[A/N] Err Umm. I have no excuses for taking so long but honestly i don't think anyone cares. Prove me wrong review some more if you disagree.

[DISCLAIMER] I don't own PJO and I never will.

Chapter 2

It was begining to get colder but it was not yet so cold one required more than a light jacket. It was eight in the morning and already there we're people at the practice field getting ready for the chariot races and the Hephastus kids we're heating their forge.

NICO'S POV

I had just finished putting on my favorite pair of black pants and a long sleeved black and gray flanel. I put on my usual white socks and pulled on my boots and tied the laces tight. I hadn't slept great more of the same nightmares, hopefully Chiron would be able to help sort this out. I looked around my cabin and grimaced, everything I had left had been taken by the cleaning harpies.

I exited my cabin and lit one of my cigarettes. I then made a beeline for the Big House. It was the same as last time I'd seen it. Thalia was sitting on the porch looking out at the sky thoughtfully.

I climbed the steps and came to stand a few paces from her, I waited a moment for her to realize I was there, when she didn't I coughed discreetly. Her head snapped in my direction and she looked surprised to see me.

"Chirons not here." she said in a tone that voiced no argument.

"Damn. What about Dionysus?" I questioned.

"Niether is he. Apparently they were called to Olympus, and before you ask. No I don't know why, no one seems to." she said sounding exasperated.

"Oh." was all I could manage before another thought invaded my mind. Climbing wall. Yeah it seems immature but ever since I first saw it I knew it was going to be my favorite part of camp. Something about dangerous situations helps me focus on things other than my problems.

"I'm going to the climbing wall." I said, if truth be told a bit exuberently. "If Chiron, Dionysus, or Percy get here come get me ok?" I asked Thalia.

"Yeah whatever." she said shaking her head at my display but sounding sincere somehow.

THALIA'S POV

As Nico dashed toward the climbing wall I couldn't help but notice he had brought no sword or sheild with him. He probablly has magic items I thought to myself, being the only acknowleged child of Hades it would be stranger if he didn't.

I hadn't slept well last night. It was strange being back at camp after having left the Hunters. Being here had reminded me of my past of joining the hunters. Which inevitably led me to think of the day Artemis told me she was accepting Pheobe as her new lieutenant. When I asked her if i was being demoted she gave me a sad smile and told me that no I was being released. For a while I was devestated but I've gotten over it.

I stood from my seat on the porch and began to walk towards the practice field. If something couldn't be done about this new golden eyed threat then she could at least get some training in.

The Field was surrounded by a track. It was saturday so the training field was being prepared for the chariot races later that day. As I couldn't train in the rush about I figured the climbing wall was my next best choice.

On my way towards the climbing wall I wondered if Nico would say anything if he saw me. I proceeded to ignore that thought as i arrived.

I moved off to the left of it where it was grassy and open. I wasn't planning on climbing the wall just practicing some new spear techniques.

I activated my shield. and spear. Inhale Exhale. Thrust, block, dodge, jab.

Training with an imaginary opponent is hardly worth it I thought. But sometimes if you can get into it it gets intense. Your opponent becomes real in your mind. I could almost hear the ring when my opponents sword hit my shield I lashed forward with my spear and shot a bolt of lightning.

Of course it was on accident. I was just so in the moment I kind of let some power slip through. It knocked a medium sized branch from a nearbye tree that caught fire. It began to smoke.

"Shit." I said aloud even though I was alone.

"I'll say." said a familar and cocky voice.

I whipped around and of course it was Nico. "You'll say what?" I asked fiegning ignorance.

He was probably about to spout a sarcastic remark he had even opened his mouth to.

"If your going to talk Nico you should really finish the thought."

He rolled his eyes. "Having a bonfire?" he asked casually and walked towards the branch that was still burning upon getting closer she realised it was a larger branch than she first thought.

"Of course and I thought I told you to bring the marshmellows." she replied sarcasticly.

"Any particular reason your trying to burn the camp down?" he asked if possible more casually than before.

"No just getting ready to send a smoke signal." I replied, if he was going to act like this was normal then I would play along. The branch didn't look as though it would be able to catch anything else on fire.

"Really now?" he said sounding serious. "Well don't stop on my account it sounds quite fascinating go ahead." He smirked knowing he had me.

"Ok fine I wasn't sending smoke signals. It was an accident." she replied to his inquireing look.

"How do you accidently set something on fire?" he asked me as though he had never done it.

"Maybe I knocked a torch off its bracket in my cabin while exercising, but at least I'm fully dressed." I replied with a smirk. The last time I had been at camp after I had been released from the Hunters. Nico was working out for a tournament and knocked a torch off the bracket inside his cabin, only Zues knows how but to see him rush out in the middle of the day in just his boxers was hilarious.

He glared at me, I must say I consider myself professional when it comes to the glare but Nico was good. Very good. Part of the branch was still there but it now had a charred lump that was probably still hot to the touch.

"Why aren't you at the big house or at least the training field?" Nico asked me with a slight edge to his voice.

"They're getting ready for the chariot races later." I replied casually.

"Well why are you at the climbing wall if your not going to climb the climbing wall?" he asked incredulously as though it were unthinkable.

"I'd rather practice my battle skills then my climbing skills." I said seriously.

"By setting trees on fire." he said sarcastically.

"Shut up about that already or I'll start practicing them on you!" I threatened in only a slightly less than serious way.

"It'd be a waste of time you know." he replied with a taunting voice but he smiled pleasantly at me. I activated Aegis my shield and then my spear.

"You don't even have a weapon." I smirked as I moved forward. I had time to waste. I doubted Chiron or Dionysus was here yet.

"Give me a secon-" he said as he disapeared in the shadow of the tree.

I readied myself and moved out of the shadows so he couldn't ambush me.

Good? Bad? You had to reread the first chapter because you forgot this fic? Review it helps motivate me.