Prince of the Universe, Love of Artemis (On Hiatus)

Chapter 8: Capture the Flag and a Startling Announcment

@Hunter_of_Artemis884 Thank you for your suggestions of nicknames in the last chapter! Here is your shoutout, as promised :) 

(Annabeth POV)

I. Hate. Having. The. Hunters. Here. It's just like, Hey, I'm a goddess and me and my team of badass warrior girls are going to crash at your safe haven, that cool?  Like, no! The only thing I ever look forward to with these visits is seeing Thalia, and she's been ignoring me today! What got into her? And, now they have a guardian? How is that supposed to work? I thought the Hunters were supposed to be able to protect themselves. I wish Luke was here. Everything would be so much easier if I just had my older brother figure. But of course, he had to go save the world, sacrificing himself in the process. Everyone I care about leaves. Even when Percy and I were dating, he left. Not that it was his fault, dam Hera... However, I now hate him, so it doesn't matter.

(Percy POV)

I could not believe the look on Annabeth's face when Thalia avoided her. She was absolutely furious, and it absolutely made my day. Well, almost. I still need to tell one more person I'm alive before Capture the Flag. My main BMFF. (Best Mythology Friend Forever) No, not Jason, the traitor... No, I gotta tell G-Man! Hopefully our empathy link still works.

"Hey, Grover, you in there?"

"PERCY?"

"Yeah, bro, I'm alive. You good bro?"

"Meet me at the Poop Pile in 10 minutes."

Well, that was straightforward. I guess I'm heading into the forest. First, however, I had to scare off my stalker. I turned and growled loudly at a spot near Juniper's tree, and a screech was heard. I knew it. Annabeth had been following me. Stupid Athena genes, I'll have to talk with my cousin about that. Maybe just, reduce Annabeth's curiosity a bit.

Anyway, I made my way into the woods, heading straight towards Zeus' Fist. Of course, Supreme Lord of the Wild got there first. I put up a dome of fire around us, completely soundproof, and transformed into, well, me. And then I tackled my best friend.

"Grover!" I yelled when I landed on top of him.

"Percy!" he bleated happily. "You gained weight, bro. Can you get off? Now?"

I laughed, scrambling off of him. "Sure, man. Whatcha been up to lately?"

"Well, I've been worried sick! Where have you been, man? I missed you!" (A/N: Percy has been with the Hunters for about six months)

"I've been with a bunch of man-hating females. Not as scary as it sounds, actually."

I expected the scream, and yet, I definitely wasn't prepared for it. "YOU'VE WHAT??!!"

Rubbing my ears, I replied, "I said, I've been with a bunch of man-hating females, and it isn't as scary as it sounds. Take a deep breath G-man."

And he did. Grover audibly inhaled and exhaled, then started again. "Sorry bro. It's just, your best friend goes missing for 6 months, and you have no way of contacting him, and then suddenly he shows up at the place that hated him. For reasons I have yet to understand. Also, you took Piper, Leo, and your half-sister with you! What the Hades, man? And now you tell me that you've been with the Hunters the whole time? The Hunters of Artemis?"

"Well, not the whole time. For the first week or so, we were living on the streets of Manhattan." Okay, telling him that  was a bad idea.

"PERSEUS ACHILLES JACKSON, YOU WERE HOMELESS IN MANHATTAN FOR A WEEK?!?"

Definitely a bad idea. Rule number one in interactions with Grover, act like everything is fine, or he will go all Mama Bear on you. Speaking of, he had proceeded to sit me down on a rock and stick out my arms while checking me over for any major injuries. I say major, because as a demigod, you will never not have injuries.