Chapter 4: The Worst Birthday Ever

The winter sun was already setting when Percy Jackson arrived at Thalia's pine. She hadn't been seen for hours. At first, Percy thought she just wanted some time alone after everything that had been going on. But when Thalia didn't show up for dinner at the pavilion, he started to realize something was wrong.

Before heading out, Percy had spoken with Chiron, whose usual calm demeanor had been replaced by a rare hint of concern. In response, the camp had been organized into a large search party. Demigods were dispatched in every direction—into the forest, along the shoreline, and around the camp's borders—each group tasked with finding any trace of Thalia.

Now, at the pine tree, Percy's heart pounded with an anxious rhythm as he scanned the area for a sign that may indicate where Thalia would have gone. He wouldn't have been so worried if it wasn't Thalia's sixteenth birthday. But once he realized Thalia was missing, a sinking feeling told him that something was seriously wrong.

Percy began to inspect the area with growing urgency, his gaze methodically sweeping the ground around the base of the tree. His heart dropped when he noticed a scrap of black fabric a few feet away. It was unmistakably part of a jacket, and as he drew closer, he recognized it as Thalia's. The sight of the fabric, torn and abandoned, sent a chill through him. His fear heightened when he realized that whatever had occurred was far more serious than he had initially thought.

Percy looked around the area for more clues, his eyes scanning the forest floor for any additional signs of what had happened. He moved cautiously away from the base of the pine tree, hoping to find more evidence. After walking a short distance, he came across another clue—a fresh trail of small broken branches that laid on the ground.

Percy followed the trail with growing apprehension, his eyes picking out the signs of a violent struggle. Broken branches lay scattered on the ground, and kicked-up dirt marked the path where a fierce confrontation had occurred. Sword marks cut into the trunks of nearby trees as he continued forward.

The deeper he ventured, the more evidence he found—shredded pieces of fabric and scorched foliage from electricity marked the path. Each new clue seemed to pull him further from the safety of the camp and deeper into the woods. As he continued to walk, the signs of the battle became more spread out, causing Percy to realize that the fight had been distant enough to go unnoticed by anyone nearby. Every step he took seemed to echo the isolation of the scene as he hoped to find more signs of Thalia and uncover what had happened to her.

The more spread out the evidence of the fight became, the more Percy began to fear that he had lost the trail entirely. Just when he began to doubt whether he was still on the right path, his gaze fell upon an object partially buried in the underbrush. With a mix of hope and dread, he approached and realized it was Thalia's mace canister that turned into her spear. Percy's heart sank at the implications of Thalia being separated from her weapon. Percy picked up the canister, feeling the cold metal against his skin, and glanced around uneasily.

Percy clutched the mace canister tightly and began walking cautiously through the forest, calling out into the quiet surroundings. "Thalia!" he shouted, his voice echoing slightly in the still air. He paused, straining to listen for any sign of her, but the only response was the faint rustle of leaves. With growing urgency, he called again, "Thalia, it's Percy. Can you hear me?!" Each call seemed to fade into the silence, amplifying his growing concern as he continued to search.

As he continued his search, a sudden snap of a twig nearby made him freeze. His heart raced as he turned sharply toward the sound. The forest seemed to hold its breath, and for a moment, the silence felt almost oppressive. He waited, hoping for any sign of movement or a response, but the only sound was the whisper of the wind through the trees.

Still on high alert, Percy walked a bit further, eventually stumbling into a clearing. His breath caught as he saw Thalia lying motionless on the forest floor. Her clothes were torn, and there were visible wounds and bruises marking her skin.

Percy's heart pounded as he rushed over to Thalia and knelt beside her. He gently shook her shoulder, trying to rouse her. "Thalia, are you okay?" he asked, his voice tight with worry. His eyes searched up and down her torn clothes and the numerous scratches and cuts covering her body.

Thalia stirred slightly at Percy's touch, her eyes fluttering open. She looked up at him, her gaze unfocused but filled with a flicker of recognition.

"Percy..." she whispered, her voice weak.

"Thalia, what happened?" Percy asked urgently, his hands gently brushing her hair from her face.

Thalia winced as she talked, "The skeletons. They never stopped chasing us." Her blue eyes, though dimmed by fatigue flashed with frustration. "One of them had the Golden Fleece. I tried to stop them. But they were… too much. They got it." She paused, catching her breath, and then shifted slightly trying to ease the discomfort.

Percy's eyes widened. "The Golden Fleece? They took it?"

