Chapter Six
Down to the Riptide
A/N – Again, I just wanted to say a quick thank you for all the support I've been receiving in writing this story. It seems that some readers aren't satisfied with the length of each updated chapter. My intention was to put out an update every night as my schedule permitted, emphasizing the speed of updates over the volume of story. I guess we'll just wing it on the balance of that relationship. For the next update, I'll be releasing it at the end of the weekend and making it significantly longer than other chapters up until this point. Chapter Seven will really begin to explore the canonical plot of the Titan's Curse and I think it could be a good jumping off point for a longer chapter. You'll just have to let me know if a daily update or a longer chapter every few days is the better option. Thanks again for reading along and all the nice comments.
-Gravezz
"How come the Hunters haven't just ended the game yet?" Nico questioned as he hopped from one rock to another, carefully navigating the current of the stream. I scouted the area up ahead.
"Because the Hunters are arrogant, Nico." I informed him. "They're on a seriously impressive winning streak against us. They probably are just giving some of their greener recruits battlefield experience." Nico nodded in understanding. I spotted something up ahead, a sliver of silver sticking out from behind a tree. Nico was about to speak when I clamped a hand over his mouth. I made a gesture for him to be quiet and pointed to the figure in hiding. "Keep walking straight toward her." I whispered to him. He looked at me with pure panic in his eyes, but I dashed behind a tree out of sight. Nico begrudgingly continued his stroll as I crept from tree to tree, obscured from the hunter's vision. I noticed when the girl spotted Nico. She primed her bow and snuck glances around the tree's trunk. She was clearly inexperienced, just as Annabeth had predicted. As Nico was about to pass the tree, the girl jumped out with her bow primed and I slipped behind her.
"Stop right there." The girl ordered, but her voice sounded familiar.
"Bianca?" Nico asked in surprise. Bianca's eyes widened.
"Nico?" She lowered her bow. "What are you doing out here all by yourself?" I slowly emerged from behind Bianca and leaned in to her ear.
"He's not alone." I whispered. Bianca jumped and whirled around, blindly firing an arrow that sailed passed me and into a tree. I pinned her in a tight embrace, rendering her useless.
"Come on. You're not going to make me disarm you. Are you?" She relaxed in my arms and threw hers around me.
"You're okay!" She exclaimed. I laughed.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Nico and I decided to join in the game."
"Percy decided." Nico corrected me.
"Whatever." I turned to Bianca. "So, why don't you let us pass undetected and we'll call it even for me saving your scrawny ass in Maine?" Bianca smiled.
"Well, when you put it that way." She turned and pointed off in the distance. "Our flag is just past those trees. There's a clearing in the woods. The flag's dead center. Can't miss it." I was a bit shocked.
"You didn't have to give us that much information, Bianca." I laughed, but she seemed to be more amused than I was.
"Oh, I'm coming with you."
"Why?" She smirked.
"Because I know who's guarding the flag and I have to see this fight." I swallowed hard. Nico put a hand on my shoulder.
"Sounds like you've got a date, Percy?" He taunted.
"Lucky me." The di Angelo siblings trailed behind as we made our way to a clearing in the forest. Without the overhead canopy of the trees blocking out the sun, the open field seemed very out of place. Flowers bloomed in bountiful numbers, the grass gleamed a vibrant green, and the Hunter's silver flag glistened in the epicenter of it all. It looked like a fantasy picnicking spot that you'd see in a romantic drama. It was too inviting and, thanks to Bianca, I knew why. The di Angelo clan leaned up against a trunk within the tree line as I casually waltzed into the open.
"Come on out, Zoe!" I shouted. "Don't make it this easy to ruin your winning streak!" I hoped my words sounded more confident than I felt. Zoe vaulted down from a tree branch on the opposite side of the flag.
"What are you doing, Perseus? You're too weak to take me on. Turn around and go back to bed." She ordered. I reached into my pocket and called upon Anaklusmos. The sword was terrifyingly beautiful in the sunlight as its celestial bronze blade materialized.
"I wish everyone would stop saying that." Zoe grinned and primed her bow.
"Then I sincerely hope you're up to the challenge." I tightened my grip.
