A/N: I've decided to try updating my stories every other day: The Bloodied Rose one day and The Golden-Eyed Swordsman the next. I'm putting The Collective Madness of All on hold for a while, and thinking of stopping the Split-Off. If one of you guys wants to continue the Split-Off, just message me. I'll send you the documents.
Chapter 26- Moonlight Madness
Percy's POV
"We just decided it was the most practical decision to make." Saracen said, looking into my eyes, "And you approve. I can see it."
"Got me there, Sara." I replied, and turned to Artemis, "So, four new members in one day, huh?"
"It appears so." Artemis led the way back to her tent, where we all sat down. Thalia was there, too, as the Lieutenant.
"I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt." Gwen said.
"You already know the vow?" Thalia asked, surprised.
"I was curious." Arin answered, "Percy told me."
"Then I accept your oath." Gwen started glowing now, stronger then Piper, as Gwen was more. . . .experienced with her power.
"Arin?" Thalia prompted.
"I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt." vowed Arin.
"I accept your oath, Arin." Arin was even brighter then Gwen, even more powerful.
"I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt." Saracen said, looking a little jittery.
"And I accept your oath as well, Saracen." Artemis replied, "Percy spoke very highly of you. Of all of you."
Just as things started to go right, they went way wrong. Saracen screamed like something was being ripped out of her, then toppled over. Her body started glowing with moonlight, brighter and brighter.
I cursed, "Get out of here!"
"What?" Artemis was startled, "This never happened before."
"I know. Get out now!" I shouted, while desperately trying to think of a solution.
Thalia tried to stay, but Arin and Gwen dragged her out.
This is bad, to say the least. I need some way to shelter her from the light, or to dampen the. . . that's it!
I took a little bottle from the pouch at my waist, poured most of it into Saracen's mouth, then forced her to swallow. Almost immediately, her skin dimmed, getting back to imaginable levels.
Well, that worked. Somewhat.
I laid her on the cushions in Artemis' tent. Her skin was hot to the touch, as if she had been in a sauna for a few hours.
Shaking my head, I walked out of the tent, and immediately into Artemis.
"What was that?" she demanded, "That has never happened before."
"That's because you haven't had a daughter." I could see nods and looks of worry on Gwen's and Arin's face as they figured it out. "Saracen is a daughter of Selene."
Thalia gasped, but Artemis didn't seem surprised, "And?"
"Her "power" for want of a better word, is that in the moonlight, she's faster, stronger, etc." I said, "Your blessing, or whatever you did, makes her produce moonlight. It's continually absorbed, and used to create more. Saracens body was literally feeding on itself. It would keep ramping up and up, until she turns to ash."
"Judging by your mood, I'm guessing she isn't ash." Thalia commented, "What did you do?"
"You all know about the gunk I drink, right?" I asked, and they all nodded, "Well, when finding out how to make the energy drink, I also found a way to dampen it. No use in a fight, of course, as they have to drink it. I kept some on hand in case I drank too much of the goop, just to prevent myself from getting any nasty side effects."
"Is Saracen ok?" Gwen questioned me.
"I don't know. It's all basically theoretical right now. Saracen is unconscious, with a fever and who knows what else. I put her down on the cushions." I glanced apologetically at Artemis when I said that.
"It's alright. Move her to the infirmary tent." Artemis ordered.
I nodded, and walked in with Arin and Gwen. Together, we all lifted her up and, me in the lead, moved her to the medical tent.
There was only one other occupant there, a Hunter that was hit by a rock before I could scatter the mob. She hadn't waken up yet, either. The Hunter was physically fine, she was just unconscious
Looking around, I found a good old-fashioned thermometer, and stuck it in Saracen's mouth. She twitched a little, but nothing more. One-twelve degrees Fahrenheit. In other words, a real nasty fever. And I couldn't even heal it!
"I don't suppose you have any experience with this?" I raised an eyebrow at Artemis, who shook her head.
"No, but I know somewhat who does." Artemis replied, then shouted at the top of her lungs, "Apollo! Get down here!"
Seconds later, he appeared, "Geez, sis. Try not to break my eardrums."
