Percy Jackson: Guardian of the Huntress

Explain the Unexplainable?

Present Day

POV: Artemis

I stared uncomprehendingly at the limp body I was now holding. There was no way this boy could possibly be him. Yet at the same time, he looked nearly identical to the Guardian that had been assigned to me over four millennia ago. The windswept raven-black hair. The deep sea-green eyes (which I couldn't see because his eyes were currently closed). The same basic body frame. If I didn't know for certain that two thousand years had past, I would've sworn that just yesterday was the whole Orion debacle.

"M'Lady, is something the matter?" Kayla asked uncertainly.

I became aware of the fact that I was currently holding onto a boy right in front of my entire Hunt.

"Do you know this boy." Phoebe asks.

I nod silently, not trusting what would happen if I tried to say anything.

Zöe walks up next to me and tilts Percy's head up so that she could get a look at his face. At first, my lieutenant stares in confusion, and I can see the gears turning in her head. Suddenly, it clicks and she stumbles back in shock.

"Impossible." She breathes out, sweat dripping down her forehead, "No, he's dead. I saw the body. We all did."

She turns to Catania, the only other Hunter who is old enough to have met Percy, "You remember him right? You've got to."

Incidentally, Catania was actually the Hunter Orion assaulted, before Percy got to him.

She shook her head in confusion, "No, should I?"

"Black hair? green eyes? Head full of kelp?" Zöe rattles off, "Nothing. Fine, do you remember the certain abusive son of Poseidon he dealt with?"

Catania just looks at him, then staggers back as well, "There is no way that is the same boy. That happened almost two thousand years ago!"

"Hey, would someone please tell us what is going on." Phoebe demands, "Why are the three of you freaking out over a boy? It's like you're scared to see him. What's going on?"

I take a deep breath, "Its because I saw this boy die right in front of me."

The Hunters are silent for half a second, before bursting in questions.

I carefully set Percy down and turn to Zöe, "Perhaps you should try to explain this to the rest of the Hunters."

"And what of you, M'Lady?" My lieutenant replies.

I stretch my arms out, "I'm going to rest, today has been quite an eventful day."

With that, I retreat to my tent (thank you younger Hunters for settings it up.). Once inside, I set my bow and quiver down, then fall onto my cot. I stare up at the top of the tent, and at the animal furs and other such hunting spoils. I try to distract myself with remembering different hunts I'd gone on. The rampaging moose in Montana. The manticore in Maine. That Hydra in Louisana.

It didn't help though, and I found myself thinking back to when I first met the boy. It was quite the experience, but I remember be extremely irritated at my father, and at Perseus. I thought I was invincible, that a Guardian would only slow me down. I was most definitely wrong about that. As I lay there, the pull of sleep eventually overtakes me and I fade into the world of Hypnos.

I woke with a start. I yawned and stood up stretching. I hadn't even realized that I'd fallen asleep. That was even weirder, because goddesses rarely have dreams. Perhaps I was being affected by my thoughts.

I shake the drowsiness off and flash to Olympus. They need to know of this recent development.

POV: Zoë

Location: Hunters' Camp, Pine Barrens, NJ.

I watched as Artemis walked off to her tent, trying to be nonchalant, but I knew her well enough to know that she most certainly was not relaxed. I sighed, Artemis had gotten much colder after Percy had died, which was no surprise as they were very close friends. They'd tried to hide their friendship those many years ago, but failed miserably.

I remember Percy talking to me once about his responsibilities. A Guardian was not only there to provide security and protection, but to ensure the mental and psychological health of his or her charge. They were there to provide support in any way necessary.

I was drawn out of my musings by a slight cough. In front of me, the entire Hunt stood, waiting in impatience for answers.

I sigh again, "So, you probably want some answers about the boy currently unconscious in front of us."

They blink.

"His name is Perseus 'Percy' Jackson, and he is a son of Poseidon."

"How do you know him?" Kayla asked.

"I first met him when I joined the Hunters, almost thirty-five hundred years ago." I reply tiredly.

The Hunters, especially the younger ones, looked at me expectantly, and I sighed for the third time as I began to recount the tale.

The rest of the Hunters listened intently as the tale of my first encounter with Perseus flows out of me. The story is easy to tell. I remember the whole event like it was just yesterday. How could I not? Perseus certainly has the ability to leave an impression on someone, especially considering how much he has done for me. He even gave me the idea for my surname: Nightshade.

"Like a Guardian Angel." Phoebe mutters, all of the Hunters too deep in thought to recognize the unintentional pun.

I nod in agreement, "He watched over all of us."

"How did he die?" Emily asked.

"It was a few days after the Orion incident." I say, glancing over at Catania.

All of the Hunters knew about Orion, just not the part with Percy. Catania claims to have gotten past it, though in truth, none of the Hunters had ever gotten past it, and we all know that Artemis still blames herself.

"Artemis had gone off to blow off some steam after Orion." Catania picks up the story.

I sit back, glad to let her do that. I'd done enough talking this night.

"She'd charged Percy with watching the Hunt while she was away. He was fine with that and understood that Lady Artemis needed her space, but asked that she remain within a five mile radius, if only to relive himself. I'm pretty sure she did, but I don't know." My oldest sister continues, "After three days, Percy started to get nervous. He told us that he could sense something was wrong, and went to Lady Artemis' location."

"What happened?" Phoebe asked.

"We don't know the details of what happened, but we do know that Artemis was caught in a fight against many monsters. Percy managed to turn the tide in their favor, but also took an arrow or three to the chest. They were poisoned and would have made Lady Artemis fade had they hit her."

"So, he took three arrows that were sure to kill him." Phoebe says, "Just to protect Lady Artemis."

"He never was like other males." I say quietly.

Catania nodded, "Artemis carried his body back to the camp. Then after telling us what had happened, she teleported the two of them to Olympus so that he may have a proper Guardian's burial."

Kayla opens her mouth to ask another question, but is cut off by movement from the unconscious Guardian, who starts thrashing violently.

I always pictured Zöe to be weak and broken when she first joined the Hunt, so I wanted to portray that the best I could in the story. So, what did you think?
keep being awesome,
Leonidas_son_of_Nike