Chapter 9: Harshness Overload: Mo' Truth and Doubts

"Annabeth!"

She turned and saw one of her first hunter friends. "Oh hey Jean."

Jean smiled. "Well, you ready for our hunt?"

She was always like that. The mortal was so used into saying that everything was well. Well, that's something. Well, everything's fine with me. Well, I'm okay. Honestly, Annabeth was sort of getting annoyed, but of course she wasn't showing it.

The daughter of Athena nodded. "Yes," she replied, glancing at her best friend's tent. "Hey Jean, did you notice that Thalia's been staying in a lot lately?"

She shrugged. "Well yeah. She doesn't strike me as a slacker person though. She was always on the move, plus with all those responsibilities as a... well, a lieutenant," she explained, taking a glance for herself to her tent. "Maybe Lady Artemis gave her some kind of permission to rest a lot than normal."

"But what for?" the new hunter asked, worriedly looking at her best friend's tent. "Is something wrong?"

Jean shrugged again. "You might as well ask her after we hunt," she replied instead, raising her bow. "Let's go?"

Sparing one last glance at the tent, she nodded. "Come on, let's go."

Later..

Annabeth put down the last plate of food, before giving her probably hundredth glance to her best friend's tent. She furrowed her eyebrows. She still hasn't come out, from what the other hunters told her. Why was it? There wasn't anything wrong, was it? She hoped not. She was already having a peaceful life after the recent war, nearly forgetting the most tragic thing that happened to her life; she didn't want any more issues anytime soon.

Come to think of it—Thalia also hadn't talked to her properly once she first came out of their mistress' tent. She always had found some way to excuse herself out, escape from an oncoming conversation, and the like. And when she came out, she reacted differently to her questions.

She was hiding something.

What about it then? Her mind worked a hundred miles a minute. What was this information so important to be kept a secret even from her, the lieutenant's best friend? She was discussing it with Artemis, so maybe it had something to do about the hunt.

Does she have issues with the other hunters? Were they talking about Annabeth, their new recruit? The one who was once with an honorable man, who died for her sake? Or—the daughter of Athena's eyes widened at the thought—was Thalia quitting?

Annabeth stepped away from the table just as some hunters started to come around for dinner. She swallowed and looked towards the lieutenant's tent again. If ever she was, why would she? It sounded completely unreasonable. Unless it came with some deluxe reason—that Lady Artemis probably accepted—it didn't sound too exciting for the daughter of Athena.

She was going to ask for answers. After dinner, she plans..

"What're you planning?" another friend, Katrina, came up behind her unexpectedly, making her jump a bit. It made the girl grin devilishly.

"Uh, nothing special," she muttered offhandedly. "Just, um, planning to stay up late tonight."

The daughter of Hermes raised an eyebrow in a teasing manner. "Oh?" she said. "Then what's this I hear about asking for answers?"

Annabeth flushed. "Yeah that. The reason why I'm staying."

Her friend gave her a genuine smile. "Well then, what might your questions be?" she asked, as though trying to help her calm her nerves. The assumption crumbled down when she grinned mischievously, all Hermes and prankster-like. "Maybe I could provide you with a little info. With matching bargain." She rubbed her hands together as if they itched.

The daughter of Athena looked at the girl warily, checking her pockets. She had a pouch with her, full of golden drachmas. She just had to trust the girl to tell the truth. Besides, they're all sisters here, right? No one wants to be lied to in front of their face.

She pulled the girl away from public eye. "Why is Thalia always in her tent?" she asked, lowering her voice just to be sure. She sighed when the girl held out her palm. She put in three of the coins.

"I heard something like Artemis was ordering Thalia to sleep. It sounded like Artemis' top priority," Katrina whispered sneakily, slipping the coins into her pockets.

Annabeth thought about it. What kind of thing would be a goddess's top priority when her hunters are around to be led? Or monsters to kill? Or men to be punished? She pulled out more of the coins and offered it to the hunter. "Why was she ordering her to sleep? What was it about?"

