Percy Jackson: Guardian of the Huntress

Am I Who I Am?

POV: Percy

Location: Hunters' Camp, Pine Barrens, NJ.

The Hunters stare at me, a little shocked, and I can't blame them. To almost all of them, I'm pretty much just a random demigod boy that Artemis decided to aid. I can see Catania and Zoe in the back of the group, silently laughing. I glare at them. That just causes the two of them to laugh harder, and Catania let's out a snort. No one notices.

One of the Hunters speaks up, "So, you're Percy...like the Percy Jackson?"

"Um...yes." I say uncertainly.

"You protected M'Lady thousands of years ago?" Another asks.

"As far as I can recall." I reply.

"And you were there before even Zoe joined?" A third one says, amazed.

"Yeah."

"Oh really." Zoe speaks up suddenly, "Can yoou swear that on the RIver Styx?"

I look at her, slightly shocked that she would make me do that. Then I look into her eyes. She wants it to be true, but she has been betrayed by males too many times. Zoe wants fool-proof evidence that I am who I say. Honestly, I don't know if I can make that promise. I mean, the memories feel right, but at the same time, it seems too farfetched.

Zoe continues to look at me, and after a second, I decide to risk it, "I swear on the RIver Styx that I was Lady Artemis' Guardian thousands of years ago."

The moment I say that, it's as if all of those memories really do become my own. They feel right all of the sudden. Thunder rumbles, and everyone waits a second. When nothing happens to me, Zoe races forward and wraps me in a hug.

"I wanted to believe you." She says, "But I just..."

"It's cool Z." I say, "I understand."

Catania forces he way through the crowd and looks at me, "I still owe you for the whole Orion situation."

I shake my head, "You owe me nothing. I was just doing my job. Which reminds me," I say, "Does death cause any changes to the Guardian status? Am I still technically a Guardian?"

The hunters all look at me in confusion.

"How should we know?" Catania asks, "You're the Guardian."

"Yeah, and as far as I know, no Guardian has actually come back from the grave." I retort.

"You just have to be the first to do everything." Zoe shakes her head, "First male to find favor with Artemis. Only Guardian to survive of the original twelve. Now the first to come back from the grave."

I shrug, "I'm bound by my oath. I can't just leave all of you and M'Lady."

"You're too stubborn." Catania mutters.

"Are you complaining?" I ask.

She thinks about it, then shrugs and shakes her head, "No, not really."

"Woah woah, hold up." A new hunter says, Zoe, did you just hug him?"

All of the Hunters glare at Zoe. She nods.

"Yes Phoebe, I did." She retorts.

"But you're our lieutenant!" Phoebe cries out and glares at me.

"And he's the Guardian of Artemis and, by extension, us. It is impossible for him to bring harm to a member of the Hunt."

I let Zoe do all of the talking. Sure, I could defend myself, but that would probably cause unneeded conflict. Better to let Zoe do that.

"He's still a boy." Phoebe stands her ground.