Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I wish I did but I don't. Rick Riordan does. Some parts were taken directly from the 3rd book, The Titan's Curse.

Choosing Love

Chapter 1

Leila, one of Artemis' Hunter's, jumped out of Apollo's bus and onto Camp Half-Blood dirt. Zoë Nightshade's orders were simple, go right to Cabin Eight (Artemis' Cabin) and ignore then camp entirely. But when she walked to the Cabin with her sisters, she saw the thing she had swore herself against five-hundred years ago: a boy.

"Are you crazy?" Zoë, the Hunter's lieutenant, snapped when they had entered the Cabin. "Do not get thy feelings mixed up here. You are a Hunter and have made a promise. Leila Peterson, do not fall for a boy, they will only break thy heart. Bedsides," she motioned to the rest of the Hunters, "Would you be so ready to give up this? Your sisters?" Leila raised a delicate eyebrow.

"Certainly not! I'd never give them up! How could you think that?" Leila hissed through clenched teeth.

"Good to know," Zoë remarked and then added for the rest of the Hunters to hear, "Unpack. Lady Artemis doesn't know when she'll be back so we might as well make ourselves comfortable while we're here." A sister Melody snorted.

"That can't be possible, Lieutenant Zoë," Nikki mumbled. "Remember the last time we were here?" Zoë glared balefully at the twelve year old but even though Nikki was the closest to her (she's been in the hunt longer than Zoë herself) it didn't stop her from retorting.

"Shut thy mouth, it was not my fault."

"What wasn't your fault?" Bianca di Angelo asked, the newest Hunting sister.

"Never mind," Zoë responded. "I supposed Chiron wants to have the normal game of capture the flag. I guess we ought to do it."

"Why don't they just give up?" Alana complained. "We beat them time and time again. Chiron should just admit we're better than those half-bloods."

"This is tradition and for the Hunter's of Artemis' sake," Zoë snapped. "It's also tradition that we win, for Lady Artemis." There were agreements from around the Cabin. Leila went to Nikki's side to comfort the fuming Huntress.

"Don't worry; it's just one more game. It should go by quickly." Leila tapped her silver bow and her quiver of arrows as if that was all the comfort Nikki needed. It was. She let out a sigh and went to find a bunk. She unrolled her silk sleeping bag and her dear pelt, stroking it a few times she turned towards Bianca. "You'll love being a Hunter. I'm glad you made this decision." Bianca smiled.

"That capture the flag game is ours with you on our side," Nikki added to boost Bianca's confidence up.

*******

Leila gritted her teeth as she began to put the armor on. This capture the flag game wasn't going to be very much fun, but at least it would be quick. Leila grabbed a dagger and tucked it under her armor just in case. She was sure she'd never have to use it. Her bow and arrows would be enough.

"Stupid old centaur," Zoë muttered. "We should be out looking for Lady Artemis, not here playing childish games." The Hunters agreed quickly and quietly. After the dream about Artemis that Zoë had, we shouldn't be here. Leila thought angrily. But Chiron had forbidden them to go anywhere so here they were getting dressed up and gritting their teeth about it.

"Let's finish this game fast," Zoë muttered. We nodded and she led us out of the mess hall and into the forest.

"Heroes, you know the rules, the creek is the boundary line. Blue team, Camp Half-Blood shall take the west of the woods. Hunters of Artemis, red team, shall take the east woods. I will serve as a referee and battlefield medic. No intentional maiming please. All magic items allowed. To your positions!" Chiron called out. Zoë ushered us into the east part of the forest. She stuck the flag in the center back of the field and then turned towards us.

"Alright here's the plan, Hunters. Nikki, Leila, Bianca, Alana, Susan, Courtney and Phoebe, you're defense, keep yourselves hidden until one of them strikes. Elizabeth, Rose, Mary, Helen, Melody and I will be offence and get the flag. Understand?" The Hunters nodded at the lieutenant's words. "Let's win then and get it over with!" Leila nodded and grabbed Courtney's wrist.

"Come, we can climb a tree and wait." She murmured quietly to her sister. They quickly slung themselves into the tree and waited. Leila listened harder to hear the footsteps. Leila jumped down from the tree and went to see who was in the territory.

It was the boy. The boy she had seen at the campfire with all of his friends. Leila shook her head to get rid of those thoughts. She was part of Artemis' hunt she wasn't supposed to fall in love. But looking at the boy in front of her she couldn't help but give a small smile. She knew nobody was looking; Courtney had other things to do besides worry about if she got a half-blood and the others were too far away to see or hear anything.

