Hello there, gods, half-bloods and friends, welcome to the next chapter of The God Hunter.

Wasn't going to upload anything this week, as I was really busy with other stories, and preparing for a thing I'm planning for the first two weeks of February but here we are.

Hope you enjoy and now story time.

When the twelve years old claimed she was the goddess Artemis, Percy said the thing most people would say to such an outlandish statement.

"Okay."

Though Percy's intelligent response was nothing compared to Grover. He gasped, then knelt hastily in the snow and started yammering, "Thank you, Lady Artemis! You're so... you're so... Wow!"

"Get the fuck up, goat boy!" Thalia snapped.

"You want me to believe a twelve-year old is the goddess Artemis?" Matt scoffed, hands in his pocket.

"That sounds as believable as the edgy fifteen year old in front of me being the God Hunter." Artemis told him.

"Why do people keep calling me that?" Matt said, throwing up a hand, "As if that means something to me. Which it doesn't."

"Can you not be yourself for once, Cow Eyes?" Thalia told him, "We have other things to worry about..."

"You do not get to call me that!" Matt snapped as he turned to the Daughter of Zeus with fire in his eyes, "Only Annabeth gets to call me that!"

And for a moment, the almighty Thalia had been silenced with a glare from the Son of Hera, though to her credit she recovered quickly, something not just anyone could claim. Matt could be very scary if he wanted to. Thalia stared back at him and not backing backed down from Matt.

But before the Daughter of Zeus and Son of Hera could clash, it was another female voice who spoke up.

"Hold up. Time out."

Everybody turned to looked at Bianca. She pointed her finger at all of them in turn, like she was trying to connect the dots, "Who the fudge are you people!?"

"Did she just say what the fudge?" Matt thought, "What kind of weirdo says that?"

Your one to talk.

"What are you talking about, Ash?"

"It might be a better question, my dear girl, to ask who are you!" Artemis said as her expression softened, "Who are your parents?"

Bianca glanced nervously at her brother, who was still staring in awe at Artemis.

"Our parents are dead. We're orphans... There's a bank trust that pays for our school, but..." Bianca said she faltered when she saw their faces, "What? I'm telling the truth."

"You are a half-blood." Zoe said with an hard to place accent, "One of thy parents was mortal. The other was an Olympian."

"An Olympian... athlete?"

"No, no." Korsica said kindly, "An Olympian god."

"Cool!" Nico said.

"No!" Bianca's voice quavered, "This is not cool!"

"I mean, it kind of is." Korsica said with a shrug.

Nico danced around like he needed to use the restroom. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage?" he asked excited, "Does he get extra movement points for..."

"Nico, shut up!" Bianca said, putting her hands to her face, "This is not your stupid Mythomagic game, okay? There are no gods!"

"I got to correct you there." Korsica said, "There is nothing stupid about Mythomagic, except maybe the time when Poseidon Underworld was the meta, but that's a whole other can of worms."

"I don't hate this one." Percy muttered much to Matt and Thalia's annoyance.

"Also the gods are real." Korsica said, "Very real and very much alive."

"Hold on." Nico said, "You're telling me God is real?"

"Not sure as in God with a capital G... But the Devil is." Matt said casually, "But we are not talking about Morgan Freeman. It's hard to believe, but yeah, they are real. And whenever they do what they do best, the resulting kids lead dangerous lives."

"Dangerous." Bianca said, "Like the girl who fell."

Thalia turned away, even Artemis looked pained. While Matt looked at her as he stared her down as he clenches and unclenches his jaw.

"Do not despair for Annabeth." the goddess said, "She was a brave maiden. If she can be found, I shall find her."

"I wouldn't trust you gods with so much as a blunt butterknife." Matt scoffed, "I will look for her myself."

"Can't you sense it, Son of Hera? Some magic is at work." Artemis said, "I do not know exactly how or why, but your friend has vanished."

"What about Dr. Thorn?" Nico said as he raised his hand, "That was awesome how the blonde caught his tail and ripped it in two! Is he dead?"

"He was a manticore." Artemis said, "Hopefully he is destroyed for now, but monsters never truly die. They re-form over and over again, and they must be hunted whenever they reappear."

"Or they'll hunt us." Thalia said.

