~ A New Resolve ~

SAPHIRA

"Do you think it would be too much to ask of the Fates to let us live in peace after this is over?" Percy says. "I mean, come on. Three uprisings in less than a decade!"

"Don't get your hopes up. I think we might just be destined to save the world for the rest of our lives," Annabeth replies.

Saphira inwardly chuckles at the couple's conversation, amused at how… casually they discuss being the saviors of the world.

It's been over a day since they left Springfield. They had left Illinois, drove through the entire state of Iowa, and only a couple hours ago had passed the border into Nebraska. Surprisingly, they had no incidents during this entire time, and because of the quiet trip so far, they've been quite relaxed.

Percy and Annabeth have swapped as drivers five times now, with Annabeth taking her break in the passenger seat. Chloe is still seated to Saphira's left, currently in charge of holding Lykos who unfortunately is still stuck as a pup. Despite his initial unhappiness at his afflicted state of being, the wolf had grown to accept that this is what he is for the time being. Saphira is sure that the attention he had been getting from Chloe and Annabeth has something to do with his acceptance.

"You don't think you would get bored living like normal mortals?" Saphira asks. She's genuinely curious about why they're so keen on living a life absent of action. She can't imagine how she would fare in a life without the Hunt, without hunting or fighting monsters.

Percy laughs. "You know, I've thought about that question quite a bit and to be honest, I don't know. I think I've had enough action to last for the rest of my life… but I also have no idea how to live normally anymore."

"That's why we wanted to go to New Rome," Annabeth says, turning in her seat to face Saphira. "We know Percy sucks at blending in with mortals. Every time he tries, something blows up."

"Not my fault. Monsters just love me."

"I used to think I would never see a chance at a normal life, but after seeing New Rome and how demigods can live in peace, go to college and start families… well, like I said before. I've been through literal hell and back. I'm done coming up with excuses for not finding happiness in my life," Annabeth finishes.

Chloe leans forward with a smirk. "So… you and Percy plan to start a family, huh?"

Annabeth's cheeks flush red while Percy clears his throat.

"Uh, well. We've… you see-" he struggles to form a coherent sentence.

Saphira smiles and shakes her head. "Why be embarrassed? If that's what you desire, then that's wonderful!"

She knows exactly why the couple is flustered. She just wants to tease them a little.

"You two are so… not hunterlike. I can't imagine any of your sisters so openly discussing this kind of thing," Annabeth finally says. "Except Thalia."

"Like I said before, I am not disgusted by romance," Saphira says.

"Of any girl in the Hunt, I'd say Amaris is probably our most zealous about this topic," Chloe says.

"Who is Amaris?" Percy asks.

"Our lead healer. She is one of our oldest, but she's also had one of the worst experiences with romance of most of our members," Saphira explains. "Anyway, it's a wonderful plan you have, to live in New Rome. You two have earned a life of peace."

Annabeth sighs dreamily. "I'll have to persuade Reyna and Frank to let me build our house. I have been thinking a lot about what I want our place to look like."

"Oh, do tell," Percy prompts her.

"Ah, ah. No reveals until we get there," she replies, then looks at Saphira. "What about you? Never had plans for a different life?"

"Never," Saphira replies.

Annabeth cocks her head. "Really? You never thought about what it would be to live outside the Hunt? I mean, I feel stupid for asking a hunter this, but since you already said you aren't disgusted by romance… do you think there is even a slight chance you could fall in love?"

Saphira shakes her head, certain of the answer. She's given this thought plenty of times and it's always wound up the same. Her love is for the Hunt and the Hunt alone.

"I do not. Believe me, I've thought about this many times, but I cannot envision myself doing anything else. I've been with Artemis and my sisters for almost two thousand years, and I never felt any reason to seek a life elsewhere," she says.

Annabeth hums in thought. "Hm. Well, it's good that you are so certain of yourself. I'm constantly second guessing everything, but it comes with being a daughter of Athena."

"You don't second guess us right?" Percy asks her.

"Course not, Seaweed Brain. You fell into Tartarus with me- for me," Annabeth says, rolling her eyes. "I'd be an idiot to ever have doubts about spending my life with you."

Percy grins at her. "Is that a proposal?"

The wisdom child blushes. "Shut up and focus on driving."

He laughs, but does as he's told. Now, Saphira remembers a detail from the events that transpired at the cemetery, one that she had been meaning to inquire about, but was uncertain if she should.

However, she has a feeling it's too important to let it slide.

"Lykos," she says. "I've been meaning to ask you something."

