The Manticore was about to pounce on me when an arrow pierced it's heart. It was obviously made of celestial bronze because the Manticore disintegrated. I gaped where the Manticore stood, next the harpy was shot down, along with most of the telekhines. The lucky ones who survived fled. I was still panting, when someone stepped out of the undergrowth. "Oh my gods" I muttered. Thalia stood before us with her bow slung over her, the other hunters behind her.
"Thalia!" Annabeth exclaimed. She got to her feet and gave her old friend a hug. I also got up I was still panting and I was covered in sweat. The other hunters looked at me cautiously, as if I would run up to one of them and give them a big hug. Tyson and Grover were also on their feet gaping at our savors.
Thalia was grinning as Annabeth pulled away. "Nice to see you Annabeth. Percy, Tyson, Grover" she nodded at all of us. I was never so happy to see anyone in my life. Thalia continued. "I heard you guys running through the trees from a mile away!" One of the other hunters scowled and said something under her breath about us scaring off all the prey. Thalia ignored her "So we came to check out what was all the ruckus, then we, well you know, saved your butts...and stuff."
I leaned against a tree as the hunters set up camp. I tried to help but any time I got near one of them they scowled at me. So I figured they were fine without me. Thalia finished putting together a tent for me, Grover, and Tyson since we weren't allowed near the hunters. She walked away and sat down in the grass looking at the sky. I walked over to her and sat down beside her.
"Thanks for saving our skins." I said. Picking up and acorn and fiddled with it.
"Well, couldn't let you guys die. You are my friends." Thalia said gazing at the stars which had just come out.
"Where is Artemis?" I asked.
Thalia glared at me. I regretted asking that. "Oh sorry." I said awkwardly.
Thalia sighed " No, Percy, it's fine. Artemis got a distress call from her brother, Apollo. That was a week ago. We were told by a Hermes to go to... never mind. Why aren't you at Camp half-blood?"
"We are trying to find Orson, Lealaps offspring, you know the dog. She had him before she became a constellation. It is said she mated with a monster. No one knows what monster. So Orson is immortal. Camp half-blood is being attacked by so many monsters. We can't hold them all. Orson is brave and strong and catches nearly all his prey. So you know put the two together, and well camp half-blood would be saved." I rubbed the back of my neck. I was still covered in sweat. My arm still throbbed and began to bleed off and on.
Thalia was silent for a bit then studied me. "It seems you are always trying to save Camp half-blood." She gave a faint smile. "Let me see your arm."
"I'm fine" I said. I didn't tell her but I was most certainly not fine. I was exhausted, my arm was beginning to bleed again, also the branch wound I got on my face stung from my sweat.
Thalia rolled her eyes "No you aren't, now give me your arm!" Before I could move she snatched my injured arm away from my stomach and inspected it. "There is a creek not to far from here go heal yourself." She said pointing behind me.
I put my hand into the water and strength flooded through me. It healed my arm and face. I sat there for a while. Annabeth came and sat next to me. "Thought I'd find you here Seaweed Brain." She said. I grinned halfheartedly.
"Percy, we are leaving tomorrow. You'd better get some rest."
I nodded and got up. Exhaustion flooded through me, my shoulders sagged. "You better get some rest too, Wise girl." Annabeth nodded. I knew she hadn't heard me because she sat there gazing into the forest. I walked back to my tent and right when I hit the sleeping bag I was out. That's when the dream started.