Thalia was getting bored. Who new being lookout could be so boring. Thalia sat there until she heard a rustling coming from outside the tent. She quickly turned over to check Luke's sleeping form. He seemed okay. Nothing out of the ordinary. Thalia quickly and quietly made her way out of the tent to check on the noise. For all, she knew she and Luke could be in serious trouble. She stood in front of the exit of the tent. That's when she saw it.
A lion but it wasn't. it had wigs and the face of a man. What was this creature? Thalia crouched down to the ground and went on all fours. she crawled halfway into the tent entries and pulled out the first weapon she felt for. luckily her watch/shield was still on her wrist. she crawled back out weapons in hand. the manticore looked right over at her and charged. Thalia moved out of the tents way and ran the lion man thing followed. Thalia tapped the screen on her watch twice and watched it expand Into the Shield. she turned and shoved the shield in the beast face. The lion stumbled back into a tree. Thalia raised her sword above her head and shoved it down into the lion's head. the monster turned to dust. Thalia stood there for a moment to catch her breath.
Just then She felt a hand on her shoulder. The hand-turned her around and then a fist was brought up to punch her in the face.
When Thalia Came too she was tied up to a tree with a silver rope. She blinked her eyes a few times to get them to focus on what was ahead of her. Just a few feet away was a camp full of silver tents and a campfire set directly in the middle of the circle. There were at least twenty girls. all looked to be 13-20 years of age. The girls were also wearing silver jackets over there and combat boots. Each one of them had a bow and a bag of arrows. Some were using the trees as target practice while others were sharping the blades on their arrows. There were two girls at the fire cooking and everyone else just seemed to be relaxing.
Thalia tried to call out to them, but she noticed That her mouth was gagged. She tried to call out the best she could. "mmmph, mmPPPHHHH" was the only sound she could make around the gag. Thalia's voice got louder and louder as she tried to gain the girls' attention.
Lucky one of the girls noticed Thalia screaming and struggling to get out. The girl went up to another girl and pointed back at Thalia. That girl glanced over and smiled. They then proceeded to walk over to where Thalia was still tied up. The two girls Untied Thaila and took out the gag from her mouth.
Thalia stood straight up almost bumping her head against one of the other girl's chin.
"What the actual fu-" Thalia started to say.
"I would refrain from saying such nonsense words. our mistress would not like hearing thy speak like that." the Taller of the two girls said.
"Misstress- you a slave or something," Thalia said back.
The shorter of the two looked at the taller girl "Pheobe I suggest you leave. I'll speak to the girls on my own."
"Yes, Zoe. Pheobe replied."
Pheobe walked away, back to the camp leaving Zoe and Thalia by them selfs.
"To answer thy's question we are not slaves. We are Artimese hunters."
'Oh, you guys work for a goddess."
"That we do. and I am her lieutenant. My name is Zoe Nightshade and your name"
"Thalia"
"No last name"
I don't use it anymore.
"well, Thalia what happen to the manticore. you see we were trying to hunt it but when showed off the trial ended with you."
"is that the lion looking thing." Zoe nodded her head.
"Oh, I killed it," Thalia said with a sheepish expression.
"You killed it"
"Ya"
"We have been chasing that beast for months yet you killed it in one go. you have a lot of talent."
"Thanks, I guess"
"Would you like to join the hunt."
"Just like that," Thalia asked
"Just like that," Zoe replied.
"I don't know. I have a friend. I would hate to leave him behind."
"I think you would be better without him. Boys are useless anyway."
"Luke isn't useless"
"he may have not shown his uselessness yet but sooner or later he will break your heart. All men are the same."
"Not true women can be just as horrible as men and just as good. get you hed out of your eyes. you're no better than the people you put down."
"I would watch your tongue before thy lady her self decides to strike you down. The hunters are sisters you will learn from us. Join us thalia. we will be the best."
"I don't care about you or your stupid hunter's nightshade, now you and your little team off hunters can get out of my face."
Just then Thalia noticed another presence nest to her. from the corner of her eyes, she saw Luke standing there not quite sure what to do.
"what's going on," he asked
"it nothing Luke we should pack up and move in towards the city. we might have a better chance of surviving there than here anyway."
"oh, sure whatever floats yo-." Luke got cut off.
Zoe cut Luke off. " is this why you won't join us, Tahlia. cause of this, this boy." She said with disgust on her face.
