DownPour

Kick Butt

They came out of nowhere. A group of girls dressed in all silver, bows in hand and quivers on their back. The boys in front of them stumbled back in surprise, the teen in their grip groaning at the sudden reverse. "Leave or die," one girl demanded, stepping forward. She looked about their age; twelve, maybe a year or so older, but she had an aura of authority and power that no one could ignore. "Now."

The boys dropped the kid they were supporting and bolted back, not daring mess with so many arrows pointed at their face. The teen on the ground gasped as he hit the ground, curling in on himself to try and stop the pain. The lead girl stepped forward, looking at him with disgust and a bit of curiosity. "Why do you not run with your friends, boy?"

"I-I can't," he stuttered, pushing himself further into the ground as if trying to hide. "Please don't kill me."

"Why can't you run? You are perfectly capable. Too lazy? Or too arrogant?" The girl sneered.

"No, I can't," the boy insisted. "They broke my leg."

This piqued the girl's interest. "Those other boys? They aren't your friends?"

"They bully me," he answered. "They've never gone this far, though."

The girl thought for a moment about what to do with him. "What is your name, boy?"

"Percy Jackson."

"I am Artemis." She eyed him suspiciously. "We will help you to heal. Then you will leave and never speak of us again."

"Thank you," he breathed. "I won't tell a soul. I swear it."

Artemis nodded in satisfaction. "Set up camp here. Heal him best you can."

/.\

When he awoke, the light of a new day was shining in through the fabric. He noticed Artemis looming in the corner, watching him. "I figured you'd wake about now."

"Am I healed?" Percy asked first thing, not bothering to reply.

Artemis's lip twitched in amusement. "You are. Those boys really did a number on you. Why would they beat you as they did?"

"I'm too weak," Percy said. "They know I can't defend myself, so they attack me."

"Do they do this to others?"

"Anyone they can get away with hurting."

Artemis frowned. She had thought the younger generations were getting better. Obviously, she was mistaken. "You will be leaving now. Where is your home?"

"I don't have one," he muttered. "I live at my school. My mum was killed by my stepfather. I've got no one."

Artemis almost pitied the boy. He was beaten daily with no family to support him and no friends to comfort him. He hadn't done anything to deserve such treatment. It was then that Artemis made a decision that would change both of their lives. "I won't send you back."

Percy looked up, surprised. "You won't?"

"No. You will stay here and learn to defend yourself."

/.\

Their daggers clashed together with a spurt of sparks. Percy leapt back, swinging one blade while using the other to block his opponent's knife from cutting his stomach open while her second knife blocked his attack. She brought her knee up and hit him in the stomach, making him hunch over and stumble back, but he was back up in a second. Percy hopped to the left to avoid a swipe and drove his shoulder into hers, forcing her back. He took the chance to hit her wrist with the hilt of his dagger, making her drop that knife.

She struck at his side, him blocking with one dagger and using his free one to try and get at her head. Her hand flashed up and grabbed his wrist, holding it in place as she manoeuvred her other knife to knock one dagger away. Percy straight up tackled her, both blades sent flying as the two wrestled on the ground for some time, trying to overpower the other. Percy, being more physically fit, managed to pin his opponent beneath him and pressed his wrist into her throat, a knee at her stomach to keep her down. "Yield."

Her volcanic black eyes glinted proudly. "I yield." Zoë Nightshade smiled as Percy hopped off of her, holding a hand out to help her up. "It would seem that you have finally beaten thy teacher. I've taught thee well."

Percy offered his own smile in return. "I couldn't have had a better teacher. For a huntress, you've amazing bladework."

"Come. Let us return for dinner. I'm sure the hunt would like to know that I've finally been beaten." Percy grinned at that, sheathing his knives and turning toward the direction of the hunter's camp. Zoë followed his example, striding beside him and emerging a minute later inside the hunt's designated dining tent.

Most of the hunt was already present, seated around a large table eating freshly cooked venison. They perked up when they noticed Percy and Zoë had entered. "Who won this time?" Phoebe shouted out.

Zoë offered half a smile. "Percy did." Most of the huntresses whooped, the very few that still held a grudge against the teen scowling and glaring at the boy.

"Zoë, you taught him a bit too well," Artemis teased from her spot at the head of the table. "You can't let him beat all of us, now, can you?"

Zoë shrugged. "Oh, well. Maybe you should try and fight him. Show him his place." Percy paled at that, sparking laughter among the girls.

"Perhaps I will," Artemis mused. "Can't let him grow too cocky."

"Oh," Zoë suddenly said. "Percy, I have something I would like to give thou." She pulled a pen out of her jacket pocket, offering it to him.

Percy frowned. "A pen? You know I can't write."

"Just uncap it," Zoë urged. "Don't point it at anyone." Percy shrugged and flicked the cap off. He wasn't expecting a sword to spring forth in his hands. The teen jumped, staring at the sword in astonishment. He recognised the inscription on the blade instantly. Anaklusmos. He remembered Zoë telling him about this sword. She'd never given it to anyone once it was returned to her from Heracles.

"You'd give me Riptide?" Percy said, astonished.

Zoë nodded. "You are a good man, Percy. You deserve it. Do me proud, will thee?"

"But I can't fight with a sword," he pointed out.

"You'll need to know how," Artemis broke in. "That's why you'll be sent to Camp Half-Blood in a few weeks for the summer term."

Percy frowned. "But I can't just abandon the hunt! I'm perfectly fine here. There's no need to send me anywhere."

"Percy, you know your heritage and what it means," Artemis said. "We can't give you all the training you need to fill that role. You'll return here after the summer's done."

Percy scowled. "Fine. But won't that alert Zeus of my presence?"

"It will, but I've discussed with your father and Athena. Both agree that there would be no better time than now." Artemis softened a bit. "Besides, you have multiple council members supporting you. You'll be fine."

"Don't they already have the daughter of Zeus?" Percy remembered. "Why would I be needed?"

"Kronos won't attack anytime soon," Artemis said. "And Thalia turns sixteen in a few months. She couldn't be the prophecy child. Unless there are more undiscovered children of the big three, you're the only candidate for the prophecy."

"I don't really have a choice, so I guess I'll go with it," Percy sighed. "When do I leave?"

"Two weeks," Artemis replied. "You have time, don't worry."

"Camp'll probably be boring," Percy said. " From what I've heard, they aren't nearly as much of family as you are. You're all my sisters, and I don't know where I'd be without you."

Zoë smiled. "You have changed the hunt, Percy. You have done as much for us as we have for thou."

Percy grinned back. "I'll miss you all." Artemis smiled softly at their male member, affection shining in her eyes.

"And us, you."

This'll definitely be continued at a later date.