"Hey," The boy greeted her. Leila raised her eyebrows. He was obviously new at this. In a game of capture the fag, you never talked to the other team unless you had to.

"Hi," Leila responded. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

"I'm Dean Perry, son of Apollo," The demigod was young, about the age of fourteen—a year older than what Leila looked like—but he was really good looking.

"I'm Leila Peterson," Leila responded automatically. She could feel a faint blush coming on and was desperate to stop it. Dean's eyes were wide and innocent.

"Are you sure you can't date or anything?" Dean lowered his spear and grinned.

"Of course not!" Leila hissed. "I swore to Lady Artemis!"

"Right, right," Dean muttered. He smirked and added slyly, "Did you know you have the prettiest hair I've ever seen?" That did it. Leila felt the blush creep up her neck and into her check.

"Thank you," She murmured. Dean smiled and then picked up his spear, watching his eyes carefully she was able to defend herself from his strike. "Nice try, demigod, but I've been with the Hunters for over five-hundred years, I have more knowledge of fighting then you ever will." Leila simply dodged Dean's attacks with ease and soon he was panting and fighting for breath.

"Wow, I am the best out of the Apollo Cabin, you are really good." He grinned but he was still out of breath.

"HELP!" Bianca di Angelo cried. Leila looked up from Dean's sweaty face, her senses alert and careful. Leila dashed silently through the forest towards the sound of the voice; she knew it was safe to leave Dean. He was a beginner, what bad could happen? It was another boy. Keeping two fingers wrapped around the string on the arrow Leila pulled it back and then let it go. The silver wire zoomed quickly and grabbed hold of the tree. It sent the demigod soaring through the air and landing with a soft thud in the white snow. She was aware that Courtney had joined her at her side. Leila and Courtney gave each other a high-five.

"Percy," a girl cried. She looked like a little punk rocker girl, she seemed familiar. Leila gasped.

"It's that girl from a few years ago, Zoë tried to get her to join us, remember?" Leila said to Courtney who had also jumped from the tree silently.

"Yeah," Courtney answered, she was already drawing out a special arrow for her. Leila watched in satisfaction when the arrow hit the ground. The two girls snickered as a terrible smell surrounded the forest.

Two boys were yelling something. Leila and Courtney stared as Zoë weaved her way through the blue team's territory. She crossed the creek and was immediately greeted by the Hunters.

"The Hunters win!" Chiron announced. "For the fifty-sixth time in a row."

"Wonderful, Zoë!" Alana cried. We all hugged and kissed each other.

"Good shot Courtney and Leila, thou hit that boy hard," The girls began to laugh and giggle loudly as if to show the rest of the camp they were better. The screams and cheers died down and Zoë stepped forward cautiously taking in the scene.

"Approach Seeker and ask," The voice interrupted Leila's thoughts and made her jump. It was creepy. It began to speak:

Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,

One shall be lost in the land without rain,

The bane of Olympus shows the trail,

Campers and Hunters combined prevail,

The Titians' curse must one withstand,

And one shall perish by a parent's hand.

Zoë stared at the Oracle in wonder and then watched it become lifeless again. "Come Hunters, we must discuss this." Back in the Cabin, Leila was surprised to learn that Bianca was Zoë's major concern.

"I want all the Hunters to go with me on this quest," Zoë said quietly.

"But the prophecy said only five should go. And that it would be both campers and Hunters." Susan pointed out mildly. "I'm sure only three Hunters should go." Susan had just joined the hunt a few decades ago so she was new at things. Leila snorted.

"No! We pledged that we would stick together. We all should go and try to help Lady Artemis," Melody added quietly.

"We'll go together." Zoë pledged.

***

"That's it," Zoë said packing her things into a small bag. "I'm going on the quest with that satyr, Thalia and Bianca. Nikki you're in charge when we go to find Artemis." She gave a sorrowful glance. "I'm so sorry I can't take you all, Hunters of Artemis. But Chiron and everyone else say I should be quiet about it and take a small group. We will be back by the Winter Solstice." She turned around and headed out the Cabin door. Leila and the rest of the Hunters stood in absolute silence. Zoë was their lieutenant. What would happen then? One week of freedom before the Hunters had to follow rules. Why Zoë had left Nikki in charge was a mystery to them. She was blind to rules and would lead the Hunters into chaos.

"Hunters of Artemis, we must stick together." Leila nodded her head in agreement.