Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, etc. are the property of JK. Rowling and Rick Riordan. The OC characters and storyline are purely my imagination running wild. My story is for entertainment only and is not part of any official storylines. I do not have any association with J. K. Rowling or Rick Riordan even though I wish I had. No copyright infringement is intended.
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It was a few hours since Skye took her pledge for the hunt. She was currently sitting against a tree, observing her new family. While she did introduce herself briefly to the huntresses, Skye was still not used to being around a lot of people and wanted a moment to herself.
She could see the girls milling around, smiling every so often at her, and then glaring at the campers. This was so far fascinating to watch. Skye was so focused on observing the girls and campers that she did not notice Artemis and Zoe leaving the tent until Lady Artemis called everyone together, startling her from her thoughts.
"Huntresses… and campers, I am going to hunt this monster the manticore mentioned. I am going to go after it alone. The monster is too dangerous and I will not take the risk of you being hurt or worse, killed. I will have Apollo bring you all to Camp Half-Blood," Artemis declared.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear," Artemis muttered to herself. As the sun broke the horizon, it seemed to get bigger and brighter - as if it was coming closer. "Don't look!" Artemis shouted to everyone: huntresses and campers alike. The heat from whatever this was enough to melt the snow in the surrounding area and cause Skye to want to cast a cooling charm or remove a layer of her clothes. Fortunately, the heat and the light did not last long, and they were able to see.
There in front of them was a nice-looking car, a cherry-red Maserati convertible to be exact, a car her uncle would have killed to have if he was still alive. The driver of the car had an attractive enough quality towards him by what she overheard, the one that smelled like ozone, saying he was hot. Of course, the reply from the boy that smelled like the ocean was nothing but cringeworthy.
"Little sister!" Apollo called with a bright smile that could blind a person. "What's up? You never call or write. I was getting worried!"
Artemis sighed. "I am fine Apollo; and did I not ask you not to call me that? After all, I had to help mom, give birth to you!"
"So, what's up?" Apollo asked, ignoring his sister's claim altogether. "I see you have the girls with you."
Artemis looks positively annoyed. "I need a favor. My huntresses and these campers need transportation to Camp Half-Blood. I am unfortunately needed for a hunt."
"Of course, sis." Raising his hand in a stop-everything gesture. "I feel a haiku coming on."
This caused all the other huntresses to groan, while both she and Bianca looked confused. 'isn't he the god of poetry?' Skye thought.
Clearing his throat as he held up his hand in a dramatic gesture.
"Green grass breaks through snow.
Artemis pleads for my help.
I am so cool."
'Ah well, that sucked. No wonder the girls groaned,' Skye thought with disappointment.
Pinching the bridge of her nose. "That last line was only four syllables," she said to him.
Apollo frowned. "It was?"
"Yes. What about I am so big-headed?"
"Nope, that is six syllables. Hmm." He started muttering to himself.
Just then, Zoe turned to us. "Lord Apollo has been going through a haiku phase ever since his visit to Japan, this is not as bad as the time he visited Limerick, if I had to hear one more poem that started with - There once was a goddess from Sparta-"
Shuddering at this, Skye was extremely glad that a haiku was only 17 syllables.
"I've got it!" Apollo suddenly announced. "I am so awesome. There are five syllables!" He bowed, looking extremely pleased with himself.
"And now, sis. Transportation for the huntresses and the campers, you say? Good timing, as I was just about ready to roll," Apollo said.
"Remember Apollo, no speaking to my huntresses, no flirting with my huntresses, and no helping my huntresses. Just drop them off at camp and leave." Artemis said to Apollo sternly. Nodding his head vigorously.
"Huh," Apollo said, "Unfortunately there are more than two of you, so it looks like this car has to go." Clicking a button on his car keys, the car morphed seamlessly into a small bus. "Okay, everyone on you get!"
From there on out, everything moved smoothly. They boarded the bus rather quickly and were ready to go.
Glancing out of the window of the sun bus, Skye could not shake the feeling that something was about to happen. Her beast was screaming to her to stay with Artemis and Skye was not sure why - she would have to meditate on this and have a long conversation with her beast.
She was brought back to reality when the bus took off rather violently, throwing her onto Zoe. Holding on for dear life, she quickly looked up at the driver's seat to see Thalia driving and wished with all her might that this was a dream. Why on God's green earth would Apollo allow her to drive? Skye was not sure if she should laugh or cry at this, but in the end, she decided just to close her eyes and breathe and try to ignore the uneven drive as Skye was starting to get motion sickness.
Arriving at Camp Half-Blood, Thalia decided to make the wise decision to land the bus in the lake, angering the water nymphs in the process.
Skye was one of the first few to get off the bus and onto solid ground. 'I love to fly, but I will never fly again if Thalia is the one in charge of it!' she thought to herself.
The camp was beautiful, she would admit, with the ground being covered lightly with snow but yet she would prefer not to stay here. She was soon met with the eyes of every camper currently staying at the camp. The looks that varied from curiosity, suspicion, distrust, and finally hatred threw her. Skye knew that her stay here would be unpleasant, and she wouldn't be able to go anywhere without at least one of her sister huntresses by her side by the looks of things.
Once every huntress was ashore safely, Zoe instructed the girls to go and settle in at Artemis's cabin, as she informed Chiron, who arrived at the scene where they would be.
