𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐚𝐫 ― t.grace

𝟬𝟬𝟯. 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘀

"You must forgive my Hunters if they do not welcome you," Artemis said. "It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp. Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters. The last one to see this camp..." She looked at Zoe. "Which one was it?"

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

"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 you."

And so he told her. Darlyng listened intently while trying not to choke on her cigarette smoke from all this wacked up information she was hearing.

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?"

"Yes."

"What scent?" Percy asked.

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

She stared at him 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.'" Fuck the rivers he was an idiot.

"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 Stir Pot-"

"Stirring," Bianca corrected. She spooked Dar a little she had been so quiet she had practically blended in with the shadows.

"Yeah. 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.

"Maybe he was lying," He continued.

Artemis shook her head. "No. He was not. 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."

"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?" Percy asked. Dr Nonce Thorne wasn't the only kind of monster? Damn, Earth was exotic.

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

"Can goddesses pray?" Darlyng asked.

A flicker of a smile played across Artemis's lips as she quickly winked at Dar. "Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you."

"Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?"

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