Time seemed to stand still after Thalia killed Thorn. Hunters and demigods stared at each other trying to piece together the events that took place. It was almost peaceful with the soft fall of the snow and the cold breeze in the trees. That deafening silence of winter months in Maine.

Almost. "Who's up for dinner?" Bruce broke the silence instantly gaining the attention of 40 loaded bows.

"Be silent boy." was the response of one of the older hunters. She had straight black hair and brownish red eyes.

"Hey, you don't tell him to be quiet. Who do you think you are?" retaliated Annabeth from next to the kids.

"What's a matter boy? Can't fight your own battles?" another hunter piped up that looked around Annabeth's age.

"Why don't you come and find out." was Bruce's response. The whole thing began to escalate with weapons being brandished and pointed while Thalia just looked on next to Grover. They turned to each other and just shrugged.

Grover leaned over," 2 drachmas on Annabeth." Thalia chuckled before returning to her search for the goddess. He eyes rested on a auburn haired 12 year old tending to the girl that was knocked unconscious.

"Stay with the kids Grover." Thalia walked to the girl. When she reached her she planted her spear and kneeled." Milady?"

Silver eyes snapped to attention."You are observant demigod. What is your name?"

"Thalia, milady."

The goddess nodded," I am Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Oh and this is Zoe, don't mind her." she said pointing to the still unconscious girl.

Thalia smirked at the goddess's joke." I think we should calm the storm over there." she said referring to the argument that was about to get bloody judging by the storm clouds and weapons.

The goddess nodded walking towards her hunters. " Silence girls." she said at a normal level. That was all it took to quiet the loyal hunters.

"That right listen to your master litt—." The butt of Thalia's spear cut Bruce off as it cracked the back of his head, " Ow! What the heck Thalia!"

"I'm trying to save your life!" she indicated the goddess. Making the demigods eyes widen before he hurriedly bowed.

"Forgive me Milady."

"You're lucky your friend is smart or you would be a jackelope right now boy." she sneered. Bruce whitened before retreating behind Thalia.

"Excuse me" Bianca spoke up for the first time, "what the hell is going on?!". She was met with sympathetic gazes. They had all been through some form of what she was going through.

Artemis took charge," You are demigods, one of your parents is an Olympian.". Very blunt.

"Like an athlete?" asked little Nico.

"No, like a god or goddess." said Annabeth.

"Sweet!" said Nico " Does Zeus really do 600 damage? Does he get extra points for his element?!"

"Ergh, come again?" Annabeth was confused.

Bianca looked at her brother, "Nico! This isn't one of your mythomagic games! This is serious. You saw her fighting that that... what was that thing?"

"Manticore, monster from the east. Not usually out and about like he was." that was Artemis.

Bianca shook her head, "You see, we even get monsters that aren't supposed to be around!"

Thalia snorted behind her, "If only that was my only problem." She thought.

"Regardless of your luck, your safe now and we need to get a camp set up." Artemis said.' Girls set up camp and tend to Zoe. Bianca, may I speak with you?" Bianca nodded and followed the goddess.

"Watch yourself boy." sneered the senior hunter as she walked off to complete her tasks.

"Come on guys, let's set up camp." said Thalia as she led the campers over to the side of the clearing. One of the hunters brought their bags over from Westover,

"Nico sat down on the log next to Thalia," So Thalia, you're a demigod too?"

"Yep." she said popping the p.

"Who's your godly parent?"

Thalia looked at the wood she had gathered in front of her and snapped her fingers. A fire erupted from the kindling. She turned back to the awe struck Nico, " I've been told Hecate." she said.

"Wow! That's so cool! So you can do magic? Have you ever met your mom? Can you disappear? Can you fly?"

"Wo wo, slow down there Nico." she said chuckling. She looked around there group and everyone was trying not to laugh to hard. "Yes, yes, yes, no that's Bruce's department."

