Ok, I know what you all are thinking. Where have all the uploads been? You promised more at a more regular schedule. Well, to be honest, I had an extreme set of writer's block. I had one hell of a semester at school, and I just had no time to write at all. I'm terribly sorry that I have kept you all so long but here is the long, and I mean LONG, awaited chapter of Natural Laws of Attraction!
All rights and royalties belong to the almighty Rick Riordan. I don't own anything nor will I ever.
Chapter 7: To the hunt!
Artemis P.O.V.
"Are you ready Percy?" I say, sounding more confident than I really feel. On the inside, it felt as if there was a pit of snakes coiling around and making me squirm with fear. I highly doubt that the hunters will ever forgive me for bringing him into our camp; prophecy or not.
"I guess I'm ready," Percy said, sounding how I felt.
"Is something wrong?" I ask wondering if he is thinking the same as I am; that he will not be accepted no matter what he does.
"I don't have any kind of supplies or guidelines on what I should definitely not do around the hunters. I'm quite fond of being a male and I don't want that to change," he says trying to attempt at humor but failing miserably.
"Percy, I cannot guarantee anything but I'm sure that they will warm up to you eventually. Just give it time and take everything in stride. If things become too much, just tell me and I will tell them to tone it down," I say but I honestly believed that the hunters would make his life a living hell.
"Whatever you say Artemis," he said looking dejected but still looked as if he was ready no matter what would happen.
"Take my hand so that we can go," I said and held my hand out to him. The moment that he touched my hand, I felt a spark run through me and felt all my senses alight. It was as if his touch was electric; and I could not get enough of it. He curled his fingers through mine and I thought that I might faint. Is this what love feels like or is this just a really good dream?
"Artemis? Are we going?" He said and I had to mentally slap myself. We had been standing there and I had been holding his hand like a love-struck idiot.
"Sorry about that," I say and teleport us to camp. Here we go.
LINEBREAK
Thalia P.O.V
What I thought would be an ordinary day when I rolled out of bed has been anything but that. First there was a noticeable lack of Lady Artemis but that was not the most concerning thing. She would often leave us some form of a message or we were to message her if needed but even when we tried IM'ing her, it didn't work. What made things even more strange was the fact that there was a feeling of a power spike momentarily right before she arrived.
"Milady," I say as I stand up to greet her, "and Seaweed brain. Why are you with milady?"
"Long story short," Artemis said sounding worried, "he's our new 'guardian'. I know it isn't ideal but he has sworn upon Olympus and even gotten the ok by father."
"Milady," I responded, feeling as worried now as she did, "it's not me that you need to be worried about. It's the other hunters that won't take kindly to him. In any ways, welcome to the hunt Percy. You should feel honoured; you are the first male ever to be welcomed into the hunters of Artemis."
"Really? Where's my trophy?" he said sarcastically. "I don't believe that having one hunter's approval is a warm welcome by any stretch of the imagination."
"Percy," Artemis says looking ever so slightly irritated at his sarcasm, "the hunt is ready to move on. Pack your bags and pack something warmer. We are going to the north."
"Thanks but no thanks. I'll stay here if you are planning to go back to Alaska. That was cold enough for me for one lifetime thank you very much," Percy said but looked willing to go anyways."
"That's not where I meant smart-ass," Artemis replied, looking a little irritated at such back talk from a demigod, "We are going north into Canada. We don't hunt there often but there is some monster activity stirring up there and Zeus asked us to take care of it."
"Canada, eh?" Percy said, trying to do his best impression of a stereotypical Canadian, "What aboot that eh?" I couldn't help but laugh at his butchered Canadian impression. Even Artemis smiled a small bit at his jokes. It seemed like Percy could still be in there after all.
"Be prepared Percy," Artemis said with a grin on her face, "Canadians aren't like that. We will be hunting there and not interacting with the mortals."
"As long as I try some of that real maple syrup that is said to be really good." Percy said looking pensive and sounding ever so slightly hungry.
"Let me gather the hunters, milady." I said because I figured it would be bad if Artemis summoned them all to us and then were greeted with the sight of Percy.
"Very well Thalia," Artemis said, "Percy, why don't you go pack your things? We won't be returning here for many months."
"At your leave, milady." Percy said and left towards his cabin.
"Artemis, do you really think that this is a good idea? To bring a male into the hunt after everything you have told the hunters? Granted I know that Percy would never harm them or let harm come to them but do you think that they will believe you?" I ask, voicing my true opinion after he was out of earshot.
"Honestly Thalia, there is another reason why he is coming to the hunt but that is a reason that won't be shared until the time is right; even Percy doesn't know the main reason he is with us other than to have purpose," Artemis replied sounding slightly strained. Whatever the reason, she clearly was uncomfortable about it and I didn't want to push the matter.
"Yes milady. I'll gather the hunters now," and with that I left to find my sisters and bring them back to the cabin.
