Chapter 11.
"PERCY!" Artemis's scream echoed through the chasm as they plummeted into its depths. Despite the urgency of the situation, Percy couldn't help but laugh in response. "I told you not to test me," he remarked, his tone lighthearted despite the circumstances.
Artemis struggled against Percy's hold for a few moments, but his strength proved to be greater than hers. Finally, she relented, her voice carrying a hint of defeat as she spoke. "Fine, I'm sorry. Take us back up," she conceded with a sigh of resignation.
Percy chuckled before summoning shadows to them, swiftly transporting them back to the cliff clearing. As they reappeared, he released Artemis and moved back, giving her space. The hunters, who had been anxiously peering over the edge, turned around and hurried over to Artemis, concern etched on their faces.
"Are you okay, my lady?" one of the hunters asked anxiously as they gathered around Artemis. Artemis offered her a reassuring smile before nodding. "Yes, I'm perfectly fine," she assured her.
Another hunter stepped forward, her concern evident. "He didn't touch you in any way, did he?" she inquired, her voice tinged with worry.
Artemis shook her head, her expression remaining calm. "Other than pinning my arms, no, he did not," she clarified.
As some of the hunters turned to cast murderous glares at Percy, who was smiling at Zoe nearby, a sudden tension filled the air. One of the hunters swiftly drew a bow and fired an arrow at Percy's head, aiming to kill him.
Percy's eyes widened in shock as he watched the arrow hurtling towards him. Reacting swiftly, he vanished into shadow, causing the arrow to pass through the disappearing darkness where he had stood just moments before.
Reappearing at the cliff edge with a flash of anger in his eyes, Percy swiftly employed his control over shadows, seizing the hunter who had fired the arrow and dragging her to the edge of the cliff. With a firm grip made of shadows on her, he held her suspended over the abyss below.
"I am a primordial child," he declared, his voice filled with simmering rage. "Try that again, and you will suffer in the Void for eternity."
Feeling Zoe's presence approaching him, Percy turned to face her, his expression softening slightly at her. "Percy, please release her. She's a daughter of Ares; she doesn't think before she acts," she pleaded earnestly.
Percy considered her words for a moment before relenting. With a nod, he turned back to the hunter and released his grip, allowing her to drop a few feet in the air before swiftly grabbing her again with shadows. Hauling her back up, he then flung her across the clearing with a powerful motion.
The daughter of Ares tumbled through the air before landing roughly and rolling to a stop next to Artemis, who watched the scene unfold with a mixture of concern and disapproval. Percy's anger simmered, but he heeded Zoe's plea, opting for restraint rather than retaliation.
Percy's tone was cold and firm as he addressed Artemis, his gaze unwavering. "I like you, Artemis, but if any of your hunters try that again, they will go straight to the Void for eternity. Is that clear?" he stated, his words carrying a weighty warning.
Artemis met Percy's cold stare with a glare of her own, clearly displeased by the threat against her hunters. However, she also understood that Percy was serious and capable of following through on his words. With a reluctant nod, she acknowledged his threat before turning to assist the fallen hunter, her expression a mix of frustration and resignation.
"Good, now that we've got that cleared up, we're fine," Percy declared, his cheerful demeanor returning as swiftly as it had vanished. Zoe chuckled at his antics, shaking her head in amusement.
"Artemis, are you returning to camp with the demigods, or are you and your hunters headed somewhere else?" Percy inquired, his tone casual yet attentive. Artemis glanced up at him, contemplating her response before answering.
"We need to head to camp so I can plan what to do with Chiron," Artemis replied, her tone carrying a hint of determination.
With a determined expression, Artemis turned and called out to the sky, "Apollo!"
Percy's concern deepened at her sudden call, and he turned to Artemis with a swift motion. "I don't want the other gods to know I exist just yet. So hold out your arm," he instructed, his tone urgent yet composed.
Artemis, still slightly confused by Percy's request, complied and held her arm out as directed. Percy waved his hand, conjuring a black leather arm glove, before enveloping himself in shadows. As the shadows dissipated, he transformed into his eagle form. With a powerful flap of his wings, he swiftly landed on Artemis's arm, eliciting a surprised reaction from her.
Apollo appeared a few moments later in his car, stepping out of the driver's seat with a smile directed at Artemis. As he approached, he casually inquired, "Little sister, what's going on?"
Artemis shot him a glare before responding curtly, "I'm older, Apollo. I need you to take the hunters and the campers to camp."
Apollo's grin widened at her response, but his attention quickly shifted to Percy, who was perched on Artemis's arm in eagle form. "Since when do you have an eagle pet, sis? And since when were they black?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
"His name is Percy, and he's not a pet, Apollo. He's a friend," Artemis responded with a smile, trying to play it off. she affectionately ran her knuckle down the back of Percy's neck, earning a happy caw from him in response.
Apollo laughed at her explanation, nodding in understanding before turning his attention to his car and transforming it into a bus. "Alright, everyone, get on. I've got a date to get ready for tonight," he announced cheerfully.
The hunters rolled their eyes at Apollo's comment but complied, boarding the bus. Percy's friends followed suit, joining them as they prepared to depart for camp.
Zoe turned to Artemis, inquiring, "Are you riding with us, my lady?" Artemis smiled softly before shaking her head. "Me and Percy will join you at camp once you arrive," she reassured Zoe.
Zoe nodded, a warm smile directed at Percy before she grabbed her bag and boarded the bus with the other hunters. As the bus took off, Artemis glanced at Percy, who was still perched comfortably on her arm.
