The Quileute daughter of Apollo (PJO x Twilight)

The Hunters of Artemis

Chapter 5

Emily's cooking skills are awesome. Thalia was actually moaning when we stuffed our mouths full of freshly baked bread, lamb stew and veggies. I guess they didn't really have time for cooking between man hating and monster hunting. Huh. Who would have guessed?

Thalia, Phoebe and I had avoided any conversation while eating and Sam had stopped pestering us after a while, because we weren't saying anything until we were well fed. The food was a good way to keep Thalia and Phoebe happy and not bashing any heads to the walls.

Finally, our plates were clean and even Thalia declined Emily's offer for the umpteenth serving. Apparently, Sam took this as a signal to continue his questions.

"So Ellie, what is the deal with the Hunters?"
I was about to begin, when Thalia interrupted.
"Hold on a second! Ellie? What kind of name is that? We've always known you as Liz!"

"Well, my full name is Elizabeth, which is a mouthful really, so I prefer a nickname. I've been called Ellie since I was a kid, but when I came to camp and found out about everything, I thought a change would do me good. So Ellie, the illegitimate child, became Liz, a daughter of Apollo and a demigod." Thalia nodded.

"It's the same with my surname. Now that I don't need it, I don't want it. Reminds me of her too much," she muttered.
"I've never liked to use mine, and now I need it even less than I ever did, so I'm just Liz."

Sam was really getting impatient. I was tempted to continue procrastinating, but my brother had had a hard day. I decided to let him off easy. I crossed my legs and my arms and leaned back in the chair.

"Thalia, Phoebe, do you wanna start?"
Phoebe let out a disgusted voice.
"Like I would do anything a boy asks me to. Their brains are probably too small to understand anything anyway."
I smiled while the guys stared at her, not sure how to react to her attitude.

"You don't mind it much when Percy asks you something." I could see a hint of a blush on her cheeks.
"He is different from most of his kind. Even lady Artemis approves of him."
I hummed, a smile still on my face. Even the Hunters had a soft spot for Percy Jackson.

"I guess I'll go first, then," said Thalia.

"The Hunters of Artemis are a group of maidens who follow our goddess hunting with her and being her companions. We who follow her are given partial immortality, we grow stronger and faster and are gifted with hunting skills and other capabilities. We stay forever young, and never die unless we fall in a battle or break our oath."

"That's awesome!" Said Seth, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
"Yes, yes it is."

"So, how old are you?" Leah asked Thalia and Phoebe.
"I've lost count over the decades, but I've served my lady dutifully for many centuries and hope to do so for many more," said Phoebe, not minding answering Leah.
"I'm not actually sure how old I am. You see, for a while I was a tree, so I didn't age normally. But Apollo told me when I joined the Hunt that I was about to turn sixteen. And that was a few years ago."

Seth, I'm sure, was about to ask about the being a tree part, but I shut him up with my stare.
"And why did you join?" Leah continued, she was honestly interested.

"I joined because my family was gone and I had only two options: to marry a man I hated or run, so I ran. Lady Artemis found me and offered me a chance to join her. I took it, as you can see." I had never heard Phoebe's story. None of the Hunters really liked talking about their pasts.