Chapter Text
CW: Dysphoria, Internalized Transphobia, Referenced Abuse, Referenced Story of Sexual Assault (Myth of Caeneus)
~~~~~Percy~~~~~
First Wish
~~~~~Percy~~~~~
December 14th, 2007
Percy was pretty shaken after watching Annabeth fall off a cliff, and now he'd been told this girl that seemed younger than him was Artemis.
“I… O-okay,” he mumbled, his thoughts more than a little garbled. “Uh… S-sorry for… The rudeness,” he said with a small wince, though if he was being honest his attention was still focused on Annabeth. Who was missing - possibly severely hurt or…
“I’m still lost,” Bianca cut in anxiously. “Who are all you people?” She asked, visibly confused. Percy couldn't blame her.
“The more pertinent question, girl, is who are you? Who are your parents?” Artemis replied.
“I doubt she can answer that, my lady,” a voice said drily. Someone whose gender Percy couldn't place stepped forward, looking perhaps sixteen at most - and much like Zoë, they had a silver circlet on their brow, though while Zoë’s was flat metal, theirs looked to be some sort of silver cord almost and was more visible due to their close-cropped black hair. A silver shirt, black jacket, and black jeans were their outfit, which seemed pretty incongruous with the other silver-clad people.
“She likely asked who we are because she doesn't know the slightest thing about the gods,” the person pointed out.
“Ah, of course. My mistake,” Artemis mused thoughtfully. “Dear girl, you are a demigod - or half-blood. One parent mortal, the other divine - a god.”
“The Greek myths are real,” Percy murmured softly, giving Bianca an apologetic look.
“That's…”
“Cool!” Nico cut in, interrupting his sister.
“Not cool, and not possible,” Bianca said sharply. “This is…” She seemed to struggle for words.
“Impossible?” Percy offered. “Crazy? Terrifying? All of the above… But real,” he said quietly. “You ever seen anything you couldn't explain? Something that seemed like a monster one second and a human or something the next?”
“I… Oh…” Bianca’s shoulders slumped.
“We need - pop - to get you to Camp - Camp Half-Blood. It's where - pop - we can train you both to be able to protect yourselves,” Thalia added, fiddling with Annabeth’s cap in her hands, one wrist jerking in a sort of flicking motion Percy recognized as a tic. Percy felt a lump in his throat looking at it and he swallowed it down.
“There is… another option,” Zoë said, her eyes alight.
“Like Tartarus - you suck! I- well, yeah, but no there is not,” Thalia snarled, flushing a bit at how her tic tripped her up.
“What do you mean?” Percy asked, surprised. “There was another option this whole time?”
“Not for a male—” Zoë began before Hippolytus shoved her into the snow.
“Shut up, Zoë. We don't need your lies,” Hippolytus snarked, huffing before they turned to Percy. “A Hunter - Bianca could become a Hunter. Most can, really, if they accept and adhere to a vow - including you.”
Zoë struggled out of the snow and glared at Hippolytus. “You—”
“Enough!” Artemis shouted, causing Zoë to go silent and everyone but Hippolytus to flinch. The goddess sighed and shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. “If you are curious, Percy Jackson, you are welcome follow me as well - but Bianca I would like to speak to for certain. Grover, if you could spend time with Nico? Zoë with me, and Hippolytus—”
“I'll pop by once the tents are up,” Hippolytus cut in with a wry smile.
Everyone except Zoë and Artemis looked shocked at his interruption - the former looked agitated and the latter just gave a small sigh and a roll of her eyes.
“You know me far too well,” the goddess groused.
“It's my job, My Lady,” Hippolytus shot back with a laugh before they headed off to instruct their Hunters.
Bianca, Zoë, and the other silver-clad girl nearby with a scar on the left side of her face followed Artemis while Grover and Nico began to chat about Mythomagic. Percy went to follow Artemis and the others but was stopped when Thalia grabbed his arm.
“Don't,” she said softly. “We need - pop - to help Annabeth. If you leave…” She grimaced, looking worried.
“And she's not down below,” Percy whispered back. “Son of Poseidon, remember? I'd feel it if she was in the water. She isn't - wherever she is, it isn't here. Besides…” He paused for a moment before gently extracting his arm. “I wasn't given a choice before - now I have one. I'd like to know what the other option is.”
Thalia looked crestfallen as she watched him walk away, stomping her foot in a way that seemed more impulse than agitation, but… Percy couldn't help it. Something was telling him to go with Artemis and at least hear her out.
