Searching For Serenity

Chapter 9

Percy
Surprisingly I was woken by a certain annoyed moon goddess.
"Perseus! Get up! Now! It's almost 6:45."
I started to roll over on my cot, still recalling all that happened, sleep threatening to force itself upon me once again. Midway through my slow turn I was met by my blanket being thrown in my face as it was ripped off of me.
Little did Artemis know that I slept in my undies. Once the blanket, that was shielding me from my apparent aggressor fell to ground I was exposed.
Artemis's hand flew to shield her eyes, donning a shocked expression. "Get out here," she said breathlessly as she turned around headed out of the flap of my tent.
I stared at the flap of my tent, rubbing the sleep out of eyes. I had gotten barely any sleep last night, laying awake for hours after Artemis had left for bed. I eventually decided to push my pressing thoughts out of my head for now and let myself drift off into the realm of Morpheus.
I shook my head while letting out a yawn, What a way to get woken up.
I slipped my legs off the side of my cot and got up. Before long I was fully dressed and heading out to the dining tent.
The camp was empty but I could hear talking and laughing coming from the tent. I walked up to the opening, nervous about my first time seeing the Hunt after their learning of their new campmate. I steeled myself, stepping in and looking around.
The talking and laughing quickly died down as every eye moved to stare at me.
You would've thought I was a hooker walking into a church or had pulled a pistol and emptied the mag into the air, the way they were staring at me.
Since I turned twelve I have constantly found myself in front of crowds, all eyes on me. You would think that I'd be used to it by now, but it made me extremely uneasy. The looks most of the girls were giving me made facing the Olympian Council feel like a cake walk.
The only people who weren't staring at me like I was some kind of lunatic was Thalia and Artemis, who were both grinning at me, knowing my uneasiness.
Thalia took pity on me and patted the seat next to her, on the end of the bench, "Come on Kelp Brain."
I sat down and leaned close to Thalia, "Thanks," she just nodded and began chowing down on her eggs, while most of the hunters slowly began talking amongst themselves, yelling and laughing back and forth like a large family.
I looked down at my plate that had been set for me. Eggs and toast. I groaned internally, not that I didn't like eggs or toast, but it wasn't my ideal breakfast. I pushed the plate back, and summoned some of Hestia's blue pancakes with some sausage patties and a glass of orange juice.
I looked down at my plate, a grin splitting my face.
Yeah, I definitely chose the right blessing.
"Is there something wrong my food Percy?" A stubborn looking Artemis asked.
I looked down at my food and back at the goddess, "Um..no. It looks good and everything. I just would rather eat this," I said gesturing towards my plate, "No offense."
The hunters had quieted down again as they watched Artemis confront me. "I helped cook that too," she said with a mock offended look.
Is she really trying to guilt trip me right now?
I stared at her, feeling anxious, not sure what to say.
"Im just messing with you Percy," she said lightly, "but didn't I tell you to get out here by 6 o'clock?"
"Yes..but I don't exactly have an alarm clock anymore," I replied stubbornly.
"Well you better get in a routine," she shot back cooly and looked thoughtful for a moment, "how about every time I have to come in there and wake you up you have to take all the girl's orders at breakfast," she added with a bright smile.
Even though I thought it a bit annoying having to serve the girls who seemed to hate me like a slave, I nodded my head.
Artemis set her intertwined hands down on the table and looked around at her hunters, "So tell him what you want girls!"
"Whoa! I thought today was a free day!"
"I said easy, not free Perseus," she happily exclaimed while grinning in my direction.
I just shook my head accepting defeat, looking to Thalia, "So what do you want Sparky?"
And it went on and on...and on. All thirty six young girls, sat happily digging into their plates, now piled with an assortment of different foods. I picked up my fork and speared a now cold sausage only for Artemis to clear her throat.
"What about me?" She asked innocently with a shrug.
I glanced at her, "You said I'd have to take your hunters' orders, you never said anything about yours," I reasoned, getting back at her.
She snorted, "You did swear to protect me, and I think feeding me would fall somewhere in there."
I couldn't tell if she was joking or not, I rolled my eyes, "So what ya want Arty?" I asked nonchalantly, trying to get under her skin.
Her faced turned serious, "Don't call me that," she said flicking her eyes to my plate, "I'll have what you're having."
I decided not to complain, and summoned her food, ready to finally eat mine.
We finished our meals, and Artemis started to talk, "Thank you Percy."
"Yeah thanks," Thalia said nudging me with her elbow.
A couple of the other hunters even thanked me, some still calling me 'boy,' although looking grateful.
"Alright, lets start packing up, we're gonna head back to Indiana," Artemis said, standing up, "Percy come with me, I'll show you how to pack your supplies."