¹𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒 ! - percy jackson

-003

"That boy in Colorado," Zoë said. "You turned him into a jackalope."

She saw Percy gulp from the corner of her eye.

"Ah, yes." Artemis nodded, satisfied. "I enjoy making jackalopes. At any rate, Percy, I've asked you here so that you might tell me more of the manticore. Bianca has reported some of the...mmm, disturbing things the monster said. But she may not have understood them. I'd like to hear them from both of you."

And so Stella and Percy told her.

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

Zoë sat forward. "The scent, my lady?"

"Yes."

"What scent?" Stella asked.

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

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

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

Once again, Stella had to hold back her laughter.

"No, no. After that."

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

Stella didn't miss how Zoë'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 Stir Pot—"

"Stirring," Stella corrected.

"Yeah. And he said, 'Soon we shall have the most important monster of all— the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus.'"

"Maybe he was lying," Percy said after seeing how Artemis had gone still.

Artemis shook her head, "No. He was not. I've been too slow to see the signs. I must hunt this monster."

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

"No, Zoë. I must do this alone."

"But, Artemis—"

"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."

"I will find this creature," Artemis vowed, "and I shall bring it back to Olympus by winter solstice. 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?" Stella asked.

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

"Can goddesses pray?" Percy asked. This time, Stella couldn't hold it in and let out a small laugh. Even Artemis had smiled.

"Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you. And for you, Stella Cruz, I have a proposition."

Artemis asked him to safely escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood so that they could stay in Capin Eight until she returned. Of course, Zoë protested the idea, but the goddess didn't budge.

"And now, have you made up your mind, my girl?" Artemis turned to Bianca.

Bianca hesitated, "I'm still thinking about it."