AN: For anyone who cares, I'm changing Percy's Knights if Perseus to Heralds of Perseus. Pointing this out cause I had to change it last chapter. Anyways reviews appreciated, I would like to hear what you guys think.

Zoe balanced herself on a thick tree branch, her midnight hair pulled back into a ponytail, her dark emerald eyes laser focused in the distance. A deer grazed in a clearing nearly twenty yards before her. Zoe pulled a silver arrow from her quiver, notched it, and drew back her bow. The fletching of her arrow tickled her cheek. The wind blew in her face. The tree shifted below her. The daughter of Perseus could feel her heartbeat in her chest. One beat, two beat, three beat. She had her target in sight.

She just had to time it right. One beat, two beat-Zoe released the draw string. Her arrow flew true, striking the deer just behind its lead leg. The deer leaped forward in panic before collapsing nearly a dozen feet later.

"Nice shot," Thalia called out to her from the next tree over. The lieutenant dropped down from her spot on the tree, moving gracefully to the fallen animal.

Exhilaration filled Zoe's being. They had spent all day tracking and trekking through the dense forest of Montana. The skinned rabbits clipped to her's and Thalia's belts proof of their successful hunt. It was Thalia's turn to gather the meat to refill the Hunt's stores. As Zoe hadn't been with the Hunt in nearly a year, she eagerly agreed to accompany her self-appointed aunt. Zoe leaped down from the tree branch, following Thalia through the brush and into the clearing. Thalia examined the deer carefully, her knife out and ready to do the gruesome work.

"Quick and clean," Thalia told Zoe, pulling the arrow from the beast. "He was dead before he even knew what happened." She flipped the knife over in her hand and held it out to Zoe. "Your kill, your field dressing."

Zoe took the knife without complaint. During her many visits with the Hunt, Zoe had been taught the sanctity of the hunt. Every kill served a purpose. Every life taken was to be respected with the utmost care. As Zoe began field dressing the deer, with some guidance from Thalia, when necessary, she thanked the beast for its sacrifice. A short while later they finished, and Zoe let out a relaxing sigh. "This has been a great day," she told Thalia with a smile.

"That it has," Thalia agreed, stretching out her stiff muscles. "Lady Artemis gave the Hunt the past week off. We had been going strong hunting monsters all year, so it's been nice to just chill."

"What's the most dangerous monster you've fought in the past year?" Zoe asked, eyes alight with interest.

Thalia hummed in thought as she hoisted the deer carcass up on her shoulders. "The Hunt took down the Aethiopian Drakon a couple months ago," Thalia recalled, beginning her trek back to the hunter's camp. Zoe gathered up all of the important organs and the beast's hide and followed her. "We lost several good hunters to that beast." Zoe felt her enthusiasm curbed by the revelation. Thalia noticed her deflation and gave her a sad smile. "They died a noble death, Zo. We honor their sacrifice by continuing onward. You have to remember that we are at war. There will always be a price that must be paid," she said almost sage like.

Zoe understood what Thalia was saying, but it didn't make it any easier. She had wondered why some of her friends weren't there to greet her. She assumed they were performing some mission. Now she knew why. The two continued their walk for several minutes before Zoe could speak. "It doesn't make it any easier."

"No, it doesn't," was all Thalia said. She knew better than to let Zoe dwell on it too much. She was only fourteen after all. She needed time to process this. "Personally, I think my most dangerous hunt this year was the Manticore. Thorn was quite displeased to discover I was still alive. Was the toughest one on one fight I'd had in a while."

"Was he 'enhanced?'" Zoe asked. The Heralds decided that calling them 'blessed of Tartarus' was both a mouthful and disheartening and so designated them as 'enhanced.'

Thalia nodded. "Wasn't breathing fire which was nice. Was much larger though, and his thorns appeared to be coated with acid," she explained.

"Weird," said Zoe. "You think it was an evolution from the poison?"

Thalia seemed to think about it. A pair of beavers crossed their path, dragging tree branches behind them. "Maybe. Would make sense if it were to bring out suppressed abilities. We are lucky that it's only been select monsters that have been enhanced. Imagine an army of hellhounds blessed by Tartarus." Thalia shivered.

"Now that I think about it, why haven't we seen any enhanced by Nyx?" Zoe wondered aloud.

Thalia was surprised at the thought; she hadn't really thought of that. "That's a good question. I-I don't know." The two left it at that, unsure of the answer. "Anyways, how's training been? Figure out your shadow and light powers yet?"

Zoe held out her hand. Shadows coalesced into a ball in her hand. She caught the baseball sized ball, tossing it in the air. "Getting better. I'm able to form basic objects now instead of just tendrils. I've also noticed that I'm stronger at night. The starlight stuff is significantly weakened during the day since, you know, the stars aren't out."

"But they're not gone when it's daytime," Thalia argued in confusion.

The girl simply shrugged. "Don't ask me, I got nothing."

Thalia shook her head in disbelief. "Figure out how to shadow travel yet?"

"If I had we wouldn't be walking to camp," Zoe retorted in good fun. "In all seriousness I have no idea how to. Nico thinks I can and will learn it, but right now it's annoying." A shadow moved in the corner of Zoe's eye. She turned her head towards the movement as she walked. She couldn't see anything. It looked like a wolf. She expanded her senses through the shadows around her. She felt the rodents and insects roaming the underbrush. There was a bear off in the distance, much too far to have been what she saw. She didn't think it was a hellhound.

