Chapter 8: Artemis Finds Out
As Thalia left my tent laughing, I paled at the thought of Artemis's reaction to keeping the baby lioness. After all, she was the goddess of the hunt, not particularly known for her fondness of wild animals being coddled. Would she see this as a sign of weakness? Or, worse, a misstep in the hierarchy of nature?
Shaking off my concerns, I gently cradled the tiny creature in my arms, marveling at her small, golden form and her large, inquisitive eyes. "We need a name for you," I murmured, looking down at her. "How about Nemea?"
She yawned, exposing a tiny pink tongue, and nestled deeper into my embrace. Perfect. Nemea it was. I threw on my camp shirt and made my way out of the tent, Nemea securely cradled in my arms.
The moment I stepped into the bustling camp of Artemis's Hunters, the atmosphere shifted. A group of girls, all clad in their woodland gear, were milling around a fire, sipping on herbal tea and preparing breakfast. The second they spotted me, their chatter stilled.
"What is that?!" one of them exclaimed, eyes wide.
"He's got a baby lion!" another squealed, moving closer with a hand covering her mouth, as though afraid she might frighten it away.
The sight of Nemea roused immediate excitement. Before I knew it, the hunters descended upon me like a swarm of bees, cooing and fawning over the cub as if she were the most precious thing in the world. Their voices melded into a symphony of awe.
"She's so cute!" one hunter cried, reaching out a tentative finger to touch the cub's soft fur.
"Is that really the Nemean lion?" another asked, eyes gleaming. "I thought it was huge!"
"I think she's more adorable than fearsome!" another chimed in, playfully poking Nemea's tiny paws.
"Do you think we can keep her?" one brave soul ventured, her eyes shining with hope.
As Nemea rolled over, revealing her belly for scratches, my heart swelled with pride. "I think she's already made her case," I said with a grin.
Just then, the commanding voice of Artemis echoed through the camp. "What's all this noise about?"
As she approached, the hunters quickly parted, and I felt my heart drop. There was no denying the imposing aura she radiated. Her silver hair caught the morning light, and her presence was both beautiful and terrifying. She paused, eyeing the commotion, and then landed her gaze squarely on me and Nemea.
The goddess blinked, and for a moment, her stoic demeanor cracked. "Oh… my…" She knelt down, her sharp blue eyes softening. "Is that the baby Nemean lion?"
Before I could even respond, she was on the ground, reaching out to Nemea with the gentleness I didn't expect. Nemea instantly responded, rolling over into Artemis's hands. The goddess was smitten, her stoic facade completely forgotten.
"She's adorable!" Artemis exclaimed, her voice filled with a delight that was almost foreign. She gently stroked Nemea's fur, a look of pure joy lighting up her face. "Percy, you must tell me where you found her!"
"Um, in the woods?" I ventured, unsure if I should explain the chaotic circumstances of my late-night rescue. But before I could elaborate, Artemis looked up, excitement gleaming in her eyes.
"We have to take care of her! She'll be safe with us!"
And then, as if the world itself was conspiring to bring me back down to earth, I made the mistake of glancing at Thalia. She was watching us with a mix of amusement and annoyance. I couldn't help it. "See, I told you Artemis would understand," I said with a cheeky grin.
The moment I spoke, Artemis snapped her attention back to me, her goddess-like demeanor resurfacing instantly. "And what makes you think you can just keep a legendary creature without consequences, Percy?"
I raised an eyebrow, feeling that familiar spark of banter between us. "Well, I thought it would make for some pretty great dinner conversation. 'Oh hey, Artemis, did you meet my pet lion?'"
The other hunters erupted in laughter, but Artemis shot me a warning glare, her lips twitching in a way that almost resembled a smile. "You are treading a dangerous line, Perceus. I'm not above giving you a list of chores to prove you can take care of her if you're not careful."
I grinned, leaning slightly closer. "I'd like to see you try, Artemis. I've fought in two wars and have won both." (I don't normally like to brag, but sometimes... it's nice to flex a bit. Sue me.)
