The age of sixteen was an important one in many cultures. It is the age of coming into adulthood–the age where children are considered capable of handling the real world. Here, in the US, people usually get gifts or a drivers licence. However for my sixteenth birthday, I got a deadly thorn coming at me at hypersonic speeds.

How did I get here, you ask? Well, it all began when I found out I was a demigod, the hard way. Let me explain.

Four years ago, on Christmas eve, monsters attacked my home. Dozens, if not hundreds of those abominations had us surrounded. My mother was a woman well into her thirties, yet she didn't look a day over thirty. In her hand a single black and gold ring fit snugly around her ring finger.

Until that day I was told that my father died in a freak accident, and my mother a simple doctor, it's rather fitting now that I think about it. But it turned out, she was far from a mere doctor, she was a demigod, daughter of a god..

My mother gave me her ring, and a letter before ordering me to leave. Of course, I protested, but she wouldn't listen. I never did forgive myself for leaving her behind that day.

Anyways, long story short I had to run away from my home and live on the run for a few years. In her letter I found information about both me and my parents, how the gods of olympus were real and something about a camp which was too burned to decipher.

During my escapades across the country, I had somehow ended up in Maine, more specifically the Bar Harbour.

I did not expect to run into a group of demigods fighting a monster when I woke up this morning.

Right now, I had to face what seemed like a mix of a lion and a scorpion, a manticore if I was remembering correctly. However, I was not alone. Turned out there were some other demigods in the area. I didn't have the time to ask their names, but it was clear they were from the camp mentioned in mothers letter, if their orange shirts weren't enough of a clue.

My sword arm blurred as it moved, knocking the spike out of the air.

"What the fuck even are you?" I spat out, wreathing my sword in hellfire.

"You've got a mouth haven't you?"

"I'm a teenager, what did you expect?" I growled, hurling my sword at him bladefirst.

As expected, he dodged it easily, "Your aim is pathetic."

I merely smiled, my fingers twitching.

"AGH!" He howled, holding his shoulder in pain. My sword flew back to me, the hellfire having easily bypassed his defences.

I had learned a few tricks in my time as a homeless demigod, one of them being control over metals and precious gems.

"Ah, so the silent one has broken his oath too." He wheezed out, clearly in pain.

Taking this chance one of the demigods, the one in the gothic getup, charged with her lance and shield.

But the beast was too fast, his tail whipped around before she could reach him, sending a volley of spikes at the demigods.

Acting quickly I raised a wall of hellfire between them, melting most of the spikes to liquid, yet some crossed through. Fortunately they had their shields up.

"Yield!" He demanded.

"Yeah, how about no?" I shadow travelled next to him, my sword already moving in an arc. But it seemed I had underestimated him, his hand moved faster than mine, and he swatted me away like a bug.

The air was knocked out of my lungs as I hit the tree, the trunk groaning in protest. To add salt on injury, the snow coagulated on its leaves fell down on me, burying half my body.

I stayed there for a few seconds, stars in my vision, before getting up, using my sword as a crutch.

The distinct sound of a helicopter alarmed me, and I looked up. A stealth helicopter was hovering over us, the humans inside preparing to shoot.

I scowled, Of course, mortals will do about anything for money.

Taking aim, I threw my sword, my power over metals enhancing it's speed as it broke into the cockpit, piercing through the pilot and back to my hand. Raising my free palm I concentrated on the swaying machine, I felt a tug at my very soul as I strained my control over hellfire, lighting the helicopter in black flames.

It melted before it could hit the ground.

The demigods stared at me in a mix of awe and horror. I shrugged, their opinions mattered not to me.

Before I could charge at the monster, a piercing sound, similar to a horn blowing, made me stop.

The hell is that?

"No, it cannot be-"

His sentence was cut short when something shot past me like a streak of moonlight. A glowing silver arrow sprouted from his shoulder.

He staggered backward, wailing in agony. "Curse you!"

He unleashed his spikes, dozens of them at once, into the woods where the arrow had come from, but just as fast, silvery arrows shot back in reply. It almost looked like the arrows had intercepted the thorns in midair and sliced them in two.

