Consciousness came to Percy slowly. Parts of his body came online one after the other, until he finally regained control of himself. He opened his eyes immediately as this happened, and took in his surroundings as best as he could.

Silver assaulted his vision, and Percy quickly gathered that he was in Artemis' cabin. He relaxed, understanding he was in safe hands.

A face swam into his vision, his eyesight still a bit blurry from one of the few experiences of unconsciousness he'd ever had. He focused, and the blurriness cleared.

He smiled.

"Hey Anna." Percy sat up, rotating his legs so that they rested on the floor below the cot. "How's Zoe?" He blinked, looking around. "And where's the other hunters?"

Anna returned the smile. "She's fine, Percy. Better than fine now, actually. She really got to air a lot of her mind out on you."

A part of Percy's chest panged with pain at the memory.

Anna continued, her smile softening. "The hunters are out with her, keeping her company." She laid a hand on his shoulder. He realized it was bare for the first time, and that he was clad only in his trousers.

"How about you, Percy? How are you doing?"

Anna peered at him, and Percy belatedly realized how frightening it must have been for her. It was the first time he'd fallen into unconscious, or the closest parallel thereof, in front of her.

"I'm okay, Anna." Percy grinned up at her. "It'll take a lot more than an angry huntress to do me in."

Anna laughed, withdrawing her hand to cross her arms. "Don't let Zoe hear that. She'll take it as a challenge."

She surveyed his form once more, trained eyes flickering over his body, searching for any sign of injury. "Really though, you're okay?"

Percy laughed, fondly exasperated. "Anna, I'm fine. You don't have to worry for me so much."

Anna leaned forward, engulfing him in a hug. Her parka was warm. She pressed her face into the crook of his neck, mumbling into it.

"It's my job to worry for you. You're family, Percy. The only family I have left."

Percy brought his arms up and around her, pulling her close.

"You're family to me too, Anna."

The old demigod swallowed, willing himself to speak through the lump that appeared in his throat.

"I don't know if I ever said this before, but you saved me, Anna. I don't think I would've ever had the will to change, to disobey Ares at all, had I not met you." Percy squeezed her gently, tightening his embrace. "Without you, I would've been stuck in that cage."

Anna's eyes were wet against his neck.

"We saved each other, Percy." Anna mumbled into his neck. "Both of us couldn't have gotten out of there without the other."

For a while they just stayed there, embracing each other. With the lives they led, moments like these were few and far between.

A throat cleared loudly. Percy and Anna hastily separated, looking towards the door of the cabin. Zoe leaned against it, evidently having slipped in sometime during the conversation.

Zoe's eyes glimmered with mirth as she pushed herself off the door, beginning to walk towards them. "Hugging a shirtless man in our lady's cabin is," Zoe paused, an almost mischievous smile crossing her face, "an interesting move, Anna."

Anna spluttered, grabbing a pillow from behind Percy, and threw it at Zoe, who was still smiling like a cat who'd eaten the canary. "You know it's not like that!"

The lieutenant merely smirked, continuing to stride towards them. She leaned her head to the side, and the pillow soared past, impacting the wall behind her loosely.

"I jest, of course." Zoe laughed.

The sound confused Percy. He'd never known Zoe to be one to laugh so easily. Especially not now, in the aftermath of what'd happened to Artemis.

He took a moment, studying the elder huntress. She was different, her gait inhumanly graceful. Not that it wasn't so before, but it was far more pronounced now. She barely seemed to touch the ground, seemingly gliding across the floor towards the two.

There was an aura of power around the lieutenant that she'd simply not had before.

Zoe looked down at his seated form. "You're awake now." She observed, a wry smile crossing her face.

Percy rolled a shoulder, feeling something crack back into place. He nodded. "You hit like a truck, but yeah. I'm better now." The demigod smiled. "You look better as well."

Zoe returned the smile. "I am. My powers aren't suppressed anymore, thanks to you. I've adapted to them."

"I'm glad, Zoe." Percy said. He stood up, looking around the bed the hunters had let him borrow.

"Looking for something Perseus?" Zoe asked from behind him. Her voice sounded amused.

"My shirt and coat." Percy responded, bending down to look under the bed. "Not sure if I want to risk your lady's wrath by remaining shirtless in her cabin for much longer."

Zoe's smile faltered. "Perseus…"

Percy turned around to face Zoe once more, pulling on his shirt. He was in the process of shrugging on a heavily damaged jacket when he began speaking.

"Artemis is tough, Zoe. Wherever she is, she's still fighting." He reached into a pocket on a jacket, grasping his rifle. "I'm assuming there's a quest being launched to find her?"

Zoe nodded. "Why I came here, to get you two for the meeting in the Big House."

Exchanging a glance with Anna, Percy looked back at Zoe. He grinned, withdrawing a rifle from his coat, slinging it over his back.

"Well, count us in," Percy paused, rubbing a hand over the back of his head, "If you'll have me, of course." He smirked, gesturing with a thumb towards Anna. "You're stuck with her though, have no choice either way."

"One heart to heart, and he turns into a comedian." Anna grumbled goodnaturedly.