"That explains..." Bianca said as she shivered, "Nico, you remember last summer, those guys who tried to attack us in the alley in DC?"

"And that bus driver, the one with the ram's horns." Nico said, "I told you that was real."

"That's why Grover has been watching you." Percy said, "To keep you safe, if you turned out to be half-bloods."

"Grover?" Bianca stared at him, "You're a demigod?"

"Well, a satyr, actually." he said, kicking off his shoes and displayed his goat hooves.

Bianca looked like she was going to faint right there.

"Grover, put your shoes back on." Thalia said, "You're freaking her out."

"Maybe it's the smell." Matt said.

"Hey, my hooves are clean!"

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Matt said before turning to the siblings, "Bianca, you and Nico need to come with us to camp. You need to the training only they can offer if you wish to survive."

"Camp?" she asked.

"Camp Half-Blood, it's where half-bloods learn to survive and stuff." Percy said, "You can join us, stay there year-round if you like."

"Sweet, let's go!" Nico said.

"Wait." Bianca said, shaking her head, "I don't..."

"There is another option." Zoe said.

"No, there isn't!" Thalia said.

Thalia and Zoe glared at each other. "Girls, girls." Korsica said coming between them, "Now is not the time."

"Indeed, we've burdened these children enough." Artemis announced, "Zoe, we will rest here for a few hours. Raise the tents. Treat the wounded. Retrieve our guests' belongings from the school."

"Yes, my lady."

"And, Bianca, come with me. I would like to speak with you."

"What about me?" Nico asked.

Artemis considered the boy. "Perhaps you can show Grover how to play that card game you enjoy. I'm sure Grover would be happy to entertain you for a while... as a favor to me?"

Grover just about tripped over himself getting up. "You bet!" he said giving her a salute, "Come on, Nico!"

Nico and Grover walked off toward the woods, talking about hit points and armor ratings and a bunch of other geeky stuff.

"Korsica, keep an eye on our guests." she told the girl.

She gave a salute before Artemis led a confused-looking Bianca along the cliff. The Hunters began unpacking their knapsacks and making camp.

Zoe gave Thalia one more evil look, then left to oversee things.

As soon as she was gone, Thalia stamped her foot in frustration. "The nerve of those Hunters!" she snarled, "They think they're so... Argh!"

"I'm with you." Percy said, "I don't trust..."

"Oh, you're with me?" Thalia said, turning on him furiously, "What were you thinking back there in the gym, Percy? You'd take on Dr. Thorn all by yourself? You knew he was a monster!"

Matt zoned out of the argument, retreating inside his own head as he looked to the ground. Something navy blue was lying in the snow near his feet.

He kneeled down to find it was Annabeth's New York Yankees baseball cap. Picking it up as Matt stood up, he saw Thalia swipe a tear from her cheek before marching off without another word, leaving Matt and Percy alone with Korsica.

"You know, if you ask me, you did the best you could given the circumstances." Korsica said to Percy.

"Thanks, but I didn't had a very good plan..." Percy admitted, "I mean, it all hung on me managing to contact Groover and have him warn Matt."

"Your right, that was a pretty shit plan." she admitted, "But still, you have the God Hunter on your side. So I get why you build your entire strategy around him."

"Right." Matt said annoyed, "Not sure if you didn't hear me before, but the title or whatever God Hunter is, it means nothing to me."

"I meant no offense. There have just been a lot of gossip going about the Son of Hera going around, like how you managed to best Ares in single combat." she said, "And from the tales and rumors I heard, they didn't do you justice."

"Doubt it." Matt muttered as he glanced to the ground, "If I did, Annabeth would be here."

He walked away, leaving the two behind as words from last summer rang in his head.

"If you don't stop holding back, your going to die. Don't think, act. If you don't, you will be nothing but deadweight."

The Hunters set up their camping site in a matter of minutes. Seven large tents, all of silver silk, curved in a crescent around one side of a bonfire. One of the girls blew a silver dog whistle, and a dozen white wolves appeared out of the woods. They began circling the camp like guard dogs.

The Hunters walked among them and fed them treats, completely unafraid. Falcons watched from the trees, their eyes flashing in the firelight. Even the weather seemed to bend to the goddess's will. The air was still cold, but the wind died down and the snow stopped falling, so it was almost pleasant sitting by the fire.

