AN: I couldn't stay away! Reviews make my day!

Next on: Nope.

"WHAT?"

"You can't honestly be surprised," Artemis said as she sat down on the ground next to my blanket. "You've done nothing but sleep and laze around ever since you got here. Maybe hanging out with other illegitimate- other demigods will be good for you. Plus, it'll be safer there."

"Safer? What can possibly happen now?" I asked, sick of always being the victim. Why can't it be Amanda's turn or something?

"I'm going to go to Olympus. Aphrodite can't get away with abducting me. This is my one chance to take her down. And I don't need to have to deal with your kidnapping tendencies. So, you go back to Camp Half-blood tomorrow."

"Can I actually go out during the day this time? Like the normal kids?" I asked, sarcastically. If she says no, I'm going to freak out.

Artemis rolled her eyes. "Yes, but no boys."

"But I'll have to talk to guys! I can't scream and run away every time someone of the opposite gender approaches me. Are you trying to torpedo my social life? Just because I talk to a guy doesn't just mean we'll end up making out." I whined, sounding like a normal teenager for the first time. Now, once I conquer my new fear of rabbits, I'll be ready to integrate back into society!

At the words "make out", Artemis turned a deathly shade of gray. The little hamsters in her head were running on their little wheels, going through all the different scenarios. Finally-

"Fine you can talk and shake hands. Nothing more." she got to her feet, and glanced at me, looking for my confirmation. When I didn't meet her eyes, she crouched down. "It's either that or I arrange for you to be used for target practice."

How good could a bunch of campers be? I thought, weighing my odds. Punching Adonis vs. Extreme Agony. So far it's balancing out.

"My target practice."

With those words, I was taken back into another time. Oh wait, it's not time for a flashback yet. Proceed with story.

"Fine," I muttered sullenly. "I, Emily Marie Wolf, swear on the River Styx, that I won't make physical contact with a member of the opposite gender without suffering your consequences." I recited, even using the proper Olympian format that Hermes had used.

She gave me another suspicious look, but didn't catch my little trick. "Okay. Actually, you're leaving today. No need to drag this out. Get your stuff and meet me outside."

She left the tent and I did a little victory wiggle (yes, it was pretty embarrassing.) I'm finally going back to a place where everyone isn't trying to kill me! Yay!

Getting up with a groan, I looked around my tent. My backpack was the only cool thing I had, so I filed out with it on my back

Of course, the blinding sunlight seared my retinas, so I spent a couple of seconds covering my eyes and cursing Apollo. Once the haze cleared, I saw that the Hunters were busy at work. They were making food, laughing, talking, and all-around having a good time. I wondered if it was all a front, or if they had really forgiven Artemis that easily. Maybe the fact that she could murder all of them with a cough helped.

"Ready?" Artemis asked me, glancing down from her silver clipboard. Her camouflage was perfect, without a scratch. My camouflage, on the other hand, was torn and stained red. Also, there is a mysterious blue stain that I'm slightly embarrassed about at about knee level.

"Yep!" I said enthusiastically.

Artemis gave me a "why are you so excited?" look (or maybe it was a "what have you been smoking?" look. I'll never know.).

"Alright. Thalia, come here!" she yelled, almost bursting my poor, fragile eardrums. Curse you, Olympian lung capacity.

Thalia got up from where she was eating a mysterious meat-like object, and walked over, looking confused and really tired.

"Emily needs an escort to camp. Are you willing?" she asked, ignoring my look of indignant outrage.

"Um, sure. But I don't think Emily wants me to come," You can tell that we were friends if she was willing to challenge Artemis on my behalf. And you can also tell how terrifying Artemis is by Thalia's sudden onset of paleness.

"Did I ask what Emily thought? If I wanted to know what she thought I would read her mind.. I can't have her kidnapped again, so you're going with her. Unless you think her opinion is more important than mine?" Artemis asked, her eyes flashing dangerously. Thalia froze like a deer in headlights (a feeling I know quite well). I enjoyed it for a second, and then went to bail her out.

"Let's go. Bye mom!" I said, pulling Thalia away. Thalia and I took off running before Artemis could react, and I laughed as soon as we were out of earshot.

"Thanks for rescuing me." Thalia said, easily keeping pace even though I was running my fastest. Dang.

