Shattered

School

B/N

Who's tired of all these  A/Ns that aren't being accompanied with a new chapter? If you're in the same boat I am, congratulations. You're getting a new chapter.

It's been awhile, but Josh wanted to make sure he had some true direction for the story to work towards before updating again. I think some people would be appreciative of that.

He also wanted to start with a somewhat clean slate. While Shattered was a big hit, writing style evolves and inspirations change.  Thus, Act II. Thank you all for accompanying Josh and I (and Admeto for a time) throughout Shattered. I look forward to seeing your reviews over at Fractured if you decide to accompany us for a little bit longer.

Oh, and leave a Happy Birthday message in the reviews for Joshie? As I'm uploading this, Josh is asleep, but when he wakes up, it'll be his birthday. <3

­-Fractured C1-

Zoe Nightshade had always seen herself as a morning person.

Really, one had to enjoy mornings if they wanted to survive being a Hunter of Artemis; their mornings were always filled with stocking, training, cooking, maintenance... Hunters were expected to attend to dozens of duties everyday. On rare occasions, however, one couldn't help but enjoy sleeping in.

It was a modest, still Saturday morning in the Allegheny Hills of Southern Pennsylvania. The night before had been cool by June standards, the breeze of dusk a welcoming cool lull after a week-long heat-wave. The air was a right balance between crisp, yet comfy that caused her will to crumble and stay in her nice, warm cot.

Percy barged in, a squirrel on his head, and falcon on his shoulder. She tried ducking her head beneath her wool covers, cursing and pushing him away when he attempted to grab at her arms.

"Zoe, get up," the son of Poseidon prodded as he tried to wrestle through the wool and tickle her out.

Zoe yawned with annoyance as she kicked at his warms away, her eyelids till heavy.

"Ten more minutes..."

"That trip to New York I asked you to come with, it's today." The son of Poseidon poked at her. "We need to head out just after dawn, if we want to make it in time."

The memory of her and Percy's planned outing returned to her. Something about needing to meet an important ally for the Titan War being in New York this summer. The set of responsibility within her reignited, to her displeasure.

"Fine," Zoe relented, poking her head out and immediately motioning him out. "Get out. I need to change."

Percy only blinked as their gazes met. The squirrel chittered.

"What?" she said.

Percy smirked. "So demi-titans do get bed-head..."

Horus squawked in what Zoe could only assume was laughter.

Zoe's cheeks warmed. The nerve this boy had.

"Out!"

He laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "I'm leaving, I'm leaving..."

When Percy had discussed with her about their new ally in New York, he had failed to mention that they would have to attend a mortal high school.

'Goode High School' was a large brownstone building that sat on the waters of the Hudson River. It was comprised of multiple tall columns studded was as many windows. Wrapped around the entryway arch were streamers and balloons, with a colorful banner that welcomed all the new students to orientation dangling from it. The decorating wasn't done with much care, all things considered.