I whistled, impressed by their marksmanship.

The manticore pulled the arrow out of his shoulder with a howl of pain, how much more could it take?

The boy near it tried to swipe at it with hsis word, but the monster wasn't helpless. It dodged the strike, hittling the boys shield with his tail.

Then the archers came from the woods. They were girls, about a dozen of them. The youngest was maybe ten. The oldest, about fourteen, at least I thought. They wore silvery ski parkas and jeans, and they were all armed with bows. They advanced on the manticore with determined expressions.

"The hunters!" The blond girl cried out.

I scoffed, the hunters of Artemis. Great for any girl seeking shelter, but for guys like me, we were better off in the underworld.

One of the older archers stepped forward with her bow drawn. She was tall and graceful with coppery colored skin. Unlike the other girls, she had a silver circlet braided into the top of her long dark hair, what kind of fashion statement was that?

"Permission to kill, my lady?"

I raised my sword warily, not knowing what they would do. In the ancient times they were said to be rather intolerant of males.

The monster wailed. "This is not fair! Direct interference! It is against the Ancient Laws."

"Not so," another girl said, she looked to be about twelve years of age. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, but her eyes were the strangest thing about her, a silvery yellow color. Her face was more beautiful than any twelve year old had any right to be, too beautiful in fact.

It was obvious who she was.

"The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast." She looked at the older girl with the circlet. "Zoe, permission granted."

The manticore growled. "If I cannot have these alive, I shall have them dead!" He lunged at the two black haired demigods.

As the blond haired girl tackled it, I shadow travelled to the other two, warping them to a safer location.

"Get back, half-blood!" the girl with the circlet said. "Get out of the line of fire!"

But she leaped onto the monster's back, driving her knife into his mane. The monster howled, turning in circles with his tail flailing as the girl hung on for dear life.

"Fire!"

"No!" both the boy and I yelled, a wall of black fire already rising to block their arrows.

But I was too slow, the arrows hit their mark, one hitting its neck, another it's chest.

The beast staggered backward, wailing, "This is not the end, Huntress! You shall pay!"

And before anyone could react, the monster, with the girl still on his back, leaped over the cliff and tumbled into the darkness.

"Annabeth!"

Ah, so that was her name.

The boy rounded on me, "Why did you stop me?! I could have helped!"

"If I hadn't stopped you, you would've been skewered by half a dozen arrows. I did what I did to save your life, kid."

He looked like he wanted to speak further, but thought better of it. I shook my head as I turned away.

The hunters had advanced to us, the one with the circlet, Zoe, was glaring at the punk-esque girl. "Thalia Grace." She spat out.

"Zoe Nightshade," her voice trembled with barely contained rage, "Perfect timing as usual."

Her gaze washed over us, "Five half bloods and a satyr, my lady."

"Yes," the younger girl said. "Some of Chiron's campers, I see."

"Actually, I'm just a stray demigod."

They chose to ignore my words.

"Annabeth!" the boy yelled. "You have to let us save her!"

The goddess turned to us, "I'm sorry, Percy Jackson, but your friend is beyond help."

He tried to move to the cliff, but a handful of hunters held him back. "Let me go!" he demanded. "Who do you think you are?!"

Welp, it was good knowing you Percy Jackson.

Zoe moved, as if to stab him to death, but surprisingly the goddess held her back.

"No, I sense no disrespect, Zoe. He is simply distraught. He does not understand."

She turned her gaze to him, "I am Artemis," she said. "Goddess of the Hunt."

Ba-dum-tss!

.

.

.

"If it's any consolation to you," I said, switching my gaze towards Percy Jackson, "She isn't dead."

He furrowed his brows, "How are you sure?"

Artemis eyed me curiously, as one would look at a critter. I almost scoffed at her.

Ignoring her, I stood straight, offering the kid my hand, "Valen Steensen, Son of Hades. Pleasure to meet you."

No one uttered a word.

"No," The satyr looked horrified, "He broke his oath too."

I shrugged, "Apparently."

"Whoa," The girl with the green hat said, "Hold up. Time out."

Everyone's attention switched to her, conversely she pointed to each of us, "Who are you people?"

