Percy Jackson, New Beginnings

Chapter X

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the PJO or HOO characters, Rick Riordan does.

PERCY P.O.V.

I was wondering around the forest in the middle of the night, trying to discover my new powers. So far I had worked out that I can control fire as well as create it, I could teleport with a column of flames and summon home-cooked meals.

I sat on the ground, snacking on a grilled cheese sandwich that I had made when I heard a sound. I shifted back into my wolf form and stood in a tense stance, ready for battle.

Suddenly a girl fell from the tree in front of me and I immediately raced over to catch her. Unfortunately, I was late on my arrival and instead of catching her, and became a giant wolf pillow, that cushioned her fall.

I slowly rolled her off the back and stood back so I could get a good look at her. I gasped when I realised whose face I saw.

-Artemis? You might want to get down here and quick- I warily stated through to her mind.

-And what might be so important? I'm busy!-

-You have to come down to see for yourself- and with that, a clearly irritated Artemis flashed into my view.

"And what, is the big deal of you sitting on the ground?" She asked me, clearly not seeing the lady that was behind me. I stepped back and Artemis gasped. Tears filled her eyes and I knew exactly why. In front of her, lying on the ground unconscious, was her old lieutenant Zoë Nightshade.

ZOE P.O.V.

----3 hours earlier----

I was walking around Uranus' temple, examining the beautiful constellations that laced the walls. I stared for a few minutes at my constellation, the Huntress. You see, when I died my mistress Artemis put me up in the stars as a tribute to me and now I live here, overlooking the world below.

I kept walking down the path when I heard someone behind me. I swiveled around on my heel but no one was there. I gripped my bow tightly (Having a bow in my constellation meant I always had one with me) and continued to walk, only to stop again at another noise.

Suddenly a large noise erupted from behind me and I saw the most hideous monster I have ever seen and it was charging straight towards me.

I shot my unlimited arrow at it but they just glanced off the skin. I turned on my heel and raced down the corridor, passing constellations left and right but none seemed to notice me or the raging monster in my pursuit.  It was gaining on me fast and I ran even faster, till I ran out of corridor to run. There was only one thing left for me to do. It was a long shot but it was either this or me fading out of existence. There was a legend, that if you jumped off the temple and plummet back to earth, your soul regains a body and you can come back to the living. No one here has tried it because if it wasn't true then their souls would fade, but it was a chance and I did not want to be powerful monster food. (A/N: This is just a cool idea, jumping off Uranus's temple will not bring constellations back to life, it is purely my imagination) 

I jumped off the edge and started plummeting back to Earth. I felt a sharp pain all over my body and I could feel myself become solid again. I started breathing and that was a good sign.

Once I was fully back into my body I realized that there was only one problem. I was falling towards the earth at immense speeds and I had no way of stopping. I prayed to every god I knew and the next thing I saw were leaves in front of my face. I lost my balance from the tree and slipped. On the way down I knocked my head on a branch and I could slowly feel myself lose consciousness. The last thing I saw before darkness overtook me was a blurry black shape, with the most amazing green eyes, just like the ones the only boy I had ever loved had.

PERCY P.O.V.

Artemis and I had carried Zoe's body to Thalia's tent before anyone could see us.

Artemis unzipped the tent and we all rushed in, scarring the living Hades out of Thalia.

"What are you doing in my tent?" she asked but gasped suddenly when she saw who we were carrying. "Is that?" she asked warily and I just nodded. We carried Zoe over to the spare bed and lay her down carefully.

I looked at her beautiful face, her skin flawless and it practically glowed in the dark. This Persian princess was beautiful and I couldn't stop staring. I had always admired Zoe's ethic towards everything and I still felt guilty about her death and now, she was lying right in front of me and I don't know how to react. Should I be scared, wary, suspicious, happy, confused or guilty? All of these emotions welled up inside of me but one was more dominant than the rest, love.

I looked down at her peaceful body before placing my hand on her forehead.

My hand started glowing and all my energy seeped out of my body and I succumbed to the blackness surrounding me.

THALIA P.O.V.

I saw Percy's hand glow on Zoe's forehead.

Suddenly he lost consciousness and I rushed over to him. His breathing was steady and he looked like he collapsed from exhaustion.

Artemis looked over worriedly and I knew that no matter how much she denies it she cares for Percy as she does for Apollo, as a brother and the only decent man on this planet. I looked at Artemis with an expression that told her that he was going to be fine. She visibly relaxed at this information.

I heard a groan come from the bed where the Huntress was. I spun around to see the glow still continuing, even after Percy passed out. It was visibly healing every one of Zoe's scratches and bruises and waking her from her slumber.

All I could think was 'where on earth did Percy learn to do that?!?'