Nemea let out a tiny growl that seemed to echo my bravado, earning another wave of giggles from the hunters.
"Oh really?" Artemis shot back, a glimmer of challenge in her eyes. "And do you think you can handle taking care of a baby Nemean lion while preforming your duties as guardian of the hunt?"
Before I could conjure up a witty comeback, the atmosphere shifted again. A low rumble echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Did you feel that?" Thalia asked, suddenly serious, her hand instinctively moving to the shaft of her spear. The laughter and chatter faded as the camp fell into a tense silence.
The air grew heavy, thick with foreboding. A moment later, the ground shook more violently, and a creature's roar pierced through the quiet woods, echoing like a death knell.
"What was that?!" one of the hunters shouted, panic rising in her voice.
I glanced at Artemis, who stood, her eyes narrowing. "Everyone, get ready to defend the camp!" she commanded, her authoritative tone silencing any further questions.
Thalia grabbed my arm, pulling me closer as Nemea instinctively nestled into my chest, baring her teeth at the incoming threat. "We're not safe here, Percy. What is that thing?"
"Whatever it is, it's not happy," I said, feeling a cold sweat break out on my forehead.
As the rumbling grew closer, the hairs on my neck prickled. The roars echoed again, and this time I could make out the sound of heavy footsteps crashing through the underbrush.
"Get ready!" Artemis shouted, drawing her bow as she stepped forward, poised to protect the camp.
I set Nemea inside one of the nearby tents and drew Riptide. The hunters fell into formation, readying their bows and gathering around their campfire. The tension was palpable, a crackling energy that charged the air. I could feel my heart pounding, my demigod instincts aware of the danger that lurked just beyond the trees.
Then, the creature burst into view.
It was massive—tall and muscular, with scales that shimmered like obsidian under the morning sun. Its eyes were an otherworldly shade of yellow, bright and predatory, and its roar filled the air like the tolling of a bell. The chimera, I realized, with the body of a lion, the wings of a dragon, and the head of a goat emerging from its back.
The hunters gasped collectively, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I had faced a lot of monsters in my time and kill plenty, but this one was one of the few i hadn't killed. It let out a growl that shook the ground, nostrils flaring as it scanned the camp for signs of life.
"Artemis!" one of the hunters called, her voice trembling. "What do we do?"
"Hold your ground!" Artemis commanded, her tone brokering no argument. "We will defend our camp!"
The chimera took a step forward, muscles rippling under its dark scales, and I felt a jolt of fear rush through me. "This isn't good," I muttered, readjusting my grip on Riptide.
"Percy!" Thalia called, her voice shaking ever so slightly. "We need to distract it so we can fight!"
"Right!" I nodded, adrenaline kicking in. "What do you suggest?"
"Together, we can get it to focus on us. The others can flank it!" she yelled, gripping her sword tightly.
"Got it," I replied, positioning myself at Thalia's side. "We can't let it wreck the camp!"
Artemis shouted orders, her calm and commanding presence rallying the hunters. They moved swiftly, creating a perimeter while preparing their bows and arrows.
"Ready?" Thalia asked, determination gleaming in her eyes.
"As I'll ever be," I said, my pulse racing.
With a united battle cry, we charged forward. Artemis loosed the first arrow, striking the chimera in the shoulder. It roared in pain, turning its gaze toward the goddess with fury.
"Now!" Thalia shouted, and we both leapt into action, dodging to the left as the chimera swiped at us with its massive paw.
I ducked, feeling the rush of air as it missed by mere inches. "It's faster than you think!" I shouted, glancing at Thalia. "We need to keep moving!"
"Keep it distracted!" she yelled, unleashing a flurry of attacks. The hunters rained arrows upon the beast, but the chimera's scales shimmered, deflecting most of the blows.
"Great," I muttered, searching for a weakness on it that would let me kill it with minimal collateral damage.
"We need to get it off balance!" Thalia shouted, striking again with her sword. "If we can take out the legs, we can get close!"
"Got it!" I gritted my teeth and focused on the chimera's front legs. "Cover me!" I shouted to Thalia.
