𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐘 →percy jackson

4. apollo is hot. no pun intended.

☆ word count → 2782

happy new years eve, everyone. cant wait for 2025! :)

 Artemis kept assuring the demigods that dawn was approaching, which Daphne found quite hard to believe. It grew colder, darker, and windier than ever. Up on the hill, Westover's windows were shut tight and were completely lightless. Maybe the teachers realized Dr. Thorn's and the Di Angelos' sudden leave.

The hunters broke camp as quickly as they set it up, which left them shivering in the snow. Unlike the hunters, who were unbothered by the weather. Guess they were used to harsh conditions. Kyrene stood next to Artemis, who stared into the east like she was expecting something.

From the corner of her eye, daphne could see Bianca pull Nico over to the side, probably to tell him that she joined an eternal feminist squad. Judging by his expression, Daphne didn't think he took it too well. As Bianca was waving her hands around, like she usually did when she spoke, trying to explain her decision, Nico's expression went sad.

Thalia and Grover huddled around Percy and Daphne, anxious to hear what happened with their audience with Artemis. When Percy told them, Grover went as pale as a sheet of paper. "The last time the hunters came to camp . . . well, it didn't go so great."

"How'd they even show up here?" Percy wondered aloud, "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

"And Bianca joined them.." Thalia said, disgusted, "It's all Zoë's fault. that stuck up, no good—"

"Who can blame her?" Grover sighed dreamily, "I mean, eternity with Artemis? Count me in."

"You satyrs are all so hopelessly in love with Artemis." Thalia rolled her eyes. "Don't you guys get it? She won't ever love you back."

"But she's so . . . into nature." Grover swooned.

"You're nuts." Thalia retorted.

"Yeah, nuts and berries."

"Ooookay." Daphne eyed Grover warily. "I don't get what's wrong with the hunters. I mean, they seem pretty cool. Their precision is deadly accurate, I don't blame Bianca for joining." She praises. Percy and Thalia stare at her oddly.

Thalia scoffed and shook her head. "You wouldn't get it."

After a while of Artemis' constant reminder of 'Dawn is approaching', the sky finally began to lighten. Artemis murmured, "Finally. He is sooo lazy during the winter."

"You're.. waiting for sunrise?" Percy asked.

"For my brother, yes."

"Oh." Percy nodded slowly. It was weird, he knew of the legends of Apollo — or Helios, take your pick — driving the sun chariot across the sky, but it was difficult to exactly wrap his head around how he could drive the sun.

"It's not as you think," Artemis replied like she had just read Percy's mind. He looked a little shocked, forgetting the whole goddess thing for a moment there.

"oh, okay. so it's not like he'll be pulling up in a—" there was a sudden burst of light that cut him off. a burst of warmth washed over them.

"Don't look," Kyrene advised, "not until he parks."

"Parks..?" Daphne questioned as she averted her eyes.

Everyone - with the exception of Artemis and Kyrene - did so too. The light and warmth intensified like they were sunbathing in scorching heat, it soon grew uncomfortable, then it died down. Daphne looked. And boy, she was in shock. Apollo was hot. Oh, and his car was too, literally. The metal was glowing because it was so hot, and it melted the snow surrounding it in a circle.