The daughter of Hermes grinned and gladly took the money. "As far as I've heard, the purpose was to contact someone," she responded. She beckoned her sister to lean forward as she cupped her hand over her mouth, "They said that Zeus shouldn't know about it. Something about getting caught and some serious consequences. Pretty crucial if you ask me." She turned around and left, opting to join the rest of her sisters for dinner.

The daughter of Athena stood there, still understanding what her sister said. Before she could even think more about it, Artemis emerged from her tent.

She quickly went to the table and sat down with her sisters. All chatter quieted when their leader sat down and held a hand up to silence everyone. "Hunters," she began. "You may not like this, but we are going back to Camp Half-Blood."

As expected, many of the hunters groaned. One raised her hand in inquiry. "What for?"

"As we all know, the Greek camp has been attacked by the Romans, and is still rebuilding," Artemis said as her hunters nodded. "Most of them are helping in the reconstruction of the camp, and so their defenses are a bit low. Even if the war is... over," she had paused for a while, which came unnoticed by almost all of them. Almost.

Annabeth raised an eyebrow but kept her mouth shut.

"Monsters are still roaming. And these monsters are actually... much stronger."

"How come?" It was the question running in everybody's minds.

The moon goddess opened her mouth to speak, but seemed to think better of it. She said instead, "Don't think much of it. What's important is that we defend the camp until they are strong enough to fend for themselves." She paused, sighing. "We leave tomorrow at dawn."

The hunters all nodded. "Yes, Lady Artemis."

The goddess nodded back and stood. She walked back to her tent and resealed herself in there—for probably the next ten years, Annabeth thought sarcastically. Suddenly, the entrance of the tent opposite to her mistress' zipped up, and out stepped the lieutenant of the Hunters, Thalia, who was looking very much refreshed.

The girl looked around at the area, her eyes sweeping over tents, benches, logs, and fellow hunters, until her gaze locked on her best friend's. It went like that for a good ten seconds before she turned away almost guiltily and went straight into the hunter goddess's tent—without even knocking.

Annabeth felt her mouth fall open, as well as the other huntresses. She doubted that she would survive that; but then again, she doubted herself if it was true.

Annabeth tumbled out of the way of another arrow, and released her own at the assailant. The centaur dissolved into white metallic dust.

Normally, she would've been surprised by this, but she had been encountering these kinds of monsters for the past day of their journey. She still didn't know what it was, or how it came to be like that. They hadn't really gotten much rest since the first attack, and the goddess's deal with them reminded that she'd tell them once they could properly settle down—preferably at a place where monsters won't attack them every five seconds.

The monsters kept coming, making them advance only at a slow pace. They noticed that the monsters were generally coming from one direction. It was as if the monsters didn't want them to reach the demigod camp, so of course they kind of assumed that, and formed another way to the camp a little bit faster than what they were using.

The hunters would reverse positions.

Yes, they will be making a run for it.

They have recently discovered that these types of monsters—the one that turns into white dust—are stronger than the normal, everyday monsters. It was just like how their mistress had explained to them the night before their departure. With the stronger than normal monsters that didn't want them coming to Camp, the camp's temporary immobility, and they—the hunters—needing to force their path through, she put two and two together.

These monsters have a single objective: to destroy Camp Half-Blood.

And again, on a common day, monsters only aim to eat demigods, make their lives miserable, and make them feel endangered. Not to destroy their safe haven. Well, they could be controlled to destroy it, but that was no longer an ordinary demigod day.

But they could be controlled. There was a mastermind. A threat. A new gods-damned threat.

Despite the feelings she knew that she should have, she simply felt like throwing a fuss.

"Annabeth," someone called out to her. "Here, set up your tent. We've found a safe clearing." She turned and caught a bag speedily hurled her way. Just as she finished setting it up, Artemis was calling everyone around a tree stump. She was sitting on it like some old guru, and she was sharpening her knives.

"I think it's time for everyone to know what is really going on," she announced, and instantly the hunters sat straight and silent at attention, looking at her expectantly.

