Disclaimer: Don't own PJO or the Whiskered Warrior.

Lunar Phases

Top Dog

Alpha.

The first letter of the alphabet. The brightest star of a constellation. The dominant personality in the room. However it's applied, it often refers to that which is considered to be at the top. In zoology, the Alpha animal is the leader of the group, who makes the decisions for the survival of their followers. To be one takes a keen mind, a strong will, and a tempered body. Alphas must remain on guard, because when challengers step forward, often it comes down to a contest where the winner takes all.

July 4th, 2008

Large explosions of light filled the night sky, drowning out the chorus of howls that followed each burst. The celebration of the first American Colonies declaring their independence from English rule was often one of fanfare and spectacle. In his earlier youth, after leaving the Hunt, Naruto would take to the streets, keeping an eye out for and dealing with over-exuberant celebrators. Crimes of opportunity were more common during the holidays, when guards were down and minds were elsewhere.

This year, Naruto found himself trying to keep a rowdy group of wild animals within the confines of his lodge. The parents were being difficult, too, but at least they had the decency to howl outside while they patrolled.

"Hey, how did you get ou-? Give me that!" Naruto gently scooped the teething baby wolf up in one arm and pried the first edition copy of White Fang out of its mouth. He glanced at his bedroom, eyes the stains on his bedding and the fuzz sprinkled around that was clearly the remains of his pillow. Blue eyes turned back to the five-week-old wolf pup, who immediately made another lunge for the book in his other hand, but he pulled it out of the way and set it on the dresser. "Charlie, no. No."

Charlie barked at him, paused and then howled after another faint crackle hit the sky.

Sage! Would you kill that thing before it makes us deaf already? The Fox snarled.

"Get over yourself, Fox." The teen mumbled as he carried the squirming pup out of his room and closed the door. He'd deal with the laundry later. Naruto turned Charlie around in his arms and stared into the pup's light blue eyes. "You are a very crafty thing, Charlie. That will help you hunt later, but gods it's a headache right now."

Charlie barked.

"Yeah, yeah." He sighed and set the wolf pup down, turned away from the door. Immediately, Charlie darted back to the room. Naruto blocked her path with his foot, feigning a snatch at her that earned him an adorable growl in return. "Ah-ah. Go relieve your stress on your siblings. Go on! Charlie. Go."

With gentle prodding and firm rebuffs, Naruto eventually corralled Charlie back to the rest of her litter mates, locking her back behind the guard gate. He glanced at his kitchen table, where their would-be babysitter sat with a couple of empty beer cans around him. His face was planted into a half-eaten hotdog.

"Jeremy…" Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. Recomposed, he slapped the boy upside the head. "Wake up."

"Ow-wuh!" The drunk teen groaned and cradled his head. "Don't hit me dude. Not cool—hey, where'd my hotdog go?"

"It's on your face." Naruto sighed, grabbing a can for himself and popping the tab. He propped himself on one of the island stools and took a sip. He entertained himself by watching the boy across from him struggle to wipe mustard, relish and ketchup off of his face.

Jeremy Higginsworth, a New Yorker by birth, had been ripped away from the city life he was so comfortable in and dumped by his rich, yet terrible, parents in Colorado. His father was negotiating some kind of business deal on behalf of his client, and his mother — the woman he'd met was covered in volumes of thick makeup and consumed liters of wine had a particular issue with all of the "immigrants" running around New York — was more interested in entertaining herself. Jeremy had gotten himself lost on his first day in the woods, and Naruto had led him back. A few more interactions with the boy followed his brief reunion with his friends from Camp, and somehow this pompous dick had become Naruto's closest mortal confidant.

It might be that he appears genuinely interested in your studies. The Fox rumbled. Naruto hummed and sipped from his can of cheap alcohol, watching the boy tease the pups with his face-meat. A clack of claws caught Naruto's ears, and his eye saw a flash of black before a yelp sounded.

Naruto couldn't help himself; he laughed.

"Geez, Bruno! Make a sound!" Jeremy shouted at the wolf that was happily finishing off his acquired treat. He rubbed his hand protectively and glared in Naruto's direction. "Thanks for the heads up, Wolf Whisperer."

"And deprive Bruno of his fun? I'm not that cruel." Naruto smirked and patted the Beta's side as he walked past to join the pups and their mother. He glanced out the window, seeing soft shadows move in the dark, and with them a glimmer of silver. "Guess the rest of the patrol went well."

