AN: So, I am happy to say here is the next chapter. I hope everyone enjoys it, and I am really happy with the reviews I've gotten for this story and look forward to seeing what everyone thinks of this chapter.

Next chapter will probably be a quick meeting with Luke and Hermes in Connecticut and soon after Grover. Then we'll be heading to camp and the story can really begin getting interesting.

Switch

Chapter 7: What Do Thee Regret?

Two months had passed since Percy and Luke had met Halcyon Green, son of Apollo.

Two months since the elder demigod had given his life to save them. Two months since they'd found Annabeth Chase behind the warehouse they'd stopped at.

Since then they'd become a family.

Percy and Luke both taught Annabeth what they could when it came to fighting monsters, but the truth was Percy was better with a spear or sword.

She'd never really used a dagger. Luke hadn't either, he was the best swordsman she'd ever seen, and had taught her a few things – but she'd also never met any other swordsman either.

Thankfully, Annabeth learned quickly and seemed to pick what they did teach her up. They had learned a lot about their younger charge.

Annabeth was the daughter of Athena – which seemed strange at first since both Percy and Luke were sure Athena was a virgin goddess.

Annabeth, seeing their confusion, explained that she was born in the same way as Athena. The same way all children of Athena were, from her mind.

Luke had then asked if Annabeth had a belly button, making Percy slap her hand on her forehead and wonder if he really had just asked that.

Percy wasn't sure how it was possible for the blonde seven year old to have a belly button, but she was pretty sure she did.

Annabeth seemed pretty annoyed by the question herself but affirmed the existence by lifting her shirt high enough for it to be seen. But quickly put it back down in an almost awkward manner.

In the two months they'd been together they'd run into only a handful of monsters, all relatively easy to defeat. Percy had pretty much given Luke her necklace seeing as he didn't have a weapon, at least until he got a weapon of his own.

It wasn't like she used the sword often, she preferred her spear and shield – a shield which had helped win most of those battles they'd encountered. They had decided to go from safe house to safe house for a while.

Currently they were heading into North Caroline from being in Kentucky. In a way it was almost like they had gone in a circle. From Virginia to Ohio, to Indiana, to Illinois, Kentucky and now into North Carolina.

To make it that far in two months, on foot was great time, and had taken years of running and traveling for her and Luke to be able to travel so far in such a short time.

Annabeth was newer to it and sometimes she or Luke ended up carrying the girl on their back part of the way.

"How do you two have so many safe houses?" Annabeth asked as they walked along towards a small abandoned cabin she and Luke had come across and made into one of their first safe houses.

"We've been traveling together for two years now," Percy said. "We've been to a lot of places, had time to make a few near everywhere."

Luke nodded.

"A team effort," he said, smiling at Annabeth who grinned back.

Annabeth had become attached to both the older demigods. They had saved her in her mind and taken her in. promised her a family again and after only two months it had begun to feel like a family again.

"We'll, here it is," Percy said as they stopped in front of the cabin – which was very small, and rather run down but usable.

"It's better than a dumpster," Annabeth muttered, thinking of the first week she'd been in the world alone.

Luke placed a hand on her shoulder in a comforting way, understanding exactly what she meant.

Percy did as well, though she'd already opened the cabin door, which was sort of stuck from not being used in nearly a year now.

That night, after they'd gotten settled in, the three demigods all sat outside, looking up into the night sky.

The stars weren't easy to see in most places they went but here they were the clearest Percy, Luke or Annabeth had ever seen.

"Hey, look," Annabeth said, pointing about fifty to a hundred feet towards the open valley next to the woods.

Percy got to her feet instantly, and could see a group of girls, around her current age, though a few looked a little older, fighting what appeared to be a monster.

"Luke," Percy said and she looked to find Luke already on his feet, her sword – though now it was his until he found another weapon.

"We'll help them," he said, knowing what she was getting at.

Annabeth looked between her two friends and pulled out her dagger.

"And I'll help," she said.

Percy and Luke looked at the young blonde daughter of Athena and then each other.

"Uh, I don't..." Luke began, concerned that this would be too much for the seven year old with only a little training.

