Demigod Secret - Chapter XIX

Natsuki: I'm sorry, WHO are you?

Al: Diana.

Larisa: Artemis.

Thalia: Lady Artemis.  And we... (She gestured to the numerous other girls with
  them) ...are the Hunters of Artemis; I am their lieutenant, Thalia Grace.

Larisa: (muttered) Too bad Rina's not here—gosh, would she ever like to see this!

Natsuki: I mean, like, what do you do?  What are the Hunters of Artemis?

Narrator: One of the girls stepped forward.  This girl had shoulder-length caramel
  colour hair with a royal purple hair wrapping that nicely complimented her
  hazel eyes.  Like all the other girls, she wore a white sweater, white jeans and
  black combat boots. She looked good in her attire due to her slender build.

Girl: The Hunters of Artemis are a group of maiden demigods, nymphs and even
  mortals who follow and aid Lady Artemis.  Each and every one of us has pledged
  our allegiance and sworn off the company of men; the binding words that make
  us official Hunters of Artemis.

Larisa: Why have you come?

Artemis: One of my duties as a goddess is to look after young maidens—I just
  simply cannot stand a maiden in peril.  I must aid them.  (And, of course, help
  my brother's children as well).

Larisa: Wait; you're Jet's Aunt?  And Phillip's?

Artemis: Well, technically, but—

Al: And technically you and Larisa and Thalia are all cousins then, and we're
  second cousins sort of?

Larisa: I feel bad for you being related to Al! (She joked)

Artemis: (She glared at Al with disdain)...you should.

Al: Hey!

Natsuki: So, are we going or not? (He turned to leave but Larisa cut in front of him)

Larisa: Ahem, wait for us!  What ever happened to the term Ladies first?

Natsuki: Seriously? (Then he glanced over at Artemis and her Hunters when he
  was hit by an epiphany) Hold on a sec.  You, girl with the purple hair-wrapping,
  what's your name?  You look familiar...

Girl: (She gave him a suspicious look) Megaera Parker, why?

Natsuki: I...I think I know you from somewhere.  (She narrowed her eyes, so
  Natsuki quickly made up a not-so-untrue excuse for bothering her) Maybe it's
  just that symbol on your bow; it looks familiar.

Narrator: Another girl came forward; she had dark brown hair in a braid and sea
  green eyes.  She looked and acted intimidating...like all the other girls (who
  seemed to be keeping their distance from the so-called "highly contagious males.")
 She held up her bow for Natsuki to see.

Brown-Hair Girl: We have the name "Αρτεμις" inscribed on ALL of our bows,
  stupid!

Natsuki: That's where I've seen that symbol; it's inscribed on Rina's bow too.
  Curious, she could actually read it too...

Larisa: Speaking of which...