"You and me both." Zoe's eyes narrowed and she charged toward the flag. I mimicked the movement, the pair of us in a sprint for the silver cloth. Zoe fired a volley of arrows in my direction, another one trailing impossibly close to the one before it. My reflexes took control, barely managing to evade the onslaught of projectiles. By the time I was close enough to the flag, I was to busy with dodging to notice Zoe's advance. She leapt straight past the flag and drove her foot into my chest. I fell hard onto my back, but knew I didn't have time to recover. I rolled to the side as a silver arrow imbedded itself into the earth where I'd just been. Her speed was overwhelming. It took all my concentration to avoid the arrow fire and it was preventing me from getting close enough for a strike. She was winning the battle and I hadn't even swung my sword yet. I knew I couldn't outmaneuver her. We were engaged in a battle of speed, which played right into her strengths. So, I would have to use mine. If I couldn't beat her with finesse, I'd have to win with power. I dodged one more perfectly fired arrow and made a straight dash for Zoe. She seemed surprised by my direct attack, but released an arrow regardless. I braced myself as the arrow pierced straight through my shoulder. I buckled in pain, but kept my feet. It was too late for her. I'd taken a hit, but closed the distance. I tackled Zoe to the ground, knocking her bow to the side. She managed to shove me off, but I'd neutralized her primary attack. She glided back a few paces with a smile on her face.
"You're either resiliently strong or a psychotic fool, Perseus. I can't decide which." I flashed her a crooked smile.
"It's a little bit of both." I told her, before charging. She pulled out two shining hunting knives and swung wildly in my direction. We traded blows without either of us giving an inch. I brought my sword down with all my strenght only to find the pair of blades deflecting the attack. She'd swipe out my feet from under me and drive a wayward knife into a daisy. The battle raged on and I was beginning to tire. I guess I hadn't recovered as much as I thought I had. Zoe was barely breaking a sweat. She parried a wild strike and we stared at each other. I was panting like a dog and she could tell.
"Give up, Perseus. We both know as long as I'm conscious, you won't be leaving this place with our flag." I laughed, which came out all butchered because of my lack of breath. Her eyes narrowed.
"What is funny?"
"What's funny is I never had any intention of getting your flag." Zoe turned and found that her flag had been uprooted. The clearing in the forest was void of anything but flowers, and the two godly teenagers locked in battle. Zoe was stunned.
"What? How?" I fell back and sat down across from her.
"Nico." I told her. Her eye's flashed murderously. "I was really rolling the dice on being able to distract you that well, but I guess I managed to keep your attention." She looked around frantically, trying to locate my ally. "It's over Zoe." She looked like she might have a meltdown until a voice interrupted my moment of victory.
"Actually." Nico interjected. He emerged from the woods with his hands in the air. Bianca held a notched arrow to his back and had the Hunters flag strapped to her quiver. I sighed.
"Gods damn it, Nico. You got caught by your sister!" Bianca smiled triumphantly.
"It's not like I had much of a head start!" Nico argued. "I barely made it twenty feet! I don't even have a weapon!" I thought about our plan a bit harder.
"Yeah, I guess that was kind of a half-baked idea." Nico looked at me as if to say "duh". Bianca and Zoe tried to hold back laughter at our exchange. Zoe marched over to me and offered me her hand. I took it and she helped me back to my feet.
"It was a well fought battle, Perseus. You may not be the best strategist, but you are a true genius in battle. Trust your instincts. They won't lead you astray." I gazed upon her face, interpreting her words in a completely different way. My instincts were telling me that Zoe was someone special. And special people are capable of truly special things, as I'd soon discover.
Before I could say anything nearly as wise, a horn sounded in the distance. Given that the Hunters flag hadn't made it even ten yards from its spot, that horn meant that the Hunters had won. Bianca and Zoe exchanged a victorious embrace as Nico came to my side.
"We got closer than anyone else." He offered. I smiled down at the new demigod.
"Yeah, I guess we did. Didn't we?" Several campers and hunters, along with Chiron, slowly emerged from the forest to confirm that the Hunter's flag was still in its location. And upon that validation, Chiron officially declared the Hunter's victorious. The girls celebrated together while Nico and I exchanged stories with some of the campers about the result of the game. I didn't play that many sports growing up, but the scene reminded me somewhat of the ending to a football game. People milling about the field, congratulating and supporting one another. Friend and foe alike. It was a nice setting, seeing how everyone could come together after such a violent event. In fact, the Hunters seemed kinder than usual toward their defeated opponents.
