Percy Jackson protector of the hunt

chapter 10

Percy POV

I woke up extremely rested. I walked out of my tent to see that all of the campers were smiling and enjoying themselves. I grabbed the first camper I saw, and asked, "Hey what's everyone so happy about?" The person I grabbed just happened to be Lee Fletcher. When he looked at me his smile instantly vanished. "Oh hey Alpha. Um well actually Ryan has challenged you to a dual. Everyone is kind of hoping you will get killed. I actually don't want you too though." He added the last line quickly. I was furious. The campers didn't kick that no good son of Hermes out like I told them. "Thanks Lee." I said, with a slight growl that sounded in my voice. Lee took off before I could tell him anymore. I turned back into my tent, and flopped on my bed. This was going to be interesting. He probably had something up his sleeve. I needed to make sure I was prepared for anything, and everything that he could possibly throw at me. I heard a quick knock on my tent pole. I scented the air, and smiled. "Come in Artemis." The entrance flap pulled open, and in walked my awesome 'girlfriend.' "Alpha we need to talk." That sent up some warning flags, but I nodded and smiled. I patted the spot on the bed beside me. She smiled, and came and sat down next to me. "What's on your mind my lady?" I asked politely. She had a hint of a smile playing on her lips. I couldn't help but think that it was kind of cute the way that she kept that hint of a smile on her lips. She looked at me, and caught me staring. I blushed slightly, and looked away. "Actually, there is only one thing that I wanted to talk about." I nodded, and indicated that she should continue. "It's actually about what you said to Lupa, while we were at the Roman camp." Oh crap. I knew right away what she meant. She meant when I said 'we are basically in a relationship. "Oh that." Was all I could say. My brain froze up, and I couldn't think of anything to say. "Yes that." She said with that hint of a smile on her lips. It was as if she was on the verge of either extreme happiness, or extreme sadness. I realized quickly, that this conversation would be the tipping point. It all depended on how this one little conversation went. "Did you mean that you wanted to be in one, or that you consider us to be in one, and if it is the second one, then what is the extent of our relationship?" I looked at the ground, thinking about my answer. She was very patient with me, she just sat and waited for my answer. After a couple minutes of silence, I answered in a slow voice. "Both." She looked at me kind of confused. "What do you mean Perseus?" I smiled slightly. "You know I hate when you call me that." She smiled, and nodded. "Yes I know, now answer the question." I looked at her, and said, "Artemis I want a relationship, yes I admit that. However, I also consider us in a relationship, but not in a loving kind of way. I consider you a friend, but I will not push a relationship with you. I know from personal experience, that should you try to force love, it will only turn that love into hate, and I don't want that." With that said, I looked at her trying to read her expression. She kept a stone face, until she grabbed my face, and gently kissed my cheek. "Percy you are an honorable man. I greatly appreciate your friendship, and loyalty." My face dropped. I knew that I had no chance, and that she would reject me, but still I had hope until now. Then I noticed a sly smile playing on her lips. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but then she stood, and offered me her hand. I grabbed it, and rode her pull off of the bed. I looked at her, and I felt a pang of sadness in my chest. I was about to walk out of my tent, but when I turned around I felt a hand on my shoulder. I stopped, and she spun me around. "You didn't let me finish Percy. I am greatful for your friendship, and I am greatful for your truthfulness. However there is one thing that I have wanted to tell you for a very long time." With those words she gently kissed me. I was shocked for just a second, but then I relaxed into the kiss. When she pulled away, I looked at her extremely shocked. "I want more of a relationship with you as well Percy. I would be honored, if you would consider telling my father." My face paled. She laughed, and said, "Well he did say I had to get married soon remember. He never said that he had to approve of who I choose. Besides, I think he will approve." I smiled, and nodded. "Besides, I think he is kind of scared of you." She said. I looked at her, and asked, "Are you serious?" She smiled, and nodded. "Yes, I'm actually kind of surprised he hasn't tried to make sure that you weren't going to betray him." I looked at the ground thinking. "Artemis you know I would never." She turned my face toward her, and said, "Percy Jackson don't you dare think that I wouldn't trust you with my life. I know that you would never ever betray the Olympians, but my father is less than forgiving. He may have changed since the giant war, but he is still very cautious about powerful demigods." I nodded, but was still very scared about telling him that we were together. I smiled though, and hit the button for my armor. I stood up, and offered her my hand. She smiled, and rode my pull up till she was standing. I looked at her, and said, "Well I think it's time for my dual