And here we go again, dear readers! Another chapter for you...

Thanks all for reading so far.

Disclaimer: I don't own Master Riordan's works (PJ, HoO, KC...)

Thalia learned the hard way that riding a giant wolf without a decent coat was a bad idea even if it was the middle of fall yet. They were alternating between a wild run when the landscape allowed and walking when the trees got to close another. It had been quite since they left the village and Thalia could see the outskirts of Seattle shrouded by mist, a little envious of the sensible people still in their comfortable and warm beds and not on the back of a beast as big as a monster truck and over 100mph.

They were walking near a small cliff when the wolf came to a sudden stop, shaking its head nervously "It's OK, Vili" Sieg patted the white back and as sensing Thalia's curious look explained "The black steed of fire was captured once again and as a wild mystical beast Vili is sensitive to distress of others" with a sigh he faced the city beyond them "But seriously, hadn't the amazons realized that horse doesn't belongs to them? Only a child of Pluto can keep a safe relationship with that horse". He then turned his face to look at Thalia who was shivering lightly under her jacket. Another sigh escaped his lips as he unfastened his cape and wrapped it around Thalia's cold body.

She pressed the cloth closer to her; it was warm and soft, perfect for any weather and surprisingly it smelled like freshly cut grass in a rainy summer day. "Thanks" she was covering her mouth so the word came muffled, although still audible due their proximity. A faint smile was all the answer she got as Sieg turned to look up ahead; they remained in silence for most of the time, the memories from last night still clear in both minds…

The night before...

Thalia's grin would make any mortal unsure about messing with that girl "You should just spare yourself of this shame and accept to help me..."

He showed no reaction to the jest and simply spoke, his eyes and voice cold as a glacier, "Munnin followed our lord's trial until San Francisco which means we will have to go into Hades' domain and if I had to guess, than I would say we'll have to find the bridge connecting the Underworlds, which means, deadly even for me". Thalia paled, something understandable since no living being would be thrilled with a trip to the land of the dead, except children of Hades.

"Ok, there must be a catch…quests always have a catch" Thalia got wary in the last few years since now that her sisters depended on her and also the idea of going there made her stomach sick. She didn't know why but she still felt alone with there, vulnerable…an outsider.

Sieg moved towards her, but when he would speak only a gasp left his mouth, a mix of surprise and rage in his eyes. Thalia didn't understand what was happen, but whatever it was, it couldn't be good. Since when did a time stop ever brought good news?

The room went from cosy to bone chilling in an instant as all heat was went away, even the flames in the hearth were frozen in mid-air. The feeling of nothingness spread in her heart and a gagging laugh filled the room, "This one shall do, fated souls bound together" a raspy voice came from nowhere; "Yes!" a second voice added "A strong soul must be speared…a bloody sacrifice for the captive god"; A third came "Pain for freedom, a life for another and the future…" all the three voices screeched in unison "IMPOSSIBLE! YGGDRASIL WOULD NEVER…", the voices were cut by the loudest thunder Thalia had ever heard along with a distinct metallic taste she had every time when using her powers. Silence and heat returned to room and Sieg unfroze falling to his knees, his sweaty body shivering and colour drained from his face, his eyes wide with fear while trying to grasp for reality so Thalia had to wait some minutes for him to catch his breath and recover his speak.

"OK, time to compare stories and I want some answers" Thalia was doing her best to mask her own fear since no good would come if both leaders felt and Sieg condition was worse than hers but he had finally calm to deep and silent breaths. She told him about how time stopped, the three voices and the thunder; he listened in silence but he surely was uneasy with her words as she noticed his left hand's knuckles turned white holding the sword while the other fisted his thigh.

Sieg remained in silence a couple of minutes after Thalia had finished her story, finally managing to clean his mind he spoke, whispering as if someone might hear something they shouldn't, "This is worse than what I imagined, the Norns decided they wouldn't meddle in gods affairs.."

"The Norns?" shoot with an inquisitive look, already having problems with some many different names.

"Our Sisters of Fate, comparable to the Moirae and just like yours they stay away from our problems. But those words are even more disturbing..."

Thalia remained silent, encouraging Sieg to continue his explanation or better…almost commanding for a decent explanation.

He didn't keep her waiting for sure, that girl was too much alike him, both were leaders good at making decision in the heat of a battle, but difficult to deal with. Now he knew how others Einherjar felt near him. "A bloody sacrifice isn't something to be surprised at, the problem lies in the captive god. If Odin might be this god, but I got a feeling that it may also apply to Loki."