Hopefully that was good intuition at work…
Artemis’ tent was larger than the others Percy saw, that was for sure. He'd thankfully caught up, but felt nervous and uncomfortable regarding the harsh glares Zoë and the scarred girl gave him. Like he didn't belong. Definitely far from a pleasant feeling.
When inside the tent full of hunting trophies, Artemis had Percy and Bianca sit on a bench while she sat on the bench opposite, a brightly glowing lamp between them and her two Hunters sitting by her side. Artemis gave them both a small smile.
“To preface, allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, Moon, and more. These are two of my Hunters - Zoë and Phoebe. Zoë is Lieutenant to one of my two Chapters of Hunters - Hippolytus, who should join us shortly, is the other,” Artemis explained.
“And… Is Hippolytus a boy?” Bianca asked. “I couldn't tell…”
“I sure am,” Hippolytus replied as he entered the tent, smiling at the assembled group. “One of Lady Artemis’ first Hunters… And now, the eldest.”
“But you look… What, sixteen?” Percy guessed.
“Fifteen,” Hippolytus corrected. “Physically, anyway. More literally I'm at least over five thousand years old, from before the Bronze Age of Greece - don’t ask for specifics, I couldn't tell you. Also your nephew, Percy - Theseus was my father.”
“Thes… Wait, holy… What…” Percy felt shaken. This guy was his nephew.
“Yeah - morbid story, but that's for later,” Hippolytus said with a shrug as he sat on the floor. “My Lady?”
Artemis’ lips twitched and she shook her head slightly. “Well, now that he is here, I shall explain. For a very long time, I originally accepted anyone who swore off the romantic and sexual company of men - I held no issue with lesbians or nonbinary individuals or even men themselves joining the Hunt so long as they swore to never love nor lie with a man - with the men additionally swearing to never pursue their fellow Hunters. This grants eternal youth, among other things,” she explained.
“But things changed when I began to notice… Discomfort among a portion of my Hunters whenever they so much as interacted with Hippolytus, who was my only Lieutenant for many thousands of years. The discomfort also showed when around lesbian women… Anyone who was not wholly uninterested in romantic love or sex,” Artemis said with a sigh. “So… I separated the Hunters, and I myself traverse between the groups led by Hippolytus and Zoë.”
“Oh…” Percy murmured, thoughtful as he tried to recall what he knew of Artemis and her Hunters. “I… Can't remember much of your stories, but… Wasn't the main thing swearing off love and romance from the start?”
Hippolytus smiled wryly. “Tell that to Sipriotes,” he said wryly. “She's a Hunter who used to be a boy - ran into our Lady while she was bathing. Suffice to say she chose the less fatal option of becoming a woman and Hunter. She's also been in a relationship with Parthenos for three thousand years, and both were demigods, not nymphs or gods. The myths got twisted by people who think Lady Artemis was ever exclusionary - the Hunt has always been about protecting young women and those who align with Lady Artemis’ ideals.”
“Oh…” Percy murmured.
Becoming a woman? That's allowed? You can do that? He thought, his mind racing. That was okay?
“Why did you turn Sipriotes into a woman?” Bianca asked.
“Because she asked me to,” Artemis said mildly. “She never showed an interest in my body. She had sought me out because she wanted to join the Hunt as Hippolytus had before her, and I sensed…” Her eyes flickered to Percy for the briefest moment. “The heart of a maiden in distress.”
Percy felt his heart race as he couldn't really breathe.
She knew. She knew what was going through his mind. What he thought and felt. She knew.
“Did… Did you limit new Hunters?” Percy asked, his voice shaky. “To those who… Uh, don't want romance or anything.”
“No,” Artemis replied gently. “I made the change I did to comfort my Hunters, not exclude those who needed my aid and protection. One oath merely swears off the romantic and sexual company of men, and would limit new Hunters to following Hippolytus… The other swears off all love and sex, and allows you to choose whether to follow Zoë or Hippolytus as you choose… Unless your identity is that of a man’s, in which case you would have to follow Hippolytus in order to respect Zoë’s rules.”
“Why don't you let men with you?” Bianca asked, directing the question at Zoë while Percy felt as if his head was starting to resemble a hurricane. “If they swear off romance and sex…”
“Some Hunters have spent their entire lives trying to escape men,” Zoë said curtly, obviously not upset at Bianca as much as… Well, Percy and Hippolytus, based on her glare. “They have been hurt far too horribly to so much as look at a man without feeling fear or hatred.”
“Oh… Like…” Percy grimaced.
