CHAPTER 2 - an oath to remember

For the first time since winter had started, Pearl felt completely rested. No nightmares had troubled her sleep and she didn't recall tossing around much. Therefore, waking up in a warm embrace only felt natural to her, in her sleepy state of mind.

However, as she slowly started regaining consciousness, Pearl became increasingly aware of the body holding hers from behind. 'Oh gods,' she prayed, internally panicking, 'don't let it be Grace. Anyone but her.'

As she was debating over whether or not opening her eyes and taking a peak, she felt the person beneath her shift slightly, and in doing so she caught a whiff of their perfume. 'Orange and amber.' she mused. 'What happened to the don't-stand-in-my-way rule, Grace?'

Her ironic trail of thoughts brought back Westover's memories, ones that she wishes weren't real. Not wanting to dwell longer on Annabeth's disappearance and its implications, she sat up and stretched her muscles. Her shoulder was still sore, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her thigh.

'Shouldn't I be healed by now with the nectar?' she thought, wincing a little as she moved her leg.

"They ran out of nectar." said Thalia, as if reading her mind.

She felt the other girl get up, and Pearl turned her head to look at her. Their eyes locked and, for a moment, she allowed herself to feel protected rather than irked in the other's presence.

A flapping sound followed by a cold yet soft voice interrupted their staring contest.

"Pearl Jackson." said the girl, Zoë, if she remembered correctly. "Come with me. Artemis wishes to speak with thee." she demanded before exiting their tent.

"Hurry up then Jackson. Wouldn't want to keep them waiting, no?" Thalia scoffed, looking quite unnerved.

"Shut up and try to make yourself useful for once." Pearl angrily replied, leaving the tent without sparing her a second glance. Had she turned back, she would have seen the crestfallen look upon Thalia's face, an expression that she was quick to school back into a neutral mask.

Limping around the improvised camp, the demigod couldn't help but be impressed by the efficiency of it all. Seven large silver tents were erected circularly around a campfire, and a pack of wolves was being fed by a red-haired huntress.

Pearl came to a sudden halt behind Zoë, in front of what was probably Artemis's tent. The huntress then lifted the lap that led into the largest tent, and motioned for her to enter.

'By the gods.' were her exact thoughts as she took in her surroundings. Every single spot was either occupied by pelts, furs or hunt trophies. 'Wait, is that a living deer?'

"Join us, Pearl Jackson." a voice startled her from her contemplation.

As she looked up, she was met with the sight of Artemis, goddess of hunt and moon, smiling slightly at her. Feeling quite vulnerable under her intense stare, she sat across from her and crossed her legs. She noticed that Bianca di Angelo was also here.

'Have they explained things to her? And how did she take the news?' she wondered, as the other girl looked small and scared. She sent her a reassuring smile that the younger girl weakly returned.

"Are you surprised by my age?" Artemis questioned.

"I find it a little unsettling, yes." she replied, confused.

"I could appear as a grown woman, or a blazing fire, or anything else I want," Artemis said, her voice aloof and proud. "But this is what I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters, and all young maidens for whom I patron, before they go astray."

"Go astray?"

"Grow up. Become smitten with boys. Become silly, preoccupied, insecure." Her eyes narrowed. "Forget themselves."

"Well that explains the absence of boys, I guess." she thought aloud, watching as Zoë sat down next to Artemis, all the while seemingly observing carefully her reactions.

"Indeed. It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp." the goddess explained. "Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters. I turned the last one into a jackalope I think."

She continued, more seriously. "Anyway, I asked you here for several reasons. First of all, I want you to tell me more of the manticore. Bianca has reported some of the disturbing things the monster said. But I'd like to hear them from you."

So she did. The more she told them, the more they looked anxious. Pearl knew that they were hoping to find answers, but upon naming the General and the Great Stirring, they seemed almost fearful. Zoë especially.

"[…] and then he said 'Soon we shall have the most important monster of all - the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus.' And that's it." she finished.

"I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster." Artemis said, shaking her head.

"We will leave right away, my lady." announced her lieutenant, jaw set in determination.

"No, Zoë. I must do this alone."

"But, Artemis!" she protested, with a worried glance.

"This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me." she stated, voice quite harsh.

"As... as you wish, my lady."

Pearl realized with a start that the two women were acting like a married couple. 'Interesting.'

