Chapter Five

The Legend of Lazarus

My eyes fluttered open to a blinding white light. For a moment, I thought I might be in heaven. But about two seconds later, I remembered that I was a demigod. I blocked out the light from the bulb above my bunk and took a quick look around at my surroundings. I was back at Camp Half-blood, specifically in the infirmary. I guess I survived. The events of my near-death experience came flooding back all at once. I looked around for signs of Thalia, Annabeth, Nico, Bianca, the mystery huntress, anyone. But I was alone. Like eerily alone. Not a single other bunk was occupied, which was out of place for the camp. The entire infirmary was deserted. I gulped down a glass of water on my bedside table and shakily got to my feet. I lifted up my shirt to examine my wounds. Shockingly, they'd mostly healed entirely.

Suddenly, I heard a clank and turned to the doorway. The Huntress was standing in the threshold with a look of astonishment and perhaps even relief? The plastic tray that she'd just dropped vibrated on the wooden floor in front of her.

"You're awake." She stated calmly. I nodded and she inched closer to my bunk. "How do you feel?"

"Like I got stabbed forty times." I answered honestly. She manifested a tight smile.

"It was more like fifty-seven. Your wounds were nearly fatal."

"How nearly fatal are we talking?" She grimaced.

"Many did not think you would survive your injuries. Myself included." I smiled.

"Well, I'm back from the dead. So, what did I miss?" She shrugged. The gesture seemed almost too relaxed for the warrior princess.

"The majority of the camp has gathered for a game of capture the flag, as is our tradition. Even the wounded have braved their injuries to spectate the event." I'd heard something about this special game of capture the flag from Annabeth. Suddenly, all of the pieces fit together. The reason this girl hated me on sight. The silver clad outfit that she wore like a team uniform. Why she was on a hunt for a manticore. Wow, I can be dense.

"You're with the Hunters of Artemis." I knowingly stated. She smiled and nodded in confirmation.

"My name is Zoe Nightshade. I am the loyal lieutenant of Lady Artemis." I stared at her with a new found admiration. I'd met plenty of strong and beautiful girls at Camp Half-blood already, but she was something else entirely.

"Nice to meet you, Zoe. How come you're not out leading your army of man-haters?" I put a hand over my heart sarcastically and feigned a gasp. "You weren't worried about me? Were you?" Her eyes flashed dangerously, warning me not to push my luck.

"I wasn't worried about you." She scoffed. "I just owed you. That's all." I raised a questioning brow.

"Owed me for what?" She stared at me like I was an idiot, something that was becoming a pretty common trend lately.

"You saved my life and those of your demigod companions. This is a debt that I cannot possibly hope to repay." I stared at her seriously.

"You don't owe me anything, girl." I mocked. She tried to fight a smile from forming on her face, but failed miserably.

"Then how about an apology?" I didn't say anything, so she continued. "I won't apologize for my values or my oath as a hunter. I am unwavering in my beliefs, but your words were true. I didn't trust the person fighting beside me and it nearly resulted in the mission being lost. For that, I am sorry." I blinked.

"So, basically, you're saying that you're sorry I'm untrustworthy."

"Yes."

"Gotcha." I tried pushing myself out of my bunk, but Zoe's hand clasped down on my shoulder.

"You are too weak, Perseus. Rest." I shook my head.

"I'm fine. Can you just help me up? I want to go see how the game's going." Zoe watched me nervously, but slowly guided my arm around her shoulder as she bared some of my weight. She didn't struggle to support me in the slightest. With her help, we hobbled out of the infirmary and in the direction of woods. We spotted several campers watching from afar who were not participating in the games. I recognized one of them to be Nico di Angelo. He looked a lot healthier. Happier, maybe. When he noticed our arrival, he came running over to me and Zoe could not have released me into the boy's arms faster. I practically fell into Nico, who struggled to bare my weight. Instead, we settled for him helping me to a seat on the hill. I looked up at Zoe.

"Thanks for the ride." I told her. The corner of her mouth twitched into a half smile.

"I am needed with my sisters. Stay alive, Perseus Jackson." And with that, Zoe sprinted off into the forest.

"She's kind of cold." Nico told me. I shrugged.

"At least she didn't call me 'boy' that time."

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine. I'll feel a lot better when you drag me to that river over there." Nico did as I asked and helped me over to a small stream that weaved through the forest. He let go of me as we stood on the bank and I fell face first into the water. It felt incredible. I felt my strength returning and the pain drifting away from my body with the current.

"We tried dumping water on you a few times while you were out cold, but I guess it's not quite the same." I appreciated his worry, but ignored his words as I basked in the cool rush of the stream. After a few minutes, I'd regained my composer enough that I could stand on my own power. Nico looked at me like I was walking on water. I wondered to myself what his expression would be if I actually walked on water, which was well within my skill set.

"How are you doing, Nico. Are you and your sister adjusting to camp." He nodded.

"All thanks to you." I waved my hand dismissingly.

"Has your godly parent claimed you yet." He shook his head sadly. I frowned.