“Yes, like some of my bro—”
“Caeneus,” Percy whispered, cutting Artemis off by accident.
The room went dead silent, save Bianca.
“Caeneus?” She echoed, confused.
“Long story,” Percy muttered back, not meeting her eye… Though he saw Zoë give him a rather appraising look while Artemis seemed pained. He knew Poseidon had tried to hide Caeneus from him, just as he'd almost successfully hid the truth behind Medusa.
Annabeth, however, had ensured he knew the good and the bad stories about his father. He even knew the horrible truths behind Poseidon’s marriage to Amphitrite, his siring of Arion… And more.
Hippolytus gently patted Percy’s back, giving the demigod a small smile before he spoke up. “Lady Artemis offers to take in any demigods who want to join her whenever she stops by Camp or finds them in the wild. As long as you accept an oath… You'll have allies to Hunt with - sisters, siblings, and a couple brothers such as myself. The offer is only made once, but is always open unless she tells you otherwise,” he explained.
“And… You're offering to take in… Me?” Bianca asked, stunned.
“If you wish,” Artemis agreed before her eyes flickered to Percy again. “I will extend the offer to both of you.”
“I… Wow… But… What about Nico?” Bianca asked, sounding worried.
“He’s not what we're looking for,” Hippolytus said gently. “So Camp will have to take him in. He…” He trailed off and winced a bit.
Bianca frowned thoughtfully before her shoulders sagged. “Oh… Oh, I get it,” she murmured, looking defeated.
Percy, for his part, was wondering why he was an option. What separated him from Nico? His experience? His…
He noticed Artemis giving him a sad look and immediately understood why. He thought about what he’d just been told about Sipriotes. He thought about other transgender women, a term he only knew of because Smelly Gabe had disparaged them when they were discussed on TV more than once.
He knew why, and Artemis did as well.
“Okay… Okay, I'll become a Hunter,” Bianca said determinedly.
“Excellent,” Artemis said, her eyes lighting up. “And you, Percy Jackson?”
Percy clenched his jeans in his fists as he winced. What did he want to do? Did he want to keep being a Hero? Face that terrifying prophecy head on if something happened to Thalia in the meantime? Deal with Campers that alternated between hating and tolerating him every week? But he’d still be able to live with his Mom, which was a strong draw. Or…
“Can… Can I think about it while Bianca swears her oath?” He asked softly, just barely meeting Artemis’ eyes.
“Of course,” Artemis said kindly. She then turned her attention to Bianca and beckoned her over to perform the oath in private.
While she did so, Hippolytus waved Percy over to a corner of the tent. He obliged, still feeling shaky and lost.
“Responsibilities certainly are distracting,” Hippolytus murmured as he turned a golden drachma between his fingers. He smiled at Percy and handed it to him. “Something tells me you've a call to make?”
“...That obvious?” Percy asked hoarsely as he looked weakly at the coin.
“I've seen that look hundreds of times over the millennia, Percy,” Hippolytus said, not unkindly. He then snapped his fingers and a spray of mist formed between them… Including a rainbow. “I got a couple tricks from Grandpa. So… Call whoever you need.”
Percy nodded and watched as Hippolytus walked over to Artemis and the others… And flipped the coin into the mist.
“Sally Jackson,” he whispered.
A moment later, Mom appeared in the mist, looking surprised.
“Percy?” She asked, surprised. “Is everything okay?”
“I… Um…” Percy faltered. What was he to say? How was he supposed to say it? And… Was he even sure what choice he wanted to make?
“I… I met Artemis,” he decided to start with.
“Artemis… As in Goddess of the Hunt?” Mom asked, looking surprised.
“Yeah… I uh… Learned a lot about her Hunters just now,” Percy admitted. “The mission… It went sideways, and they sort of saved us. Annabeth’s… She's missing… But the di Angelos are okay.”
“I… See… I'm so sorry, Percy,” Mom said softly. “Is… Is Annabeth okay?”
“I don't know,” Percy admitted, voice breaking a little. “We… I think we’re going to regroup at Camp and figure it out with Chiron. But…”
“There's something else?” Mom guessed.
Percy pursed his lips for a moment and nodded. “Lady Artemis… She offered for Bianca to join the Hunt, which she accepted…” He began.
“Oh…”
“And she also offered the same to me,” he said quietly.
Mom was silent for several moments, and he couldn't really meet her eye but could tell she was shaken.
“You're… You want to, don't you?” Mom asked softly, voice strained.
