takes place during the end of The Titans Curse
The noise of the Olympian party was distracting, but not enough to tear my mind off of the recent battle. All I could see was Luke's broken corpse as he lay in the rocks. Every instinct told me that he had to be dead but I had a strange inkling, a weird feeling that he was still alive. That some magic was sustaining him. As much as I dreaded it, I knew that Luke was alive, and the only thing I could picture now was the swift kick that sent him off the cliff. But that didn't count as betrayal, Luke was the evil one. At least, that's what I had reassured myself.
"Thalia."
Artemis's voice startled me out of my daydreaming. She was standing only a few feet away from me and looking upon me sympathetically. I straitened my spine and plastered a confident look on my face. It felt weird to be taller than a goddess but Artemis's eyes betrayed the look of a twelve-year-old, immortality and wisdom shone in her moon-gray irises.
"Yes lady Artemis." I answered. Artemis smiled warmly. "Welcome to the hunt young maiden. I want to warn you that we will be hunting many ancient monsters for the next while. I wish you to be prepared."
"I'm honored." I said with a small bow of my head. "But I am ready. I've faced many monsters." Artemis gave a smile that could have been sad. "Prepare to leave soon." She said "There is little time to waste." I nodded and she wandered off.
I turned and almost ran into a different hunter. Her eyes grew wide with alarm and she stumbled back a couple of steps. "Oh, sorry" I apologized. The girl's cheeks shone a bright red and she backed into the crowd. "Okay" I said, secretly hoping all the hunters weren't as strange as that.
I mingled with minor godlings and nymphs for a dozen more minutes. Half-way through kill the DJ by Green Day, I heard Artemis's voice. "Hunters" it said. I didn't know how I could hear it over the Olympian party, I wasn't sure if it spoke in my mind or if Artemis simply had the ability to drown out all the other noise so that we could hear her or something. I made my way to her throne where she was seated along with a dozen other hunters. As a couple more joined us, Artemis cleared her throat. "We have been assigned to hunt many dangerous creatures hunters." Artemis warned. "Hardship approaches." The hunters muttered grimly amongst themselves. A fire glinted in Artemis's eyes. "We will start right away. But first, I must officially welcome Thalia Grace as the lead huntress. Zoë Nightshade has finally retired into the stars." I blushed as the attention shifted to me, but there were still stifled tears, I could tell, on behalf of Zoë, who had sacrificed her life to save Artemis and my friend, Annabeth.
"But we must not waste any more time than we have already." Stated Artemis, jolting us out of our grief. She stood and we filed in behind her. My heart swelled with honor as I stepped forward directly beside Lady Artemis herself and led the hunters away from the party and down the mountain. We crossed a bridge leading across the chasm and I held my breath the whole way through. I wanted to make a good first impression on the hunters and I figured screaming and flailing and falling off of cliffs would not be in the list of things they wanted to see from their new lieutenant.
We reached the twin elevator doors that would lead back down to the Empire State building, Manhattan. New York. As we descended, I tried not to punch someone. They honestly cold have found better elevator tunes than _. I could sense the awkward annoyance with the hunters as they chatted tensely amongst each other. I turned to Artemis. "Where will we go first?" I asked her nervously. I knew that Artemis liked mountains. Mountains were usually high. High was not my favorite word.
Artemis breathed deeply. We must travel north a small bit, to Canada." She said. "Okay." I said, I didn't think the mountains in Canada were that big. Then again, I'd never been to Canada. Artemis spoke again "I believe we will be in the Maritimes. I have sensed a great being stirring there and would like to investigate. And possibly destroy it." I gulped
"What exactly is this monster called?" I asked. Artemis's voice deepened "Cynolycus. Sometimes called Crocotta."
I was about to ask what kind of shitty names those were when a pleasant ding sounded in my ears. We had reached ground level.
The silver doors slid open into the large lobby of the Empire State. We padded across carpet and passed the person at the desk. The only acknowledgement he gave us was a small glance over the top of his magazine. With a shock, I realized his magazine had a nude photo, a female model, on the page he was reading. I gasped and recoiled. But not before I saw the same girl I had run into earlier glance at it and blush! She tore herself away and we pushed outside.
Slightly disturbed, I followed Artemis into the night air and she whistled the perfect taxicab whistle. For a second nothing happened. Then, at least thirty wolves, all of them as pure white as fresh snowfall. Artemis took my hand and led me towards a wolf. I caught my breath at the sheer beauty of it. Light, but slightly dangerous gray eyes stood out amongst the sheer white pelt. I saw the hunters climb onto the wolves as if they were under-sized horses. With caution, I did the same.
"Usually, we do not ride our wolves, today however, we are in a hurry and I am anxious to be away from this filthy city." Explained Artemis. I muttered my agreement. Ever since being transformed into a pine, I felt a strong connection to nature.
A pedestrian walked past us, cutting in front of a couple of wolves who growled menacingly. Artemis held out her hand gently towards the canines. Immediately, they quieted down and pattered to her side. As soon as the rest of the hunters had mounted the wolves, they darted forward. Then something weird happened. The moonlight seemed to absorb into us. In a flash of silver light and a twisting sensation, we had vanished into morning mist.