Hey there! Here's another chapter, and yes my mind was set on making Zoe more awesome but I don't think I succeeded just yet. I'll work on it.
When I'd woken up the next morning, I was feeling excited. That excitement soon vanished when I realised where I was. Back at the camp. Where no one knew who I was yet also wouldn't leave me alone.
I'd found that apart from the war games this camp was far from exciting. Sure it looked interesting from a mortal's perspective but when you had lived with gods and myths for your entire life this place was honestly boring.
Everyone had unpleasant jobs to do daily and if you slacked off then there were harsh punishments. The training could easily be fun and enjoyable if they weren't so strict with order and discipline. The Senate and all the rankings were far too political, it created ambitious types like Octavian. I was surprised to find I really missed camp half-blood, with its strawberry fields and campfires.
Why would I be led here? I'd only just got back and I was already dreading being messed up in some politics I didn't really care about. Maybe I should've left and never returned.
But someone had sent me here and I was too intrigued to leave now. Surely something important would happen soon. I was willing to wait.
But I wasn't going to keep to myself. I smiled to myself. I was going to be exciting.
So first thing in the morning, I went straight to New Rome with a pocket full of gold. Usually, I didn't enjoy shopping but today I was literally grinning as I browsed through various shops.
I soon tracked down a hunting falcon, a large brown-feathered one with characteristically sharp eyes, and soon coaxed him into sitting on my shoulder. I soon wished I wore a thicker shirt with his sharp talons. I named him Fudge.
Afterwards I bought some new outfits, with my mind on 'interesting' there were a few strange choices, at least for me. Most people probably wouldn't find them worth comment. It was nice to own a few things.
Finally, I went to a weapons shop to buy a few components for a sword I was planning to craft. It would also be a little strange for my standards.
I then walked back to camp under the weight of a falcon and a few shopping bags, I began to wish, I'd thought of taking Sherbet around , it would have been faster and more interesting. Maybe I could do that from now on.
It was lunchtime by the time I returned to camp. I'd managed to avoid everyone all morning so naturally they ambushed me when I came to eat. It was something of a surprise.
I sat down while people whispered around me, spreading rumours I imagined. They had no doubt noticed my different clothing and Fudge, my falcon, perched on my shoulder. Setting as how they stared at me, I caught a few people's eyes and they immediately looked away. Inwardly I smiled, thinking about making an impression.
"Zoe! Are you okay?" Louise, daughter of Apollo sat down opposite me while talking in a concerned voice. "I'd been looking for you for days before someone told me you'd, like, left the camp, were you on a quest? How was it?"
"Yes, I'm fine," I cut in.
She barely paused. "Why didn't you tell me about it? I would've helped you out. Did you go, like completely alone?"
I sensed a little anger in her tone, I was surprised by the offer, I hadn't realised she already considered us friends, it was nice. "Forgive me for not saying anything but don't worry, Nico helped me."
"Hey Zoe!" A familiar voice called behind me. "Heard about the quest - love the bird by the way." It was Gwen, she sat down next to me.
"Nico, son of Pluto?" Louise murmured. I ignored her.
"Gwen. Good to see you," I said to her with a smile. We had been on strained terms before the quest but I hoped we could move past it.
"Why are you in a toga by the way?" I added, noticing it. Presumably she had just come out of a Senate meeting.
"Oh I heard there was a meeting, anything interesting happen?" Louise asked, keen to be part of the conversation.
Just then, Nico sat down on my other side, mumbling a greeting. He was wearing a black toga. He immediately began eating lunch, apparently not interested in talking. Louise watched him warily for a moment before turning back to me and Gwen seemed glad I was in between her and Nico. It was sort of comical, Nico was far younger than her.
"So the meeting?" I said, wondering how everyone could be this frightened of him.
"It's a meeting you should have come to." Octavian approached me from behind, also in a white toga, I noted.
He walked around the table, presumably so I could see him frown at me in annoyance. I supposed someone had gone looking for me earlier but had failed to find me.
"Why?" Everyone else had gone silent as they watched me and Octavian. They all feared him. And they feared me.
Octavian sighed as if I were slow. "We were discussing your little adventure obviously, while you were buying pets, it seems," he replied, with a disapproving look at Fudge.
I was bored of Octavian. His carefully planned words and his ability to persuade the crowd. He had convinced everyone to distrust me and had somehow convinced me to go on a quest. I didn't care that he could blackmail me, I want going to bother worrying about him anymore.
"Hunting falcon, excellent eyesight, good at tracking, flight, has sharp talons and beak. Very useful, might even save my life or greatly aid me." I listed, daring him to suggest that his meeting was more important.
"Wonderful," he replied with no interest. "You are, of course, going to be rewarded."
I sighed, he was taking his time to say what he had come here for, something that was irritatingly normal for him, if past encounters were anything to go by. I instead turned to Nico.
"You're going to be made a full member of the legion," Nico immediately revealed.
"Reyna's probably looking for you right now - to get branded," Gwen added with a cheeky glance at Octavian. She clearly didn't like him.
"Yes, if you would come with me then," Octavian said not looking particularly annoyed.
"You'll have to wait unfortunately, I'm having lunch right now," I replied, gesturing to my so far untouched plate of food.
Octavian was not amused.
"Come on now, Zoe, that's an order."
"Okay then," I replied and paused. Octavian looked pleased. "As soon as I've finished eating."
He was speechless, unsure how to react to my unworried and relaxed attitude. I didn't spare him another glance as I ate some pasta.
"Zoe if you don't-" Octavian began only to be cut off by Gwen.
"Oh leave her alone for a minute, why don't you? What's the rush anyway?" She asked, in an equally relaxed manner.
"You'll find that this is far more important than lunch," Octavian said.
I snorted. "It's more important than not dying of hunger?"
"Yes it is! It's more important than life!" Louise laughed.
Octavian made no reply, but glared at the group of us and stood there fuming for a few minutes. He didn't relax until I got up and calmly told him they I would come with him. I couldn't help but wonder how long he would've waited there silently.
If Octavian thought he was going to get a opportunity to talk to me on his own, he was wrong. Nico decided to tag along, cheerfully expressing interest in watching the branding.
"By the way Zoe, I can't believe you got a shirt saying 'I love strawberries,' I never thought you'd wear something like that," Nico said as we walked, examining my t-shirt.
"Why not?" I asked, wondering if there was something wrong with it.
He immediately backtracked, mumbling that it didn't matter. Nico could be strange at times. Octavian simply ignored us, and quickened his pace.
And soon I was branded with the markings of a Roman demigod, first year. Incredibly painful and the marks couldn't be removed but it meant I was off probatio which came with some advantages I didn't care about at the moment.
These would be on my arm forever. My life as a hunter seemed like an entirely different dimension.
That's it for now, what did you think? Please do review, thanks!
By the way, I have a few other ideas for fanfics, I don't want to start another long fic while I'm in the middle of this one but if you have any good ideas for other fics, I'd love to hear them. It doesn't have to be Percy Jackson either as long as I know the fandom.