Honestly, I just hate myself for leaving you guys hanging… I just didn't have the time. I was forced to revise for my IGCSEs. And now is not really a good time to write… it's the middle of my IGCSEs :=(. I hope this chapter will be satisfactory. I decided that Percy would sort of narrate the story from now on; it'd be easier to write :P. But gods, please forgive me for the delay.
-Percy POV-
Flying. I was flying. And me being the dimwit I am realized this only half-way to my destination. "Lord Zeus! Please don't strike me down! Chaos explained my new powers to me and I just used them without thinking about it! I know sons of Poseidon don't belong in the sky so please!" I cried out mentally. "Perseus, Perseus," I heard a voice as a presence entered my mind. "I guess I have no choice but to allow it, if it is associated with Chaos. I, Zeus, hereby give permission to Perseus Jackson to fly in my domain," I heard Zeus say. "Thank you, my lord" I thought mentally. "Do not fret, but I do not want to see you in the sky longer than you have to be, understood?" Zeus said. "Of course, my lord" I quickly said. "Good, do not disappoint me Perseus Jackson," Zeus said as he retracted from my mind.
At that exact moment, thunder struck directly next to me. "Gah!" The wings on my back dissipated as I lost my focus. My descent was fast. In no time, I was falling through branches. I figured I pissed off more than one squirrel as acorns started falling around me, dropping out of their storage areas in the trunks as I fumbled to grab a branch. I landed surprisingly softly in a bush. The Fates must have been smiling down on me that day; not that that would have been a pretty sight. I cursed as I pulled myself out of the bush; the landing really took my breath away.
I took a moment to take in my surroundings. Trees surrounded me in every direction. I was obviously in a park or forest, and I just hoped it was the former. I saw a plume of smoke in the distance over the trees and decided I was in the right place. I decided not to fly again in case Zeus decided to be dramatic again. He was in my mind but still needed his thundery-exit. Gods he was very dramatic. I wrapped my hoodie around myself and pulled the hood up as the temperature was steadily dropping around me. I walked for a few hours until I realized the smell of smoke was more distinct now. I looked up and stopped in my tracks. Well, I had to, as an arrow was drawn directly at my face.
-Thalia POV- [After Artemis checks on Percy and leaves]
Lady Artemis arrived back in camp later than I expected. The Olympian meeting was due to have finished hours ago. I ran to her side. "Lady Artemis, how did the meeting go?" I enquired. "The meeting was… interesting to say the least. More importantly, however, something to do with the Hunt has cropped up. Call the girls, this affects all of us," she said seriously. I gathered myself up and gave her a nod. I rallied the girls around the campfire and we waited patiently for Lady Artemis to address us.
-Artemis POV-
I looked at my small band of Hunters and started. "Girls, I have unfortunate news. A hero came to us in the middle of our meeting. He was broken and had lost his purpose in life. My father decided that he was to be given a new purpose," I started off. "That's nice of him I guess, but how does that affect us? Thalia mentioned that you had something to say that affected us,' Phoebe, another Hunter of mine piped. "… He is… he is joining the Hunt," I dropped the bomb. It took a minute for my statement to sink in. The girls exploded around me. "Lady Artemis! How could you approve of this? We can't have a boy in the Hunt!" was heard all around me. I put my hand out. "Stop girls, you need to understand, he has helped Olympus many times; we couldn't allow him to die!" "That doesn't mean he can just join the Hunt!" several of them complained. "Oh please girls. We'll just have to put up with it. He needs PURPOSE in his life. And the fact that he is joining the Hunt, he is practically our slave." The moment I said this, the girls' faces lit up with evil grins. "Oh he's going to have one hell of a ride here," Phoebe cackled. I just chuckled; at least their moods lifted.
A few hours later…
-No one's POV-
A hunter was patrolling the camp borders when she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps. She pulled out her bow and aimed it towards the direction of the sound as she slowly walked there. Suddenly, she was face-to-face with a hooded figure. He looked up at that instant and he was obviously surprised as he stumbled backwards and fell on his back. "Don't shoot!" he exclaimed. "Why not?" the hunter asked him suspiciously. "You're a hunter right? I'm looking for Lady Artemis!" he said. She narrowed my eyes, "Don't say her name so casually you swine!" she said as she punched him in the face. He fell and didn't get up. She bent over him and realized that he had passed out. "Just great," she cursed. It took her some time but she dragged him to camp and tied him up.