Captain America meets the Hunt chapter 12

Never in her life had she felt so alone...especially when the Laestrygones came through the trees. Aria frowned at the sight of him he was massive. Antiphates the name filled her mind. She groaned Artemis could have informed her that the monster hunting her was the king of Laestrygones. He looked like a man, a giant of a man in sheep skin no it was not sheep skin it was human skin. He wore human skin as a cloak he turned to look at her with hatred in his eyes.

"I will kill you princess." He roared taking a step towards her his double bladed sword in his hand still had blood on it. His body was painted in red Aria could smell it was blood. He moved towards her and she couldn't help but step back from him. He smiled in triumph. "I did not think it was true. You have no idea who I am." He gloated

"You are Antiphates; a cannibal, a monster. You will return to the depths of Tartarus once I am through with you." Aria stated she knew she was scared but that was not going to stop her from killing this monster. She ended up moving as he charged at her swinging his blade she jumped out of the way climbing a tree she fired off three arrows at it but he easily deflected it. He swung his sword again making her jump out of the way, the tree she was just on sliced in half. He roared in anger as he pulled his sword free she had fired a few arrows at it going for all the known weak spots of monsters but her arrows were not killing it, they seemed to be making it angrier. Aria ended up swapping from her bow to her hunting knives moving with speed and precision she managed to land a cut but he backhanded her and sent her flying into a tree. She dropped her blades and did not have time to pick them up. She was once again moving. This time jumping from tree to tree until she was in a different clearing trying to come up with a way to defeat it. Deep down she knew that she was going to have to face it head on. She ended up on the ground summoning her sword she waited. He came tearing through the bushes rage in his eyes.

"I am going to eat you! I will skin you and wear you as my belt." He roared swinging his sword with precision and accuracy she was barely able to keep up. She did manage to stay two steps out of his reach though. Managing to get a few of her own attacks in but it seemed like he knew her moves he had one advantage over her and that was he remembered their past fights. She then realised she was fighting by instinct the moves she was pulling off were impressive, they felt right but were foreign to her. So, she changed tactic… This seemed to surprise him forcing him into defence. As she fought the way she remembers the way she was taught. He was growling at her more often as she would land a blow to him, but he was a giant of a man and it would take a lot more to bring him down. As she fought, he managed to get past her defence landing a rather large cut to her side she pushed back getting distance between them to look at her wound it was deep and bleeding. He seemed to make a strange sound in the back of his throat one she recognised from the wolves. They made that same sound when they were close to their prey. She was a Hunter not the prey.

Aria felt her anger rise as the sword in her hand glowed gold this time as she was attacking her strokes were harder more fierce. Even with this extra strength the wound to her side was weakening her. That was when he managed to disarm her, her sword went flying and he grinned moving forward as Aria dropped to her knees her hand on her side. Her breathing harsh and shallow. He picked her up moving her closer to himself. "Such a shame you usually put up more of a fight." He stated only for him to pause Aria was smiling. Before he could react, she sliced through his hand as she was falling, she held her sword in a specific angle as she fell to the ground her sword running through him. She landed rather awkwardly and in a heap, moving out of the way as he stood there for a second longer then seemed to disintegrate in a golden hue. Aria shook her head then went to stand up only to cry out as she fumbled to the ground once again. She assessed the wound to her side, it was indeed deep but it should not have her feeling like this. Realisation dawned on her as she began to laugh.

"He poisoned his sword." Aria mumbled to herself looking up at the sky to see the sun through the leaves. "Guess we will find out if she was telling the truth about being immortal." Aria stated again "and I am talking to myself." A flash to her right had her looking over there to see Artemis standing there. She had a feeling she was being watched during the fight. "I take it you cannot intervene?" Aria asked seeming Artemis had not moved over to her.

"You are dying."

"Yeah, figured that already. I cannot feel my legs." She stated her hands dropping from her side so that they rested on the ground. "What happens?" Aria asked "you said I do not die, he gets sent back there when I kill him what happens to me?" Aria asked

"You are going to be fine." Artemis stated moving over to her and sitting next to her, she noted that Artemis did not touch her.

"Not...an answer..." Aria stated she was getting tired and it was growing dark. Only it should be just after noon. She was dying, she wanted to freak out but was out of energy. She ended up taking one last breath before her body stilled. Artemis sat next to her and waited she watched as her body glowed golden before returning to normal. Moving over to her now she saw the small movements of her chest rising and falling. Artemis held Aria in her arms before flashing her away to Delois. Placing her on the bed ready for her she brushed some hair out of her face.

"He defeated her?" A voice asked behind her

"She defeated him first. He poisoned her. It was a first." Artemis replied "will you watch over her? I must return to the hunt." Artemis stated turning to look at her mother.

"I take it she does not remember me?"

"No. When we altered her mind..."

"It is alright child, do you know how long she will be asleep?"

"No. I must leave." Artemis stated looking her mother in her eyes she nodded to her so Artemis left.

Aria woke up with a gasp as pain seared down her body. She did not recognise where she was she checked her side to see a long thin scar running down her side. She got to her feet and left the small room she was in, noticing the furs and the stag head on the wall she knew this must have been one of Artemis's places. It almost looked like a temple as she walked out to find it very bright. Looking around she just knew she was on an island but not sure what Island. She saw someone working in the garden so she moved over to her.

"You have woken." She stated getting up from the ground turning to look at her. There was something familiar about her it took her a few minutes to get it.

"Leto? I mean Lady Leto." Aria stated stumbling over formalities. She saw her smile at her as if she had just amused her somehow.

"How are you feeling Aria?" She asked and it was weird for Aria as she realised this was her grandmother.

"Confused? Where are we...Delois. Why am I here?"

"My daughter brings you here to recuperate after your battle." She stated "you should not be out of bed." She added as Aria tried to hide the wince from her.

"We have met before?" Aria realises

"Yes, several times actually."

"I am sorry I do not remember."

"I know. I am aware of your situation my dear."

"How long have I been here?" Aria asked as Leto helped her back to the room she came out of she tried to protest but one look from her had her going with it.

"Not long. A year maybe two...no longer than five." Leto replied as she ended up mixing something together.

"Years?"

"Not as long as your other times. Usually though when you wake you normally cannot move. Here." She stated handing her a cup Aria looked at it and frowned she had a feeling this was not nectar. "It will help with the pain."

"Who said anything about pain?" Aria retorted

"The clenched fists are a give away, and I can see it in your eyes." Leto replied after giving her a specific look Aria backed down lowering her head in apology. She took the cup and drank it, she was surprised that it did not taste like anything.

"How long..." she stopped looking down at the cup then back up at Leto in panic. "No, I donotwanttosleep." Aria mumbled but felt the herbs already working as her eyes were getting heavier and harder to stay open.

"You are going to be alright." Leto stated repeating what Artemis told her Aria thought as she ended up falling asleep.