The Hunter's Heir

Chapter Twenty-Five: Answers

Looking back, I should have seen it coming. I mean, really—fire-based powers and nearly exact looks? Should have figured it out. Children of Artemis, Hera, and Hestia. I almost laughed. Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke.

Still, I was surprised. As was Melony.

She stared, unblinking, for what felt like an hour. Then she balled her fists up and the grass around her began to smoke.

"So what?" she asked, voice shaking. "You think I'll come running to you like I'm a child who stubbed her toe? Not happening, bitch."

Hestia looked hurt. "Melony…"

"Don't call me that. Don't call me anything. In fact, don't even talk to me." She scoffed. "Not like you need my permission for that—it's all you've done for the past thirteen years. Where were you when I was being bounced around the foster care system? Where were you when I cried myself to sleep, thinking I'd never find a family? Where were you the last month, when I was in almost constant danger? Hmm? Where were you? Tell me!"

"I couldn't speak to you because it's forbidden by Zeus. Gods are not allowed to speak to their children directly. Besides, I have sworn to be an eternal virgin; I am forbidden from having children."

"Then why have me?"

"Because there is a war coming, M—child. My brother refuses to acknowledge it, but the Titans are stirring. There will be great strife amongst the gods. While I tend to the hearth on Olympus, you must do so here."

"What, keep everyone happy and loving and sweet? Have you met me? Oh, wait, you haven't. The only reason we're speaking now is because I made it here in one piece. Tell me—if I hadn't made it, would you have ever contacted me?"

When Hestia didn't say anything, Mel scoffed and turned on her heel. "Come on, guys. 'Tend to the hearth'…you don't know a thing about me."

"I know you can see things in flames."

She stopped, turned, and said, "What?"

"I know you burned down the first two foster homes you lived in. You blamed yourself, even though the hellhounds that found you left you no choice. I know you go to sleep every night, terrified you'll burn down your surroundings and kill someone. I know you can't control your powers, and that's why you try to stay calm—your powers get out of control when you experience strong emotions."

Mel swallowed.

"Look," Hestia continued, "I know you don't like me. I get it, really. But…let me help. I can teach you how to control your abilities. You don't need to be afraid anymore, Melony. Please, just…think about it?"

Melony turned on her heel, and we followed.

-o-

"How's everything going?"

The cabin counselors and I were gathered around the ping pong table in the rec room. Dionysus was there too, lounging on a couch eating grapes.

"Half of my cabin's on patrol right now," Sherman Yang said. "They only have a few hours left till their shift's over."

"My guy'll take over after that," Malcolm said.

"Good," I said. "Make sure they're ready for anything; we have no idea how long until Clarisse gets back."

"But if monsters do get through," Beckendorf said, "my cabin's set up traps along the perimeter of the camp."

"They won't hurt us, will they?" Katie asked.

"No. They're hooked up to an activation switch I keep on me at all times. Only time they'll be armed is if I enter the kill code."

"What if something happens to you?" Lee asked.

"Jake and Nyssa have back-ups. We've also started setting up defensive blockades inside the camp's borders. Monsters will have a hard time getting through them if they get past the patrols and traps."

"And we've camouflaged our nasty surprises," Silena said. "Only way they'll know they've activated a trap is if they step on it, and by that time it'll be too late."

"How are we doing on medicine and food?" Malcolm asked. "Do we have enough for everyone?"

"Not yet," Lee confessed. "But my guys'll have enough in a week or two."

"What if we don't last a week?"

"We will," Castor said. "We've got enough food to keep us fed for a few days if we all bunker down in here. I'm sure help will come by then."

It went on like that for about another hour before the meeting was adjourned. I admit, I was surprised so many people were willing to lend a hand, even putting aside old rivalries. I guess crises bring out the best in people.

Melony and Jason were sparring in the arena with the other Hermes cabin members. I joined them.

"You guys mind?"

"Not at all," Mel said. "Jay, why don't you take a break? I wanna see how good Hunter is with a sword."

"Sure," he said, going to sit down.

I picked up a practice sword and gave it a few swings. I wasn't normally good with swords, but I doubted Mel was either.

We came together, hacking and slashing at each other. "So," I said. "You thought about you-know-who's advice?"

"Yeah," she said.

"And?"

"…I think I'm gonna do it. I'm tired of being afraid of what I can do. I wanna be better."

"Well, I don't really think you should advertise your sessions."

"Why not?"

"You heard her—she isn't supposed to have kids. I'm pretty sure if you go around announcing it you'll cause some major problems upstairs. Same goes for you, Jay.:

"I know," he said. "Last thing I need is Zeus getting his lightning bolts in a twist."

