Riptide by Annabeth Chase

Chapter Three: Hunters of Artemis

"I'm sorry, what?" Thalia asked but she had lowered her shield so the small space we were standing in felt less hostile.

"I'm your sister on the godly side, I am Artemis," the girl explained. "It is quite an interesting turn of fate that our paths would cross at this moment."

Thalia just continued to stare at her and didn't seem to know how to respond to this.

"Oo—oo, I've read about you!" I said excitedly, jumping up and down. "I have so many questions. Like what is the average number of hunters you typically travel with? Why did your eyes change color? Why did your armor have Nordic Runes on it? Also where did your armor go? Do you still pull the moon through the sky? Because I've always had a hard time figuring out how that works, you know, with science. Does your sleigh really look like Santa's and why ..."

"Sorry about her," Thalia said as she clamped a hand over my mouth. "She gets ... excited."

Artemis laughed, and the sound made me feel extremely happy, like the ringing of silver bells at Christmas. "Oh, I do not mind a curious maiden but perhaps we should find a space more suited to speaking. Would you join us for a bit?" Artemis asked.

"Is Luke invited?" I asked, pulling Thalia's hand from my mouth. "We're not going without him."

"The son of Hermes can come along presently," she said, regarding him coldly and he flinched at the mention of his father. "But be warned you will not have any communication with my Hunters, is that clear?"

Luke nodded but I didn't like that very much. She wasn't being nice to my friend, and I didn't really want to go with her any more. Before I could protest Luke gave me a quick look that said I should leave it alone, so we followed Artemis through the woods.

We came to a sizable clearing with a little river running through it. The Hunters quickly set up some seating with blankets and Thalia and Luke sat with Artemis. I picked up a pretty stone from the river bank before joining them. 

"What was that animal you scared away earlier before we left that weird forest?" I asked. "And why did it make such a terrible sound?"

Artemis looked at me thoughtfully before responding, "It is a type of silver deer, most cannot hear its call, but I would not expect the call to be considered terrible."

"It hurt my ears," I told her. "It was high pitched and painful."

"It seems as though it is, unfortunately, right on the edge of the sound frequencies you are able to register. If you could hear a bit higher frequencies it is actually quite a beautiful sound."

"Well, I hope I don't have to hear it again," I grumbled.

"Likely you will not, it is strange that it came across your paths at all," I wanted to ask why but she continued without pause. "What was a small group of demigods doing in those woods to begin with?"

"We were just traveling north," Thalia responded. "I don't think I've ever been in that forest before. It felt wrong."

"It is strange that you made it in, most cannot find an entrance. Even my hunters are not allowed there as the Mist obscures it heavily," Artemis told us as though she was trying to solve a troublesome riddle.

"Why?" I asked.

"Why indeed. I cannot tell you now, but you may eventually learn. I do not have my brother's gift of prophecy, but I fear your curiosity may one day cause you grief," Artemis said cryptically before turning her attention back to Thalia.

"I would love to have you join my Hunt," Artemis said to Thalia. "I believe you would make a wonderful companion."

"I—I don't understand," Thalia said.