Artemis's Daughter
One day, a strange girl came stumbling into Camp Half Blood, gasping for breath as she entered the magical barrier. Percy and Annabeth came over to welcome the new demigod. However, she was cold and reminded Percy of someone, who he could not place…
"Hey kid, you are new here huh? How about Annabeth showing you around?" Percy said with a wide smile. Personally Percy felt like he was being ignored by this strange kid. She looked about twelve or thirteen and had long and sleek black hair with striking auburn highlights, which framed a slender face with high cheekbones. Her eyes were as black as coal, with flecks of silver and gold in it. They were narrow and almond shaped, framed with thick black eyelashes and her skin was the colour of olives, with a warm golden sheen to it. Her lips were full and as red as the strawberries in the field. She was petite and slim but was crouched in a defensive position. Percy was reminded of a leopard as he gazed down at her.
The girl wrinkled her fine nose at him. "Who are you?" she muttered in a low musical voice. "We are the Camp Counsellors. You are a demigod. What is your name?" Annabeth's firm and warm voice cut in. Percy gave Annabeth a grateful nod as she bent down to address the girl. "I'm Veronica", she said softly." Veronica Yee." Her head whipped around as she gazed at her surroundings. "What's a demigod?" Annabeth laughed and replied, "One of your parents is a greek god. We will find out soon."
The girl nodded and got up silently. Percy felt awkward as he stood beside Annabeth. He was going to New Rome with Annabeth in a week, and he did not want this queer girl to get too attached to her. Since he was obviously not needed, he pecked Annabeth on her cheek and walked away, leaving her with Veronica, who smirked at Annabeth blushing. Maybe she had hope after all.
"And here is the weapon room. We need to get you a weapon of your own." Annabeth announced as she brought Veronica into the room. The girl had gotten more and more curious and inquisitive but often shut back into her shell when Annabeth probed too deep. She could not decide which parent Veronica had. Was it Aphrodite? The girl was a great beauty but she did not seem to care much for love. Hectate? Maybe. Annabeth had no idea.
"Let's try this." Annabeth unsheathed a slender sword and held it towards Veronica who shook her head after brushing her small hands across the blade and hilt. Annabeth passed her a short silver blade, which Veronica inspected closely before rejecting it yet again. "This looks like a long afternoon", Annabeth thought as she picked up yet another rejected weapon.
One hour later, they still had not found a single weapon that suited Veronica, who looked apologetic but unbothered. "Let's try the Hephatuseus cabin. They have more weapons there."
Veronica nodded and followed Annabeth out.
"Hey Annabeth!" Leo called out as he walked out of Cabin 9, something shiny glinting in his arms. Annabeth grinned and waved back. After the war with Gaea, Leo had returned to Camp Half Blood with a malfunctioning dragon and Calypso. He had explained what had happened and was now living happily in the Bunker with Calypso, who grew an astounding garden in two days. Despite Percy, she and Calypso had become really good friends.
"Who's this little chick?" Leo asked as he looked at Veronica, who gave him a small smile in return. "New demigod, unconfirmed parent. What do you have there?" She asked, nodding towards the pile in Leo's hands. He laughed cheekily and said "Some new weapons, I just-""-Excuse me, may I try that?" Veronica asked as she pointed towards a slender bow and arrow set. Leo shot Annabeth a questioning look as he handed them over. "Uh, sure!" Annabeth shrugged. "Let the kid have a go", she thought. To her surprise, Veronica swung the quiver of arrows over her back with ease and nocked an arrow in a second. She focused on the archery range, which was about half a mile from where she was standing. Surely not, Annabeth thought as she exchanged looks with Leo. Skilled archers were only from Apollo cabin and the kids there were all boys, and while there were occasional good archers from various cabins, none of them could shoot from this far.
"Zing!" Annabeth watched in disbelief as the arrow whizzed past her in a blur of silver and landed straight on bulls-eye. She was at loss for words as Veronica nocked arrow after arrow and sent them all whizzing towards the targets, which were at a distance only few Apollo demigods were able to hit.
"Holy Festus! You have got some skill. Sure you not a boy in disguise? You would have fit right in to Apollo Cabin" Leo laughed as he patted Veronica on the shoulder. To Annabeth's surprise, Veronica smiled widely at both of them, her cold attitude gone, replaced by a beautiful smile. "That felt really good!" She laughed happily at Leo's jokes, her clear musical laughter ringing out, which made Annabeth stare at her in amazement. "Come on, Annabeth I am hungry! Leo says there is hall where we get to eat. Let's go!" Annabeth followed after Veronica , who, after shooting those arrows, looked as if she had a huge weight off her shoulders.