"Then that means Jeremy Higginsworth, wolf pup-sitter extraordinaire, is due back at his penthouse suite."

"You passed out after four beers and Charlie snuck out again." He gave his friend an annoyed glower while the boy muttered a halfhearted apology. Naruto shook his head and finished off his drink. "You can sleep off the rest of the alcohol in my bed tonight."

"While I'm flattered, dude, you're not my type. Besides, I can driv—"

"I wasn't asking." Naruto gave the boy a firm stare, partially for the insinuation and partially to get his point across. He'd knock the fool out if he was drunk enough to protest. Luckily for his friend's dignity, the mortal relented with a grimace.

"Okay, Mom." Jeremy stood and stretched before grabbing the last unopened can from the table and making his way to the bedroom in question. "Just don't wake up half-eaten tomorrow, yeah?"

Naruto snorted at the poor joke and gathered the discarded remains of the six pack he and Jeremy were supposed to split. His last round around the lodge to check on the other wolves was even rushed, and the jerk still drank over two-thirds of their limited alcohol. A series of thumps followed by a familiar yelp told Naruto his vengeance was had.

"Nate! Dude! Not funny!" Jeremy cried out. "I just laid face first in wolf piss!"

"Yeah, that sounds like a you problem." Naruto called back as he tied off the garbage bag. "Shower's clean!"

Jeremy let out a mock laugh in response before stumbling his way to the bathroom. He would proceed to fall asleep seated on the toilet, mess on his face long forgotten. Alas, that was a discovery for tomorrow.

Naruto snagged the half-eaten package of hotdogs from the counter. Two went into the pup bowl, one landing beside the slumbering Akela, and the other plopping in front of the alert Bruno. The pups immediately attacked the two processed meats.

"I'm gonna toss this. Keep an eye on the kids, bud." Naruto told the Beta before taking his garbage haul and chucking the other two dogs at the rest of Akela's pack. A fight ensued and he smirked. "Have fun guys."

Not going to split the food fairly? The Fox asked with a hint of snark.

"Life's not fair." Naruto grunted as he dropped the garbage bag off at the can marked with an eta. A flame shot up and he slammed the lid back down on it, shaking his head. "Sorry, Hephaestus."

It was his mother's petty way of getting back at Hephaestus, dumping the very garbage that was destroying her domain into the smithing furnace where his domain's advancements started. Also, there was the whole thing where Hephaestus' prototype of Talos tried to kill him and her Hunter. That it resulted in one of the revelations that cost him his shot at being protected from other Olympians didn't endear the construct to her in the slightest.

Naruto dusted his hands off and turned to the wood. He put his thumb and ring finger into his mouth, and mimicked a nighthawk's call. Two more returned, followed by the sound of a wild Turkey. He rolled his eyes.

"Just come out, Lieutenant. I haven't got all night."

A silver-sheened, olive-skinned girl's head popped out of the bush. She wore a silver tiara around her head and a frown on her face.

"You're no fun, Naruto."

"And you're wasting my time." Naruto crossed his arms. "Like I said, I haven't got all night."

"Why do I get all the attitude?" Bianca huffed as she stepped out of the forest. Her arms crossed to match his. "You weren't this bad with Zoë—"

"One, Zoë helped raise me. Mouthing off to her got me nowhere fast. And two," he shrugged. "I'm a little buzzed. Happy Independence Day."

"You, to—Wait, really?" Bianca blinked. He nodded and she tilted her head. "Huh. Lady Artemis probably won't like hearing that."

"She'll get over it." Naruto rubbed his eyes. "Bianca, not that I'm not happy to see you, I am, but please get to the point of this visit."

"So rude." Bianca huffed and crossed her arms when he glared at her. "Lady Artemis wanted to let you know that the King of Arcadia has been restored. His numbers are small, but growing."

"Good to know?" Naruto scratched his head. "Not a Hunter, so I don't understand why—"

"He was last seen heading this way."

He pursed his lips. The King of Arcadia, Lycaon. The first Lycan. The king that killed his son, then dared to feed Zeus his cooked flesh in an attempt to humble him, and, finally, ordering assassins to kill the King of Olympus in his sleep. One of these crimes was enough to call the wrath of Zeus upon you, but all three? The moron all but sealed his fate the second he drew breath after admitting it.