Artemis took a deep breath. And so, she told them of another war and another threat, the new and improved monsters or Ordians, as they were called; and their gross intentions. How they wanted to obliterate the planet, clean it up of every living being, and replace it with another specie unknown to any man who had ever lived in planet Earth.

Needless to say, the hunters' expressions were a mix of awe, fear, and surprise. It was actually a lot worse than they imagined.

Later that day, they made it to Camp Half-Blood. Artemis ordered her hunters to rest as they have been traveling the whole day—even to help in the rebuilding if they wanted to. Annabeth, feeling a little bit guilty, went to where her siblings were and helped them finish the buildings, cabins, and structures. Some others, who were still feeling restless, opted to pose at the camp borders in case an attack happened.

As she carefully drafted her blueprint, Annabeth heard something. Well, she really didn't mean to hear it, she never intended to since she was still busy, but she heard it.

"Thalia, any news?" It was her mistress' inquiring voice. It sounded almost hopeful, as if she was hoping for something good.

"Not any luck," came her best friend's reply. She heard a soft, distant sigh that must've belonged to the goddess. "There was no response. I would feel it if he was blocking me," Thalia's voice was low and smooth, like what a calm, firm, and composed warrior would have.

"Please try again today," Artemis pleaded, her tone almost desperate. "He needs to understand. Otherwise he might shut himself off from here completely and we won't know whether he's coming or not."

There was a pause. Annabeth could feel the tension from where she was as she smoothed out one of her siblings' blueprint with shaking hands. She wasn't supposed to hear it, was she? This might be what Katrina was saying. It was true. This was what Zeus shouldn't know—or something unspeakable might happen. They were trying to contact someone. But who? Was her mistress connecting with a male?

She blinked and shook her head mentally. The idea itself sounded ridiculous. The man-hater connecting with a male. Ha, she thought snidely. Well, if ever she was, what does Thalia have to do with it? Gods' business is gods' business only. No mortals interfering, like how mortal business shouldn't be interfered in by gods.

And then, why did her mistress sound so... anxious? About a male, of all things. And what's the big deal about him coming here? Would it be the end of the world if he hadn't come, whoever this guy was?

Oh, she didn't know how right she was back then, and Thalia seemed to be having the same thoughts as hers. Or at least, similar to it. "Alright.. I'll try," she murmured almost imperceptibly. "Do you know when he'd come back? Are you even sure he said that?"

"Of course," her mistress replied, ignoring the former question. "He promised. And I know for a fact that he isn't like most men—at least until now."

"He misunderstood you, that's all," the lieutenant clarified. A dull thud of footsteps sounded, going farther and farther until Annabeth couldn't hear anymore. "I'm taking an early dinner. Might as well start already."

And all this time, she just realized that she still didn't know who this guy was.

-*The Next Day*-

"The Hunters of Artemis win for the... um, umpteenth time!" Chiron shouted, stammering awkwardly.

The Hunters erupted into cheers as Phoebe raised her team's silver flag proudly. Meanwhile, the campers who chose to join the game grumbled quietly as they hefted their weapons and a few unconscious campers, heading towards their makeshift tents for a good night's sleep after the eventful day.

A certain daughter of Athena sighed in content as she shouldered her bow. So this is what the Hunters feel when they win against the campers: pride and glee. Or, um, too much pride. But since they supported their gloats it wasn't so much counted.

She was about to go with her sisters-in-arms to go back to their tents, when she heard a sound of a bush rustling and a twig snapping. She glanced at the other hunters, who didn't so much hear it as they were still laughing and congratulating themselves, all too loudly. She looked back, and caught a glimpse of a silver bow glinting in the pale moonlight, slinking out into the darkness. She pursed her lips and made a split second decision, before creeping after it stealthily, the blessing of Artemis helping the job.

After much looking, she finally caught up to the owner of the bow. She still couldn't see who it was because their back was turned, but she was clearly a hunter with her silver hunter outfit. The unidentified hunter stopped in front of what Annabeth could see was the tallest tree at the west part of the woods. The daughter of Athena hid behind a bush, careful not to make the tiniest sound.

