Child of Artemis

Chapter 14

 "How do you know?" Ivan asked. "I know him better than anyone else." Taylor paused, looking at all the campers waiting to hear what she had to say. "He's my brother," she said.

A gasp sounded from the audience. A hubbub of noise sounded until Annabeth pushed her way through the crowd. "Alright. He's your brother. You know him best. What are his weaknesses? How would we defeat him?"

"Weaknesses? I don't know if they count anymore since he's a giant. I didn't even know if it was possible for a demigod to become a giant. But he's always preferred nighttime over daytime. He'll probably also bring a small army." Taylor answered.

Annabeth led Taylor away to question her more about Aron. The crowd slowly dispersed. Some went to help the injured and some went to rebuild the cabins.

Aurora followed some campers to the woods, where there was a temporary infirmary, since the Big House was destroyed. Ivan was helping to rebuild the Apollo cabin. Avalon went over to the Artemis cabin, which was in a slightly better condition than the other cabins.

Half of the cabin had been smashed to pieces, the roof was sagging on the other half. Avalon heard a groan. Passing around the pile of rubble, she saw Artemis leaning over Thalia, whose body was covered by the rubble except for her face, which was scratched up and bruised.

Avalon approached slowly. Artemis didn't seem to notice her. Avalon grabbed a bent piece of metal and shoved it into the pile of rubble. She lifted it up, and half of the pile tumbled onto the ground.

She cleared away the rest until Thalia's body was visible. Her clothes were ripped, with blood seeping through the scratches on her body. A massive wound in her stomach spurted blood like a water fountain. Thalia's hands were pressed over the bloody hole, trying unsuccessfully to stop the blood flow.

"Artemis, let's get her to the forest," Avalon said to break the silence. Artemis stood and grasped Thalia's shoulders as Avalon grabbed her ankles. They lifted her up and carried her to the forest.

When they got there, Annabeth screamed, "Oh my gods! Thalia!" and rushed over. Avalon and Artemis laid her down on a bed of leaves while two satyrs and a nymph rushed forwards to tend to her.

Avalon stood and turned just in time to see Ivan carrying a limp camper in his arms. He set the camper down, and a few nymphs ran up to him with nectar and healing plants in their hands. Will Solace came up behind them. He pushed them aside and started humming in Greek.

The boy's scratches and bruises faded, but the gash in his arm remained. The nymphes trickled some nectar into his mouth, and he groaned. Then another camper limped across in front of him, supporting another camper, and Avalon couldn't see him anymore.

Ivan prodded her shoulder from behind. "Come with us," he whispered. Behind him was Taylor and Aurora. Aurora had a long scratch on her leg and a bruise on her cheek. Taylor had a small cut by her chin and an angry purple blotch was visible on her arm.

Ivan led them deep through the forest. There wasn't a path, but he seemed to know where he was going. Finally they arrived in a clearing. In the center, a ring of white crystals marked a circle in the grass.

Ivan stepped into the circle and held out his arms for them to see. A blue glow surrounded him. The series of scratches on his arms closed, leaving only thin white lines. He stepped out and the glow faded.

Taylor did the same, and her wounds healed. Aurora followed her. Avalon checked herself for wounds. She didn't see any. Then she spotted a trickle of blood running down her leg that she hadn't noticed before. Lifting up her pants, she saw a cut going down the side of her leg.

Stepping in the circle, she saw a light blue screen go up around her. When it was lowered, she examined her leg again. The cut had become a thin white scar.

A bunch of noises sounded from the other end of the clearing. The Hunters entered, the majority of them limping or clutching wounds. A girl with dark hair helped Artemis carry Thalia over to the healing circle. They held her upright in it, and Thalia's wounds cleared, except for her stomach, which stopped spurting blood.

They dragged Thalia away and laid her down. Each Hunter took turns standing in the healing circle. Taylor struck up a hushed conversation with one of them. They walked a little ways into the forest where they couldn't be heard.

Everyone crowded around Thalia, except for Taylor and the Hunter she was talking to. Then Thalia opened her eyes. She gasped and clutched at her stomach. Her eyes flitted back and forth. Artemis hefted her up again and held her in the healing zone.

Artemis laid her down after a minute. The gaping hole in Thalia's stomach was smaller, but about as big as Avalon's fist.

Taylor came and joined them. She pulled Avalon, Aurora, and Ivan away. She took a deep breath. "I-," she paused. "I'm going to join the Hunters," she said. "What?!" Aurora cried.

"They said that there might be something to weaken Aron, enough for him to be defeated," Taylor said. "I'm going to help them. It's supposedly guarded by some monster, so fierce that no one has bested it. Ever."

"Well, that's just great!" Ivan exclaimed. "Don't worry, we'll get the thing and be back in no time." She sounded pretty worried.

"The Hunters are going to be leaving soon. And I still have to take my vows." Taylor said. She joined the Hunters, who had carried Thalia into the forest.

They formed a ring around Taylor, blocking her from view. Then after a minute or two they came back.

Taylor was wearing a white shirt, a silver jacket and pants, and black boots. She had a bow and quiver slung over her shoulder, and two silver hunting knives at her belt.  A small silver pack was strapped to her shoulders. As Avalon watched, the weapons and the pack shimmered and disappeared.

She smiled at them and turned. Then the Hunters melted away into the trees.