I did not know why, but I felt some sort of kinship with her, and her brother. As if we were supposed to be closer than we are.

Artemis's expression softened. "It might be a better question, my dear girl, to ask who are you! Who are your parents?"

She glanced nervously at her brother, "Our parents are dead," she said. "We're orphans. There's a bank trust that pays for our school, but…"

She faltered, noticing the expression everyone else was giving her.

"What?" she demanded. "I'm telling the truth."

"You are a half-blood, Bianca di Angelo," Zoe Nightshade said. Her accent was hard to place. It sounded old-fashioned, like she was reading from a really old book. "One of thy parents was mortal. The other was an Olympian."

"An Olympian… athlete?" She said, making me snort.

"No," Zoe said. "One of the gods."

"Cool!" said Nico.

"No!" Bianca's voice quivered. "This is not cool!"

Nico danced around like he needed to use the restroom. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage? Does he get extra movement points for—"

"Nico, shut up!" Bianca put her hands to her face. "This is not your stupid Mythomagic game, okay? There are no gods!"

"As a former atheist, I can understand where you're coming from. But the gods are very real, if that monster earlier was anything to go by." I answered calmly, she was clearly overwhelmed.

"What are you then? Are you a god too?"

I laughed, "Girl, if I was a god I wouldn't have been living on the street for the last four years. No, I am no god. I'm a demigod, like you and everyone else here, bar Lady Artemis."

I saw Percy give me a pitying look, and Thalia a sympathetic one. I almost rolled my eyes at them.

"Demigod?" Bianca asked.

"Whoa! Like the ones from the myths? Like Achilles, Hercules and Perseus."

I saw Percy flinch at that, come to think of it Percy could've been short for Perseus.

This time Thalia spoke, "Bianca, I know it's hard to believe. But the gods are still around. Trust me. They're immortal. And whenever they have kids with regular humans, kids like us, well… Our lives are dangerous."

"Dangerous," Bianca said, "like the girl who fell."

Thalia turned away. Even Artemis looked pained.

"Tad bit insensitive, no?" I commented dryly.

Bianca covered her mouth in guilt, "I'm sorry."

"Do not despair for Annabeth," the goddess said. "She was a brave maiden. If she can be found, I shall find her."

"Oo!" Nico raised his hand. "What about Dr. Thorn? That was awesome how you shot him with arrows! Is he dead?"

I scoffed, "With how much we wounded him, I would be surprised if he wasn't dead.

"He was a manticore," Artemis said. "Hopefully he is destroyed for now, but monsters never truly die. They re-form over and over again, and they must be hunted whenever they reappear."

"Or they'll hunt us," Thalia said.

Bianca di Angelo shivered. "That explains… Nico, you remember last summer, those guys who tried to attack us in the alley in DC?"

"And that bus driver," Nico said. "The one with the ram's horns. I told you that was real."

"That's why Grover has been watching you," Percy said. "To keep you safe, if you turned out to be half-bloods."

"Definitely doesn't sound like stalking." I muttered. Thalia glared at me to shut up.

"Grover?" Bianca stared at him. "You're a demigod?"

"Well, a satyr, actually." He kicked off his shoes and displayed his goat hooves. Bianca looked ready to faint.

"Grover, put your shoes back on," Thalia said. "You're freaking her out."

"Hey, my hooves are clean!"

"Bianca," Percy said, "we came here to help you. You and Nico need training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet. You need to come to camp."

"Well, you can survive without it."

"You are an exception." Grover said.

"Camp?" she asked.

"Camp Half-Blood," Percy said. "It's where half-bloods learn to survive and stuff. You can join us, stay there year-round if you like."

"Sweet, let's go!" said Nico.

"Wait," Bianca shook her head. "I don't—"

"There is another option," Zoe said.

"No, there isn't!" Thalia said.

"She was just introduced to this world, I for one think she should be allowed to process all that before making such a decision." I commented, my mother had taught me a lot about greek myths. That included the hunters oath.

Artemis raised an eyebrow at that, I was afraid I had offended her.

