Author note: Alright guys I know I already put this chapter up but I redid it because I wasn't satisfied with it ending so quickly and it was missing some important stuff so I decide to post it again. Enjoy.
Zoe had never shadow traveled before and she certainly would not be doing it again if she had any say in it. Screams of terror, high speeds, and a nauseous stomach made that decision for her. She was already freaked out as it was. All she remembered was being knocked out before she could shoot the manticore then waking up in her tent in the hunt when an intimidatingly huge man in a half mask covering his mouth appeared from the shadows and grabbed her. Leading to her new predicament being held over the shoulder by said male, shadow traveling to gods knows where and really wanting to beat the living crap out this guy for touching her.
Eventually the solid darkness cleared unto the natural moonlight. Her captor unslung her and set her on the ground softly to her appreciation. As much as she was thankful for not being thrown to the ground she still wished to beat the seven shades of crap out of him and hopped to her feat, having not been bound, and lunged at the hulking man. What she did not count on was that he was expecting the attack and merely swept his muscled arm into her oncoming punch and redirected it spinning her around.
"Resistance would be pointless huntress." He said matter of factly. His voice sounded pained and you could just barely hear his breathing behind the mask/apparatus.
aShe growled before advancing again moving more carefully to make sure her punches landed. But the man dodged and redirected everything she threw at him before he seamed to get bored and swept her feet out from under her and standing over her.
"You will have to do better than that huntress."he taunted in his matter of fact voice again.
She screamed in rage before advancing with lightening speed putting everything she had into her assault. This time the man did not dodge or redirect. He stood there and took everything she threw at him. Hooks and haymakers landed on the heavily muscled body without a reaction. She kept up her attacks until she began to slow down in exhaustion. That is when the man made his first and only attack. In a lightning swift motion he grabbed her throat and choke slammed her to the ground where she landed hard, knocking the wind out of her and giving her a concussion that almost made her slip into unconsciousness.
Zoe laid there, defeated at the hands of this beast of a man as he observed her. She lay there, thinking of her predicament and how to escape. Brute force was out of the question. This guy acted like he didn't even feel pain. She would need her wits to escape this place. But where was here?
She looked up at the man who stood almost silently over her, with the exception of the labored breathing through the mask. "Where have thee taken me scum?"
He raised his eyebrow at her," You have yet to deduce your predicament? It is a wonder since this is where you were born."
"What are thee talki—" she was cut off by the smell of eucalyptus as it hit her full force. "No, it cannot be, anywhere but here!" she crawled to the edge of the plateau with the man in tow to look out over the garden of the Hesperides. After thousands of years, she had returned, and she was not happy.
"Aww my favorite daughter." came a sarcastic, venom laced voice from behind her. She paled, turning to meet the eyes of her father. The general of the Titan armies, Atlas: Titan of endurance.
"Hello Zoë." He said with a cruel smile. "I trust she wasn't to much trouble Perseus."
"She made a valiant effort. She is your daughter after all."
"Yes, unfortunately so. Did Thorn make it back alive?" Inquired the General.
"No, Thalia killed him before he could make his escape. Poetic Justice if I do say so myself. I am sure he will be quite angry when he escapes Tartarus."
"No matter, it is a small matter." he replied as he advanced on her, crouching down to the defeated huntress. " I do believe it's time for some daddy to daughter time. What do you think daughter?"
The huntress bit at her father, almost taking off his finger. The Titan withdrew his hand quickly.
"I see your manners have not improved, no matter, that will be rectified soon." he said evilly. "I have something special planned for you and your mistress."
Zoë's eyes widened in realization, as her father grabbed her by her hair and dragged her up the mountain with Perseus following at a distance.
The trip to Camp Half-blood was memorable to say the least. Though Thalia wished it had never happened. Apollo thought it would be a great idea to let Bruce drive. Zeus' kid, Apollo's half brother, flying sun chariot. What could possibly go wrong? Well said child of Zeus could have a mortal fear of heights. And that's exactly what made the bus ride from hell happen. After burning half of Boston and freezing most of Massachusetts they were coming in hot on Camp Half-Blood. Literally.
Apollo next to Bruce trying to coach him "Alright. Just even it up, nice and easy, less pressure on the pedal. Slow down. Slow down. SLOW DOWN!"
"I'VE GOT IT!" Bruce exclaimed. He soooo didn't have it. We skidded onto the canoe lake, evaporating the water and slowing us down as we turned sideways and skidding to a stop just before hitting the strawberry fields.
Everyone peeled there faces off of the seats in front of them, and moans filled the bus.
"Well that wasn't so bad!" Apollo said cheerily, "Let's go see if we burned anyone important."
All passengers filed out, most if the hunters shooting Bruce death glares for trying to kill them.
Phoebe actually looked like she might do something but one look at Thalia and she thought better of it. Thalia was the last get out cracking a smile at Bruce, "Nice flying Ace."
Color started to return to Bruce's pale face as he laughed, "Thanks Thals."
When Thalia stepped out Chiron was already cantering up to Apollo. "Milord Apollo, to what to we owe this unexpected... pleasure?" he asked looking at the destruction that we would have to repair.
"The sis wanted me to drop off the hunters and these campers to you. She had some personal matters to attend to."
Chiron nodded his understanding," You have our gratitude for returning our campers safely then."
