Chapter XXVII   I'm A Ssssssneaky Ssssssssssssssssneaky Snake FEAR ME

Thalia laid in her tent, drumming a light pattern on her pillow as she waited. She rested in her night clothes, something simple but unrestricting if she had to defend an attack during the night hours. Thalia had always hated the things, they weren't her sort of style at all, but really, all fashion had moved over for efficiency and utility when she had taken a position within the hunters. Artemis had always punished Hunters who disobeyed anyways, and as lieutenant she had no room to make mistakes in any way.

Well, tonight, Artemis would complain no more.

Thalia stood, jumping lightly to her feet. She grabbed the container holding the dust she had been given, orders ringing throughout her mind clear as day. Wait, be patient, be careful. She had a smile on her face as she crept out of her tent, the flap closing silently behind her. She crouched, letting the darkness shroud her completely in the shadows. Her eyes flickered around her, searching for patrol wolves that Artemis supplied, so that none of them would have to be in a weakened, sleep-deprived state throughout a battle. The silver white wolves walked slowly in circles around the tents, rows of fabric and sleeping females separating them from seeing each other. Thalia had decided that if she wanted to do this correctly, she would need to detain these two, if not any others. In terms of the pack, these two were underlings, mere guards. Warning signals. They would be most likely to disobey and run, and she needed numbers if she wanted to accomplish her goal. Along with the personal wolf each Hunter was granted, there were others, all of those sleeping in nests just outside of the tents, there was the pack leader, Thalia's wolf, who only obeyed her. Her wolf slept outside of her tent, away from the others. She needn't worry about her wolf.

As for the rest, considering what she had planned, she hoped she would be fine without having to waste dust on them, since they were supposed to be loyal to the Hunters and herself. She had to be conservative with it the dust, there were an abundance of Hunters she needed to use it on, and she didn't necessarily know how much potency a small amount had.

Thalia halted for a moment, before she straightened her back and walked with confident steps towards the wolf in the back. It would do no good for her to act suspiciously. She was the leader. She was the alpha. These wolves would recognize her, her status, and if they didn't they weren't worthy to be a part of her pack.

As she approached the wolf, it halted, nose pointed towards her. After a moment of obvious reluctance, the wolf sat on its hind legs, bowing its head as a sign of respect. Thalia lifted her chin. She gently rest her head between the dog's ears, petting it softly. She nelt. Its tail twitched, making Thalia smile. She grabbed the dust from her pocket, sprinkling a small amount atop the wolf's muzzle. Its nose twitched, and he sneezed, but soon he was licking her cheek happily, tail wagging with much less reserve. Thalia giggled very slightly, before giving the dog another pat and moving on. She straightened and went to the other wolf.

Before she had fully appeared from the shadows, the wolf whipped around to face her. This one sat on it's hind legs, but did not fully bow it's head. The sign of a proud dog, which didn't necessarily bode well for Thalia.

She approached it, slowing her steps when a faint growling met her ears. As the distance between her and the dog diminished, she could see the hairs on it's neck rising, it's body tensing as he hunched over. Thalia halted. This wasn't worth the risk. She didn't think this dog would willingly let her touch it, let alone sprinkle dust on it.

Her steps starting again, Thalia slowly brought out one of her hunting knives. She had left her spear in her tent, she didn't want it getting caught as she was weaving in and out of tents. The growling noise became more apparent as the wolf moved itself into a fighting stance, Thalia doing the same.

They danced around each other for a moment, daring the other to make a move first. Eventually, the wolf grew restless, and pounced.

It was a surprisingly quick encounter, as Thalia dropped and thrust her knife into the belly of the wolf, the blade slicing the soft underbelly as the wolf's momentum had it's body lurching forward. It hit the ground, whimpering feebly. Thalia ripped her knife out of it's stomach and silenced it. She wiped the blood on the wolf's fur and moved on.

For several minutes she weaved in and out of tents, crouching over the sleeping hunters and sprinkling a small amount of dust over their nose and mouth, keeping as silent as she could, thankful she had learned the ability to stay silent over the years, even as panic laced throughout her body with the shift or sneeze of a hunter.

Thalia let out a slow, relaxing breath some time later. Moving herself out of the last tent, she walked to the firepit, where the rings of tents had been set up to surround. She looked at the nearly empty container of dust in her hands, and decided to use the rest of it on the wolves she had initially decided to overlook. She had learned to be cautious in times when she believed she may not need it. Better to be careful. She had gained that knowledge the hard way.

She bit her lip as she moved closer to the sleeping mounds of fur. There were many, leading Thalia to believe she wouldn't have enough to cover them all, as they were spaced out of groups. Exhaling, Thalia decided she would save it. If certain hunters wanted to rebel, or if some wolves became reluctant, then she would use it. No need to waste it on wolves that would already obey orders.

She returned to the fire pit, standing on the scorch marks created in the grass from their dinner fire. She looked around herself, wondering what she was to do next. Would there be a point in waking her hunters now? When they would be tired and groggy from sleep? No. But it wouldn't do to let one of them wake and discover the dead wolf body. Thalia had guessed that the dust wouldn't take true effect until she had given them orders, and so she didn't want to give them a bigger chance to rebel.

