Introduction: Athena (Thalia's POV)
"Thalia. Thalia, wake up, it's your shift now!" Luke's voice rang in my ears. I groaned and rolled over, swatting at the sound of the voice. "Five more minutes?" I mumbled sleepily.
"Thalia, I've already let you sleep a full thirty minutes into your shift! I would let you sleep longer, but I'm going to fall asleep any second now!" Luke said calmly, pulling back my blanket and giving me no choice but to get up.
"Alright, alright, I'm up. Now go get some sleep." I said, pulling on my jacket, taking the flashlight from Luke and going to sit outside.
Rain was pouring full force outside the cave, so the forest smelled fresh and alive and I couldn't help but feel just a little bit more awake when the crisp fresh air entered my lungs. 'It may not be the warmest', I thought, 'But at least it's not snowing like last week.'
A few hours later, I was trying to decide where Luke and I should go next when I heard footsteps coming from inside the forest. My first thought was 'Monsters!', but then a cool female voice spoke from behind a tree.
"Thalia Grace I am definitely not a monster." I stared blankly in the direction of the voice. If it wasn't a monster, then what was it?
Suddenly, a woman stepped out into the light my flashlight was giving off. She had long black hair tied into a braid, and she wore royal blue robes and a golden headband.
"Who, who are you?" I asked, staring at the woman.
"I am Athena, daughter of Zeus and Metis, goddess of wisdom, skill and war, and I need your help." My jaw dropped, but I gave a quick bow before standing up and continuing to gape. Not only was this woman a god, she needed MY HELP!
"I know you have many questions," Athena said, hurrying to talk. She kept glancing around, like she was doing something wrong by talking to me and was afraid she would be caught. "But right now is not the time. Zeus has forbidden all the gods to have contact with the demigods, but I have no other choice. Now listen very carefully. One of my daughters, Annabeth, has already been discovered by the monsters, but in no way, shape or form is she capable of handling them (you will find out why soon), so I want you to find her, and then take her to camp half-blood. Do not ask what that is, a guide come to you in a few months. But about my daughter. You will have to go to Richmond, and there you will find my daughter. In return for doing all this, I will give you this shield. It's name is Aegis, and it is modeled after your fathers." Athena snapped her fingers and a wristwatch appeared on my wrist. "Please, find Annabeth. But whatever you do, do not tell Luke about our meeting. He does not like the gods, and he will stop you if he knows you have received instructions from me. I must go now, but please remember what I have told you."
I nodded my head, and in a blinding flash of light, Athena was gone. The next morning, Luke and I set out for Richmond.