Zayden Blaze

Chapter 6

It was dawn at the Hunter's camp. The place slowly lit up as the sun came and shone through the forest. The forest was waking up, the birds chirping awake and the animals stretching out of their stupor. As the hunters slumbered away in their tents, one tent was empty as the person sleeping there was already up, sitting at the campfire, staring into the dying embers. About an hour or two after everyone went to sleep; Zayden woke up and came up to the fire, listening carefully to the forest around him. He had suddenly woken up last night to the strong feeling of premonition and he knew, something was going to happen today, and soon. So, ignoring his tiredness, he got up and came to sit out at the fire, determined to follow out his assignment of protecting the hunt.

Fortunately, nothing had come to attack the camp through the night, but that didn't mean that Zayden would relax, the feeling was still just as strong and until it went away, Zayden would stay on guard. As Zayden sat there, listening to the forest around him, his attention drifted towards Artemis and the hunter's ten, just a dozen feet away from him. He felt sad that he could not reveal himself to them, but he knew in his heart that it was not time; he had to keep his identity a secret until the time was right. He knew the hunters would not like that, after all, to them he's just a disgusting and power-lusting male, hoping to control everyone around him, just like every other male was. Zayden had decided to try to prove them wrong; he had learned from Thalia that the hunters had actually respect him when he was still just little Perseus Jackson, demigod son of Poseidon and he would get them to like the new Percy at all costs but, he didn't want this time to be uncomfortable for all of them.

As he focused again on the forest surrounding him, he realized how beautiful it was. The clearing they were in was surrounded by tall and enormous pine trees, hiding some of the sunlight trying to pour into the clearing, though some, of course, managed to and lit up the place. About five miles the distance of the forest were mountains, the tops still covered in snow. As a son of Poseidon, Zayden felt that there was a river a little the right of the camp and after about a mile, it rolled into a crystal blue lake that was home to many kinds of animals. Taking in a deep breath of the pure and clean forest air, Zayden realized that he would like it here very much, though the hunters would probably move around soon. Zayden was pulled out of his thoughts as someone spoke behind him.

"Up so early?" The familiar voice questioned. Staying calm and still to hide his surprise, Zayden stood slow and turned, his eyes meeting two beautiful sparkling silver eyes just like the full moon. Ignoring the fluttering in his chest, Zayden bowed respectfully.

"Lady Artemis." He greeted politely, standing up straight again. She nodded professionally at him in response.

"So what has gotten you up so early? Could you not sleep or do you always get up this early?" She questioned. Zayden hid a smile as he saw a faint glow of amusement in her eyes. But, he grew serious as that question brought up the reason he was up so early.

"I feel as if something will happen today." He stated simply. That quickly got rid of the amusement from Artemis as she sighed.

"I feel it too. I have been tossing and turning all night, yet have found no sleep because of the uneasiness. What about you?" She questioned. Business-like as always, he answered.

"I was awoken from my sleep by the feeling and figured that I would be more alert if I sat outside of my tent," Zayden answered. Artemis seemed surprised yet happy at that.

"It seems that you are serious about your assignment to protect us." She grimaced slightly at the thought that she actually needed to be protected.