Meanwhile, the hunter looked around subtly, as if checking for anyone in sight, before looking up at the tree's branches. It was then that she noticed a person was sitting down comfortably, their back against the trunk. On their lap lay a squirrel, squealing contentedly as the person stroked its head.

"Lady Artemis," the hunter called in a low voice. Annabeth recognized the voice as her best friend's, the lieutenant. What were they doing here? Were they to discuss that connection to the male?

Her curiosity perked up. Finally she was to know their secrets! She knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, especially in a goddess's conversation, but the Athenian in her got the best of her. Besides, she bet it was one in a hundred that she would get caught.

The person on the branch glanced down and nodded, stopping her subconscious movement on the mammal as it squealed in protest and jumped to another tree, until it was out of sight. "Thalia. What news do you have?"

The daughter of Zeus took a deep breath. "Two. Good and bad."

The goddess sat straight up and looked down on her completely, giving her lieutenant her undivided attention. "Well? Did you manage to connect?" she asked. "I do hope so."

"Yes, I did." At that statement, Artemis jumped down from her branch to join her below. The spying daughter of Athena looked behind her and stepped back carefully, not wanting any eyes to join her direction. "I saw him again."

"What did he say?" The goddess crossed her arms, appearing inquisitive and calm, but her occasionally shifting feet betrayed the emotion.

Thalia bowed her head, looking apologetic. "I tried to explain it to him, milady, but he said he doesn't believe me. Or you," she explained. "He's going to shut himself off."

"That's why he stopped coming to me?" The lieutenant nodded at the inquiry. "He still believes that I did tell you?" She nodded again. The moon goddess slumped down at the base of the tree. "What am I to do then?"

"Honestly, I don't know, Artemis," the lieutenant admitted unhelpfully. "I'm sorry. But I remember him saying something to me."

"What?" Artemis asked, all hope drained from her voice.

"He... doesn't trust anyone anymore. And he says it was a good thing that his 'gods' haven't found out his mistake yet. And he says he's sorry. For cutting himself off," she replied after much thought. "And that he'll think about it."

"So there might be a chance that he..?" The moon goddess looked up, a sparkle in her eyes showing that she found hope.

Thalia nodded. "Yes. Percy might—"

Annabeth stepped back in surprise, accidentally snapping a twig. The two girls silenced, and all that was heard was steady, even breathing from the both of them. The daughter of Athena was almost breathless with nervousness. She stared, paralyzed as the daughter of Zeus pulled out her bow.

"Who's there?" she asked to the woods. She reached for an arrow, but Artemis held her hand back and stepped forward herself. "Show yourself if you don't want to feel the wrath of a goddess!" she demanded as she glared angrily at the forest beyond them. The last thing she needed was more people knowing about him.

As if her limbs were cured and oiled, she could move again. She slinked back, carefully this time, watching it for any noise makers that could kill her. When she was sure she was out of sight and range, she stood up and made a run for it. No arrow flew past her, which was a good sign.

She ran into her tent and shut herself in. She fell back onto her bed, sweating from the run and the nervousness. She took off her parka and was left with the normal hunter garb, which made the surroundings feel a lot cooler. She stared at the ceiling, looking for any straight answers as to how the world came to be.

Percy. They were talking about Percy. Her Percy. He was going to come back. They said he was going to come back. He was still alive.

They said Thalia talked to him. Through sleep.

Artemis was hopeful. What for?

He doesn't trust anyone. Why? Because Artemis told Thalia what? That he was alive?

Mistake. He made a mistake, but what?

Why were they the ones who knew he was alive?

Why would Artemis want to connect with a man?

With Percy?

She heard footsteps coming from around the miniature camp that the hunters had set up. She dug into the covers and pretended to be asleep when her tent flap opened as someone checked to see if she was.

The son of Chaos lay on his back at the black sand beach, waiting for sunrise. If he was still a son of Poseidon, he would've preferred a white sand one over this, but now, he had actually taken a liking to it.

He had woken up in cold sweat. Part of him was still asleep and resting while a part was wide awake, thinking about what happened. To tell the truth, he wasn't quite sure if he should still come or not. He just had to think about it.. Yeah, think.

