I chased after them, I can't shadow travel at the moment. When I got to the huge doors I pulled on them and look around, Dr. Thorn was dragging them to the cliffs, I started to run after them, my body is so weak, but I need to help them.

I was ten feet away from them, "Hey! Let's them go or I'll blast you to pieces!" I threatened Dr. Thorn, he turned around, "Ha! I'd like to see you try!" He hissed at me, I was about to hurl a fire ball at him, but I noticed how close he was to the kids and Percy. I bit my tongue, "Just let them go!" I said.

Dr. Thorn pulled something from under his coat. It was only a phone. He pressed the side button and said, "The package—it is ready to deliver."

There was a garbled reply, and I realized Thorn was in walkie-talkie mode. This seemed way too modern and creepy—a monster using a mobile phone.

He stared hungrily at me, "As much as I would like to kill you, I'm afraid someone else has plans for you." He said coldly. "And who would that be? Kronos? Luke? Why not just try and kill me yourself?" I smirked, Dr. Thorn laughed, "I'm no fool, I know who you are, I know what you can do, Wyatt Knight. I was simply trying to bait you, but it would seem that I have failed, but no worries, you will come with us." He said and turned around, "Our ride is almost here."

I looked behind him and saw a light in the distance, a searchlight over the sea. Then I heard the chopping of helicopter blades getting louder and closer. I have to come up with something quick…

I could shadow travel behind him and get all three of them out of the way and blast him, but in my condition, I would pass out before getting them out of there. Well I could just shadow travel them in the school…As if Dr. Thorn was reading my thoughts, "Uh-uh, there are not going anywhere. And you will behave yourself until the chopper arrives."

He put his hand on Bianca's shoulder. Damn, that plan is ruined, hopefully Percy will come up with something. Dr. Thorn turned around, and said, "I would kill you before if even reach the bottom, so don't even think about it."

Dammit…I need help, the chopper is getting closer, think, think dammit! "Where are you taking us?" Nico said.

"You should be honored, my boy. You will have the opportunity to join a great army! Just like that silly game you play with cards and dolls."

"They're not dolls! They're figurines! And you can take your great army and—"

"Now, now," Dr. Thorn warned. "You will change your mind about joining us, my boy. And if you do not, well… there are other uses for half-bloods. We have many monstrous mouths to feed. The Great Stirring is underway."

"Stirring?" I asked.

Dr. Thorn smiled evilly, "Yes, the stirring of monsters, the worst of them, the most powerful, are now waking. Monsters that have not been seen in thousands of years. They will cause death and destruction the likes of which mortals have never known. And soon we shall have the most important monster of all—the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus!"

"And would one of those monsters be as big as a skyscraper?" I asked worriedly. I waited for him to answer, "Well-"

He was cut off by the sound of Percy grunting as he was pushed to the ground by, most likely, Annabeth. That's an Athena's child for you. They always have a plan, unlike the rest of us.

Thalia and Grover advanced from behind me—Thalia wielding her magic shield, Aegis. Man that shield gives me the creeps, even Dr. Thorn winced and growled when he saw it.

Thalia moved in with her spear. "For Zeus!"

Thalia jabbed at his head, but he snarled and swatted the spear aside. His hand changed into an orange paw, with enormous claws that sparked against Thalia's shield as he slashed. If it hadn't been for Aegis, Thalia would've been sliced like a loaf of bread. As it was, she managed to roll backward and land on her feet.

I decided to join the fight, I threw a fire ball straight in Thorn's face, he roared with pain. And then he shot his spikes at me, but this time I dodged it. "Just give up. You're outnumbered!" I shouted at Thorn.

Now it was Grover's turn, he sprang forward. He put his reed pipes to his lips and began to play—a frantic jig that sounded like something pirates would dance to. Grass broke through the snow. Within seconds, rope-thick weeds were wrapping around Dr. Thorn's legs, entangling him.

Dr. Thorn roared and began to change. He grew larger until he was in his true form—his face still human, but his body that of a huge lion. His leathery, spiky tail whipped deadly thorns in all directions.

"A manticore!" Annabeth said, now visible. Her magical New York Yankees cap had come off when she'd plowed into us.

"Who are you people?" Bianca di Angelo demanded. "And what is that?"

"A manticore?" Nico gasped. "He's got three thousand attack power and plus five to saving throws!"

"Hey! Now is not the time for your game Nico! Be quiet and stay out of sight! You too Bianca!" I told them and returned back to the battle.

"Get down!" Annabeth pushed the di Angelo's flat into the snow. At the last second Percy pressed something on his wrist, and then a metal plating spiraled out into a thick bronze shield. Just in time too.

