The Lone Guardian (A Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Chapter 10

I dropped Thalia's 'Death to Barbie' shirt that I was folding and sprinted towards the archery range, uncapping Riptide as I ran. When I got closer, I froze in my tracks. Towering above the hunters was a hydra.

Artemis was trying to give commands, but the hydra was constantly spitting acid, so the girls couldn't stay in one place long enough to aim their bows. Besides, hydras weren't easily defeated without fire, something I now have. However, before I could jump into the fight, I noticed Elizabeth and Alice standing too close, right as the hydra was aiming at them.

Time seemed to slow down. Before I could register what was happening, I was racing through the air just as I'd seen Jason do so many times. I grabbed the girls and brought them to a safe distance, the hydra acid shriveling up the grass where they had been standing moments before. Elizabeth and Alice were staring at me in awe, but before they could say anything, I shot in the air again and faced the hydra.

"STAY BACK!," I yelled to the hunters. They stared at me in shock, but quickly followed my command. I floated in midair, Riptide in one hand and flames in the other. The hydra glared at me with its terror-inducing eyes, daring me to come forward, so I did.

I shot forward and sliced off one of its six heads and scorched the stump before two more could grow back. The other heads stared at the stump in confusion for a moment, then turned and hissed angrily at me. For the next several minutes, I was forced to spin and somersault through the air as I dodged the acid spit, occasionally zooming in to cut off and scorch a head when I got the chance.

Finally, I managed to slice and scorch the last head and the hydra burst into shimmering gold dust as I landed on the ground. The hunters erupted into cheers. I was breathing hard, since using my powers had drained my energy, but I smiled and did a mock bow. When I looked up again, it was obvious that Artemis was angry.

"That is it! I will not have my hunters be in danger. Girls! You are going to Camp Half-Blood.," she announced. The girls began to shout in protest, but Artemis held up her hand for silence. "No arguments! It is for your safety while I go discuss matters with the council. Now go pack and leave immediately."

With that, she disappeared in a flash of silver, leaving behind the scent of pine trees.

"What was that about?," Thalia asked me as the others left to get packed. I sighed.

"I'll tell you when we get running.," I told her. She nodded and we went our separate to get ready to leave.

Later, as we were running towards Long Island, I ran to the front next to Thalia. She nodded at me and I explained to her about the reason Artemis and I went to Olympus the day before. When I was done, Thalia rolled her eyes and groaned.

"Great. Just what we need.," she grumbled.

"My thoughts exactly.," I agreed. From then on, we ran in silence until we stopped on the border of Long Island for a break. Suddenly, I got a brilliant idea and smiled evilly.

"Thalia?," I asked. She looked up at me from where she was sitting on the ground. "The camp doesn't know what happened to me, right?"

"No. Why?," she answered.

"What if I helped the hunters win Capture the Flag and, at the campfire, introduced myself as guardian of the hunt before revealing my identity? How priceless do you think their reactions would be?," I asked with a grin.

"Oh, yes! We're totally doing that, but we should at least tell Chiron, first. And how are going to hide your face?," she said. I thought for a moment and shouted "Aha!" as I quickly set up my tent and grabbed a black hoodie from inside before disassembling it again. I put up the hood so that it covered my face and looked to Thalia.

"What do you think?," I asked.

"Perfect!," she exclaimed. After a few more minutes of rest and some dinner summoned by me, we set off again, reaching camp about half an hour later.

"Ask Chiron if you can speak to him in his office. I'll be waiting for you there.," I told Thalia. She nodded before climbing Half-Blood Hill where Chiron was waiting and I shadow-traveled to Chiron's office. A few minutes later, I could hear Thalia and Chiron's voices as they entered the Big House.

"Nothing's wrong, Chiron. We just want to talk to you.," Thalia said.

"We?," Chiron asked curiously as they entered his office. At that moment, I flicked my hood back with a grin.

"We.," I confirmed. "Hello, Chiron."