Percy pursed his lips again. “I… Don't know,” he lied, tears sliding unbidden down his face.
“...Percy, look at me,” Mom said. He did and saw a sad, understanding look on her face. “You've had a hard time at Camp, haven't you? And… With other things, too?” She guessed.
Percy shifted uncomfortably before he nodded weakly. “I… They hate me half the time, Mom. And… I… My…” He trailed off and looked down at his body. His very male body. A body he'd never wanted, never asked for, never liked. A body that had betrayed him from the start.
“...I trust you,” Mom told him, her voice thick with emotion. “Whatever decision you make… I trust that you know what you want. I… I love you, Percy. Always.”
Percy gave her a sad smile that was wet with tears. “I love you too, Mom. I… I'll let you know when it's over,” he told her softly.
“Okay… I'll talk to you later,” she told him sadly.
“Talk to you later, Mom,” he returned the goodbye… And then the mist vanished, and with it the image of Sally Jackson looking like she was on the verge of tears.
He furiously dried his own eyes and looked back at the group. Zoë and Phoebe looked curious but no more than that, while Hippolytus gave him a sad smile that was far too understanding. Artemis was still accepting Bianca’s oath, though, so he didn't have to see her pitying look at least.
Slightly shaky, he returned to the group just to hear the last line of Bianca’s oath.
“I turn my back on the pursuit of love and sex, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt.”
“I accept your vow,” Artemis replied.
Bianca looked no different… But a slight silvery glow filled the room for a brief moment. Innately, Percy knew she was now a Hunter.
“Will you be following Hippolytus… Or Zoë?” Artemis asked, gesturing to each Lieutenant.
“Um… Zoë,” Bianca said softly. She gave Hippolytus an apologetic look. “Sorry, just…”
“No worries,” Hippolytus told her kindly. “I'm sure Phoebe and Zoë can show you to their side of the camp… Though keep in mind we're definitely all going to Camp Half-Blood come morning.”
“We are?” Percy asked, surprised. Based on Zoë’s pinched, sour expression he somehow had a feeling Hippolytus was being honest.
“Just to drop off my Hunters as well as your friends, Percy,” Artemis explained. “I have a mission of my own to undertake. One to prove to the Olympic Council the danger we are in. Hippolytus told me what he heard Thorn say… It is troubling, at the least. Particularly the mention of the General and the Great Stirring…”
Zoë shuddered and looked pretty agitated at mention of the ‘General’, which led Percy to guess she really didn't like whoever that was.
“Regardless! Percy Jackson, have you come to a decision?” Artemis asked, her expression brightening.
Percy felt his heart hammer in his chest, even if he'd expected to be put on the spot. His mouth felt dry and he felt incredibly small in front of this goddess - as if his soul was being laid bare before her.
“...Yes,” he said softly. “I have… I'll…” He swallowed the knot that formed in his throat. “I'll join,” he finished, his voice cracking. “I'll join the Hunt.”
“Excellent,” Artemis replied, eyes alight. “And… Will you be joining as a man?”
As a man… The thought repulsed him. When he knew what the gods were capable of… What Poseidon had done for Caeneus on a whim and what Artemis herself had done for Sipriotes upon request…
Stuck in this body for eternity…
“Can you turn me into a girl?” Percy asked, voice barely above a whisper. “This body… I… I can't, it— for eternity, I…”
“Of course, Percy Jackson,” Artemis said kindly, kneeling down. Percy hadn't realized she'd curled down into a ball, herself. Artemis placed a hand on her shoulder with a very knowing expression on her face. “The transformation will make your body as though it had been born as it should - a woman's. Of course, your oath will come first.”
Percy nodded, sniffling as she shifted so she was slightly less curled into a ball, though she still felt as though she was raw and aching.
“What of your name?” Zoë asked, seeming more curious than anything. “Perseus is more a man’s name…”
“I…” Percy faltered before she grimaced. “I don't know for sure, to be honest. I kind of like my name, but… It is kind of… masculine.” She admitted, her distaste sounding outright pleasant compared to how Zoë had said ‘male’ earlier in the night.
“A name can come later,” Artemis said. “You have plenty of time to decide. For now… Which oath do you intend to take? That of forswearing all romantic and sexual endeavors… Or merely those which involve men?”
There was no judgment in her voice when she said the latter… But there was definitely a bit of understanding. Once again Percy felt the chill of thinking her soul was laid bare before the goddess.