"Matt?"

Matt was standing aloof at the side, to his left side Asherah had appeared.

"Your thoughts... They dwell on Annabeth Chase."

"I failed her, Ash. When she needed me the most, I failed her." Matt thought, "Because I'm weak. Because I'm still holding back."

"That's not true, you are fine the way you are." Asherah assured him, "Honestly, it might be something else..."

"And what would that be?" Matt thought.

He watched Thalia pacing in the snow at the edge of camp, walking among the wolves without fear. She stopped and looked back at Westover Hall, which was now completely dark, looming on the hillside beyond the woods.

"I don't think you would like the answer."

Asherah disappeared just as he saw Grover and Nico came back from their walk, while the girl Korsica was fixing Percy's wounded arm.

"It's green!" Nico said with delight.

Percy winced as she dressed the wound, "Hold still." Korsica said, "Here, eat some ambrosia."

Nico rummaged through his own bag, which the Hunters had apparently packed for him. He laid out a bunch of figurines in the snow, little battle replicas of Greek gods and heroes.

"Big collection." Percy said, "Quite larger than mine."

"I've got almost all of them, plus their holographic cards!" Nico said with a big grin, "Well, except for a few really rare ones, like Kassandra."

"You've been playing this game a long time?"

"Just this year. Before that..." Nico said as he knit his eyebrows, "I forget. That's weird."

He looked unsettled, but it didn't last long when Matt came over. "Hey, guys." he said with a wave, "...Are you guys playing Mythomagic?"

"The God Hunter plays Mythomagic?" Korsica said.

"Don't call me that." Matt growled, "And no."

"Believe me, I tried to get him into it." Percy said, "But Matt can't handle the fact that he really sucks at the game."

"That move would have worked in real life!" Matt protested.

"Are you really the God Hunter?" Nico said, "That the rarest card in all of Mythomagic! Even more rare than the Kassandra and Satanael card."

"Who and the what now?" Matt said dryly.

"Kassandra, she was a great hero in back in Ancient Greece also known as the Eagle Bearer." Nico explained excitedly, "Satanael was her patron and some say they where even more than friends!"

"Okay, then." Matt said dryly, "But I have no idea if I am the God Hunter, but people keep calling me that."

"So cool." Nico said, "Can I see your sword?"

"Yeah, Matt." Percy said with a grin, "Show him your sword."

Matt sighed as he held out his hand and in an explosion of white flames, his sword Theosjager appeared in his hand.

"Way cool!" Nico said with stars in his eyes, "Does it always appear in an explosion of white?"

"Yes, it does." Matt said as he disappeared his sword in another explosion of white flames, "Not entirely sure why."

Nico went on asking questions. Who their Olympian parents where. If Annabeth's mother was Athena, the goddess of wisdom, then why didn't Annabeth know better than to fall off a cliff? Which almost resulted in Matt punting Nico off that same cliff.

"Is Annabeth your girlfriend?" Nico said.

Before Matt could give an answer or deny any romantic feelings between him and arguably his best friend, Zoe Nightshade came up to them. She had dark brown eyes and a slightly upturned nose. With her silver circlet and her proud expression, she looked so much like royalty. She studied them with distaste.

"Percy Jackson, Matt Hauer. Come with me." she said, "Lady Artemis wishes to speak with thee."

Zoe led them to the last tent, which looked no different from the others, and waved them inside. Bianca di Angelo was seated next to Artemis.

The inside of the tent was warm and comfortable. Silk rugs and pillows covered the floor. In the center, a golden brazier of fire seemed to burn without fuel or smoke. Behind the goddess, on a polished oak display stand, was her huge silver bow, carved to resemble gazelle horns.

Another animal pelt was lying next to her, but on closer inspection, it was a live animal, a deer with glittering fur and silver horns, its head resting contentedly in Artemis's lap.

"Join us." the goddess said.

Sitting across from her on the tent floor, the goddess studied the two. She had such old eyes for a young girl.

"Are you surprised by my age?" she asked.

"Uh... a little." Percy said.

"I could appear as a grown woman, or a blazing fire, or anything else I want, but this is what I prefer." Artemis said, "This is the average age of my Hunters, and all young maidens for whom I am patron, before they go astray."