LINEBREAK
Artemis P.O.V
"Hunters," I say to the girls standing around me, "today we leave for the north. The conditions aren't what you are used to but I'm certain that you can adapt given time. There is something else though that needs to be addressed and that is Perseus here. He will be travelling with us by Olympian command." I held up my hand as I saw the protests start to build up in them.
"Believe me, I don't want this anymore than you do," Percy started, and I took some offense to that. He agreed to go join us, but I went with it until he explained, "my uncle Zeus wanted me to look into some strange build-up of power that seems to be rising in the north. I'll be accompanying you and training along the way. For the majority of the time, I will do my best to stay out of your way." Begrudgingly, the hunters accepted their fate meanwhile planning something.
"Percy, if you can give me a minute to talk to the hunters, that would be much appreciated," I hand him a few drachmas, "if there was anyone you wanted to call, take the time now to do so." He nodded and walked off towards the fountain. I then turned to face the girls, "this was, as he said, on Zeus' orders so no complaining about it. Yes he is a man and I know that your oaths say that you reject the company of men, but please give him a chance. He is the only male who has ever been able to befriend Zoë and to be frank, I don't believe there could ever be a truer man than him," I feel a blush at the words but manage to suppress it before it came to full bloom.
"Milady," Thalia says, "how long should this mission last?" I hadn't thought about that but I figured that for as long as the presence was growing, we would be scouting it out.
"Until our father says otherwise. Hunters, prepare to move."
"Umm, quick question," I hear Percy call out. I turned around looking shocked that he was finished already, "will I need a passport?"
Percy P.O.V
The great white north. What mysteries could lie up here? As I was traveling with the hunters heading north, I was amazed by the scenery. The wilderness here was something that I have never seen before. Sure camp half-blood had a forest and there was always central park but now I understand why this is called the true north. Nature seemed less disturbed here than anywhere else and I then knew what Grover always meant about protecting the wild.
"Breathtaking, isn't it Perseus?" I hear Artemis say, as if she can read my thoughts, "I take it that this is your first time travelling north of the border?"
"Well, there was that brief trip to Alaska, but other than that, this is my first time that I'm planning on being here a while," I reply.
"I believe we should rest here for a short while. It appears to be midday and everyone is starting to get hungry. Hunters," she calls out, "set up a dining area. Lunch time." To say the hunters are fast is an understatement. Think how fast sonic can go on a chili dog. Now lace that with enough caffeine to knock out a fully-grown water buffalo and you have how fast the hunters are at setting up when they are hungry.
"Alright, chef Percy is here," I say, kind of wishing that I had one of those fancy chef hats. As if reading my thoughts again, I feel a weight on my head that slightly dips forward. Grinning I continue, "what would you all like to eat today?"
"Well if you can cook it without poisoning us, boy," the one named Phoebe says with malice dripping in her voice, "I would like a steak cooked medium rare with grilled asparagus, mashed potatoes, and water." This made me sweat slightly, remembering what Hestia said about these kind of orders.
'Relax Percy,' I hear in my head, immediately recognizing the voice as my patron, 'I will grant you the power to create for the hunters whatever they desire so that they may be appeased but for yourself, that's up to you to learn how to master.' Cracking my knuckles feeling more confident now, I picture exactly what she asked for in front of her and suddenly the air smelled of cooked beef.
"Voila!" I exclaim, "One steak with asparagus, mashed potatoes, and a glass of water WITH ice. Enjoy," I say, smiling like I had finally done something right.
"I was right!" Phoebe exclaims, "you're grinning like a madman! It IS poisoned!" She grabs her knife and charges at me, catching me completely off-guard. I barely pull my sword in time to block however I didn't read the move right (smash bros joke for those who play) and she slid and slashed me mere inches from my groin. I howl in pain and fall to the ground.
"Phoebe!" Artemis exclaims, looking actually scared now that I could be extremely hurt, "he just made a meal for you and was feeling proud of it. Why did you have to do something like that?"
"Because he is a man and he most likely wanted to hurt us," Phoebe tried to rationalize. Thalia looked murderous at the protesting hunter until Artemis held up her hand.
"I have a solemn oath from Perseus here that he will not in any way harm the hunters intentionally," she says while I moan in pain to attempt to attest to that, "just eat the food that Perseus so graciously made for you and don't make a scene out of it."
Phoebe sat down and tried the tiniest piece of her steak. By the time I had managed to summon a glass of water, pour it on my wound, and stand up (albeit a bit shaky), her whole meal was gone and she was wiping her mouth. "Not bad," she says and adds under her breath, "for a boy." She obviously didn't count on me hearing that.
"Alright hunters," Artemis says looking around at our surroundings, "how about we just break here for the day and get some rest."
"At your leave my lady," Thalia and I said at the exact same time. I looked over to my cousin and had to give a small smile. Some things just don't change.
AN: I realize that this is really late and I'm sorry for my inconsistency. I want to get better for you guys but at the same time, I can't write when I'm utterly stuck. Once again, sorry and hopefully now things will go a bit faster. Also, just to point out, Percy thinks that Zeus is putting with the hunt, and Artemis is going with it so Percy and the hunt don't discover the prophecies.
TheWritingScribe