"Oh. Is Bruce your boyfriend?" everyone lost it at that except Bruce who was blushing furiously.

Thalia laughed, " No, I'm to old for Bruce. That's more Annabeth's thing." Grover fell of the log laughing and Thalia wasn't far off. But both Bruce and Annabeth were beet red.

" Thals!" they both complained.

"Sorry guys, I couldn't resist it." she said laughing." Wow I haven't laughed like that in a while. Who's hungry?" she asked as she rummaged in her packs for the doritos she stashed there.

"Lady Artemis requests the presence of the demigod Thalia." A young hunter had approached while the group was laughing.

Thalia rose, "I'll be right back guys." She followed the hunter to the center of the tents. As she walked she began memorizing the layout like she had been taught in her training. The hunters had begun feeding the wolves they kept with them and Thalia noticed the hawks in the sky keeping watch. They walked to the center of the encampment till they got to a tent that was slightly bigger than the rest.

"Wait here." the huntress commanded before walking in and returning a couple second later. "You may enter." before leaving.

Thalia entered the tent to a sight that would give an animal rights activist a heart attack. Skins decorated the walls of every species from rabbit to tiger. In the center of the tent sat the goddess and Bianca.

The goddess' eyes met Thalia's," Agh Thalia join us please." she pointed to a skin next to her which Thalia took." I was just discussing the events with Bianca, but I would like to hear from you."

As Thalia explained things from her point of view the goddess listened intently. Her unwavering gaze analyzed the demigod. To her something seemed off about this young lady. To start of the power radiating from the half-blood in front of her was unbelievably strong. Even as a daughter of Hecate, whom starting existence as a Titan is powerful in her own right, she shouldn't be this powerful. It was like a dormant nuclear weapon, ready to unleash destruction but not yet called upon.

"— then you guys showed up and you know what happened after that." Finished Thalia.

Artemis narrowed her eyes at that. How could she have known when her hunt had arrived? She shook it off as a perk of her heritage. "This news of a great stirring is troubling for sure. If ancient monsters are being awaken from Tartarus then the future is indeed dark. But this is a topic for another time." she said turning to Bianca," Have you considered my offer?"

"What offer?" asked Thalia.

"Lady Artemis has offered me a place in the hunt."

"To serve me eternally as an immortal maiden. My sister in arms." finished Artemis.

"You can't be serious?" Thalia turned to Bianca." What about camp? What about your brother?"

"The boy will have to attend camp. That is the best boys can do." replied Artemis.

Thalia tried to come up with something to say, but she didn't know how to even phrase the words needed for her argument.

"Right then, Bianca, repeat after me. I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis..."

Bianca repeated the oath that Artemis recited and when she finished a silver aura surrounded her.

"Welcome to the hunt." greeted Artemis as she embraced Bianca. "Now go and tell Phoebe what happened and tell her to have the camp ready to move by dawn."

Bianca for her part just looked a little shocked that she was immortal but still managed to nod and walk out the tent.

"So do we go free or is there something else?" asked Thalia.

"No I think that's everything. Pack your things by dawn and I will arrange transportation from my brother."

"Your brother? Apollo?"

"Yes that idiot. Go now, return to your companions. I have to check on my lieutenant." She said ushering the demigod out. As Thalia got to the opening a body slammed into her. Thalia was able to regain her footing but the hunter wasn't so lucky as she tumbled to the ground.

She popped back up off the ground and looked for the goddess urgently." Milady! Zoe is gone!"

"Gone! What do you mean gone!?" exclaimed the goddess.

"As in gone! Her tent was empty and Shannon was standing watch the entire time! We searched the camp, no attack, no traps, no clues. Nothing."

Artemis looked extremely...pissed, distressed, worried. All at once. "Have the hunt ready to go at dawn. You're joining the campers on their trip to Camp Half-Blood."

"But milady! Where are you going?"

Artemis looked at Thalia, "Hunting."