I chuckled, and swerved to avoid a particularly large tree. "No problem. I guess we're even now, right?"

She smiled and nodded, and we continued running in silence. Every now and then she would yawn, and I wondered why she was so tired.

The scenery wasn't like I remembered from my last trip with Phoebe. Instead of the land getting more hilly, everything was flattening out into dull plains.

"Hey Thalia?" I asked, not really wanting to question her sense of direction, but feeling worried nonetheless. "What direction are we heading?"

"East, I think." she said, looking at the sun and then me.

I looked at the sky. We were running towards the setting sun, which didn't seem right.

"The sun sets in the West, right?" I asked, looking at her carefully.

"Yeah, so that means we're-" she stopped dead in her tracks. I didn't stop in time, and I wasn't looking as I smashed into a tree. I collided with a thud, and I fell to the ground. Groaning, I got up from the forest floor. And then, with both my face and my pride hurting, I walked back to where Thalia was standing, looking horrified.

"I can't believe I led us wrong! This is so bad! Artemis is going to demote me for sure! How could I have been so idiotic?" she muttered, looking at me in despair.

"Okay," I said, thinking of a plan. I'm always in trouble with Artemis, but that doesn't mean Thalia has to be. "this is what happened. You tried to lead, but I insisted that I could do it. When you tried to tell me that I was going the wrong way, I didn't listen. Finally, you shocked me to my senses. Deal?"

She frowned. "She'll be really mad at you. I don't want you to face her wrath to protect me," she said, shaking her head.

"Whatever! I make her mad on a daily basis! I actually enjoy it! Really, once I get to camp she'll be popping in to punish me every other day. I'm not going to make her job easy for her. So if I take the fall for one more thing it won't be a big deal. Seriously, let me take the fall." I insisted exasperatedly.

She didn't look convinced, but I turned around and took off running, this time actually going the right way. We passed the same trees, but I was getting tired. Eventually, after running for another hour or so, I had to stop. My knees were burning, and my lungs felt like I was inhaling sandpaper.

Thalia stopped beside me, but she was barely winded.

"How -pant- the pronk -pant- are you not -pant- even tired?" I asked, doubling over. My breath was coming in sharp gasps, and I felt really out of shape. It's like soccer season all over again.

"About 20 years of constant exercise and discipline. Plus, I run more than once a year," she said with a smirk.

I stuck my tongue out at her and sat down on a log. She pulled me up after a couple seconds, to my utter disgust.

"I'm tired!" I whined as we took off running again. My knee was still hurting, so I was more limping than running. We passed through the same patch of trees that we had passed earlier.

Finally, we got to the Hunter's Camp. We skirted around it, but I wanted to stop. I don't care how mad Artemis is. I'm exhausted and pretty grumpy.

I tried to subtly angle towards the camp, but Thalia shocked me. I guess the more she woke up the more she regained her lieutenant attitude.

Eventually, right when I was about to just fall over and sleep, we saw camp. Thalia stopped at the borders, and I quickly backtracked.

"We aren't allowed onto Camp property. Not after what happened last time. Bye. IM me if you need help." Thalia said, not even waiting for me to respond.

Shaking my head, I walked back to my cabin. Everything was in order, with all the bunks in their normal places. I set my backpack on the floor and collapsed into bed.

"Why is the sun so pronking bright?" I muttered as I turned over to cover my eyes.

"Umm.. It's noon. You should probably get up." I heard a voice say.

"Gargle!" I slurred as I rolled off the bed. At least I woke up in a bed this time. Willow was standing in the doorway, looking alarmed.

"Are you okay?" she asked as she walked over to me and helped me up from the ground.

I nodded, and stretched. "What's up?"

"You should get dressed so we can go to lunch. You must be starving!"

Still half-asleep, I took a quick shower and put on some clean clothes.

She led me to a huge pavilion that I had somehow not noticed before, and we walked inside. There were about a hundred campers talking and eating and milling about. As soon as I walked in, a hushed silence swept through the room. I just love it when that happens.

AN2: So, I wasn't going to continue this story, but I realized how much fun I had writing it. Sorry if its choppy, but ill need some time to get back into my writing groove. Thanks for all your patience and reviews make me do a happy dance! PS, you should check out Turtlefoot's story. Just saying. Thanks, and gods bless!