Snowfall

Iowa

Please do not mistake the last chapter as this book being complete. We still have thirty-three chapters to go.

Wind in his face. The rush of flying. Pain. Blood. Going down. Crash. Leaves scratching. A horse's scream. Numbness. Black.

Thalia led the hunt towards a spot in eastern Iowa where there had just been a flare of power but a few hours ago. She had her bow in hand as they approached the area, ready to find a large band of monsters or perhaps one of the ancient creatures. But no, Thalia was so startled she dropped her bow when she pushed past the brush and saw Percy Jackson lying on the ground, bloodied and bruised, yet alive.

"Stop!" Thalia yelled to the hunters spread out behind her, falling to the ground next to her friend. She felt his pulse; alive, but barely. There was an arrow embedded in his back along with multiple long scratches down the side of his torso. "Bela!"

Belaflore was a daughter of Apollo from the mid-fifteenth century, living in Italy until she lost her family in the Renaissance. She was the hunt's best healer and would know what to do to help Percy.

"Yes, Lieutenant?" Bela said with a soft voice. "What have you found?"

"Come out here!" Thalia barked, not caring if she sounded angry or annoyed. One of her best friends, pretty much the only one who knew what she went through, was dying in front of her. Why should she fucking care about kindness? "Now!"

Bela emerged cautiously and gasped when she saw Percy. Bela looked at Thalia for permission, which was immediately granted, and rushed to the boy's side. "Monster," she muttered. "Something that could shoot a bow and leave claw marks. Perhaps a werewolf, or maybe even Echidna herself. A sphinx could possibly draw a bow, I'm not sure."

"I don't care what did this, heal him!" Thalia snapped. The rest of the hunt was emerging from the trees, watching the scene with confusion. Bela complied, breaking off the arrowhead and giving Thalia a cloth.

"Press on the wound," Bela said and slowly began to ease the projectile out of his back. When it came out, Thalia immediately applied pressure with the cloth. Percy groaned, shifting slightly, but Bela held him down. "Stay still, hero," she muttered. Being one of the few who didn't hate men, she was probably the kindest of the hunters. "Let us lessen your pain."

Percy stayed still, partially awake but not really aware of his surroundings. Bela used her powers of healing to close up all the wounds to the best of her abilities, focusing most on the arrow wound. She motioned to Thalia and the lieutenant removed the pressure. The injury was mostly closed, with just a small flow of blood leaking out. Bela ignored it.

"Get him some ambrosia and nectar," Bela commanded. Thalia held her hand out behind her and someone took out a bag of ambrosia squares along with a vial of nectar, placing them in her hand. She eased his head into her lap, pouring the nectar bit by bit into his mouth. He managed to swallow small amounts but did better as more of the godly liquid entered his body. Eventually, Thalia gave him an ambrosia square and he ate it himself, sighing as it fully closed the arrow wound and reduced his claw marks.

"My gods, Percy, what happened?" Thalia murmured, running her hands through his hair. Percy tried to choke out words but only coughed up blood, leaning away as to get most of it onto the grass (though some did land on her, not that she minded much).

"Set up camp here," Thalia called. The hunt went to work around the trio as they sat on the forest floor. Percy was moved into the medical tent once it was up and left there to rest.

The hunt stayed there for two days as Percy healed. Thalia was the first to figure out that this would go a lot quicker if they used water and lessened the healing time by maybe sixty percent.

He informed the hunt on the night of his second day what had happened. Apparently, on his way back to Camp Half Blood from Camp Jupiter, he had been hit in the sky and fell off his pegasus. He could guess that the monster had scratched him after he passed out in an attempt to kill him but the pegasus, who happened to be his loyal companion Blackjack, had saved him. There really was no other plausible story, so it was agreed with.

The hunt escorted him back to Camp Half Blood, moving at a slower pace than usual. It annoyed most of the huntresses but they all liked Percy enough to manage. He had earned their respect, it wasn't his fault no one had trained him on stamina or speed. Thalia figured she would have to do that at some point.

They arrived at Camp Half Blood a week after Percy had healed up. The campers were astounded when their hero arrived with a group of man-hating hunters, at the head alongside the lieutenant. The veterans laughed at him, not at all surprised with him. The hunters had always respected him, it wasn't very shocking that they all got along. Thalia probably had a part in that.

Percy hugged Thalia tightly before the hunt departed. "I enjoyed this past week," he said to her.

"As did I," Thalia responded, hugging back. "You might have to come back sometime. I'm sure the hunt wouldn't mind."

Percy smiled. "I'd love that."