Chapter 11: A Collar and Catnip
The Hunters of Artemis were never ones to shy away from peculiar situations, but the sight of Percy Jackson strolling into camp with a shiny silver collar inscribed Property of Artemis was a sight so absurd that even the stoic Callista had to pause. The camp grew silent as Percy entered, tugging at the unyielding band around his neck, his face flushed with embarrassment.
The younger Hunters, especially Lydia, were the first to react, doubling over with laughter.
“Is that… a collar?” Lydia choked out between giggles, pointing at Percy.
Callista, ever the voice of authority, stepped forward, glaring at Artemis. “Lady Artemis, is this some kind of punishment for him?”
Artemis’s face burned with frustration as she crossed her arms. “No! It was… an accident.”
“It says Property of Artemis,” Atalanta noted dryly, squinting at the elegant cursive. “That doesn’t seem very accidental.”
Percy groaned, running his hand over his face. “Trust me, I didn’t sign up for this.”
Artemis shot him a sharp look. “Would you prefer to be a kitten again?”
Percy wisely stayed silent.
---
The Hunt’s Attempt to Remove the Collar
As the camp settled, curiosity began to bubble among the Hunters. They couldn’t resist the urge to inspect the collar further. Callista, as the most senior of the Hunters, gathered the others in a semi-circle around Percy.
“This has to come off,” Callista declared, examining the intricate silver band. “We’ll remove it for you, Percy.”
“Uh, thanks?” Percy said, though his voice betrayed his skepticism.
Callista retrieved a small knife, its edge gleaming as she prepared to slip it under the collar. “Hold still.”
The moment the blade touched the collar, a soft silver glow emanated from the metal. Sparks flew as the knife was repelled violently, landing several feet away. Callista staggered back, her hand tingling from the force. “What in the name of the gods—?”
“It’s enchanted,” Atalanta observed, her tone grim. She crouched to inspect the collar. “It’s bound to him… deeply. Look at the way the metal seems to meld with his skin.”
“It feels normal,” Percy said, frowning as he touched the collar. “Just… unbreakable.”
Lydia’s eyes widened with intrigue. “Could we try something stronger? Like… fire?”
“Let’s not set Percy on fire,” Atalanta said sharply, rolling her eyes. She turned to Artemis. “Lady Artemis, how do we remove this thing?”
Artemis hesitated, her gaze darting between Percy and the collar. “Athena made it,” she admitted reluctantly. “She tied it to his essence—his blood. Only a god can remove it.”
The Hunters exchanged uneasy glances. Callista folded her arms. “So, he’s stuck with it unless you or Athena choose to undo it?”
Artemis’s jaw tightened. “It seems that way.”
Percy groaned, slumping onto a nearby rock. “Great. Just great. I’m a walking advertisement for Artemis now.”
Lydia, ever the troublemaker, grinned mischievously. “Well, at least you’re safe. Who’d dare mess with her property?”
Percy glared at her, but she only laughed.
---
A Hidden Grove of Catnip
Trying to distract himself from the collar debacle, Percy wandered away from camp later that evening. He needed space to think—and maybe sulk. His wandering led him through the lush forest surrounding Artemis’s domain, the silver glow of the trees soothing his frayed nerves.
It was then that he stumbled upon something curious. A soft, fragrant breeze tickled his nose, drawing him toward a small clearing hidden behind a curtain of vines. As he pushed through, Percy’s eyes widened. Before him lay a grove unlike anything he’d ever seen.
The ground was covered in a carpet of shimmering green leaves, their edges glinting like silver in the moonlight. The sweet, intoxicating scent filled the air, making Percy feel oddly light-headed.
“Is this… catnip?” he murmured, kneeling to touch the soft leaves. A purr-like sound escaped his lips before he could stop it, and he froze, horrified. “No, no, no. Not again!”
But it was too late. The lure of the catnip was irresistible. Percy found himself rolling onto the soft bed of leaves, his earlier frustration melting away as pure bliss overtook him. His movements were uncoordinated, playful, as he batted at the air and stretched lazily across the grove.
He wasn’t sure how long he stayed there, but eventually, the sound of footsteps brought him back to his senses. Percy bolted upright, his face flaming as Artemis stepped into the grove, her expression unreadable.
“I had a feeling you’d find this place,” she said dryly, her arms crossed.
Percy tried—and failed—to look dignified as he brushed himself off. “I was just… exploring.”
Artemis raised an eyebrow, gesturing to the crushed patch of catnip beneath him. “Exploring, huh?”
“Okay, fine,” Percy muttered, his face burning. “Maybe I got a little carried away.”
Artemis’s lips twitched, as if suppressing a smile. “You’re lucky the Hunters didn’t find you like this. You’d never hear the end of it.”
“Oh, because you’re so understanding?” Percy shot back, though his tone was lighthearted.
For a moment, they stood there, the tension from earlier fading away. Artemis shook her head, her voice softer. “You’re an odd one, Percy Jackson.”
“Yeah, well, you’re stuck with me,” he replied, tugging at the collar for emphasis. “Literally.”
Artemis sighed, but there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. “Try to stay out of trouble, will you?”
As she turned to leave, Percy called after her. “Hey, Artemis?”
She paused, glancing over her shoulder.
“Thanks… for not making me feel like a total idiot,” he said with a sheepish grin.
Artemis’s gaze softened, and she gave him a small nod before disappearing into the forest, leaving Percy alone in the shimmering grove. Despite everything, he couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of contentment.
Even with a ridiculous collar around his neck, he was beginning to realize that being her property might not be so bad after all.
YOU ARE READING
Stolen Things.
FanfictionArtemis notices her stuff going missing and plans to find who took it. (I'm really bad at descriptions so sorry? I guess?)