Zoe chuckled softly at the two, well used to their byplay. "Of course I'll have you both. I couldn't ask for better people to watch my back."

Anna perked up, bringing her fist up and smashing it into an open palm, grinning at both Zoe and Percy. "We're gonna beat the shit out of whoever took her."

Sunlight filtered through an old window, the early morning light casting fractal patterns across an old table. Chiron stood at the head of the table, flanked by Thalia and Zoe. Extending from them were the demigod councilors of each cabin, ordered akin to their Olympian parents. Anna stood behind and to the left of Zoe, her arms crossed

Percy was overlooking it all, leaning against a far wall. He regarded the empty sea green chair beside Thalia for a long moment, considering it. He sighed. When the gods had turned him to this automaton, he'd gained much, but he'd lost much more.

Chiron looked to his right, meeting Zoe's eyes. The lieutenant dipped her chin in a subtle nod.

The old centaur's voice pierced the low murmur of conversing demigods with the ease of an experienced commander.

"We are gathered here regarding a prophecy issued last night to the lieutenant of the hunt. Zoe, if you would?"

Zoe stepped forward. "Our lady Artemis has been captured. The oracle has issued a quest regarding her rescue. There will be 5 demigods and huntresses on this quest."

The low murmur returned, louder this time as demigods looked at each other with wide eyes. 5 demigods on a singular quest was unprecedented, apparently.

Percy softly snorted, the sound going unnoticed.

Zoe glanced behind herself at Anna, a brief unspoken conversation passing between them. The lieutenant began to speak once more, instantly silencing the surrounding conversation. She turned to look at Percy.

"Perseus will be assisting us."

Percy stepped forward from the shadows, to the surprise of many demigods who'd not noticed him. He nodded to Zoe, acknowledging her words. "Ready and waiting, lieutenant."

Zoe nodded back, the circlet atop her forehead making the motion look regal. She turned back towards Chiron. "I will send no more hunters other than myself and Anna. With milady captured, her blessing upon us wanes, and is not capable of supporting more." Zoe paused, glancing at the table. "With your permission, we will augment our numbers with two of your campers."

Chiron closed his eyes. "Permission granted. Who do you choose?"

Zoe turned to look at Thalia. The daughter of Zeus looked hesitant for a moment, before sighing. She hit the table with a splayed palm.

"Ah, what the Hades. I'm in." Thalia gave a cocky smirk.

Anna steepled her hands in front of her face, evidently willing away a snarky comment. She made eye contact with Percy, and dramatically rolled her eyes. Percy shot a brief smirk her way. Daughter of Zeus, indeed.

He shook his head, clearing his mind, and stepped forward.

"Who," Percy's eyes flickered along the full length of the table. "Will be the last one?"

Annabeth stood up. Her grey eyes glinted in the light. "Me."

"So be it." Zoe regarded the chosen questers for a long moment, before stepping away from the table. "Gather what kit you need. We leave within the hour."

She turned towards Chiron, nodding her head in gratitude. "Thank you."

Before the centaur could respond, Zoe had exited the room.

Percy and Anna exchanged a glance. Percy looked towards the shadows, seeing two vague outlines residing in a darkened corner. He looked back at Anna. "Go on without me."

Anna followed his gaze before nodding. "Sure. Don't be late." She smirked, continuing in a lower tone. "Softie."

Percy rolled his eyes, waving a hand dismissively at her. Anna 's shoulders shook with laughter as she followed Zoe out the door.

He waited until Chiron and the other demigods vacated the room before walking towards the darkened corner, kneeling down.

"You can come out now." Percy spoke, amused.

Nico and Bianca emerged out of the shadows sheepishly.

"Sorry Percy." Bianca rubbed the back of the head. "We -"

"We just wanted to know what was going on!" Nico interrupted his older sister, gazing up at him. "Are you leaving!"

Percy nodded. "Yes. We're going to go save Artemis."

Nico's hand went to the hip where his sword was as he glared determinedly at Percy. "Take us with you then!"

The older demigod shook his head. "No. This quest is no place for novices." He turned his head so that his eyes caught Bianca's as well. "Foes with the ability to capture a goddess such as Artemis are both rare and very powerful."

"We can still help!" Nico insisted. He gestured towards his sword. "You gave us these weapons. Why can't we use them?!"

Percy gently rested a hand on the boy's shoulder. "A warrior does not seek out a fight." He squeezed gently, regarding Bianca as well. "Your time will come. Both of yours. Do not rush it."

Nico nodded reluctantly. "Okay." He kicked at a small rock laying on the wooden floor.

"Stay here. Train. Get stronger. Use this opportunity well. Few demigods are afforded such relative peace. Do not waste it." Percy smiled at him. He turned to regard Bianca. "Take care of your younger brother, Bianca, and he will take care of you."

"Understood, Percy." Bianca smiled. Nico merely nodded.

He stood up then, turning towards the door Anna had left a few minutes earlier. "I have to go now."

A hand grasped at his sleeve.

Percy looked down. Bianca met his eyes with an earnest gaze. "Be safe, Percy."

Percy swallowed. The words of the prophecy ran through his mind once more.

"I'll try." He promised.