"PERCY!"

The Boy Hunter turns, and before he can react, is caught in a massive group hug.

"Woah girls. Hey, can you let me go? Can't...breathe..." Percy gasps the last two words out.

The Hunters release Percy from their death hugs, but still remain circled around him.

"So, what are you doing up here, little brother?"

Percy turns, smiling, "What, I can't come up to Maine for fun, Phoebe?"

Phoebe smirks, "Oh come on, since when have you done something for fun?"

The son of Poseidon shrugs, "Training is fun. Actually though, we were asked to come up here and escort these two demigods back to camp."

"Ah. Well since we're here, perhaps you'd want to relax and rest up with us."

"That'd be nice." Percy smiles warmly at his sister.

"I'd rather fight another manticore." Luke mutters under his breath.

"So, it seems you've brought this son of Hermes along with you again." SLAP!

"Ow! Good to see you again, Lady Backhand." Luke says, holding his now red cheek.

Percy turns at the familiar voice, "Zöe! I was wondering where you were."

Zöe opens her mouth to respond, but is cut off by another voice, "Woah, ok. I hate to break up the family reunion, but what the heck is going on?!"

Everyone turns toward the source of the voice. One of the two new demigods, the girl, was clambering her way out of the snow. She looked really shaken up, and was leaning on Grover, wincing in pain.

"Woah there Bianca, you need to sit down. Those spikes cause serious damage. You need to get your leg looked at." The satyr said quickly.

Percy looked a Bianca's leg, and winced involuntarily. One of Dr. Thorn's little projectiles had impaled itself in the girl's leg, just above the back of the leg. The skin around the entrance point was starting to turn green.

Luke knelt down next to Bianca and examined the injury. After a long couple of seconds, he shook his head and stood up.

"Yup, it's in there alright." He says.

Bianca rolls her eyes, "Thanks Dr. Obvious, I never would've guessed." She says sarcastically, then promptly passes out.

"Move aside boy, let someone who knows what she's talking about handle this." Luke is shoved aside by Amanda, "Daughter of Apollo coming through."

"Is my sister going to be alright?" The boy, obviously younger than his sister, asks apprehensively.

Amanda relives Grover of Bianca's weight, "Don't worry kid. Manticore poison may hurt like Hades, but it doesn't kill. Your big sister will be fine."

"But I..." The boy I tries to form a sentence, but nothing more comes out.

"Don't sweat it kid." Percy puts a hand on the boy's shoulder, "The Hunters are a great group of girls, and Amanda is the best healer I know."

"Yeah Nico, your sister will be fine." Grover reassures the little boy.

"Making new friends already, are you Percy?" Artemis walls towards the group surrounding the Boy Hunter.

Percy takes his hand off of Nico, and hugs Artemis, "Thank you for the save Artemis."

The goddess laughs and pulls Percy off of herself, "I'm certain you could have handled it yourself."

Percy shrugs and grins sheepishly.

"Now come, perhaps you could tell me about what has happened since we last saw each other." Artemis guides Percy to her tent.

"What's up with this?" Nico asks Luke and Grover, "Who was that guy?"

"These," Luke gestures to the camp of tents popping up around the three males, "are the Hunters of Artemis, a group of girls who swear themselves to the Maiden Goddess in return for immortality."

"Cool!" Nico says excitedly, "Do you mean Artemis, like in my Mythomagic game?"

"Ummm..." Luke looks over at Grover, who nods.

"Yeah, the same Artemis." Grover says to the little kid, "And you know all of those other cards? Well all of those gods and monsters exist as well."

At this, Nico nearly boils over with excitement, "Awesome! Does Poseidon really have a trident that deals two hundred points of direct damage? And does Athena actually give an attack bonus to every god on the field? Does -"

Luke stops listening to the ball of energy, and gazes into the camp in the same the direction Percy and Artemis walked off in.

"Alright Luke, spill it." Grover steps next to the son of Hermes.

"What are you talking about?" Luke tries to play dumb.

Grover sighs, "Oh come on. The Hunters of Artemis are infamous for their man hating ways. Then all of the sudden, Percy shows up and they ignore every one of their own rules."

"Yeah, it is weird." Luke agrees honestly, "But I don't know what is going on."