"Go astray?" Percy asked.

"Grow up. Become smitten with boys." Artemis explained, "Become silly, preoccupied, insecure. Forget themselves."

"Right." Matt scoffed, "As if you never became smitten with a man, or lusted after one."

"Both has happened." Artemis admitted, "But only once each."

Zoe sat down at Artemis's right, who only glared at them.

"It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp, boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters." Artemis said, "You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you."

"Korsica has been." Percy blurred out.

"Of course she has." Zoe said sounding equally as disapproving as worried, "That fool is far too kind for her own good."

"We are not here to discuss Korsica." Artemis said sternly before turning to the two boys, "I've asked you here so that you might tell me more of the manticore. Bianca has reported some of the... disturbing things the monster said. But she may not have understood them. I'd like to hear them from you."

And so Percy told her.

When he was done, Artemis put her hand thoughtfully on her silver bow. "I feared this was the answer."

Zoe sat forward. "The scent, my lady?" she said.

"Yes."

"What scent?" Percy said.

"Things are stirring that I have not hunted in millennia." Artemis murmured, "Prey so old I have nearly forgotten."

"That must be very old then." Matt said.

She stared at him intently. "We came here tonight sensing the manticore, but he was not the one I seek." she said, "Tell me again, exactly what Dr. Thorn said."

"Um, 'I hate middle school dances.'" Percy said.

"No, no. After that."

"He said somebody called the General was going to explain things to me."

Zoe's face paled, she turned to Artemis and started to say something, but Artemis raised her hand.

"Go on, Percy." the goddess said.

"Well, then Thorn was talking about the Great Stirring, and he said, 'Soon we shall have the most important monster of all, the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus.'"

The goddess was so still she could've been a statue before she shook her head, Artemis shook her head. "I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster."

Zoe looked like she was trying very hard not to be afraid, but she nodded. "We will leave right away, my lady."

"No, Zoe. I must do this alone." Artemis said, "This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search. You cannot go there with me."

"As... as you wish, my lady." Zoe said.

"I will find this creature, and I shall bring it back to Olympus by winter solstice." Artemis vowed, "It will be all the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we are in."

"You know what the monster is?" Percy asked.

Artemis gripped her bow. "Let us pray I am wrong." she muttered.

"Okay serious question here." Matt said, "To what would a goddesses pray to?"

A flicker of a smile played across Artemis's lips. "Before I go, Percy Jackson, Matt Hauer, I have a small task for you."

"Does it involve getting either of us turned into a jackalope?" Percy said.

"Sadly, no. I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood." Artemis said, "They can stay there in safety until I return."

"What?" Zoe' blurted out, "But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there..."

"Yes, I know. But I'm sure Dionysus will not hold a grudge just because of a little... misunderstanding." Artemis said, "It's your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides, I hear they rebuilt the cabins you burned down."

Zoe muttered something about foolish campers.

"And now there is one last decision to make." Artemis said as she turned to Bianca, "Have you made up your mind, my girl?"

"I'm still thinking about it." Bianca said.

"About what?" Matt said.

"They..." Bianca hesitated, "They've invited me to join the Hunt."

"Why would you do that?" Matt said, "You have to come to Camp Half-Blood so Chiron can train you. It's the only way you can learn to survive."

"For foolish boys, it is the only foolish way. But that foolish road is not the only one for a girl." Zoe said, "For one, she could become immortal."

"I'm sorry." Matt said annoyed, "I don't remember asking you a damn thing!"

Matt and Zoe had a glare down as Percy turned to look at Artemis, "She's kidding, right?" he said, "About the immortality thing?"

"Zoe rarely kids about anything." Artemis said, "My Hunters follow me on my adventures. They are my maidservants, my companions, my sisters-in-arms. Once they swear loyalty to me, they are indeed immortal... unless they fall in battle, which is unlikely. Or break their oath."

"What oath?" Percy said.

"To foreswear romantic love forever." Artemis said, "To never grow up, never get married. To be a maiden eternally."

"What? Like you?" Matt scoffed, "So they remain a virgin for every?"

The goddess didn't react on his remark.

"So you just go around the country recruiting half-bloods..." Percy said.

