Wildflowers, Percy Jackson ₁

017, the betrayal

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

₊˚࿐࿔ 𖥧‧₊⚘ ❀༉. 𓏲｡

"What's that in your hand?" Grover asked inquisitively as Sylvie walked up to him, Percy, and Thalia. "And what did Artemis want?"

Sylvie flinched when she realized the brochure was still in her hands. For some reason, her face flamed and she felt miserable at the thought of actually answering Grover's questions.

She stuffed the pamphlet in her backpack hastily. "Uh—Nothing, really."

Sylvie didn't know why Artemis's offer had her so scrambled up in the head. It wasn't the thought of being a Hunter in particular, but the fact Artemis wanted her to be at all. She was Sylvie, just Sylvie, and she couldn't see what the goddess saw in her. Sure, she did some pretty okay plant stuff today, but she was still that awkward, clumsy demigod underneath. For Artemis to extend that gracious offer so easily (I don't see why I wouldn't, she'd said), it sort of had Sylvie rethinking everything.

Speaking of Artemis:

She assured them that dawn was coming, but you could've fooled Sylvie. It was colder and darker and snowier than ever. Up on the hill, Westover Hall's windows were completely lightless. Sylvie wondered if the teachers had even noticed the di Angelos and Dr. Thorn were missing yet. She didn't want to be around when they did.

The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they'd set it up. Sylvie, Percy, Grover, and Thalia stood shivering in the snow (unlike the Hunters, who didn't seem to feel at all uncomfortable), and Artemis stared into the east like she was expecting something. Bianca sat off to one side, talking with Nico. Sylvie could tell from his gloomy face that Bianca was explaining her decision to join the Hunt. She felt horrible for the little dude.

"Anyways," Sylvie hastily tried changing the subject, and instead elected on telling Grover and Thalia the other stuff Artemis told her. Percy, too.

Grover turned pale. "The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."

"How'd they even show up here?" Percy wondered. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

"And Bianca joined them," Thalia said, disgusted. Sylvie felt a twinge of guilt. "It's all Zoë's fault. That stuck-up, no good—"

"Who can blame her?" Grover said. "Eternity with Artemis?" He heaved a big sigh.

"I think you're in love, Grover," said Sylvie in a dreamy voice. With the back of her hand to her forehead, she pretended to faint, and Percy caught her.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "You satyrs. Don't you get that she'll never love you back?"

"But she's so... into nature," Grover swooned.

Percy looked confused, and a little weirded-out. "But—Sylvie is into nature, too?"

"That's different."

"You're nuts," said Thalia.

"Nuts and berries," Grover said dreamily. "Yeah."

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