The thorns impacted against it with such force they dented the metal. I don't think it could survive a second volley. Grover tried to help Percy, but thorn saw it coming and sent him flying beside Percy.

"Yield!" the monster roared.

"Bring it!" I roared, I shot a couple more fireballs at him, Thalia saw her chance and jabbed at the beast's side, he roared in pain, and then he sent Thalia flying ten feet to my left, I couldn't see when she landed exactly, because I was the only one left, and the chopper was getting too close.

Never mind, the helicopter appeared out of the mist, hovering just beyond the cliffs. It was a sleek black military-style gunship, with attachments on the sides that looked like laser-guided rockets. The helicopter had to be manned by mortals, but what was it doing here? How could mortals be working with a monster? The searchlights blinded me, I lifted up arm to cover the lights but, that was enough time for Thorn to swat me thirty feet away, I landed with a loud 'thud!'

I had trouble getting up, my vision was fuzzy. "No…" I said, "Not now…"

"No!" Percy yelled somewhere in front of me. I looked up only to see him parry away a spike just before it would've hit Thalia in the chest. He raised his shield over them, but I knew it wouldn't be enough. I got up but instantly fell down. Dammit! Everyone keeps telling me to take it easy…But I never listen.

Dr. Thorn laughed. "Now do you see how hopeless it is? Yield, little heroes."

"NO!" I shouted and threw one more fire ball at him. He easily dodged it, now we were trapped between a monster and a fully armed helicopter. We had no chance.

Then I heard a clear, piercing sound: the call of a hunting horn blowing in the woods.

The manticore froze. For a moment, no one moved. There was only the swirl of snow and wind and the chopping of the helicopter blades.

"No," Dr. Thorn said. "It cannot be—"

His sentence was cut short when something shot past me like a streak of moonlight. A glowing silver arrow sprouted from Dr. Thorn's shoulder.

I know that Arrow…Artemis? I looked behind me, I couldn't see anyone. "Curse you!" Thorn cried. He unleashed his spikes, dozens of them at once, a couple whistled past my head. Most of them went into the woods where the arrow had come from, but just as fast, silvery arrows shot back in reply. It almost looked like the arrows had intercepted the thorns in midair and sliced them in two, but my eyes must've been playing tricks on me.

No one, not even Apollo's kids at camp, could shoot with that much accuracy. Only Artemis can shoot like that, Last time she shot those at me, I knew if I didn't have the curse of Achilles, I would have been dead, my reaction was a little slow. But I still stopped them, no regular demi-god can shoot like that but Artemis and her hunters.

The manticore pulled the arrow out of his shoulder with a howl of pain. His breathing was heavy. Percy tried to swipe at him with his sword, but he wasn't as injured as he looked. He dodged his attack and slammed his tail into Percy shield, knocking him aside.

Then the archers came from the woods. They were girls, about a dozen of them. The youngest was maybe ten. The oldest, about fourteen, like me. They wore silvery ski parkas and jeans, and they were all armed with bows. They advanced on the manticore with determined expressions.

"The Hunters!" Annabeth cried.

One of the older archers stepped forward with her bow drawn. She was tall and graceful with coppery colored skin. Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Thank the gods…We wouldn't be in the mess if I just went in the car with Percy and the others.

"Permission to kill, my lady?" One of the hunters said.

The monster wailed. "This is not fair! Direct interference! It is against the Ancient Laws."

"Not so," Artemis said. Her expression was stern and dangerous. "The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast." She looked at the older girl with the circlet. "Zoe, permission granted."

The manticore growled. "If I cannot have these alive, I shall have them dead!" He lunged at Thalia and Percy, knowing that they were weak and dazed.

"No!" Annabeth yelled, and she charged at the monster. "Wait! Don't!" I shouted after her, she didn't listen. "Get back, half-blood!" the girl with the circlet said. "Get out of the line of fire!"

But Annabeth leaped onto the monster's back and drove her knife into his mane. The manticore howled, turning in circles with his tail flailing as Annabeth hung on for dear life.

"Fire!" Zoe ordered.

"NO!" I screamed and stopped the flow of time, it was only for a couple of seconds but it stopped the arrows, for some reason only a couple fell to the ground. I failed again.

The first caught the manticore in the neck. Another hit his chest. The manticore staggered backward, wailing, "This is not the end, Huntress! You shall pay!"

I saw the beast turn around and get ready to jump off the cliff. I shadow traveled to where they were, I was a second too late, he leaped as I tried to grab them. I followed them, I used the winds to go down faster, "Just a little more." I said.

