Percy Jackson and The Sands Of Time

| Chapter 11 | To The Hunters |

Hello, Readers! I don't really have anything to say, so please enjoy!

~CSP2708~

*Dylan_Walts*

| Chapter 11 |

| "To The Hunters" |

Hercules was enraged. It wasn't something that I'd expected to see - ever - but it still seemed more likely than Ladon without bad breath, so I wasn't all that surprised. I mean, who could blame the guy? Sure, he hadn't gotten to keep the apples, but that was only fair, since he wasn't even the one to retrieve them, nor come up with the plan to do so in the first place. If anything, Zoe should have been the one to keep the apples, but I digress.

He marched straight over to Zoe, who, oblivious to his mood, looked generally hopeful. There was something innocent about the smile on her face, something ignorant in the sparkle in her eye, that led me to believe that she truly was just a child trapped in the garden of her father and sisters, all alone. Hercules was well within ten feet of her before she noticed his expression - one of immense frustration - and she frowned. Her eyebrows furrowed in genuine confused as if she just couldn't comprehend why he was upset., he'd gotten the apples, right? He'd tricked her father and escaped the sky? He'd completed his task? Why could he possibly be upset?

I hid behind a nearby tree, shrouded in tall grass as I eavesdropped. Zoe would not appreciate me cutting in to save her like a damsel in distress - before the time was right, of course. She already didn't like my accusations against Hercules, but I knew from her future self that this would not be a pretty break and that she'd need someone to lean on after being betrayed and abandoned by the only man she trusted - one who she betrayed her family for. Also, I wanted to see how it would play out while being ready to intervene if necessary.

"Thou lied to me, pretty one," he said, his tone the same as those of the most gruesome monsters I'd faced - the ones who could speak, anyway. It was low and cold, a gravelly sort of growl that sent shivers down my spine.

"What dost thou mean?"

"Thou knew that Athena would purloin those apples from me! Thou knew! That is why thou toldst me thy father was the only way! If I did not acquire them myself, I would not be allowed to keep them!" he accused, pointing a finger at her - a finger that could probably have the power to bench press an elephant, but instead was used to threaten a young girl.

"Athena?" Zoe seemed to have missed most of what he said. "The Lady Athena was here?"

Hercules growled. "Yes! Art thou not listening to me? Is it not getting through thy thick skull? She came and took the apples away from me! She said I was unworthy of them! That I did not earn them!"

Zoe took a step back, now, finally feeling the aggression coming off him in waves. "I did not know. Thou canst blame me for a goddess' actions. Thou completed thy task, is that not so?"

"Yes! It is so! I completed my task, but the apples were taken from me, unrightfully!"

Zoe glared now. "I do not see what is thy problem. Thou completed thy task, and yet, thou art discontented."

Just at that moment, Hercules looked like he was going to hit her - like he was going to raise his hand to strike her across the face, but he didn't. Thank the gods that he didn't, because I would not have made it there in time, and with his unparalleled strength, I feared he may kill her, unwittingly. Instead, he turned away, inhaling noisily through his nose.

Then, he turned back. "I will take my leave now. To complete my twelfth and final task. Then, I shall finally be rid of Hera's foul discontempt."

Just as he turned, Zoe grabbed his arm. "And where will we go?"