Annabeth narrowed her startling gray eyes.

"I'm a monster fighter too, Luke," she said, hands going to her hips. "I'm helping, and that is that."

Percy couldn't keep the small smile off her face at Annabeth's words and, Luke looked slightly startled but began to grin.

"Alright, come on," Luke said and the three took off to where they'd seen the fighting.

Once closer they saw a group of four girls, all in silver – one that seemed to be the leader wore a circlet in her hair and fought with much more ease, agility and experience than the other three.

All wielded hunting knives or bows.

What they hadn't seen, was the hellhounds that were attacking as well,something Percy couldn't help find odd since the bear like creature two of the girls were fighting wasn't a hellhound.

"Hey," Percy shouted, as she intercepted a hellhound from possibly fatally wounding one of the girl with her spear.

She hadn't done it often and she was apprehensive about doing it again but with her spear in the hounds mouth she had no choice.

She called on her powers and sent a bolt of electricity through the spear, shocking the hellhound until it let go, fell over and quickly melted into the shadows with it's death.

"Wow," the young girl said, looking from the hound to the girl who'd saved her.

Percy realized the girl had to be around twelve or thirteen, with curly blonde hair big honey brown eyes. Whoever she was she got the feeling the girl hadn't been doing this long.

"You're welcome," Percy said, smiling slightly before moving into the fight more.

Looking around she saw that the last hellhound had been disposed of, thanks to her, Luke and Annabeth who stuck to Luke's side like glue as she helped take out monsters.

There were a few close calls, but Luke seemed to keep one eye on the battle and one eye on Annabeth at all times.

Then it was just the big monster left and that only took a few minutes to take care of, the monster dying with she thrust her spear into it's back and the girl with the circlet thrust her hunting knives through it's chest.

As it crumbled to monster dust Percy was left facing a girl with coppery skin, long wavy black hair, a stern looking expression, narrowed lava rock black eyes and an air like she'd seen nearly everything.

"Who are thee? Why did thy interfere with our hunt?" the girl finally spoke, a bit harsher than Percy expected.

Percy's eyes narrowed slightly at the tone and way the girl said it. With her way of speaking, Percy was beginning to think the girl was older than she'd originally thought.

"Hey, we were just trying to help," Luke said stepping closer only to find two knives pointed at him by two of the girls.

One under his chin, the other at his chest. Annabeth gasped, her eyes wide and Percy's widened in confusion and horror. She grabbed her spear into her hand tighter and looked ready to attack should she have to.

"Leave him alone," Percy said.

"You actually travel with this...boy?" one of the girls with the knife under his chin said, glaring from Luke back to Percy.

"He's our friend," Annabeth said.

"Kara, Sadie...lower thy weapons for now," the girl who was obviously the leader said.

"Thanks," Luke said when the knives where lowers.

"Don't thank me yet, boy," the girl snapped, glaring harshly with black eyes.

Then she turned back to Percy.

"Thank thee for thy help. Even if it included a boy," the girl said. "I am Zoë Nightshade, lieutenant of the hunters of Artemis. These are some of my fellow hunters – Kara, Sadie, Johanna and Heather."

Percy blinked, and looked to Luke and Annabeth who had moved to stand beside her from where she was facing Zoë.

"I'm Percy, this is Luke, and Annabeth," she said.

"Percy," Heather, or who Zoë had indicated was Heather said. "Thank you for saving me."

It was the girl with the blonde hair and brown eyes.

"Yes, Heather is our newest Hunter," Zoë said, nodding at Percy thankfully. "I assume thy are all demigods?"

"Yes," Annabeth said. "I'm a daughter of Athena."

"Really," one of the hunters said, her eyes which they now realized were slightly darker gray than Annabeth said, stepping forward. She had long sandy colored hair and gray eyes very similar to Annabeth's as said before.

"I'm Johanna, I'm also a daughter of Athena."

Annabeth looked at the girl, only around fourteen physically, in awe.

"And you two?" Kara asked, her dark brown eyes glaring, her black hair a contrast against pale skin.

Sadie nodded, her black hair bouncing, her hazel eyes menacing.

