Child of the Moon

Nico, What Are My Damage Points?

I sighed, watching from the roof as the headmaster led Percy and the kids towards the cliffside.  I watched as a few dozen feet away from them, Grover and Thalia were sneaking after them.  Suddenly, Percy and the kids fell to the side, almost like they were pushed.  Annabeth appeared next to them, her Yankees cap falling off her head.  Thalia charged, and I jumped off the roof, sprinting over and grabbing the di Angelos, pulling them away.

Bianca: What the-

Nico: Woah!  That was awesome!

I tried my best not to smile, pulling Αγριος from my wrist and rushing Thorn.  A giant scorpion tail swung out from behind him, and he swiped at me with his hand, which was now a paw.  Grover began playing his reed pipes, and weeds began growing out of the ground, wrapping around the monster.

YN: A Manticore, huh?

Nico gasped.

Nico: A manticore?  He's got three thousand attack power and plus five to saving throws!

I had no clue what the kid was talking about, but I didn't have time to worry about it.  The manticore clawed Grover's magic weeds to shreds then turned toward us with a snarl.  Annabeth pushed the di Angelos flat into the snow as a large spike flew over their heads.  I heard a thwack and a yelp, and Grover landed next to me with a thud.

Thorn: Yield!

Thalia: Never!

She charged the monster, and for a second I thought she would run him through.  But then there was a thunderous noise and a blaze of light from behind us.  A helicopter appeared out of the mist, hovering just beyond the cliffs.  It was a sleek black military-style gunship, with attachments on the sides that looked like laser-guided rockets.  The helicopter had to be piloted by mortals, but what was it doing here?  How could mortals be working with a monster?  The searchlights blinded Thalia, and the manticore swatted her away with its tail.  Her shield flew off into the snow.  Her spear flew in the other direction.  I ran out to help her, swinging my spear and blocking a spike just before it would've hit her chest.  Dr. Thorn laughed.

Thorn: Now do you see how hopeless it is?  Yield, little heroes!

We were trapped between a monster and a fully armed helicopter.  Things weren't looking great. Then I heard a clear, piercing sound.  The call of a hunting horn blowing in the woods.  The manticore froze.  For a moment, no one moved.  There was only the swirl of snow and wind and the chopping of the helicopter blades.

Thorn: No!  It cannot be-

I grinned as his sentence was cut short when something shot past me like a streak of moonlight.  A glowing silver arrow sprouted from Dr. Thorn's shoulder.  He staggered backward, wailing in agony.

Thorn: Curse you!

He unleashed his spikes, dozens of them at once, into the woods where the arrow had come from, but just as fast, silvery arrows shot back in reply.  The arrows intercepted the spikes, cutting them in half.  No one, not even Apollo's kids at camp, could shoot with that much accuracy.  The manticore pulled the arrow out of his shoulder with a howl of pain.  His breathing was heavy.  Percy tried to swipe at him with his sword, but he wasn't as injured as he looked.  He dodged the attack and slammed his tail into Percy's shield, knocking him aside.  Then the archers came from the woods.  They were girls, about a dozen of them.  The youngest couldn't be more than ten years old.  The oldest, about fourteen.  They wore silvery ski parkas and jeans, and they were all armed with bows.  They advanced on the manticore with determined expressions.

Annabeth: The Hunters!

Thalia: Oh, wonderful.

One of the archers stepped forward with her bow drawn.  She was tall and graceful with coppery colored skin.  Unlike the other girls, she had a silver circlet braided into the top of her long dark hair, so she looked like some kind of Persian princess.  I recognized her instantly.  Zoe Nightshade.

Zoe: Permission to kill, my lady?

The monster cursed in Ancient Greek.

Thorn: This is not fair!  Direct interference is against the Ancient Laws.

Artemis: Not so.

This girl looked maybe thirteen or fourteen.  She had auburn hair gathered back in a ponytail and strange eyes, silvery yellow like the moon.  Her expression was stern and dangerous.  But I obviously recognized her.

Artemis: The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere.  And you, foul creature, are a wild beast.

She turned to Zoe.

Artemis: Zoe, permission granted.

The manticore growled.

Thorn: If I cannot have these alive, I shall have them dead!

He lunged at Thalia and Percy, knowing they were weak and dazed.  Annabeth yelled, and she charged at the monster.

Zoe: Get back, Half-blood!  Get out of the line of fire!

Annabeth leaped onto the monster's back and drove her knife into his mane.  The manticore howled, turning in circles with his tail flailing as Annabeth hung on for dear life.

Zoe: Fire!

YN: Wait, Zoe don't!

I was fast, but I wasn't faster than an arrow fired by a Hunter of Artemis.  The Hunters let their arrows fly.  The first caught the manticore in the neck.  Another hit his chest.  The manticore staggered backward.

Thorn: This is not the end, Huntress!  You shall pay!

Before anyone could react, the monster leaped over the cliff and tumbled into the darkness with Annabeth still on his back.

YN: NO!

I ran to the cliff and looked over the edge, but there was nothing but darkness.  There was a rattling sound from the helicopter, the sound of gunfire.  Most of the Hunters scattered as tiny holes appeared in the snow at their feet, but Artemis just looked up calmly at the helicopter.

Artemis: Mortals... are not allowed to witness my hunt.

She thrust out her hand, and the helicopter exploded into dust... no, not dust.  The black metal dissolved into a flock of ravens, which scattered into the night.  The Hunters advanced on us.  Zoe walked over to me.

Zoe: I'm sorry, YN. She's gone.

Then she saw Thalia.

Zoe: You.

Thalia: Zoe Nightshade.  Perfect timing, as usual.

Thalia's voice sounded like she was going to kill someone.  Zoe scanned the rest of us.

Zoe: Four half-bloods and a satyr, my lady.  And YN is here as well.

Artemis: Yes.  Some of Chiron's campers, I see.

Percy: Annabeth!  You have to let us save her!

Artemis turned toward him.

Artemis: I'm sorry, Percy Jackson, but your friend is beyond help.

Percy: Who even are you?

Peryc was instantly tackled to the ground by three of the Hunters.

Artemis: It's okay, I sense he meant no disrespect.  YN, my son.  It is nice to see you again, though I wish it was under better circumstances.

YN: You too, mom.

She turned back to Percy.

Artemis: I am Artemis.  Goddess of the Hunt.