First of all, I just want to say that I don't own PJO or HOO. Second of all, thank you so much for being faithful readers and reviewers, never getting annoyed with me because of the rarity of my updates. I will never forget how kind your reviews are, and I just wanted to let you all know, I really, truly appreciate every single one of you. Thank you.
Sally drove quicker through the street, barely keeping within the speed limit.
"Mama." Percy whimpered, reaching fearfully for her hand. Thalia stroked his hair absently, while keeping a sharp lookout for anything strange or out of the ordinary.
"Hey!" Thalia shot straight up. "What's that?"
"What's what?" Sally whipped her head around, slowing the car down.
"It's probably nothing." Thalia said distractedly. "Still, Sally, can you please take these two back home? I'll only be a minute, I promise."
As she reached down to unbuckle her seatbelt, Sally gasped. "Sweetie, are you sure that's such a good idea?"
"No, but that's why we're demigods." Thalia leaned over to open up the car door.
"Mama! Mama, no!" Percy screamed. Nico shouted in shock and grabbed her hand, trying to pull her back.
"No! No! No!"
Thalia sighed, looking down at the two of them.
"I'll only be one minute. I promise." Thalia kissed Nico's head, before ruffling Percy's hair and rushing away from the car.
True to her word, Sally gunned the gas, yanking the car onto the road properly and forcing the tires to squeal in her attempt to get home fast.
Thalia fingered her weapon and her shield-she never left home without either.
As she carefully made her way down the street, she heard a noise behind her. She whirled around and saw the god, Hermes, touch down just in front of her.
"Lord Hermes." Thalia sank down to her knees, and then leaped back up.
"Thalia, daughter of Zeus. I have come to warn you that what you are seeking is best left alone, for your own sake and for the sake of your two cousins. I warn you, beware. The creature has already caught your scent, and will be heavy on your trail." Hermes looked like he was enjoying his role far too much.
"What?" Thalia snapped. "That doesn't make any sense!"
"Okay, I'll tell it to you in today terms. You're basically looking for this monster that can totally track you by smell. It's already caught your smell, and it's starting to track you. You and your cousins have to leave the city and go somewhere. It doesn't matter where, as long as you are on the run and not in one place too long, or else the monster will find you. Oh yeah, plus Zeus told me to tell you he's really sorry that he lied. Monsters aren't supposed to attack you. Oh well. Here, I'll teleport you back to wherever you're staying." Hermes slammed his rod onto the ground, and Thalia felt herself be lifted into the air.
Within a moment, she was back at Sally's.
"Thalia, honey, what's going on?" Sally demanded the minute Thalia entered the apartment.
"I'm sorry, Sally. I don't know myself. All I know is that I have to keep running with Percy and Nico to keep us all safe." Thalia admitted.
Sally looked at her, and then threw her arms around her.
"I'll miss you, sweetheart. You keep yourself and those two safe now." Sally's eyes were watering.
"I will. Where are they?" Thalia suddenly seemed to recognize the silence.
"They're both sleeping in your bedroom. I told them that if they slept, you would come back." Sally gave Thalia a tearful smile.
"Thanks for everything, Sally." Thalia found herself trying hard not to cry.
"I have one more thing for you, Thalia." Sally remembered. "I've kept it all these years."
Thalia watched curiously as Sally walked into her room, and then returned, with an ancient looking twin stroller in her hand.
"It might be easier to keep a hold of both of them." Sally smiled sheepishly.
"Thank you so much!" Thalia opened it up carefully, hoping it wouldn't break.
With a sigh, she hurried up and went to pack up her bags before having to pack up the kids.