AN: Here is the next installation after a long wait! Leave a review if you are enjoying the story, they are the fuel to my writing engine :)
Artemis appeared in the Hunters' camps and nodded satisfied at the work the Hunters had accomplished while she was at the meeting. They were almost finished packing up their supplies and dismantling the tents. Thalia approached Artemis with an anxious look on her face.
"Well? Was it just a misunderstanding, did Percy really attack Camp Half-Blood?" asked Thalia, but Artemis' solemn nod only made Thalia's face morph into an expression of shock and horror.
"No, Percy would never do that! Not the Percy I kn-" Thalia was interrupted by Artemis raising an eyebrow and motioning for her to follow. Artemis asked Thalia to summon the Hunters for a mission briefing in the center of the Camp.
"Hunters, I am sure you are aware now that Perseus Jackson has attacked Camp Half-Blood" Artemis began, and many of the hunters nodded at that statement and some began murmuring between themselves. Artemis motioned for silence, and the hunters quieted down.
"We have been given orders to track and hunt down Perseus and bring him back to Olympus to face justice and the gods" Artemis declared. Some of the hunters cheered and looked excited and some of them shouted insults.
"We'll get that arrogant good for nothing male in chains in no time!" yelled one of the hunters.
Artemis' silver eyes turned to molten as she stared at one of the hunters but Thalia spoke up before she could "In case you didn't remember, he saved our Lady's life and he is a better person than you could ever be!"
The hunter glared at Thalia but remained silent. Many of the hunters now started to silently take sides on who to agree with. The tension in the camp was able to be cut with a knife. Artemis dismissed the hunters and she decided to go to her tent to make preparations.
Artemis invited Thalia, and Phoebe, the one other hunter who had criticized Perseus, to her tent where a map of the continental United States was unfolded and several positions were marked as to most likely whereabouts of Perseus' location.
"As you can see, I have marked the most likely locations of where Perseus could be located based on the amount of time that has elapsed since the attack," Artemis explained.
Both of her hunters nodded their heads and they continued making preparations for capturing Percy.
All of a sudden, Apollo flashed in the middle of them causing Thalia and Phoebe to pin him down before he could say a word.
Apollo looked up at Artemis who was raising an eyebrow in a questioning manner, Apollo said "Hey sis, not the welcome I expected but I have some information on Perseus" Artemis motioned for the hunters to get off of her brother and she helped lift him up. Artemis then motioned for him to continue.
Apollo explained that he spotted Perseus from his chariot in a forest not too far from the camp. Artemis' eyes widened and she thanked her brother by nodding. Apollo then flashed away probably to tend to the sun again.
Artemis summoned her hunters and explained the situation to them.
"Now, remember, we are supposed to bring him back ALIVE, so you should shoot to disarm and NOT to kill, are we clear?" Her hunters nodded back although some had disgruntled faces probably wanting to kill Percy.
Artemis thought to herself this should be a relatively easy and routine hunt. Just capture Percy, Perseus and then bring him back to Olympus. But what if he isn't guilty? But Artemis quickly shook those thoughts out of her head, she had a job to do.
Percy was having a grand old time. He had actually went back into Manhattan after the encounter with Hermes in the forest. After all, they wouldn't expect him to be back in the city of his enemy. Enemy, when did I think of the gods as my enemy? I suppose they are considering they basically issued an arrest warrant for me on false charges. How can they even trace me? Although, Apollo and his chariot would probably be able to spot me but as long as there are clouds blocking the sun I should be ok.
At this thought, Percy looked up and to his relief the sun was still obscured by clouds. Alright Perseus, let's go get a nice drink. Percy walked into a nearby cafe and ordered a simple plain coffee because $8.75 for a frappuccino was not worth it.
Afterwards Percy decided to visit his mom who was still with Gabe. Percy walked up to his mom's apartment and knocked on the door.
He waited a bit, and waited some more, Percy was beginning to feel anxious and a little nervous but then Gabe opened the door. It took a few moments but the smell hit Percy like a truck, it smelled like used socks that were out in the the sun for too long and Percy gagged.
