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 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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Skye was minutes away from a full-blown panic attack when they finally returned to the cabin. The whispers of killing or hurting her were bringing up suppressed memories of her time at the Dursley and she hated these feelings of loneliness, hurt, and abandonment. After all, she thought she had accepted her past treatment with them.
Zoe seeing this knew that she had to help Skye through her panic as she guided her to the lounge where the other girls were waiting, she knew she needed the girls as well, after all, Skye would need reassurance that she was part of the hunt and that she was never going to be hurt or abandoned by them and Skye was family now.
Sitting down first, Zoe slowly pulled a panicked Skye onto her lap and hugged her from behind, while asking Phoebe to hug Skye from the front, knowing from experience that this would help.
Skye at first fought the hold that she was in, but slowly noticed that she was not being hurt, starting to calm down, she noticed that she was being held by Zoe and Phoebe, which caused Skye to finally relax into the hold.
Skye's panic attack soon ended, leaving her feeling embarrassed and extremely exhausted.
Taking a deep breath before she spoke. "Sorry, I can normally hide the panic attacks until I am on my own." She said softly.
"No, don't apologize, Skye, it is okay to have panic attacks like this, you are not the first, each one of the girls had panic attacks before and we all know how to help each other when it does happen, okay?" Zoe said to Skye softly as she stroked her hair in an almost motherly fashion.
"Zoe is right, Skye, and you do not need to hide it. We would always help. After all, that was what families do." Phoebe stated.
Skye felt suitably overwhelmed. As far as she could remember, she never experienced a family that cared for her. This was all so new to her.
Seeing the conflict on Skye's face, Zoe decided to let her work through her emotions and just be there when needed. For now, she decided a change in subject was in order, so she informed the girls about what happened at the big house and what led to Skye having her attack.
The girls were suitably pissed at what happened at the big house, but knew that Skye needed them; so they decided it was best to sleep in the lounge, cuddling up to Skye, comforting her the best way they could.
Breakfast the next morning was a fun affair for Skye. She truly needed this. Last night once again brought up that yes, she never had a loving family until now, and yes, emotional. She is still a broken abused child who still needs to overcome a lot, but that will not stop her from living her life and having fun.
Sitting at the Artemis table, the girls decided it was time to share some of their past, like tales of their hunts, and pranks they all were involved with, but that did not mean they would exclude Skye as the girls made sure to include both her and Bianca by asking question and stories about themself wanting to get to know them both. It was great fun to be integrated into a close-knit group like this - it felt wonderful to be wanted.
Soon after breakfast was done, Chiron decided to announce the special capture the Flag game between the Hunt and the Camp that would take place tonight. He also reminded the camp that the Huntresses were their allies and that harming anyone of the girls would be brought to the attention of both Artemis and the Olympic Council for punishment.
The girls soon left the dining pavilion. They needed to come up with the perfect plan to beat the campers in the capture-the-flag game tonight. But first, they needed to know Bianca and Skye's abilities and strength.
Bianca was chosen to go first. It turned out that she was pretty good with her bow for a beginner. Her technique and skill needed a bit of work, but the girls were very happy with her ability. However, they could not train Bianca with her godly abilities as they did not know who her godly parent was.
Skye was another story. While her archery skills were not the best, she was more or less average with them - Zoe believed that in the hunt they would be able to improve it to one of her best stills over time. Skye's best abilities lay in her strength and close-quarter combat - she can literally dominate you with it. Her claws and Scythe, combined with her massive strength and her unbelievable speed, gave her an incomprehensible advantage against her knife-wielding sisters. Her intense training with Pan was also a huge factor.
She was a different kind of hunter than Artemis, and her handmaiden, Skye, would lurk in the shadows. She would then attack or pounce, using her entire body when the prey least expected it. Skye demonstrates far more beastial behavior in these regards.
Needless to say, Zoe and the huntresses were beyond ecstatic about this, knowing that Skye would, in essence, be their secret weapon in tonight's game. This also opened a multitude of new ways to train and fight within the hunt.
The plan was relatively simple. Zoe would lead the larger group of huntresses into the enemy territory to go and retrieve the camper's flag. Bianca and two other younger huntresses will stay at their base and protect their flag.
Skye would be placed up a tree at the beginning. Once the game started, she would move from tree to tree and incapacitate any of the enemy campers. She will clear a path for Zoe and the other back to their base. In all honesty, Skye was their silent assassin.
The rest of the huntresses not with Zoe, or Bianca's team would form a loss ring around the surrounding clearing where their flag would be, they will ward off any campers that would evade Skye and Zoe's group.
The sound of battle echoed throughout the woods soon after the groups of hunters left.
It was about seven minutes when Skye found the first group of campers. Jumping silently from branch to branch, she shot down sleeping arrows, knocking each and everyone out before they could even notice they were being attached. Skye was fast and deadly, as she protected her sisters and eliminated the campers.
Of course, there were one or two campers who got past Skye, but the other girls soon took care of them. Skye soon circled back to assist Bianca and the others in protecting the flag, as most of the campers were out cold.
A few moments later, Thalia and two other campers appeared within the clearing where the flag was stationed.
Skye left the two other campers for her sisters and went after Thalia herself; she had seen Thalia fight before and knew that she would be a threat if not taken by surprise.
