A New Olympian

Chapter Three

"Dinner Girls!" Artemis's voice ranged throughout the camp. She and I walked over to the dinner table which was surrounded by fire torches to keep the mosquitoes away.

"Where should I sit?" I asked her. I didn't want to take anyone's seat. There was already enough bad blood going around.

"Opposite of me at the end of the table." She stated as she sat down and poured herself a glass of nectar. I did as I was told and waited for the food. I heard a flurry of footsteps behind me and cringed as I heard a girl groan.

"Why does he sit with us!?" One said. Artemis rolled her eyes at her girls antics. She loved them and respected their hate towards me but Perseus did have to eat.

"Girls please. Let's just eat." She commanded. The hunters reluctantly agreed with their leader and sat down. "Atlanta and Grace can you please go get the food." Artemis said. The two girls raced off to what I assumed was the food supply tent. They returned quickly with four plates of deer meat, vegetables and mashed potatoes. I couldn't lie it smelt fucking amazing. Apparently the rest agreed with my thoughts as they furiously began to stuff their mouths with food. Within ten minutes the plates were empty and our stomach were full. The dinner was silent with very little conversation. Until a little girl no older than seven spoke up.

"So lord Perseus." She began.

"Yes." I asked, surprised a hunter would actually speak during this very awkward time.

"Is it true that you saved Artemis from Atlas a couple years back?" She asked with curious eyes. I wonder how she knew this as she was obviously new to the hunters.

"Yes and No." I began looking at Artemis. She tilted her head in confusion. Surely this male would take the glory and boast about himself. "I did take the sky from Artemis so I guess you could classify that as saving her but she fought Atlas thus saving me and my quest mates."

"So it was a group effort?" She said with a mouth full of mashed potatoes. I laughed at her conclusion

"Yes I suppose it was."

While this conversation was going on the rest of the hunters tried to act uninterested but were secretly listening in. They always wanted to hear the story about him saving Artemis from the sky. It was also the story where Zoe died in the process in that quest.

"And what about Zoe? I heard she was apart of that quest." The little girl asked again. My eyes turned somber and I gave a sad smile remembering the fallen huntress.

"Zoe was easily one of the scariest warriors I'd ever met. Just her gaze would paralyze you on the spot!" I chucked. Some of the girls laughed my description of Zoe including Artemis. "But that was before I knew her. As the quest progressed we began to talk to each other more and I guess you could we were cool with each other."

"Was she afraid of Atlas when they fought."

My eyes clouded over as I relieved that fateful day. I still remember the twang of her bowstring as she fired arrow after arrow at Atlas. "No she wasn't. She wasn't afraid to die. And I remember her for that." I admitted. The atmosphere took a more somber tone and I saw Artemis subtly wipe a tear from her eye.

"Well I guess that's all for tonight. I'll take watch goodnight everyone." I said quickly getting out of there. Gods way to go Percy, first day and you managed to piss off everyone and make them sad. I sighed as I perched myself up on a tree ready to fight any intruder that came within the camp lines. It must've been an hour into my watch when I heard the bushes rustling. I pulled out riptide and ready myself to uncap it and fight.