The wolf pup perks his head up from Chloe's lap, cocking his head and causing his floppy ear to wiggle slightly. She has his attention.

"That empousa at the cemetery… she said she would 'love to pick up where you left off.' I have a feeling you two know each other, so what did she mean by that?"

Lykos' gaze darkens and his lowers his head with a sigh. It's clear that his history with Aspa is not a pleasant one, but what exactly did it entail? Lykos rises from Chloe's lap and awkwardly clambers along the seat to Saphira. He nuzzles his way under her hand, and for a moment, she thinks he's asking for a scratch. That is, until he shuffles his body along and comes to an abrupt stop when her fingertips reach his back.

Saphira frowns at this, not yet sure of what this means. There must be something on his back he wants to show her. So, she brushes her fingers into his fur, feeling the skin and moving his fur around.

Then, she sees it.

Scars. Dozens upon dozens of scars decorate his back. She never would have noticed these before in all her moments of stroking his pelt. At his full size, his fur was simply too thick. As a pup however, it is all too easy to move the lighter, softer coat around to see the horribly marked skin of his back, his sides, his neck. These scars are old, too old to be from any recent battle and what's more, these scars don't look like they were from the teeth and claws of monsters.

They look like lash marks.

An almost choking fury swells in her heart, threatening to flood her throat as she realizes what this means of her Guardian.

He was tortured, and that demon whore must have been the one who did this to him. That's why he so clearly had it in for her. He wanted revenge for who knows how many years of pain he suffered at her hand.

Swallowing down the rage in her throat, Saphira makes a promise to him.

"I swear to you, Lykos. The next time we see that vile creature, you will claim your vengeance. Even if we have to summon all our sisters, we will hunt down that empousa and every one of her ilk," she growls.

"What is it?" Chloe asks. Saphira shows her the wolf's scars, and the healer's normally sweet face hardens into one of disgust and anger.

"What the hell did they do to you?" she says with a loe, steely tone.

Lykos tosses his head in a shake and growls, settling down beside Saphira's leg.

"She tortured him," Saphira says. "That empousa, Aspa. She tortured Lykos."

Annabeth spins around in her seat with wide eyes. "Excuse me?"

"That was what she meant. She wants to imprison you again so she can torture you as she did before, doesn't she?" Saphira asks Lykos. He nods.

Her blood boils more and more with every question answered.

"How did this happen?" Annabeth asks.

Lykos sighs, but he answers with another gesture; clawing at the seat, before placing his paw on himself, then onto the spot that he had been clawing at. Saphira recognizes that gesture immediately. He had done it when they first met, and she tried to figure out how he had lost his ability to regain human form. The memory is fresh like it had happened yesterday

"What does that mean?" Annabeth asks, now looking at Saphira.

"It means it happened when he was in Tartarus," she replies with a soft murmur. "I still don't know exactly what led him to end up down there to begin with, but I do know it has something to do with why he can't shapeshift. And now I know that Aspa had tortured him while he was down there."

She pulls the wolf pup into her arms and hugs him tight to her chest. Here she was, having her internal struggle with what she might do if she saw someone who caused her pain in her past, meanwhile Lykos had already hit that point and…

And he faced it head on.

He looked Aspa in the eyes, the being who tortured and tormented him for who knows how long in Tartarus, and what did he do? He didn't quiver or whimper, he didn't break down into an emotional mess. He charged her, no hesitation, just raw fury, and tried to kill her.

If he can face the ones who caused him pain in his past with that kind of nerve, why can't she?

Saphira heaves a deep breath and lifts Lykos to look him in the eyes.

"You are an inspiration to me," she murmurs.

She returns him to her lap, where he snuggles in and curls up, seemingly preparing for a nap. Saphira runs her hand down his back over and over, soothing him to sleep while she rests her head back against her seat.

To hell, with her sorrows and her fears. The others are right. She's a Hunter of Artemis She's fought hundreds of battles, killed thousands of monsters, and stood up to giants. She's the best combatant in the Hunt, related by blood to, and trained by Zoe Nightshade to become best in knife combat only by the moon goddess herself.

She is going to that mountain. She is going to face her grandfather, curse him to his face, and then walk out with Asteria in hand. Then, she is going to honor Zoe's memory, not by being saddened, but by being strengthened.

This is her new resolve.

Author's Note

Hello, readers! Since I had been away so long before updating with Chapter 15, I figured I should treat you all with a 2-piece this time, plus, I think it's about high time our heroine started picking herself up, don't you?

I hope you enjoyed them, despite being a little short, but I didn't want to keep you waiting after being away for so long.

That's all from me for now. Until next time!