Quickly launching herself at an unexpected Thalia with her scythe raised and aiming at her head, Skye wished to overwhelm her before she could counter any attacks. She knew that she would need to end this fight fast before Thalia started throwing lightning around.
Thalia got her shield up just in time, before the scythe collided with her head, momentarily surprised that someone would use a scythe as a weapon - knowing for a fact that the huntresses normally would not use such a weapon. She moved quickly out of the scythe wielder's reach, lowering her shield to find the 'monster spawn' as the other campers called her Skye Potter. She had nothing personal against this huntress, but she would not go easy on her as Thalia wanted to prove that she was the more skilled fighter.
Thalia charged at her; spear low, but was quickly surprised at the speed Skye used to dodge her attacks. This girl was far faster than any huntress she had ever seen. She also packed a lot of strength as Thalia gathered from the hits she blocked with her shield.
Knowing that she needed to take this fight seriously, she charged at Skye once again, but this time included electricity within her attacks.
Skye knew that Thalia was taking this fight seriously now. After all, one does not use lightning in friendly spares, this was not a friendly spare, this was a fight until one could not fight anymore. This was a fight for respect and friendship.
Around them, the huntresses already took care of both campers Thalia bought with.
The fight was fast-paced and vicious, but it quickly became clear that Skye was by far the superior fighter between the two of them. She would have won by now if not for Thalia's control over lightning.
Skye decided to end the fight now, as the last lightning attack was a little too close to her sisters for Skye's liking. Knowing that the quickest way to end this was with her magic - originally, she was going to keep it hidden but she was tired of being underestimated.
Using her scythe, which was more of a defensive weapon at the moment, she quickly summoned up her magic and intoned with a loud and clear voice - "Impedimenta" knocking Thalia back before finishing with "Levicorpus, Incarcerous."
The next thing Thalia knew was; that she was hanging upside down and tied up in ropes that appeared out of nowhere, rendering her unable to fight. Thalia looked utterly shocked as she was hanging. She did not know that Skye could do this. In the end, Skye just won her respect and friendship.
It was not long after Skye won with Thalia that the cheering from the other huntresses was heard. With the win of the game, Skye released Thalia from her bounds before walking with the girls in the river's direction.
Within five minutes after the game, another fight broke out between Thalia and Percy. Skye did know why they would fight over a game. Yes, this game is an excellent training exercise but still just a game. They are rather powerful for children of the Big Three. She will give them that.
Luckily for them, Percy stopped fighting the minute he saw something moving toward them that should not be possible.
Turning to see what caused this, Skye was met with what looked like a zombie. She was not sure what to make of this, so she decided to just observe.
The walking-dead woman stopped right in front of Zoe before speaking, resulting in a lot of green smoke coming from the woman's mouth. "I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seeker, and ask."
Zoe stepped forward and said. "How can I save my Lady Artemis?" This gained worried and concerned looks from the girls, as Zoe had informed them about her dream a few hours ago of their Lady Artemis being in danger.
"Six shall go west to the goddess in chains;
One shall be found in the land without rain;
The bane of Olympus shows the trail;
Campers and Hunters combined prevail;
The Titan's curse must one withstand;
And one shall be healed by a parent's hand."
The Oracle then lost its otherworldly glow and dropped to the ground in a heap. This, of course, set off both campers and huntresses alike. "Silence!" Chiron yelled, getting everyone's attention. "Councillors and hunters convene at the big house in ten minutes."
The war room was in an uproar as the unexpected prophecy was being discussed. Everyone was trying to give their opinions as they waited for Percy and Chiron to show up. Percy ended up with the short straw and was left to deal with returning the Oracle to her resting place, which was the attic of the big house.
The room was quickly brought to attention once the two missing people arrived. "Demigods, a quest has been issued and we must discuss who will accompany Ms. Nightshade, as the quest was entrusted to her."
This of course grated on Skye's nerves as her Lady - her Alpha, is in danger. The campers were not one bit concerned that Artemis was captured, and her beast wanted out. She wants to make any pay for harming her family - her pride.
"Well, Ms. Nightshade, do you know who you will pick?" Chiron asked Zoe.
"I want to take Bianca, Skye, Thalia, Percy, and…"
"And me!" said a familiar voice to some said from the doorway. The blonde hair and grey eyes shone with relief at the sight of her friends and everyone in the room was silenced.
"Annabeth!" Thalia cried as she launched herself to hug her sister in all but blood. This broke the room as her friends and family rushed to greet her. After all, it was not every day someone returned safely from being captured without help.
"It's good to see you back Annabeth," Chiron said, "But how did you escape?"
"Lady Artemis took my place in the imprisonment. I cannot remember the location, but during the exchange, my bonds came loose, and I took the chance to escape. When I was a few miles away from the prison, I met with a Pegasus who offered to give me a ride back to camp," Annabeth said to the room.
"It's good to have you back Annabeth," Percy told her, making those around him shake their heads. Could he not make his crush any more obvious? "Now I really need to thank Lady Artemis. Zoe, you are in charge. What are the plans?" Percy asked, getting them back to business.
Early the next morning will be the change of everything, Skye had this feeling that they would be in for a wild ride…