Apollo's Hunt

Old Friends

Now an awkward silence filled the air until Chiron cleared his throat. "Perhaps you can come in?" He suggested.

"No!" Annabeth protested. "How can we trust them?"

You speak to me about trust? Ariston questioned, his anger rising again. He needed to get out of there before he really does lose control. It does not matter if you trust us or not because we are coming into this camp either way. We do not trust you anyways. Ariston's voice was monotoned and cold as he spread his wings and leapt in the air, out of range of their bows. Not that they could have hit him in the first place but he didn't feel like moving so quickly. Eventually, Ariston knew his hunt made it in because he saw the crowd of campers make a path to the inside of the camp. Ariston found the situation comical and chuckled as he landed at the edge of the group of cabins.

Meet me at the cabins, he mentally told his hunt. Looking at the sun, he could tell the campers were having lunch when they came. They were just starting to have lunch when we arrived so we are going to set up camp before we are bombarded with questions and curious faces. We will set up camp a little farther out, by the forest so they do not feel uncomfortable, he told them once they arrived at where he was. You all have your tents? He added just to make sure.

However, before anyone could move, Chiron came galloping into their area. Ariston bowed in greeting and this seemed to make the old teacher unsure what he was doing. Ariston was the god after all, not some immortal that taught heros.

"My lord Ariston," Chiaron said, bowing deeply. "Why would you bow to me? I am merely a teacher."

Ariston smirked. And where would we all be with out teachers? He asked in turn. If not for you, Percy jackson would not have become the hero he was. If not for you, the world would have fallen to Kronos and Gaea.

Chiron smiled kindly and seemed more at ease than before. "I came to inquire as to your sleeping and eating arrangements," he said in explanation as to why he was there.

We just established out sleeping arrangements, Ariston said politely. We will camp in our tents at the edge of the forest and I ask what you suggest on the subject of the eating arrangements.

Wow, Ariston thought to himself. I sound really formal, I wonder where I got that. Apollo is too immature to be formal and the rest of my hunt is no better. Deciding to think on that more later, Ariston pushed the thought to the back of his mind for later.

"I wish to invite you all to eat with us in the dining pavilion," Chiron said, a slight hesitation tinted his voice.

Ariston hesitated. He didn't want to be around the campers who betrayed Percy nad the chances of one of them coming up to him are high. If they were not there, he could see himself being there comfortably. Not only that but there was no table for them at the pavilion. He didn't care how uncomfortable the campers were, he cared more about the members of his hunt than them.

Seeing his hesitation, Chiron spoke up again, "We already have a table for you, Mr. D had one prepared before you came."

Ariston stayed silent for a minute longer, still hesitant about the first and major issue of the older campers made immortal. Finally, Ariston sighed. Very well, we will set up camp and come join you later.

Chiron smiled so brightly, it almost made it worth accepting his invitation just for that. "I will go inform the campers," he said before trotting off.

"Are you sure that is such a good idea, Ariston?" Shooter asked warily, almost expecting him to explode again. And they were making such good progress too, Shooter thought sadly.

Ariston said nothing as he made his way to the edge of the forest and started setting up his tent.

- - - - -

At the dining pavilion, the members of Ariston started to trickle in after they set their tents up and after him. He was the first done and the first to start eating.

As Shizzle got his food, Ariston watched the imp carefully, making sure he was not going to do what he thought he was going to do. He lost sight of him behind a group of campers however, since the table he was at was in the back. Not two seconds after Ariston mourned the fact that he could no longer see him, he smelled burned food. One moment later, he smelled fresh steak.

A growl erupted from the middle of his throat. Shizzle! He shouted telepathically, his words reaching all those in the general area. He started to stand up and make his way to the fire on the other end of the pavilion. How many times do I need to tell you not to sacrifice to me?

Once he reached the fire however, he saw a young girl frozen in her motions of shoving a piece of steak into the fire. Immediately he understood what had happened. Shizzle had convinced the girl to sacrifice food to him in an attempt to annoy him. Unfortunately for him, he succeeded. There were times when Ariston thought that Shizzle had matured. Then something like this happens.

"S-sir?" The girl asked shakily.

It is okay, he quickly reassured her. It is not your fault this imbecile likes to get into trouble. He spoke in a kind tone and even kneeled down to be at he eye level. It was not her fault that he was betrayed either. He remembers every one who ever did it. Those in Apollo's and Hermes' cabin were carefull about staying loyal to him and always told embellished stories about his victories in their cabins at night, much to his dislike. This young girl is a Hermes child, he could tell from the way she looked so much like the Stolls and Luke; she had the same mischievous glint in her eyes, as if she were going to do something troublesome, even when she was afraid of him.

Shizzle, do I need to give you some chores? Ariston asked calmly, knowing that the son of Hephaestus was trying to sneak behind him.

He heard Shizzle gulp in fear and start to run out of the pavilion and to his tent. The last time he assigned Shizzle chores, he could not get the smell of unicorn dung out of his favorite tool belt. Shizzle ended up throwing it away and no one would come with in a ten foot radius of him for years. He still smelled like it if you concentrated.

Ariston unfolded his wings and flew after him, high up in the air.

Shizzle must of heard his wings because he shouted, "No fair! I can't out run your oh-so-powerful chicken wings!"

All Ariston heard was the gasps of the campers as he tackled Shizzle to the ground, careful to keep his hood up.