"This "boy" Just so happens to be my friend so yes. I don't care if you think I have some special skills or not I'm not joining your girl group, Zoe."
"You will come to regret this decision one day Thalia."
"I don't care. I'm not abounding a friend."
Thalia was furious. was Zoe even listening to what she was saying the whole time? She forgot that they were talking about Luke in the first place. it was disgusting.
Thalia grabbed Luke's wrist and dragged him back to the camp they were staying at.
"What was that all about?" Luke asked
"Nothing much. I just killed a monster I was fighting and this group of girls that called themselves the hunters of Artemis showed up. said I had talent and they could teach me more. I thought it sounded good at first but then they were trying to get me to leave you behind. The leader, Zoe Nightshade and I got into it."
"You know I wouldn't care if you said yes right if that's what you wanted I would have let you go." Luke said.
But Thalia didn't want to leave and she needed to let him know.
"I didn't want to leave though Luke. The way they talk about men just rubs me the wrong way. Ya, I hade a bad experience with men. I mean my so-called dad left me, but then again women can be just as bad as men, and I say that from experience. they think their fighting for something right but there just clouded with ignorance. and plus I care about you."
Thalia looked at Luke straight in the eyes and smiled.
Luke smiled back. A blush grew on both of their cheeks.
"I care about you too Thalia."
Thalia couldn't feel happier.
Thalia and Luke have been walking for quite some time now. It was The afternoon. Probably around Five if Thalia had any say in it. The whole time both of them were walking, fighting monsters, Fixing up injures or getting a bit of food into there systems. Not to mention the naps.
All Thalia could hope for is a nice place to stay for the night. Preferably to a place without any hunters or Manticores.
It was getting dark and Thalia and Luke still haven't found a place to stay the night. Their legs began to wobble and the adrenaline in their bodies began to leave. However, they quickly gained it back after hearing a scream coming from a nearby cave.
"LET ME GO, LET ME GO AHHHHH!"
thalia's eyes widened at the sound. it was the voice of a little girl. Thalia and Luke both looked at each other and gave each other a quick nod. they ran into the. Inside they found the girl they heard screaming hitting a cyclops in the foot with a hammer. Thalia and Luke quickly went into action. Thalia called out to the beast to distract it while luke went to go attack it from behind. Thalia opened up her shield and Luke took out his sword and impaled it into the Beast huge leg.
The little girl fell to her knees next to the ash of the cyclops that was about to fade away. Luke walked over and kneeled down next to her. Thalia came over and stood behind Luke.
"Hey," Luke said in a soft voice.
The little girl looked up. Thaila had to admit the girl was very cute. she had honey blonde hair that framed her face and a few. Her cheeks were still chubby with baby fat and her eyes were gorgeous. they look to be storm grey and clashed with the rest of her in the most beautiful way. Overall this girl was adorable and young so very young.
Hi, the girl said back, umm thank you for helping me she said in a small voice.
"Do you think we can get your name?" that question seemed to freak out the girl so thalia stepped in and decided to introduce her self first.
"My name is Thalia and this is Luke, you don't have to worry we are like you."
how can I trust you. just cause you saved me from the cyclops doesn't mean I should trust you.
"Your right but if we really were bad guy we wouldn't we have just left you."
"I guess. my name Annabeth chase."
"Hi, Annabeth," how old are you Luke asked.
"I'm seven."
Thalia realized that this girl was a year older than the age Jason would have been. this girl really was just a baby. why was she out her fighting monsters?
"Annabeth, why are you out by your self." Thalia asked
"Cause daddy doesn't want me anymore and Helen is mean. They never believe when I'm in trouble. they don't care about me. Helen especially. so I ran away." Annabeth said tears starting to form in her eyes. Suddenly Thalia was very glad that she didn't stay with the hunters. they could take their women are better then men bullshit and shove up their asses.
"We had to run away to," Luke told her.
"really."
"ya. you can join us. he continued to say."
He then reached back into his bag and pulled out a bronze dagger.
"Here take this. its celestial bronze and can protect you from the monsters way better than that hammer can. Not to mention you have me and Thalia as well. we will protect."
Annabeth took it into from Luke and looked at it.
She then put the dagger down on the ground and rushed into Luke's arms murmuring thank you after thank you. Luke softly patted her back.
Thalia was glad she didn't join the hunters