Narrator: And with that, they were finally on their way...
  ~~~~~~
  In the centre of the cave, there was a large pile of logs, twigs, branches and
  kindling; in the cent of the pile stood Talya and Rina.  The two girls were
   stationed back-to-back around a thick wooden stake; a thick rope was tied
  tightly around their arms, waists and ankles.  Talya was slightly dizzy due to a
  serious blow to the head from a random tengu.  Jet and Phillip remained tied
  up, however they'd been moved—Jet was now tied to a very large, heavy rock.
  Phillip, on the other hand, was bound by his feet upside-down above a large,
  boiling pot of water.

Phillip: Um, I don't think this is how a Celtic sacrificial ceremony is supposed
  to go.

Jet: Actually, I don't think this is a ceremony.

Talya: Guys...

Rina: I'm picking up some strange words that the Morrigan's saying...meus fillos—
  "my children"...nenas—"girls"...

Jet: Maybe it's a sacrifice to the fire god for good luck?

Phillip: How do you explain me and you then, Jet?

Talya: Guys...

Rina: Maybe you guys are sacrifices to the god is boiling water and the god of large
  stones?

Jet: Could be...

Talya: GUYS!!

The three of them: WHAT!?!?

Talya: This lady's got a fork, a knife and about a dozen spices—they're gonna eat
  us!

Rina: Wh—what!?

Jet: Hey crow lady, I don't taste very good!  Really I don't!

Morrigan: Well, we won't know for sure until we try. (One of the crows flew to the
  Morrigan while carrying...a green torch—it was special Greek fire; fire that
  burns a thousand times longer and hotter than ordinary fire)

Phillip: (To Rina) Got any more ideas, oh Bright One?

Rina: (sarcastically) Oh, ha ha, very funny! (That was so bad!  And the answer to
  your question is 'yes'; I do have an idea.

Jet, Phillip and Talya: What is it?

Rina: Panic and scream.

Talya: Not helpful!

Rina: You asked.

Morrigan: (She began lowering the torch to ignite the bonfire/cook Talya and
  Rina) Come, feast my children!

Larisa: Don't you dare touch my friends!

Narrator: Al had never known true fear until he'd seen Larisa run into battle, fierce
  red eyes, beautiful brown hair blowing behind her, trident—"tidal wave"—
  pointed at the enemy.  He very much enjoyed fighting alongside her, back-to-
  back, (Al with his gladius, Larisa with her trident.) They fought off a hoard of
  crows.  A flurry of arrows whipped through the air as the Hunters furiously shot
  down tengu.  Just then, Talya and Rina kinda jumped at the feeling of someone
  meddling with the ropes that bound them to the stake in the wood pile.

Talya: What the—

Rina: Who's there?

Narrator: They turned around and watched as Natsuki literally appeared out of
  nowhere behind them and tried undoing their binds.  He was sweating and taking
  quick breaths, clearly distressed.

Rina: How did you—

Natsuki: Explain.  Later. (Inhale-exhale) Gotta.  Hurry. (Inhale-exhale)

Talya: What's wrong with you?

Rina: He's got a very bad case of dimwit-itus, the poor bloke.  And he was dropped
  on his head and beaten with the ugly stick as a child—

Natsuki: It's the birds!

Talya: Wow, he managed a full sentence this time!

Rina: Oh, sorry, did I mention he's terrified of birds?

Narrator: Talya and Rina stepped forward from the stake as soon as they were
  untied and aced off to retrieve their weapons from the edge of the wood pile.
  Then, Talya raced to save Phillip from a cauldron of boiling water and Rina
  raced off to save Jet from a rock.

Natsuki: 'Oh, and thank you so much Oh Great Natsuki for saving me, you're the
  best!' (He said flatteringly to himself)

Talya: Uh, yeah, whatever.

Rina: Yeah...thanks, I guess.

Narrator: The Morrigan could tell we're being overrun, so she did what any logical
  mother would do at the sight of her children in danger...she fled.  Some of the
  few who remained tried to follow her, but many dissipated into gold dust before
  they could do so.

Artemis: The battle has been won. (She lowered her bow after having shot down
  the last remaining tengu) Now, we must be on our way.

Jet: Who are—

Rina: (She behaved like a giddy fangirl) Oh my gosh, it's Lady Artemis!  If I'm
  dreaming, don't anybody DARE wake me up!  Squeeeeeeee!

Talya: (She and Phillip bowed) Hello, Diana—unless you prefer your Greek name,
  Artemis.  What brings you here.

Brown-Hair Girl: (She whipped back her braid and walked out from the group
  of Hunters) Lady Artemis cannot stand the sight of a young maiden in peril...
  two maidens, in this case.

Rina: (She bowed graciously) Thank you SO much Lady Artemis for coming to
  our aid, we really appreciate it!

Natsuki: Oh, so you thank HER but not me?

Narrator: Rina was about to kick him at the knee again, but the caramel-haired
  girl with the purple hair-wrapping, Megaera, beat her to it.

Megaera: Geez, you're rude!  Stupid little boy!

Natsuki: I am not!  Why are you being so mean to me?

Brown-Hair Girl: Lady Artemis does not generally associate herself with... (She
  gave a piercing glare to Al, Phillip, Jet and Natsuki) ...your kind.

Phillip: The Hunters of Artemis/Diana do not like to associate themselves with
  men, they prefer the company of the wilderness; the freedom and immortality
  of "The Hunt." (Basically, they're feminists.)

Talya: (Surprised) How do you know that?

Phillip: When Phyllis and I were first making our way to camp (after our pre-
  training with Lupa, like all Roman demigods go through) when we were twelve,
  the Hunters saved us from the Nemean Lion.  You know, the monstrous lion
  with a pelt that can't be pierced by anything weapon but his own claws?  The
  Hunters even offered Phyllis a place among them, to which she declined.  She
  probably just, like all Romans, preferred the unity and structure of Rome.

