Sup peeps. As promised, within two weeks. There's BIG NEWS. Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!

First of all, I'd like to personally thank CuriousCelestial for writing a review.

Second, CuriousCelestial is correct in guessing that Cassie is a goddess. Not a real one, mind you. Just an OC. You can try looking her up but it won't work. You won't find her. What gave it away? The immortality? The silver glow?

So congrats. (^u^)

After this chapter I'm moving on to The Titan's Curse. Aaaaanywho, here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer- PJO belongs to Rick Riordan, and so on.

Thalia POV

A short figure remained leaning against one of the trees at the edge of the forest, arms tightly crossed against her chest. A dark hood covered her face, but I knew who she was. I would know that stance anywhere.

"Cassie…" I breathed, "You're-you're here."

"You sound surprised to find me in the vicinity of Greek mythology," Cassie said, smirking all the while from beneath that hood of hers, only a little bit of her face actually visible.

Finally I couldn't hold it back anymore. I ran forward, sweeping her into a hug. Her arms wrapped tightly around me and I could feel tears make their way down my cheeks.

"Where have you been?" I demanded, holding her shoulders at arm's length, "Why didn't you find me sooner?"

"I've… been busy," Cassie said in a low voice, "Terrible excuse, I know, but I've had a lot on my plate lately."

Cassie gave a tiny smile. Nothing had changed about her in the time I was a tree. I mean of course nothing had changed, considering her immorality, but she looked just like she did when I first met her so many years ago.

Flashback

"Life is hard when you're alone. When you're different," said a voice from the shadows. "I should know. I've been alone for many years."

Shaking with fear I tapped my bracelets and Aegis sprang out.

"Who-who are you?" I called out. "What do you want?"

A girl walked out from the shadows, her face covered by a hood, but wavy strawberry blond hair protruded from the edges. She leaned against the wall of the dark alleyway with her arms tightly crossed.

"Even if I tell you my name, you won't recognize me," the girl said, lowering her hood slowly.

Striking cobalt blue eyes with dark rings around the irises stared back at me. She seemed only a few years older than me, maybe twelve or thirteen. A bronze blade hung from the scabbard at her side. The material the sword was made from was the same as the material of my collapsible spear.

"You're from Greek mythology aren't you?" I asked.

"Clever girl," she said. "I am from Greek mythology, but you won't find me in any of your books or legends."

"Then you're not like me? You're not a demigod?" I inquired. "Are you a monster?"

She gave a little chuckle and I reached towards my pocket, ready to fight if necessary.

"I'm not a demigod," the shadow covered stranger told me, taking a step forward.

I gripped my collapsible mace canister closely.

"I'm not a monster either," she continued, taking another step.

"Then who are you?" I asked.

"My name is Cassielle. I'm here to help you," she said.

End of Flashback

I returned to the present, the memory of meeting Cassie faded away.

"I missed you," I whispered. "Why didn't you ever visit?"

"I thought I'd let you move on with your life. Not get stuck in the past," she said.

The look on her face told me she was a little uncomfortable by the emotions I was expressing. She definitely hadn't changed.

"So you left," I uttered, dropping my arms. "My best friend left."

"I told you I'd return," Cassie whispered, "I told you I'd return… someday. By the way- you're crying again."

"I'm what?" I asked, not quite registering.

"You're crying… again," Cassie whispered once more.

"Sorry," I sniffled, straightening up, "emotional time. I see you're still not crying."

"Not for hundreds of years," Cassie said in a wistful manor.

"Wait so last year when I met you for the first time- the crying was fake?" Percy interrupted.

I had almost forgotten that we had an audience.

"Please. I've only cried real tears 4 times in my entire life and it wouldn't be over Thalia Grace turning into a pine tree. I knew her fate," Cassie continued.

"You knew? You knew and you didn't stop it?" Percy asked

"You'll see why soon Jackson. And don't assume I'm heartless. All of the other futures where I saved Thalia ended in bloodshed and the end of the gods,"

Percy looked down right pissed. I can't say I blamed him. Sometimes Cassie could be a little cold, but still, she was like family to me. Annabeth just looked at Cassie, shock and disbelief filled her face.

"But-but anyone who tries to interfere with the future just ends up making it worse," she stuttered.

"That's why I didn't stop Thalia's transformation sweetheart," Cassie said, her voice monotone.

"Wait-" I asked. "Why are you here Cassie?"

"I'm checking up on you and Jackson," she answered. "I have to go soon though. Places to be. People to see."

I pulled her into another hug and thankfully enough, she returned it.

"Visit again soon," I said, releasing her.

I knew that she often disappeared out of nowhere, but then again, she would appear out of nowhere just as quick.

"I try," Cassie whispered, and she took a few steps back. "There's a hard winter coming. Be prepared."

Cassie's slight form dissolved in the air, leaving behind only the smell of honeysuckle and lavender.

Something about her warning bothered me. Cassie had never before warned me about weather or seasons. She had a habit of standing in the pouring rain any time of the year. Why would she be warning me about the winter to come? Unless there was another meaning hidden in it.

We all stood there for a few seconds silently.

"Who the Hades was that?" Annabeth asked, ending the silence.

I had forgotten that she hadn't met Cassie before.

"Cassie," Percy said.

Annabeth punched him.

"Ow," Percy mumbled, "What was that for?"

"I figured out her name from the conversation, Captain Obvious," Annabeth retorted. "What I want to know, is why you two never mentioned her before."

Percy received another smack on the arm and he turned away innocently. Stormy gray eyes turned away from him and towards me.

"I have my reasons," I explained.

"Sure you do," Annabeth said sarcastically, "What's your excuse Percy?"

"Focusing on my studies?" he suggested in a high pitched tone.

"That's even less believable than Thalia's," Annabeth commented.

She began walking back towards the cabins, completely ignoring our original idea to relax in the shade of the trees.

"Well," Annabeth continued, " I'm taking a shower then I'm going to-"

"The library?" Percy and I interrupted simultaneously.

"Don't bother," I told her. "Cassie's not in any of the legends or books."

"And how do you know?" Annabeth asked, sounding slightly miffed at the idea that something wouldn't be in a book.

"She told me," I justified.

"So, just to clarify," Annabeth inquired, "the person who won't tell you anything about her past told you that there was nothing about her in the books and legends, and you believed her."

"I've tried looking in the library, but could never find anything," I told her.

"That's just because you didn't have me," Annabeth posed.

Annabeth skipped off toward the library in the big house.

Percy and I glanced at each other, then at Annabeth, and raced after her, eager to find out what we could about Cassie.

CHAPTER 5! That's the end of The Sea of Monsters related chapters. Next chapter within 2 weeks. Uhhh. I have no idea what else to write. What about this.

Since you hopefully all read the author's note at the beginning of the chapter you know know that Cassie's a goddess, though the rest of the characters are still clueless. The question is… The goddess of what? This too is certain, and will be revealed along with the characters finding out she's a goddess. That is unless someone guesses it first, which I doubt, but you can try.

Follow, favorite, and review! plz & thx