"I take it back. That's a good reason. Thanks for the heads up, Bianca." Naruto nodded, already thinking of traps to set out and ways to protect his mother's wolves.

"I also came for a personal matter." Bianca mumbled. She fidgeted with her hands. "You saw Percy and the others on their quest, right?"

Naruto nodded, his frown increasing. He even got a call the day before from Thalia at four in the morning to confirm they were safe and tell him what happened. Afterwards, Naruto immediately reached out to his uncle and expressed his condolences for the loss of his children. Lee Fletcher sounded like a guy who might have passed for an all right 'cousin', and the numerous others felled in fire…the irony was cruel.

"Did…" she hesitated. "Was Nico with them?"

"…Your brother?" He asked. She nodded and he shook his head. "No. Last I heard he'd stayed in Texas on a ranch where Uncle Fred's cattle are."

"Oh." Bianca frowned. "That's…Thanks for telling me."

"Is there something wrong?"

"No, just." She rubbed her arm and looked away. "The last time we spoke it didn't… it didn't go well."

"Are you that surprised?" Naruto blurted out before he could stop himself. The look she gave him was shock mixed with hurt. Part of him felt bad, but Bianca made her decision to be a Hunter of her own free will. All decisions have consequences. He sighed and led her over to a long dead fire pit, gesturing at a seat and sitting across from her once she took it.

"From what I understand of your life prior to being recruited, you were all he had, Bianca." Naruto interlaced his hands between his legs as he held her gaze. "You left him to find your own life. It's worked out for you, hasn't it?"

"I mean, yeah." Bianca admitted with a nod. "I'm-I'm somebody now, not just 'Nico's sister' or one of 'the di Angelo' kids." She sat a little straighter and held her head up high. "I'm Bianca, the Lieutenant of Artemis' Hunters!"

"That you are." Naruto cracked a small smile. "And you're doing a great job."

"Thanks." Bianca smiled back. It fell and she looked down. "But when I tried to explain that to Nico…he got so angry."

"He's allowed to feel angry. You left him, Bianca. You left your little brother alone in a camp he's never been to with people he didn't know after you were both targeted by a Manticore." Naruto pointed out firmly to the Hunter. She shrank into herself and stared at her feet. He sighed. "Bianca, I'm not saying this to be mean. You made a decision that didn't just affect your life. This is a consequence of that decision. Honestly, if I were you I'd be more worried if he wasn't angry. Really, what's the worst he could do?"

"Raise a legion of the dead to storm Olympus." Bianca muttered. Wha—Right, child of Hades. Man, alcohol was a killer on the memory.

"It was a rhetorical question." Naruto rolled his eyes before rubbing his face. "My point is, Nico has to come to terms with his anger by himself. If anyone goes up to him and tells him how to feel or how not to feel, it'll only make him feel even more angry."

"So…I have to wait for him to reach out again?" Bianca frowned when he nodded. They sat in contemplative silence before she looked at him. "How do you know all of this?"

Naruto was quiet for a good moment. He reflected on the day his Uncle took him back from one of his 'field trips' to a small apartment rather than the hunt. The anger, the hurt, everything he felt all built up. He found release in cleaning up his territory. Finally, he shrugged.

"I've gone through it myself."

September 17th, 2008

"Did you see this?!"

Thalia almost choked on her burger when a newspaper was slapped down in front of her. Annabeth — who'd spent the night before helping her study for her driver's exam on Sunday — stared at her with wide eyes, hands still on the paper. Thalia looked at the front page of The Gazette, swallowed the bite of burger in her mouth, and arched an eyebrow at the headline.

"I mean, good for Ellen? I really don't see how news that old is a big deal, Annie."

"What?" Annabeth looked down at the paper with an image of the famous talk show host's marriage to another woman before rolling her eyes. "No, not that. This!"

Thalia followed her finger to the story regulated to the upper corner.

"'Fourth hiker (18) found mauled on trail of Pikes Peak, CO. Identity unconfirmed. Man-Eater at Large? Continued on D8'?" Thalia looked up at Annabeth. "Okay, so there's a man-eating bear in Colorado. This is noteworthy because..?"

"Thalia-!" Annabeth pinched the bridge of her nose. "Naruto lives there! What if he's in danger?"

