𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐜 ➵ 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

: ̗̀➛𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡 stars for a huntress

not edited

┌── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──┐

They landed at Crissy Field after nightfall.

As soon as Dr. Chase stepped out of his Sopwith Camel, Annabeth ran to him and gave him a huge hug. "Dad! You flew... you shot... oh my gods! That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"

Devi stood beside Percy, feeling herself take a normal breath for the first time in hours. She'd seen Annabeth fight monsters without blinking, but now, with her father, she looked like a little kid. It made something in Devi's chest ache. For the first time, she realized how young they all really were.

Dr. Chase blushed. "Well, not bad for a middle-aged mortal, I suppose."

Devi exchanged a look with Percy, who gave her a small, exhausted grin.

"But celestial bronze bullets! How did you get those?"

"Ah, well. You did leave quite a few half-blood weapons in your room in Virginia, the last time you... left."

Annabeth looked down, embarrassed. Devi noticed Dr. Chase was careful not to say run away.

"I decided to melt some down, make bullet casings," he continued. "Just an experiment."

Devi raised her eyebrows, impressed despite herself. 

No wonder Athena knocked him up.

"Dad..." Annabeth faltered.

"Guys," Thalia interrupted. Her voice was urgent. She and Artemis were kneeling at Zoe's side, binding the huntress's wounds.

Devi was already moving. She knelt beside Zoe before the other could reach her, pressing a scrap of cloth to the huntress's side, but the faint silver light around Zoe was fading.

"CAn't you heal her with magic?" Percy asked Artemis. "I mean... you're a goddess."

Artemis looked troubled. "Life is a fragile thing, Percy. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do. But I can try."

She tried to set her hand on Zoe's side, but Zoe gripped her wrist. She looked into the goddess's eyes, and some kind of understanding passed between them.

"Have I... served thee well?" Zoe whispered.

"With great honor," Artemis said softly. "The finest of my attendents."

Zoe's face relaxed. "Rest. At last."

Devi's throat tightened. She bit her lip to prevent it from trembling. 

"I can try to heal the poison, my brave one."

But in that moment, Devi knew it wasn't just to poison that was killing her. It was her father's final blow. Zoe had known all along that the Oracle's prophecy was about her: she would die by a parent's hand. And yet she'd taken the quest anyway. She'd chosen to save them, and Atlas's fury had broken her inside.

Zoe turned her head slightly to Devi, a small smile gracing her features. 

Devi was fighting not to start bawling. She didn't want Zoe's last moments to be her sobbing.

"It is alright," Zoe reached out her hand. Devi grasped it tightly, swallowing thickly. "I pray that everything works out for you. You have shown courage that makes other heroes look like fools."

Devi could only manage to say, "That was all you," without breaking down.

Zoe shook her head and then saw Thalia, reaching for her too.