Chapter 4

A friendly game of Capture the Hunters

(I'm sososo sorry I haven't updated in like, 2 months. Here's Chapter 4 and I hope you guys enjoy it :) P.S. I've also changed the point of view to 1st person!)

"It looks like these foolish hunters wish to partake in a friendly game of Capture the Hunters," Diana announced out loud, clearly not impressed by their presence.

Capture the Hunters? What in the gods of Olympus was this "game"? The more I thought about it, the more I could imagine myself accidentally hurting someone severely, or much worse. I couldn't play; it was too soon to talk to men again since the Hercules accident. I could feel my heart twist and a menacing sob tickle at the back of my throat. Hercules would pay.

The group of boy hunters laughed when a few of our hunters tried to pick fights with them, sneering and spitting at their feet. "Ladies and foolish boys," Diana coldly said. "Rules are as simple. No killing. The purpose is to "capture" a hunter by setting up traps in the woods or capturing a hunter through force or intelligence. Whichever group has achieved the most hunters by the beginning of dawn will win."

"Wait," the leader of the boy group stepped forward from the darkness. He stood out above any other boy, in fact, with his broad shoulders and tall frame; I wouldn't even be surprised if all the girls fell for him. He looked like a god among mortals. A small, gentle smile tugged at his mouth when his dark eyes reached Diana. Her confident, poised face was blank and emotionless, but there was a spark of tension happening between them. "Shouldn't we make the game... more interesting?"

A tough, burly looking girl shouted from the back. "We are not up to your childish deals, Adrian."

Diana held up her hand silencing the tough girl, though she wasn't pleasant with a fiery look in her eyes. "Though I must say these boys have a long history of immaturity, let's hear what our fellow hunter, Adrian has to say. The way she said Adrian sounded more like a hiss then a title or name. Maybe... just maybe they knew each other before they became hunters. I would have to dip on into some gossip more, though I never liked to listen to it.

"If we win, we get to pick 2 of your hunters from your group and they get to spend a week with us, just to see if Lady Artemis has trained them fast and efficiently enough to catch up. We won't do anything tricky, promise."

When he finished, a crackle of thunder sounded above and Diana looked more crossed than usual. "Lady Artemis would hope that you know where your place is, boy. Do not underestimate the Hunters of Artemis. Your deal is interesting but yes, I will agree to those terms. If we win, you will stay out of our path and never challenge us again."

Adrian chuckled. "Fair, dear Diana. Let the games begin." A blasting sound of a conch horn erupted through the forest and hunters of both teams scattered.

I probably looked so pathetic, standing next to the olive tree with my bow limping in my hand and a mix of confusion upon my face. The rules seemed a bit weird. A panic crossed my face soon after a arrow whizzed past my leg by a few inches from a neighboring tree and I flinched.

I sprinted towards a large cluster of bushes, hoping I wouldn't be spotted, hurt, or much worse. Laughter echoed across the fields but I didn't think the game seemed that hilarious, personally. A flash of movement raced into the woods and by heart, I knew that was Diana. I didn't think it would be wise to venture into the woods, who knew what was in there.

Cries of struggle suddenly came close to my ear. I watched as 2 boys grabbed a hunter by her arms and tied it swiftly, binding it tightly. The first one smiled and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack while the second one watched with pleasure. Disgusting. Her leg bounced with a slight limp and I shook my head for sympathy for her, a broken ankle.

I crouched in the bush, peering through the branches when a set of green eyes peered back at me.

"Whoa," I jumped suddenly, my heart racing with fear. My bow was poised ready in my arm with an arrow notched through. The lean, dark haired figure tumbled out of the bushes and coughed slightly, shaking bits of dirt and leaves out of his hair.

"You scared me Maurice," he said, laughing with his back facing me. "I thought you were a-" He furrowed his brows in surprise when he saw my dirty face and messed hair. Great,

"Well?" I demanded. "Are you going to capture me or not? I just want to get this over with," I sighed, getting up. "I just joined so I'm really not in a competitive spirit. First lie. More like, I didn't feel like hustling around with boys.

"No," he said grinning. "I just joined recently. They've been a little rough on me lately but hey, I'm only 15."

"Oh. You're a man than, well in Sparta you are," I laughed. "Funny how Diana calls everyone "boys"."

"Anyway, what's your name?" He said, smiling. He seemed nice. Too nice in fact. I guess I had no choice but to lead him on,
"Zoë."
"Just Zoë? It's a pretty name, first that I've heard."
I shrugged. "I have a long history."
"Alexander. Or Alex."
"Nice name. You're the first Alex I've ever met, too."
"Really? There are a lot of Alex's in Greece you know," he said.
"I don't get out much. My father and my sisters are... my old family used to be severely strict against the outside world."
"You're like a nightshade flower. They're poisonous, you know. I thought that at first when I met you."
"Nightshade. I like that last name."
"Me too. You're a really...different girl Zoë."
"I am different, but you would never understand my past."
"Trust me, mine is worse than yours. You're a girl, what would you know?"
I couldn't help but shake my head in wonder how I got along so quickly with this rude boy. I pledged loyalty to Artemis, and I knew what had to be done.
"It was great knowing you," I said, making sure my feelings didn't get in the way. "But I'm a hunter of Artemis, and I don't play with boys."
I whistled and a bunch of hunters dropped in from the trees, quickly tossing him into a sack and bringing it back to base. I watched as he struggled inside the bag, remembering how his innocent green eyes plagiarized me like Hercules' eyes. In the distance, a collective whoop sounded and I knew that we won.
"Girls like me don't play nice either, Alex."