I never asked for this. I never asked to be a demi-god. I never asked for a god to fall in love with me. I never even asked to become an Olympian, yet here I am. I guess if I could give you any advice, it would be to run far away from your fate. If you ever learn you're a demi-god, forget it. If an olympian ever stares at you long fully, well, let's just say Daphne had the right idea becoming a tree. And most importantly, if a god ever tells you that you look familiar, take that as an invitation to hide in Tartarus. Nothing good can come from being recognized by a god.

As for introductions, I'm Dana Reed. and here is where my story began...

It was exactly three months before I graduated from camp half-blood. Of course, I was offered to stay but that didn't change my decision, I was on my way to freedom.

Besides that, there wasn't anything special about today. All the trees shined with every color of green (ya I notice the colors of things a lot, comes with the territory of being Iris' daughter)

It was early morning, and I was standing on top of Half-Blood hill when Haidar found me. I had been thinking long and hard.

Recently Artemis had asked me to join her huntresses, she said that although I was a bit old to become a huntress, she still would be pleased if I joined them.

My only deadline for that was I had to join before I graduated. I wasn't sure what to think. A year ago I would have jumped at the idea, but now something was different. I had matured, I was nearly a women, could I really remain a maiden forever? I barely felt like a maiden now. How would I feel in two-hundred years?

There was also, of course, the case of leaving Haidar and all my other friends. Who knows when I would see them again if I accepted Artemis' request.

"Hey Dana, looking for anything in particular?" Haidar asked.

"Not really, just watching the peace of camp," I answered back.

"Peace, that's a funny concept."

"Funny how?" I asked her.

"Just seems there is always a war or something to save." her eyes looked down in sorrow. Last year's Aztec war killed some of our closest friends. Haidar obviously hadn't recovered yet.

"Not at this moment. Look, just us and the forest, nothing else exists." I reassured her.

"I can see that it is pretty. Prettier to you, I guess."

"Only because of biology though." I laughed.

"So... around noon, some of us from Apollo's cabin are going on a hunt." she began to say, "I was wondering if you wanted to come with? Your archery skills could really help, and... today is, you know..."

"I know." Today was the anniversary of the day Apollo lost Daphne. I didn't completely understand why, but today was a sad day for Apollo's cabin.

Something about how on this day their father wanders around the world, forgetting his godly duties.

Apparently his absence for the day causes his children to falter in their abilities. Suddenly their arrows were not as straight as normal and their healing powers were weakened.

No wonder they wanted me to come along. As Apollo is not my father, his absence does nothing to me.

"That sounds great... any news from Simon?" I smiled back at her.

"Not yet," she patted me on the shoulder.

Simon was the biggest reason I hadn't joined the hunters yet. Although I brushed him off normally, there was something different recently. It wasn't hard to forsake most men, but Simon... he was different. I didn't know why. After two years, maybe his constant flirting was starting to grow on me. Maybe...

Hunting always cleared my mind, and that's exactly what I needed. Haidar probably noticed that I was trying to find peace because she left after that, leaving me alone to my thoughts.