"Is that why you haven't told anyone who you are?"

"Exactly." And because I hate her. "But if she claims you publicly, then I don't really think you need to keep it a secret 'cause…why bother, you know?"

"Yeah, I know." She wiped sweat off her brow. "Hey, Jay, why don't you step in? I need to sit down for a bit."

"You got it."

I smiled. "Think you can take me, cow boy?"

"We'll see."

With that, we charged.

-o-

Melony and Jason adjusted pretty well to camp. Melony spent most of her free time with Hestia, training in secret, while Jay tended to hang around the arena and practice against the training dummies. When we didn't have free time we'd stay with the Hermes cabin, who welcomed us with open arms.

It was free time now, and Mel and Jay were off doing their own things.

Meanwhile, I was dealing with something of my own…

Tantalus was bound and gagged in a small utility closet in the bottom floor of the Big House. He was sleeping, with a black band over his eyes.

"You have five minutes," said Mr. D, scratching his chin. "Then I want him out of here."

"Where should I put him?"

He shrugged. "Doesn't really matter to me, long as he's out of here."

I chewed the inside of my cheek. Not a whole lot of time. "Can I have fifteen minutes?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Ten."

"Thirteen."

"Eleven."

"Twelve."

"…fine." He turned to walk out the door. "Oh, and I want that dog of yours gone."

Winter growled, but a hand on her head calmed her. "Once I'm done, she'll be out of here. Sir."

He sighed. "Very well. If it sheds anywhere, you'll be cleaning it up."

"Okay."

He left, closing the basement door behind him.

I picked up a bucket of mop water and dumped it onto the sleeping Tantalus. He jerked awake, thrashing about. I kicked him in the chin and he settled down. I grabbed his shirt collar and pulled the blindfold off.

He made a muffled sound that I assumed what the word "You."

"Me," I said, pulling his gag off. "I have some questions. You're going to answer them."

"Or what?" he spat.

I murmered a word, and Winter's jaw locked on Tantalus's hand. There was a snap and a scream as she bit one of his fingers off.

"Or that," I said. "And much worse. Answer my questions, and I'll leave you alone. Understand?"

"…What do you want to know?"

"Only one thing. Simple, really—you should have no trouble telling me." I leaned in close. "What does Niobe want with me?"

-o-

Things turned around for us almost immediately. We were all eating dinner as the sun was setting. Half of the Ares cabin was on guard duty, and half the Athena cabin was getting ready for their shift, so they weren't accounted for. Mr. D was sitting at table twelve with his sons Castor and Pollux; Tantalus was tied up at their table too, with an apple in his mouth.

Looking at him made my stomach roll. His left eye was swollen and purple, his lip was cracked, and three of his fingers were missing. A tooth had also been knocked out of his mouth, and underneath his jumpsuit were large purple welts.

You should have told me right away, I thought. Then I would've been merciful.

It had taken hours, but finally Tantalus had revealed what he knew of Niobe's plans. The thought of it still sent a shiver down my spine.* Don't think about it. You're at camp now; you're safe.

We had already sacrificed a portion of our food to the gods when the air in the center of the half-circle of tables began to shimmer. Everyone stopped talking and looked at the shimmering air. It slowly formed into an image: someone's back was toward us, and in front of him were two familiar faces being restrained and surrounded by monsters.

"Who is that?" Jason asked.

"Quiet," I hissed.

"…time for heroics, Percy," said the image of Luke Castellan, son of Hermes. "Drop your puny little sword, or I'll have you killed sooner rather than later."

"Who poisoned Thalia's tree, Luke?" asked Percy.

"I did, of course," he snarled. "I already told you that. I used elder python venom, straight from the depths of Tartarus."

"Chiron had nothing to do with it?"

I felt a smile spread across my face. You mad genius!

"Ha! You know he would never do that. The old fool wouldn't have the guts."

"You call it guts? Betraying your friends? Endangering the whole camp?"

Luke raised his sword. "You don't understand the half of it. I was going to let you take the Fleece...once I was done with it."

"You were going to heal Kronos," Percy said.

"Yes! The Fleece's magic would've sped his mending process by tenfold. But you haven't stopped us, Percy. You've only slowed us down a little."

"And so you poisoned the tree, you betrayed Thalia, you set us up—all to help Kronos destroy the gods."

"You know that! Why do you keep asking me?"

"Because I want everybody in the audience to hear you."

"What audience?"