She nodded, and I darted away from her side, and dashing to the chimera. I swung Riptide with all my might, aiming for the creature's front legs. The chimera turned its massive body, swiping at me with a furious roar.
I narrowly dodged the blow, but not without a claw nicking my shoulder. I felt the earth shift beneath my feet as I caught my balance. "Come on, Percy! Focus!" I muttered to myself as I gritted my teeth from the pain.
Just as I regained my footing, the chimera charged. It seemed faster than before, enraged and ready to crush anything in its path. I braced myself, and as it lunged, I swung Riptide, aiming for its knee.
The impact reverberated through my arms, and the creature howled in pain, staggering for a moment. That was enough.
"Now, Thalia!" I yelled, making my way back to her side.
Thalia lunged forward, and together, we fought side by side, striking the chimera again and again. The other hunters joined in, firing arrows, slashing with knives.
The chimera swung its massive tail, sending a few hunters flying into the trees, but they quickly got back on their feet, determination burning in their eyes, and continued to fire arrows from the treetops out of the chimera's reach.
With each attack, we slowly began to wear it down. I could see the exhaustion beginning to show on its scaled face, but it was still dangerous—still deadly.
"Keep it distracted!" Artemis called, her voice slicing through the chaos. "I have an idea!"
"What?" Thalia shouted, dodging another swipe.
"Just trust me!" the goddess replied, her focus unwavering.
We continued to press the attack, weaving around the chimera while Artemis readied another arrow, imbuing it with her divine energy. The creature swung its head, trying to shake us off, but we were relentless.
"Percy!" Thalia called, her voice fierce. "Now!"
I charged again, Riptide in hand, using every ounce of strength I had left. I swung low, aiming for its leg again, and felt the satisfying crunch of impact as my blade sliced partially through its leg. The chimera let out another roar, and in that moment, Artemis released her arrow.
It flew through the air like a shooting star, striking the creature in the eye. The chimera howled in agony, reeling back, and I felt a rush of triumph.
"Keep going!" I shouted to the hunters.
"Now!" Artemis commanded, leaping forward with her bow. "Finish it!"
With renewed vigor, we pressed forward. Thalia and I moved as a unit, darting in and out, using the chimera's momentum against it. As it turned to face Thalia, I took my chance and swung the log at its other front leg.
The creature stumbled, and in that moment of weakness, Artemis launched another arrow, piercing through the scales on its flank.
"Together!" Thalia shouted, and we struck at the same time, aiming for the neck and the other leg. The chimera fell, crashing to the ground with a thunderous roar, its body trembling as it succumbed to the onslaught.
With one final battle cry, the chimera burst into golden dust, defeated. We stood in a circle, breathing heavily, our adrenaline still racing.
"Is it over?" one of the hunters asked, panting as she lowered her bow.
Artemis stepped forward, her gaze intense. "It's over for now," she said, her voice steady. "But we must remain vigilant. Monsters like this one don't often travel alone."
I glanced at Thalia, who was wiping the sweat from her brow. "We did it," I said, astonished. "We actually did it!"
Nemea let out a soft mewl from the tent, her tiny head peeking out to assess the scene. I walked over to her and gently stroked her fur, feeling a mix of relief and exhilaration.
"Good girl," I whispered, and she nestled into my arms and curled up against me.
Artemis surveyed the camp, and I could see the pride in her eyes. "Well done, my hunters. We fought bravely today."
As we began to gather our wits and tend to the minor injuries from the battle, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Artemis. "So… are we keeping Nemea?" I asked, half-jokingly, but with a hint of hope.
She turned to me, a playful smile dancing at the corners of her lips. "As long as you promise to keep her safe and remember that she is a creature of the wild, then yes. But don't think I won't be watching you, Percy Jackson."
"Wouldn't dream of it," I grinned, feeling a rush of excitement at the thought of having the little lioness by my side.
As we were talking, Nemea licked the scrape on my shoulder.
"Trying to help Nemea," I asked jokingly.
Yes master, echoed a voice in my head, am i doing a good job?