Titans Wrath

Percy: Chapter 5

     I had thought that Artemis would come charging into my cabin before the sun went down, demanding blood for the scene with her hunters in the arena, but when she knocked on my door, there wasn't any aggression on her face or in her posture. If anything, she looked quietly resigned, and tired, even more so than when she left to go to sleep a few hours before hand. I took a moment to look her up and down for the first time in a long while. She was in a form that seemed to be roughly my age, if a little younger. Her long auburn hair was pinned back in a pony tail, giving her face a thin, regal look. Her face was kind of elvish, thin with her chin tapering down. She had glowing silver eyes, eyes that despite her exhausted expression shone with immense power. Under her eyes were dark circles, forming bags and making her appear older than she otherwise looked. Her lips were pressed into a thin, neutral line and making worry lines crease her face. 

     She was on the shorter side, even shorter than Annabeth, only managing to clear 5'4 roughly. She had a shapely form, which surprised me, but I chose to ignore. "If you're done ogling me," she started "may I come in?" I looked at her a moment longer before sighing and stepping aside, letting her walk in. She took a step in and looked around my semi tidy space before sniffing in what I assume was satisfaction. I motioned for her to take a seat on one of the bunk beds, while I took a seat across from her. 

     "What may I help you with m'lady?" I spoke first after an awkward silence. The faintest hint of a smile graced her lips but she pushed whatever amusement she felt down quickly. 

     "I heard about your little show in the arena." She looked to me with a raised eyebrow, continuing only when I nodded in acknowledgment. "I've come to apologize on their behalf. They acted out of line, and I thank you for handling it with, what do you mortals say, 'kid gloves'." Her words were calm and controlled but her face strained with concentration, as if every word took a great deal of effort to say aloud. 

     I raised an eyebrow. "Cool, now that you got that out of the way, say what you really wanted to say." For a moment she just stared at me before she finally deflated. Everything seemed to drain out of her as she slumped forward, her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands. 

     "Forget it, I can't be mad at you. Were getting ready to march out at dawn, will you be ready by then or will you be joining us at a later time?" It took everything in me not to make a snide remark, and instead to just smile at her. 

     "I've been meaning to talk to you about that. Is this job going to be something that requires my full attention all the time? Like you said in the throne room, you're constantly surrounded by 30 of the best trained 'protectors' on the planet, and besides, I couldn't tell you why but I get the feeling that I can just tell if you're in trouble." I didn't know that what I said was true until the words were out of my mouth. Ever since Artemis had bestowed her blessing upon me and named me her guardian, there'd always been this quiet voice in the back of my head, like a soft buzz. 

     She shrugged and sat back up straight, the top of her head brushing the bunk above her. "If you wish to only show when you are needed, I would not blame you. For the first few months, it might be better, give the girls some time to adjust to your presence in the camp instead of just thrusting it all upon them in one go. Will you be able to make it to me quickly should I find myself in trouble?" 

     I felt my grin split my face as I pulled Riptide out of my pocket and threw it at her as hard as I could. In retrospect, I had never actually tried this trick before, and it could have ended very badly if I was even a half second too slow. Her eyes widened in surprise and she moved to defend herself but my power had already kicked in. I felt the familiar tug in my gut as my body dissolved into a light shower of mist and reappear before Artemis, my hand extended just in time to clamp around the length of my pen, the point of the cap an inch from her forehead. Her eyes crossed as they focused on the point before she glared at me, getting to her feet with a huff.

     "You could have just said yes, you miserable dolt." she grumbled, but I could tell she was hiding a smile. I spun Riptide around my fingers deftly and slipped her back into my pocket with a flourish like an old western cowboy would his revolver, grinning. 

     "Yea but where would be the fun in that? Anyways," I continued, "I believe your father wished me to train the other guardians, so I think we should do this all very slowly. Who will you appoint as your head honcho with Thalia gone?"

     At the mention of my cousins name, the goddess's face darkened with brooding fury, and I realized Zeus must have taken her away without getting Artemis' permission. "I'm not sure yet, possibly Phoebe. She's the senior hunter, if a little head strong. You let me sort that out. In the mean time, I agree with you. I shall depart with the hunters at dawn, you'll find you're able to call your fellow guardians to Olympus much like we Olympians can call a meeting. Go to the arena on Olympus and drive your weapon into the ground, the others should know what to do." With a nod and a shaky smile, Artemis left my cabin and strode away back to her cabin.