Five years later

(Percy is 14 years old)

Five years had come and gone since I first stumbled into the Hunters of Artemis. Winter had wrapped the camp in a freezing embrace, the air crackling with a chill that seemed to seep into your bones. We had recently set up our camp along the rugged coast of Maine, shifting our locations with the rhythm of the seasons, always seeking out the perfect blend of forest and sea.

Snowflakes drifted down lightly, adorning the tall pines and creating a silent, sparkling quilt over the earth. I loved the winter landscape; the world felt both serene and alive in its own cold way. Though the air bit at my cheeks, the warmth of sisterhood wrapped around me as tightly as my heavy cloak. While not the hunts brother in blood or adoption, I heard whispers about my "sisters" pestering Artemis about a blood adoption. It sounded quite intense though, so I couldn't tell if I should be thankful for it.

"Percy! Get moving, you sea slug!" Naomi called from a frosty tree stump, her voice light and teasing. The colorful spark of camaraderie filled the crisp air, making me smile as I made my way down from the rocky outcrop.

"Coming!" I yelled back, nearly slipping on the icy ground as I hurried to join my fellow Hunters.

When I reached the training grounds, several Hunters had gathered in a circle, their breath fogging the air as they prepared for the practice session. Naomi stood at the forefront, her bright eyes flicking between the archers and their bows, bubbling with playful energy.

"Step aside, ladies! The champion is stepping up!" she declared, puffing out her chest as though she could single-handedly intimidate us all.

Phoebe, her red hair glowing against the stark white backdrop, rolled her eyes but couldn't help but grin. "Not if I can help it!" she shot back, drawing her bowstring taut with determined focus.

Zoe watched over us, shooting me a smile when she spotted me.

"Is everyone ready for a little friendly competition?" Zoe called, her voice cutting through the excitement like a sharp bowstring.

Naomi's hand shot up, the glint in her eye promising mischief. "Always! It was pure luck Percy one that last one," she said, her tone dancing between teasing and challenge. "Admit it—you closed your eyes and prayed to Daddy Poseidon."

Lyra, all golden curls and Apollo-esque bravado, twirled her arrow like a drumstick. "Jealousy's a bad look, Naomi," she drawled, her voice honey-sweet but laced with barbs. "Face it—our baby brother's got more natural talent in his pinky than you've scraped up in three centuries."

"Natural cheating, you mean!" Naomi snapped, jabbing a finger at Lyra. "You nudged my elbow during the last round!"

Lyra's grin widened, her eyes glinting with the kind of chaos only a child of Apollo could weaponize. "Oh, please. If I wanted to sabotage you, you'd be sprouting feathers right now."

I rubbed the back of my neck, caught between their bickering. Centuries-old immortals, and they squabbled like kids fighting over the last slice of ambrosia pizza.

Typical sisters, I thought, though the word still felt foreign.

Lyra leaned toward me, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper loud enough for Naomi to hear. "Don't mind her. She's just salty because you've got that whole 'tragic backstory, mysterious powers' thing going on. Girls love that."

"I heard that!" Naomi barked, chucking a pinecone at Lyra's head.

The atmosphere shifted to one of excited anticipation. Over the past five years, I had learned the intricacies of archery and combat from Zoe and my fellow sisters. Together, we were a tightly knit family.

"Alright," Zoe instructed, her stance firm. "We have two targets set up. You get 30 seconds to hit as many bullseyes as possible. Those who have the least can count on being the first to gather firewood for tonight's meal."

There were playful groans and laughter, but the challenge invigorated everyone. I felt the familiar thrill at the thought of testing my skills. Stepping forward, I nocked my arrow, the weight of the bow resting comfortably in my hands.

With a deep breath, I focused on the target ahead, blocking out the laughter and excitement surrounding me. I drew the string back, feeling the cool winter air invigorate my senses. With one final exhale, I released the arrow. It struck dead center. Rapidly I released another. And another. While not as quick as majority of my sisters, they were still extremely fast for the average demigod.