Narrator:  He pulled up his hoodie sleeve to reveal something like a tattoo on the
  inside of his forearm.  There were three lines—one for each year at camp—
  running perpendicular to his arm as well as a bow and arrow (the symbol of
  Phoebus) and the letters SPQR.  Everyone except for Talya and Al reacted to
  seeing this.

Jet: Woah, you got a tattoo?

Talya: It's the mark of Rome, proof that you belong to Camp Jupiter.  We all
  have them. (She turned up her arm; she had nine lines—she'd been at camp
  since she was five—and instead of a bow and arrow she had an intricate swirl
  like the wind, symbolic of her mother, Aurora.  Al also showed his arm; he
  had five lines instead.  His symbol was a torch and a spear which crossed to
  form an "x" shape, the symbol of Cacus.

Larisa: Woah, that's weird.  

Phillip: (He looked around at some of the Hunters) I remember that long trip to
  camp quite well...I remember you... (He pointed to a girl with curly dark hair
  and remotely Asian features) ...And you... (He pointed to Megaera) ...I don't
  know who you are though.

Narrator: He was referring to Thalia who obviously stood out from the group.
  The girl who Phillip had previously pointed to—the one with curly dark hair
  —spoke.

Dark-Hair Girl: You wouldn't remember Thalia, she's only been with us three
  years, not even.

Artemis: It has been a pleasure meeting you, but now we must be going. (She
  began to leave, but stopped herself before doing so.) And here...

Narrator: Artemis pulled out two business-card like pieces of paper from her quiver.
  The papers had the phone number 1-800-ARTEMIS (1-800-278-3657) on it.
  On the backside were the binding words to join the Hunt; "I pledge myself to
  the Goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal
  maidenhood, and join the Hunt.” She handed them to Talya and Rina.

Artemis: These are Hunter's calling cards.  Normally I invite Hunters upon our
  first meeting, however—seeming as you are both on a quest—I cannot interfere.
  Just food for thought (just call if you need us.) Oh, and Megaera and Katia will
  be joining you on your quest.

Megaera: What!?

Katia: Why!?  I don't want to go with THEM!  There are boys in the group! (She
  practically spat out the word)

Al: We are not boys; we are men!

Artemis: It is obvious that these half-bloods are not all well-trained (some of them,
  perhaps), so I would like for you to aid them in their quest.  Furthermore, they'll
  need "guards" for them at night; they clearly haven't slept in a long while.

Brown-Hair Girl: But, Lady Artemis, I am your manager, and I'm very good with
  battle strategy, and I'm one of your best archers, and I can manipulate water,
  and—

Megaera: Yeah, and I am your best YouTuber and number one source of entertain-
  ment, Milady!

Artemis: Yes, this I know, however there is another thing; I would like you to
  observe the two of the girls there.  They seem promising (the younger one is so
  headstrong and tough, the other girl seems rather intelligent and fond of archery
  too!) but I need to know for certain they are worthy candidates to join The Hunt.
  As for the lack of a manager or entertainment source; I think I can manage my-
  self for a couple weeks and—

Dark-Hair Girl: I could sing for you Milady? (All of the other Hunters cringed;
  it was only Artemis who retained her professionalism)

Artemis: That will not be necessary, Miyumi.  Now, until we meet again; Katia,
  Megaera. (Katia—the brown-hair girl—and Megaera watched despairingly as
  their idol and companions walked off into the dark of night, leaving them alone
  in the cave with seven other half-bloods.)

Larisa: So... (She clapped her hands together to get everyone's attention) ...I
  suppose we should all do our quick introductions?  I'll start; my name is Larisa
  Jameson, Daughter of Poseidon.  This tall redhead next to me is my boyfriend,
  Al... (It was then that Katia and Megaera realized why Artemis hadn't invited
  Larisa to join the Hunt)

Al: I'm the son of Cacus, a Roman fire-breathing giant.

Jet: I'm Jet—ya know, like a jet plane—Son of Apollo, Legacy of Thalia the Muse
  of comedy. (He grinned happily)

Talya: My name is Talya Morgan, Daughter of Aurora (goddess of the Dawn, mist
  and morning dew), and this is Phillip, Son of Phoebus.

Natsuki: I'm Natsuki Inoue, son of Tsukuyomi, god of the moon.

Rina: And I am Rina Sato; Daughter of the sun-goddess, Amaterasu, and possibly
  related to Athena somehow...

Larisa: And you two are...

Katia: My name is Katia Evans, Daughter of Satis; goddess of flooding of rivers,
  war and hunting.    Age...well, technically I'm supposed to be eighteen.  I'm also
  part river nymph. (Larisa high-fixed her)

Jet: A nymph?  Like a nature spirit?

Katia: Yeah...

Natsuki: Eighteen?  But neither of you look a day over fifteen, sixteen maybe!

Phillip: Hunters are immortal; they don't age and cannot die of natural causes.

Rina: (Thinking to herself) Satis...I know that name from my research.  But...
  Satis is an Egyptian goddess of the annual flooding of the Nile?  Maybe...but
  that just doesn't make any sense!  None of this field trip has made any sense
  since we left the Biodôme! (Despite that, Rina kept the information to herself)

Talya: And you must be Megaera?

Megaera: Yep!  I'm Megaera Parker.  I joined the Hunt about four years ago, when
  I was fifteen.  

Jet: Cool, who's your father?

Megaera: Darth Vader.

Al: Seriously? (He sounded eager, Larisa merely rolled her eyes at him)

Megaera: His name is John Parker.

Jet: Oh...so who's your mother?

Megaera: Abigail Parker.

Phillip: Wait, then you must be a—

Megaera: Yes, I am.

Rina: You're a what?

Megaera: I'm just a mortal.