Shattered

Pizza

[A/N: This one is for the laughs.]

Zoe was feeling positively nostalgic. It had seemed like an entire lifetime ago, that she had spent time with the rest of the hunters, and Artemis.

Well... besides the few minutes in Maine, it technically had been a lifetime ago, since she had been with the hunt in the wilderness. The feeling sent a thrill up her spine.

The thing was... it wasn't the only thing wiggling up her spine. Percy Jackson's presence would do that with her – them! Yes, he would do that with them. He was part of the hunt now, at the very least temporarily. It made her uneasy and yet excited.

Zoe wanted to chastise herself for having such thoughts about the boy, but she couldn't bring herself up the task. The boy was just...-

The inner musing were broken when her group stumbled upon what they were searching for. Well, if they had been actually in a hurry, they would've found camp an hour ago.

The five of them wandered deep into the woods that surrounded them. Phoebe, their lead tracker was positive that Artemis would be there, and Zoe had no reason to doubt the highly meticulous daughter of Ares.

(The huntress got most of her mannerisms from her late mother; a legacy of Athena.)

Of course, the group followed the brunette into the green, only to be a met by what seemed like an empty campsite. The fire was put out, probably rather recently. The tents and training grounds were bare, and the infirmary and dining hall laid empty.

Muddled footsteps crossed over each other, indicating a possible conflict, but Zoe couldn't be entirely sure.

"They couldn't have gotten too far," Phoebe spoke up, "these tracks are near fresh."

She was right, of course.

"Split up?" The suggestion was offered by Percy.

Phoebe nodded hesitantly at the boy before turning towards Thalia and Bianca. "You two, check the suburbs. Zoe and –" Phoebe paused before realizing she was giving orders. "Of course, I mean Zoe if you approve..."

Zoe nodded quickly. "Yes, Percy, you and I will search the town and ski resorts. Phoebe, continue with the woods. We must make sure the hunt is not in danger. Do not, and I repeat, do not confront anything before contacting the rest of us. Iris message the others if there is any trouble."

Zoe fished out a couple of drachmas from her sack, before handing each group a few each."

"Meet back here, in an hour if your efforts bring up nothing."

Phoebe nodded, taking her coins before leaping away, deeper into the forest.

Percy smirked, "First team to find Artemis and the hunters wins"

Thalia challenged his smirk with her own, "Oh, you're on Kelp Head!"

"We'll see about that Pinecone Face."

Thalia rolled her eyes, "That was lame, Fish Breath."

Zoe rubbed her forehead in frustration; she had a feeling she knew where the argument was going.

"Whatever you say, Sparky!"

"Tuna Teeth!"

"Pine Breath!"

"Salmon Brains!"

"Ozone-"

Zoe clamped her hand over Percy's mouth, rolling her eyes. "Come on Jackson. You started this bet; we can't win if we are stuck here fighting."