Chapter 14.
As they journeyed, Artemis led the way out of the camp, the hunters following in tow as they broke into a swift sprint. They traversed through forests and over hills, covering vast distances until they finally slowed their pace upon reaching Washington D.C.
Sensing the need to blend in with mortals, Percy transformed back into his 16-year-old form as they entered the bustling city. With careful steps, they navigated through the streets of D.C., attracting minimal attention as they moved.
It wasn't long before Percy's keen eyes caught sight of the questers entering the Smithsonian Museum. "Artemis, they went in there," Percy informed, pointing towards the museum with a sense of urgency. Artemis nodded before turning to Percy and replying,"Go to them, we'll keep watch of the area."
Percy nodded before using his shadow-traveling ability to transport himself into the museum. Inside, he maintained a stealthy presence, lurking in the shadows as he observed the questers assessing the surroundings. Among them were Theo, Annabeth, Grover, Thalia, and another demigod whom Percy didn't recognize.
Suddenly, Percy's senses heightened as he heard a menacing growl echoing through the room. With a sense of dread, he turned his gaze to the source and his eyes widened in recognition. The Nemean Lion was here, its powerful form poised to attack the demigods.
Without thinking, Percy sprang into action. With a swift transformation into his wolf form, he expanded his size to match that of the lion, preparing to confront the monstrous creature head-on. Percy burst forth from the shadows, intercepting the lion just as it lunged towards the demigods. Their collision sent shockwaves through the room as they tumbled through some walls, locked in a fierce battle for survival.
Percy, being the lighter of the two monsters, ended up getting thrown off the lion as they tumbled, crashing through a couple more walls. Standing up and shaking it off, he bared his teeth before charging the Nemean Lion, who met him with a charge of its own.
As Percy and the Nemean Lion clashed once more, their battle raging with primal intensity, Percy soon realized that his physical attacks were ineffective against the lion's impenetrable pelt. With his strength draining but determined to find a way to gain the upper hand, Percy swiftly shifted tactics.
With precision timing, Percy waited for the lion to draw near before shifting back into his human form and summoning his scythe into his grasp. As the lion lunged forward, Percy swung his scythe with all his might, aiming for the top of the lion's jaw.
The scythe connected with a resounding clang, catching the lion in the perfect spot to forcefully prop open its massive jaws. Despite the lion's attempts to break free, its strength proved futile against the unyielding power of Void silver.
Seizing the opportunity, Percy swiftly restrained the lion with shadows, immobilizing it and leaving it vulnerable. With calculated precision, he produced a few daggers and plunged them down the lion's throat. The lion thrashed for a few minutes before it went limp.
Exhausted, Percy pulled the scythe out before waving it away into shadow, and changing back to his giant wolf form. Firmly grasping the lion's neck, he dragged it back to where the questers were.
Artemis's brow furrowed in concern as she observed the chaos unfolding within the museum, her senses attuned to the unsettling vibrations echoing through the air. "What is going on?" Zoe asked. Zoe's question snapped Artemis's attention back to their surroundings, and she shook her head in response.
"I don't know, Zoe," Artemis admitted, her voice tense with uncertainty. "But we must remain vigilant." Zoe nodded in understanding, her gaze fixed on the side building where the commotion had originated.
Suddenly, Zoe gasped, her eyes widening in astonishment. Artemis followed her gaze and felt her breath catch in her throat at the sight before them. Percy had emerged from the wreckage, larger than his normal wolf form, bleeding silver blood from wounds all over his body. But it was the golden creature firmly gripped in his jaws that seized their attention.
"Is that what I think it is, my lady?" Zoe breathed, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes pleading for confirmation from Artemis. Artemis's expression grew solemn as she gazed upon the scene before them, her heart heavy with realization.
"Yes, Zoe," Artemis replied, her voice grave. "That's the Nemean Lion."
As Percy approached the questers, dragging the lifeless body of the Nemean Lion in his mouth, their eyes widened in astonishment at the sight before them. The demigods stood frozen in disbelief as Percy dropped the lion's body at their feet, his exhaustion evident as he wagged his tail wearily.
With a sense of accomplishment and weariness weighing heavily upon him, Percy slowly began to walk away, his tired footsteps echoing in the aftermath of the battle. Even with the strength that comes with being a demi-primordial, the Nemean Lion was a very powerful monster, and fighting it was a hard battle. Plus the amount of wounds on his body didn't help.
He unfortunately didn't have the full healing capability his parents did. He could heal small wounds, but not major ones like the lion inflicted or wounds from godly weapons. Once he was at a safe distance, he shrank back down to his normal size, the weight of his recent ordeal pressing upon him before melting into shadows.
. Percy emerged from the shadows behind Artemis on a rooftop. Whining softly, he staggered towards her, clearly exhausted. Artemis turned around, her expression shifting from surprise to worry as she saw him struggling to reach her. Rushing to his side, she steadied him before looking over his silver coated fur.
"Percy, you can't keep putting yourself in danger like this," Artemis admonished with a worried tone, her concern evident in her voice. Percy whined softly in response, acknowledging her words as he settled down, allowing Artemis to tend to his wounds. With gentle care, she healed his injuries, her touch bringing relief to Percy's weary form.