Percy got the feeling these two had been hunters a long time and didn't like boys at all – which would explain the harsh glares which were directed towards Luke.

"I'm a son of Hermes," Luke said, though he didn't say it with near the amount of pride or joy as Annabeth.

"Figures," Kara muttered, though many still heard her.

"I'm a daughter of Zeus," Percy finally said, and the reaction was how she expected.

Shock, disbelief and slight fear (mostly from Heather and Kara – she got the impression Kara might have been a mortal before being a hunter.

"That's...surprising. The Big Three pact being broken," Zoë said, pondering what it meant.

"What? What pact?" Percy asked.

"Thee do not know? Back during WWII the Big Three – Hades, Poseidon and Zeus – all swore on the River Styx never to have another demigod child. To avoid a prophecy, though I do not know the contents," Zoë explained.

Percy gulped, her eyes finding Luke's blue and he looked just as troubled as she did. She felt a little better when she felt his arm wrap around her waist in a way to comfort her.

Zoë, Sadie and Kara all looked disapproving of the contact between her and Luke, but at this moment she didn't care.

"You should come back to our safe house," Annabeth suddenly said, her eyes alight. "Some of you look tired and Heather should get that cut looked at. We have supplies and food! You can leave in the morning, it might be safer."

Zoë looked at the young daughter of Athena and frowned.

"We can not stay where a male is," Sadie said, shaking her head.

"What is your problem with Luke?" Percy demanded, glaring slightly.

"My problem?" Sadie snapped. "My problem is that men are scum, they're all the same. They let you down, and leave you the first chance they get. You can't trust boys, Percy."

"Sadie," Heather said, trying to calm the girl down.

"Sadie speaks only the truth," Zoë said, nodding. "But I think Annabeth is right. We will camp outside the cabin though."

"Why thought?" Annabeth asked, confused.

"We are Hunters of Artemis," Johanna said, proudly and smiling slightly at her younger half-sister. "We swore a vow to forsake men when we became Hunter of Artemis. We are eternal maiden now."

"Eternal?" Percy asked, wondering if that meant what she thought it did. But that was impossible.

"Yes," Zoë said, smiling slightly at Percy as if seeing something. "When we join Artemis we become immortal, and can only be killed in battle."

Luke didn't like the way Zoë was looking at Percy but didn't say anything. Instead he mentioned it getting late and that they should head back to the cabin now.

The Hunters grudgingly agreed and following behind the group of demigods.

The campfire they build was awkward, and the Hunters sat as far from Luke as they could. Annabeth sat next to Johanna, asking questions a mile per minute like nothing was wrong.

Percy sat next to Luke, not only to assure him he still had someone on his side.

"Why did you become a Huntress?" Annabeth asked, and this caused the tension to strengthen as there was a awkward silence.

"I was saved by them when I was fourteen, they offered and I agreed. I haven't looked back since," Johanna said, shrugging.

"A boy left me, I was heartbroken and wondered into the woods. The Hunters found me and I joined. I was fifteen," Kara said.

"I wish not to speak of it," Zoë said, turning away to look up at the stars fondly.

"Me either," Sadie said.

"I'm new," Heather said. "I was being attacked by a monster when they found me, they saved me. I was offered a place in the hunt and gladly agreed. That was six months ago, I'm twelve."

"You're all demigods?" Luke asked, trying to make conversation.

The Hunters glared at him.

"Not all of us," Zoë said. "Kara was mortal, Johanna was a demigod and Sadie is a legacy of Ares. Heather is a child of someone but she never found out who, undetermined I think is what other demigods call it."

"And you?" Percy asked.

"That doesn't mater," Zoë snapped, standing up to leave.

"Where is she going?" Annabeth asked, concerned.

"Probably to think," Johanna said. "Zoë isn't fond of talking about her past."

Percy sighed, and stood. Luke grabbed her hand before she could go, his eyes wide.

Luke couldn't help but keep thinking, what if the Hunters tried to take Annabeth and Percy away. He would admit his worry was mainly about Percy. He wouldn't be able to take it if he lost her.

"Don't go," he said and Percy blinked.

"I'm just going to make sure she's alright," Percy said, rolling her eyes. "I wont leave you, promise."

