Chapter 8: Day One

I was rudely awakened by Artemis barging into my tent and yanking the covers off of me. The chill of the morning air brushed my skin like icy fingers, and I wrapped my arms around myself instinctively.

"GET UP! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO WAKE UP HOURS AGO!" she yelled at me, her voice echoing with the authority that came naturally to her.

I groaned, squinting against the light filtering through the opening of the tent. "What time is it?" I asked sleepily, rubbing the crust from my eyes.

"It's 7 in the morning," her voice was sharp, like a twig snapping underfoot.

"Gods, why are you waking me at this ungodly hour?" I protested, longing for the warmth of my covers and the sweet embrace of sleep.

"Because if you don't make breakfast for me and my hunters in the next 30 minutes, we'll get to practice archery on a new moving target," she said while grinning evilly at me, her silver hair catching the sunlight and shimmering like a halo.

As if on cue, my stomach grumbled, mirroring my irritation. The prospect of shooting arrows at innocent targets might have sounded enticing to Artemis and her band of ruthless hunters, but the thought of having them aim at me— an unfortunate soul caught in the crosshairs of their overzealousness to remove my manhood—was more terrifying than motivational.

The next thing I knew, I was in the dining tent, a culinary sorcerer at the service of the goddess of the hunt. "What can I get you for breakfast, ladies?" I asked, feigning a polite tone that belied my looming exhaustion, though I was laughing inside, secretly reveling in my ability to summon food with a simple thought.

One of the newcomers to the hunter ranks spoke up, her bravado twinkling alongside her wit. "I would like a burrito with scrambled eggs and bacon bits in it, tater tots lined along one side, with sliced avocado on the other, hot sauce drizzled on it, and pepperjack cheese on top. I'd also like a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. So, get to it, boy." She sneered at me.

I smirked, relishing the challenge as I clapped my hands and summoned her elaborate breakfast with a flick of my wrist. The food materialized before her in an array of vibrant colors and mouthwatering aromas. The others looked at it in shock and suspicion, and I couldn't help but notice the faint glimmer of drool pooling at the corners of their lips.

"I swear on the river Styx that I haven't tampered with your food," I said, rolling my eyes theatrically.

Tentatively, the new hunter took a bite, and I could see her posture shift from skepticism to sheer delight, as if she had just discovered a long-lost treasure. "I suppose it's alright," she grumbled through a mouthful, her eyes wide with surprise.

"But since this is the blessing of Hestia, it's really her level of cooking. Are you insulting her?" I shot back with a smirk, enjoying the power play.

The hunter paled visibly, shaking her head with such fervor I half-expected her to topple over. Laughter bubbled up among the group as I summoned food for the remaining hunters. Soon, the tent buzzed with conversations and the clanking of utensils, the magic of the morning filling the space like sacred music.

"Nice move, Perceus," one of the more seasoned hunters said, shoving a piece of toast into her mouth. "You might just win over our hearts with your cooking."

I chuckled and reached for a slice of pizza, savoring the simplicity of it as I turned to make my escape, ready to patrol for threats. But just as I started to stroll away, Artemis called out to me.

"Where do you think you're going, Perceus?" Her tone was more inquisitive than commanding.

"On patrol, milady," I replied, a slight bow in my posture.

She nodded, her eyes flashing a mixture of approval and something else I couldn't quite decipher, a shadow of worry or perhaps even something deeper. I didn't linger on it and made my way out of the tent, pizza in hand.

As I walked, the cool morning air nipped at my skin like playful spirits. Each step took me further from the comforting chaos of breakfast but closer to the vast woodland that danced with whispers of energy. My mind drifted back to the beach walks I used to have with Anna- her. Sunlight would spill across the water, glinting off the waves, turning them into a mirror for the sky. She would laugh, and I would lose myself in the melody of her voice.

Suddenly, I paused at the edge of a cliff, gazing out at the valley below. The trees swayed slightly, a gentle reminder of the world's pulse. The beauty was overwhelming, yet a heaviness settled in my chest. "Perhaps," I muttered to myself, "someday, I can find some happiness. No wars, no violence, just peace. Wouldn't that be nice?"

I leaned against a rough-hewn boulder, lost in thought. The memories of battles, of bloodshed, and of friends lost gnawed at the edges of my consciousness like persistent crows. While I longed for freedom from it all, I was shackled not only by my own choices but by the expectations set upon me—by gods and men alike.

Halfway through my musings, I recalled Artemis's commanding voice in the giant war, echoing in the back of my mind—her reminders to be vigilant. In a world where danger lurked in shadows, peace was often a fleeting fantasy.

As I listened to Percy talk to himself, frowning as I watched him from a distance. He had been through more than anyone could possibly fathom, yet a profound loneliness hung around him like a tattered cloak. How easily he wore that mask of humor, hiding the pain and sorrow that lay beneath. He needed a purpose, yes, but what he really craved was companionship. Perhaps more than he even realized.

I couldn't help but think of my own struggles. My hunters were my daughters, each one deeply cherished and fiercely loyal. They depended on me, but their neediness left little room for the vulnerability that friendship with an eternal being like me would demand. My half-sister Thalia was my saving grace, but it was rare to find connection in the lines of duty that defined our lives.

Percy was different. He had sacrificed so much for Olympus, becoming its twice-over savior. And now, standing at the cliffs, I could see the longing in his posture, the heaviness in his heart. He might be used to fighting for others, but when did he ever fight for himself?

Shaking off my unease, I summoned the resolve to be the steady presence he needed. I wouldn't make it easy for him, that would defy the nature of our relationship and my reputation that ive been building for a millenia. Yet I could be there when he needed a shoulder to lean on—the least I could do for someone who had given so much and asked for so little.

I approached Percy quietly, my footsteps silent on the forest floor. As I came closer, I saw the way his shoulder sagged under the weight of a clouded mind, a look I recognized all too well.

"Lost in thought?" I asked, making my voice light, though I could sense the seriousness lurking beneath his couded expression.

He turned slightly, startled that I had approached without him noticing. "Just contemplating the meaning of existence," he said with a hint of sarcasm. "You know, the usual."

"Is that so?" I leaned against the boulder beside him, adopting a casual demeanor. "And what dark cosmic forces are weighing on your mind?"

"Just..."