Dec. 21

Dear diary,

I am sorry for not writing earlier, but I will give you the highlights. On some days, when several groups of hunters met, we would have competitions or games (I wasn't allowed to compete in swimming), and Rachel almost won the archery competition against a daughter of Athena named Emma. I found out that Artemis was with the Hunters only part of the time, and was often on 'other business', which no one knew about.

On other occasions, we would practice shooting techniques and codes, such as 'formation Alpha' where everyone aimed their bows at the same angle and direction, or 'defence plan Thessalonica' in which you tried to 'rain arrows' down on the enemy. There are many others, but I will not be listing them in case this diary falls into the wrong hands.

So, back to today's happenings. If you didn't know, today was the winter solstice, so all of us Hunters joined up, and took a break from tracking that stupid fox. We had a hand-to-hand combat and archery tournament (I got second place to Thalia in hand-to-hand combat) then practiced tumbling and flips for fun, and because it's sometimes needed in combat. Awesome.

It ended when Artemis came down from Olympus with news. She beckoned to Thalia and the two entered Artemis' tent. Everyone was deathly still. A minute later, Thalia poked her head out of the tent and called for Sidney, Jasmine, and Julianna to join them. If there was tension before, everyone was so much more so, and I felt I could cut it with a knife.

After what felt like days later, the five emerged from the tent. Immediately, voices exploded, questions flying through the air. What happened? Don't tell me there's another war! What are we doing now? A thunderclap sounded, apparently from Thalia who is the daughter of the god of thunder after all, and everyone stopped talking, because no one wants to see Thalia mad at you.

"Hunters!" Artemis said, her voice rolling over the camp. "Apollo is to be cast to earth as a mortal in just a few weeks, and I have been forbidden from communicating with you for that time. However, if somehow, by chance, of course, you happened to meet him, and helped him like any other demigod…" she smiled slyly. "That would be very welcome help. On another note, who would like to challenge these three?" she gestured at Julianna, Sidney, and Jasmine. Rachel had told me that the three 'best' positions could only be challenged during the summer and winter solstice

"I'll be going," Rachel whispered in my ear.

"Well, good luck!" what I didn't tell her was that Thalia and I were going to have a show of powers in honor of Bianca di Angelo and Zoë Nightshade-the two who had died rescuing Artemis from Atlas- and all the other Hunters that perished defending Manhattan, and in the Giant War, namely against Orion.

"Tonight I have released a rabbit into these woods," Artemis announced, Thalia on her right, as Lieutenant, her silver circlet gleaming in the moonlight, and three silver badges on a fur-covered stand on her left. "And as always, we will start with tracking. Our defender is Sidney, and challengers are Katherine, and Rachel. You know the rules. First to find and capture the rabbit wins the title. No tricks or magical objects are allowed, just use your skill. Ready, go!" and the three were off, disappearing into the trees and undergrowth.

An hour or so later, someone was sighted running toward us. It was Madison, cradling a small, white rabbit with silver eyes. Moments later, Rachel ran into the camp, followed closely by Sidney.

"Well done," Sidney said coldly.

"Good job, Sidney, Rachel," Madison nodded, with equal coldness.

"Back at ya," Rachel walked back to where Julianna and I were standing, watching Artemis hand Madison the badge.

"Better luck next time," I said, trying to cheer her up.

"Yes. You are a relatively new Hunter. Got to go!" Julianna jogged off for the healing competition.

After those two remaining competitions-Healing and Running, both of which were won by their defenders, I met Thalia a little ways away from the camp.

"Ready?" she asked

"Sure. Never did anything like this before though. I'll probably be out for a week after this show," I grinned, flexing my fingers and feeling a small, familiar tug in my gut.

"Same. Well, here we go!" I whistled, and Milky Way and Guido landed in front of us. Thalia got on Guido, and I on Milky. We took off, hovering above a lake, and Thalia made a small storm cloud in between the two of us. I willed the rain to form words.

In honor of Zoë Nightshade and Bianca di Angelo who died rescuing Lady Artemis from the Titan Atlas

Also in the memory of all of our sisters who perished in the Battle of Manhattan and in the Giant War

Thalia's storm cloud broke, disappearing along with my words. I summoned water from the lake, forming the face of Bianca di Angelo. Thalia manipulated the sound waves, and Bianca di Angelo's last words were heard in her voice; "If anything happens, give that to Nico. Tell him... tell him I'm sorry." I looked over a Thalia. She was crying silently, silvery tears falling from her face.

"I should have gone," she murmured. "She was so young… only twelve."

I gulped, swallowing tears of my own. "Ready?"

Thalia nodded. "Ready."

I slowly formed the lake water from Bianca's face into Zoë Nightshade's, while her voice sounded and resounded through the still night air. "Stars. I can see the stars again, my lady." I almost fell off Milky Way right there. Even though I'd hadn't gone on that quest myself, I was there at Camp when the Hunters were there. And I remembered saying some harsh things to Zoë, and now, I too was a Hunter. And we could have been sisters.

I took several deep breaths, trying to regain my balance and finish the performance. I locked eyes with Thalia's own pained ones, and we nodded in unison. Together, we formed a small storm, but instead of rain, words of water fell, the names of all of the fallen Hunters in the Titan and Giant war.

In remembrance of

Phoebe

Celyn

Naomi

Skye

Emma

Olivia

Ava

Isabella

Sophia

The list went on, punctuated by the occasional outburst of emotion from below us. Finally, the list ended, and I promptly collapsed onto my pegasus' back. Whoa there, boss. Milky Way adjusted so that I wouldn't fall off of her.

"Ugh. Never tried to use that much power at once," I groaned, clutching her mane. On my right, Thalia wiped a tear from her cheek, looking physically and emotionally drained. I managed to sit up as we landed, vaguely noticing the tears falling freely from many of my sisters' faces, thanking Thalia and I for the show.

I stumbled to my sleeping bag and promptly collapsed, passing out completely for forty-eight hours.