Pertemis: A Wolf’s Tale

Chapter 13 Welcome of The Tale

Percy Point of View

The fact Percy left his mother behind was still wilding him, but right now it was replaced by the new world surrounded him.

They walked in a forest, the trees were so strange and the flowers, the sky was so blue and clearly that he nearly forgot the danger he was in. He thought of the world outside the island would be different, but it seemed just the same. So far, he hadn't seen any person walk passed them. Only Percy and Artemis walking under the afternoon sun. However, there was a change that this place was hotter than his island home.

As he was paying too much attention to the surrounding, Artemis suddenly came to a halt and he nearly bumped onto her.

"Uh why are we stopping?" he raised a question.

"It's because we are at the perimeter to my hunt Perseus" she told him. "One more step and they would detect you."

"They wouldn't attack you right?" He said. "I mean they must know that I'm an acquaintance to you"

"Yeh I know but I must make it clear to them first" she sighed in annoy. "After all I'm bringing a male into our home, which has broken our rules. I must confirm them before taking you there."

"But what if they don't accept me?" He said. "What if they-"

"Oh for Leto's sake can you just stop asking!?" Artemis bellowed. "I've promise to mother that I'll take care of you and I'm doing it now. Listen to me and stay here, and do not wander anywhere."

With that, she left him and walked into the hunters' area. Percy scoffed and leaned his back on the tree. Now he was wishing to go back home, where his mum would be making lunch and him looking at her at the kitchen's doorframe. The thought made his heart ached for home. The concern about his mother's safety rushed back into him again. He swept the thought aside and looked around for Artemis.

He had come to like her. It wasn't that like-like of a sister. He never yearned to have Artemis as a sister. He always looked at her as a friend, and right now it was advancing into something more than that. He knew it was wrong to have those feeling for her, that was a taboo for both him and Artemis. Because he had never seen any other female in his life except Leto and Artemis. Of course when she appeared, a strong sensation made his heart vibrated rapidly. So far, Artemis was the most beautiful person beside his mother he had ever seen. Her auburn hair always curious him that he had a thought of touching them, her pale skin and flawless of a rare quality and that beautiful features of hers. Her eyes were the most fascinating to him, like those ambers rare rock that glitters on the island. Every time he stated straight at her, the two full moons just showed from that window of her soul. He never got able to control when he looked at Artemis, the fact being near her got his legs trembled. Despite the fact she hated him, he was still glad that she didn't treat him as bad as the other males.

A moment later, Artemis returned with a half pleased and half not face. That got him worried.

"So how was the negotiation?" he asked, clapping his palms together and grinned.

"They have accepted you to live there" she informed him, which made his shoulders to drop "however don't parade it soon because it's not gonna be easy afterwards."

Percy swallowed, thinking of any possible treatment they would lay on him. After all, Artemis was the only one who had sworn to protect him, not her hunters.

"Now come with me" Artemis said. "I must introduce you to them first. Stay close or you gonna get shot in the head."

With that, Percy followed Artemis into the danger zone. He stood as close as possible to her, clinging on like there would be something dangerous to face. The moment he stepped into that area, he knew something was wrong. It wasn't comfortable and free like outside, this area was more intense and mysterious. On the way, Percy had a feeling he was being watching. Behind the trees around him, in the bushes and op top of the leaves. The ground beneath turned more dangerous as he cautiously followed Artemis step, scaring that he would step on some kind of a trap. Bear traps maybe.

Finally, they came to a clearing. The camp was set on a clear lands, surround by trees in circle. It was easy to detect any invaders that came close. He didn't know how he was going to live in those tiny little silver tents. In the middle of the camp was a camp fire with logs for seats. At least there was a dinning pavilion set next to the outer areas of the tents. It had wooden roof with moss and vines hanging down at the edges.

On the right, the training area with rows of quivers full of arrows and bows. Wooden and straw dummies for training which each of them had arrows sticking to the head.

They walked closer and slowly, from the tents, the hunters started pouring out. He was right about them watching him on the way there as some came out from the forests behind them. They assembled in front of Artemis and Percy.

Most of them didn't look older than fifteen but with the stern look of a killer and wisdom through ages. They all wore simple jeans, black and blue was majority with high boots. The only common they had was their silver jacket and bows and a quiver full of arrows at their backs.