"No problem C. I should be going now though, the sun never stops shining." he said as he pointed his keys at the sun chariot and it transformed back to the Maserati.
He turned to Bruce, "Nice flying bro, good luck with the quest and all." he said leaving Bruce confused. What quest?
"Phoebs." Apollo said giving her a wink to which she scowled at. Then he turned to Thalia and his face darkened.
"Hmmm, I wonder what you'll choose." he said leaving her defensive and confused. Does he know?
And with that string of utterly confusing lines Apollo got into the chariot and revved the engine before rolling down the window, " I just thought of a haiku!"
"NO!" screamed the huntresses as they brought out their bows and fired at the chariot. Apollo screamed and rolled up the window before gunning the engine and burning out of the camp into the air heading east.
Chiron turned to Thalia, Bruce, and Annabeth, "Meet me in the big house in 10 minutes children. I want to know what happened up in Maine." he said before trotting to the Big House.
"Nice to see you students! Oh hi Chiron, it's nice to be back. How was the trip? Oh it was amazing! We almost died, saved some lives, the hunters showed up. It was a wonderful tea party!" Thalia imitated a conversation in Chiron's voice. "Great talk Chiron. I feel the love." she rolled her eyes and turned to Nico." Come on Cuz, orientation awaits!" she said dragging Nico along to the Big House with Annabeth and Bruce following.
When they got to the House Annabeth took Nico to the orientation room to start the video and Bruce and Thalia headed to the Camp Directors office. Inside Mr. D and Chiron were waiting for the debrief. They waited for Annabeth to come back in before they recounted their story. Starting from when they exited Ms. Tate's car and ending when they exited Apollos sunmobile.
"That's quite an errand you ran there Terra." Mr. D commented from behind his wine magazine. He always got her name wrong on purpose.
"I wouldn't call it an errand so much as a skirmish." said Chiron, "This news of the great stirring has me worried as well. We should be on guard for attacks of any kind. Tough times are coming. But for now we should give the campers something to look forward too. Let everyone know that we'll be having a special capture the flag friday night in honor of the hunters staying at the camp."
Thalia was about to complain about him getting rid of them before they asked questions when Nico burst through the door.
"Wow your Chiron!? Like THE Chiron! Trainer of heroes! That's soooo cool!" He buzzed with excitement.
Chiron smiled down at him, " Why yes I am—"
"And you're the wine dude!" he exclaimed turning his attention to Dionysus.
"Wine dude?" he asked incredulously
"Yeah, Dionysus! You're like my favorite mythomagic character. Everyone thinks your lame but your powers are sick!"
"Mythomagic?" asked Mr. D but he could barely get a word in on the excited Nico.
Seeing her opportunity to ask questions lost Thalia decided to wait for a better time. So she got up and left with her friends. Leaving Chiron and Mr. D with a hyperactive and excited Nico.
As soon as they got outside Thalia let out a sound of frustration." Ugh! They never tell us anything!"
"Maybe that's for the best, maybe we aren't supposed to know Thals." Annabeth said defending Chiron, her mentor.
"Annabeth you're a child of Athena! You hate not knowing! How can you be ok with this?!" exclaimed Thalia. That got Annabeth. She had no response to that.
"Whatever, let's just spread the word about capture the flag, I want to beat the prejudice out of those hunters." Bruce said cracking his knuckles.
" You guys go ahead, I'm going to get some rest before dinner, it's been a long night for me."
"Alright Thals. We'll see you later."
"See ya guys." Thalia said before walking towards the forest to her hideout away from the other cabins.
As she walked she noticed how empty the camp looked compared to the summer. To start there were less campers. Only the year-rounders where there in the winter. Also snow was falling despite the weather shield around the camp. I guess Mr. D felt like they should feel a little like Christmas.
As she passed the cabins she watched the Hunters moving in under Phoebe's supervision. The daughter of war was the one that had been bumping heads with Bruce for the past 10 hrs and Thalia saw a collision course. The balloon was gonna pop eventually and she wanted to watch.
Eventually she got to her "cabin" a little ways into the treeline. She liked her privacy and since everyone thought she was a daughter of Hecate thanks to said goddesses blessing she would have been shoved into the crowded Hermes cabin and she had no desire to be in there.
Once inside the sound proof enchantment she had on the place kicked in and she turned to her scythe charm. She pulled it and recited the pass code, "Kairos."
From inside her mind she heard the responding phrase, "Chronos."
Thalia began to tear up a little, hearing the voice of her protector. " Hey Percy!"
"Hello Thalia, you did tremendously lastnight."
Hearing praise from him was stronger than hearing praise from her own father and she felt pride flow through her at his words. "Thanks, Thorn opened his big mouth about the Stirring. Sorry I had to kill him."
"No you are not." He replied.
She laughed at that," Yeah you're right I'm not, he had it coming since the pit. Anyway just to give you a heads up, Artemis is on her way to you. She's pissed you got her lieutenant."
"Thank you for the warning Thalia. She will be dealt with, we have her huntress under the sky right now, we must trick the goddess into taking her place. It will be a small matter." he replied confidently.
" She won't be easy Percy, she's one of the most powerful, just be careful."
" Aren't I always?" He asked before he stopped the connection.
"No." She said to herself.