Why was she so hell-bent in making him believe that she didn't do it? That she didn't betray him? Honestly, he was thinking himself if he had the right to even turn his back on her. Was she really at fault? The dream earlier didn't assure him. But why does she sue herself? Where's the infamous pride of the gods?

Why won't she put the blame on him, instead of herself? If she really didn't do it, then why does she act so defensive? Percy thought that if he didn't believe her, she'd just huff and walk off, muttering about stubborn boys. Instead, she persevered and was the one who acted stubborn. Why was that?

Okay, his head was spinning. Better recount the events.

On his first visit, which happened to be a coincidence, they promised each other; she promised to keep quiet, and he promised to continue visiting if she did so. After that, BAM. Thalia happened. He forgot to think of Artemis, and accidentally went to some other's dream. It was okay for him then, since he thought it was his fault that they met, but then she mentioned that Artemis told her that he was alive.

That triggered it. He won't visit her again, and let Thalia think that that dream was really just a dream, not a connection. But then she came again... a while ago..

He was in a misty room. He looked around and tried to see through it, but it was too thick. And then, it started to part. After a few moments, the mist was cleared, and he noticed that he was in a beautiful meadow, complete with flowers and a creek and all.

"Percy," came a tentative voice behind him. He recognized it and turned. "Thalia."

The daughter of Zeus bowed her head, unable to meet his eyes. "Artemis sent me to—"

"Straight to the point, are we?" he interrupted. "What does she want?"

"You misunderstood her. She wants to clear things," the lieutenant replied dutifully.

He narrowed his eyes. "She told you? That's how you found me."

Thalia was confused, but she nodded.

"Then it's not misunderstood. You said it yourself!" Percy exclaimed indignantly.

"No!" she protested. "She told me after I figured it out and asked her if it was true. She was getting agitated that you were not visiting, so she sent me to clear her name."

A phrase caught his attention. "Why would she get agitated?" he asked, ignoring most parts.

"Because she—" She stopped herself, and gulped. "That's not the point! You need to understand that she didn't tell anybody but me, and I already know then!"

He looked displeased by the change of subject, but responded. "And this would involve me how?" he asked boldly. "And how would you already know?"

Thalia discretely rolled her eyes. "Your wording gave it away," she muttered, too soft for him to hear. "Artemis wants you to... visit her."

The heir raised an eyebrow, getting interested as he knew this was similar to the subject his cousin changed. "Why? Won't she dislike that a male is haunting her sleep?"

The daughter of Zeus stared, unable to respond. She'd say too much if she answered. But wait, did he say that he'd come? "She won't," she settled to say, avoiding the three-letter question. "So are you visiting her now?"

He furrowed his eyebrows and looked away, pondering. He still wasn't sure if she was telling the truth. After what Artemis had done, he wasn't sure who to trust anymore. His cousin Thalia was under the goddess's orders, so he won't trust her as well, no matter how he should. And they're both... daughters of Zeus.

"Tell her this for me," he replied instead. "Tell her that—that I'm sorry. Sorry if this is what happened. I'm going to block you all off. I'll keep my promise to her."

"What? You won't continue?" Thalia asked, alarmed. "You don't trust her?"

"No. She doesn't deserve my trust. Not anymore," he said firmly, his resolve strong.

And once again, Percy waved her away like the very mist that parted for her.

Ugh, this was so infuriating! Why would she want him to visit her? What in Void is going on? If only he had Annabeth with him, she'd help him figure it out. And it would all be easier for him, with her by his side.

He ran his hands through his hair and let them stay there, entangled. He flipped to his side in frustration. He looked up when a spiked boot stopped in front of him. "Percy! You're early, my boy! Did you sleep here?"

Huh? He sat up and looked out to the sea. The sun was rising. Blushing slightly, he stood up and dusted himself off. "No. Just thinking."

"Good, good," Pontus remarked. "It helps you in battle. Here," he tossed him the fauchard. "I'll teach you some fighting techniques. Get ready."

He gulped.

AN: Thank you for reading, have a nice day! ~SmartzyFan