SO SORRY! I haven't updated in forever… wanna know why? Well, our internet was out for a week… and it just got back today… I'm not joking. It was horrible. I got one chapter in when I went to the library, but that chapter was for my other story. But I'm updating now! Thanks for the reviews!

Annabeth

"Yo Annie, pass me that water flask."

I frowned at Thalia's demand and reprimanded her, "A) Don't call me 'Annie,' my name is Annabeth, and B) you could say 'please' every once in a while."

The lieutenant of the hunters of Artemis looked lazily at me, "Okay. Annie, hand me that water flask."

Sighing, I handed her the flask, "Don't ever change, Thals." Thalia smirked and took a gulp.

You see, Thalia is one of those girls that don't care. Really. She doesn't care. And nobody can really change that, because it's just her nature. Her style is black. Seriously. She wears black leggings, with black leather boots that have blue laces, a black tunic, and black hair dyed blue at the ends. She has electric blue eyes, lined with black kohl, inherited from her father, who is Zeus. Normally, being a kid of Zeus, you would be a "big deal," but Thalia didn't like being a big deal, and decided to become a hunter. Her personality is... sarcastic I guess. But I love her for it. Just don't insult her, if you don't like to be publicly humiliated.

At the moment, we were stopped for the night in a small grove about two miles from the nearest town. We were still about a three days ride away from the Teleporting Twins fortress. So far, nothing bad has happened, other than one of the guards horses getting a lame hoof. Tomorrow we are supposed to meet Piper in the town right next to us, which is Larissa.

Sitting next to the fire with my guards and Thalia, we ate some cooked fish that we had traded for when we went into Larissa. We had only gone into the city for the food, and not all of us did. It was just me and my three brothers, sons of Athena. All three of them had blond hair and grey eyes, and they were all cut military style, but you could tell them apart pretty easily. For example, Malcolm was tall and skinny, with muscle, but not overly buff. His main weapon was the bow, and he could rival Thalia pretty well with it (although she still wins every time they compete with each other) He's quiet, and nice, but not shy.

Then there was Castor, who was small and wiry, but extremely fast and agile. He used the dagger, like me, but I could still beat him. He had a witty brain, and could always make silly remarks about everything.

Last, but not least, there was Darryn, who was huge. Not huge as in fat, huge as in very muscled. He was about six foot and three inches, had large muscular arms and upper body, and his main weapon, unsurprisingly, was the broadsword. But instead of being just a decent swordsman, he was probably the best swordsman I knew, other than the gods. I had no hope in beating him. You would think, being one of the best swordsman in Greece, he would be cocky and arrogant, but he was quite the opposite. He had the softest heart. Half of his heart belonged to the animals. He loved animals. He would take in almost any animal, and was always caring for people who got hurt or were sad (unless they were bad or his enemies).

So there is a description of the three brothers on my trip. We all were very close, and nobody was uncomfortable in this small and tightly knit group.

I recalled our morning while sitting and staring at the flames of the fire that we cooked the fish on.

When we walked into Larissa, I was fascinated by all the little things, as always. I loved going into cities, and hearing the venders' cries, and the mothers looking for their children, who were messing with the guards posted about.

I walked up to one vender and started a conversation with her. She was selling beautiful fabric. She introduced herself as Farah. I told her I was just looking, and she was fine with that.

But I didn't come up to her to just ask her her name, instead, I questioned, "Do you know where we could find fish? Would it be by the docks or do you know a vender or store that would sell some?"

Farah smiled and answered, "Of course I do! There are a few fish stores down by the dock, but there is also one just up about a block from here."

She gave me directions, and I thanked her, saying it was nice to meet her.

I was walking back to my brothers/guards, who were waiting for me by the water fountain, when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I turned around to the sight of a young man, about my age. He had the typical rich snobby boy look, and I instantly disliked him, for I knew exactly what his attitude was going to be by his upturned nose, smug look, perfectly cut brown hair, arrogant eyes, and the smirk that is used to getting everything it wants.

"Yes?" I said, not coldly, but not nicely either.

He smiled at me, "Hello gorgeous, are you looking for anything? 'Cause I would love to help a pretty little thing like you. I wouldn't want any bad men hurting you, for you are hard to resist." When he was saying this, he wasn't looking at my face, instead at my body. I was wearing tight leggings and a tunic that fit my form perfectly. I glared at him.

"Thanks, but no. I'm very sure that I can defend myself," hostility tinted my voice, and the glare in my eyes should've made him back off, but he was persistent, I'll give him that.

"You may be able to defend yourself, but I still think I'm a gentleman, and gentlemen don't let the lady go by herself." He was really close to me now, and I could feel his breath on me. But I looked over his shoulder and caught something that made me smirk.

"Ah, but you see, I'm not alone," I said mischievously. He frowned, but then was yanked back and thrown into the air.

Darryn was holding the scruff of the rich boy's tunic, making the boy hang about three feet off the ground.

Darryn looked at the boy with disgust, and said, "Hello, I don't think we have met. I'm Darryn, second in command of Athena's royal guards, and winner of three War gGames. I don't know if you know me or not."