With that thought in mind, Thalia disposed of the body and went to bed, concluding that the blood wouldn't be too noticeable in between the blades of grass.

When she awoke, it was a bit later in the day than she would have liked, but it was only an hour or so later than she usually woke up, so she supposed it didn't matter very much. It was a consequence of her late-night "adventure", but she didn't sleep so late as to arouse suspicion amongst her hunters.

Not that she needed to worry about that soon enough.

Yawning into the back of her hand -weakness!- she met Pheobe at the pit, where she was stoking the fire for breakfast. She sat next to her, the dew-slickened grass wetting her uniform. She waited in silence for the rest of the hunters to gather, slowly gathering her wits about her as the fog of sleep left her mine. Eventually, everyone was present and eating. Thalia took her chance. She set her food next to her and stood. The Hunters looked to her silently.

"You will do as I say." Thalia said simply. She wanted as a glazed look overtook them for a mere moment, before it cleared.

"No shit Sherlock. We always do." A black-haired hunter spoke. She had a bored, suspicious look in her eyes, which were narrowed. "Why're you reminding us?" Thalia narrowed her own eyes in challenge. She had never liked her. She was rather pompous. Figures, she wouldn't be as influenced as the rest. Thalia marched over to her, taking a small amount of dust into her hand as she did. "What're you doing?" She asked wearily. Thalia did not answer her. She stopped in front of her, crouching to be on the same level.

"Thalia threw the dust inter her face, watching as she flinched and coughed. "You will do as I say." Thalia spoke, voice strong, daring for any others to defy. They said nothing as she looked around them, proceeding to make her way back to the pit. "We will be staging an attack soon. It will not necessarily be an easy battle, so after you have finished your meal, prepare yourselves and your wolves, and come back here immediately. When everyone is gathered, we will discuss this further. And gather all the rope we have. Dismissed." Thalia called out. She sat once again, watching as her hunters quickly finished their meals and dispersed to their tents.

"Thalia went to her own tent, putting on her proper battle gear, strapping all her weapons to her sides, a bottle of greek fire into her pocket and a few coils of rope over her shoulder.

Eventually, everyone was ready. Thalia gave a little smile as she looked at her hunters, ready for battle. "We will be attack Artemis. I shall summon her, and we will not give her a chance to respond. The wolves will attack, and you will immediately begin to shoot your bows. Aim for sensitive places. We are not taking her prisoner. After I pierce her with my spear, she will be stunned and we can immobilize her with the rope. Use all of it. She is a Goddess, and we are not to take chances. Am I understood?"

The hunters nodded. "Good. Gather your wolves, we are moving south of the tents, so that we won't be obscured." Thalia narrowed her eyes. "I want my hunters divided! A quarter of you to the north of the clearing, another quarter to the east, so on and so forth! Move it!" She shouted. Taking a moment to ensure none of her hunters would disobey, Thalia moved to the clearing. She only had to wait a moment. Soon, all her hunters were in a ring, wolves tensed, growling and ready in front of them.

Thalia used the medallion fastened into her crown to summon the Goddess, only to be used for absolute emergencies. "Be ready!" She called out. Not a moment later, a bright flash erupted. Before the light had enough time to fully dissipate, the wolves were launching. The first thing Thalia heard to confirm the battle were a startled shout and the whimpering of a wolf.

Her hunters did not hesitate. Arrows rained from the sky, all aimed towards the lightly armored Goddess. Thalia waited only a few moments, listening to the cries of rage from the dark-haired goddess, making sure she was properly distracted before launching her spear. The weapon lodged itself into Artemis' middle, sticking out of her stomach as it sliced through her back. Thalia felt if she had only gone a bit more to the right, she would have hit her spinal cord, but no matter.

Lightning corsed throughout the Goddess's body, making her convulse and twitch as her muscles tensed and locked into place. Her hunters knew what to do.

As wolves bit harshly into Artemis' arms, pinning her to the ground and driving the spear further through her body, the hunters rushed forward, quickly confining her with the special rope Artemis herself had given them, which could bind almost anything up to Fenris Wolf. The coils were wrapped around her quickly, and the battle was over before it had truly begun.

Artemis was trapped. Her body twitched with aftershocks as Thalia ripped the spear the rest of the way through her body, forcing the breath out of Artemis' lungs.

Thalia looked around at the damage. Only one hunter had died, a knife in her chest, but a few wolves had fallen to the ground, whilst a few more limped. She would have to replace those, but no matter.

She turned back to the Goddess, stepping on the wound, causing ichor to spill out, staining her shoes and the grass. Artemis gave her a look so lethal Thalia almost backed up, but she said no words. Thalia brought out the bright green vial from her pocket, wordlessly spreading it onto Artemis. Only a few screams reverberated before silence overtook the hunters. Thalia walked away, collecting the knife from the fallen hunter chest, and calling for the rest to douse the fire and to get ready to leave.

~~~

This is a bit longer than usual but I'm not complaining. :D Finally got Artemis, I've been waiting for this for ages. *Rubs hands together evilly* Ah Thals, I luv you.