"Not just half-bloods." Zoe interrupted, "Lady Artemis does not discriminate by birth. All who honor the goddess may join. Half-bloods, nymphs, mortals. Bianca may join if she wishes. It is her choice."

"Of course she is not going to do it." Matt said, "She can't just leave Nico behind, he can't be a hunter."

"Certainly not. He will go to camp." Artemis agreed, "Unfortunately, that's the best boys can do."

Matt was about to retort with something that might have gotten him into a whole world of trouble, if it wasn't for Percy giving him a look not to.

"You can see him from time to time, he will have the camp counselors to take care of him." Artemis assured Bianca, "You will be free of responsibility and you will have a new family. Us."

"A new family, free of responsibility." Bianca repeated dreamily, turning to look at Zoe, "Is it worth it?"

Zoe nodded, "It is."

"What do I have to do?" Bianca said.

"What?" Matt said, "Your just going to turn your back on your only family?"

"Say this." Zoe told her, "'I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt.'"

Bianca repeated the lines. "That's it?" she said.

"If Lady Artemis accepts thy pledge, then it is binding." Zoe said as she nodded.

"I accept it." Artemis said.

The flames in the brazier brightened, casting a silver glow over the room. Bianca looked no different, but she took a deep breath and opened her eyes wide, "I feel... stronger." she admitted with a smile.

"Welcome, sister." Zoe said.

"Remember your pledge." Artemis said, "It is now your life."

"Pathetic." Matt growled as he stood up.

As he was leaving, Bianca laid a hand on his upper arm, "I'm sorry, Matt. But I want this. I really, really do."

"No, your not sorry." Matt told her, slapping her hand away, "So shove your apologies up a place where the sun doesn't shine." before leaving the tent.

On his way out he bumped into Korsica, but he did not pay her any mind as he continued walking.

"Okay, rude." Korsica said before turning back to the tent, "Just wanted to let you know that dawn is approaching."

"Zoe, break camp. You must get to Long Island quickly and safely." Artemis said, closing her eyes, "I shall summon a ride from my brother."

Zoe didn't look real happy about this idea, but she nodded and told Bianca to follow her.

"Leave us for a moment, Percy Jackson." Artemis said, "I need to have a few words with Korsica here."

"Oh shit." Korsica said, turning to Percy, "You didn't tell her anything that might have gotten me into trouble?" she joked with a smile.

"Of course not." Percy assured her, "Though Matt might have. He's not very happy at the moment."

"I'm so screwed." she said with a smile, "It was nice knowing you, Percy."

And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed.

Many thanks to everyone who reads, reviews, favorite, or follows this story.

I do this for most of my stories, either which voice actor I would like to voice them or which actor to play them. Though this time I went more with appearance than actual acting ability. The reason it took so long, I couldn't think of anyone I wanted to play Grover, so I just said fuck it here's Ryan Gosling.

Main Cast Book 3:

Matt Hauer - Karlo Baker

Percy Jackson - Timothee Chalamet

Annabeth Chase - Hailee Steinfeld

Grover Underwood - Ryan Gosling

Asherah - Cate Blanchett

Talia Grace - Dafne Keen

Korsica - Sophia Lillis

Mortals:

Jack Hauer - Karl Urban

Sally Jackson - Alexandra Daddario

Greek Gods:

Zeus - Hugh Jackman

Hera - Carice van Houten

Poseidon - Logan Lerman

Hades - Keanu Reeves

Demeter - Kristen Bell

Athena - Margot Robbie

Ares - Jensen Ackles

Aphrodite - Ariana Grande

Artemis - Sophie Turner

Apollo - Ryan Reynolds

Dionysus - Ben Kingsley

Hephaestus - Peter Dinklage

Hermes - Tobey Maguire

Camp:

Chiron - Gary Oldman

Kronos Forces:

Luke - Andrew Garfield

Kronos - Mark Hamill

Atlas - Brian Cranston

Prometheus - Christian Bale

Other Divine Beings:

Lucifer Lux - Tom Ellis

Ciri Lux - Cara Delevingne

Yeah, I just dropped everything at once... Oh well, let me know what you think.

By now you know the drill, take care of yourself, get some rest, drink plenty of water, and I will see you people next time.