Thalia nodded weakly. "Yeah. They took it. They were about to finish me off. But then... I don't know why, but they didn't. They just left me here." Her eyes grew distant as she struggled to recall the details. "They... they seemed to know exactly what they were doing. I don't know why they didn't kill me."

Thalia winced with each movement. "I've been in and out of consciousness. I think my leg is broken. Every time I tried moving the pain was too much." She looked up at Percy with a pained expression as she noted the setting sun. "Have I really been gone the whole day?"

Percy's face tightened with concern as he listened to Thalia while inspecting her leg. The area was swollen and discolored. Her leg was bent at a slight unnatural angle. Her jeans were torn and stained, revealing deep stripes of red on her skin. Percy sighed as he responded. "No one's seen you all day. We got the whole camp trying to find you."

Acting quickly, he removed his jacket to use as a makeshift bandage. Gently, he wrapped the fabric around her leg, securing it with careful, steady hands. Thalia winced slightly with each adjustment, but she bore it with quiet resilience.

Thalia looked up at him,. "This has to be the worst birthday ever," she said. "I don't think it can get any worse."

Percy, trying to inject a bit of humor into the tense moment, and being visibly relieved that Thalia was alive, gave a slight smile. "Well it's not over yet."

"Very funny." Thalia responded.

"We need to get you back to camp," Percy said. "If you can't walk I think I'll just have to carry you."

Thalia looked at him with a stubborn set to her jaw. "Percy, I can't just let you carry me. I-"

Percy cut her off gently but firmly. "You're not going to be able to walk. And I don't want to leave you by yourself in case any more danger comes. It's the only way to get you back quickly and safely."

Thalia's eyes flashed with frustration. "I appreciate the offer, but I'll be ok until you come back."

"I'm not leaving you alone out here," Percy insisted, cutting through her protests. "Right now, the most important thing is getting you back to safety. You can't argue with that."

Thalia's gaze softened slightly, though she still looked conflicted. "Fine. But you have to be careful with my leg. I don't want to make it any worse."

Percy nodded. "I'll be as careful as I can. We need to get moving. I heard some noise in the forest earlier. I don' think we're alone."

Thalia nodded and braced herself as Percy carefully positioned himself. He slipped one arm under her shoulders and the other under her knees, lifting her gently but steadily. Thalia winced as he adjusted her position.

"Ready?" Percy asked.

Thalia took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, just... take it slow. My leg feels like it's on fire."

Percy adjusted his grip to support her broken leg as best as he could and began making his way through the forest. Thalia clung to him, her head resting against his shoulder. Despite her pain, she managed to ask, "How's Nico?"

Percy sighed, "He go really angry and ran off. I tried to follow him, but he slipped away into the forest." He hesitated before continuing, his voice filled with uncertainty. "I think Nico might be a son of Hades."

Thalia's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"When talking to him I gave him that figurine Bianca found in the junkyard. He threw it on the ground before he ran away. When I looked at it, I realized it was a statute of Hades. It struck me how much the two resemble each other."

"Are you sure?"

Percy shook his head, his voice filled with uncertainty. "I don't know, but I have a strong feeling that he might be. If Nico is really a son of Hades, maybe it's for the best that he left. Maybe time away will help him discover who he really is. He might not feel like he belongs here if I'm right."

"Let's hope you're wrong like usual. I'd like to think things aren't as complicated as they seem." Despite her attempt at humor, her voice was strained, and her expression was weary.

Percy carried Thalia through the forest with steady, deliberate steps, careful to avoid jostling her injured leg. The rest of the journey back to camp was quiet. Thalia's head continued to rest against his shoulder, and though she was silent, her occasional winces spoke volumes about her discomfort.

When they finally reached the camp's borders, Percy felt a wave of relief. The sight of the familiar campgrounds was a welcome reassurance. He made his way directly to the Big House, the building looming ahead like a beacon of safety. As they approached the entrance, Percy carefully carried Thalia up the steps and through the door.

Percy spotted Chiron inside and got his attention. "Chiron! I found Thalia. She's hurt bad."

Chiron's expression filled with worry as he saw Thalia's condition. "Let's go to the infirmary." he said urgently as the three of them walked over. Once they reached the infirmary, Chiron gestured for Percy to carefully place Thalia on one of the beds. Chiron's gaze shifted between Thalia and Percy, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Thalia, can you tell me what happened?" Chiron asked gently.

Thalia took a shaky breath, "The skeletons from our quest… they never stopped following us. I found them at the camp border. They had the Golden Fleece. I tried to fight them and get it back, but they were too strong."

Chiron listened intently, nodding as she spoke. His expression was grave, his mind was racing at the implications of losing the Golden Fleece. "And what about your injuries?"