"Annabeth, be realistic. It's Whiskers." Thalia frowned. This was getting concerning. The girl had been acting paranoid about her friends' safety since after the attack most campers were calling the 'Battle of the Labyrinth'. The split between Mr. D and the Cloven Council was widespread news now, and dryads were muttering things that were borderline treasonous. Campers were nervous, and everyone was on edge after the summer came to a close.

"Thalia, he's a mortal!"

"If the Mafia didn't kill him, I doubt a bear could." Thalia understood her concern, but now wasn't the time to worry about something happening halfway on the other side of the country. Besides, he was raised for the first part of his life by the Goddess of the Hunt. If he couldn't kill a bear, what kind of hunter would he be?

"Thalia—" Annabeth looked at her loaned cell phone when it rang in her pocket. "Oh come-" With a groan, she answered the call. "Dad, I need a minute! ..I know the expo opens in two hours, but—Yes, I still want to go! Can I-? I just need thirty seconds. ..Really?! Thank you, Dad. I'll be right down." She hung up and pointed at Thalia, grey eyes steeled. "Read the article."

"Ugh, Homework."

"Thalia!"

"Okay, okay. I'll read the article. Go, before Fredrick comes to get you and bothers me." Thalia grunted and went back to her interrupted lunch.

Mr. Chase had too many questions about Zeus' preferred tactics in battle and policy. He definitely didn't understand that she didn't know the answers not out of ignorance, but because she didn't sit at the king's dinner table every night. His skepticism over her relationship - or lack thereof - with her father was so hypocritical it was infuriating.

Annabeth gave her another worried look before running out of the apartment to catch her ride. Her dad was taking her back to an exposition of some architect nerd gathering downtown. She'd be back at around seven or eight tonight to help Thalia cram more knowledge into her brain before her test tomorrow.

With burger in hand, Thalia flipped through the paper until she found the page indicated. She might as well get it out of the way so she wasn't caught off guard about it later. After managing through the story, cursing her dyslexia every time she had to reread a passage, she snorted and took another bite of her burger. Witness testimonies were already being printed, and references to other 'strange' sightings filled most of the article. Stupidest part about it? The biggest running 'theory' for what killed those poor kids was a 'Werewolf'.

Yeah, she knew the story about Lycaon, but he was long gone. Slain by The Huntress way at the start of her first year back from Tree life at Zeus' demand. As for what happened to the poor hikers that bit the dust? A wolf had probably gotten them. Sucks for them, but Artemis was practically divine to wolves. Whiskers even told her that he lived with her pack, alone. He was fine.

But what if he's not? A soft voice whispered. It sounded like a smaller, more scared version of herself that absolutely never existed. What if he needs help?

He's fine. Thalia rebuffed the concern. She took another bite of her White Castle burger. He's probably studying or something.

Ooh, maybe he's on a study date?

Thalia groaned and set her burger down. She rubbed her temples.

"Just once." She practically whimpered. "Just once I'd like to eat a burger without you butting in."

Then stop thinking about the hunk when you're nomming on tough meat! Aphrodite huffed. Honestly, given the circumstances, I'd expect you to be thinking about holding those firm buns in your hands.

"Could you not?!" Thalia felt her face blaze. She'd never thought anything of the sort! …Well, not until now anyway. Thanks, Aphrodite.

What? Some mortal food is amazing, but White Castle's "instant" burgers never get cooked right. Always too hard or soggy. Ugh, thinking about the texture makes my skin crawl. The goddess huffed before gasping. Oh, wait. Did you think I meant-?

"Shut it!" Thalia hissed as the goddess tittered.

Oh, my darling Thalia Grace, you never cease to impress me. Aphrodite's smile was prominent through her voice alone. Look, dear, if you really don't care about Artemis' baby boy, that's fine. It'd be more fun for me to corrupt him myself, anyway.

"…I hate you." Thalia scowled and pulled out the phone that her mysterious benefactor George had delivered to her cabin shortly after The Battle of the Labyrinth. Before making the call, she tried to finish her burger. Tried being the operative word, because now her thoughts would drift to..other things. Particularly the texture of the bread around the meat, and the terminology's other application. Groaning at the waste of food, she tossed it and finished speed dialing the one number she had saved.

It rang three times before it clicked.