Skye relaxed the minute she arrived at cabin eight, as the feeling of safety, calm, and peace washed over her. The cabin was a simple yet elegant building glowing softly with a silver light, the cabin itself looked like a traditional Ancient Greek-styled building, with a sloped roof resembling rays of moonlight held up on each corner by sleek, minimalistic columns elevated on a platform connected to the ground with small steps.
The exterior walls were decorated with carvings depicting images of various wild animals hunted by female hunters wielding bows, arrows, and knives, mostly stags, bears, and boars, Artemis' sacred animals. They connected on either side to a silver, marble door, framed by little glowing engravings of the stages of the moon, from the first crescents right at the middle of the bottommost side to the round, full discs of the full moon right in the center of the overarching, then back to the waning crescents until the cycle repeats itself. Above the door was a decorative moon dial.
Stepping inside the cabin, she was met with a hallway that led to a lounge area on the left-hand side and the right-hand side led to the dorm rooms and bath areas. The lounge had this relaxing feel to it. You could see couches and beanbags strewn about the room, as well as a nice fireplace to keep you warm.
Going to the dorm room, Skye was met with at least 20 bunk beds, each with a trunk at the end of it. There were small hooks against the wall of the room. This was where you would hang up your bows, and the quivers were stashed in cylindrical holes at the end of each bed. A small fireplace at the end of the room could also be seen. This would most likely provide you with just the right amount of heat for the room in the evenings.
Finally, the bathroom was huge - there were enough baths, toilets, and showers for about 50 people. This is something all huntresses would take advantage of while at camp.
All in all, this cabin was truly a beautiful sight to behold, and Skye would have no problem staying here with her sister huntresses.
Skye was just settling down after receiving her new clothes, both winter and summer hunting uniforms, and a pair of daggers to go with her main weapon when a knock at the cabin's door interrupted the tranquility of the atmosphere.
Being the lieutenant that she is, Zoe opens the door to find out who will dare to interrupt them from the only times that the hunt could have peace inside the camp. Finding one of the female campers, "What do you want?" she demanded.
There came an answer from the threshold, causing Zoe to scowl before turning and looking at Skye - "Chiron and Dionysus wish to see you. But do not worry, I will be going with you and sort this out." Zoe said to her.
Skye closed her eyes and sighed; she had a feeling that she would be summoned but truly hoped that this would not be the case, yet that was not meant to be. "Thank you, Zoe. I truly do not want anyone to be in trouble because of me," she said softly.
"You are not getting anyone in trouble. Skye, you are one of us, and we stick together." Zoe said as the other girls murmured the agreements as well. "Now come, let's get this sorted."
The level of hostility surprised both Zoe and Skye directed at them when they stepped outside. Yes, they expected the normal amount of dislike after all. They were huntresses, but this was pure hatred. It would appear that the knowledge of her heritage had come to the camper's attention, it seems.
The walk to the big house was very tense, with the campers following behind them. Skye knew that she would not make any friends here. She would more likely meet her death here if she was not part of the hunt. She was extremely glad that the hunt was so accepting of her and that Zoe was here to help her with this situation.
In front of the big house was another rowdy crowd of campers that was slowly trying to surround them, but quickly parted once they saw the pissed-off look on Zoe's face. Skye did not care about the reaction she was getting from the campers; she expected this. She only cared about the hunt. After all, they were her family now.
The first thing Skye noticed once inside the rather large house was a pudgy fat man wearing a leopard print tracksuit and a centaur standing at attention. 'This must be Lord Dionysus and Chiron,' Skye thought to herself.
"Ah, hello there. Sorry for interrupting your evening, but we have some questions for you." The centaur spoke while eying her with trepidation.
Before anything else could be said, Zoe quickly spoke up. "There should not be any questions. My Lady already knows everything about Skye and what she is. Haven't you campers mentioned that? If Artemis is convinced of the good of Skye's character, then why are you questioning it?!"
'Wow, Mother Bear came out to play.' Skye thought, amazed as nobody has ever stood up for her.
"It's nothing like that but we…" Chiron did not get to finish as Zoe interrupted once again.
"What is this truly about? Are you all questioning Lady Artemis's judgment?" Zoe said with an angry scowl.
At this, Chiron was brought up short, taking a few moments to formulate an answer, while Dionysus was looking on in a disinterested manner.
"Zoe, look, no one is questioning Lady Artemis. But I have to know if she is a threat to the campers."
'How on God's green earth is that not questioning Lady Artemis's judgment?' Skye thought to herself as she decided to stay quiet. After all, it would be best if Zoe handled this.
"Just to clarify, do you believe that Skye is the one that will cause harm to the campers? Yet what about the mob that has formed outside our cabin and here that wants to kill her? Your precious campers are not in danger here, my sister is!" Zoe said with such ferocity, not bending to Chiron's demands.
"Get control over your camper's Chiron or we will!" Zoe snapped before grabbing Skye's hand and storming off with her right beside Zoe. Leaving Chiron and Mr. D to sort out their rowdy campers.
Skye was truly amazed by this event. She never experienced these feelings before. This was truly the first time anyone fought for her, accepted her as she was, and protected her. Skye knew then on out that she would give her life to keep her family safe, she would not lose the only family that accepted her so fully. Skye was once again glad that she had chosen to join the hunt.