Hello people! I apologize for going MIA. I was stuck with a major case of writer's block. I'm back now! So, please don't attack me. Here's the next chapter.

~Leonidas_son_of_Nike

Location: Half-Blood Hill

POV: Percy

"I can't believe that Hermes and Apollo did that!" I laugh as Artemis and I appear next to Thalia's Pine.

"Yes, it was quite... repulsive." Artemis replies, "I was unaware adhesives could be used in such a manner."

"Well, Eros won't be flying anytime soon." I start to calm down.

"Do you know what will be happening tonight?" Artemis asks me.

"No..."

"Tonight, Camp Half-Blood and the Hunt will be competing in a game of Capture-the-Flag. Currently, the Hunt has won fifty-six games in a row." Artemis' eyes glint in the setting sun, making her look more than a little malicious.

I grin, "I guess it's time for me to join the winning side." I say as the two of us begin to walk down the hill and into camp.

Camp looks peaceful. No one here has a care in the world, outside of the usual fear of death by dismemberment. With the Great Prophesy seemingly broken, I guess the atmosphere around camp would become more relaxed. Sadly, they do not know that the prophesy hasn't been broken, but rather delayed. If I am not the child of the prophesy based on a technicality, then that means someone else must be that child.

"Is something the matter, Perseus?" Artemis says, shaking me out of my thoughts, "You appear to have something on your mind."

I sigh, "I'm just thinking about the Great Prophesy." I reply, "If I'm not the 'half-blood of the eldest gods' of the prophesy, then who could it possibly be?"

"I would not worry about that." The goddess of the hunt places her hand on my shoulder, "For all we know, the prophesy may not come to fruition for many years."

"I know, but when it does happen, it will be a problem."

"You think too much." Artemis laughs, "For now, why don't you prepare for the Capture-the-flag game tonight."

"It's my job to think too much." I shoot back, "But alright. I'll go see Chiron first."

"We'll go see Chiron." Artemis corrects.

"Okay."

This entire conversation took place as we walked through camp. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that people were giving us odd looks, most likely because Artemis wasn't acting as she normally does, or at least the way they were used to her acting. When I was a Guardian before I died, Artemis was much more relaxed. Of course, her temper had a tendency to flare up at the worst of times, but other than that, she was fairly relaxed. From what I'd heard from the other campers, Artemis was a very stoic, mission-oriented goddess who didn't take schist from anyone.

"Lady Artemis! Perseus!" I turn towards the voice of Catania as she ran towards us, "Did it work?" She asked, her voice a mix of nervousness and excitement.

Artemis smiles, "Yes Catania. Everything worked out."

"Yes!" Catania punches the air, "We've got our Guardian back!"

I smile behind my hood. Catania truly hasn't changed after two thousand years.

"I'm sorry, did you say Guardian?" A familiar voice says.

I curse mentally. This was probably the worst time for her to show up. Annabeth's too smart not to figure out the connection. She can also sniff out a lie instantly. You can't hide anything from the girl.

"Yeah, what about it?" Catania replies to the daughter of Athena.

"I'm just a little curious as to why you would mention a story created by campers in the past ten years." Annabeth says, then glances at me, taking in the black cloak and silver highlights.

"I was actually asking Lady Artemis about it, if you must know." Catania counters, "I'd heard the story and was curious about it. After all, don't all myths have some basis in fact?"

"Oh." Annabeth paused, "Okay. Have either of you seen Percy?"

"Why would I care where a boy is?" Catania asks.

"I am afraid not, daughter of Athena." Artemis replies.

"And what about you?" Annabeth turns towards me, "Wait, who are you?"

I shake my head, not replying.

"What? You're not going to answer me?" Annabeth demands.

"The mute cannot answer." Artemis glares at Annabeth.

"Oh...I, um... sorry." Annabeth seems slightly taken aback.

I bow to Artemis and nod towards Catania before running off towards the Big House. As soon as I enter, I take off the cloak and sit down on a chair.

"Well?" Chiron asks, "Did the gods return your title?"

I grin and give him a thumbs up, "I'm back baby!"

"Well then, congratulations old friend." Chiron smiles, "Am I to assume this means you will be joining the Hunters in Capture-the-Flag?"

"Sorry Chiron." I reply, "I can't turn against my Charge."

"Then you best let the Hunt know they will be in for the battle of their lives."

I shake my head, "If someone had told me a day or two ago that you could trash talk, I would've laughed, but now I remember you the way you were. Sheena leaves an impression on everyone."

"That is certainly true." Chiron replies.

"Well, I'll see you later." I say as I stand up and exit the Big House, throwing my cloak over my shoulders once again.

I pause and look around. I'm not quite sure what to do now. After a minute of debate, I look up and smirk. Ten seconds later, I'm on top of the Big House roof, hands behind my head, as I stared up at the sky.