"Girls this is Perseus"

To his expectations, they all gave out a scoff and blessed him with disregarded look.

"Uh...hi" he waved his hand a little, trying to be polite like how his mother taught him.

Some of the hunters looked at Artemis and bowed, then left into the forest. Percy took glance at Artemis, who was having trouble in her eyes. Things didn't turn out well after all.

Finally, only three girls left behind as they slowly walked up to him.

"So this is the famous half brother of Artemis" The leader of the group said.

She appeared to be a fourteen years girl with black raven hair and eyes as dark as the night. The only thing made her stand out from the others was that silver tiara on her head.

"I'm glad that you can understand the situation Zoë" Artemis smiled.

"But Milady" Another girl behind Zoë spoke. "Why did you risk so much to bring him here? He's a werewolf!"

The word struck him hard as Perseus looked down. He admitted people hated him because of who he was. But sometimes, it did hurt him a lot. After all, he always tried to seek acceptance from people.

Artemis looked at him in concern and spoke.

"But he's my brother Thalia. I've promised my mother to take care of him, I don't have a choice. The whole Olympus wanting him dead."

Thalia gave him a glare, but didn't say more. She looked about fifteen with black died with blue short- length hair. She looked like a type of punk with piercings everywhere on her ears and one on the nose. Until he looked at her eyes, somehow, he didn't like her much. It reminded him of someone, with that electric piercing blue eyes.

"Well if you have said so" the third girl spoke. "Then we will listen to you."

"Thank you Annabeth" Artemis said.

Artemis then turned to Percy, "these three will show you your tent, rest for today and we will discuss about your duty here tomorrow."

With that she nodded at the girls and disappeared somewhere for gods know. He turned to the girls nervously only to receive icy looks.

"This way, boy!" Thalia snapped and they headed to the direction of the tents' area.

As they travelled on the way, Percy didn't receive any warm welcome, not as much as the beginning. An apple threw at him as he turned and a girl with red hair smirked.

"Look a pig has entered!" Another girl yelled.

"What ya doing here doggie? Seeking for a meal!?" Another cheered to mock him and the other joined in and started laughing at him.

Zoë stilled had that stern look on her. She didn't say much or rather agree with other hunters. Or like him either. But he was glad that she didn't criticised him like the others. So much of a leader he guessed. On the other hand, Thalia who was walking ahead smiling, enjoying the discrimination. Only Annabeth to whom he couldn't see her face nor expression. The only thing he could remember was her pretty face with that grey stormy eyes, she rather looked smarter than others. Her blonde curly hair fascinated him as it sprayed the smell of strawberry each time the wind blew pass. Percy didn't know if she accepted him or because she just obeyed Artemis, but he was glad that she helped him out earlier.

They stood in front of a silver tent, at the far end of the sleeping area and somehow, Perch felt glad because he could be isolated from the other hunters.

"This is where you will sleep from now on" Zoë said and pointed at the flap. "Everything else will be informed to you by Lady Artemis tomorrow. Don't wander outside at night or our arrows won't tolerate

you."

Percy gave an acknowledgment nod to which Zoë sent the same icy look and walked away. Thalia smiled at her innocently until Zoë was out of sight and that smile dropped. She held his collar and pushed him against a pole.

"Listen up boy!" She snarled. "Just because you are accepted here doesn't mean you can live happily ever after in this place. I'm gonna make sure that your life will be miserable the moment you are in"

She let go off him, scoffed and walked away. Percy rubbed his chest and groaned, how strong is that girl? He thought.

"Don't blame her" Annabeth said, made him startled. "She had a bad experience with boys before. She will ease with you eventually"

"Thanks for the support though" he said. "I'm glad that someone really feel ok with my presence here."

"I'm just simply obey Lady Artemis decision" she told him. " but I understand your situation Perseus. Life can be hard here, especially for you, but it will get easier overtime. Take a rest because tomorrow is gonna be a hard day."

He smiled and Annabeth nodded. She started to walk away. He suddenly called up to her.

"Hey Annabeth!" to which she turned back. "Thank you!"

The blonde girl just smiled, with that she left him alone in a place where he considered of no where. Perseus gave out a shrug and yawned, he set the flap aside and stepped in.

N/A How did you feel about the chapter? If you liked it, please vote and comment to let me know. Sorry, but I have to set a little complicated love after all, there's no Pertemis without Annabeth. ????