"Are you gonna stay in that form?" she asked. Percy nodded his head and let out a caw, eliciting a laugh from Artemis. "Let's get going," she said with a smile.
With a flap of his wings, Percy enveloped them in shadow, disappearing from the clearing in an instant.
As they arrived, standing on the hill overlooking the camp with the golden fleece nearby, Artemis turned to face Percy. He met her gaze and then tilted his head sideways, prompting a smile from Artemis.
"Why don't you want the other gods to know of your existence, Percy? You mentioned Hades already does. Why not the others?" she inquired, her tone laced with curiosity.
Percy looked at her, and suddenly Artemis felt his presence enter her mind as he responded, "Because I don't feel like doing the gods' work for them. I'm here to help them win the war, not fight the war for them."
Artemis nodded, understanding his reasoning, before asking another question. "So you can change into a stag and an eagle. Can you change into anything else?"
Percy nodded before hopping off her arm and fluttering a few feet away. He was enveloped in shadow until they dissipated, revealing a midnight black wolf standing in its place.
Artemis's eyes widened in delight as she grinned at Percy's display. "I like the choice of animals, Percy," she complimented, her approval evident. Percy barked in response before transforming back into his eagle form.
Recalling Jason's curiosity about his abilities, Percy enveloped himself in shadow once more, attempting to adjust the size of his bird form. As the shadows dispersed, he emerged as a smaller eagle, almost the size of a falcon. He cawed happily before flying back up onto Artemis's waiting arm.
Artemis looked at him in astonishment, a smile spreading across her face as she ran her knuckle down his neck again. "Can't say I've ever seen an eagle the size of a falcon before," she remarked, her laughter ringing out.
Percy cawed excitedly, fluttering his wings as he looked up at the sky. Artemis followed his gaze until she spotted what had captured his attention: Apollo's bus descending from above, headed toward the camp.
Her eyes widened with anticipation as she watched the bus hurtling down, eventually crashing into the lake with a loud splash. Artemis burst into laughter at the sight, her amusement evident as she began walking down the hill toward the steaming bus submerged in the lake.
As Artemis and Percy arrived at the lake, they were greeted by the sight of the hunters trudging out of the water, wearing expressions of annoyance and anger. Meanwhile, the campers were gathered on the beach, drenched from the unexpected plunge into the lake. Only Theo remained dry, having used his powers to dry himself off.
Artemis couldn't contain her laughter at the chaotic scene unfolding before her. "What happened?" she asked, amusement coloring her tone. The hunters, spotting her arrival, perked up and immediately made their way toward her.
"Apollo let Thalia drive, and that was the result," Zoe grumbled, frustration evident in her voice as she recounted the mishap.
Artemis laughed heartily as she watched Thalia emerge from the lake, her expression apologetic as she muttered apologies to Apollo, who was too amused to be annoyed. "Well, that was fun!" Apollo chimed in cheerfully, his laughter echoing along with Artemis's.
"Little sis, if you need me, you know how to get a hold of me," Apollo added before waving his farewell. With a bright flash of light, he disappeared, taking the steaming bus with him.
The campers began to make their way into camp, while the rest of the hunters gathered around Artemis. Zoe, noticing Percy's change in size, couldn't help but voice her observation. "My lady, did Percy get smaller, or am I seeing things?" she asked with a curious expression.
Artemis smiled knowingly, nodding in response. "Yes, Percy can change the size of his form. He shrunk down, presumably to make it easier for me to carry him," she explained, her tone filled with amusement and exasperation.
Percy cawed happily, fluttering his wings in response, eliciting giggles from the hunters. Artemis smiled at the lighthearted moment before leading the way into camp, with Zoe falling into step beside her and the hunters following closely behind.
Artemis led the way to her cabin, opening the door and allowing the girls to enter first. Once everyone was inside, Percy hopped off her arm and fluttered to the ground, looking up at Artemis with a tilted head.
Artemis initially looked puzzled, but then her eyes widened in realization. "Yes, Percy. You can come inside. I'll create a stand for you to stay on when you're not with me," she reassured him. Percy cawed in acknowledgment before flying back up onto her arm as Artemis entered the cabin, closing the door behind her.
Inside the cabin, the girls had already claimed their beds and were in the process of getting settled and dry. Artemis made her way to her room, separate from the rest of the cabin. With a wave of her hand, she created a stand for Percy, who cawed in response before flying over to it and settling down.
Artemis observed Percy for a moment before beginning to put her things away. Once she finished, she turned to talk to Percy but paused when she realized he was asleep, his head tilted down into his feathers. She smiled softly at the sight, quietly admiring the peacefulness of the sleeping eagle.
Artemis exited her room and made her way to where the hunters were settling in. "Where's Percy?" Zoe inquired as Artemis joined them. "He's asleep," Artemis replied, gesturing towards her room. The girls nodded in understanding as Artemis addressed them.
"I'm going to find Chiron. You all settle in and try not to burn any cabins down," she said, casting a pointed look at Zoe. Zoe grinned mischievously before nodding in response.
With that, Artemis left the cabin and headed outside, making her way towards the Big House. Upon arriving, she was relieved to find Chiron at the receptionist desk. "Ah, Lady Artemis, what can I do for you?" Chiron greeted her.
"Hello, Chiron. I was hoping we could discuss the war effort," Artemis replied, her expression serious. Chiron nodded gravely before standing up. "Do you want to gather the cabin leaders?" he suggested. Artemis shook her head. "We can inform them afterward, but I'd rather not hear the children's opinions at the moment."
"Alright then let's go to my office," Chiron replied. Artemis nodded as she followed in through the house.