Alec POV

Alec watched as his mother gave him a slight sad smile. She seemed mournful and saddened by his choice, but she said nothing and just cupped his face in her hands and stared at him directly in the eye. It was then that she finally spoke, "Is this your choice or hath someone made it for you?"

Alec shook his head and said, "It is my choice, mother. Will you let me go?"

Artemis gave a sad nod and said, "Yes Alec, I will let you go with the demigods. I give you my blessing may you and your new friends find a easy road to Camp Half-Blood."

Alec dipped his head to his mother and turned away toward the place were Annabeth, Luke, and Thalia had settled. He was already beginning to make plans for the route they would take to Camp Half-Blood. Mentally Alex also began to make plans of his own for the both of them. When he arrived back to the place were the three demigods were resting he sat next to Luke as the blonde looked up at him and asked, "So are you coming with us? Did your mother say it was alright?"

Alec tilted his head and nodded, "Yes. We need to leave soon. Before the sun rises is the proper time. We certainly don't want my mother to turn you into a jackalope."

Luke chuckled at that and smiled at his new friend, "Yes well, I suppose we need to get moving now. You wake Thalia, I'll wake Annabeth."

Alec dipped his head and moved over to were Thalia slept, "Thalia, wake up. We need to move on."

Thalia woke up and shook her head before nodding her head to Alec. Then Alec hurried to his own tent to gather up his own things. He quickly pushed several articles of clothing in the bag and closed the bag before tossing his bow over his shoulder and pulling on his quiver of arrows. Then he put his knives and their shieves onto his belt before turning to leave the tent. As he left the tent he ran into Zoe. He hesitated and shifted for a moment before speaking, "Zoe, I..."

Zoe held up a hand to stop him from speaking, "Alec, I am sorry. I shouldn't have said such things. Things that are not true in any way shape or form. Please forgive me for my cruel words."

Alec stared at her for a moment before saying, "You are already forgiven, Zoe. How can I hold such things against you? You have always been my favorite sister and I have no wish to leave you in anger. And so I will give the proper goodbye. After all we will see each other again, will we not?"

Zoe smiled and reached up and hugged him, "I hope that thou are right Alec."

Alec grinned and released Zoe giving her his signature warm smile before turning away. Zoe spoke again and said, "And tell Thalia that the offer still stands."

Alec nodded his head and said quietly, "I will."

He moved back to were the others were waiting for him before glancing around one more time and disappearing into the woods with his new friends.

Jace POV

Jace sank down on Magnus's couch as Isabelle moved to the kitchen to speak more privatly with Magnus and Clary sat down next to him. They sat there for a very long time in silence before Clary said, "Jace, Alec must have his reasons for doing this. You just have to believe that he will return one day."

Jace sighed and said, "I do Clary. I just miss him."

Then Jace's eyes turned toward the window and stared out of it for a long time.