He found himself in a bit of a pickle. In the figurative sense, of course. He wasn't sure how he'd gotten into this scenario. One minute, he'd been sprinting through the woods, chasing after monsters, and the next he was surrounded by some unfriendly looking teenagers.
Now, what was he doing there in the first place?
He was more a city kinda guy, and whilst he had an appreciation for nature, it was a dangerous place to be for a demigod. But, over the years he'd come to appreciate the natural beauty of the world and learnt how to survive.
So, how did he end up in the middle of the forest surrounded by teenage girls who wished to shoot him? He didn't know. He was just a chill guy who kept to himself. Sure he had a few enemies who wanted to see him dead, but then who didn't? Actually, that was a lie. He did know how he got into this scenario.
It all occurred 5 years ago, after the war. The seven had all accepted immortality, and he was no exception. However, he once again denied godhood, electing to become an immortal camper who would help train the future generations of demigods, ensuring they'd be strong enough to survive in the outside world, as well as keeping the belief in the gods alive and well.
His relationship with Annabeth ended shortly after, but it was an amicable split. They both agreed that they had drifted apart throughout the war, and with the trauma they had endured they didn't have time to properly be together. They both agreed they'd be better off as friends, and whilst it felt strange at first, Percy quickly realized that he and Annabeth were never meant to be more than that. He'd had few brief relationships since, but nothing ever really lasted. Still, he was content.
He'd quickly become fast friends with Apollo and Hermes, going out with them at least twice a month. It had led to some interesting stories. The nights often ended in some debauchery. Such as the one where he'd been taken to a club in New York and the next morning, woke up in a dumpster in Chicago. Or the night where Apollo had tried to set Percy up with some minor goddess, only for Percy to find himself in the middle of a cat fight between Aphrodite and the goddess whose name he couldn't remember. Now, that had been a fun night.
These catch-ups were all he looked forward to nowadays.
The seven used to catch up and have monthly meetings, rotating between Olympus, New Rome and Camp Half-Blood. However, these catch-ups quickly became few and far between, as each member quicky became heavily involved in their new responsibilities at their other homes. So, Percy ended up with plenty of time to himself. At first, he'd spend it training eager campers after hours, but eventually they got better things to do then constantly train, so Percy would spend it with fish.
Fish, it turned out, weren't great conversationalists. Sure, they were a good laugh and would listen, but they had a very short memory and Percy would often times find himself repeating various stories and answering the same questions. So, he'd spent his evenings and nights on the sea floor, staring up at the moonlight, shining down through the water.
It was a lonely existence, and after years of doing the same routine, he needed change. And that change came in the form of an injured camper, running away from a group of Hellhounds. Immediately, the thought of finding young demigods and guiding them to camp came to him. No longer would he be stuck training kids forever! He could go and fight monsters again and at the same time track down demigods and ensure their safety.
A rush of adrenaline ran through him.
He was going to have a purpose.
That purpose had arrived in the form of a mission from Chiron.
"Percy, I know you've got a lot on your mind," Chiron had said, his voice steady and calm, the centaur's hooves clicking against the floor of the Big House as he paced. "But there's something you need to do."
"I'm kind of getting used to that, Chiron. Another quest, right?" Percy had raised an eyebrow.
Chiron nodded. "Not exactly a quest, but something important. There are young demigods—particularly girls—who are in danger. They need protection, but the gods are... unreliable when it comes to this sort of thing. Artemis can offer them safety, but only if they're willing to become part of her Hunters."
Percy's brow furrowed. "So you want me to take them to Artemis? You know, the goddess who doesn't exactly hand out hugs?"
"She doesn't hand out hugs, no," Chiron said with a dry chuckle. "But Artemis has always looked out for the girls. These young demigods will find purpose with her. What's more, you know how dangerous it can be out there. Some of these girls don't even know they have powers yet. Or the monsters chasing them."
Percy ran a hand through his hair. "And you want me to play taxi driver for them? Chiron, I never signed up to help the hunt. Thalias cool and all, but the others? They'll shoot me on sight."
Chiron's expression softened. "I know you may not feel ready for this, Percy, but you're the one who's always been there for the demigods. These girls will trust you. The journey might not be easy, but you've never been one to back down from a challenge. Besides, you've always been a protector, haven't you?"
Percy thought back to the times he'd shielded his friends, fought to keep the world from falling apart. Maybe this was his new purpose. He'd never been the kind of guy to wait for answers to come to him—he had to go out and find them. This was something he could do.