"I will find this creature," Artemis promised, her voice dangerous. "And I shall bring it back to Olympus by winter solstice. It will be the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in."

"You know what the monster is?" asked Pearl.

"Let us pray I am wrong."

'Well, if a goddess has to pray… Although this quest looks exciting.' she pondered.

As she moved her right leg to the side, she couldn't help but wince in pain, something that didn't go unnoticed by Artemis.

"Oh sorry, I never meant to make you wait so long." she guiltily exclaimed, before hovering in front of her. She gently placed her hands on both injuries, and Pearl closed her eyes as waves of pain shot through her, before feeling light-headed. Opening her eyes, she came face to face with Artemis and couldn't help but blush, their proximity making her quite uncomfortable. 'The fuck happened?'

"You normally shouldn't feel pain now. Having a twin like Apollo has its perks sometimes." the goddess explained, returning to her previous seat next to a quite immobile Zoë.

'Is she jealous?' Pearl wondered, catching Zoë's glare.

"Now concerning your friend Annabeth," Artemis went on, "some magic is at work and she has vanished. However do not despair for her. She was a brave maiden and if she can be found, I shall find her."

"Right. Thank you, lady Artemis." she said, feeling relieved but also trying to figure out a way to find her. 'I'll have to ask the Oracle. Sounds like a quest for me.'

Artemis then turned to Bianca. "And now there is one last decision to make. Have you made up your mind, my girl?"

The girl hesitated. "I'm still thinking about it."

"Thinking about what?" asked Pearl, not understanding where this was going. She could see Zoë rolling her eyes in the background.

"They... they've invited me to join the Hunt," Bianca explained.

"Is this an offer that you often make, or do your recruits have to possess some prerequisite qualities?" Pearl addressed Artemis. "I thought that you only selected the best warriors, through some tests, no?"

"Any maiden is welcome. But it is not a decision to take lightly. It has consequences." the goddess replied, tilting her head in confusion. "How well is your knowledge on Hunters, dear?"

"Not much, I believe. If I must be honest, I was only aware of their existence back on the cliff." At this point of the conversation, she could feel the heat emanating from her cheeks, both from the term of endearment and the shame. "What do you get by joining the Hunters?" she asked, her interest piqued.

"To begin with… immortality." answered Zoë.

'Oh. What many wish to hear, I guess.' she thought, incredulity displayed on her face.

Artemis chuckled. "Zoë rarely lies about anything. My Hunters follow me on my adventures. They are my maidservants, my companions, my sisters-in-arms. Once they swear loyalty to me, they are indeed immortal, unless they fall in battle, which is unlikely. Or break their oath."

"What oath?" Pearl questioned. Judging by the quick look Artemis and Zoe exchanged, she was starting to sound far too interested in this, but she couldn't care less at the moment.

"To forswear romantic love forever," Artemis said. "To never grow up," she continued. "Never get married. To be a maiden eternally."

"Like you?" she asked. Artemis nodded. "So you just go around the country recruiting everyone willing to accept your oath?"

"Indeed. All who honor the goddess may join." said Zoë. "Like Bianca."

"Her brother can't be a Hunter of course, but she will be able to see him from time to time at Camp. She will be free of responsibility. He will have the camp counselors to take care of him. And she will have a new family. Us." Artemis specified.

'A new family, free of responsibility.' the words echoed in her head, but also in her heart. Pearl was so lost in thoughts that she almost missed Bianca's allegiance.

"I..." She stuttered, and for a moment Pearl doubted that she would repeat the oath. However, she gulped and continued. "I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt. That's it?"

The lieutenant nodded. "If Lady Artemis accepts thy pledge, then it is binding."

All of them looked to Artemis. "I accept it," she solemnly said.

The silver glow of the goddess's magic was cast over the room, filling Bianca with the utter peace and strength of so many young women, all of those under Artemis's patronage.

Pearl couldn't help but bask in it. She breathed in deeply, already feeling the effect fading away.

"Welcome, sister," Zoë smiled, for the first time since they met.

Artemis stared gravely at the newest Hunter. "Remember your pledge. It is now your life." She then made a shooing gesture with a smirk. "Zoë will show you around our camp."

As the two girls exited the tent, she turned to Pearl. "I believe that we have another matter to discuss, no? Two new Hunters in a row would be a first, and I can assure you that I hadn't seen that one coming, daughter of Poseidon."

Pearl gulped, before taking a decision. The right decision, or so she hoped.