Thalia POV

" My lady, is it absolutely necessary that we go to Camp? You know that we can take care of ourselves. " I knew how much the Hunters hated Camp Half-Blood. Even though I had lived there for years. As a tree, but still. And the Hunters were perfectly capable.

" I do not have much time. I must get you somewhere safe before I become torn between myself again. " Artemis replied. Why isn't she looking at me while she is talking to me? Why is she rushing so much?

" Zeus has chosen me, Athena, and Ares to be relocated to a haven on Olympus that would save us from being torn between our Greek and Roman halves. My time as Artemis will run out soon. The other gods have had to take care of themselves. My brother has sought peace in a place very sacred to both of us, but I won't have to. "

She turned to me as we entered a clearing. We weren't that far from Half-blood Hill.

" Zeus can't find out that I am here. "

Perfect. He probably will, now that she's said it.

Right on cue, thunder rumbled.

" Dammit. " I said.

Yup. That's Daddy. He's such a pain.

Damn you, Thalia! Never say that about a god!

Artemis gazed up at the moon. Clouds sought to cover it up, but her gaze kept it aglow.

Not blinking, she whispered: " Father, I will not abandon them. "

The clouds dissipated. I knew what that meant. 15 minutes.

We passed the clearing, now entering a more forested area. There were trees as far as I could see, their branches covering most of my vision. A couple yards in, I heard one of the Hunters gasp.

I turned around. It was Angel. The resident princess. She was 'too pretty to walk through mud, but had some of the finest swordsmanship I had ever seen. I sprinted over there.

There were 2 bodies. Bodies? Wait, are they dead? No, they're breathing. 2 girls, about 13.

It took me a second to realize it, but they were identical. Twins. They were gorgeous. Their hair was the most striking. Dark brown, but at some angles, golden.

It reminded me of someone else who had the same hair, but I couldn't remember who. Their clothes were charred, and they smelled of smoke. One of them had a deep gash on their left arm. The blood had created a small pool around her. Whatever had made that cut, must have gone deep enough to hit bone. Who would want to hurt 2 little girls?! Probably attempted to burn them alive. No wonder they passed out. They probably aren't even demigods. But what are they doing here, so close to camp?

A bunch of hunters had started to surround them, until Artemis herself came. I looked up at her, and saw her eyes widening in shock.

She knows them. But she didn't expect them to be here.

Isla, behind me, was the first to break the silence. " Should we - I mean, we should help them. Artemis, my lady, we should help them. "

" Um, uh, yes! Phoebe, Clare, and Elly, go set up camp in the clearing we just passed. "

They nodded and ran off. The others glanced at Artemis, unsure of what to do themselves.

" Everyone. She meant everyone. " I clarified.

They rushed off to help the hunters that had just left.

" Artemis, my lady, why do you seem so… "

" Disturbed? Follow me, we will converse somewhere more private. "

" More private than in the middle of nowhere? "

She sighed and nodded, clearly too ' disturbed ' as she had put it, to fight my sarcasm. When we were somewhere ' more private ' she started talking as if the words were just spilling out of her, in a way that I thought she was throwing up.

That's disgusting, Thalia.

I actually almost thought she was scared.

" Thalia, my loyal lieutenant, what I am about to ask of you, will be the hardest thing you will ever do. No, I am not giving you a choice. You have to protect them. " Them. The 2 girls. " Even if you have to lay down your own life to do so. You will keep them from harm at all costs. Even if they tell you they will be fine, if they are in danger in any way, even if they come back unscathed, I will kill you. I will take your life so fiercely from you that you will beg me to kill everyone you love to simply spare yourself the pain. And Hades would be happy to inflict any punishments I like on you in the Underworld. Zeus will pay you no mind. Do you understand me? You must protect them. At all costs. " I nodded, confused and terrified. She knows them. And they're in danger. They have already been attacked by something. But what? She wants me to fight whatever monstrosity would attack two harmless kids!

" They… They aren't normal. Their mother has not been made a goddess yet. Thalia, they are from the future. "

You have got to be joking. Thalia, do NOT say that out loud. The future? Has she gone mad? Not been made a goddess yet? So, in the future, their mom will become a goddess and these two girls are her children. From the future. Yeah, right.

" I know you doubt me, but that is something their mother could do. She sent them here."

" How do you know this? It's the future! "

" Gods have ways other than prophecies to see what will happen. Ways that are clearer. We know almost exactly what will happen. "

I raised my eyebrow. " Almost? "

" That depends on how much our source chooses to share. You know that the gods all heard the Oracle's last great prophecy. But somehow, we knew that Luke was the hero. That is why Hermes kept his distance. To drive Luke to Kronos. We can meddle far more than demigods think we can. And we knew that, through a different source."

Why does she have to act so mysterious?

" They must have set up by now, let's go. '' She said as she raced through the trees. I stayed behind for a moment. I heard her feet crushing the leaves. Skrish - skkrch. The sound faded. The moonlight shone on my face. I let out a breath I had no idea I had been holding. There was always something new happening with Artemis. I smiled. I would never get tired of this job.