Hey everybody!

So sorry for the wait. I got sucked back into Harry Potter.

Shoutout to a certain naggy friend o' mine. You know who you are.

Fun Fact: I updated this fanfiction the SECOND the ball dropped in New York! First fanfic update of 2015 I hope! Be honored.

So yeah, enjoy this chapter!

Percy and Artemis appeared in a forest near Mount Othrys, where Atlas held up the sky.

"Why the Tartarus did you not warn me!?" hissed Percy angrily at Artemis. In response, Artemis clamped her hand over Percy's mouth.

"Shhhhhhhh," whispered Artemis, putting a finger over her mouth to shush her captive. Percy shut up. Artemis released her huntress and set off through the woods, making no noise. Percy followed as quietly as she could, and after a few minutes, heard a roar, and a scream. The two girls made eye contact, then ran towards the sounds.

They burst into a clearing to see a young girl, about 14 or 15 (It was hard to tell) cower on the forest floor against an oak tree trunk. Scratches covered her skin and a particularly nasty one was staining the grass below dark red from it's perch on her upper arm.

Five massive hellhounds surrounded the girl, drool dripping from their snarling mouths. One prepared to lunge at the defenseless maiden, but a silver arrow sprouted from its eye socket, dissolving it into shadows and leaving nothing but a fading howl behind.

The other hellhounds stared at the place where their comrade had been killed, as if not believing it with their own eyes. Then as one, the monsters whipped around to glare at Artemis and Percy.

Artemis calmly raised her bow and shot three within the space of a minute. She looked at Percy, eyebrow raised. "Now you try."

Percy swallowed nervously. She raised her bow and tried to copy the sleek maneuvering of her mistress. She nocked a silver arrow to the bowstring, pulled it back to her cheek, aimed at the sole remaining hellhound, and released. The arrow soared in a gleaming arc…

… and thunked into the ground directly in front of the hellhound's paws.

The Hellhound yelped and jumped backwards, then, seeming to realize that it was unharmed, growled and advanced towards Percy. "Di Immortales," Percy cursed, backing away from the massive beast. The Hellhound lunged. Time seemed to slow down. Percy grabbed one of the silver hunting knives strapped to her waist and threw it, spinning end over end through the air and coming to a stop in the Hellhound's chest. It disintegrated into shadows.

Artemis touched Percy's shoulder. "Well done," she said with a smile. "Though we will have to work on your archery."

Artemis then stepped forward and walked over to the young girl on the ground. She whimpered and scooted away. Every time the moon goddess made an advance, the girl moved farther away. Percy walked over to the scene and whispered to her mistress, "Maybe I'd better take care of this."

Percy took a tentative step towards the girl, and when she made no move to get away, took another. Percy stopped about five feet from the child and sat on the ground. "Hello," Percy said softly.

"Hello," whispered the other girl with a confused look on her face. Percy smiled gently.

"I'm Percy. What's your name?"

"Zoë," came the soft reply.

"Well Zoë," asked Percy. "Would you like to come over here? You have some nasty cuts. My friend and I can fix them up, if you'd like."

Zoë hesitated, then nodded and catiously crawled over to Percy, stopping a foot away uncertainly. Percy smiled wider and shot a smug glance at Artemis over her shoulder. The moon goddess sniffed, offended, then slowly approached the injured girl. Zoë whimpered and shrunk away. Percy motioned for Artemis to stop her advance.

"Why are you frightened?" asked Percy, concerned. When Zoë did not answer, Percy sighed softly. "I'm not going to hurt you. You can tell me anything. Nothing is going to hurt you while we're," Percy indicated Artemis with a sweep of the hand, "around. Alright? I promise."

Zoë seemed to relax slightly at these words, though she kept a wary eye on Artemis. "She's like my dad. Immortal."

Percy exchanged a look with Artemis. "Who's your mother?" Artemis asked politely.

"Pleione," replied Zoë.

"You are a Hesperide?" Artemis asked, shocked. "Why are you not at Mount Othrys with your sisters?"

Zoë fell silent, a bitter look of fear and hatred on her face. "I have been...disowned...you could say."

Silence.

"Why?" Percy asked.

Zoë drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. "I would rather not say," she said coldly.

Percy shrugged. "Okay. Whenever you want to talk, let me know. I heard it helps with traumatic experiences."

"You wouldn't know. You've never talked about it," said Artemis, raising an eyebrow.

Percy reddened. "Yeah. I guess I haven't. And neither do I want to. Ever. At least I didn't get whipped too often though. Mostly just bruised. And whacked. And forced to clean unspeakable things. They also used me as a bit of a jester. They would start a fake argument and laugh at all the comebacks I would come up with. That's why I'm not really affected too much. The fact that you scared the hell out of them helps too, Artemis. I know they won't bother me again, so I try not to be scared. Needless to say...I'm not over it or anything. I'll probably have nightmaresfor a while yet..." Percy trailed off.

"I'd also assume it's because you're incredibly stubborn."

"Yeah, that too. I just don't let fear control me," Percy admitted, shrugging.

Artemis stared at Percy. "Alright then."

"So anyway, if you are a Hesperide, does that mean your father is..." Percy faltered.

"Atlas," finished Zoë, nodding. Her scared demeanour had faded away to an almost royal air of...snootiness, for lack of a better word. Not rude, just snooty.

"Will you allow me to heal your wounds?" Artemis asked softly. Zoë looked wary still, yet she nodded and allowed the moon goddess to walk over and lay her hands on her injuries. A soft silver glow emitted from Artemis's hands, enveloping the bruises with its light. When it faded, Zoë was completely healed, though filthy.

A trace of fear was present in Zoë's face as she asked, "Where do I go now?"

Artemis frowned, and was about to ask the same question, when Percy spoke up.

"You could join the Hunters of Artemis."

"What is that?"

"It's a group of girls who follow Arty here, living a life free from men and menial tasks women are expected to do. You only have to swear off men. You must remain a virgin forever."

Zoë was quiet for a few minutes. Then she smiled.

"I accept."

Next chapter will skip to the future after a few snapshots of "Hunting Over The Ages"!

See you at a later date *coughJanuary26cough* naggy, impatient friend whom I mentioned up top.

Reviews are welcome!

~Starpath12