Chapter 33: Wait Wait What?

[Percy's POV:]

In front of me stands a pair of girls I feel I should know. One of which called out to me with my old name so they must've known me.. Is it that Annabeth girl? No, she doesn't feel very Annabethy.

"Oh crap It's Artemis" Artemis? Why would she be.. Oh shiz I'm her guardian wolf or something right? That's what I or whoever was in control said when I blurted out my damn secret to everyone. I'm not so sure she'll take kindly to me abandoning? Her. If that's what I did, I hope not, then again there are much worse alternatives I'd rather not think of.

"Reyna? What are you doing with our wolf? That is Per- Damian right?" Spoke the other girl, I wisely kept quiet since I had know idea what to say and I had a feeling a random pun wouldn't help much here, though her tone was more inquisitive then angry so that was a positive right?

Another thing I noticed was that they must both know my name and that I was a wolf if that slip up my wolfy ears just picked up was anything to go by; it was something that Reyna didn't know when we first met else she had recognised my situation and put them together. Did Artemis know me during the time I was supposedly missing and try to keep me hidden? Finally, how long was I a wolf? Was I changed during my time with her or before that? I decided to keep the slip up and the following questions to myself in case I was mistaken. Better I didn't want to reveal something to someone I wasn't certain I could trust.

Reyna hopped off leaving behind my other companions who were obscured from sigh on my massive back, I feel they won't take me having monster friends too positively. I laid down on my front, to get a better angle to view and listen to their conversation, still big enough to hide my passengers. I really need to figure out how to shrink.

[Artemis POV:]

[Before finding Percy:]

We had been walking for some time, heading directly for the epicentre of the power spike I was convinced was Percy's. It just had this feeling of raw protective uncontained yet controlled and warm rage, it was a feeling you couldn't describe, only feel. Something I would never mistake, I hope, desperation was clouding my thoughts I admit.

"My lady, the local wildlife has been disturbed by something" While animals were somewhat sensitive to our influences, seeing them flee to the dense forest could also be a sign of hunters as well. Percy Did love his hunting so It could be him too.

"Hmm, keep an eye out for wolf tracks and human ones as well, I don't think he's alone" she nodded and raised her alertness ensuring that nothing could escape our watchful eyes.

After roughly an hour of walking we stumbled across a set of what could only be described as the world's most giant wolf tracks, larger than any of Percy's and he was practically the size of a tank. These tracks spanned so wide I could practically sit in it if I crossed my legs.

"Be alert, this may not be Percy. Be ready for a fight" I warned Phoebe, my senses were limited to only my skill out here in this snowy wasteland so distinguishing between Percy and a wild giant wolf would be tricky.

We followed the obvious tracks leading deeper into the forest, snow dotted around everywhere, but not fully covering the green grass signalling we were yet to fully cross into Alaska's treacherous lands, the thought concerned me as I had already been drained of most of my godly powers. All that was left was my own strengths and even that felt like it was beginning to fade. I could see a similar effect happening to Phoebe, we need to find Percy soon before we become too weak to even defend ourselves properly.

Then we saw it, him, our beloved wolf of a Guardian we had spent so long searching for.. And he didn't remember us. The cheek of this wolf.

[Reyna's POV:]

Before I jumped off I made sure that the others knew to stay quiet and stay low.

"So? Why are you with Our missing guardian in the middle of Alaska?" Why the hell did I have to appoint the literal guardian of a Goddess as my co-Praetor? And why a male wolf of all things, then again this is Percy we're talking about… And finally why am I the one in trouble for this!?

"I was not aware he was your guardian Lady Artemis, Lady Lupa introduced him to us one day and he tied with me in combat. I appointed him as my co-praetor. We later discovered he had no memory prior to joining us" I explained as fast as I could, purposely avoiding any details such as him being Percy, us heading to find the Titans and the fact that Medusa and Arachne are literally metres away from her. Thank the Gods he's practically a giant now.

