Disclaimer: Cora and Derek Jackson are my characters. The rest of the Olympian demigods are by Rick Riordan.

Author's Note: I'm so happy of starting this new and final part of the installment: Alaska... Why Alaska? Well, it started with a journey there, then a quest there and for the Jacksons is their home and hopefully they will return... or not! I am still writing this story, so far 20 chapters and 30,000+words... Fridays update.

Sorry, Thalia's fans. It's part of the story, just a little twist, and I say WHY NOT?!

1. Cora

Two days ago, I left my home and my dad. I left Alaska, the place I had always lived. Of course I was sad of leaving everything behind, but at the same time I was so happy of finally being a hunter. I thought the ritual would be more interesting. I just said a couple of sentences and I am now a hunter.

This was my destiny. I didn't know how much it really was until Thalia told me the truth yesterday. My mom promised me to Artemis before I was born. I was meant to be a hunter since the womb. That explained everything: my bow skills, my dreams, my monster radar and my pull toward Thalia, and eventually to Artemis.

Thalia also told me my mom's reason to do it. My mom was protecting me from the Gods. I was the one to destroy, the legacy of the prophecy that forced my parents to move to Alaska in the first place. They thought, myself included, it was Derek since he was the oldest. However, Artemis assured my mom I was the one, leaving her two choices: me becoming a hunter or die before I was even born. I didn't know what to think when Thalia told me that. I still don't know. I understood my mom and I was happy she chose to save me but I really didn't feel like the one. Was I really that strong?

As we travelled through Canada, I couldn't stop thinking in Derek, my big brother. I should have tried to stop him but I was so busy mourning my dead uncle. Maybe if I had gone behind Derek instead of my dad, we would be together.

The future had been mudded and unpredictable for the last couple of days. I wish to have been able to see the outcome of everything. I wish to find a way to prevent it all. How I wish to dream the perfect solution to save my family. I had never been able to control seeing the future. It just comes to me in a dream. It sounds so cliché.

Today, we stopped at Winnipeg, a really interesting town. The hunters of Artemis, we, set our tents in the countryside with an awesome view of the city lights. We had dinner around a big fire. I liked being surrounded by my sisters. They are fun, strong and mostly interesting. I knew in my heart this was my place to be but I can't stop feeling like it was never my choice. I didn't choose by my own free will. For a brief moment, it made me trapped, almost betrayed by my mom and the Gods.

Over dinner, Thalia stared at me most of the time. I knew why perfectly. Her electric blue eyes were sad. She was worried by my family. She was probably thinking on my dad since I looked the most like him. Then I noticed how she looked at me, with some strange longing in her eyes. I took me a while to figure it out after seeing the same look a couple of times before throughout the years.

Once I realized what she was thinking and feeling, I couldn't help it but I cried. I was sad for my sister and godmother. I wondered if my dad knew that Thalia loved him beyond friendship and family. Thalia's curse and blessing was now mine. Never say aloud words of love to a man. It wasn't that bad since I had never been in love. I could never long for something I have never had, right?

After dinner, I was on my tent getting ready for bed. By tomorrow, we would be in New Jersey and Camp Half-Blood. I was kind of excited. I had seen the place in the pictures of my parents and it seems magical, almost surreal. Cabins filled with demigods according to their godly parents, the fires, the sing-alongs, the games, the lake and mostly the sense of family.

I was already under covers when I heard someone entering into my tent. I recognized the quick quiet steps since I heard them since I was a baby.

"Cora, are you sleeping?" said Thalia. I uncovered myself and looked her. She looked sad to the verge of crying. This was probably the first time I had ever seen her vulnerable, so vulnerable that worried me.

"Are you sure of leaving your dad? I didn't seem right... Kelp Head is lost without us" Thalia tried to sound sassy and ironical but she sounded just worried.

We stared at each other. I knew I was the bad one by leaving my dad like that. We left him in a bad emotional shape. He blamed himself for mom and Derek. I felt the same so I breathed out a loud worried sigh.

"We must. Dad must go to Camp Jupiter, if he knows… well, you know him"

Thalia nodded at my words. She knew I was right. My dad was too loyal for his loved ones, saving a friend before the world. That's why we needed to make the decision for him. We needed to be cold-headed like mom.

"I do. Are you sure Annabeth is there?" said Thalia. I told her yesterday that I dreamed about my mom.

"I am not, but it's a clue" I breathed out another loud sigh. Thalia sat on my bed. I moved giving her space in my bed. She gave me painful look before sighing.

"I still think we should have told your dad" said Thalia. Her eyes were almost watering but she rubbed them before any tear could fall. She was trying to be detached.

"Thalia, my dad would risk everything for my mom, right now, he needs to find Derek. My brother is lost" I said and tears started to run wild. I wanted so much to find my brother. I had been so worried for him and my dreams showed nothing of his whereabouts.

"Are you sure?" said Thalia weakly. All my determination was quivering by her voice. She wanted to return too, to find Derek by herself, to help my dad.

"I dreamed it" I said and I knew those words would end the conversation and any hesitation on my godmother. She trusted my dreams with her life. Thalia sighed as she was trying to avoid crying.

"So where are we going?" said Thalia.

"Chicago" I said weakly but with hope. My dreams showed my mom near the metallic bean which is very popular there. She was near the water, alive and well. I could feel in every fiber of my body.

"Ok, right after we drop you uncle at Camp. Okay? Good night" said Thalia and kissed my forehead before leaving me alone in my tent.

"Good night" I whispered and hugged my pillow before drifting into the liquid tranquility of dreamland.

In my dreams, I saw my mom again. She was in some kind of room with metallic walls and chipped paint. I could hear nothing but the deafening sound of heartbeats beating so loud and fast that gave me a headache. My mom seemed to not care nor notice the sound. I moved around as I tried to see something to help me find her but nothing except for the bean sparkling in the far bathed by moonlight.

I woke up anxious. Knowing ahead isn't always the best thing; however I don't get to choose. My dreams find me.