Shattered

Truth

Artemis closed her eyes. Irritation lined her expression. "Dawn is approaching. Zoe, break camp. You must get to Long Island quickly and safely. I shall summon a ride from my brother."

Zoe didn't look real happy about this idea, but she nodded and told Bianca to follow her. As she was leaving, Bianca paused in front of me. "I'm sorry, Percy. But I want this. I really, really do."

Then she was gone, and Percy was left alone with the twelve-year-old goddess.

Artemis narrowed her pale silvery eyes at the the son of Poseidon. Both sat up straighter.

"I need to speak with you boy..."

Percy gulped, the moon goddess hadn't asked an audience with him the last time around. He was nervous.

She was blunt, "How do you know about the Ophiotaurus?" was her first question.

Percy's eyes widened, she had read his thoughts!

"That's correct, Son of Poseidon"

Percy sighed, he guessed he would have to explain the whole thing to the auburn haired goddess.

And so he did, he told her everything.

His he had already lived the quest, but he hadn't mentioned anything further than the quest. He had ended with the death of Artemis's lieutenant. The surprise was evident on the goddess' expressions, but she did not interrupt him.

Finally when he was done, Artemis spoke.

"I believe you." She looked away. "We must leave now..."

It didn't seem like she was about to react to the information that the boy had just provided her with.

The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they'd set it up. He 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. Percy could tell from his gloomy face that she was explaining her decision to join the Hunt.

Thalia and Grover came up and huddled around me, anxious to hear what had happened in my audience with the goddess.

When he told them, but didn't mention the whole time travel thing of course. Grover turned pale. "The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."

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

"And Bianca joined them," Thalia said, disgusted. "It's all Zoe's fault. That stuck-up, no good—"

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

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

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

"You're nuts," said Thalia.

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

Finally the sky began to lighten. Artemis muttered, "About time. He's so lazy during the winter."

Percy couldn't help but chuckle at that.

There was a sudden burst of light on the horizon and a blast of warmth.

"Don't look," Artemis advised. "Not until he parks."

Percy averted his eyes, and saw that the other kids were doing the same. The light and warmth intensified until his winter coat felt like it was melting off of him. Then suddenly the light died.