Pertemis: A Wolf’s Tale novel Chapter 16

Percy’s Point Of View

Percy struggled, trying to skin the deer on the table. He never knew how to cook, not that he was useless, he could make cereal and fried eggs himself, but making a proper meal was beyond his ability.

He had learnt that the hunt only consumed a quarter of a deer or a small animal a day, so they could keep the balance in nature. The deer was big, covered the entire table as it groaned under the deer 's weight. He could see there were plenty of meet at the time, but he wasn't sure how much left he could gain after the cooking process, which he expected the deer would be burnt to ashes.

He stabbed a knife at its side in frustrated, clicked his tongue and cursed. He would do anything but to cook. He slashed a chunk of meat but accidentally cut his finger. Percy yelped as he jumped and squeezed on the  wound. He checked to see a deep cut as Ichor was pouring out from it.

Percy had come to notice his wound had started to heal less quickly ever since he left the island. Perhaps it was Leto power that protected him, or just because he had spent too many of his own power while living in the hunt.

He kicked the table, hard enough to rattle the cups, rumbling the plates.

"Is there any god that knows how to cook!?" He screamed to the fire that he was about to chuck his deer in.

So far he had not done a single job Artemis had appointed him. Much less to the hunters dislikes, now they would even hate him more without food to serve. iIt wasn't that he cared about the hunters or to seek any acceptance from them, he knew that was impossible. But he couldn't disappoint Artemis since she had made a guarantee for his stay.

Suddenly, the fire behind him grew hotter as the back of his shirt steamed.

"I guess I would be suitable for that"

A voice came and Percy nearly jumped up to the ceiling. He turned back to the fire, expected to see Annabeth since she was the only person in camp that would bother to help and visit him. But to the view wasn't the person he thought.

There was a girl, small about ten years old sitting by the hearth. She had a young and beautiful face with bright brown hair tucked in a brown linen shawl. Her brown dress matched the colour of her hair and part of the fire. Although with that youthful appearance, her light red eyes still shown the intelligence and maturity that was usually not obtained by any of her age or even beyond. She radiated a delicious scent of wood smoke and toasted marshmallows, also with the power that made Percy's leg turned Jell-O. It was so ancient, yet not mysterious or dangerous. Also in her presence, all of those bad feelings and frustrated thoughts just floated away, as Percy came to miss his mother even more. By the first glance of Percy at her, his instinct told him he could trust her with everything. Although he had to make sure of it.

"Uh, who are you?" he asked. He wasn't surprised much by now or concerned that she could be hurt by the fire because he knew she wasn't any hunter, nor mortals. Though that thought made him anxious.

"Why so much rudeness?" she walked closer to him, a smile tugged on her lips as her eyes fixed on him. "Should learn how to ask someone nicely, especially to a girl ok?"

He couldn't believe a young girl was giving him a lesson on how he should behave. Her tones sounded like Leto as he held dear of any her teachings. He swallowed and fixed his gaze on her.

"I'm sorry because I've just been through a lot lately," he stammered "May I have an acknowledgement of your name?"

"That's how a good boy should behave" she laughed, "I am Hestia, goddess of the hearth and home. I believe your call as a magical being has brought me here. It's been a long time to have someone requesting me."

Hestia chuckled the last part.

Percy turned nervous. The least he wanted was to face an Olympian, yet because of an impulsive moment that he had brought an Olympian here. If she found out who he really was, the entire Olympus would be at his tail. Percy swallowed nervously as sweats started to form.

"Oh, it's a great but could you please disappear again?"

He knew that was the most stupid thing to say, but he was desperate. He didn't think of any plan to ditch her and alert Artemis, who probably still oblivious to Hestia's presence.

The girl just gave him a warm smile as she looked around, her lips pursed as she looked at Percy again.

"This is the hunt of Artemis I see," she said, though a bit of surprise in her eyes. "You must be somehow related to her so that you can dwell in here. What's your name young man?"

"It's....uh...Perseus" he said, struggle  to form a word but confused why he was too honest with this goddess.

"Perseus?" she rubbed her chin. "Never heard of any Perseus than closely related to my niece. You were lying to me?"

"No, no, no" he threw his hands up "I'm her half sharing blood brother, I...."

He covered his mouth, screaming at himself for being stupid. Hestia widened her eyes as big as the plates, her mouth hung open.

"You are a son of Zeus?" she asked, still priceless.

"No, he's not my father!" he snapped, feeling irritated when someone mentioned his name.

"Then tell me Perseus," Hestia walked closer. "How could you be Leto's son when she's been imprisoning on the island for three thousand years?"

"It's...uh..." he couldn't form a word, not that he didn't want to tell her, she seemed trustworthy enough. But he was afraid Artemis would be hunting him later. Hestia somehow understood him as she laid a hand on his shoulder and looked at him in the eyes to add courage. Her power and warm relaxed his nerves.

So, he told her. Everything he knew, about how his parents met to time Artemis rescued him and his truth identity. He was too afraid she would be wild if she knew who he really was, most of the gods hated him. But she listened to him carefully and patiently, no sign of fear and alert to be shown. Her eyes watered when he just surprisingly told her over the boundary, how he was feeling, his fear and loneliness he was having, also his desire for recognition and even his confused feeling towards Artemis. He told her everything, not a single word that he left or hide. He'd never been honest to someone as much as her, besides his mother of course. Even Artemis didn't know much from him. But with Hestia, he felt like he could trust her with everything. Perhaps because she reminded him of his mother, or maybe he just needed someone to share his thoughts with.

Percy lowered his head after revealing everything. His heart had stopped beating fast because now it felt empty.

"So if you want to tell the gods," he mumbled. "Go ahead and do it."

Hestia just gave out a small sob as she plugged her arms around his shoulder and pulled him closer to her. He held dear on her arms, her warm felt like the lullaby his mother sang when he was just a kid, the comfort and gentle words when he was hurt. The thought brought tears that Perseus could do nothing but to cry silently.

"Oh, poor Perseus" Hestia brushed his hair, "I can feel how lonely you are, I can't imagine someone could bear that emptiness and burden."

"Why don't you be afraid, or hate me because of what I am?" he said, still  sobbing on her.

"Because I've seen through you Perseus. The beast is part of you, but the real you is loving, kind and gentle. I'm sorry for didn't know you earlier, to give you regard and recognition. You are us Perseus, you are part of my family."

It felt good of her words that Percy just broke down. She was the first that truly accepted and acknowledged him. Hestia rubbed circles on his back and smoothed him.

"I'll protect you Perseus, I'll make sure no harm can reach you. Just like the promise I've made to Leto many years ago." She told him.

Percy slowly sat up, sweeping his tears as Hestia smiled at him. Part of his heart had filled with joy and happiness, he felt like he was living again.

"Gosh this nephew of mine has grown into a young and handsome man!" she poked on his cheek and grinned. Percy laughed at her words. He was glad that he had met Hestia.