He Shall Return, The One That Lost It All, A Close Friend Of His Will Fall

Chapter Two (Percy's Point Of View)

Artemis.

I nodded to Artemis.

"Artemis."

Artemis stiffened.

I nodded to Thalia.

"Thalia."

"It's a boy," said one of the huntresses in disgust.

I rolled my eyes, not that any of them could see.

"How do you know Thalia and me?" Artemis asked.

"The wild can tell you anything you want to know," I replied. I smirked at their confused faces, even though they couldn't see it. "I also knew you a few million years ago, cousin," I said to Artemis.

Artemis still looked confused.

"Eh, whatever," I said. I grabbed some berries from a nearby bush and started picking at them.

"How long have you just been picking random berries off bushes?" Thalia said. "They could be poisonous, you know."

"I do know," I replied, still picking at the berries. "But like I said, the wild can tell you anything. Plus, you can just smell them and tell."

Then I looked back at Artemis. "And I'm loyal to Olympus if you're wondering."

Artemis looked at me. I stood up, and immediately had a few dozen arrows aiming at my chest.

I shrugged. "Go ahead," I said, "shoot me. I wish I could die." I started stretching as the girls glanced at each other, confused.

"Lower your bows," Artemis ordered. "We'll bring him to our camp."

The girls all groaned. I did too.

Do I have to? I asked Gaea.

Yes. She replied.

"Okay," I mumbled, "whatever."

* * *

"Are you sure I should be in your camp?" I asked Artemis on the way there.

"I need to ask you some questions," Artemis replied. "I don't want you in the camp any more than you do."

"I somehow doubt that," I mumbled.

Artemis walked me to the campfire. "Sit," she said. I sat and leaned back, my arms behind me, holding me up.

The girls aso sat down.

"You didn't seem surprised when we came to where you were. Did you know we were coming?" Artemis asked.

"Yes," I answered.

"How did you know?" Artemis asked.

"Like I said, the wild can tell you anything," I replied.

I smirked under the hood. I used to be the one solving the riddles. Now I was the one giving them out.

Of course, it's not a riddle. The wild told me. I heard it on the wind, I heard it from the trees. I heard I from the birds and the deer and the rabbits. I heard it from the wild.

And, of course, Gaea confirmed what the wild told me.

And she kind of sort of is the wild. . . .