with Ryan." The look on her face was one that I know well. She was beyond mad. She wanted me to destroy him. I could tell, that she wanted me to make sure that he would never bother anyone ever again. She wanted to destroy him, especially since he was flirting with the hunters, and since he threatened them. I smiled, a wicked smile. She gave me a quick kiss, and said, "Destroy him babe. Make sure that he will never bother our hunters again." I nodded, and quickly kissed her forehead. Then I walked to the arena, and waited. After about half an hour, of Ryan not showing up, I got restless, and soon was hacking apart dummies. I started with a sword, but I noticed, that sometimes I would start a strike with a sword, but then I'd end them with a different weapon. Sometimes I'd end with an ax, then other times I end with a spear, I saw a target about thirty yards away, and turned my sword into a javelin, and launched it into the center of the target. I went to retrieve my weapon, but before I could I heard a howl coming from near the border of camp. Before I could react, I heard Artemis in my head. "Percy we need you now. Get to the border, and bring the silver helmet." I nodded, and turned to a wolf, and ran to the border. When I reached the border, I saw Lycaon, and his pack of wolves. I changed back into a human, and yelled. "Lycaon, take your wolves, and leave. You aren't welcome here." He just howled in laughter. "Not welcome here you say. Well we have come to claim the wolf that is here. He is a werewolf, and he will join our pack." I looked at him, and made sure that I had the silver helmet on. I growled, but said "Lycaon I will not join your pack. I answer to no one, but Artemis. If you don't like it, you can taste the silver of our arrows." As I said this I made my bow appear. I looked around, and noticed that the other hunters also had their bows out. I sent a look at Thalia telling her to wait. She nodded and passed the message to the rest of the hunt. Before anyone could react, I turned to a wolf, and charged after Lycaon. When I first started to run, he smiled, as if I was coming to join him, but when I didn't stop his smile turned to anger. Before he could react, I jumped and started to attack. When he tried to strike me in the head, his paw barely touched my head, when he pulled back, and growled. I saw his paw, and noticed a burn mark. He looked at me, and suddenly he stopped attacking me. I stopped too, expecting a trick. Suddenly he bowed to me. I looked around, and noticed that the rest of his pack was bowing to me as well. Lycaon suddenly turned back to a human, and said, "'Alpha' I submit to you." To say I was confused was an understatement. He smiled, and said, "It is said, that a wolf, that has the power to avoid being hurt by silver, would bring great glory to the werewolf. It is also said that he would be the greatest king of the werewolves, and that he would end the fighting between us and the gods." He took off his crown then, and tried to hand it to me. "Lycaon I am no king, so I will decline the crown, however, I will however end the fighting with the gods, in exchange for your promise of help during this war." The look on his face, showed his surprise, but he quickly nodded, and said, "I Lycaon kind of the werewolves hereby swear on the Styx to offer help in war, when Percy Jackson calls for help." I looked at him, and said, "And that you will no longer attack half-bloods." "Fine. I swear on the Styx that I will no longer attack half-bloods." I nodded, and offered out my hand for him to shake. He took it, and with a smile on his lips said, "I am surprised that you declined a crown. Most people wouldn't have done that." I smiled, and threw my arm around his shoulder, just like we were old friends. "You know Lycaon I have plenty of power, and I don't know the first thing about ruling an entire species. However you do, and I need someone, who knows what he is doing. Ruling shouldn't be done by the weak. It takes someone who has earned the respect of others, and who has the strength to defend his title, but still puts others first. When you offered your crown, I could tell that you wanted to help the werewolves as a whole, and that is why I declined." By this time we had reached the border of the camp. I looked in, and said to Artemis, "Babe will you call the rest of the Olympians. I need to make an announcement." She nodded, but I noticed a slight blush when I called her babe. I smiled, and turned to Lycaon. "Listen Lycaon we are friends now right?" He nodded just a small enough nod that I could tell. "And you trust me right?" He barely nodded again. "Ok then step behind me, and don't let yourself be seen until I have talked to them." He nodded, and turned to a wolf and ran back toward the forest surrounding the camp. I had no doubt, that he was still watching me, and that he could hear me as well. Suddenly the rest of the gods flashed in, and Artemis came and stood beside me. She whispered in my ear, "I hope you know what you are doing with Lycaon." I smiled, and said back, "Well that's not the only thing that I wanted to ask them." I could feel her tense up. I smiled, I knew that she knew what I meant. I looked at Zeus, and said, "Lord Zeus, I have a proposition for you. I would like to end a war that has gone on for thousands of years. This is something, which I believe will benefit all of