"Praetor? Lupa introduced him? Memory loss? Damian, explain yourself! NOW!" chided Artemis. Percy Squirmed uncomfortably before answering in the most Respectful way I've ever heard since knowing him. It was honestly off putting, not even one pun.. Scary even.

"Well My lady, the first thing I remember is waking up in my mother Lupa's house, where she trained and adopted me before taking me to camp Jupiter. Reyna said the rest and Remember nothing more sorry" Respectful Percy is creepy, I don't like it… looking at Artemis I noticed she looked practically heart broken, which shocked me, did she care for him? Did she know who he was? Does Dami-Percy know who she is? No, he has no memory.. I am so confused.

"Actually, I have had flashbacks though, snippets of what I think was you and many others. Of a pair of girls that bring me to tears.. It hurts to think about. What-Who was I before?" This was news to me, but I could understand why he hadn't told us yet. These memories probably would've only confused things more for us all as well as bring up tense emotions I can see are only just spilling out.

Taking a moment to let Dam-Percy recompose himself, I started planning how to handle the situation, My main goal being simply to keep her attention away from the very things she is sworn to hunt and kill and currently residing on Damien's back, it was difficult enough explaining all this as is without throwing peaceful monsters that were once described as beings of pure evil. That said, she's going to find out eventually and It will not go well.

For the next 10 minutes, we spoke about what Percy used to be, how he entered the hunt and lived among them for years. From it, I'm certain of one thing, the hunt fell for Percy and fell hard, it angered me a little more than I'd like to openly admit, even more so after I realised he returned their feelings.

[Piper's POV:]

(Sensitive abuse content warning:)

Boredom, yes boredom. Sitting in my cabin, watching all my half sisters plaster their faces with makeup and wear either the most glamorous clothes or the sluttiest. Either way I wasn't interested, often than not I preferred simpler clothes that hid this curse like beauty my mum had passed down to me. Maybe that's why Jason found solace in the arms of another… what's worse she wasn't even aware as it was her first week here, and although it was promiscuous, I can't argue that demigods live short lives and often want to experience what they can while they can. He seduced the poor girl, bedded and left her. The only reason anyone found out was the forming bump she began developing, she confessed to him being the father and claimed she only kept it secret in fear of the consequences. We're actually good friends now weirdly enough and she turned out to be a daughter of Hecate.

"Piper, could you pass my straightener? I can't tame this last stray strand and it's driving me mad!" Her words brought me away from my thoughts and back to reality that was no less better. I grabbed the straighteners I had maybe used once or twice in my life to appease Jason on our dates and chucked it her way. After a quick thanks she went back to taming her hair that looked more than fine to me. Then again I like my hair short so what do I know? Nothing and honestly proud.

Having had enough of my cabin's vanity that even mum got annoyed at sometimes, I left for the lakefront where I used to confide in both Percy and that cheat. I used to quite dislike the guy, thought he was nothing in comparison to Jason, I wish I wasn't so right now. We became friends after the wars, I still thought of Jason as his better, but learned of Percy's kind heart and strength even if he was annoying at the best of times. If Percy was here he'd make some stupid quip about Jason being a little too free like an eagle or something. Just the thought cheers me up a bit, similar to Leo who admittedly has changed as well. It seemed like the only decent guys left were either missing or gay, speaking of I do wonder where that ball of sun and moon have gone? I can never get enough of teasing them.

"Hey, can I?" I turned around at the unexpected voice to find the girl that my ex had cheated on me with, Chloe. She was in a similar position to me, outcast and pregnant, though that last one was just her luckily, I don't know what I'd do if I was carrying his child..

"Sure come sit" I beckoned her, It was weird how close we had become after all this, yet oddly comforting like a slap in the face to Jason. She sat down and stared at the lake before tears started falling from her eyes. Panicked, I draped my arm around her as comfortingly as our current friendship allowed.

"I should've never agreed to it…" to what? I thought but gave her a moment to sort her words.

"To have sex with him.. Now I'm pregnant with no father to take care of him. The camp thinks I'm an easy slut and you lost your boyfriend, I'm just a failure" I was a little annoyed she had come here just to sob her mistakes at me. But I understood her fears.