"We've burdened these children enough," She announced, seemingly having forgiven me. "Zoe, we will rest here for a few hours. Raise the tents. Treat the wounded. Retrieve our guests' belongings from the school."

"Yes, my lady."

"And, Bianca, come with me. I would like to speak with you."

"What about me?" Bianca's brother asked.

Artemis considered the boy. "Perhaps you can show Grover how to play that card game you enjoy. I'm sure Grover would be happy to entertain you for a while… as a favor to me?"

Grover just about tripped over himself getting up. "You bet! Come on, Nico!"

Nico and Grover walked off toward the woods, talking about hit points and armor ratings and a bunch of other geeky stuff. Artemis led a confused-looking Bianca along the cliff. The Hunters began unpacking their knapsacks and making camp.

I sighed, 'sheathing' my sword into its ring form.

As soon as she was gone, Thalia stamped her foot in frustration. "The nerve of those Hunters! They think they're so… Argh!"

"I'm with you," Percy said. "I don't trust—"

"Oh, you're with me?" Thalia turned on me furiously. "What were you thinking back there in the gym, Percy? You'd take on Dr. Thorn all by yourself? You knew he was a monster! If we'd stuck together, we could've taken him without the Hunters getting involved. Annabeth might still be here. Did you think of that?"

I rolled my eyes, "Please, we were losing even before the hunters came."

She scoffed, wiping a stray tear off her cheek and stomped off.

I sighed as Percy picked up a hat from the snow, staring at it with guilt.

"Don't let her words get to you." I said, "She's grieving, you were the closest thing she could find to a scapegoat."

"Why do you care?" He spat out, "You don't even know us!"

I narrowed my eyes, "I may be a son of Hades, but I am far from heartless, Perseus Jackson."

He widened his eyes, apparently realizing how he was being an ass, and looked down, "Sorry, I'm not thinking straight."

"Apology accepted," I nodded. "You'd best get yourself fixed." I said, pointing at his wounded arm.

Grover and Nico chose that moment to run out of the forest. The satyr helped Percy fix his arm.

"It's green!" Nico said with delight.

"Hold still," Grover told Percy. "Here, eat some ambrosia while I clean that out."

Ambrosia? Wasn't that stuff supposed to make you immortal?

"It's the food of the gods, it can heal most injuries in moments." Grover explained, apparently I had spoken out loud, "It granting immortality is an old myth, and inaccurate."

"I see."

Nico rummaged through his own bag, which the Hunters had apparently packed for him, though how they'd snuck into Westover Hall unseen, I didn't know. Nico laid out a bunch of figurines in the snow—little battle replicas of Greek gods and heroes. I recognized Zeus with a lightning bolt, Ares with a spear, Apollo with his sun chariot.

"Big collection." Percy said.

Nico grinned. "I've got almost all of them, plus their holographic cards! Well, except for a few really rare ones."

"You've been playing this game a long time?"

"Just this year. Before that…" He knit his eyebrows.

"What?" Percy asked.

"I forget. That's weird."

I narrowed my eyes, strange. Did someone mess with his memory?

He looked unsettled, but it didn't last long. "Hey, can I see the swords you two were using?" He asked, switching gazes between us.

Percy unsheathed his sword, Riptide, explaining how it turned from pen to sword.

I followed through, spinning the black and gold ring on my finger, as my sword burst out. I explained how it was mostly made of stygian iron, with an imperial gold core. The sword looked like any other western longsword, only that its fuller was a brilliant gold, the rest being pitch black. For some reason, there were runes inscribed on the golden fuller. I did not know what they meant, but I wasn't complaining.

"It's called Stormguard." I explained.

"How did you get that weapon?" Grover asked, curious about my sword.

"My mother wore this as an engagement ring. She gave it to me before…" I trailed off.

"Anyways," I cleared my throat, "It is the only thing I've ever found that can resist hellfire."

"Hellfire?" Nico asked.

I raised my hand, snapping my fingers and summoning a small black flame.

"Cool! How hot does it get?"

Before I could answer it, he poked the flame.

"NO-!" I moved my hand instanly, hoping I was fast enough.