us." He smiled, and said, "Very well son of Poseidon, with whom, has this war been happening." "Ok well before I bring him out, I want to make sure that you won't kill him." "I Zeus, swear on the Styx that none of the Olympians, will harm this person." Thunder rumbled in the distance sealing the deal. I nodded, and waved Lycaon forward. He came out in his wolf form, and stood next to me. I waved my hand over him, and said, "This is the person that I want you to agree to stop fighting." I saw all the gods look at me kind of weird. Well all of them except Athena, of course. I could see that she had put together who Lycaon was. She started to reach for her weapon, when suddenly my hands burst into green Greek fire. "I wouldn't do that if I was you goddess of wisdom." Her face suddenly showed fear. The other gods stepped back. The gods all seemed scared of me. My flames went out, and I turned to Lycaon, and said, "Show them who you are please." In front of all the gods, Lycaon suddenly transformed, and suddenly he stood in his human form. The gods all reached for their weapons, but before I could, the rest of his pack came out of the forest, and stood there waiting for an order to attack. I put my hand up, and stopped all the gods from killing anyone. "Gods of Olympus, this is Lycaon. We have come to a deal. He has offered me his crown to try to protect his people. I refused, in exchange for help during the war. I also made him swear he would never attack another half-blood. In exchange, I would end the war between our kind and the gods. I am now a bridge between not just the mortals and the gods, but also between the werewolves, and the gods. I expect full cooperation between both sides, and if you don't you will expect a visit from me." The gods all quickly nodded, and put away their weapons. Lycaon also signaled for his pack to go back into the forest. He looked at me, and nodded. "You have done well. I greatly appreciate this. It will save many of our pups, and people." I smiled, and nodded. "Now that that is taken care of. There is something else I must ask." Zeus slowly nodded, as if unsure of weather of not he would like what I had to say. I gently reached back, and grabbed Artemis' hand. I gently pulled her up to my side, and said, "Lord Zeus, I would like to ask your permission to begin a relationship with your daughter here. I know that she doesn't need your permission, but I would feel much better if you would give your permission." Zeus looked taken aback. I could tell he was shocked, but he wasn't the only one. "Perseus, I would be honored if you would date my daughter. No one has ever asked my permission, and that has vaulted my respect for you that much higher. You asked, even though you knew that I could blast you to Tartarus for a long time, or till you reformed, but no you still asked. I will gladly bless this." I smiled, and bowed to him. I wrapped my arm around Artemis, then I felt a strange pressure in my mind. Then I heard Zeus say, "Percy meet me at my fist in the forest." I gave a quick mental agreement, and then turned to Artemis, as Zeus flashed out. "Babe I'm going to take a quick run in the forest, I want to stretch my legs a little." She smiled, then nodded, and waved me away. I turned to Lycaon, and said, "My friend, please make yourself at home. I would invite you and your pack into camp, but I doubt you would be accepted." He nodded, then waved his hand. "Don't worry about us. We werewolves, are used to a hard life. However it will be more tolerable, now that we aren't always having to watch our backs for gods." I smiled, and then shifted to my wolf form. I took off toward the direction, of Zeus's Fist. When I got there, I saw Zeus patiently waiting for me. I turned human again, and said, "Zeus what was so important, that we had to meet out here in private." "Iwantedtogiveyoumyblessing." He said. Even with my better hearing, I still didn't catch what he said. "Excuse me could you repeat that, a little slower." He nodded, and said, "Yes I am sorry. I wanted to give you my blessing, but I didn't want to do it in front of the other gods. I think it would be too much of a shock, that I was blessing Poseidon's kid." I smiled, and nodded. I am pretty sure that this has never happened in the history of the world. "Zeus if I may ask, why me though?" He nodded as if he expected this question. "Because you are the most worthy hero I have met in a very long time, and also the fact that I would like to give you a way to better protect my daughters." I nodded a little bit, and quietly said, "I am honored." With that said, he started mumbling in ancient greek, and I only caught bits. Something like "Grow. . ." and "Fly. . ." Then as soon as he finished, my back erupted into pain. I curled into a ball, as I could feel the skin on my back rip apart. I let out a blood curdling scream, and just as quickly as it started the pain vanished. I stood up shakily, as I tried to regain my balance, I noticed that my center of gravity had changed. I could feel a heavy weight on my shoulders, I reached back, and touched something. I could feel whatever it was flinch slightly at the contact. I turned my head, and saw solid black wings. I turned to Zeus with my mouth hanging open. He grinned, and said, "Well don't just stand there boy go and test them out." With that I jumped into the sky with a single flap of my wings.