"Fine," Percy said, a bit of determination creeping into his voice. "I'll do it. But Artemis is going to owe me big time."
Two days later, Percy found himself on the road again. The first girl he was supposed to help was named Lily. She was a 12-year-old demigod, the daughter of a minor goddess of the moon, and she had no idea what was coming for her.
Percy tracked her down in a sleepy little town in upstate New York, far from the safety of Camp Half-Blood. Her mother had passed away a few years ago, and Lily had been left in the dark about her parentage. Until recently, when monsters started showing up at her doorstep. That was when Percy had gotten the call.
It wasn't the first time Percy had been the one to guide a demigod to safety, but something about this mission felt different. Maybe it was the weight of what Artemis was offering—their protection, a future among the Hunters. The girls who joined them lived a life of discipline, loyalty, and most importantly, a chance to become more than just a target for monsters.
Lily was huddled on the front porch of her house when Percy arrived. Her wide eyes locked onto him, suspicion thick in the air. She'd been warned not to trust strangers, and who could blame her? She was just a kid, and the world around her had turned upside down.
Percy approached cautiously, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible. He knew how intimidating it could be for a demigod to meet someone who looked like him—especially someone who had been through as many battles as he had.
"Hi, Lily," Percy said, offering her a small smile. "You probably don't recognize me, but I'm here to help. I'm Percy Jackson. I've been sent to get you to safety."
Lily stood up slowly, clutching her backpack like it was a shield. Her dark brown eyes were wary, but Percy could tell she was fighting the urge to bolt. He didn't blame her. If he were in her shoes, he'd be running, too.
"I don't know you," Lily said, her voice barely a whisper.
Percy nodded. "I know. I get that a lot. But you don't need to worry. I'm not here to hurt you. There's a place where you'll be safe—a group of girls who'll help you, teach you how to defend yourself."
"Defend myself?" she asked, a flicker of confusion and fear in her voice. "I don't even know what's happening. I don't have any powers."
"Not yet," Percy said with a small smile. "But you will. And these monsters? They won't stop until they get what they want. Artemis can give you the tools to protect yourself."
Lily shifted on her feet, glancing back at the house as though expecting the world to collapse at any moment. "I don't understand. Why me? Why now?"
Percy took a step forward, his voice firm but gentle. "Because you're not alone. There are others like you, and they're not going to stop coming after you until they get what they want. Artemis and her Hunters—they can help. They can teach you how to use your powers. You don't have to fight this alone."
Lily hesitated. Percy could see the doubt in her eyes, the fear that was so familiar to him—the fear of the unknown. But there was something else too: a spark of hope.
"Do you promise?" Lily asked quietly. "Do you promise they'll help me?"
"I promise," Percy said, his voice steady.
She hesitated for a long moment, her gaze flicking between him and the darkening forest behind him. Finally, she nodded. "Okay."
Percy led her down the path, toward the woods where the Hunters would be waiting. The journey was silent at first, but as they walked, Percy found himself thinking about how much had changed in his own life. He had never asked for the role of protector, never thought he'd be a mentor to anyone. But in a way, it made sense. He'd been through the worst of it, and if anyone understood what these girls needed, it was him.
They walked for miles, until the trees started to thin and the air grew colder. Percy knew they were getting close to the sacred ground of Artemis' temple. It wasn't a place he'd been to often, but he knew it well enough. He had a lot of respect for Artemis, even if she was a little... distant at times.
Eventually, they reached a clearing, the moonlight filtering down through the trees. The soft sound of running water could be heard nearby, and the air smelled clean and fresh, like the wilderness itself had been waiting for them.
Lily looked up at him, uncertainty still in her eyes. "Is this it?"
Percy smiled. "This is it. Artemis' temple is just ahead. Once we get there, you'll be safe. The Hunters will take care of you."
Lily took a deep breath and nodded. Percy didn't push her. He knew it was a lot to ask. But he also knew that for the first time in a long while, Lily was going to find a place where she belonged.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Percy gave her a reassuring smile. "You don't have to thank me. I'm just doing my job."
As they walked into the clearing, a group of silent figures emerged from the shadows. Artemis' Hunters stood at the edge of the forest, watching them with quiet intensity. There was no fanfare, no grand speeches. Just the quiet promise of safety.
Percy gave Lily a final glance, a nod of encouragement. "You're not alone anymore," he said softly. "They'll show you the way."
And with that, he turned and disappeared into the night, ready for the next mission, but knowing that he'd done something good for someone else—a small, but important step on his own path to finding meaning.