Shattered

Train

[A/N: Apologies about that last chapter. Same warning about this one.]

Percy awoke with his body aching everywhere.

He took a look at himself.

He sighed in relief because he was back to normal.

The hunters had traversed over five hundred miles – across sparse freezing desert – in the matter of less than a single day. The hunters had to make it all the way to the Bay Area before the winter solstice, so it had seemed beneficial that they upped from their usual laxed pace in favor quicker speed in order to reach their destination in time.

Percy really had to thank Artemis for that. The two-hundred-hour trek from Great Salt Lake to Yosemite Valley had been covered in less than the tenth of the expected time.

It had been a long nineteen hours, but it had been worth it.

The long march had taken all night and the entire morning. But finally, the huntresses reached their breakpoint.

The rich woodlands mountains of Yosemite Valley, a sanctuary for everything. While the hunters had taken the initiative of setting up the camp for the night, Percy took it as an opportunity to explore the national park, citing the excuse that he needed to get readjusted to his old body.

After getting up from the air bed that the Hunters had supplied her, Percy wandered into the woods, taking in the nature around him. He was, of course, more of a city person, he'd grown up in the Big Apple after all, but couldn't help appreciate the picturesque view that was presented to him.

Many times, he found herself comparing everything – like the high tree line – the steep granite cliffs – and the wild life of the valley to Central Park. Central Park had its collection of large granite boulders – large oaks, and of course the infamous Central Park Zoo.

But everything here was at a grander scale, and a lot more natural. Percy almost wished he could've visit during less... pressured times.

His large tennis shoes became soggy, as he hiked through the snow-riddled woods. Many of the trees were sparse of leaves, having eased into a cold winter sleep.

Percy still had the golden bracelets that Artemis had given her, which continued to weigh hishisarms down like a thousand pounds. The bracelets were uncomfortable, to stay the least, but she tried not to complain as she tried to distract herself with the scenery.

After the initial shock of the transformation had worn off, Percy hadn't found it all too difficult to adapt to his new body.

Overall, she felt leaner, more agile, with definitely helped while following the Hunters of Artemis. Yet, she found herself still as strong as she normally would be.

And the distinct lack of... large breasts helped out a ton. Percy didn't know what would've come up if she had to learn to handle... new body parts. Luckily, the matter hadn't yet arisen.

As he rummaged along the snowed-in mountain trail, his legs and feet pleaded for rest. Percy just ignored the feeling. She had to build up the endurance for pain, knowing what to expect at Mount Tam.

He chided herself for the thinking.

This was his one time to relax. He wasn't going to waste it.

He continued on with his leisurely trek, his mind drifting back to the grueling training he had been forced to endure the day before.

After she had returned from her short bath and rest, Artemis had Perci do another hour of sprinting around the snow-riddened woods. Perci found herself having twigs and pinecones stuck in her – now long – hair. Despite the freezing mountain air, she was drenched in sweat.