Luke hesitantly let her hand go and nodded.

"You do not deserve her," Kara said, shaking her head as they watched Percy leave.

Luke turned and glared harshly at the eternal maiden.

"What do you know?" he bit back, standing and heading into the cabin.

Annabeth sighed, wondering exactly what had happened? Maybe she shouldn't have asked why they became hunters?

xXx

Percy found Zoë behind the cabin, closer to the woods and looking up at the starry sky.

"The stars are harder to see than they once were," Zoë said, slowly turning to face Percy. "What is it thy wishes to ask me?"

"Why are the Hunters so bitter towards boys. I understand that some boys might have hurt you all, but not all boys are like that."

Zoë seemed to look at her in a pitying way.

"This is about the boy, Luke, isn't it?" Zoë asked, but it came out as more of a statement. "All boys will let thee down Percy, it's just in their nature."

Percy shook her head.

"Leave Luke out this, Zoë," Percy said. "Luke would never betray me, never. He's my best friend, and he's loyal and sweet. He takes care of me and Annabeth, without his skills I don't know if we'd have the supplies we do."

Zoë shook her head.

"I had planned to wait til morning, but I believe now is the time," Zoë said. "I saw you fighting, it was very impressive. I wish to invite you to join the hunt."

Percy's eyes widened.

"Join the Hunters?" she asked. "But doesn't Artemis have too.."

"Be here?" Zoë asked, and she shook her head. "We can ask and bring the girls to where Lady Artemis is, but she would have to accept thy vow."

"I'd have to leave Annabeth and Luke though, wouldn't I?"

"Annabeth may come with us, she is a little young to become a Huntress but she could stay with us until she is around eleven or twelve, the common age for a Hunter," Zoë said. "The boy...Luke...will not be welcomed of course. Boys are not allowed in our camp."

"I can't," Percy finally said.

Zoë's face darkened but mostly there was pity in her lava rock eyes. It annoyed Percy to no end.

"Don't thou see?" Zoë demanded. "He's got thou blinded, and when thou least expect it he will let thou down. Thou can never trust a boy, daughter of Zeus."

Percy blinked and shook her head.

"You're wrong," she said, and turned, stomping around the cabin and heading inside.

She never noticed the Hunters still around the fire or Annabeth staring in surprise at her sudden reappearance and the door slamming behind her.

Zoë watched the daughter of Zeus storm off and alternated between glaring after her and feeling a little bad for the girl. One day she'd understand, all boys were the same, Luke would be no different.

He'd use her, and abandon her, like Hercules had abandoned her. If there was a male species worse then normal male mortals, it was male demigods.

Arrogant, and disloyal.

The night left and turned to day, the Hunters woke bright and early, clearing up, and Johanna made sure the cut Heather had suffered had been healed enough – thankfully they had Ambrosia so over night the wound was all but gone.

To the Hunters surprise Annabeth came running out to greet them and say goodbye once she noticed they were packing up. Luke and Percy followed soon after and the trio stood in front of the five hunters.

Percy faced Zoë, glaring just as Zoë stared back at her with an expression just short of hostel.

"We thank you for thy help," Zoë said, holding out her hand to Percy.

"Glad we could," Percy said, though her tone was tight. She took Zoë's hand and shook it, though both had a tighter grip than was needed.

"One day Percy, we shall meet again," Zoë said, letting her hand go. "And I will ask you, what do thee regret."

Percy glared at Zoë, knowing exactly what she meant.

As the hunters were going out of eyesight Luke looked down at the shorter daughter of Zeus.

"What did Zoë mean?" he asked.

Percy shook her head.

"Nothing," she said, turning to smile at Luke. "Come on, we should get ready for the day and maybe show Annabeth the stream."

Luke smiled and Annabeth looked between the two knowingly and confused. What stream? She had to wonder.

As Percy walked with Luke and Annabeth to the stream some ways behind the cabin and into the woods she couldn't help but think of Zoe's last words to her before leaving.

'….what do thee regret?'

Percy set her jaw, when the time came she would regret nothing. Or so she hoped, but in the pit of her stomach she felt dread fill her.