Grover turns and looks his old friend right in the eyes, and shakes his head slowly, "Styx, you're a good liar, but you're forgetting that satyrs can read emotions."

Luke sighs in defeat, "I can't tell. Not won't; can't. I'm sure that you can tell the difference."

Grover sighs, and looks back at the ball of energy named Nico, who was looking up at the two boys.

"Were you two talking about the other boy."

"Yeah." Luke replies.

"Who is he?"

"Percy Jackson."

"Who are you?"

"Luke. Luke Castellan"

"Cool. I'm Nico Di Angelo. Why do the Hunters hate everyone except Percy?"

"I'm...not quite sure."

"Is my sister going to be alright?"

Luke is about to answer the last question, When a laugh interrupts him, "Come no, little brother, don't interrogate the boy."

Nick, Luke and Grover to see Bianca walking towards them, supported by Amanda.

"Told you it wasn't going to be a problem." Amanda smirks.

"Thanks again." Bianca says appreciatively, "And thank you for explaining all of this." She waves her hands around the camp.

"Sis!" Nico runs up and hugs his sister.

"Hey Nico. It's alright, Amanda fixed me up good as new." Bianca pats her little brother on the head.

At that moment, Zöe walks up to the group. Luke eyes her warily and steps back slightly in fear, covering his cheek.

The lieutenant looks at Luke in slight disgust, and turns to Bianca, "M'lady would like to speak with you."

Bianca nods in confusion, and follows Zöe to Artemis' tent. The two walk in just as Percy is finishing up his conversation with Artemis.

"-any signs of the traitor." Artemis says, and looks up at the two newcomers, "Ah, thank you Zöe. Bianca, welcome."

"So, you're the actually Artemis, like from the Greek stories." Bianca folds her arms and raises an eyebrow in doubt.

"I am, young maiden. Those stories are more real than you believe."

"Okaaaay." Bianca says sarcastically, "And why did you call me here now?"

Percy grins like a maniac, "She wants you to join the Hunt!"

Percy looks like this is the best news she could have gotten. Zöe looks at Bianca expectantly. Artemis sits there patiently.

"Umm, what exactly will happen if I do that?" Bianca looks uncertain.

"You will join us, serving Lady Artemis, free of responsibility. Also," Zöe continues, "you become immortal."

Bianca laughs, "Immortality, ha!" She then looks at the faces of the three others in the tent, "Wait, you're serious."

Percy nods, "Unless you fall in battle, or break your vow to Artemis."

"And that vow is..."

"Swear off the company of men." Zöe says simply.

"All men? Even my brother?" Bianca looks mixed.

"Yes." Percy replies, "Nico will be protected at Camp Half-Blood."

"What about Percy here?" Bianca asks, "That greeting didn't seem to fit with everything else."

Zöe smiles softly, "Percy is what we call 'The Exception.' You will find out the whole story if you join us."

Bianca sits in the center of the tent, looking back and forth between the Huntress and stranger boy. Zöe sits there calmly, while Percy looks more expectant. Eventually, Biana nods.

"Ok, I'll join."

"Then repeat after me." Zöe says solemnly, "I pledge myself to the Goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt."

Bianca repeats the pledge and looks at Artemis.

"I accept." The goddess says.

A soft glow appears around Bianca. She breathes in deeply, then opens her eyes.

"I feel...stronger."

"Welcome sister." Zöe says.

Percy grins, "Great to have you a part of the family."

"There is something wrong in the air." Artemis says suddenly, "I sense a disturbance. [A/N: in the force...] I must investigate this matter. Zöe, take the Hunters and rest at Camp Half-Blood. Percy, I expect you to ensure everything happens smoothly."

Percy and Zoe immediately begin to protest, but Artemis holds up her hand. The two quiet down immediately.

"No arguments. This is something  I must do alone. I will arrange for a ride to camp for all of you."

"Is our ride going to be..." Percy doesn't finish his question.

Artemis smirks, "Unfortunately, yes."

Percy and Zöe groan and put their heads in their hands, completely in sync.

"Ok, that was kind of creepy." Bianca notes.

"Yes, it most certainly was." Artemis agrees.

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Ok, I'm sorry about the first half, I wasn't really feeling this chapter. I got it up though. What do you think of this story so far? How evil do you want me to be with the characters? And remember to check out The Heir of Time.
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