A/N: Thank you all for the kind words. As I've said, reviews make my fingers work a lot better and get the next chapter written quicker. Here's the next one.

I don't own a thing that you recognize.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Belle couldn't believe her ears. She had half a mind to run to the bathroom, clean out her ears, and come back asking Aimee to repeat herself. The words that Aimee had just said didn't make any sense at all. Aimee, become a Hunter?

A hand waved in front of Belle's face, jarring her back in to reality. "Ya okay there Belle," Aimee asked, "I told ya not to freak out on me."

Breathe, Belle. A small voice sounded in Belle's ear. Inhale…exhale. After a few deep breaths Belle decided to trust her voice into speaking. "Why?" was the only word she managed to squeak out.

"Why?" Aimee chorused. I almost joined last year, before the fight with Kronos. But I knew that if I did I would have to miss you and everybody else. I wasn't ready to do that."

Belle stared at Aimee. "You never told me you almost joined."

The other girl shrugged. "You were on a need-to-know basis and you didn't need to know."

"Oh" responded Belle, "I see."

"Said the blind man who couldn't talk."

Belle smiled. There was a long history behind that. Many years ago, Belle had learned a short poem about all opposites. It went like:

One bright day

In the middle of the night

Two dead boys began to fight

Back to back

They faced each other

Drew their swords

And shot each other

A deaf policeman

Heard the noise

And came and shot

The two dead boys

If you don't believe this story is true

Ask the blind man, he saw it too.

Ever since Belle had taught that poem to Aimee, they had always laughed at it, and came up with a saying themselves. If one of them were to say 'I see,' then the other would reply 'said the blind man who couldn't talk.' It was a significant part of their friendship, and it still gave them a giggle.

"Are you mad?" asked Aimee.

"I'm not mad," Belle answered. "Surprised, yes. Mad, no."

Aimee breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, because I was afraid you would think that I was trying to steal the spotlight from you."

Her remark caused Belle to inhale sharply. With Aimee, she would never think that that was Aimee's goal. With pretty much anybody else at camp, Belle would think that they were trying to be, well, their same obnoxious selves. "Of course not Aimee."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Aimee left Belle alone in her cabin a short while after that. Belle stared around her cabin, her first real home. The campfire sing-a-long was over, and lights out had already been called. She plopped onto her bed, and stared at the ceiling. Belle suddenly sat up and grabbed a sweatshirt of hers, and of course, some lip balm. She turned off the lights, and opened her door a crack. The grassy area in the center of the cabins was empty, and lit by the waxing crescent of the moon. Belle slipped through the door silently, and headed across the grass towards the ocean.

A few times Belle had to either crouch down behind something to avoid being seen or lay flat on the ground and hope nobody saw her. As the ocean grew nearer, Belle stood up and sprinted the last 20 yards, and then plopped down on the sand.

The rhythm of the waves against the shore was soothing, and they almost seemed to be talking to her. Belle shook her head again, but she was still fairly sure that she heard whispering of some sort. As she stared across the water, Belle noticed a faint white light in her right eye's peripheral vision. She whipped her head around, and saw a great white wolf, staring back.

Belle let out a small squeak and leapt to her feet.

Relax small one.

Belle froze in her tracks. "Did you just speak to me?"

Is there anyone else here to talk to you?

Now Belle was convinced that she was really losing her mind. "So let me get this straight. You are a wolf, and somehow you are talking to me and I can understand you."

Correct.

"But how can I hear you if your lips aren't moving?"

I speak within your mind. Normal mortals cannot hear me.

"So now I'm not a normal mortal?" Belle asked.

Precisely. You are a daughter of Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt. You have not learned your powers, but you can communicate with animals.

"Then why haven't I known I could talk with animals?"

Perseus Jackson, a son of Poseidon, was not aware of his powers until he was claimed. The same applies for you. All of the Huntresses are given the ability to speak with wild animals. You however, are able to speak with all of them, considering your lineage.

Belle stared, understanding, but not really able to. "Who are you?"

I am Russet, pack leader of the wolves of the Hunters of Artemis.

"Why exactly are you here?"

You should not be out after lights out. It would not do if the daughter of my mistress was slain before she could complete her duty.

"May I pet you?" The words were out of Belle's mouth before she could stop them. "I-I mean…that sounds really tacky doesn't it?"

You may. I don't mind. While in service to the Hunters, you might become my hunting partner.

Belles walked over to the wolf and laid a hand on his back and pet him. His white fur was silky soft, but Belle could feel the muscles underneath. "What do you mean by "hunting partner?"

Russet sighed, if wolves could sigh. Lots of times, when young girls join the Hunt they become a hunting partner with an animal. Some opt not to, while others may choose between a hunting bird and a wolf, if there are any who don't have a partner.

"Okay, I understand."

Good. I look forward to seeing you and your friend when you join the hunt. Farewell.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: I know, I know, an extremely short chapter, and I apologize. But a chapter is better than no chapter at all, so be thankful. Also, I know a few of you thought that the story was becoming a bit too cliché. If any of you have any ideas to steer the plot away from clichéness (I don't think that is a word) please don't hesitate to mention it in the reviews. I know that every single one of you who reads this will review it, so I'm not even going to waste my time complaining.

Reading and not reviewing is like stealing.

~ Sarra