Slavic Huter [OC PJO Crossover]

Chapter 7 - Comments and Curfew

15thDecember 2007, Long Island

     I finished my story, then fell silent. I wasn't proud of that decision, I tried to forget it. But sometimes at inopportune moments, memories would spring up like snakes from cavities and circle my head. Lost in thought, I didn't see Zoe and Phoebe staring at me with unreadable eyes. Actually, I didn't know what to expect: resentment, indignation, maybe even stigmatization and hatred from the Hunters. Zoe never commented on my decision, not even 12 years ago, but that's enough time to think about it - and I know it from my own experience.
- Who else knows about it? Besides Lady Artemis and Hecate? - Phoebe asked
- Just me, Zoe, and you. - I replied
- Did that cause you to leave the Hunt? Was that the most important reason, and not... what you officially stated? - Phoebe continued her interrogation
I looked at Zoe, then shook my head.
- No: the reason for leaving was and still is the same. However... it wasn't until I got back that I realized what I had done; from who I became then: in fact, I became complicit in the murders of those people that I might have saved during that war. It was then that I decided that if the moment comes again when someone asks me for help, I will help them. I won't "throw myself thoughtlessly to help", but "I will make the most rational decision possible".

     Zoe asked:
- How many of those who is't w're at yond meeting died?
I replied
- Black, Snape, Tonks, Lupin, Moody. And Dumbledore. Apart from them.... hard to say, but no more than a thousand people.
- And the young one?
- He survived.
Phoebe sighed
- So in short, the 501st is a form of redemption for you for that event? - I shook my head
- No - it's a penance.
- What's the difference?
- Enormous.
- Hmmm... Zoe, I remember correctly that we weren't called to help with monsters after all?
- You remember well, Phoebe.

     Phoebe thought for a moment, then turned to me.
- True, you don't have millions of people killed on your account and I understand why you made such a decision ... - she paused for a moment and I raised my head, which had been lowered so far - but I will not agree that you are complicit in these deaths: it wasn't you, who released those strings, it wasn't you, who killed them. And one man more or less will not change the fate of the world and people.
- You're wrong, Phoebe - I replied - One man can change the fate of many hundreds and even thousands. But thank you: for not hating me so much from your comment as to make me a pillow for arrows right here.
- The day is still young.
Before I could answer, the conch sounded. Zoe got up, dusted herself off, then turned to us:
- Okay, end of talk: the Huntresses needs to be gather. It's time for dinner.

     Dinnerin the pavilion was as always ... interesting: a combination of a colonnade, asif a banquet hall from Athens pulled out of history, and young people in modernclothes, over modern dishes. When we entered the pavilion, I felt very... out ofplace: I was surrounded by kids no older than 16; The hunters, who also lookedlike they had a little less (although in fact the average age was probablytwice the size of Leonidas's personal guard), and only me: a 78-year-old in thebody of a 26-year-old ... I wonder if I could go for a retirement already... The hunters took the best bits of food on a plate and went to the tripod tomake an offering to the gods.. but without me: I was the only one here whocould justify myself with religion. It's good, when other countries's constitutionscomes in handy.

     The meal itself went without any major problems - which was a huge success for Hunt and Camp meetings: here Bianca was arm wrestling with Phoebe, there three other girls were joking about something, Zoe sat like a master watching her vassals and smiling at the sound of more and more jokes from her charges. And I... I felt like... at home; the last time I felt like this was that night 12 years ago... No - I mustn't think about her, not now when there are more important things to do. Like the problem of deadly mercenaries... or those weird monsters... Shit - there's a lot of it. Fortunately, Ryan had one's feet on the ground and was able to find her way to her ... back, without using a map. – which was unusual for US Army officers (that is what some staff sergeant told me once). It's possible that by the time I see her in Washington, she'll be able to find even a small lead.