Lost & Found

Ch. 8

Ch. 8

A certain goddess of the moon was still fuming.

Her encounter with Percy Jackson outside the throne room on Olympus had set her blood boiling and she needed to take her anger out on someone or something soon before she lashed out towards her hunters. She was silent as she led them up Half-Blood Hill. She decided to leave them at camp while she took out her growing anger on any monster foolish enough to be within a one hundred mile radius of the goddess.

Yes, a hunt was necessary for her to vent some of her anger and frustration towards that disrespectful half-breed.

As they reached the crest of the hill, half a dozen campers in full battle armor could be seen standing around the Golden Fleece. The loss of the tree's guardian had left the responsibility of guarding the fleece to the campers.

After initially becoming alarmed and preparing to attack, the campers seemed to recognize the goddess and her eternal maidens as they could be seen whispering nervously to each other and standing in a non-aggressive formation by the giant tree that was once her lieutenant.

Artemis couldn't help but be pleased by the reaction the arrival of her hunters received from the campers. It was a mixture of fear and respect, along with perhaps a bit of resentment, but it all pleased the goddess who enjoyed the fact her hunters instilled fear in the hearts of other demigods, especially the male ones.

The hunters all smirked silently as they passed the quiet campers. As they reached camp, Artemis sent her hunters into her cabin with the exception of Thalia who she knew would like to see Chiron seeing as it had been almost a year since their last visit to Camp Half-Blood.

As they approached the steps of the big house, Artemis was surprised that Chiron was not out to greet them. He was usually aware of their arrival before they even crossed the borders. She led Thalia to the door which she opened without knocking. When the door opened, she heard Thalia gasp at the scene before them.

Percy Jackson stood a few feet into the house, his arms wrapped around the Centaur who had a few tears leaking from his eyes as he embraced one of his favorite students.

"Percy?" Thalia asked, her voice was a little choked from the shock of seeing Percy after so long.

He broke away from Chiron, turning around as his eyes widened when he saw Thalia. His eyes went from the demigod daughter of Zeus to the goddess, his smile vanishing. His hand instinctively went to his pocket and despite her anger, Artemis couldn't help but be a little impressed by his reaction. Boy or not, he had the instincts of a hunter.

Not that she would ever tell him that.

Thalia stepping forward, effectively stopping Percy's hand before it reached his pen.

"Percy," Thalia asked a little confused and her voice laced with a bit of hurt when she noticed he looked unhappy and perhaps a little nervous. "What's wrong?"

Percy shook off the feeling of being in danger and smiled again when he looked at her.

"Well, other than this odd smell of pinecones that suddenly just filled the room, nothing at all." He said, a small grin starting to spread across his face.

Thalia scowled good naturedly and closed the distance, wrapping her cousin in a tight embrace. She guessed this was not what her mistress wanted to see but at the moment, her happiness at seeing Percy made her push that thought away.

"I can't believe you're here." Thalia whispered.

It had been a long time since Artemis had seen that much happiness on the face of her lieutenant. Not since before the death of the daughter of Athena who had been Thalia's best friend. Despite the urge to maim Percy, she decided her huntress' happiness was more important than her thirst for vengeance.