Thalia POV.

"Four miles until shore!" Phoebe exclaimed as we sprinted after a group of Cyclops. On my mind were two things as I ran with my hunters: Nico di Angelo and dinner.

Dinner because… Well, we hadn't eaten yet and man, I was immortal, sure, but I still get hungry after a good day of hunting. We'd helped a few (female) demigods fight off the Minotaur; some others fight of the furies, some Lastryogrion giants were attacking a few boys, but we helped them because of their sisters.

And Nico di Angelo because…. I was in love with him. I was in love with Nico di Angelo, son of Hades, Ghostboy, child of the big three, Nico. He was fourteen now, and I was fifteen. I couldn't wait to see that boy again. I know what you're thinking too, she's a hunter of Artemis, blah blah blah, BUTTTTTTT; my sister said that she would give me slack. She knows how I am and that I can't be restrained, so she lets me do what I want. She knows too well to let me go and be alone at Camp Half Blood or whatever.

"Listen." I whispered as I stopped to a halt and listened for a second. I could hear the monsters running in circles like they were running forty miles away. "Follow me." I whispered to the other girls as we stalked forward gracefully.

"HELP! HELP ME!" I heard a girl screech and we all stopped abruptly, being the hunters we are, and listened. Her shrieks were coming from the direction of the Cyclops and sprinted as fast as my legs would after her.

She was being held over a fire; head first, by a ten foot Cyclops. The girl was no over the age of seven, with luscious blonde hair, and warm brown eyes that were now filled with fear.

"HELP!"

The newest addition to the Hunters – Maria – did something completely unproductive by saying, "Put her down." Maria was only nine, but still, she should know saying that just makes things worse. But luckily, I knew exactly what to do. As one Cyclops charged, I let the other seven girls handle him; I stalked up to the other, pulling out my bow, and grabbing an arrow from my quiver. The Cyclops looked away from the girl and then growled at me, throwing a rock. I dodged it quickly, and started sprinting once more. I ran up to it and leaped onto its chest, kicking off his head and shot one of Artemis' celestial bronze arrows into his back. The arrow stuck into him with a thud as I landed on the ground with pride. As my Cyclops dissolved, so did the others.

"Good work, girls. We should set up camp here for the night as I talk to… Her." I told the Hunters as they started to get the tents and other stuff out of their bags. I walked up to the chick that was now on the floor crying, and knelt down her with a concerned expression on my face.

"He he… Wass…. Going- going t-t-to kill meeeee!" The little girl blubbered as I picked her up and patted her hair down.

"It's okay. They're gone now. It's okay." I cooed to the girl.

"They killed my mommy!"

"Oh gods…." I mumbled to myself and looked over to see if any of the other girls were watching. Translation: I knew they were all watching and I was looking for help. "What's your name?"

"Karter." She said proudly, a smiling brightening up her scared expression.

"That's a beautiful name." I heard Artemis say behind me; wait, Artemis was supposed to be at the summer solstice meeting on Olympus!

"Lady Artemis." I bowed to her and let Karter down quickly, starting to walk to the tents before Karter said,

"Please stay."

"Sure, kid."

Nico….. I sighed in my head, as I followed Artemis into her tent to ask Karter if she wanted to join the hunters. Just like the night with the di Angelos… I wonder if she had a brother she would be abandoning tonight...