Percy Jackson: Hunter of Artemis

Finding Artemis

Percy's POV

I aimed my bow at the sound of growling. Time to see how good I am with this thing. I let the arrow fly. I heard a yelp and saw a wolf. Not a mystical wolf, but a normal wolf. I ran over to it and took the arrow out of its flanks. I skinned the animal and took the meat. I put the fur and meat in my bag. I didn't yet know what I was going to do with the fur, but I could definitely use the meat for a few meals. I swore to myself that I would never again use such a majestic creature such as a wolf for another meal though. Anything else would be fine. A wolf? No.

I stalked off deeper into the woods, intent on finding Artemis and getting her to let me join the hunt.

I gave up after another 4 hours and set up camp. I believe that I was currently somewhere in New Jersey. I wasn't certain on the exact location, but I was definitely in New Jersey. I really needed to work on my geography skills.

I made my tent out of sticks and leaves and made a fire. I cooked some of the meat over the fire and ate when it was ready. I looked at the wolf hide and decided to make a jacket.

I took a needle and thread out of my bag along with some scissors. I had found that sewing could come in handy in a lot of situations and had gotten lessons from a mortal. Annabeth had also taught me how to weave. Hey, you never know when something like that may come in handy! Like now for instance.

I sewed the fur until I had a nice cozy coat. I snapped the arrowheads off of some arrows and sewed the arrowheads to the coat as buttons. I had a fur lined hood that would keep me warm and help me hide my identity. In about an hour, I was finished. I examined my work. If you ask me, I had done an excellent job. I put on the coat and was warmed quickly. I was about to crawl into my makeshift tent, when I heard voices.

"I swear I saw smoke in this area," a feminine voice said.

"Maybe you should get your eyes checked then, Phoebe," another female voice said.

"Can it, Kinzie," the first girl, Phoebe, said.

"Whatever," the girl called Kinzie mumbled.

I recognized the names. I heard them when we recruited Nico and Bianca 3 years ago. They were hunters of Artemis!

"Let's go, Phoebe. There's nothing here!" Kinzie said.

"Fine," Phoebe grumbled.

They walked away. I quickly packed my things and followed them. I had to admit, they were fast. But I was also fast and stealthy. I followed them to a camp 5 miles from mine. I wasn't surprised that Phoebe had seen the smoke from that far away. Hunters had amazing sight.

As the girls made their way into the camp, I remained in the cover of the trees. I watched, waiting for the right moment to come out.

I watched as Artemis stepped out of the main tent. She reached the center of the camp and stiffened. She looked directly at me and gasped.

"There is a male in our midst," she said.

There was a collective gasp of astonishment and surprised murmurs all around the camp. I decided to show myself.

I stepped out of the trees gingerly. I didn't want to startle them. If I spooked them, they may shoot me. As I came from the cover of the trees, some girls threw murderous glances my way. I was truly terrified of the hunters. I knew they could kill me at any time. I just hoped that they would here me out.

"Lady Artemis, I come in peace. I do not wish to inflict harm upon you or your hunters. I come to ask for permission to join the Hunt," I said.

Many gasped. Others glared at me. Artemis sat perfectly still. She had an excellent poker face.

"And why should we trust that you, a male, could have what it takes to become a Hunter? Why should we let you?" Artemis said.

"I have had three relationships. One with an empousa. Please don't ask. She tried to kill me of course. The second, I dated my friend, who turned me down to become the oracle. The last was Annabeth. She cheated on my with an Aphrodite kid. Every relationship that I ever had has ended with only pain. So I searched for you, M'Lady, in hopes that I could finally find peace and become a single man forever. I swear on the River Styx that I would never harm any of the hunters, I would never break my vows, and I would protect all of the hunters from other men who would try to have their way with them. I swear my loyalty to you, Artemis. I will serve you forever," I said.

"Very nice speach, Percy. Very well. I will give you one chance. A single slip up and you shall be excluded from the hunt. We have not had a male join the Hunt for a very long time. I would hope that you don't turn out like the last," Artemis said.

"Thank you, M'Lady."

It took a while for the girls to get used to me. Five weeks to be exact. They didn't want me to join the hunt because I was a boy and they had sworn off males forever. But they warmed up to me.

They are my sisters and I was their little brother. We hunted together, cooked together, went on missions together. In the hunters' opinions, I was the only decent male in the entire world.

I didn't mind picking fights with males who tried to get with the hunters. I always pulverized them and threatened to kill them every time. It was actually very fun.

One time, a demigod named Nathan had tried to kidnap Kinzie and make her marry him. I took him out to the woods and gave him a black eye, a bloody nose, seventeen broken bones, a dislocated shoulder and knee, and a warning to never mess with the hunters of Artemis ever again.

Another time, a guy named Daniel had kissed Phoebe and he got off with 3 broken bones, a bloody nose, and both eyes black. That was when I was in a good mood.

I am currently trying to show Phoebe that I am stronger than her and better with a bow. I won by surfing giant waves and shooting arrows at the trees. When I was finished, the arrows impaling the tree spelled out THE HUNTERS OF ARTEMIS ARE AWESOME!!! with a bow and arrow crossed over a full moon.

To say Phoebe was shocked would be a MAJOR understatement. Her jaw was practically at her feet and her eyes were as wide as dinner plates. All she had done to her target was get a bullseye and split an arrow 7 times.

I walked up to her. "I believe I win," I said and help out my hand motioning for her to pay up. She muttered something about 'stupid males' and 'always so arrogant' but she handed over the 20 drachmas.

I looked at the rest of the girls watching. "And that, my dear sisters, is how you beat Phoebe at an archery contest!"