An unclaimed boy goes on a quest to try and force his godly parent's hand. If he won't be claimed in camp, what better way to do it then getting a toddlers toy back?
Y/n has spent many years in camp. Its all he has known and with no mortal parent al...
I was 10 at the time. 3 years since Thalia and not doing much better about it. I was sitting by her pine tree as it was often a source of comfort. Always felt like lightning was dancing between my skin when I was near it. At this point, so many people who arrived later then me were getting claimed that I was getting angry at my godly parent.
"Fuck this," I grumbled out very angrily and ran. I didn't plan to leave camp, I just needed to do anything else other than the same things for 3 years so I wanted to explore the world.
And explore I did. Boston, Oakland Hills, Brooklyn and Washington. Was camping in Oakland hills for awhile. Anyway, I eventually found myself hunting for food on my travels. I had stumbled upon a dying girl, she looked 13. Had long, silky blonde hair that was spotted with blood. Piercing blue eyes that looked dazed. She held a silver bow in her hand, aimed directly at me.
"State your business, boy," She managed through gasps of air. Her erratic breathing brought attention to the rest of her where I could spot the deep claw gash through her stomach. Looking poorly bandaged and not fresh.
"I was just looking for food. Do you need help?" I asked, already knowing the answer and planning to ignore her answer.
"Not from you, boy. Leave before my lady arrives," she said through gritted teeth. Almost gagging up her pride instead of swallowing.
I rolled my eyes before moving quickly towards her. Getting an arrow to the shoulder for my troubles. I glared at her for that.
"Look, you can't walk. Just save us the trouble and tell me where your lady is so you can have a chance of surviving. That wound looks old, you've been out here awhile. If I help, you may see her again," I said hoping she gets the point.
She glared at me before it softened to a reluctent nod. So there we were, a hunter who wanted me dead everytime I moved my hand and me, who was carrying a half-dead girl through the woods. We were a pair. Her name was Chloe. When she wasn't trying to kill me, she was fun. Much older then she looked, she acted how she looked though.
It took five days to get to Artemis, five long monster filled days. When we got there, I was not greeted warmly. I didn't expect to be though so I was prepared.
"What have you done?" Artemis demanded. I simply put Chloe down in front of her.
"He didn't do this, my lady. He just helped me get here," Chloe defended me. I was shocked, I expected her to be silent but through pained breaths, she defended me.
"Boy, I thank you and grant you mercy. Leave, do not return," Artemis struggled to say before she went back to attending her hunter.
I started to leave before feeling someone grabing my hand. I turned to see Chloe holding my hand and refusing to let it go.
"My lady, did I serve you well?" Chloe asked Artemis who was looking at our hands in shock.
"Of course, you have served by my side for years. One of my best," Artemis said softly to her, looking sadly down at her hunter.
"Then, can I make a request? Y/n spent 5 days with me, no sleep and defended me from monsters. He carried me here when he could have left me to die, I owe this moment to him. I wish to give my bow to him," Chloe said as she held my hand harder in worry.
"I-i of course, yes. That can be arranged. We would need to train him then. If he has a hunter's bow, he must act like a hunter. I won't have its memory ruined," Artemis stated firmly while looking at me.
"My lady, thou can't be serious. He-" a girl, with clearly more authority then the rest, tried to say before Artemis stopped ber with a hand.
"I do not like it but a request was made, we shall honour our own. So shall he and the best way to do that is to train him," Artemis said as though it made her sick.
"Thank you, my lady. And i'm sorry for how I treated you, y/n. Tell my father to go fuck himself for me," She said as she handed me her bow. She closed her eyes for the last time, looking at peace. Reminding me of Thalia.
And training was my life after that. Handled by Zoë, the girl with authority, and Artemis. I hated it, they hated it. We bonded over the mutual hatred of it and the fact we were doing it for the same person. A year with the hunters and Atermis. Grover's dream but my nightmare. I won't get into details but I earned their respect by my commitment to honouring Chloe even if it was torture. I respect their skills so I sought to learn more then just the bow, I wanted to know how to track.
Time passed and I was ready to go back to camp. Artemis had long since thought me worthy of the bow. I wasn't better then most of them but I could beat a couple of them at Archery. As I was preparing to leave, Artemis interrupted me.
"Y/n, you might be a boy but you have my respect. Do not take that lightly, as a hunter you can use my cabin. I know you don't have one as your unclaimed so I claim you," Artemis stated as if that wasn't important. I was shocked.
"Thank you. I won't let you down," I said firmly. She smiled proudly at that.
"I have one more thing for you, join the hunt. Only one other man achieved that. You can still go to camp for the summer if you wish," Artemis shocked me again. I was stunned by this. Having long since guessed who my godly parent was, I needed this.
"Do I swear off men or women? Also, dont wanna look 11 forever," I asked her, she lsughed at that.
"Still men. I suppose we could wait till you are older. You can take the oath now though and it takes effect when you wish it to," She said as she looked at me with amusement over my question.
"Good for the gay women. Yeah, I'm okay with that," I said to her, looking at her nod of approval.
"You know, no one has thought of that. Of course we allow those women to do their own thing. Its swearing off men after all, not women. Repeat after me: I, y/n, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the hunt." Artemis said amused. Maidenhood? I ain't a maiden.
"Thou should say the same as the rest of us," Zoë answered as though she could read thoughts but fine. I'll do it, won't be happy about it though.
"I, y/n, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the hunt," I repeated the line.
"I accept," Artemis said as she gave me a hug. "Make me proud, remember you can stay in my cabin. Be nice for it to be of use," she whispered to me as I felt a mark being left on my body.
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"That is the hunter's mark. It proves your loyalty to me. It is a reminder of your oath until it goes into full effect," Artemis explained to me.
"Thou should be going," Zoë said as she she hugged me. She pushed me towards the camp as I left for my long journey home.
[Present]
"You joined the hunters?" Silena shouted in pure shock. I shrugged at her, the shock long since past for me. The kids were asleep, storytime tiring them out.
"Show me the mark," she demanded as I got up to leave. Turning, I roll up my sleeve. Showing off the mark and then I left. Leaving Silena stunned, a role reversal to our usual dynamic. I headed towards Artemis' cabin, fed up with the crowd in Hermes' one. I found my bed messy, just as I like it. I lay down and look at Chloe's bow in thought before coming up with an idea for capture the flag. Who's team should I join is the question I ask myself everytime. Not today, owl eyes and scar face are getting their shit rocked.