“The second one,” Percy murmured. “I…”
“Needn’t explain yourself,” Hippolytus said gently. “There have been Hunters who sought the feeling of family and avoiding the responsibilities they never asked for, some who wished to evade men specifically… All Lady Artemis asks is that your heart is pure, your oath true, and your loyalty steadfast.”
Artemis smiled and even Zoë looked like her expression softened a bit, but Percy could tell it was time now.
“Repeat after me,” Artemis instructed as she stood up. Percy nodded, shifting to be on one knee. “‘I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis.’”
“I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis,” she began, feeling a frigid chill run through her veins and bones. It was like ice had suddenly enveloped her body. Like… No. Like instead of ‘being laid bare’, she was now purposefully lying herself bare for Artemis to read everything she had ever felt.
“‘I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt.’”
“I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt,” Percy repeated. The chill intensified as she felt as though something was… churning inside her body. Some sort of energy… As if it was mixing with her internal sense of the sea as a child of Poseidon.
“‘And beseech the goddess that she grant my wish to have the body I desire.’” Artemis finished.
“And beseech the goddess that she grant my wish to have the body I desire,” Percy finished. The chill felt electrifying now. There was a frigid shock running through her. Was this what Bianca had just felt? It was shaking Percy to her core. It wasn't painful, but she felt so incredibly disoriented. As though her body was…
Changing. Right, it was changing.
“I accept your pledge, Percy Jackson,” Artemis said.
She felt the chill reach a magnitude she didn't know was possible as her body felt as if it were freezing, burning, and being electrocuted all at once - but it still didn't hurt as much as it made it feel like her very soul was vibrating. She felt so… shaken, and the room was filled with a silvery light that felt blinding even though she knew it was more of a soft glow.
Her body suddenly felt released as the sensations subsided and she collapsed onto her side, groaning softly…
And the voice coming out of Percy’s body was a girl’s.
She felt someone help her into a sitting position and saw it was Artemis herself. She beamed at Percy with a bright smile.
“Welcome to the Hunt, Percy. How do you feel?” She asked, helping Percy onto a chair.
When Percy glanced down she saw her body looked quite different under the t-shirt and jeans. For one, they were loose because she'd gotten shorter - by a good bit, too. For another, the shirt was very clearly showing the outline of her new breasts and her jeans felt a lot looser around the waist but rather painfully tight around the hips.
“I'll get you a change of clothes,” Phoebe said, her voice surprisingly smoother than Percy had expected. “Both of you - be right back,” she said, nodding to Bianca before exiting the tent.
“Well… I feel… Different,” Percy said with a weak laugh - her hand immediately went to her throat. Her voice sounded so… different. Feminine and higher-pitched. She felt tears slide down at the joy it brought.
“I suppose that's a start,” Artemis said wryly.
“I… Woah,” Bianca said as she looked wide-eyed at Percy. “Yeah… That's a transformation alright.”
Percy smiled back at her. “Thanks… And… Now what?” She asked, a bit lost.
“Now… You're part of the Hunt,” Hippolytus told her. “One of my Hunters specifically, seeing as you're only swearing off men - for a while, not much will change and you'll spend your time at Camp Half-Blood like the rest of us. Which is good, gives you time to update Chiron and the others. After that… You come with us, your fellow Hunters. We'll separate from Zoë’s Chapter and head wherever we please to Hunt.”
“Huh…” Percy became a bit thoughtful and she winced. “Thalia’s gonna be mad. She…” She sighed and ruffled her own hair, jolting a bit when she realized it had changed into more of a bob-cut. Longer but not so much she'd have to tie it up like Artemis had. “She didn't want me to even hear you out.”
“She has her reasons,” Artemis murmured softly. “And it would be best that you show her yourself before you leave. My brother will arrive in the morning to transport you all to Camp.”
Zoë and Hippolytus gave identical groans.
“Not him, My Lady. Surely there's another way?” Zoë begged.
“Please for the love of all that is sacred can we not put up with him, My Lady?” Hippolytus asked, looking like he'd rather do anything than deal with Artemis’ brother.
“By… Brother, I'm guessing you mean Apollo?” Percy asked.
“Unfortunately,” Hippolytus grumbled.
“I do,” Artemis said with a dry smile. “He has a tendency to be… Apollo. If he tries to talk to either of you I recommend hiding behind Hippolytus or Zoë. They know how to handle him,” she added brightly, patting her dour-looking Lieutenants on the cheeks.
“I'm back,” Phoebe announced as she re-entered the tent. She arched an eyebrow at the atmosphere, two silvery bundles in her arms. “What's up with the mood?”
