruel. Come with me and become a Huntress." Artemis had said.
And I had seen Zoë standing not too far away and saw the pain and anger flash in her eyes.
"Alright, Lady Artemis." I had agreed.
And then I had become a Hunter.
The pain is slowly receding. I just had to catch up on a few thousand years worth of pain.
"A man left her for another man?" Thalia looked a little surprised.
"Ganymede." Artemis only had to say his name.
"Oh. That makes sense then." Thalia looked a little less surprised.
"Come on, I think the wolves are gone, and we should round up the others so we can get back to our camp." I suggested.
I don't want to talk about Ganymede.
"Okay." They both agreed.
So the day ended with me being allowed to date, Thalia's furst Hunt, and Fiona's screwed up leg. I loved today.
Connor's POV
Today was fun, but I want to see Phoebe soon. Mom, Travis, and Chris have all noticed my distractedness and smiled knowingly. I'll see her again soon though. The thought makes me smile.