"First of all, you didn't cause my break up, he did. The moment he was willing to fuck someone else was the moment he showed me that he never really loved me like I did him. Secondly, I am curious why. You never did tell me the whole story" it was direct, but I don't like beating around the bush for the sake of someone's emotions. she wiped her tears away and got her own emotions in control, Chloe was normally quite good at controlling herself in that way… less so in others but that was probably my bias speaking.

(Sensitive Content Start:)

"Right, right.. So When I came to camp I was alone, even before that. I was raised in a remote orphanage by a lady that cared a little too much in the wrong way for us. So I escaped before I could face the same treatment, from there I lived on the streets no better than I had been in the orphanage. I'm surprised this is my first pregnancy, soon I managed to save enough and escape that life for a bit. I learned how to work underage and got a small income to stay in a small apartment, though that didn't last either thanks to my co-worker finding out before I could turn 18 the following few days. If not for my mother, Hecate, telling me to go to camp and me not thinking I had gotten spiked. I'd probably be back living that life again until I could get a real job" I was shook by her words, such loveless upbringing would've twisted anyone's mind. I knew just how much a childhood could shape your mindset, I took to thievery for simple attention. I feared what she continued to say, not wanting my already shattered image of Jason to break any further.

"When I got to camp I was scared of it being more of the same, then I was approached by Jason who said he could make everything ok. I believed him and he showed me around. Taught me the ropes told me I could confide in him whenever I needed to. I felt cared for and loved, I told him a little about my past and after that he changed. He began to get intimate me, I never noticed it at first, but soon I was head over hills for him. He told me to keep it secret since he had a high standing and we started dating. All within 4 days of meeting him. On the 6th day we.. had sex… he made me think it was what I wanted." I stopped her there, not ready to hear the story of my ex practically committing rape. I was ready to kill him on sight and I wanted to keep that untarnished anger.

"I'm sorry you went through that" was all I had in response. I couldn't muster anything more in fear I would join her in tears.

(Sensitive Content End:)

We sat there for a while just watching the waves, Jason's transgressions no longer important to me like the man himself. I won't give him the satisfaction of my thoughts, of my revenge, I won't ever stick a hand out to him, But I won't be the striker either. That said we ever have a spar, I may just not hear the maiming rules.

"So what brings you here?" Chloe asked, her face showed desperation for companionship, for a distraction away from being alone and betrayed, we were alike in that sense.

"Nothing much, Just got bored of my cabin being full yet having no one" she nodded in understanding, being a daughter of Hecate was not easy since she was mostly alone in her cabin. It made her famous, but also the subject of tarnation thanks to Jason.

"Hey, did you hear that the hunters dropped their young ones off?" ah the hunters, I heard they were hunting Percy. Annabeth probably stowed away with them knowing her, I hated being here on my own like this left only with the assholes of the 7. We spoke about random things for almost an hour more but the awkward air around us was just stifling any conversation before they could properly develop. I was just too miserable, I mean as friendly as we were, she was the girl my ex cheated on me with after all. Then I had an idea.

"Say, want to get out of here?" her face donned confusion, before excitement.

"Really?? Hades yes!" she said as she sprung up, back to her usual chipper self.

We went to our respective cabins to pack a little bag for a journey she had no idea about… I really gotta teach her not to blindly trust people. I packed some cash and a change of clothes, I was done with being stuck in this pit of misery. We met back up by Thalia's tree where she asked the question any normal person would've asked before agreeing.

"So, where are we going?" my response would have my sisters fawning over me. And so I pray they never find out.

"To do some girl shopping, and maybe find a wolf" what? it seems like the current trend going around, ain't that what children of Aphrodite are supposed to do? Follow stupid trends that last a week or so? Plus it's not like we can stroll into a cinema, monsters would be on our sweet asses before the adverts finish. I think this would be a fun distraction, besides I heard the hunters wolves left for camp Jupiter or something, perhaps that's where he went. Plus I get to shame Jason to his old camp which is an obvious win-win.