Chapter 14

Zoe watched as the son of Thanatos fell to the ground, a mix of blood and sweat covering his face. The huntress took a step over, but quickly realized how much energy she had lost fighting the wolf monster.

But she wasn't complaining. She knew that the probability of them killing that beast was low, and they were lucky to be alive. But she wasn't even sure if the demigod was alive, to be honest.

Deciding to toughen up, the huntress walked over to the unconscious (hopefully) demigod, and crouched down.

She reached out her hand to check his pulse, but just as she was about to make contact with his neck, the boy shot his head forward, bumping heads with the huntress.

Zoe reeled back in pain, grabbing her head. She turned back towards the demigod, prepared to yell at him, but the boy was preoccupied.

The demigod, someone Zoe had always thought to be mentally tough, even when she had first met him, was breathing harshly and quickly in a manner that resembled a panic attack.

The hunter looked on with confused eyes. She knew she had to do something, but she didn't know what to do. But thankfully she was saved.

From the sky above descended a hippogriff, the one Perseus had come with. Zoe realized that she had never noticed the creature leave, but decided to disregard it. Icarus, Perseus had called, she said to herself.

The creature hit the ground in front of Perseus and walked over to him. With a almost confident look, the creature reached its head down coming face to face with the demigod.

Zoe watched on, wondering what the hippogriff was doing, but soon found out as Perseus locked eyes with his pet. After a moment of eye contact, the demigods breath slowed down.

The boy blinked and once he opened his eyes, Zoe noticed that they were back to normal, but he was still a little shaken. The demigod reached his hands out and started to pet the hippogriffs head.

After a moment of quietness, the boy stood up, rubbing himself off. Zoe tried to do the same, but realized that she was unable to.

She swore under her breath, but decided to settle for sitting in the ground. The demigod turned to her, looking like his normal cold self, almost mad.

"Are you...ok?" Zoe said, but she didn't know what to say if he responded with no. Thankfully though, the demigod made it easier for her.

"Yes, I'm fine..." he said. "But tell me, Zoe, what was that thing?" She said.

The huntress scowled. In all honestly she planned on leaving the demigod in the dark, but decided to let him know some information, at least.

"Sit down, I'll explain." She said. Zoe noticed that the demigod was irritated, obviously he wanted answers quick, but Zoe knew what would happen if she gave it to him.

Thankfully the boy sat down and opted to listen.

"First, Perseus, I have to ask if you are even able to see. The amount of blood you've lost...I don't think your fine." Said Zoe.

"Zoe, that's not important right now. I need to know, what that was. Now."

Zoe sighed. It was obvious he had his mind set. "Fine Perseus, have it your way. But I'm sorry to say that, I myself do not know who that things was."

"Zoe..."

"Patience." Said Zoe raising her hand. "But I do know what it was, Perseus. That thing, that beast was not a monster, as I'm sure you believe. Instead, it is a god. One of the Androktasiai to be exact." She said.

The clearing went quiet.

"So that's the thing that's currently chasing me then?" Said the demigod. Zoe noticed the boy start to analyze the situation.

After a long time of thinking, he spoke.

"It was...stronger then I had expected." He said. Zoe knew that it was hard to admit for him.

"So you see now, Perseus, you are out of your league. If it took both of us to even damage it, how do you plan on dealing with all 13 of them alone." Said Zoe.

But Perseus wasn't listening.

"What was that arrow you used. The one that almost killed it." Asked the demigod, trying to form a plan. "Also don't you yourself plan on killing those things?"

"Perseus, those arrows are special. They are from the quiver of Artemis herself."

Percy let that sink in. Zoe was using weapons form the gods themselves, a Olympian at that. But even then, the beast had avoided the headshot, surviving it, even with a massive chest hole.

"Though I missed, those arrows give me abilities to combat these gods, but you do not have that ability, putting you in danger."

The demigod thought about the huntresses words. He still planned on killing the gods, but Zoe did have a point.

With a sigh, the demigod decided to think about the details later. The boy stood up straight, Icarus immediately going to his side.

"I'll find a way, Zoe, I appreciate the help though. Though I would help you with your injuries, I really don't have the facilities to do so. I'm assuming you don't need it."

Zoe scoffed at the idea. "Help from you, Perseus? I think not." She said cockily.

Perseus smirked a little. "I didn't think so. But anyway, I appreciate the help, but I think this is the extent to our little exchange. Even though you are a huntress, I hope we can stay on the same side." The demigod said slightly sarcastic before he started to walk off into the woods.

"Wait!" Zoe called putting, making the boy turn around. "I'm sorry if intrusive, ...but it may help me with my hunt." She said a little hesitant.

"Do you...what did the god say to you?" She asked and it was obvious that she didn't want to, but her curiosity had gotten the best of her.

The air went silent as Percy's face dropped.

After a moment he spoke.

"My mother. It told me about my mother." He said before turning around.

Zoe immediately cringed. She didn't like to think about how much it must've hurt to make someone like Perseus react like that.

"Perseus...I'm sorry-" Percy interrupted her. "It's fine, Zoe. Now if that's all, goodbye." The demigod left the clearing, his hippogriff friend following right behind.

Zoe looked at the spot where he had left. Though not known to be one to have sympathy for a boy, she knew Perseus more then any other man, and for some reason there was something about him that was different.

The huntress stood up, confused on what to do next. She knew Percy would continue to pursue the Androktasiai, but also knew he was doomed to die. She simply sighed. It was out of her control.

"I hope you know what your doing, Perseus."

—-

Two things real quick. I just want y'all to know, Percys prosthetic arm may not be mentioned, but I don't wanna harp on it to much. Percy has had it for a year so there's no use for him to bring it up all the time, so if you forget about it, it's normal, take this as a reminder. And for what it looks like, it's attached to his shoulder like a suction cup around his arm nub that's constantly wrapped in bandages.

It's standard grey metal, made of celestial bronze, but this is where it's a little confusing.

It's not an actual arm arm, like the winter soldier in marvel. In my head, I kinda imagined it like rattle balls from adventure time lol, but with two poles instead of one. I know this kinda doesn't make sense how he fights with it, but it just looks cool to me lmao, also I feel like a complete arm like buckys (winter soldier) is a little unrealistic. But yeah, that's it lol.