"Not bad for a sea slug!" Naomi teased, nudging my shoulder.

"They call me Percy the Pinnacle for a reason!" I shot back, grinning widely.

The competition continued, a blend of rivalry and support echoing through the clearing. With every arrow fired, the camaraderie grew stronger, laughter intertwining with the chill of winter as we filled the air with friendly jibes and encouragement.

As the final arrow struck its mark, we cheered one another on as we drew closer to the fire pit where Kaira was stirring a bubbling pot of soup. The warm, savory aroma wafted through the air, promising a hearty meal after our morning efforts.

"Ah, the finest broth of the season!" Kaira declared, her eyes sparkling as she ladled out portions into bowls. "You're all lucky I'm using my secret recipe, or there would be consequences for those missed shots."

"We wouldn't dare!" I replied, savoring the delicious warmth of the soup.

As we gathered around the fire, the glow illuminated our faces, and the atmosphere shifted to one of relaxation and comfort. Lore was shared; stories of past hunts and tall tales filled our hearts and allowed me to forget for a while the turbulence of the world outside our camp.

But as the night deepened, the look in Zoe's eyes shifted back to one of focus. "Everyone, it's time to approach the main reason we're here," she announced, her voice steady as she faced us with poise. "You all know what's been happening recently. From Zeus' Masterbolt being stolen to the ancient whispers surrounding our world. That's not even to mention the significant rise in monster activity we've had."

She was right. The search for Zeus' Masterbolt was worrying. It felt like I had unseen eyes on me the whole time, thankfully it stopped when some demigods found it on a quest. On top of that, the hunts were getting more frequent, and in turn my training skyrocketed. My accuracy and speed with a bow were immaculate, and my swordplay even better.

Currently Artemis was out on yet another lone scouting mission, leaving Zoe in charge. The hushed tones of the Hunters cut through the warmth as we exchanged solemn glances. There was a shared understanding that complications were rising, and it was our responsibility to fight against them.

"Are we ready for this?" I asked, glancing between my sisters.

Naomi stretched her legs toward the fire, her grin sharp as a freshly honed blade. "Artemis'll be back tonight. We're close—I can smell that manticore's cheap cologne from here." She jabbed her stick into the flames, sending sparks spiraling. "Weeks tracking this overgrown housecat. I say we skip the beauty sleep and gut it before dawn."

Zoe materialized from the shadows, her silver circlet catching the firelight. "Enough." Her voice sliced through the chatter, but her eyes lingered on the map in her hands—its edges frayed, marked with blood and ash. "Tomorrow, we end this. Prepare your arrows. Check your blades. And remember sisters—"

"And brother!" Phoebe sang from her perch in the oak, tossing an acorn at Zoe's head. "Don't forget our favorite barnacle!"

Zoe's lips twitched, a rare crack in her marble composure. She turned to me, and for a heartbeat, her gaze softened. "—and our adorable brother," she amended, her tone warmer than the fire. "A manticore's sting means death. But a divided hunt?" She swept her hand toward the dark woods. "That kills faster than poison."

Naomi snorted, twirling her dagger. "Relax, sis. Nothings allowed to harm us." A sudden serious demeanour appeared on her usually playful personality, "Our strength lies in unity and loyalty. We face these challenges together. I won't accept any of you dying, even if the Fates themselves declare it."

…

A/N: The start of book 3 is coming! Thanks for the support so far!

Comment responses:

Dueystyle: I'm leaning a bit more to Thalia because I might add an OC to fill in where Percy was meant to exist in the storyline as I'm jumping to book 3. Don't a HUGE fan of Bianca so she probs won't be a pairing, I do like the idea of a goddess. Percy will LIKELY end up being fully adopted soon.

Pyotr Reznya: No problem! Thx for the concern, I'll do my best, got quite a bit of free time for now

Sharkwest: THIS IS WHY I NEED CRITISISM! I completely forgot about that tsym. I've edited the previous chapters to make a bit more sense. Also this is in modern times.

olioh2013: Good Idea! i like it