Searching For Serenity

Chapter 14

Percy

Turkey Run State Park Camp

I laid there listening to the sounds of the forest not willing to open my eyes quite yet. I could feel that Artemis hadn't moved all night and was still radiating more heat than Tartarus himself.
The camp was noticeably quiet, the sound of a cackling fire missing, which was good with me. I knew I had to get up and make my way out of here and get that fire built back up. Unfortunately Artemis was in her twenties this morning and was laying across my body. It was looking like I'd have to wake her, but that seemed like a no-no. There was probably less than a 25% chance that doesn't turn into a situation where I'm left with a flesh wound.
So I did the brave thing and started the slow process of shimmying my way out from under the unconscious god. I quietly jumped out of bed and got dressed and before slipping through the tent flap I looked back to Artemis. I stepped out of the tent with a sharp eye and a happy grin on my face.
I stepped over over to the smoldering coals and set some brush on it before fanning the coals. Before too long flames were licking at the cool air and I was content. I sat back on a log and played in my head until the hunters got up.

"Delos," Artemis said, fork in hand," there's cliffs there. Apollo would always jump off of them."
I looked up, "What about your mother?"
Artemis kept her head down, "Well I'd imagine she'll be there...but she's peaceful..we just have a patchy relationship. I doubt she'd come out and that's if she even knew we were there."
I nodded, hoping she was right. I was feeling a mix of 'Oh shit I'm about to meet my girlfriend's parents" and 'I'm about to meet a another titan.'
Either way I couldn't imagine any scenario playing out that was good, but I looked around at the the hunter's to see what they were thinking. Izzy looked excited at seeing her mistress's birth place and cliff jumping and she wasn't the only one. Almost all of the other hunters looked like they were jacked up on mountain dew. The little adrenaline junkies could barely hold it in, and who am I to say I don't want to go?
"So when we leavin'," one of the hunters blurted out.
Artemis shook her head with a slight smile, "Let Percy do the dishes and then we can leave."
I flicked my eyes to her, "Why me? I've been on watch every night."
She was quick to roll her eyes, "Oh and I'm sure that's been so rough for you," she said before looking down the table, "I need a couple of you to help fish boy scrub some plates."
A couple of the hunters groaned, but I brushed off the insults and hoped Thalia would help me.
Izzy bumped my shoulder, "I'll help you," she said with a big smile and wink.
"Nope. Absolutely not," I said as serious as I could, "You're not allowed to clean up your own birthday breakfast."
The lieutenant to my left got up with an exaggerated sigh and pulled me up by my sleeve, "Come on kelp head."

Artemis
From the shadows of the tree I watched my hunters get thrown around in the water. They would jump off the cliffs and Percy would lift them back up. He was being a showoff doing tricks and messing with the Hunters, mostly Thalia. Luckily they haven't had too serious of a fight yet.
It was surprising watching even the most stubborn of them get over their bad attitudes when they saw how much everyone else was having.
The girls were in their silver swimsuits, which would normally mean that they'd have to castrate Percy for even seeing them. Luckily Percy was the exception snd like a big brother and role model for the a good portion of the girls. I was still feeling a little worn out after flashing us all here so I decided to stay in my uniform. It was probably for the best that I didn't advertise how comfortable I was around Percy while half naked.
There was not a fiber in my godly being that didn't have complete faith in Percy and that's dangerous. It scares me, but it's hard not to feel that way about him and I could see that feeling slipping into my hunters as well.
Percy had on nothing besides his ocean green swim trunks, his hair was a mess and the water dripped off of his toned muscles making him look the newest Calvin Klein model. I was having to force myself to look away or I'd end up drooling in my own lap. I had a feeling some of my hunters were feeling the same way. A couple of them in the water looked like they refused to turn away and their drool looked like an oil spill. I couldn't blame 'em but still I'd have to keep an eye on that. It'd destroy me to have to kill one of my hunters.
Percy looked back towards me and shot a quick wink and started creeping up behind Izzy, who was standing at the edge of the cliff yelling down at the hunters in the water. It was obvious that he was gonna push her into the water.
As he got with a couple feet he lunged, "Happy Birthd-," he screamed before Izzy sidestepped and put her hand on her attacker's back and pushed him off the edge.
I jumped up with my hand over my mouth and a scoff and let out a quiet giggle. I stalked over to the girls gathered at the edge making fun of my boyfriend.
"Thank ya Prissy!" Izzy squealed, high on the moment.
The other girls, especially Thalia, were hurling insults at him. I peered down over the edge and saw him barely peeking his sea green eyes out of the water, imitating a crocodile. His name expression was one of lighthearted defeat and annoyance.
"Quit pouting you big ol' cry baby!" I yelled down, probably too flirtatious then I should have.
He slowly dipped below the water and we were immediately faced with jets of water streaming towards all of us on the cliff. We all covered our faces and jumped back to try to dodge it. It didn't work.
While I was wiping the salty water off my face I heard the sound of churning water. I flicked the rest of the water off my hand and looked out towards the cliff where Percy was floating atop a hurricane with the trademark grin.
"Im gonna kill you," I said flashing into my bikini mid sprint, still in my 20 year old form.
His face changed to one of fear as he realized what was happening. He tried to fall back into the water but too late.
We were falling through the air, our bodies pressed against each other, with my hands tight around his throat and the loving look in my eyes.