"Cure her." Artemis ordered, pointing at Saracen.
"What's wrong?" Apollo laid a hand on her forehead, "Hmm. Fever, no reason though. It's just there."
"That would make sense. Saracen's a daughter of Selene." I said. Apollo nodded in understanding.
"You know, Zeus ordered us not to help you guys." Apollo said while he was working, then stepped backwards, "I have my own ideas. I've done all I can, but I don't know whether she'll make it."
"Thanks." Artemis said in replied, "And I'm still the older one."
"You just keep thinking that." Apollo said, "But everyone knows I'm older."
With that, Apollo flashed away, and I rushed over to Saracen's side. Her forehead was still burning up.
I looked around the tent, trying to find some wet cloth, or something similar. Obviously, if there was any conventional remedy, Apollo would've healed her. Now? The best I could do was try to cool her down, and hope she lives.
Finally, I laid my hands on a box of clean white cloth, and I rushed back. Thalia had already left, but Artemis was still standing there, looking down at Saracen with concern.
Exerting my will over water, I soaked a few of the linens and put them on Saracen's forehead and neck.
"What can we do?" Artemis asked, puzzled at my actions. "Apollo couldn't cure her."
"Anything. Maybe we can't cure her." I said, "You Olympians. You're all the same: you just assume there's only one possible way to do everything."
"Hey!" Artemis protested, "I am nothing like most of the other Olympians!"
"You're all gods!" I shouted, turning, "You never think about what we can- will- do. You just assume if a high and mighty deity can't solve it, nothing else can help."
Artemis slapped me, hard, then stormed out of the tent."
"Ugh, now what am I going to do?" I asked out loud, looking at Saracen, who was still lying on the bed. There was another question, one that I didn't want to think about: What if she dies?
I sat down on a low stool, right beside the bed and watched her, hoping she would just wake up. No dice. If wishing was the only requirement for something happening, the world would be seriously screwed up.
Suddenly, Saracen gasped for breath. I looked up, shocked, but she was still either unconscious or asleep.
"You will get better, Sara." I murmured, taking her hand, "I didn't train with you four years so you could die on me here."
I just sat there, looking at her, motionless. Minutes ticked by, then hours. Finally, Artemis came up to me.
"It's time for you to guard." Artemis spoke softly, "You can't help her."
"You wouldn't understand, Artemis." I replied, then whistled at the top of my lungs. Mrs. o' Leary jumped out of a shadow outside of the tent, a good thing so, since she would've filled the tent. "Mrs. o' Leary'll tell me if anything's wrong."
"So now you've tamed a hellhound, too?" Artemis raised an eyebrow.
I chuckled, lifelessly, "She was Daedalus'. Kept him sane in the Labyrinth, and did the same for me in the Underworld. Can't say I like many dogs, but then again, most dogs aren't hellhounds."
Artemis nodded, then left the tent. I felt momentarily guilty, then dread crept over me again. I wished the Saracen would either die now, or wake up. I was being tortured by all this waiting.
I could hear Mrs. o' Leary scratching and licking herself, then stuck her head through the door, looking at Saracen.
"Hey, girl." I said without any real feeling, and scratched her snout, "Saracen'll be ok. It's enough that I have to worry. I don't want you to, too."
In the Underworld, Saracen had grown to love Mrs. o' Leary as much as I did, and vice versa. I wondered if a hellhound was smart enough to see someone quite possibly dying.
Throughout the night, I babbled occasionally, usually pleas not to die, or wake up. I was too anguished to even remember the gunk I carried, so I got more and more drowsy.
The night passed, and the sun started peeking through the tent flap. I heard the moon chariot come in for a landing, so I sent Mrs. o' Leary back to her home in the Underworld. As soon as the wall of fur was gone from the doorway, Artemis walked in again.
"Nothing?"
"She's still alive." I said forcefully, "That has to be something."
"Saracen will be fine, Perseus." Artemis tried to comfort me, placing her hand on my shoulder.
"Don't call me Perseus!" I snapped back at her. "Just . . . go play with your Hunters. I'll be here for a while yet."
"How long?"