"I'm not available. Leave a message. I'll call back." Whiskers' voice curtly cut through the receiver, followed by the beep signaling to leave a message.

Thalia frowned. She looked at the clock. It was noon here, that meant it was ten there, and he didn't have classes on Saturdays.

Brunch date? Aphrodite suggested.

"Does everything relate to a date of some kind for you?" Thalia asked irritably, ending the call and trying again. Voice mail. Again, same result. Thalia could feel her blood boil as traitorous thoughts started to sink into her head. Just to break the rest of the rule of three, she tried once more. No dice.

Definitely a date. The goddess sounded so smug about it, too. Thalia closed her eyes and held her phone to her forehead.

"Or his phone's dead." That was fine. Ish? Why wouldn't he charge his phone? Ugh, Whiskers was a lost cause with technology. He got incapacitated by a high velocity ding-dong from a snack machine once, why did she think he could use a phone? …Aside from the fact that every other time she'd called he answered before the third ring.

Oh no, what if he's dead! Aphrodite gasped. She immediately backpedaled. No, wait. I'd know if that were the case, because the poop sniffer would be snappish and poor Apollo would be so gloomy again.

"He's fine. He'll get back to me when he can. Don't listen to her."

Oo, but what if he was hurt?! His phone is dead and no one can get ahold of him, or vice versa!

"…He's fine. She's just trying to mess with you." Thalia muttered to herself. She set her phone on the table and started looking through her freezer for something else to 'cook'. With the aid of the microwave. She really needed to learn how to actually cook. Did Whiskers know how to cook? Why hadn't he called back yet? Thalia shook her head. "He'll call you back. He's fine. Don't let her get in your head."

Or…What if he's ignoring you! Aphrodite gasped outrageously. Thalia let out a sharp breath, mind stalling at the thought. Without an immediate retort, the goddess continued needling: That sly little mortal might be flirting with a barista right as we speak!

"Just ignore her, Thalia. She's trying to mess with you." Thalia grumbled, glaring at her phone as if it were at fault for the delay. She drummed her fingers on her arm. When had she crossed those? When had she stopped looking in the freezer? Why was Whiskers taking so long to call her back?

If only there was a way we could know for sure. The goddess hummed pensively. A way to get a message out to him without using mortal methods…

"I am not wasting a drachma to make an Iris Message to Whiskers." Thalia grumbled to herself. The urge to go turn the shower on was rising. She rubbed her temples. No, she just needed to distract herself. Food. She needed food. She needed to learn how to cook. Did Whiskers know how to cook? …why hadn't he gotten back to her?! "He'll call back when he can. Just ignore her—"

Oh, don't worry, dear. You can use my tab.

"Fine! Fine! You want me to go call him so bad, I will!" Thalia threw her arms up before storming down to her bathroom. The only reason she was doing this was because Aphrodite had pestered her into it, she told herself. It didn't help that her paranoid thoughts were driving her up a wall.

Non! I don't care if you do or don't, but the drama if you do will just make it all the sweeter. Aphrodite teased.

"I hate my life." Thalia mumbled as she drew the black shower curtain. She let the hot water run and crossed her arms. Once the steam started billowing, she spoke: "O Iris, goddess of rainbows, I seek thine aid."

"Please insert one drachma."

Iris, it's Aphrodite. You've got one Thalia Grace on hold for payment pending? Bill it to my tab, would you? Aphrodite's smile radiated through her words as the I.M.'s golden hue took shape in the mist. Thanks, dear. Go on, Thalia.

"Alright maybe there's some use to having you in my head." Thalia muttered. She cleared her throat. "Whiskers."

A chime rang out. "Individual not found."

"Oh, come on, seriously?" Thalia scowled. She didn't like using his actual name, not unless she had to get a point across. It felt wrong. With a huff, the daughter of Zeus crossed her arms. "Naruto, son of Artemis."

The golden mist shimmered into a cacophony of colors before heavy metal drums and a wailing guitar blared into Thalia's bathroom. Faintly, she recognized it as a song from that new metal band that was rising in the charts: Five Finger Death Punch. She was momentarily stunned by the volume, before feeling heat race to her face as the image focused.