The thing with hellfire was that it was extremely hot, it could melt anything, even things that cannot melt.

But Nico seemed unharmed.

"It wasn't that hot."

"What?"

He shrugged, "It was slightly warm."

I blinked, that wasn't possible, unless…

I couldn't let anyone know.

"I'm more tired than I thought." I muttered, "At full power it's hotter than the sun."

"Whoa!"

I realised now why I felt such a kinship with them, but I could not let the others know. I was already sixteen, the prophecy does not mean me. But these two, well the gods weren't known to be benevolent.

Nico kept asking question after question like a hyperactive child, and I answered as much as I could. It wasn't long before the lieutenant of the hunt walked up to us.

"Percy Jackson, Valen Steensen." She scrunched her nose in distaste. "My lady wishes to speak with you."

Percy glanced at me, before following the girl. I shrugged and walked along, let's see what Artemis wants.

She led us to a tent that looked no different than the others and waved us inside. Bianda di Angelo, my newly discovered half sister sat inside. There was no doubt in my mind that Artemis had tried to recruit her.

The inside of the tent was warm and comfortable. Silk rugs and pillows covered the floor. In the center, a golden brazier of fire seemed to burn without fuel or smoke. Behind the goddess, on a polished oak display stand, was her huge silver bow, carved to resemble gazelle horns. The walls were hung with animal pelts: black bear, tiger, and several others I didn't recognize.

"Join us, Percy Jackson, Valen Steensen," the goddess said.

I sat down beside Percy, right in front of the goddess.

"Are you surprised by my age?" she asked

"Not exactly." I stated, around the same time Percy said "Uh…a little?"

"I could appear as a grown woman, or a blazing fire, or anything else I want, but this is what I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters, and all young maidens for whom I am patron, before they go astray."

"Go astray?" Percy asked.

"Grow up. Become smitten with boys. Become silly, preoccupied, insecure. Forget themselves."

"Oh."

Translation : When they are still young and impressionable

Artemis glared at me as if she had heard my thoughts, which wasn't exactly impossible with her being a goddess. Zoe, on the other hand, glared at Percy, as if he was the reason behind all the atrocities of men.

I gulped, not wanting to test the goddess any further. Thankfully she did not turn me into a critter, and chose to address Percy Jackson, "You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you. It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp. Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters. The last one to see this camp…" She looked at Zoe. "Which one was it?"

"That boy in Colorado," Zoe said. "You turned him into a jackalope."

"Ah, yes." Artemis nodded, satisfied. "I enjoy making jackalopes. At any rate, Percy, I've asked you here so that you might tell me more of the manticore. Bianca has reported some of the… mmm, disturbing things the monster said. But she may not have understood them. I'd like to hear them from you."

As Percy explained what had happened, I frowned. Why was I called here? I was not involved in the fight until the end.

Zoe sat forward. "The scent, my lady?"

"Yes."

"What scent?" Percy asked.

"Things are stirring that I have not hunted in millennia," Artemis murmured. "Prey so old I have nearly forgotten."

She stared at Percy intently. "We came here tonight sensing the manticore, but he was not the one I seek. Tell me again, exactly what Dr. Thorn said."

"Um, 'I hate middle school dances.'"

"No, no. After that."

"He said somebody called the General was going to explain things to me."

"That doesn't narrow it down a bit, there have to be thousands of generals in greek history." I said, noticing Zoe paling for some reason.

"Yes, but there is one who comes to mind." Artemis nodded solemnly. Alright, so that removes every mortal general, no mortal would make a god make that face. A god perhaps? Ares?

"Go on, Percy." She prodded him.

"Well, then Thorn was talking about the Great Stir Pot—"

"Stirring," Bianca corrected.

"Yeah. And he said, 'Soon we shall have the most important monster of all—the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus.'"

The goddess was so still she could've been a statue.

"Well isn't that just great." I muttered under my breath, Typhon perhaps? Or maybe someone older.

"Maybe he was lying," Percy said weakly, trying to diffuse the tension.

Artemis shook her head. "No. He was not. I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster."

Zoe looked like she was trying very hard not to be afraid, but she nodded. "We will leave right away, my lady."