Percy, noticing Thalia struggling to get her words out, responded for her. "I'm pretty sure her leg is broken. She said she's been in and out of consciousness most the day."

"The skeletons didn't kill me." Thalia added. "I don't know why."

Chiron looked at Thalia with fatherly compassion in his eyes, "We will figure that out. But right now we need to take care of you."

He turned to Percy. "I'll go call off the search party. I trust you can get started treating Thalia?"

"Of course, Chiron." Percy said as Chiron began exiting the infirmary. His thunderous hooves could be heard moments later, gradually fading off into the distance.

Percy was left alone with Thalia in the softly lit infirmary. The room was quiet, the light from a single lamp casting a warm glow over everything. Percy glanced at Thalia, noting how pale she still looked despite the initial relief of being back at camp.

"I'll be right back," Percy said, trying to keep his tone upbeat as he moved to a nearby cabinet. He rummaged through it, finally retrieving a small vial of nectar and a piece of ambrosia. He returned to Thalia's side, holding them out to her.

"Here," he said, offering the items. "This should help you feel better."

Thalia took the nectar first. She drank it carefully, and Percy watched as color slowly returned to her cheeks. She then took a bite of the ambrosia, and a look of immediate relief spread across her face. "Wow, that's amazing," she said, her voice sounding much stronger. "I forget how amazing this stuff is."

Percy gave a small, relieved smile. "It's pretty incredible stuff. I'm glad it's helping."

She glanced at Percy, her eyes twinkling with a mix of humor and affection. "You know, we really need to stop meeting like this. Ever since Westover Hall, the only time we see each other either our lives are falling apart or we're in some danger."

Percy nodded with a faint smile on his lips. "I guess that's what happens when you throw a daughter of Zeus together with a son of Poseidon."

"I guess so." Thalia mused.

"It won't always be like this," Percy assured her. "I'll tell you what. After all this prophecy stuff is over, we need to do something normal. Maybe go a day and pretend we aren't demigods."

Thalia's expression softened, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. "That sounds nice," she said, her voice carrying a touch of warmth. "I'll definitely hold you to that. A day without all this chaos would be a welcome change."

Percy smiled as he picked up a wet rag from the small cabinet beside the bed and carefully approached Thalia. With gentle movements, he began wiping away the dirt and remaining blood from her face. The rag, though damp, was soothing against her skin, and he worked meticulously to clean away the dirt and blood from her battle.

He took a moment to look her over, noting the tattered remnants of her clothes and the fading cuts that marked her skin. Even though she was recovering quickly with the nectar and ambrosia, the signs of her struggle were still evident. His gaze was filled with genuine admiration. "I'm really impressed you managed to hold your ground against those skeletons for as long as you did. You must have been completely wiped out."

Thalia's eyes met his. "Thanks. It wasn't easy. I fought as long as I could. I just wish I could have stopped them from getting away with the Fleece."

Percy's expression turned serious. "That's what's been bugging me. Why did they want it? It's not like they would use it for themselves."

As Percy finished wiping away the dirt and blood from her face, Thalia responded, her voice thoughtful. "You don't think Kronos is planning to use the Fleece for himself, do you?"

"That's what he originally wanted it for, right?" Percy answered. "If that's the case, we might be facing him a lot sooner than we thought."

Thalia shuddered at the thought, her eyes widening slightly with unease. "I really hope that isn't the case," she said. "The idea of facing Kronos… it's enough to make anyone nervous." She looked at Percy, the weight of their situation settling heavily on her. "Let's just hope there's another explanation, and we don't have to deal with him anytime soon."

Percy sighed as he realized he was beginning to ruminate about the impending conflict. "I hope so. Maybe we should try to not worry about that right now. There's enough going on as it is."

"You're right," Thalia said.

Percy slowly removed the makeshift bandage he had put on earlier, revealing Thalia's leg. The nectar and ambrosia had already started working; the swelling had reduced, and the leg had seemed to begin straightening out. However, her leg still had visible dirt and scratches from where it had been torn. He cleaned the area gently with a sterile cloth, being careful not to hurt her anymore.

While he worked, Percy adjusted the bandages carefully, wrapping them snugly but not too tight. Even though the leg was healing, it needed support to keep everything aligned properly. Thalia winced a little with each adjustment but stayed still, trusting Percy's careful touch. He kept speaking softly to reassure her as he worked, ensuring the bandage was secure yet gentle, providing the support her leg needed.

As Percy finished adjusting the bandage, Thalia looked up at him with a curious expression. "How do you know how to treat a broken leg so well?" she asked, her voice tinged with genuine curiosity.