A dark cloud appeared, Thorn and Annabeth went straight through it. I followed, on the other side was water, no sign of Annabeth or Thorn. I hit the water with a splash, what just happened? I shadow traveled back up feeling miserable, I was on the edge, breathing hard, "Where is she? What happened?" Percy asked me. I shook my head with disappointment.

I looked up and saw no chopper, Percy ran up to me, "Come on get up." His voice was ragged.

"Five half-bloods and a satyr, my lady."

"Yes," Artemis said. "Some of Chiron's campers, I see."

"I tried to save her…I'm sorry Percy…" I told him, he put on a forced smile, "W-We'll get her back…"

Artemis came forward, "You did what you could, don't despair." She told me. She had no expression, just like Poseidon. Percy tried to get up, but he fell back down, both of us were too tired to do anything. I sat there feeling like a failure.

Grover Praised Artemis too much, I know she's awesome, but damn that's just too much. "Thank you, Lady Artemis! You're so… you're so… Wow!"

I smiled weakly at Grover, "I think you should go with Thalia." I told him, Thalia was glaring at Grover, he gulped and nodded, "Good idea."

"Whoa," Bianca di Angelo said. "Hold up. Time out."

Everybody looked at her. She pointed her finger at all of us in turn, like she was trying to connect the dots. "Who… who are you people?"

Artemis's expression softened. "It might be a better question, my dear girl, to ask who you are. Who are your parents?"

Bianca glanced nervously at her brother, who was still staring in awe at Artemis.

Our parents are dead," Bianca said. "We're orphans. There's a bank trust that pays for our school, but…"

She faltered. I guess she could tell from our faces that we didn't believe her.

"What?" she demanded. "I'm telling the truth."

I stared at her, "No…Bianca, you're a half-blood. One of your parents was mortal. The other was an Olympian." I explained to her.

"An Olympian… athlete?" Bianca asked.

"No," Zoe said. "One of the gods."

"Cool!" said Nico.

"No!" Bianca's voice quavered. "This is not cool!"

Nico danced around like he needed to use the restroom. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage? Does he get extra movement points for—"

"Nico, shut up!" Bianca put her hands to her face. "This is not your stupid Mythomagic game, okay? There are no gods!"

"Bianca, I know it's hard to believe. But the gods are still around. Trust me. They're immortal. And whenever they have kids with regular humans, kids like us, well… Our lives are dangerous." I told her, "Although your lives maybe a lot more dangerous than mine. But nonetheless, you're a half-blood."

"Dangerous," Bianca said, "like the girl who fell."

Thalia turned away. Even Artemis looked pained. I lowered my gaze to the ground. I didn't need to hear that again…

"Do not despair for Annabeth," the goddess said. "She was a brave maiden. If she can be found, I shall find her."

"Excuse m'lady, but will you allow me to go with you? I have powers and with me going along we will be able to find her faster." I asked her.

"Oo!" Nico raised his hand. "What about Dr. Thorn? That was awesome how you shot him with arrows! Is he dead?"

"He was a manticore," Artemis said. "Hopefully he is destroyed for now, but monsters never truly die. They re-form over and over again, and they must be hunted whenever they reappear."

Artemis turned to me, and looked me over, "I will not have a boy accompany me on my journey." She said coldly, "What? Come on! This is my fault, it is only right that I fix it!" I yelled at her, I usually respect all gods, but I was tired, plus after what happened, I could never do anything ever again, knowing that I got Annabeth killed.

"Please...I need to do this, I could never live with myself, knowing I got one of my friends killed!" I pleaded to Artemis, she thought about this, "My answer will stay the same, I will not allow a boy to accompany me on this journey." She told me.

I got angry, "boy!? I can defeat any god! Including Zeus! You said it yourself, Zeus is afraid of me!" I shouted at her, Artemis kept her cool. "No matter what you say, my answer won't change."

I slowly got up, I kept my mouth shut, and walked to the forest to cool my head. My heart rate was also a little too high. Once I thought I was alone I keeled over and coughed, blood splashed on my hands, some got on the snow. "Great..." I said and sat down on my knees.

"I'm sorry Annabeth." I whispered and looked to the sky, "You should come back to our camp and get yourself checked out." Someone behind said coldly, "No...I don't need it, leave me be." I told her.

"Stubbornness will be your downfall if you don't accept help when you most need it." Artemis told me. I sighed, "That goes for both of us...Just leave be for now...I'll-I'll come back." I promised them. I wasn't mad anymore nor was my heart rate high.

I didn't hear them leave, but they weren't there anymore. "I'm going...No matter what, I don't care what she says, and I'm saving Annabeth." I told myself.

This one is a little shorter than the last chapter, but that doesn't matter.

Thanks for reading! And I hope you all have an awesome day!

Rilurz~