Chapter 18: Catnip Chaos
The next morning, Percy woke to the scent of catnip still clinging to his clothes. It was faint but enough to stir something mischievous in him. Artemis and the Hunters had left camp early for another hunt, leaving him to his own devices once again.
The memory of the sprawling catnip plains called to him like an old friend. Surely one more trip wouldn’t hurt.
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Return to the Plains
By mid-morning, Percy found himself standing in the middle of the catnip field once more. The sunlight danced across the leaves, and the intoxicating aroma seemed even stronger than before. He hesitated for a moment, remembering Artemis’s warning about enchanted catnip.
“It’s just a plant,” Percy muttered to himself. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
With that, he dropped to his knees and began rolling through the lush greenery, letting the scent envelop him.
At first, it was just relaxing. The stress of his strange situation—the collar, the teasing Hunters, the looming presence of Artemis—seemed to melt away. But then, something shifted.
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The High Hits
Percy felt… light. The world around him seemed brighter, more colorful. The wind felt like a gentle caress, and the rustling of the catnip leaves was the most beautiful symphony he’d ever heard.
“This is amazing,” he murmured, a goofy grin spreading across his face.
He sat up, grabbing handfuls of catnip and tossing them into the air like confetti. “I love you guys,” he said to the plants, his voice full of emotion. “You’re the best.”
A small fox wandered into the field, curious about the commotion. Percy’s eyes widened as he spotted it.
“Buddy!” he exclaimed, crawling toward the fox on all fours. “You’re so fluffy!”
The fox tilted its head, clearly confused, but didn’t run. Instead, it let Percy pet it, much to his delight.
“This is the best day ever,” Percy said, flopping onto his back and staring up at the sky. The collar around his neck glinted in the sunlight, a reminder of his bond to Artemis, but even that seemed insignificant in his euphoric state.
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The Hunters Return
When Artemis and the Hunters returned to camp that afternoon, they immediately noticed something was off. The faint, sweet smell of catnip hung in the air, and a trail of crushed greenery led from the camp to the plains.
Thalia groaned. “Oh, no. He didn’t.”
“He did,” Callista confirmed, already laughing.
The Hunters followed the trail, their laughter growing louder as they crested the ridge. There, in the middle of the field, was Percy.
He was sprawled out in the catnip, his hair a mess, his clothes covered in leaves. He was humming a tune to himself, his eyes half-lidded and dreamy.
“Percy!” Artemis’s voice cut through the air like a whip, sharp and commanding.
Percy sat up, blinking slowly as if it took all his effort to focus. When he saw Artemis, his face lit up with pure, unfiltered joy.
“Artemis!” he shouted, stumbling to his feet and running toward her with open arms.
The goddess stepped back, her expression a mix of exasperation and concern. “What have you done now?”
“I found paradise,” Percy declared, gesturing wildly to the field behind him. “It’s beautiful, Artemis. You have to try it.”
The Hunters erupted into laughter, unable to contain themselves. Lydia was practically crying, while Callista leaned on her bow for support.
“Gods, he’s completely gone,” Thalia said, shaking her head but grinning all the same.
Artemis sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You are unbelievable.”
“I know,” Percy said, beaming.
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The Aftermath
Getting Percy back to camp was an ordeal. He kept stopping to pick more catnip, insisting that they take some back for “emergencies.” By the time they managed to drag him to the campfire, he was giggling like a child.
“You’re all so shiny,” he said, staring at the Hunters with wide eyes.
Lydia poked his shoulder. “How high do you think he is right now?”
“Very,” Callista replied, smirking.
Artemis sat down beside Percy, her patience wearing thin. “This is why I told you to stay away from that field,” she said, her tone stern.
Percy looked up at her, his expression surprisingly serious. “But it made me happy,” he said softly.
For a moment, Artemis didn’t know how to respond. The collar around his neck glinted in the firelight, a reminder of the strange bond between them.
“You’re impossible,” she finally said, but her voice lacked its usual edge.
As the Hunters continued to tease Percy, Artemis couldn’t help but notice the faint smile on her lips. Despite the chaos, despite the absurdity of the situation, there was something endearing about the way Percy brought levity to their lives.
Maybe, she thought, just maybe, having a kitten in the Hunt wasn’t 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?)