Once Artemis was satisfied with his condition, Percy wagged his tail gratefully before standing up, a renewed sense of determination in his eyes. With a bark, he signaled his readiness to continue.
Artemis smiled at him warmly before gathering the other hunters from nearby rooftops. As they regrouped, their resolve strengthened by the lion's defeat, they prepared to depart from Washington D.C. Percy, although still tired, summoned the strength to keep pace with his companions, but was too tired to change to his human form.
As the group settled down in a forest clearing for the night, Percy found himself curling up under a tree, seeking rest from the day's events. However, he was soon interrupted by the sound of a throat clearing, prompting him to wearily raise his head and meet Artemis's gaze, her silver eyes piercing the darkness.
"What are you doing?" Artemis questioned, her tone a mixture of exasperation and concern. Percy, feeling a wave of confusion wash over him, tilted his head in response, unsure of what she meant.
Artemis let out an exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes at Percy's obliviousness before explaining, "You're not sleeping out here. Come on." With that, she turned and headed towards her tent, gesturing for Percy to follow.
Too exhausted to protest, Percy obediently followed Artemis into her tent, where she pointed towards a cozy dog bed. Letting out a soft bark of acknowledgment, Percy curled up on the bed, feeling the weariness of the day finally catching up to him. With a contented sigh, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift into the realm of dreams, safe in the shelter of Artemis's care.
As Percy woke up and found the tent empty, he shook off the remnants of sleep and nosed his way out into the morning light. Outside, he discovered the hunters gathered around a dying fire, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of dawn.
Making his way over to them, Percy walked around the group until he spotted Artemis sitting next to Zoe. With a contented smile, Artemis greeted him warmly as he approached, her silver eyes sparkling in the early morning light.
"Good morning, Percy," Zoe greeted him, her hand gently patting his head in affection. Percy responded with a happy bark, his tail wagging eagerly at the attention.
Artemis smiled warmly as Percy settled himself at her legs, his presence bringing a sense of comfort to the morning scene. Around them, the other hunters couldn't help but giggle at Percy's playful antics, their spirits lifted by his playful demeanor.
As they prepared to continue their journey, Zoe addressed Artemis with a question about the day's plans. "So what's the plan for today, my lady?" she inquired, her voice filled with curiosity.
"We continue to track the group as they search for Hermes," Artemis replied confidently, her gaze sweeping over the group as she spoke. "It seems like they are headed west, so we shall do so as well."
With Artemis's words, the hunters nodded in agreement, acknowledging her decision. As they rose to their feet to pack up camp, Artemis followed suit, making her way towards her tent to gather her belongings.
Upon reaching her tent, Artemis expected to find Percy at her side, but as she turned, she noticed that he hadn't followed her. Instead, he remained by the dying fire, his attention fixed on the flickering flames. Concerned, Artemis paused in her task, deciding to approach Percy to ensure that everything was alright.
Artemis watched Percy with concern as she approached him by the dying flames, her voice gentle as she spoke. "Percy, are you okay?" she inquired, her silver eyes reflecting her worry.
In response, Percy broke his attention from the dancing flames, turning his gaze to meet Artemis's. Without a word, he silently conveyed his request to enter her mind. Understanding his unspoken communication, Artemis nodded in response, granting him permission.
As Percy delved into her thoughts, Artemis waited patiently, her brow furrowing with concern. After a moment, Percy's voice echoed in her mind, his words weighted with the burden of his worries.
"I'm fine, Artemis. Just concerned about the end of this quest," Percy conveyed, his thoughts echoing within her consciousness. "I will save Hermes no matter the cost, but you guys are Zoe's family. And the idea of not being able to save everyone doesn't sit well with me."
Artemis nodded in understanding at Percy's words, recognizing the depth of his concern despite their short time together. She could sense his unwavering dedication to Zoe and her family, and knew that the weight of their safety weighed heavily on him.
"We'll figure it out, Percy," Artemis reassured him, her voice soft yet resolute. "My hunters understand the risks that come with being a hunter and participating in missions like this. We can only hope that everyone walks away."
Percy acknowledged her words with a solemn nod, and Artemis felt him withdraw from her mind. Turning to head back to her tent, she was relieved to see that Percy had followed her this time. With their belongings packed, they resumed their journey, traveling through the day until they eventually came to a stop at a train track as night fell.
Sensing the demigods further up in one of the compartments of a red and gold train, Percy barked urgently at Artemis, who hurried over to join him. She opened the compartment door and ushered the hunters inside, ensuring they got in first. Once everyone was secured, Artemis entered the compartment herself, leaving room for Percy to follow.
However,as Percy jumped in to join them, a golden net suddenly sprung up around him, ensnaring him with surprising speed. Caught off guard, Percy yelped in surprise as he was dragged outside, the train door closing behind him as it began to move along the tracks.
Trapped in the net, Percy writhed with frustration and anger as he watched the train pull away, his heart pounding with the realization of being separated from his companions. Eventually, as the train disappeared from his sight, the net vanished, leaving Percy seething with indignation.
"Percy, let's chat," a voice spoke from behind him, causing Percy to whirl around in anger. However, his rage subsided as he recognized the figure before him: Apollo.