I noticed a small group consisting of the di Angelo siblings, Chiron, Annabeth, Thalia, Zoe, and few other hunters had gathered together. They were talking in hushed voices and the aura of their conversation didn't match that of the rest of the camp. Thalia and Annabeth were scanning the crowd for someone as Chiron and Zoe were deep in a serious discussion. Thalia's eyes locked onto me and she nudged Annabeth. The pair of girls waved me over to their congregation. I return a few confused expressions but did as I was asked. Thalia threw an arm around my shoulder.
"Nice to see you back on your feet, Kelp Head." She whispered. "But we've got trouble." She nodded toward Chiron and Zoe.
"We are sworn to serve Lady Artemis." Zoe argued. "We don't require the assistance of your campers."
"The lines of the prophecy are clear." Chiron retorted. "If you do not abide by the godly laws, the consequences will be severe." I furrowed my brows. Annabeth inched closer.
"Zoe got a visit from the oracle during all the commotion." She explained. "We believe Lady Artemis was captured during a hunt." I stared at her.
"Who in the Hades could capture a goddess?" I wondered aloud.
"I have a few ideas." Annabeth stated. "None of them good. The issue now is that a prophecy has been issued and Zoe is having a hard time coming to terms with a few of the lines."
"Well, what is the prophecy?" I asked. Apparently, my question was a bit louder than I'd intended. All eyes in the group turned toward me and then to Zoe. Zoe sighed and repeated the words of the Oracle.
Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,
One shall be lost in the land without rain,
The bane of Olympus shows the trail,
Campers and Hunters combined prevail,
The Titan's curse must one withstand,
And one shall perish by a parent's hand.
"So, if Zoe's leading the quest, who else is going?" I questioned. No one offered an answer until Zoe spoke.
"This quest is a matter for the Hunters of Artemis." She stated sternly. "I will lead four of my most seasoned sisters on this journey and we will save our patron." I glanced around the circle of familiar faces.
"Didn't one of the lines say Hunters and Campers prevail or something?" Annabeth stepped forward.
"Exactly, you have to take at least two campers on this quest or it will be doomed to fail." Zoe glared at her.
"I think not." Zoe turned to Chiron. "We appreciate your camp's hospitality as always, Chiron, but I think it time for the Hunters to be on our way." Zoe decided that the conversation was over, but Thalia had other ideas. She stepped forward and put a hand on Zoe's shoulder.
"We're not dooming a quest for your ego." She growled. Zoe remained still.
"Remove your hand from my shoulder or you will lose that hand." She responded calmly. Thalia didn't waver.
"If this is the kind of leadership in your hunt, maybe its time for a change in command." Zoe turned on her, the tension in the air was palpable. Electric and wild. I stepped forward and put myself between the two girls.
"That's enough." I ordered. "We're all on the same side here. Zoe, just pick two campers. Maybe you get lucky and they get lost in the desert or killed by a titan or something. I don't know, I already forgot what half the prophecy said. Just don't mess with fate. You're smarter than that." Zoe's eyes never left Thalia, but she gritted her teeth.
"Fine, Perseus. I'll take two campers." Thalia tossed up her arms in exasperation and Chiron nodded his thanks. The Trainer of Heroes galloped forward.
"Thank you for allowing us to help you on this quest." Chiron praised. Zoe waved her hand dismissingly. "If I may ask one more favor?" Zoe didn't seem to like the sound of that, but waved him on. Chiron cleared his throat. "I understand that it may be against your traditions to travel with a male hero, but prophecy and fate can be fickle. There is a certain balance to these kinds of things. I can't guarantee repercussions, but it might be in your best interest to consider all your options. Following the prophecy will give your party the best chance at success with the least number of casualties." Then Zoe said something that not a single person in that camp expected to hear.
"Oh, I'm taking a male hero." We all stared at her, and then at each other, to see if we'd all just heard the same thing.
"Really?" In all his endless wisdom, it was the only thing that came to Chiron's mind. And I didn't blame him.
"Yes." Zoe nodded in my direction. "I want Perseus." All senses turned to me once again. Zoe and I locked eyes. They were difficult to read, but not impossible. Zoe Nightshade was special and she'd chosen me. There was nothing to consider. I nodded.
"Let's go save a goddess."