"Don't sweat it. That's their nature. Poseidon hasn't even officially claimed me yet, not that it isn't obvious to everyone." As if on que, a glowing trident appeared above my head. Nico watched the symbol with an unhinged jaw, but no other campers were around to bare witness. "Let's not make a big deal out of this, Nico. It's nothing we didn't already know." Nico didn't say anything, but nodded his head lifelessly as he continued watching Poseidon's claim with wonder in his eyes. The mark quickly faded and I dragged Nico back over to the hill where several demigods were spectating the games.

"Hey, where's Bianca?" I wondered aloud. Nico shook his head.

"She's fighting with the hunters. She told me she's planning on joining them." Nico's words were dripping with venom. I nodded.

"Good for her." Nico turned on me.

"Good for her? How can you want her to join the Hunters of Artemis?" I shrugged.

"The lives of demigods are difficult. Immortality, traveling with a goddess, ridding the world of monsters, I'd say that's a pretty good deal." Nico folded his arms.

"Yeah, right. You just think Zoe's hot."

"Very true. But this has nothing to do with Zoe. If joining the Hunters of Artemis will make your sister happy, then you should be happy for her."

"I guess." I sighed.

"How about I have a talk with her. Make sure she knows exactly what she's signing up for." Nico smiled.

"Thanks, Percy."

"No problem." I looked out into the forest below. I couldn't see a thing. There was one small opening in the canopy, through which a few campers were holding back arrow fire, but that was it. "This view sucks." I decided. "Let's go join in on the action." Nico looked at me like I was insane.

"You're not fully healed and I'm a liability." I shook my head.

"I feel fantastic and you'll be with me. Plus, the Hunters didn't anticipate us joining in on the fun. We'll be total wildcards." Nico looked unsure. "Okay, how about this? We'll go find Annabeth and see what she thinks."

"Okay, but she's going to be mad at you for not being in bed." I smiled.

"I'll survive. You know, probably." Before Nico could have a change of heart, I grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him into the woods. We weaved through demigods left and right. It seemed the Hunters hadn't advanced very far yet, probably playing with their pray. A son of Apollo pointed us in the direction of Annabeth. A huddle of campers surrounded her and she was dispatching them one at a time with different orders. She didn't even notice our arrival until I was standing next to her.

"And what's our assignment, oh wise one." I teased. She seemed surprised when she realized it was me, and then her expression turned to one of anger.

"Holy Hephaestus, Percy. Why are you out of bed?"

"I got bored." She shook her head incredulously, but stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. She stepped back without breaking the embrace entirely and looked at me seriously.

"I'm glad you're alive."

"Thanks. Me too."

"But seriously, you should go back to bed."

"I think we both know that's not going to happen." She sighed.

"Alright, well, we might as well make you useful then." I grinned mischievously. She looked thoughtful for a moment, before deciding on a course of action. "We have a pretty strong formation in order already with leaders assigned to each group. With your power, I would've put you in a position of command, but it's too late for that now."

"Flattered." She ignored me.

"I think the best course of action is just a surprise play for the flag. You can stick to the outside boundary. There's a river that runs along it. They'll likely have a few scouts making sure that no one gets around the bulk of their troops, but they'll be less skilled and trained than the other hunters. Basically, just serving as lookouts. You should have no problem dispatching them. The hard part is when you get to the flag. That's where the strongest Hunters will be. Zoe will be there, unless she took a small group to make a play for our flag. Let's hope that's the case."

"Sounds good to me, captain. Can I take Nico." Annabeth glanced at the small demigod like she was seeing him for the first time.

"Sure, whatever." She said dismissingly.

"So, where do you think the flag is?" She became lost in thought once more.

"It could be anywhere, really. But it will definitely be out in the open. Most likely surrounded by trees so that they have a clear line of sight for an ambush. The flag will appear to be unprotected, but that's a trap. Obviously." I nodded.

"Just one more thing." Annabeth raised a single brow. "You have any swords lying around? Nico and I are unarmed." Annabeth stared at me.

"Why don't you just use Anaklusmos?"

"What the Hades is an Anaklusmos?"

"You're kidding, right?" I looked at her for an answer. "You mean all this time, Gods, Percy. The pen. The pen that Chiron gave you during your first time at camp." I pulled the golden pen from my pocket.

"Beyond it magically returning to my pocket, I'm not sure what good a pen is going to do us." Annabeth palmed her face.

"Click the pen, Percy." I did as Annabeth instructed and the pen magically transformed into a celestial bronze sword. It shined in the peaking light of the forest and felt perfectly balanced. I gave it a few practice swings. It was like an extension of my arm.

"Oh, now that's cool."

"How have you had that pen all this time and never once clicked it?" Nico questioned. "Don't you have ADHD?"

"Sorry, Nico. I guess I was too busy throwing it around and magically watching it return to my pocket instead of using it on my math homework."

"Just go get the flag, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth ordered.

"As you wish, Wise Girl." And Nico and I took off in the direction of the river.