Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or the Heroes of Olympus series

Main camping grounds in Pennsylvania

November 2001

Zoe Nightshade's POV

It has been a year since the gods allow Hestia to raise the demigods. They already started to waddle around so they spend every Saturday with Lady Artemis and us. At first it was a little awkward. How were we supposed to act around these children. The boys haven't been corrupted or old enough to know better. But when Lady Artemis told us of her plan then we decided that we will welcome them with open arms. Well most of us, some other hunters were a little wary but soon they warmed up to the small children. They are so cute it is kind of impossible not to.

Percy started saying basic words instead of incoherent baby babble. Jason and Thalia are quickly following their older cousin's example. It turned into a competition in the hunt to see if one of the demigods would say their name first. Every time a huntress got hold of one of the children, they will try to fit their name as many times as they could hoping it would stick.

It is late at night and it was almost time for the demigods to go back to Lady Hestia. We are having dinner and Lady Artemis is out on a hunt so I is in charge. I am watching over the infants as some of my fellow hunters feed them. Then suddenly I heard a snap of a twig off in the distance. Quickly I hushed everyone. The only sound is coming from the demigods. They will give off our position, I thought but if I yell at them they will throw a temper tantrum and we will be definitely be doomed.

"Children, can you be quiet for Zoe, please?" I pleaded with the young demigods.

"Okay Miss Zwoe," Percy whispered.

"Okay Miss Zwoe," Thalia and Jason parroted back. At this point nobody needed to tell my fellow hunters to be quiet because everybody was stunned silent. I vaguely registered Phoebe passing another huntress a bag of what I assume were drachmas. Once I got over the initial shock of it all I went to check on the previous threat. At that I found a hellhound pup. It was small for its age, and was probably left behind by the pack.

What I didn't know was that Percy was right behind me. At the sight of the dog, the son of Poseidon got excited and waddled quickly towards it.

"Puppy!" mumbled the young demigod as he buried his head into its black fur. It bear to tell him that it was a monster. Then he turned around and looked at me expectantly.

"Puppy! Puppy! Zwoe can we kweep him. Pleawse?" Percy pleaded as he looked up at me with those big, green baby-seal eyes. It was almost impossible to resist him. Only a cold-hearted person could ignore the pleads of the toddler. Unfortunately, these infants warmed up my heart so I could not resist.

"You have to talk to Lady Hestia." It was a bit cowardly for me to pass on the responsibility onto the hearth goddess but in the end it was her decision. She is the one raising them.

"Yay! I have puppy!" The little boy cheered as he played with his self proclaimed pet.

"Come on Mrs. O'Leary! Let's show you Jaswe and Fals" Apparently he already named the hellhound and super excited to show cousins. Who just so happen to have a tendency to follow their older cousin and get excited at the same things as him. Man do I feel bad for passing the denying them of a pet to Lady Hestia.

"All right. Let's get you and Mrs. O'Leary," I asked hesitantly, unsure if that name is what the infant used. When he nodded vigorously I continued, "back to camp."

"So we can show Jaswe and Fals?" Percy asked excitedly. I couldn't help but smile at the young demigod. He was so excited.

"Yes. We will go to show Jason and Thalia thy dog." That simple sentence made the son of Poseidon beam. When we got back to camp the two demigods ran- more like waddled fastly- to get to their older cousin. Percy proudly showed them their new addition to their odd little family. They both oo'ed and aw'ed at the hellhound puppy. That's when Phoebe approached me.

"You let Percy have a pet hellhound?" she asked in a baffled voice.

"NO! I just told him to ask Lady Hestia," I defended myself. She gave me a disbelieving look and returned to the campfire with me in her wake. As soon as I sat down, Lady Hestia showed up in the campfire. All hunters got up and bowed at the maiden goddess.

"You may rise. Now where are my little demigods." She looked around trying to find Percy, Jason and Thalia. Upon hearing their goddess mother figure the children raced to the fire to greet her. Not far behind them the hellhound pup followed. Surprisingly it was well trained and did whatever Percy said. And never once it was rough against the children. In all the years I been alive, I never thought that a hellhound can be tame. But Mrs. O'Leary is proving me wrong.

Every hunter waited in anticipation to see how the peaceful goddess will react to the monster that made it's way into their family. We watched as the as the hearth goddess's eyes widen and blazed a little brighter at the hellhound sitting at the heel of the son of Poseidon.

"Look Mommy Hestia. I found a doggy. Her name is Mrs. O'Leary. Can we kweep her pleawse?" The little demigod all but begged. As soon as they figured out what Percy was doing both Jason and Thalia joined in too. We all shifted our heads from the pleading demigods to Lady Hestia waiting to see how they will react.

She nodded sweetly, "Sure thing sweetie." Then she touched the hellhound's head. "There. Now Mrs. O'Leary will only be aggressive when you three are in danger. Now let's go home."

"Bye hunters." The demigod trio cheered as they entered the flames to go back home with their new pet.

A/N: Until next time. Follow, favorite, review.