Whiskers was definitely ignoring her calls, but not out of malicious intent. He was deafened to anything outside of the blaring music. His legs were bent at the knees and crossed at the ankles. White running shoes were on his feet and black running shorts hung low at his waist. Most distracting was that his bare back was to the call. She watched as his shoulders, biceps and triceps constricted, bringing the back of his neck up to the pull-up bar he was using. The worst part of it all, his skin was coated in a light sheen that she was certain Iris had nothing to do with.

My word! A fan unfolded and began waving furiously on Aphrodite's end. Look at those dimples flex!

"Wh-Whiskers!" Thalia shouted, struggling to focus, but her voice was lost to the crescendo of "The Way of The Fist". She didn't know the human back could be so lean and still so—wait, was that..? "You got another tattoo?!"

Of course, that shout was heard as the music had faded out with the end of the track. Whiskers dropped to his feet and turned to face her and —oh gods, the last time Thalia checked, sweat wasn't supposed to be sexy.

"Tree Girl? Um, hi?" Whiskers' voice snapped her out of her dumbstruck gape. He turned the volume down on the radio set on a chair nearby and patted his face off with a towel before setting it back down. "Everything all right?"

"Tattoo. Back." No, Dammit! Brain, come on! Just work! It's only Whiskers! She shook her head, fighting back the blush and haze. "Back tattoo, new?"

Why? Why was this her life?

"Hm?" Whiskers tilted his head before his eyes flickered with recognition. He turned partially and— He's got his serratus anteriors defined to that degree?! What is Eros doing? Why is he still single?! Oh great. Aphrodite's comments were now both unhelpful and distracting — lifted his left arm slightly to look at the ink etched into his lower shoulder. "Right. Got this a few weeks back. Friend paid for it after we spent a night, uh, in town."

Thalia tore her eyes away from the serrated ant..the severted anta… the little ridges on the side of his chest and looked at the tattoo. It looked as if the hilt of a knife (not unlike the ones he used) was protruding from his back, the name 'Luke' etched on some unraveled portion of the grip, and blood dripped from the fresh entry wound. She looked back at his eyes as he faced her again.

"Luke?"

"It's to remind me that he was my friend once." Whiskers shrugged. "Figured it was fitting."

Thalia couldn't argue with that logic. Maybe she should get one, too.

"…You plan on getting more?"

"Not for a while." Whiskers chuckled, rubbing his left shoulder with his right hand and wow did that pose do things for her. "This one still kind of hurts. So what's up?"

"Hm?" Thalia blinked.

"You Iris Messaged me." He arched his pierced brow and crossed his arms again. "Something up? Lately, you've only called."

Oh. Right. Well. Quick, think of something really clever! …Hello? Gods, why was her brain stalling? Oh, right. Stupid sexy Whiskers. Hoover Dam her hormones! If only she'd not listened to Aphro—wait, that's it!

Hey, Thalia thought. Since this whole thing is your fault. You got any more bright ideas?

Too many, but I don't know if he's flexible enough for what I would do to him. I'd have to start him off on page thirteen and work my way up.

What? Thalia blinked and then immediately blushed. Thoughts not of her own making suddenly filled her head with pictures. She shook her head and pinched her nose. No! Not cool! So not cool!

"Thalia? You okay?"

"Fine! Just-just fine." Thalia quickly assured him, rubbing her face and doing her best not to let her eyes wander. Stupid hormones. "I've got a migraine, that's all."

"Uh-huh." No, don't sound like you care, Whiskers! Gah, and stop crossing your arms like that! "So if you didn't want to talk about your migraine, why did you I.M. me?"

"Um…because you weren't answering your phone?" Thalia hated how small she sounded at the end of that. Despised it with a passion.

"…Seriously?" Whiskers pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why not just wait for me to call back?"

"I don't know, okay! Annie was all freaked out by the hikers that those wolves are eating—!"

"Werewolves."

"The werewolves are eat—I'm sorry, what?"

"They're werewolves. Not wolves."

"…No, they're just wolves. …Right?" If it was actually werewolves, she was going to kill someone. Probably, Percy. He'd deserve it for one reason or another. Likely some smart mouthed comment he'd make.

"Thalia, didn't anyone-? No, of course not, you guys are the ones fighting on the front lines. We're the support." Whiskers sighed and rubbed his temples. He shook his head. "Okay, long story short, King Lycaon is back and yes, I know he's killing hikers around me. He's building his pack with the missing hikers turning into strong bodied and weak minded werewolves."

