Do not own- Rick Riordan does.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter: Shel12, bat fan1987, Nicoannoyespercy,xbloomxx, Deltafive-O, toe walker, Onlyafraidoffear, Complicated-little-Jellie, jenn008, Booklover0608.
On with the story:-
Chapter 10: The Gift.
"We were in a tiny little town, the main street a mile from the railway. There was a school, cafes and tourist stores, ski cabins and a grocery store," said Percy.
"There was no bus station, no taxis or car rental place," said Thalia.
"So no way out," said Zeus.
"Grover and Zoë decided they needed coffee so they headed to the coffee shop," said Thalia.
"Grover was very addicted to coffee, wasn't he?" said Will.
"This is where his addiction started," said Percy.
"Percy, Bianca and I went to the grocery store to ask for directions. We found out that we could call a taxi from the town at the bottom of the mountain. It would take an hour to get there and cost hundreds of dollars," said Thalia.
"Thalia went to check what the other shop assistants in the other shops recommended. I was left alone with Bianca. I didn't know what to talk to her about, especially since she was a Hunter," said Percy.
"You had never been alone with Bianca had you?" asked Annabeth.
"No, I didn't really know how to talk to girls at that time… I still don't," admitted Percy. "Bianca enquired whether I was still angry that she had joined the Hunters."
"And were you still angry?" asked Artemis.
"No, she was happy, or as she put it being a Hunter was cool. She felt calmer. I realised she seemed more confident than before. She no longer hid her face behind a cap and long hair. She also looked me in the eyes," said Percy. Nico shifted uneasily in his seat. He had not considered his sister might have improved due to joining the all girl group.
"Bianca always seemed unsure of attention she received from others," said Nico quietly reminiscing about his sister.
"I think Bianca wanted reassurance when she informed me that Nico didn't understand her decision. I told her he would be all right," said Percy wrapping his arm around Nico's shoulders and gave it a quick squeeze.
"Of course he would be, camp looks after you all," said Hera rolling her eyes.
"Bianca said that if she hadn't met me she wouldn't have been okay with leaving Nico at camp," said Percy blushing.
"You were a good friend, you were travelling across the country to save Annabeth and you were brave, if stupid, when you risk your life to save Bianca and Nico," said Thalia pointing out the truth to her cousin.
"Percy seems VERY protective of his family and friends," said Athena.
"I asked Bianca for her and Nico's story. She told me that before they went to Westover, they went to a boarding school in D.C which to her seemed a long time ago. She didn't remember living with her parents; she said that she was told that her parents were dead. Bianca said that there was a bank trust for them and a lawyer would come and check on them once in a while. One day they were taken out of the school and taken to stay in a hotel for a few weeks before a different lawyer came and took them to Westover," explained Percy.
"Strange story," said Will.
"Even stranger considering a mother who didn't want her children to grow up without her is not even mentioned," said Percy glaring at Lord Hades who gulped and looked down guiltily. Maybe bathing his children in the river Lethe wasn't the best. Everyone else just looked confused.
"It sounds like Bianca has been raising Nico all her life," said Lady Hestia.
"Bianca admitted that's why she joined the Hunters. She knew it was selfish but she wanted her own life and friends," explained Percy giving Nico's shoulders another squeeze.
"It sounds like she needed to be herself and not the big-sister/ mother figure in her small family. She is twelve years old, looking after her two year younger brother, that is a big responsibility to ask," said Lady Hestia explaining to the group. Nico after so many years was starting to understand why his sister had joined the Hunters. He still wasn't happy that she had decided to leave him.
"That was the time I let slip that I had eavesdropped on her conversation with Zoë, but didn't get to explain as our drinks and pastries arrived," said Percy then laughed "that's the same outraged look Bianca gave me," said Percy pointing at Hades, surprising said god. Bianca had always had more characteristics of Maria than him.
"Grover was about to do a tracking spell when a warm breeze rushed past. It was like a tiny bit of springtime had flown past us, the air smelling like wildflowers and sunshine," said Percy.
"In the winter?" asked a confused Katie.
"It also felt like it was bringing a warning. The cup that Grover had drop had pictures of birds on it came alive and flew away, the rubber mouse that I had bought at the store scampered away with real fur," said Percy. Some of the gods gasped, 'could it be?' they thought.
"I came back to the group to find that Grover had collapsed and was on the ground groaning. We made it to the edge of the town before the first two skeleton warriors arrived," explained Thalia.
"Oh I forgot they were following you?" said Katie.
"They were following Percy," said an indignant Thalia.
"Whatever, they were now in New Mexico State Police uniforms but still had translucent skin and the yellow eyes," said Percy.
"They drew their handguns and pointed them at us," said Thalia.
"What type of gun was it?" asked Ares in interest.
"A bright shiny, scary, I could shoot and hurt you gun; how would I know or care?" said a glaring Thalia.
"I had always thought it would be cool to learn how to shoot a gun but changed my mind when they pointed the gun at me," said Percy.