Gabe looked down at Percy with a scowl on his face "What do you want boy?"
Percy looked back at Gabe and calmly answered "To see my mom Gabe I'm in a hurry so get out of my way"
Percy made to step through the door but Gabe blocked him from entering. Narrowing his eyes Gabe angrily yelled "Who do you think you are? Walking in here and ordering me around, boy I can still beat you into the ground!"
Percy's eyes flashed murderously and he pulled out Riptide uncapping it and holding the point of it under Gabe's chin. Gabe took a nervous gulp and stood still.
"Now you're going to let me in and I am going to ask you to get out of here while you still can" Percy calmly said. Gabe stood there with Percy's eyes boring into his and nodded while shaking in fear.
"Alright fine, just just get that thing away from me, let me just pack a few of my…" Gabe started but was interrupted by Percy putting more pressure on the sword and increasing his power to envelop Gabe. At that point, Gabe was practically quaking in terror and ran away.
Percy watched him go with a cold look but quickly rushed inside the apartment. He almost couldn't recognize the apartment that he once stayed in. The whole place was almost completely trashed.
There were piles of dirty dishes in the sink, the floors had bits of food and the carpet had dark stains from beer. And the beer, there were bottles lying everywhere you looked and a pile of poker cards sat on the table neatly stacked.
"Mom!" Percy yelled, and he heard some footsteps coming from a bedroom.
His mom came out and was she looked very haggard and stressed out but upon seeing her son her face brightened up and she ran towards Percy with her arms outstretched.
Percy opened up his arms and they embraced holding each other for a moment. Then Percy's mom, Sally Jackson stepped back and observed her son. One of the first things she noticed was that he had grown a lot. Her baby boy was a boy no longer.
He now stood almost a head taller than her and his eyes seemed to hold a lot more knowledge and understanding of the world around him.
Sally Jackson quickly took the card deck off of the table and quickly grabbed some snacks from the pantry and gave some to Percy who took it with gratitude and they sat down.
"So Percy, tell me what has been going on with this Camp Half-Blood Business?" Sally questioned.
Percy looked surprised "You know about that?"
"Of course I know about it, you didn't think I still don't have connections to the divine world do you?" Percy's mom asked.
Percy's widening eyes only made her burst out laughing and Percy only looked very confused. Finally his mom quieted down and told him how his father, Poseidon, had come and explained the situation to her and how his father told her that he believed Percy was innocent and that someone was trying to frame him.
When Percy questioned what those other things were his mom only grinned and told him to leave that for the adults.
Percy and his mom spent some more time talking with each other and catching up. Percy noticed the sun starting to dip below the horizon and he reluctantly told his mom that he had to go as this was probably one of the places they would search.
"Also, before I leave, Gabe isn't coming back, I told him to leave and never come back, why did you keep him around anyway?" Percy questioned.
"I kept him here because I knew that his smell would block out your scent Percy" his mother quietly said.
At that moment Percy felt extremely lucky to have such a loving and caring mom who would sacrifice so much for his safety and he hugged his mother with some tears forming in his eyes.
He and his mother said their goodbyes and Percy left the apartment, by now the sun was down and he found a small forest with a creek running by to set up camp.
Percy took his backpack off and set a sleeping bag on the ground next to him and drifted off to sleep.
When Percy woke the next morning, birds were chirping, the sun was shining on his face, the trees were swaying. Wait, the sun was shining. Percy quickly stood up and splashed some water on his face to become more alert and took out Riptide.
No doubt the gods had sent someone to hunt him down. Probably the Hunters of Artemis…
As Percy thought this he saw a burst of silver cloaks come from multiple sides of the forest and his eyes widened but soon he held Riptide with firm resolve. He was going to face down these hunters and show them that he was a force to be reckoned with.
AN: Hope you guys enjoyed leave some reviews for suggestions and what you like or dislike about this story. Have a nice day!