…What?! Alarm rushed through her. Annabeth was right to be worried. Frick on a stick! Lycaon was back!

"Hey. Hey! Don't worry, The Hunt and I are dealing with it. We're all okay. So, was that it?" Thalia bit her lip before she begrudgingly nodded. Whiskers gave her a lopsided, wry half-smile that absolutely did not make her stomach flip. "Okay. Well, I'm not done with my workout yet and I've got to be somewhere in an hour. Just—Next time, if I don't answer, just leave a message. I don't want you to do this again, and catch me in the shower or something."

What?! Images raced through Thalia's mind and her face darn near immolated. Aphrodite's gleeful giggles did not help in the slightest.

"Stay safe, Tree Girl." He cut his hand over his throat. "Iris, cut it."

"Whiskers, if you hang up on me—Iris, no!" Thalia scowled at her shower as the mist-call dissipated just as he turned the volume of his radio back up. She grit her teeth and angrily shut off the shower before storming out of the bathroom. She grabbed her phone and dialed Whisker's number. Immediately, her call was sent to voicemail, no rings provided. Her scowl darkened.

"That stupid, lousy, son of a—!"

Oh, even if I agree with you, don't say that. Aphrodite warned. She's so unbelievably petty, she might turn you into a bear or something. Your hunk doesn't seem like the type that'd be into furries.

Thalia almost launched her cell out the window as she let out a raging scream of frustrated female fury. She settled on destroying her toaster. It knows what it did.

October 9th, 2008

The Prey walked amongst his fellow mortals completely unaware. Its flesh would fuel his pack for a month at best, but the feeding would be divine. He salivated just imagining it.

Eons he'd fantasized of emerging victorious over The Huntress, of proving himself her better. He was thwarted too many times by The Huntress, by her Hunters, and even by that damned brother of hers. Now, however, his time was here.

Mother Earth told him such.

She told him that Artemis had follied. That she'd strayed from her oath. The Prey was of her flesh. An aberrant, a mistake, covered up by the gods' hypocrisies. Who would have thought, the lying liars who lie lied once more?!

He was the King of Wolves. He was a slayer of kin and the bane of The Hunt. He was the alpha male, the Apex of the Apex. He was the ultimate predator, and he'd found his ultimate prey.

A Hunter that wasn't under Artemis' protection. An Archer who didn't have one of Apollo's gifted bows. A Half-Blood who Olympus had sent away. It was his perfect prey—nay!

It was The Prey. The only Prey that ever mattered.

He stalked it and watched it for months. It worked with Artemis' pets, the beasts that so ruthlessly refused him as master, and the wolves that had fallen under their magical sway. Easily dispatched, he just had to be wary of their silver.

The Prey mingled with immortal and mortal alike, but neither stayed long. It was foolish and arrogant. Feigning fearlessness with thick bravado whenever he tested the waters.

The lands it lived on were too well known. It had the advantage. A strategy was needed.

When Prey was cunning, it needed a baited trap.

He needed to draw The Prey to his neck of the woods.

So he did. He snatched the mortal The Prey appeared fond of. A miserable brat who reminded him of the very son he flayed and fed to the foolish Zeus.

"Please…Please let me go…" the mortal — henceforth known as Bait — whimpered behind him. Rude. He was busy conducting his memoirs.

"I told you to be quiet!" Emissive red eyes fell upon the sobbing Bait. The King rose from his seat and stalked over to Bait. His claws almost dug into Bait's soft flesh, but he controlled himself. A tight grip latched onto Bait's jaw. "You will lure it to me, Bait. It will die at my hands. If you wish to survive….silence!"

"I-I don't…I don't even know…who you are!" Bait sobbed.

Fury.

Unimaginable, unadulterated fury swelled in him. Red eyes narrowed.

"Then mayhaps, I learn you!"

"Wh-wha—no! No, stay back! Stay back! Please!"

He gave Bait his blessing, and took a chunk of its neck for himself in turn.

"Auuuugghh! Mom—Mommy! Ple-he-hease! It burns! It bu-hu-hurns!"

The King swallowed his treat with a gulp and licked his chops. A bit stale, very salty, but rather tender. A stick broke in the distance, and The King grinned.

So begins The Hunt.

AN: Oh, Jeremy. You poor, unlucky bastard. This was not your chapter.

Sorry for the late update. I overslept.