The story happens one year later after the Giant War.
"They should have been back by now," Thalia said. "They should be here. It's almost sunset." She and the rest of the hunters who did not accompany Lady Artemis in her hunt for today.
Murmurs went through the camp. They had remained calm seeing Thalia, the closet to Lady Artemis, calm, but now that Thalia was showing concern the rest of the girls didn't hide their's. "Maybe they forgot the time because they're enjoying themselves?" one of the hunters, Sally, suggested, but Thalia shook her head.
"Lady Artemis keeps track of the time," she informed her. Sally looked around and bit her lip.
"Let's send a search party," someone else called out.
The daughter of Zeus scanned the horizon before reluctantly turning to the hunters. "No," she decided, "let the sun set and if they do not come, we take action." No one protested but it wasn't because they all agreed. They heard a shout and footsteps. The hunters stared at the woods as Thalia whipped around and heard the shout again.
"Prepare your weapons!" She barked and the hunters obeyed. Following Thalia's lead, they pointed their arrows at the trees, not sure what to expect.
After a few tense minutes, a girl ran into sight towards them. It was Emily, one of the hunters who went with Lady Artemis for today's hunt. Thalia told everyone to lower their weapons once seeing no one was chasing Emily. Sally ran to Emily who stumbled into her friend's arms.
"Stand ground," Thalia ordered before striding towards Emily and Sally. "What has happened? Where is Lady Artemis and the others?"
Sally frowned at Thalia's quick questions, but stayed silent knowing the answers were necessary. "The hunters with me are dead. They let me live to pass a message," Emily said.
"What is the message?" Thalia said, controlling her worry. Why didn't Emily answer my question about Lady Artemis? Thalia thought.
"It's a message we must deliver to Camp Half-Blood," Emily took a deep breath. "Artemis is in chains and if we don't get moving to Camp Half-Blood they will kill us. They plan to take over Camp Half-Blood and want us to inform them that it is useless to fight against them and to surrender."
"Who is them?" Thalia snapped, confused and stunned.
"A group of monsters and, well I think, demigods and they're led by..." Emily shook her head as if everything wasn't making sense and maybe that was true.
Sally asked gently, "Who?" Emily gulped and looked up to meet Thalia's electrifying eyes.
"A girl named Akantha. She claims to be the daughter of Kronos."
Sorry this was short, but this is the prologue. Please tell me what you think.