"Will!" Annabeth called as she spotted the blonde demigod from Apollo Cabin. I'd like you to meet Veronica." Will waved at Veronica, whose black and red hair floated behind her as she ran towards them. "Hi!" she smiled at him, her cheeks dimpling as she held out a bunch of flowers to Annabeth." I found these. Pretty cute huh?" Annabeth took them with a smile. "Will, Veronica is an extremely skilled archer. I am wondering if she could be from Apollo cabin. "Sorry Annabeth, Apollo only has boys as his children, never girls. But I would like to see her shoot." Suddenly, his eyes widened as he looked at Veronica, who was behind Annabeth and was sitting on the ground. Annabeth whirled around to see Veronica playing with some wild daises, all of which had shot up to two feet and were swaying around Veronica as more sprouted around her.
"Demeter cabin? Are you sure?" Miranda asked Annabeth again as she looked down at the small girl, who was smiling pleasantly at her." Miranda, the plants were two feet tall! And they were sprouting around her like crazy!" Annabeth whispered urgently. "All right, let us see…" Annabeth watched as Miranda took a potted rose off the windowsill and handed it to Veronica. "Try making it grow!" Veronica looked at the rose in her hands with confusion and she shook her head. "I'm sorry, I can't! "Annabeth shook her head and muttered, "I guess we would have to wait for the campfire tonight!"
"That's Poseidon cabin, and that's Ares cabin. Try not to go there, or you might get your head blown off." "Alright," Veronica giggled. "That's Athena Cabin, which is my cabin." Veronica nodded." That's the Apollo cabin and that's-""Wait, what is that!" Veronica interrupted as she pointed towards the glowing silver cabin. "That's Artemis cabin. But there are no demigods in there, it's really just honorary…" Suddenly, Annabeth had a thought. Archery…wild plants, auburn hair… no it could not be!
Shaking her head she moved on, very much aware that Veronica was still gazing at the Artemis cabin in awe.
"Percy!" Annabeth hissed at the dancing black haired boy by the bonfire, fighting the urge to scold and laugh at the same time. Percy came over in a flash and asked," What's wrong?" "I think-"
Suddenly, a collective gasp ran through the crowd. Looking up, Annabeth saw Veronica standing on top of a log, looking bewildered as a glowing symbol of a silver arrow and bow lit up on top of her head.
"All hail, daughter of Artemis, Lady of the Hunt, Goddess of the moon and the wild." Chiron's low voice rang out and everyone in camp knelt down and bowed towards Veronica.
"What do you mean? I am the daughter of Artemis? I thought she could not have kids? Annabeth what is going on?"
"Calm down, it's okay." Piper said in a soothing voice. Veronica immediately relaxed.
"Chiron, what is going on? How can she be the daughter of Artemis?" Percy asked in a worried tone.
"I do not know. I am contacting the hunters. Thalia will be arriving in a short while."
"Who? Who is Thalia? Am I in trouble?" Veronica piped up again in an agitated and panicked voice.
"Sleep!" Piper said in charmspeak and Veronica collapsed into an armchair, snoring softly.
When Veronica awoke she found herself in a room lit dimly by a silvery ray of moonlight. She was lying on a soft white bed with smooth silver blankets and soft pillows. Annabeth and a pretty girl with a feather in her hair looked at her in concern from the foot of her bed. A girl around fifteen to sixteen perched on her bed. She had spiky black hair and piercing blue eyes. She looked like she was glowing or maybe that was just the moonlight. Veronica groaned as her eyes tried to adjust to the surroundings. The ceiling looked like there was no ceiling, instead opening to the night sky, inky black blue darkness with beautiful constellations and stars. If she had not seen the outside of the cabin, she would have thought she was literally "sleeping under the stars".
"Hey kid, you okay?" the girl sitting on her bed spoke out.
"Yeah," Veronica mumbled as she propped herself up on the pillows. An owl flew onto her window and perched there. It hooted, "Are you okay? Miss, are you okay?" "Argh!" Veronica shrieked as she pushed away from the owl in shock. How could an owl talk?
"Hey it's okay!" The girl on her bed said. "I'm Thalia, and judging from your face expression, you probably heard the owl there speak." "Yea..yeah, how did you know?" Veronica stammered, her eyes wide and unfocused. Annabeth and Piper exchanged worried looks.