The boy's head snapped up, and he looked fearfully at Darryn. You see, Darryn is kind of like a legend in Greece. He is well known for his skills with his sword, which could rival Ares', and he made history in winning the war games three times in a row, which has never been done before.

Quick explanation of the War Games: Athena holds a War Games every year. The best demigods and sometimes the occasional mortal fighters are called in to compete if they wish to. But there are many good fighters, so only the thirty best ones are picked. To become one of the thirty, you have to pass a Test. The Tests range from fighting off three of the deadliest monsters and surviving to sitting in a room and answering a large exam full of war strategic questions. That's how you figure out which are the best warriors, not the most skilled with a sword or have the biggest brains. Out of all of those who pass, thirty warriors are picked by the gods. Those chosen warriors then go to Athena's arena and spar. Seriously. Usually it's every man for himself, but every once in a while, Athena has chosen that there are two people (usually the best two) who are captains and they make alliances with the other thirty warriors, so it is basically two mini armies fighting against each other. These Games aren't exactly safe, and many people have died. But if someone kills someone, then they are shamed by the rest of Greece citizens. Like, really shamed. It's definitely not a burden you want to carry on you back. And if the gods think that you did it on purpose, then you are put in prison for an extended period of time. But usually they are just accidents. I've always wanted to be in the War Games, but Athena would never let me, saying that it was too dangerous. I always admired the women that tried hard and trained and succeeded in being in the War Games. Most girls didn't care about that, they just cared about the latest fads and boys. But some girls actually want to be thought more of than just a bunch of "girlish" girls, if you get what I mean. I have always wanted to prove myself, and all the gods watch the War Games, so if you do well, then the gods think more highly of you, or at least notice you. And everyone wants to be noticed by gods! Wouldn't you? This year, my mother had been more lenient, and there is a chance that I might be able to try to compete this year. I was super excited, and trained as much as I could. Okay, maybe that wasn't a quick explanation... oh well.

Anyways, back to the trip to get fish. Malcolm walked over and looked at the rich boy in disgust.

Malcolm proclaimed, "I think you would be wise to stay away from our sister. We wouldn't want that pretty little face of yours to be damaged by Darryn's fists, would we now?"

Castor laughed mirthlessly, "Pretty? I see anything but pretty in that face."

I chuckled and shook my head at the three of them. Did I mention that they were extremely protective of me? Well, yeah, they were. They think that any boy that I interact with other than them and my guards and a few other exceptions are evil men that will hurt me. It was sweet of them, but sometimes it just got over the edge for me.

"Thanks, guys. Though I could've managed him by myself," I said.

Malcolm looked at me, "It didn't look like you were doing anything, unless sitting there and doing nothing, letting him get closer to you is what you call managing him. Or are you a damsel in distress waiting for her brothers in shining armor to save her?" He said sarcastically, acting out a damsel. I was not a no good for nothing damsel who can't even defend herself.

I scowled at him, then walked over to the arrogant boy hanging in Darryn's grip, and kicked him up his crotch. The boy grunted and Darryn let him go, and Mr. Rich and Snobby rolled around on the ground holding his damaged... areas.

Malcolm looked at the boy for a second, shrugged, then turned to me and grinned, "That'll do it." I smiled back at him, then looked over to Castor who was laughing his head off, and Darryn who was shaking his head.

"Come on boys, lets go get dinner."

It had been an interesting morning, to say the least.

Now everyone was by the fire, and all our horses were tied up or eating. Thalia looked at me staring into the fire.

"Whatcha thinking about?" She asked, spewing food from her full mouth. I looked at her in distaste.

"You could finish the food in your mouth, Thals." I said, criticizing her manners. She grinned in return and swallowed.

"Oh yes, your majesty. Now, am I worthy enough to ask what your great mind is thinking about, or is my presence too much of a filth and commoner presence to be in your majestic highnessness?" She said sarcastically.

I laughed at her, "'Highnessness' is a word that I am presuming is in your personal dictionary, because it is definitely not in the human language."

She wiggled her eyebrows, then asked me again what I was thinking about.

"Just thinking about this morning."

Apparently Castor had been listening to our conversation, for he started to chuckle, then said, "Annabeth can definitely pack one hell of a kick!"

Malcolm laughed along with Castor and stated, "She definitely showed me. That snobby little rat was rolling everywhere on the ground, holding his privates like he would hold a bag of drachmas." That sent up another round of laughter from Castor.

Thalia wrinkled her nose in disgust, "That is one image I did not need in my brain."

"You have a brain?" Castor said in fake surprise.

Thalia snarled and started to chase him, while Castor ran away faster than I thought he could. My brother must be really brave, because it was not delightful, what Thalia does to her victims.

That night I fell asleep to the sight of a glowering Castor hanging upside down from a tree with rope, with no clothes but his undergarments on, and Thalia smirking at him, using his covers for extra warmth (it was really cold) and his pillow as extra cushion.

I love my friends. That was my last thought before drifting off to a dreamless sleep.

Please review! I'll update as soon as I can! Probably in the next two days or so, there'll be another chapter! Love you guys!