𝒍𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒛𝒆 - pjo x hp [₂]

xxxviii. maybe not boring

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐃. Kayse's grip on Raya grew a little tighter as he held her close, the two of them kneeling in the snow as more fell from the sky. She gripped his forearm silently, reassuringly, because it was the only thing she could offer.

The one called Zoe stopped short when she saw Thalia. "You," she said with distaste.

"Zoe Nightshade." Thalia's voice trembled with anger. "Perfect timing, as usual."

Zoe scanned the rest of the group. "Five half-bloods and a satyr, my lady." 

Raya resisted the urge to scowl, knowing that for the Hunters, ignoring Kayse's presence was the closest thing they'd get to being civil with him. Kayse didn't seem to care much, but he shielded Raya with his own body as they knelt in the snow, keeping her close. She could feel Kayse's Magic buzzing faintly under his skin—likely wanting to patch Raya up. But there was poison in the stingers and she'd have to get the wound checked before she could be healed. He knew that much too.

"Yes," the younger girl said in response to her Lieutenant. "Some of Chiron's campers, I see."

"Annabeth!" Percy yelled. "You have to let us save her!"

The auburn-haired girl turned toward him. "I'm sorry, Percy Jackson, but your friend is beyond help."

Percy tried to struggle to his feet, but a couple of the girls held him down.

"Percy, stop," Raya said to him, her voice coming out weaker than she intended. "We'll get her back. Just stop right now."

He seemed to be annoyed, but he trusted Raya enough to at least stop fighting the Hunters holding him down.

"You are in no condition to be hurling yourself off cliffs," the auburn-haired girl said to him.

"Let me go!" he demanded. "Who do you think you are?"

Raya grimaced, realizing Percy still had trouble with recognizing the Gods sometimes. She'd have to work with him on sensing Godly presences.

Zoe stepped forward as if to smack him, and Raya had her wand out and raised in her direction. It didn't matter that her vision was a little blurry, or that Kayse's arms around her were doing nothing to stop the lava filling up her torso. Kayse brought her hand back down, and held his own wand in her stead.

"No," the other girl ordered. "I sense no disrespect, Zoe. He is simply distraught. He does not understand."

The young girl looked at Percy, her eyes colder and brighter than the winter moon. "I am Artemis," she said. "Goddess of the Hunt."

There was a long stretch of silence. Finally, he blurted out, "Um... okay."

That was nothing compared to Grover. He gasped, then knelt hastily in the snow and started yammering, "Thank you, Lady Artemis! You're so... you're so... Wow!"

"Get up, goat boy!" Thalia snapped. "We have other things to worry about. Annabeth is gone!"

Raya closed her eyes, focusing on taking one breath at a time. 

"Whoa," Bianca di Angelo said. "Hold up. Time out."

Everybody looked at her. She pointed her finger at everyone in turn, like she was trying to connect the dots. "Who... who are you people?"

Artemis's expression softened. "It might be a better question, my dear girl, to ask who are you! Who are your parents?"

Bianca glanced nervously at her brother, who was still staring in awe at Artemis.