Born To Die

Im declicned to join the hunt

We had been traveling through the woods for days. The air was thick with the weight of our mission, and there was a tension between all of us, mostly because of Luke and Thalia. They had always been close, but recently, their teasing had turned into something more... something that made me feel like a third wheel. I couldn't even bring myself to look at them without feeling that jealous knot in my chest, tightening every time they exchanged a glance or shared a laugh.

That's when we ran into them. The Hunters of Artemis.

We were walking along a trail, trying to find shelter for the night, when the shadows deepened. I felt something in the air shift. Annabeth, ever alert, had stopped, her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger. Thalia tensed beside me, her eyes scanning the woods. We heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps—light but purposeful—approaching.

Then, emerging from the trees, a figure appeared—tall, regal, and with an aura of mystery and danger. She was flanked by a group of fierce-looking girls, all of them dressed in silver armor, their bows slung over their shoulders like a second skin. I recognized the leader immediately. Artemis. Goddess of the Hunt.

She looked at us, her piercing eyes taking in the sight of our small group.

"So, these are the children of the gods who wander aimlessly?" she asked with an almost amused smirk. "I've heard whispers. Children of the Big Three, and a daughter of Aphrodite, no less."

I couldn't help but feel small under her gaze. There was something unnerving about the way she spoke, like she could see right through me. Thalia, ever the brave one, stepped forward first, offering Artemis a respectful nod.

"We're not aimless," Thalia said, her voice steady, but there was a hint of unease. "We're on a mission."

Artemis' eyes flicked to her, then to Luke and Annabeth, before landing back on me. "A mission, yes. I see. And what if I told you that you could have a higher purpose? A real purpose. To join the Hunt. To serve me, and fight for something greater than yourselves."

Her words hung in the air like a promise, and I saw the others glance at each other. Thalia's eyes gleamed with interest, and even Annabeth's posture relaxed slightly. They had been on their own for so long, always fighting alone, always running from the gods. The idea of having a place—having a purpose—was tempting.

I felt a pang of jealousy. Why wasn't I part of this? Why wasn't I being asked to join? Was it because I was a daughter of Aphrodite? Because I had always been told that my powers were trivial, that I wasn't serious enough for anything of importance?

Before I could stop myself, the words slipped from my mouth.

"I'll join," I said, looking at Artemis. "I'll be one of your Hunters."

There was a moment of silence, as if the world held its breath.

Thalia glanced at me, her expression unreadable. Luke said nothing, but I could see the flash of concern in his eyes. Annabeth simply looked at me like she was trying to understand what I was saying.

But before I could take another step forward, a voice rang out from the group of Hunters. Zoe Nightshade, one of Artemis' most trusted Hunters, stepped forward, her cold eyes meeting mine with a gaze that seemed to pierce right through me.

"You cannot join," she said, her voice sharp and uncompromising.

I froze, a lump forming in my throat.

Zoe's eyes never left mine as she spoke again. "Children of Aphrodite are not allowed to be Hunters. You're too... attached to the mortal world. You'd never be able to commit to the cause."

The words hit me like a slap, and I felt the heat rise in my chest. The sting of rejection.

I opened my mouth to protest, but Zoe raised a hand, silencing me.

"Your kind does not belong in the Hunt," she said softly, but with finality. "You would only be a distraction."

I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw something, anything, at her. But I knew deep down she was right. Maybe I wasn't meant to be a Hunter. Maybe my attachment to Luke, to the world of gods and monsters, would always hold me back. And maybe that's why I'd never belong here, never belong with them.

Thalia stepped forward, her posture tense, but she didn't argue with Zoe. She turned to look at me, her expression conflicted. I could see the internal battle in her eyes. She had already been a Hunter once, before all this, and I knew how much she longed to return to that life. The pull was strong. But she hesitated, glancing at Luke.

"Maybe it's not the right time," Thalia said quietly, her voice a mixture of regret and uncertainty.

Artemis studied me for a moment longer before she turned, signaling to her Hunters. "It's a shame. You would have made a fine addition." And with that, she and her group disappeared into the woods, leaving us in an eerie silence.

I stood there, rooted to the spot, as my thoughts spiraled.

I wasn't good enough. I wasn't enough to be a part of something greater. I wasn't even worthy of Artemis' offer.

Luke, sensing the turmoil inside me, walked over. "Isla..."

But I wasn't ready to talk. I couldn't look at him without the jealousy clawing at my insides. I couldn't stand the thought of how close he and Thalia had been, how easily they seemed to fit into this world of gods and monsters, while I felt so out of place.

"I don't want to talk right now," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

And I walked away, into the woods, not knowing where I was going, but desperate to escape everything I felt in that moment.

In that brief moment of decision, I realized something: it wasn't just about wanting to be a Hunter. It was about wanting something more, something I couldn't even explain. A place where I could belong. But even if I could never be a Hunter, even if I was never truly accepted by the gods... maybe there was still a place for me in this world. Even if it wasn't with them.