Chapter 6: On the mend
"Percy, do you want to learn how to shoot a bow."
"Not really." He didn't raise his gaze from the grindstone.
Artemis felt a stab of annoyance. She had smited mortals, both male, and female (mostly male) mortals, for lesser offenses in the past. He kept peddling and held his blade to the spinning piece.
He had ingratiated himself to the rest of the hunt by taking over one of their most despised tasks. He cared for riptide religiously despite its magical properties. He cited it as a mark of respect for those who wielded the blade before him.
She knew Zoe would appreciate it. She appreciated too.
Percy had asked Thalia if she had any arrows that needed sharpening because he 'found it relaxing', and she had happily handed over all of her arrows. He had offered to repair the shafts and fletching if need be.
Thalia had been thrilled.
Once the other girls realized that Thalia no longer had to spend half an hour daily caring for her arrows. They had been eager to pass the work to Percy.
He'd accepted it with apathy.
The hunt accepted him with gratitude.
"Percy, come join us for dinner." Phoebe marched into the tent and fell into a bow when she saw Artemis.
"My lady, I did not realize that you were here. I apologize for my intrusion." She began to back out of the tent with her head still down, but Artemis waved her off.
"Go ahead, it would be good for Perseus."
That seemed to earn a rise out of him. "Is there something I can do for you to call me Perseus?"
She smirked. "Learn to shoot a bow to my satisfaction, and I'll call you Percy."