Thalia agreed with her assessment, unaware of Zoe's concerns. "Yeah, I hear you. When I heard Jason could fly, I felt short changed. Then I remembered my crippling fear of heights and-"

"Did you see something?" Zoe interrupted her, still looking around for the shadow.

Thalia looked at Zoe in concern. "No, what did you see?"

Zoe thumbed the knifes sheathed on her waist. "I think it was a wolf, but I don't feel any around..."

"Right," Thalia said, her lightning blue eyes roaming through the forest. "Wolves do inhabit the forests of Montana...though they typically move in packs. Let's get a move on, we need to get to camp."

The two girls began to run at a steady pace, their eyes peeled for any other suspicious movements.

A clash of silver knives sent sparks flying into the dirt. Zoe smiled at her friend, who had quickly challenged her to a spar upon her return to camp. "I think I am catching up with you, Tammie," she taunted with a smirk. They stood in the center of a ring kicked into the dirt. Various hunters were gathered a far distance around the ring. Some watching in amusement, others with more serious motives, and then those who per passing coins around.

The older girl smiled at Zoe, her long braided hair falling down her back. "Maybe I am just going easy on you," she retorted, her paler complexion reflected the sunlight off herself. "You are a sore loser after all." The two girls engaged in a whirlwind of strikes. Each attack led to the next as the friends danced between each other. Zoe felt her hair whip about as she spun around, kicking out at Tammie's feet. The hunter leaped over the passing leg, kicking the crouched girl in the chest. Zoe fell into a roll and propelled herself up to her feet.

She rubbed her chest as she shared a smile with her friend. "We at Camp Half-Blood call it competitiveness," Zoe cracked back, holding her two knives out front. Her eyes began glowing with a faint emerald shine. "And you won't get me this time." She lunged forward. Tammie blocked a strike to her ribs. Zoe spun the other way, flipping her long knives around. With each strike Zoe moved faster. Her attacks hit harder. Eventually, Tammie actually felt herself being forced back as she evaded and blocked the relentless assault. She was dangerously close to the edge of the ring. Zoe leaped over a swipe at her legs and delivered a spinning kick to the hunter's chest. Tammie flew backwards, out of the ring, and toppled another girl over. The two landing in a heap of bodies. The gathered hunters broke out in cheers and laughs. Several hunters grumbled as they handed coins over to others before departing. Zoe ran over to her fallen friend, laughter escaping the confines of her mouth. "Tammie, Sophie, are you guys, okay?" she helped the two girls up to their feet."

"Yeah."

"I'm okay," they said together.

"Impressive Zoe," a young girl's voice resonated with power.

Zoe turned to find a young girl, maybe Karina's age, standing with Thalia. Her auburn hair was cut short, reaching just past her shoulders, and silver eyes watched her in amusement. "Lady Artemis," Zoe acknowledged with a quick bow. "It is a pleasure to see you again."

"You as well young one," Artemis returned. She approached the small group, all the other hunters dispersed to continue their chores for the day. "It's a shame your father chose to drop you off when he knew I wouldn't be here so I could greet you sooner."

The daughter of Perseus smiled broadly at the goddess. "He was scared you were going to shoot him again. He says you're the only Olympian he fears."

Artemis grinned, a mischievous gleam in her eye. "As he should. I am quite powerful."

"I think he said it was because he views you like a little sister," Zoe said with an evil grin. She couldn't wait for them to meet her father in New Rome for the games. "He said he could easily stop you if he wanted."

Artemis' eyes blazed with challenge. "I see, well, we will see about that," she said ominously, her eyes gazing into the distance as if imagining what she would do to Zoe's father. She closed her eyes before again looking to Zoe. "Your skills have improved greatly since your last visit. I have also noticed you are controlling yourself better."

Zoe nodded her agreement. "Thank you, Lady Artemis. I've been working hard to control my powers. It's been...difficult."

"I can empathize," Artemis said as she approached her. "Well, I guess it is time to start your training. Follow me." Artemis turned on her heel and began walking off. Thalia gave her a sympathetic grin before following the goddess. Zoe said goodbye to her friends before following the two girls into the woods. They weaved through trees and brush before entering a clearing a good walk away from the camp. Artemis turned to Thalia and Zoe. "It's okay Zoe. We are far enough from camp. release everything you have. Thalia can take it." Thalia walked to the edge of the clearing, her shield in hand as she sat on a large rock. Artemis drew two long silver knives, standing at ease before the tri-blood. Zoe reached into her pocket and pulled out Riptide. She uncapped the pen, three feet of celestial bronze extended to form the legendary sword. Zoe noticed Artemis' eyes look at the sword in remorse before her face was schooled into a mask. Ignoring her, Zoe hit the button on her watch. She held her shield between herself and Thalia. A grin spreading across her lips. She so rarely got to really let loose. Her friends at both camps couldn't keep up with her. Reyna and the Heralds tried but she was holding back even then. But a god? One who wouldn't go easy on her like her father? Maybe now she could see what she was really capable. Artemis noted her stance and demeanor with a smile. "Ready?"

Zoe nodded, her grip on her sword tightening. Power swelled within her as she drew upon herself. She could see the glow in her eyes illuminate the clearing as her hair whipped about in the growing wind. Time to let it all out. Shadows coalesced around her until her gifted armor formed around her. She couldn't shadow travel yet, but she apparently could do that. Stupid powers. Rain began pelting down on the clearing. Zoe didn't need to look to see the hurricane hovering over the forest. Lightning arced through the clouds releasing a furious thunderclap. Strength surged through her being. She released a heavy breath before meeting the silver eyes of here opponent. "Ready." A shadow flickered in the distance.