The Titans Curse: Apollo's Daughter

Hunters

Percy's POV

Zoe led Skyler and I to the last tent, which looked no different from the others, and waved us inside.

Bianca di Angelo was seated next to the auburn-haired girl, who I still had trouble thinking of as Artemis and Skyler's immortal aunt.

The inside of the tent was warm and comfortable. Silk rugs and pillows covered the floor. In the center, a golden brazier of fire seemed to burn without fuel or smoke. Behind the goddess, on a polished oak display stand, was her huge silver bow, carved to resemble gazelle horns.

The walls were hung with animal pelts: black bear, tiger, and several others I didn't recognize. I figured an animal rights activist would've had a heart attack looking at all those rare skins, but maybe since Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, she could replenish whatever she shot.

I thought she had another animal pelt lying next to her, and then I realized it was a live animal...a deer with glittering fur and silver horns, it's head resting contentedly in Artemis's lap."Join us." the goddess said. 

I sat across from her on the tent floor, Skyler closely at my side. The goddess studied me, which made me uncomfortable. She had such old eyes for a young girl. 

"Are you surprised by my age?" she asked me, her eyes staring into me.

"Uh... a little."

"I could appear as a grown woman, or a blazing fire, or anything else I want, but this is what I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters and all young maidens for whom I patron before they go astray." The goddess said the last party more towards Skyler than me.

I glanced at Skyler who had a stern look on her face as she stared into her aunts' eyes as if having a silent conversation.

"Go astray?" I asked, breaking the silent conversation.

"Grow up. Become smitten with boys. Become silly, preoccupied, insecure. Forget themselves." Artemis said bluntly, looking between Skyler and I.

Zoe sat down at Artemis's right. She glared at me as if all the stuff Artemis had just said was my fault like I'd invented the idea of being a guy.

"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 I told her.

......

"Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you."

"Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?" I asked hesitantly.

"Sadly, no. I want you and my niece to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay therein safety until I return."

"What?" Zoe and Skyler blurted out in unison.

"But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there—"

"Yes, I know," Artemis said. "But I'm sure Dionysus will not hold a grudge just because of a little, ah, misunderstanding. It's your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides, I hear they rebuilt the cabins you burned down."