"As long as it takes." I replied, turning back to Saracen's still body. Not body. Just Saracen. She isn't dead yet, and won't be if I can help it.
About fifteen minutes later, Piper entered, looking nervous.
"Uh, hey, Percy." Piper started, "Artemis sent me to ask you to make breakfast."
"And they sent the youngest Hunter?" I questioned, "To look cute, or so that if I killed anyone, it wouldn't be someone overwhelmingly important?"
She laughed nervously, but I found no humor, "What do you want?"
"Anything?" Piper asked me.
"Anything you want." I replied, looking at her with tired eyes, "Nothing extremely fancy, nothing your father would get you. Or am I wrong in assuming you're father's Tristan?"
"H-How?" Piper stuttered.
"Best explanation. Your father attracted Aphrodite, but no gods are loyal to those they like. She leaves, your father tries to attract her again, then turns on you, as if it was your fault. Over the years, it gets worse. He starts hitting you, and when you can't take it anymore, you run." I paused, "I've heard it happen before. Ask Thalia."
"It isn't just me?" Piper gasped.
"No." I responded, "The gods have been doing it for centuries. One of the consistent things about the gods is that they never take the bullet. It's always the poor mortals who they become infatuated with."
"Oh."
"Yep. The more famous the mortal, the worse, usually." I said, "Movie star? You're either very lucky or strong if it took that long. What'll you have for breakfast again?"
"What?" Piper looked startled, then her face cleared, "Oh yeah, we'll have waffles and bacon."
Concentrating for a few second, I made thirty-four servings appear on the table.
"It's there now." I informed Piper, and she was surprised yet again, "Yes, I can do that. Now, get eating."
"I hope she gets better." Piper said, "I really do."
"I do too." Piper exited the tent, leaving me alone with Saracen and my thoughts again.
Line Break
Arin's POV
"Bro?" I shook Percy on the shoulder, bringing him back to reality, "How's she doing?"
"I don't know." I've never seen him look so. . . defeated before, "I just don't know."
"Saracen'll get better." Gwen piped up, "You're looking after her."
"I wish I could have the same faith as you do, Gwen." Percy said, his voice drained of emotion, "You were always cheerful."
Percy drifted off again, lost in memories, so I shook him again, "We need our bows and whatnot."
"Of course." Percy said, then teleported us to his/our house in the Underworld. Moving quickly, we retrieved everything we needed, then waited. Two minutes later, we reappeared in the infirmary tent.
"She's in for a surprise." Percy perked up a little, but slumped, "Make me proud."
"I will, Percy." I murmured as his eyes became vacant, "I will."
Gwen and I walked out again, across the tents to where Artemis was waiting.
"Is he still there?" Artemis questioned. "And why do you have bows already?"
"He's devoted." I replied. Was that a flash of. . . . jealousy? No, it couldn't be. Not from Artemis.
"And these are the bows we use." Gwen added, "Before you ask: Zoe trained us, not Percy."
"Zoe was probably right to give you those, then. Follow me."
Artemis led the two of us to the other side of the clearing, where another path led off into the woods. This one led to a shooting range, where eight other Hunters were practicing.
"Start at ten feet." Artemis ordered.
Gwen stepped up first, then opened the little flap on the back of her quiver, taking an arrow out. The arrow flew true, hitting inside the inner circle. I was next, and repeated the action quickly.
"Piece of cake." I shrugged, "We trained, after all."
"Anything else I should know?" Artemis asked us. "Any obscure tricks she taught you?"
"No." I replied, "Well, yes, but we shouldn't be the ones to tell you. Ask Percy. Once Saracen recovers, he can teach you a few things."
"I am the goddess of Archery." Artemis said, "What could he teach me?"
"A few obscure tricks." I parroted her, "But really, Percy should be the one to tell you."
Artemis raised an eyebrow, "Then go to twenty feet before we talk the day away."
A/N: There you go. Now I'm reconsidering the rectangle, thinking of taking Saracen out of it. It'll be obvious if she dies, of course, but if she doesn't, I can have a bit more fun.
Please review, follow, favorite, whatever. No pressure, except for the review part. I really want your feedback.