“Apollo’s driving us to Camp,” Zoë deadpanned.
Phoebe gave a tired sigh as her shoulders dropped. “Oh, Styx. Well, you two, I hope you know how to ignore, ignore, ignore,” she said grimly as she handed a bundle each to Percy and Bianca.
The two new Hunters traded nervous looks. Hopefully Apollo wouldn't be too bad.
“Oh… Uh, where do we change?” Bianca asked, leaving Percy grateful that she didn't have to be the one to ask.
“Ah. Allow me,” Artemis said with a smile. She snapped her fingers and curtains magically rose up around the girls - they couldn't see each other either, though. They were isolated… And, well. “Go ahead and change - just say when you're done,” Artemis told them.
Percy blew out a breath. Well, fair enough. She set the bundle of clothes down and flushed immediately upon seeing a white bra and panties were included - well, she did want to be a girl… And now that she had the right body…
She sighed and began to undress. First went her jacket followed by her sneakers and socks - her feet were smaller - and then she carefully undid the button on her jeans and slid them down. It was a bit of a fight to get them past her hips but she managed it - and immediately felt her face heat up when she felt a cold sensation that told her what had changed between her legs, and that her boxers had fled with the jeans.
She whispered a curse and decided to get it over with. She grabbed the hem of her shirt and lifted it off before dropping it in the pile of her old clothes.
She tried not to look at her new body much - hard to do when it was so different, from the curves to the anatomy to the flat-out smoother skin - and instead put on the underwear first followed by the provided silver socks and black jeans. She decided not to ask how they fit so perfectly.
The bra seemed… Like a tank top, almost? But obviously a lot shorter and different shaped. Hoping she was doing it right, she tugged it over her head and flushed as she tucked her new breasts into it - they sat perfectly inside and it felt comfortable, so she figured she'd done it right. Up next was an actual tank top (black) which she tucked into the jeans after slipping over her head, then a silver long-sleeved shirt that was surprisingly warm after she put it on. Last but not least was a dark blue jacket with a white fur collar that she actually felt was perhaps a bit bigger on purpose? But when it shrunk down to perfect size when she put it on, she realized it was magically sizing.
She also realized she didn't have any new footwear, so she just stepped into her old sneakers and figured they'd do the trick for now. After doing that and bundling all her old clothes together, she rather awkwardly said, “I'm, uh. Ready.”
The curtains immediately vanished and Percy realized they must have been soundproof because Bianca’s were already down and she was dressed up in the same silver camo as Zoë and Phoebe, unlike the more stylish sets Percy and Hippolytus sported.
“Each Chapter of Hunters has their own dress code,” Hippolytus explained as he took out a silver headband and tucked it onto Percy’s head for her, pushing all but the bangs out of the way with the casual nonchalance she figured an older brother would have. “Zoë’s got a more military vibe, but I like more of an authentic hunter deal.”
“We're still—”
“Yeah, yeah, you know what I meant,” Hippolytus cut Zoë off with a roll of his eyes. “Maybe get that stick removed from up your—”
“Enough, Hippolytus,” Artemis warned and Hippolytus held his hands up in surrender. “Now, it's getting late - direct Percy and Bianca to their new tents, would you both? Though… Make sure Percy gets a chance to tell her friends and Bianca her brother. I'm sure those will not be easy conversations.”
Percy winced but before she knew it Hippolytus had an arm around her shoulder. “Understood. If I don't see you before you leave, My Lady, then I wish you a safe hunt,” Hippolytus told Artemis while he steered Percy towards the exit.
“Um, goodbye, Lady Artemis!” Percy managed before they left, catching when Artemis winked at her so briefly she almost thought she imagined it.
She shivered slightly at the feel of the cold air… But was also surprised when she realized things looked… Clearer. In the moonlight she felt as though she saw even better than she had in broad daylight. It was kind of jarring.
But this also meant she saw Grover and Thalia chatting nearby, Nico on a tree stump near them as he looked thoughtfully at one of his little Mythomagic figures.
When they approached, Grover and Thalia glanced at Hippolytus first. Percy found it odd having to look up at them considering they'd all been about equal height before, but now she was probably not even five feet tall…
“Lord Hippolytus,” Thalia greeted him stiffly.
“No ‘Lord’ business,” Hippolytus said with a wave of his hand. “I'm no god. I’m just a Hunter… And so is she,” he added, gently pushing Percy forward.
Grover was the first to realize who she was. “Wait… You…”
“Percy?!” Thalia asked, looking outraged in her disbelief.
“Surprise?”