The Adventures of Thalia and Reyna: A Hunters of Artemis Tale

Chapter 14

Hi guys!  I hope your summer has been going well, can't believe it's August already.  I've been working a lot on future chapters!  Chapter 15 is gonna be pretty ambitious for me, had to do tons world building for it, so I hope this chapter is a good start for getting into the bigger plot.  Stay safe out there, and keep writing.

-Karazorel257

Reyna's POV

Reyna was so excited.  It had been many months, almost a year, since she'd last seen her sister.  The hope of seeing Hylla again put a skip in her step as she, Thalia, and Zoe approached cabin 8 for a night's rest.  

They had spent the rest of the day with their old friends.  Thalia spent most of her time catching up with Annabeth, Percy, and Grover.  Reyna got to know Nico's boyfriend Will Solace a bit better, while Nico grumbled about her being "overprotective".  Zoe sort of stood out of place, occasionally nodding during their conversations. 

After a hardy dinner, the girls settled in for the night.  They moved their bunks so that they were all together, while Zoe pointed out constellations on the ceiling she had met in the sky.  

"Over there is Cancer, he's a crab, and by that I mean the sea creature.  He can be a bit emotional.  And that's Virgo over there, she's very nice…"  

Through the night, Reyna learned more about the stars than she ever thought possible.  Thalia fell asleep about ten minutes into Zoe's explanations.

"Zoe?"  Reyna took the chance to speak when Zoe paused in her star gazing.  

"Yes?"

"You seemed a bit, umm, different today."  Reyna said.  "Like you didn't know how to talk to anyone.  Do you want to- I mean, I'm here for you.  If you wanna, talk about it...gosh I'm sorry.  I don't have a lot of friends who come back from being dead."

Zoe smiled at her warmly.  "As strong and fierce as you are, Reyna, you are also very kind.  I admire that about you."  Zoe spoke.  "Did I say that right? I am trying to speak in the newer tongue."

"I think your speaking is just fine the way it is."  Reyna placed a hand on her shoulder.  "You don't have to change for anyone."

Zoe's eyes shined.  "Many thanks.  About what thou said, I guess I just miss the hunters.  I am not very close with anyone here.  My place is in the hunt, I know that now more than ever."

"Does it bother you that Thalia is the lieutenant now?" 

Zoe looked thoughtful for a moment, and leaned over to see if Thalia was still asleep.  "Thalia seems to have led the hunt well in my absence.  I do not wish to challenge her in any way, she is my friend.  However, if the girls see things differently, I'm not sure what I should do."

Zoe was right.  What if the girls in the hunt wanted to follow Zoe again now that she was back, and ask Thalia to step down?  What if the girls chose sides, and fought?  Artemis wouldn't allow that to happen, would she?

"I'm sure it is Artemis’s decision on who gets to be her right hand."  Reyna assured her.  "I guess she kind of has a decision to make."

"Honestly, I am a bit surprised Thalia joined the hunt."  Zoe admitted.  

Reyna's eyes widened.  "What?  Why?" 

"Well it's just, she seems so happy here.  So comfortable around the people here.  She had friends here, family.  Normally, huntresses join when they need a family.  Thalia, in a way, already has one."