Then he turned and saw us, as did his whole crew. I saw monsters I'd never seen before; and some old friends: Anna, daughter of Aphrodite, and Damien, son of Ares. They were looking at us with wide eyes.

"Well," said Dionysus dryly, popping open a can of diet coke, "some unplanned dinner entertainment."

"Mr. D, you heard him," Percy said. "You all heard Luke. The poisoning of the tree wasn't Chiron's fault."

Mr. D sighed. "I suppose not."

Tantalus wriggled uncomfortably, trying to say something over his gag, but his roped held him tight and the apple kept him quiet.

Mr. D looked at him with distaste. "It appears I shall have to reinstate Chiron as activities director. I suppose I do miss the old horse's pinochle games." He took a sip of his soda. ""We are no longer in need of your services, Tantalus." He waved a hand. "You may return to the Underworld. You are dismissed."

Tantalus tried to cry something, but nobody could understand him. He turned to mist and disslolved, leaving his ropes and apple behind. Everyone exploded into cheers.

Luke bellowed with rage. He slashed his sword through the Iris-message, cutting off the connection.

"I don't get it," Mel said. "Who was that?"

"That," I said, smiling, "was Percy Jackson."

At the Apollo cabin, Lee Fletcher got to his feet. "You heard him," he called when the cheering died down. "Percy and Chiron are on their way with the Golden Fleece, I'm sure of it. Let's make sure there's still a camp for them when they get back, yeah?"

The camp exploded into cheers again.

-o-

We didn't have to wait long.

They arrived a few hours later. The single horn blast echoed over Camp Half-Blood, and we all rushed to the top of the hill. Clarisse arrived first, with Percy, Annabeth, Grover, the cyclops—Tyson, his name is Tyson—Chiron, and over two dozen other centaurs arriving about five minutes later.

The moment Clarisse draped the Golden Fleece over the lowest bough, the moonlight seemed to brighten, turning from gray to liquid silver. A cool breeze rustled in the branches and rippled through the grass, all the way into the valley. Everything came into sharper focus—the glow of the fireflies down in the woods, the smell of the straw-berry fields, the sound of the waves on the beach.

Gradually, the needles on the pine tree started turning from brown to green.

Everybody cheered. It was happening slowly, but there could be no doubt—the Fleece's magic was seeping into the tree, filling it with new power and expelling the poison.

Chiron ordered double the patrols around the tree, at least until a proper guardian could be found. He complemented me on setting up the defenses in the first place.

"It wasn't just me, sir," I said. "It was all of us."

He smiled. "Then it would seem I have all of you to thank for keeping my camp safe while I was gone."

"Yeah. It's good to have you back, Chiron."

"It is good to be back, Hunter. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to contact Olympus and see about finding a new guardian for our tree."

When he left, I went and found Annabeth and Percy.

"Good to see you two back in one piece," I said, throwing my arms over their shoulders.

"You too," Percy said, smiling. "I thought for sure Tantalus would've kicked you out."

"Oh, he did. Yep, I got kicked out. Oh, don't look at me like that, I knew what I was getting into. Besides, I had these A-holes"—a pointed over my shoulder at Melony and Jason, who stood behind me—"to help me out. This is Jason…"

"You can call me Jay," he said, inclining his head.

"…and this is Mel."

"Hello," said the daughter of Hestia. (Still getting used to that.) "I've heard a lot about you guys."

"Good things, hopefully," Annabeth said.

"Maybe," Mel said, eyes shimmering.

Those two are gonna get along great. "Look, nobody'll say it, so I will—thanks for bringing the Fleece back. You saved camp."

"It wasn't just us," Percy said. "Clarisse did most of it."

"Still, you played a part."

"So did Tyson," Percy said, looking at his cyclops brother, who stood a few feet away from us.

I turned to him. After everything I'd been through in the last few weeks, I supposed there could be good monsters. "I suppose he did." I extended an arm. "Thanks, Tyson. And…I'm sorry for how I treated you."

"We are friends?" he asked, looking at my hand in reverence.

"Uh, sure, big guy. We're friends."

"Yay!" He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. I saw Jay looking amused. Oh, you are going to get it.

When he put me down, I took a step back. "You know, my friend Jay here really loves hugs. You mind giving him some love?"

"Okay!"

Jay had a second to panic before he was picked up and crushed against Tyson. I hate you, he mouthed, while Mel laughed next to him.

I turned back to Percy and Annabeth. "You guys seen Grover? I need to talk to him."

"Yeah," Percy said, "he should be right…over…here…" Grover was nowhere in sight. "Hmm. I have no idea where he is."