Sighing loudly confirmed Thalia's doubts, Sieg was hiding something but now was no time to ask about it, she needed to know what would happen…"So, what do we do now? Knocking Hades' door without a good reason will be suicide and I still want to live a few more years". Caustic humour, at least that part of her brain was still operational.

"Sure enough" Sieg was pulling his best innocent face which wasn't exactly good because of his scar "First things first, we will head to Stanford University to get some info from Mimir. That greedy head can help us and I already know how to pay for this, so no problems. Then we should get in touch with Hermes, it's time to collect his debt."

Thalia gave a curious look over his shoulder, "Hermes in debt with you?"

"Just a bet, but that will be enough to…persuade Charon. Now as for…" Sieg hesitated, studying Thalia's face for any reaction, noticing the dark circles under her eyes "Now you should sleep, we'll talk more tomorrow".

Thalia's body answered to those words remembering her of all the stress she passed through the last couple of days, still urging for more rest. She instantaneously slid into slumber, lightly snoring like a little bird's whistle, leaving Sieg holding a wild grin and the job to take her back to the her sisters. "By the gods, no matter how many eons passes, something never change. Heroes still fights beyond their limits."

Sieg carried Thalia back to the hall where the Hunt was staying, gently placing her into an empty bed and silently walking away. When he reached the door he turned, facing the sleeping group "Phoebe, right? There is only one thing I can guarantee to you. She'll be safe", as he closed the door a noise could be heard inside, someone moving in the bunk.

End flashback

Vili slowed his paced as they approached Portland while holding his head high sniffing the air and a low growl coming from his throat, something was clearly bothering the white wolf. Contracting the muscles of hind legs he went into a frenzy run, ignoring the riders' objections.

Thalia was desperately hugging Sieg's chest, trying not to fall on every sharp turn the wolf made and hoping that he could keep both of them mounted. That surge of speed felt just like they were flying and it terrified her, making she tighten her hug even more that her arms would still show the marks left by his armour hours later.

As for Sieg…there wasn't much that he could do while he was holding the white fur with a hunter bear-hugging his ribs with enough force to make breathing a difficult task. His vision was a blur because of the speed and rough movements so he had no idea where his wolf was taking them or why he was acting like that now.

Both riders sighed in sheer relief when Vili stopped and allowed them to dismount only to lay under a tree for a nap. Thalia couldn't even stand up much less say anything to the damned beast, fortunately Sieg was in better shape, he still had to use a tree to support himself but his others senses were already recovered "You little fucking bastard, you are lucky that I can't take you further in this quest…now I'll have to wait until I get back to pay you back for this" Swearing like that felt odd coming from him yet everybody would understand, there isn't a single being who likes to feel like a dead meat in a supersonic roller-coaster.

Thalia was the first to notice the temperature raise as well the odd vegetation of the place; it was like fall never came, in fact, not even summer passed through there, as if the season had stopped at spring. Flowers blooming, insects all over them, birds singing…wild and vivid life to its fullest.

Sieg seemed to remain oblivious to the environment much to Thalia's amaze; after all there weren't many monsters that could scare him. At least he noticed the approach of a man from behind the trees, "Zephyrus, what are you doing here?"

"Ah, Lord Sieg! Lady Thalia! I've been waiting for you" Zephyrus spoke with a mocking homage, wearing blue bell bottom pants with a kaleidoscope shirt and braided auburn hair full of flowers, he looked like the father of all hippies. "Your wolf is getting old, Lord Sieg. He took twice the time he did last time I attracted him with another male fenrir…And Lady Thalia, if it wasn't for your `daughter of Zeus things` as that boy pathetic said, I wouldn't know you are actually a daughter of Zeus."

Thalia had recovered enough to understand he was being sarcastic over a possible comment from Percy, her lost and dear friend and it angered her so much to hear someone other than herself or his girlfriend talk like that about him that she would probably hit the god if Sieg hadn't held her. She was about to complain when she noticed his eyes flickering with hate and clenching his teeth, that god bothered him just as he bothered her.

"What do you want, Zephyrus?" She managed to ask after calming a little.

The god of west wind walked into the forest, gesturing to be followed "Not here, too open. There is a clearing up ahead, I can explain there while you two lovey-dovey have a picnic"

This time was Thalia's turn to stop Sieg from unsheathing his sword and cut the god down. "I know" she spoke close to him "you can do that after he tells us everything". She winked wickedly while he grinned, looking forward for some fun.

That's it guys, hope you liked.

Please tell me of any geographic or historical mistake I might have made and don't forget to comment. Your reviews are fuel to my burning passion as an amateur writer.