"Yeah that would change your mind," said Will.
"We got ready to battle the skeletons when two more skeletons approached us from behind," Percy said as the others groaned.
"Where are the rest of the skeletons?" asked Chris.
"They weren't there; they had split up to look for us. One of the skeletons used a cell phone to call the rest," explained Percy.
"Great you are going to be inundated with skeletons," whined Zeus.
"Grover was moaning about the gift from the Wild being near, he was in no shape for walking or even worst for fighting," said Thalia.
"We decided to fight them one on one, hoping that they would ignore Grover," said Percy.
"It was very difficult to fight the skeleton warriors, after hacking them apart their bones would just reassemble again," said Thalia.
"I know that's the best thing about having your own army of skeleton warriors," said Nico and Hades at the same time. Everyone glared at them.
"Well it is true," said Hades.
"Except when I just finish bathing in the Underworld," whispered Percy to Nico who scowl but had to agree with the son of Poseidon.
"That was about the time two skeletons shot Percy in the back," said Thalia.
"What?" screamed Annabeth glaring at her boyfriend.
"I was fine; the Nemean lion fur coat was bullet proof. The impact from the bullets was like being pushed from behind," said Percy quickly as he proceeded to give his girlfriend a hug.
"Zoë, Bianca and I started to fight those stupid skeleton warriors, but nothing was happening. Heck the arrows were going straight through their skulls," said Thalia showing her frustration as she remembered how difficult it was fighting the skeletons.
"One of the skeletons lunged at Bianca who whipped out her hunting knife and stabbed the warrior in the chest. The skeleton erupted into flames leaving a little pile of ash. Oh and the police badge," said Percy.
"None of us knew how she had done that, but the skeletons were now wary of her," said Thalia.
"She had control over the dead like Nico does," said Connor in awe.
"A dead controlling, man-hating Hunter, now that is scary," said Apollo.
"We were retreating, trying to work out a plan when Grover muttered about a gift," said Percy.
"A GIFT?" asked a confused Athena.
"Out of the trees came the largest pig I had ever seen. It was a wild boar, ten metres tall with tasks the size of canoes," described Percy.
"It charged the three skeletons and sent them flying. They flew over the trees and into the mountain, smashing them into pieces," said Thalia.
"Go Pig," cheered Travis and Connor.
"Then the pig turned on us," said Percy. Groans filled the room.
"I prepared to kill it but Zoë pointed out that that it was the Erymanthian Boar and that she didn't think we could kill it. Grover stated that it was a blessing from the Wild," said Thalia.
"The fact that it was a blessing didn't stop it from trying to kill us," said Percy, "we had scattered but it charged at Thalia and I. We ran uphill and dodged through the trees somehow keeping ahead of it. We followed old train tracks through a tunnel and down to an old bridge that spanned a gorge. We ended up riding Aegis like a snowboard down the mountain before sliding to a stop," explained Percy.
"What happened to the boar?" asked Chris.
"The boar wasn't as fortunate and he free-fell into the gorge before landing in a snowdrift. It was completely stuck in the snow like Styrofoam packaging, unhurt but not going anywhere," said Percy as everyone laughed.
"We were both cut up and bleeding, I had pine needles in my hair, and if either one of you tells me I should be use to that, I will send one hundred bolts though your body," said Thalia glaring at the Stoll brothers with electricity sparking from her hand.
"We were soon joined by the others. Grover and Zoë agreed that the boar was our ride west as it could travel fast," said Percy.
"We all climbed aboard, with Grover using an apple that floated just out of reach of the boar, who strained to get it," said Thalia.
"Grover and Zoë had realised what the wind had brought, just before the boar had arrived. The presence of Pan," said Percy.
"Pan… It's been so long since we have felt that feeling," said Hermes.
"Great that will just reignite the satyrs hunt to find Pan," said Dionysus rolling his eyes. Hermes pulled out his caduceus
"Dionysus's package, Martha reroute it, squash it and don't cover the insurance," said Hermes smiling at said god with an evil smile.
"And with that I think it is time for lunch," said Percy. Everyone left the room but Thalia pulled Percy back.
"Why didn't you mention that I was afraid of heights?" asked Thalia.
"Because they didn't need to know, or maybe because of the empty threat that is hanging over me if I tell," answered Percy. Thalia shocked Percy who just grinned stupidly.
"I still find it ironic that the daughter of Zeus, lord of the sky is afraid of heights," said Percy as he and Thalia proceeded to join their family. Percy grinning stupidly again but that may have been because Thalia had shocked him again. Thalia was trying to work on her fear back in their time with her new sisters and Artemis's help. Thalia knew Percy would not tell, he had kept it a secret for three years already, she just hoped it wouldn't slip out.
A/N: Hope you like the chapter. Again Please Review.
I didn't have Percy mention that he worked out about Thalia's fear as it is not a major part of the story (yet).
Next chapter is the LOVE talk from Aphrodite, hopefully it will be ready quicker than this one.