"He probably just went to check in on his family," Annabeth said. "I'm sure you'll see him soon."

"Yeah," I said, not quite focused on her. "I'm sure I will too."

In the meantime, Clarisse was carried on her cabin mates' shoulders down to the amphitheater, where she was honored with a laurel wreath and a lot of celebrating around the campfire.

The next morning, another chariot race was held, much to everyone's surprise. Percy and Annabeth ended up winning, much to my own amusement. (Will Solace ended up eating his shirt collar he was so angry.)

Grover announced that he'd be able to spend the rest of the summer with us before resuming his quest for Pan. His bosses at the Council of Cloven Elders were so impressed that he hadn't gotten himself killed and had cleared the way for future searchers, that they granted him a two-month furlough and a new set of reed pipes. The only bad news: Grover insisted on playing those pipes all afternoon long, and his musical skills hadn't improved much. He played "YMCA," and the strawberry plants started going crazy, wrapping around our feet like they were trying to strangle us. I couldn't blame them.

Percy also said that he would be returning to his mom's to attend school—apparently Chiron had pulled some strings and gotten his incident from earlier in the summer erased. He'd be staying with us till the end of August, then return home after his birthday.

"Annabeth and I will keep your cabin clean," I said.

"We will?"

"Yes," I said, "we will. Just try not to blow up any more school buildings."

"As long as you don't get yourself kicked out again."

I laughed. "No promises."

As for Tyson, everyone treated him like a hero. Unfortunately, it wasn't for very long. He left a few days later, just before dinner. Percy was really bummed, but he was happy too. He and Mel started sword training together, and both were improving greatly.

I had to laugh internally. Fire and water…who knew they could be so good together?

Then everything went sideways.

-o-

A storm raged that night, but it parted around Camp Half-Blood as storms usually did. Lightning flashed against the horizon, waves pounded the shore, but not a drop fell in our valley. We were protected again, thanks to the Fleece, sealed inside our magical borders.

My dreams were jumbled and messy. I saw Niobe standing in between four large pillars topped with torches. Orion stood behind her, sharpening his arrows. Then I was Winter, hiding from the storm by hiding under a bunk bed. Something was wrong. Then I heard a voice in my head:

WAKE!

My eyes shot open. I saw Grover and Percy running outside, heading for Half-Blood Hill. I ripped off my sleeping bag and ran after them, stepping on two or three people on my way out.

Dawn was just breaking, but the whole camp seemed to be stirring. Word was spreading. Something huge had happened. A few campers were already making their way toward the hill, satyrs and nymphs and heroes in a weird mix of armor and pajamas.

I saw Chiron run by, Percy and Grover on his back.

The Athena cabin had first watch tonight. They were dressed in armor, their weapons sheathed at their sides.

I expected to see the Fleece missing from the pine tree, but it was still there, glittering in the first light of dawn. The storm had broken and the sky was blood-red. There at the base of the tree, a girl was lying unconscious. Another girl in Greek armor was kneeling next to her.

"Percy," I asked, shoving my way to him. "What's going on?"

"I…" His voice cracked. "I don't know."

Annabeth was there, her helmet off, kneeling next to the girl on the ground. When Annabeth saw us, she ran to Chiron. "It...she...just suddenly there..."

Suddenly Percy rushed forward, ignoring Chiron's cry to get back, and knelt next to the girl on the ground.

She had short black hair and freckles across her nose. She was built like a long-distance runner, lithe and strong, and she wore clothes that were somewhere between punk and Goth—a black T-shirt, black tattered jeans, and a leather jacket with buttons from a bunch of bands I'd never heard of.

She wasn't a camper. I didn't recognize her from any of the cabins. But I knew her…

The presence in the tree, a voice whispered. Then I remembered. A year ago, I'd felt a presence stir within the tree. But the only presence in the tree is—

Oh gods, I thought. It can't be.

"It's true," Grover said, panting from his run up the hill. "I can't believe..."

Nobody else came close to the girl.

Percy put his hand on her forehead. "She needs nectar and ambrosia," he said.

He took her by the shoulders and lifted her into sitting position, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Come on!" he yelled to the others. "What's wrong with you people? Let's get her to the Big House."

No one moved, not even Chiron. They were all too stunned.

Then the girl took a shaky breath. She coughed and opened her eyes.

Her irises were startlingly blue—electric blue. Annabeth sucked in a breath.

The girl stared at him in bewilderment, shivering and wild-eyed. "Who—"

"I'm Percy," he said. "You're safe now."

"Strangest dream ..."