"No, Zoe. I must do this alone."

"But, Artemis—"

"This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me."

"As… as you wish, my lady."

"I will find this creature," Artemis vowed. "And I shall bring it back to Olympus by winter solstice. It will be all the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in."

I frowned again, if it did turn out to be Typhon, didn't it take multiple gods to beat that thing? Even then, they barely won.

"You know what the monster is?" I asked.

Artemis gripped her bow. "Let us pray I am wrong."

"Can goddesses pray?" Percy said, confused. After all, what would a goddess pray to? Alas there were elder beings than the gods.

"Percy, there are beings older than the gods."

He frowned, "But the titans are our enemies."

"Titans aren't at the top of the hierarchy, there are the first and second generation primordials, and of course Chaos."

He furrowed his brows in thought, seemed like he hadn't realized that. Artemis raised an eyebrow at my words.

"You are well versed in greek literature."

I shrugged, "My mother taught me a lot."

"Ah yes, it is not unsurprising that she did." Artemis had a twinkle in her eye, as if she knew who my mother was, which was definitely possible.

A flicker of a smile played across Artemis's lips. "Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you."

"Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?"

"Sadly, no. I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return."

"What?" Zoe' blurted out. "But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there—"

"Yes, I know," Artemis said. "But I'm sure Dionysus will not hold a grudge just because of a little, ah, misunderstanding. It's your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides, I hear they rebuilt the cabins you burned down."

Great, the hunters were arsonists too.

Zoe muttered something about foolish campers.

"And now there is one last decision to make." Artemis turned to Bianca. "Have you made up your mind, my girl?"

Bianca hesitated. "I'm still thinking about it."

"Wait," Percy said. "Thinking about what?"

"They… they've invited me to join the Hunt."

"I'd suggest you take the time to think about it, talk with your brother." I said, "Joining the hunt would mean you would stay away from the camp for possibly years at a time, are you sure you want to leave your brother behind without at least seeing him settle in first? Not to mention the immortality."

"What do you mean?" She asked, conflict visible on her face as if she found it hard to choose.

"From the little I saw, it's evident that you love your brother dearly," Seeing her nod, I continued, "Joining the hunt would mean you'd outlive us all, including your brother. Are you sure you can handle that?"

Zoe seemed like she wanted to protest, but Artemis held an arm up, halting her.

Bianca looked down, possibly feeling guilty for her earlier thoughts. "Will…will he be looked after in the camp?"

I blinked, "I do not know, I've never been there." Honestly, I could see where she was coming from. They were orphans, it was definitely possible she had to raise her brother alone, anyone would get tired of that after a few years.

"He will," Percy assured, "Bianca the camp is a great place! It's got a pegasus stable and a sword-fighting arena and lots of other cool features! The Hermes campers are an odd bunch, but they'll take care of Nico well. "

I idly wondered what Hermes had to do with any of it, but decided not to speak of it. "I'm not saying you shouldn't join the hunt," I began carefully, knowing I was treading thin ice there, "Bianca, you have seen how the hunt works, you should atleast see this camp before making such…" I stopped myself from saying rash, "permanent decisions."

Bianca stared at me for a second, before switching to Artemis, her lower lip trembling as if afraid, "L-Lady Artemis, is it okay if I take a little more time to choose?"

"Of course, my dear girl." Artemis smiled gently, "I do not need an answer just yet."

Bianca nodded tersely. Zoe gave me a withering glare, and if glares could kill I would be halfway down to the underworld already.

Artemis closed her eyes. "Dawn is approaching. Zoe, break camp. You must get to Long Island quickly and safely. I shall summon a ride from my brother."

Zoe looked unhappy about this whole ordeal, but followed nonetheless, Bianca following her outside.

"So," Percy asked, trying to break the ice, "We're going to get a ride from your brother, huh?"

Artemis's silver eyes gleamed. "Yes, boy. You see, Bianca di Angelo is not the only one with an annoying brother. It's time for you to meet my irresponsible twin, Apollo."

I suddenly paled, remembering all the curses I had thrown at the sun for being too bright. Apollo wouldn't hold it against me right? Right?