Chapter 18
Percy leaned against a tree, his muscles relaxing in the warmth of the fire and his stomach full after a long and satisfying meal. He stretched, feeling the food weighing down his body, a kind of relaxation he hadn't experienced in days. His body, with its constant regeneration, was finally beginning to recover some of the lost energy. The hunt had been tough, but the boar he had taken down was a fair reward.
Léo, now the size of a small cat, was curled up near the fire, lazily licking his small paws. Percy smiled, noticing that the wound on the hellhound's flank was finally beginning to heal. "Good job, buddy," he murmured. Though Léo was still weak, he could now stand for longer periods and even run short distances without showing pain.
Percy looked up at the sky, watching as the clouds covered the stars. "I'm not a big fan of pork, but… that was amazing," he thought, laughing quietly to himself.
Despite everything, his mind didn't let him fully rest. The conversation with his mother from the previous day kept echoing in his head, fragments of words and her sad smile flashing without warning. He tried to ignore it, but guilt caught up with him. "You'll go home. Just a little longer," he repeated to himself, like a mantra.
It was his birthday, and he knew he had just turned six, but it hadn't meant much. A birthday amidst monsters and hunts had no place for celebrations. "Monsters don't care about birthdays," he thought, pushing that idea away. There were more important things to focus on now.
Trying to distract himself, he walked over to the stream near the camp and crouched to wash his face in the cold water. He felt a familiar tingling as the water touched his skin, and for a brief moment, he allowed his powers to connect with the liquid around him, feeling every drop of water pulsing like an extension of himself. The pain in his feet, caused by the deep cuts from the sharp rocks, faded with each passing second, regenerating as he allowed himself this small moment of rest.
Returning to the camp, Percy sat back down beside the fire, watching the flames dance and listening to the crackling wood. Léo was already nearly asleep, curled into a small ball of black fur, and though Percy was exhausted, he knew he needed to stay alert. He couldn't afford to completely relax.
The silence of the forest was broken by a distant rustling, soft and almost imperceptible. However, Percy was on guard. He stood slowly, his hand instinctively reaching for the small pen he always kept close. His ears sharpened to the sound, his eyes scanning the darkness between the trees. Something was moving around the camp, and it wasn't just a regular animal.
Léo noticed it too. The small hellhound lifted his head, eyes glowing in the faint firelight, and began to growl softly. "Shhh," Percy whispered, trying to calm his companion.
The rustling grew louder, and then, from the shadows between the trees, graceful and agile forms emerged. Girls, young but with a firm and precise stance, moved silently, their steps light and coordinated. They were fast, barely making a sound, but the way they spread out across the terrain, surrounding Percy in a strategic formation, was enough for him to understand the danger. He knew that, despite their elegance, each one of them could have an arrow trained on him before he even had a chance to react.
Percy's eyes swept over the group. There were at least six of them, all armed with bows, dressed in dark cloaks that blended into the surrounding forest. The way they moved together, in perfect sync, made Percy swallow hard. They were warriors, and each of them looked capable of taking him down if they wanted to. "They know what they're doing," he thought, his body tensing, ready for anything.
The leader of the group, a tall girl with an imposing presence, stepped forward. Her long dark hair was tied in a simple braid that fell down her back. She wore light armor, with silver plates on her shoulders that faintly reflected the fire's light. Her eyes, a deep shade of amber, studied Percy with a calculating coolness, but there was something curious in her gaze. Her presence exuded authority and confidence, like someone who had led many hunts and wasn't easily impressed.
"Who are you, boy?" her voice was firm, but there was no immediate hostility. It was more of a command than a question, and Percy felt the weight of her authority.
Before responding, Percy realized he was perfectly surrounded. Each girl was positioned to ensure he had no way to escape. Their arrows were at the ready, and any wrong move could result in a rain of projectiles. "If I make one wrong move, I'm toast," he thought.
"My name's Percy," he answered cautiously, keeping his eyes on the leader. He knew that, despite their youth, each of them was deadly dangerous. "And… who are you?"
The girl kept her gaze fixed on Percy for a few seconds, as if evaluating his response, considering whether he was a threat. Finally, a small smile appeared on her lips, something between amusement and recognition.
"We are the Hunters of Artemis," she said, the name carrying an implied authority. Percy had heard of them, but now, face-to-face, he could feel the weight of the reputation they carried.
Even with the calm introduction, Percy still felt the tension in the air. He couldn't afford to fully relax, because he knew that despite the grace and lightness with which the Hunters moved, they were prepared to strike at any moment if he showed any sign of hostility.
The leader lifted her chin, her eyes still fixed on his. "And what's a boy like you doing alone in the forest?" she asked, her tone still full of suspicion, though without malice.
Percy hesitated for a moment, trying to decide how to answer. "I'm… traveling," he finally said. "I have my reasons."
The Hunters exchanged glances, but none of them relaxed their guard completely. Still, there was a slight curiosity in the leader's eyes, as if she wanted to understand better what motivated Percy. The tension in the air eased a little, but caution remained.
And so, Percy knew that his journey had changed once again — and that meeting these mysterious warriors would bring a new turn to his path.