At some point, I'd dozed off, I'm not quite sure when. I only know this because I was startled awake by the force of an aura flaring up. The only auras I feel that powerfully are those of Artemis and her Hunters. I sit up and gaze around camp, using the aura as a beacon. After a minute, I located the source. A red-headed, freckled Hunter is cornered by a camper. I sigh and jump off the roof, tucking and rolling upon contact with the ground. I then run over to the duo. Whichever Hunter she is, she can handle herself. I'm actually getting involved to ensure that the guy isn't hurt too much.

"You know what I'm trying to say is: forget the Hunt. I'm all you're ever going to need." I walk up behind the foolish camper as he finishes his little sales pitch.

The Hunter notices me and smirks, "I'm not going to abandon the Hunt for the likes of you, but there's someone behind you who you might have more luck with."

The kid turns around, a smile plastered on his face...until he sees who is behind him: me.

"Attepting to make a maiden turn on her oath to Artemis is paramount to attacking the goddess herself." I say to the camper (whom I don't recognize), "Be lucky she isn't here to carry this out herself."

The  camper opens his mouth to reply, only to instead meet the receiving end of a right hook. He stumbles back, staring at me with wide eyes.

"Do us all a favor and don't be an idiot." I say as the camper scrambles away, "How you doing?" I turn to the Hunter.

"I could have handled that." The redheaded Hunter said.

"I know you could have." I reply, "But it's my responsibility as Guardian to deal with this kind of stuff."

"Well thanks, I guess." She shifts a little.

"You're new, right?" When she nods, I continue, "I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name earlier."

"Nancy." The Hunter replies, "Nancy Bobofit."

My jaw drops. I did not expect Nancy of all people to become connected to the mythical world, "Well, this is a little awkward now..."

"Huh? Why?" Nancy looks at me, a little confused.

"I'm Percy Jackson." I put special emphasis on my last name.

She looked at me in confusion for a minute, then her face clears and she stares at me in shock, "Jackson? You're that wimpy kid back at Yancy? Seriously?"

"That's me." I reply, "Oh, and Grover is a Satyr, Mr. Brunner is Chiron and Mrs. Dodds was real."

Nancy looks at me for a long time then shakes her head, "Damn Jackson, what happened to you?"

"More than I wanted to happen." I sigh, resigned, "But now I'm back where I should be: helping Lady Artemis."

"So the whole Guardian thing isn't a prank?" Nancy raises her eyebrows.

"How many times to I have to say this." I groan, "Do you think Zoe or Artemis is capable of joking around?" I ask. In truth, Zoe was actually a lot more lighthearted around three thousand years ago, but that has no real affect on this time.

"Fair enough." Nancy replies, "So..." She shuffles around. I can't blame her. This is more than a little awkward, see as the last time we met, we hated each other's guts.

"You best get ready for the Capture the Flag game." I say at last, "Chiron has issued quite the challenge to me. I can't let him beat me."

"Just be sure to carry your own weight Jackson." Nancy shoots back, causing me to laugh.

"That shouldn't be a problem." I reply, "Now get going to the Cabin Eight."

"What about you?" She asks.

"I'm just going to wander, maybe train." I reply, "Practicing my swordplay always calms me down."

"Well then, I guess I'll see you later."

"Yeah sure." I watch as Nancy runs off and I shake my head.

"Who could've guessed Nancy, of all people, would show up in my life again." I laugh a little to myself and head over to the training arena.

Even from the entrance of the arena, I can hear the rapid-fire thudding of arrows hitting targets. A few days ago, I probably would've assumed that the Apollo cabin was practicing, but with the Hunt here...

The arena is empty except for one person. Zoe is standing on one end of the arena. The other side is littlered with destroyed targets. Zoe removes her empty quiver and discards it into a pile of quivers. She then picks up a full quiver and proceeds to empty it into the last three targets, destroying them as well.

"A huntress carries the lives of twenty-four monsters in her quiver." I smirk, "So, how many monsters would that be?"

Zoe whirls around, her real quiver appearing on her hack as her she draws an arrow and points it at me, "Perseus." She eases up on the bowstring, "You know better than to sneak up on me."

"That's true." I rub my arm at the memory, "At least you looked this time."

"Yes, that is fortunate for you." She replies, a ghost of a smile plays across the lieutenant's face.

I open my mouth to respond, but before I can, the conch shell sounds, signaling the start to dinner. Zoe sighs.

"It appears we must go." she says, "As much as I know you would like to sit with the Hunt and Artemis, we can't raise suspision just yet. Perhaps Percy Jackson should make an appearance at dinner."

I nod, "You're right. But capture-the-flag is going to be an entirely different problem."

Zoe puts a hand on my shoulder, "I have seen some of your problem-solving ability. This shouldn't be a challenge."

I give Zoe a lopsided grin and run off towards the mess hall.

Hey readers. Once again, I'm sorry for going MIA for a long time. The situation has been sorted out now and I'm going to try to get back into constantly posting.
Vote, comment and as always, keep being awesome.
~Leonidas_son_of_Nike