The Unknown

Chapter 10: The hunt for Fido

It was a normal day at the hunter's camp; Diane was losing in a archery competition to Thalia, although most thought she was letting her win, Phoebe and Artemis were planning their next hunt, Zoë was playing with Pistó, fetch the arrow was his favorite, she would shoot the arrow and he would catch it about 15 yards away. But all that shattered when Hermes delivered a summons for Artemis, and they were issued a hunt, the first issued hunt in 60 years, since the end of the war.

It was saddening to hear of all the demi-god and mortal children that were disappearing and those that are being mauled to death. It was only after hearing that Lupa and her pack had been unsuccessful when they tried to stop the attacks, only able to find the identity of the attackers before most of her pack was severely injured only surviving because Lupa intervened and saved them.

Lycaon and his pack of werewolves were killing children and taking them, most likely to change them and grow larger numbers. It was getting so bad that the council of cloven had every satyr, faun and nature spirit out looking for demigods along with campers and any wolf from Lupa's pack that is able to. But more severe was the fact that no one knew where they were, Lupa couldn't track them, the wind gods couldn't spot them and there were no prophecies about them. It was as if they were guarded from the eyes of the gods.

Artemis and her hunt were packed and trying to track a single wolf they found trying to kill a daughter of Trivia, only to wound him and send the girl with a wood nymph for protection to wait for a faun to pick her up. It was easy to track a wolf that was injured but this kept a near impossible pace. They eventually corned the wolf in the cascades only to encounter a sizable pack.

Claws and maws were everywhere when the wolves attacked but the silver arrows from the hunters and Pistó's speed to catch them made so no hunter was killed, a few scratches but those were healed. A few escaped before being killed by the hunters, but they were going to be used to track. These 3 wolves would lead them to Lycaon and hopefully end the attacks.

The tracks led the hunters north, and they made it to Alberta before they had to rest from running 2 and a half days straight. Many of the girls were exhausted but not many of them were injured.

"Where are they hiding all the way up here? They couldn't be able to hunt in the states if their dens are up this far." Phoebe's breath was still slightly labored as they all sat around a fire, bundled in their silver parkas.

"It is surprising, no breed of wolves is known for travelling more than a few miles out of their hunting ground unless forced to. And hunting grounds are a perimeter around their dens." Diane was always the smartest of the hunters, at least with facts and tactics.

"It is possible that these wolves are just leading us on a wild goose chase," Thalia in her ever optimistic way, said. "We don't even know if they are running back to mommy."

"We have to track them down, there isn't much of a choice, we just have to hope that they are leading us to Lycaon." Artemis was a little disheartened, her hunt was never known for being pessimistic, "Everyone get some rest we will need it. We will set out early to keep on the tracks." The hunters mumbled their good nights and trudged to their tents.

All that was left at the fire were Pistó, Artemis and Zoë who had been fairly quite for the last few hours. "Milady, I have a bad feeling about this," Pistó raised his head from Artemis' lap and looked at Zoë when Artemis turned her head to her lieutenant, "There isn't much land left for them to go that is within the god's domains. What if they are planning an ambush that we aren't ready for?"

Artemis shifted her gaze back to the flames, her silver eyes reflecting them like mirrors. "Zoë we will have to be ready, this is something we have to do. Get some rest, we will be running again soon." Zoë hesitated before leaving, aware that Artemis was just as worried as her.