Percy POV
I was teleported by Apollo to the campsite of the hunters, about a half mile out. Thank Apollo for time to walk.
And did he give me time. I meandered about just looking at the lilies and trees. Talking to the fish and horses. The white rabbits scurried through the grass. The forest stretched on for miles. I got lost.
That is until I heard the conch horn, I was lost. I had sat there until sunset. Wow, good job Apollo! The conch must have been signaling dinner. I decided to head toward the conch. When I arrived, I saw the hunters and was immediately shot against an adjacent tree.
"What are you doing here, boy?" Phoebe sneered. She approached me and got in my face. "Are you the son of Poseidon? Hmm... Well why did you come? Answer me!"
"I have come under orders from the gods. My story is simple. I am a demigod. That is all you need know. Why did Thalia not inform you of my arrival?" I responded. It was at that point that Thalia approached.
"Hunters of Artemis! Lower your bows!" She quipped out. "Percy, come with me. We must speak with Artemis concerning your duties to the hunt in exchange for a tent. Unless you'd like to sleep in the trees or on the ground?" I simply nodded and followed her to a pavilion near the center of camp, fashioned completely out of oak and shrubbery. "I will get Artemis, you wait here for her. She is not happy about your assignment," Thalia informed me and then walked away into the sunset.
A few minutes later, I heard a crack and spun around to see Artemis about 5 yards off. That was odd. I should not have been able to hear that at this distance. Artemis had stepped on a twig. She looked up at me, slightly embarrassed. "Jackson, sit at the table nearest to me." She ordered while walking to said table. We both arrived at the lashed, wooden table at the same time. The table smelled like cedar and I could smell deer musk in the air.
"Jackson, as I am sure Thalia told you, you will have to assist in some of the chores in order to get a tent around here. You will wash all of the hunter's clothes. They will pile them near the river. You will stand evening sentry each evening of this season. You will sharpen arrows as they dull below 80% sharpness. Those are your duties. Any questions?" Artemis said simply, clearly not expecting a question.
"Yes, where can I stow my belonging while I am washing your hunt's laundry before I get my tent? Or ought I to make a tent that is hidden to stow them in?" I asked.
She seemed surprised that I'd thought of that.
"Your belonging are your responsibility. If they are taken, report it to me. Until you have a tent, your belonging are easily taken." She responded. "Now, get to work. Today you need to sharpen arrows before dinner. After that you will do sentry duty and get a tent of your own tomorrow morning."
"Aye-aye Artemis." I have no idea as to why I responded as a sailor would. Maybe more of my dad is bleeding through...
I began my stroll to the tent Artemis pointed me to and described and began to sharpen while sitting on my things, to prevent theft. I secretly thing Artemis wanted the girls to steal my things, so that is why all openings to sacks are right under my crotch, for obvious reasons.
After two hours of sharpening, Thalia came to get me.
"Oi! Seaweed brain, come get food. You are done with arrows for today." And with that, the daughter of Zeus left. And so did I. I had no idea what shenanigans would go forth, but I knew they would. That is why I hadn't sat while sharpening, but squatted about 1 millimeter above my stuff. It was a great workout. The one thing I wouldn't do; sit on glue.
When I entered the dining tent, only Artemis was there. As if hearing my silent inquiries Artemis spoke.
"We always eat before you. Here is your ingredients. Cook well." She said before leaving. She had given me kale, steak, water and corn. Soup it is.
After cooking and eating my soup with kale chips, I went to sentry duty. There I found berries and ate a few from the bushes while patrolling camp. Then I heard it. The far off screech of the Chimera.