Thanks to galaxypearls for fav/following, and for ebookboss121 for favouriting.

PercyJacksontheChicken: Yeah, you better watch out Jasper :) And I just wanted to thank you again for continuing to review, it makes me happy :D

warisk8: Well, thanks for reading them all. And I do try my best.

Lonely diamond in the sky: I imagine Aphrodite as a flighty person. She's an immortal goddess, after all, and immortal goddesses get bored very easily. Especially if you're Aphrodite. She considered Percabeth a plaything, and what do you with playthings when they outgrow their uses? You get a new one and move on.

Final thanks goes to a guest for suggesting I do this.

THALIA

Thalia was about to kill the squirrel when someone tapped her shoulder.

Jerking, she accidentally shot the arrow she was aiming, causing it to bury itself deep in the nearest tree and scare the squirrel away. Turning, Thalia saw that the person who had touched her was one of her fellow Hunters, Elsie. "Sorry, Thals," she apologized. "But this is really important. Lady Artemis wants all of us to gather-she has news."

News? Shrugging, Thalia followed Elsie back to the clearing where the tents were. "Thalia, squirrels, though? Really?" the younger girl asked, amused.

"I was bored," Thalia defended herself. "I mean, I have to do something when we're not killing monsters or recruiting new members or eating or sleeping or talking."

Elsie laughed. "Come on, we don't want to miss it," she reminded her lieutenant, breaking into a run. Thalia hadn't realized she'd wandered so far from the others, but didn't question her own motives for doing so. Nothing had been the same since Luke had died. Now that Annabeth and Percy were stuck fighting Gaea, she had no one to talk to. Well, her sisters were great and she loved them to death, but none of them were Annabeth. Sometimes a girl had to have some girl time, alone, didn't she?

Finally the two Hunters burst into the clearing where the tents were. All the other girls were standing around looking nervous, and Artemis stood in front of her tent. "Thalia, Elsie, there you are!" She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm afraid I have news for all of you."

Thalia shifted uncomfortably, wondering what it was as the goddess continued.

"You all know, of course, about the quest the Seven are taking."

The girls started murmuring. The quest was a topic that everyone liked to gossip about. Which of the demigods was the bravest, if they'd succeed, who would die. Thalia usually didn't join in unless someone asked her about the two quest members she knew personally.

"The fateful quest has finally come to an end. Gaea has been defeated." Thalia smiled with relief. Yes! Percy and Annabeth had won again! But then she remembered how grave her goddess seemed, so she refrained from cheering with the others. Surely there was more to come.

As the daughter of Zeus had predicted, Artemis held up a hand for silence. "There is more, however. Two demigods did not survive the battle."

Everyone stayed deathly quiet after she had said that, and Thalia winced. She surmised that the demigods must have become close on their quest, and two deaths would hurt everyone. She wondered how Percy and Annabeth were coping.

Finally Artemis heaved a sigh and turned to Thalia. "I wish it was any other way. I greatly admired them both. But…I am truly sorry, Thalia."

For a moment Thalia had no idea what she was talking about, but then she realized. Greatly admired them both-Artemis was sorry-for her-

"Annabeth," she whispered, and it came out as a broken sob. She remembered the first time she'd met her. With Luke. She had been a fighter even then. And Percy. One of the most powerful demigods Thalia had ever met. Arrogant and cocky, but with a sweet side, too. And he had been able to make Annabeth happy. Thalia had never thought about it until that point, but she really had thought of Percy as a good friend. She had cared about him. And now?

They were gone.

Thalia didn't even care who saw as she broke down and wept.

Yep, I know. Don't get mad at me, but I really try to make them as long as possible :( But do please R&R!