"It's okay."

"Dying."

"No," I assured her. "You're okay. What's your name?"

Understanding came just a second before the girl spoke:

"I am Thalia, daughter of Zeus."

Gods above…

-o-

Everything after that was a blur. I remembered Chiron taking Thalia, daughter of Zeus inside the Big House with the cabin counselors for a debriefing; to let Thalia know what had happened and to discuss possible plans for the future. Mr. D (who had been woken up by the noise) rudely told everyone to go to bed or else. Most of us went. Most of us.

"Hunter," Melony asked, grabbing my elbow. Lyla Mitchell, a third-year camper, was leading the Hermes cabin away. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," I said, "but it's big. Go with everyone else and stay in the cabin."

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine. I just…need to deal with something."

"But—"

"Melony, please. Just trust me."

Reluctantly, she let go of my elbow. "Good luck," she murmured, hurrying after the rest of our cabin.

"Thanks," I said, even though she couldn't hear me.

The storm was still raging above us, the winds blowing the trees and leaves like crazy. Two crows stood on branches above me, cawing.

I found Grover in front of the forest, muttering to himself and pacing. "This is big," he was saying. "This is big, this is really really really big."

"Grover."

He jumped. "H-Hunter. Hey, Hunter—hi, Hunter. W-what's up?"

"You've been avoiding me."

His eyes flicked left and right. "What? No I haven't, that's crazy talk. Um, can you tell your wolf to go away."

I turned. Sure enough, Winter was standing just behind me. Didn't even hear her. I turned back. "I have some questions."

He swallowed. "L-look, Hunter, I'd love to help but I—"

My hand shot out and grabbed his shirt collar. I pressed him against the tree behind him, then leaned in close. "Listen to me, you gibbering coward. As happy as I am that you're back, I won't let you escape this. It's simple—answer my questions, and I'll let you go. Try and run away or refuse, and I'll be serving mutton at the next meal. Understand?"

He nodded quickly.

"Good." I dropped him. "Why have you been avoiding me? Why have all the nature spirits been avoiding me?"

He rubbed his neck. "Hunter, you know we're friends, but I…you…"

I held out my arm. "Does it have to do with this?" I showed him the mark—two circles, one smaller than the other, intersected by six lines seared into my skin.

He whimpered and looked up, eyes wide and full of fear. "Hunter, that mark, it's…it's evil, and only evil people have it."

"What does it mean?"

He stood up, using the tree for balance. "It's a sign from the gods used to identify…people like you."

"Like me?" Has Artemis had more bastards that she never told me about?

"…Skinwalkers." He hissed the word out, like he was afraid someone was watching. A crow cawed above us as the wind continued to howl.

"They're bad?"

"Yes," he said frantically. "Well, not at first. In the beginning, they were nature spirits—nymphs and satyrs and stuff—who could control animals. Like…like you." He pointed to Winter. "They weren't all bad. Then…then they figured out they could skinchange trees too."

I raised an eyebrow. "Trees?"

"Mm-hmm. See into their life-force and stuff. That was really bad. Then the power got passed to humans when they chased down the nymphs who could do it. They were able to control us, Hunter. Through the roots and trees. See things they weren't supposed to see. Inhabit the minds and bodies of nymphs. To take over another being's consciousness…Hunter, to a nature spirit, that's evil. Wrong. It's…it's…it's…"

"…an abomination," I whispered.

He nodded once, rubbing his neck. "Yeah. That's what we call it. Abomination."

* Niobe's master plan will be expanded on in later ACTs.

A/N: Okay, that's part II. Please leave a review telling me what you thought—good, bad, okay, amazing, all are good. Don't be afraid to ask questions either, just don't be perturbed if I don't answer straight away.

Speaking of, I'll be away from this story for a few months. Since this is wrapped up, I'll be going on a little break before starting a new story. Once that's done, then I'll start writing part III. Just…be patient. I'm not abandoning this story (I never will), I'm just going on a hiatus. If you get tired of waiting, feel free to read some of my other stories if you're so inclined.

My next story will be called "The Outcast." Here's the description:

"When a son of Zeus by the Titan Metis is born, he is cast into the deepest parts of Erebus by his father, fearful that he might one day overthrow him. But when Kronos threatens to rise again, the shackles that bind Meraxes are cast off, and he joins their cause in an attempt to overthrow the man who caused him centuries of pain and torment, and the sister who let it happen."

If that looks interesting, feel free to read it. If not, then be patient. Hunter's story will continue, and several dynamics will change as it goes on. Until then, I will see you all next time.

Bye!