One year later

Thalia

Thalia sat underneath a tree, counting arrows. Pheobe sat next to her, giving her a small smile.

"Lady Artemis calls for you." Pheobe said.

"Thank you, Pheobe." Thalia straightened her tiara and stood up. She weaved her way in and out of the trees in the forest to where their camp sat. While they were typically always on the move, they tended to settle down for the nights. They were always concealed. It took a very special demigod to discover their camp.

"Thalia." Artemis's voice was warm, yet strained as Thalia entered her tent. Thalia sat crissed cross in front of her goddess. Their was something off about her expression. She almost looked nervous.

"Unfortunately, I have some news." Artemis spoke.

"Danger?" Thalia grabbed her bow.

"Possibly." Again, that strained look. "We have had a breech in the underworld. We need to investigate, hunt down whatever escaped."

"Is this the job for a hunter? I have a friend, Nico Di'Angelo. He is an expert in all things relating to the underworld. I'm sure he can help whatever situation this is." Thalia frowned.

"I am aware of your friend and his capabilities, however, I think this mission would be better suited for our hunters. There is an issue here that only the power of our hunt can solve." Artemis's eyes gave a final sort of look.

"Yes, my lady." Thalia bowed her head. "Shall we leave at first light?"

"No. We leave now."

00000000000000000

A day later, the hunt had reached their destination. Thalia gave an odd look to Artemis. The goddess was keeping something from her. As a goddess, she had no obligations to tell her anything, but as her second in command, she typically did. Another thing that struck Thalia odd was that she was still here. Artemis usually stayed for a couple of days, but mainly left them on their own. Being here for a hunt was strange.

"I sense something powerful in that crevice." Thalia whispered to her hunters.

"Hm." Pheobe moved in closer, bow drawn tightly.

"Alyssa. Can you lead?" Thalia asked politely, but it was clear that it was not a question. Alyssa, a new recruit, widened her eyes. Getting to lead on a hunt was a big deal. The first sign that you were truly a part of and a trusted member of the hunt. She tried to hide her smile as she moved closer to the threat.

"It's not an animal." Eliza said to Thalia. "Maybe we can communicate with it."

"Be careful." Thalia said as she whispered those instructions to Alyssa. The girl nodded and stood, speaking with a clear, concise, and intimidating voice.

"Please reveal yourself and your intentions in the name of the gods or face our wrath." Alyssa spoke with command. Thalia smiled. She was getting a hang of it. While typically they killed silently with animals, this threat showed intelligence, meaning that a possible deal could be struck. If they could figure out why this creature was here, then they could find the root of the problem.

With no response, Alyssa glanced back at Thalia, unsure. Thalia gestured for Alyssa to repeat her command.

"Please reveal yourself and your intentions in the name of the gods or face our wrath." Alyssa repeated, voice shakier this time. Silence, then...

"Please." The voice croaked out, wounded and scared. Thalia stood up quickly. Pheobe shot her an odd look. Thalia had just moved out of position. But there was something about that voice. It didn't sound threatening at all. It sounded terrified and near death. It sounded like it needed help. Alyssa looked at Thalia, bewildered. Thalia motioned for her to go to Thalia's spot in formation. Alyssa moved back, embarrassed.

"Please state your purpose for being here." Thalia commanded. She had taken charge of the situation. It was too odd a situation for Alyssa to start on.

"Please don't kill me." The wounded voice spoke again. Thalia, again, felt a very odd feeling in her chest.

"I am going to approach you. Please do not attack." Thalia drew her bow.

"No please." The voice gasped. "If you come any closer, I'll kill you. I swear I'll do it." Thalia hesitated. It was clear from the tone alone that whoever the owner of this voice could not take her. At least definitely not here and the rest of the hunters, plus a goddess. Thalia felt a pang of sympathy for whoever was behind the trees. It was desperate.

"In the name of Artemis and her hunters, please reveal yourself." Thalia tried to sound intimidating, but her voice almost sounded like a question. Her bow lowered slightly.

"Artemis?" The voice came, a new emotion in it.

"In the name of Artemis and her hunters, please reveal yourself." Thalia's voice became harder and she raised her bow again. She had to set a firm example for her hunters. But one singular word crushed all other thoughts in her head.

"Thalia?" The voice belonged to Percy Jackson. She knew it the second he had said her name. She sprinted down into the clearing and saw him laying, broken and near death, in a crevice. Thalia dove to her knees by his side and pulled his head to her chest. He was in shock at first, but then he broke down crying.

Her fingers clutched his hair as she cried too. She repeated his name over and over. But how? He had been in Tartarus for over a year. How was he still alive. Not only alive, but here. In the mortal world. With her.

She looked at him again. His face was so swollen it was almost unrecognizable. He held himself at an awkward angle, suggesting broken ribs. His leg was facing the wrong direction, clearly a major break. He had so many cuts and bruises Thalia was concerned for blood loss. But none of that mattered because he was alive.

She looked up at Artemis who was giving her a small smile. She disappeared. She knew.

"Hunters." Thalia's voice was shaky, not at all like herself, but that was okay. "You will show him the same respect you show me. Because he deserves it. He is a hero. And he is alive. Percy Jackson is alive."

Thalia looked down at Percy, a huge tearful grin on her face as he sobbed into her shoulder, grateful to be alive and finally, after all this time, safe.

Please review