"I figured it would be useful to know how to treat stuff like this," he explained. "So I spent time with the Apollo campers last summer whenever I could. They taught me a lot about first aid and basic medical care. It's definitely come in handy."

"I didn't realize you'd turned into a mini doctor over the summer." She flashed a teasing smile. "Guess I should be grateful you've got skills beyond running head-first into trouble."

Percy was about to respond, likely with something that poked fun at Thalia, when the faint sound of hoofbeats grew louder through the window. The rhythmic clatter of Chiron's hooves signaled that the search was over and that Chiron was returning to the Big House.

Percy turned to Thalia, his earlier focus shifting to something lighter. "Before Chiron gets in here, I almost forgot, I brought you a birthday gift."

Thalia looked at him with a curious, slightly amused expression, noting that whatever it was had to be in his pocket. "Don't tell me it's a pinecone."

Percy reached into his pocket and pulled out the small, metallic mace canister he had found earlier. He held it up with a grin. "Something just a little bit better."

Thalia's eyes widened as she recognized the canister. "No way! I thought I'd never find it after it got knocked out of my hand. How did you–"

"It was on the ground when I was looking for you. It was practically buried; it's a miracle I even found it." Percy said as he gave the canister to Thalia.

Thalia's face lit up with genuine gratitude as her fingers traced the canisters surface as if she couldn't quite believe it was real. "Thank you so much, Percy. I thought it was gone forever. It means a lot."

Percy shrugged, "I'm glad I could find it. I know today's sucked so hopefully this makes it just a little better. Happy birthday, Thalia."

Just as he finished speaking, the door to the infirmary opened and Chiron came in. He moved calmly to Percy and Thalia. His eyes, usually warm and steady, held a trace of the day's fatigue.

"Percy," Chiron began as his eyes slightly widened with the impressive work Percy had done treating Thalia's wounds, "thank you for your help with Thalia. The attack on camp is unprecedented. I need you to gather the captains here at the Big House in thirty minutes. There is much to discuss, and we need to make sure everyone is informed and prepared for what comes next. Kronos is moving quicker than anyone could have anticipated. I'm worried we are all unprepared."

Percy nodded, with a hint of worry on his face, "Got it. I'll let them know."

"I have some calls to make," Chiron said. "I'll meet you in the rec room when everyone is ready." He turned to Thalia, "I'm glad you are okay. I'm sorry this happened to you. If you are able, you of course are encouraged to attend."

"Thank you Chiron. I'll make it."

Chiron nodded as he exited the infirmary. When the door had closed, Percy turned to Thalia, who was now resting more comfortably. The room was filled with a quiet calm.

Percy moved closer to Thalia, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "I'll get everyone together for the meeting. Just... try to rest up a bit before you join us. You've been through a lot today."

Thalia nodded, her gaze meeting his with a mix of weariness and warmth. "I will. See you soon."

For a moment, their eyes locked, and the silence between them grew more profound. The air seemed to hum with unspoken words and shared feelings. Percy's expression softened further, and Thalia's eyes lingered on his, a faint smile playing on her lips. As they held each other's gaze, the room seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in a silent, meaningful exchange.

Eventually, Percy broke the gaze, giving her one last, reassuring smile before turning to leave. Thalia watched him go, the warmth of their connection lingering in her thoughts.

Thalia just can't catch a break, it's been a whirlwind for her! But don't worry, in the upcoming chapters we'll get to see how tough she really is. She is the daughter of Zeus, after all. If you're enjoying the story consider favoriting and following! And feel free to leave a review, I love responding to them, it makes everything more engaging.

Review Responses

merendinoemiliano: Glad to hear you liked how I explored the Percy and Thalia's feelings. I feel like the books didn't really address the huge pressure the characters must have felt. Diving into here has been fun for sure.

Guest: And I love you, random citizen! - Metroman

SD2901: Definitely! Having Thalia be the center of the prophecy adds an extra layer to the story because not only do we have to worry about Thalia being strong enough to defeat Kronos, but whether she will chose to even if she is strong enough. We'll have to see what happens...

A Plump Hutt: I also wished Percy ended up with Thalia! In this fic I'm planning on sticking close to canon but also having some creative liberties here and there, so it's kinda like a multiverse typething.

Guest: Here is the update!

GrayValkyrie: You bring up a good point about how important Percy is to Thalia when it comes to loyalty to the gods. This will definitely be a reoccurring thing as the story starts to really heat up. Good insights!

JoJo: I guess only time will tell what the skeletons will use the Fleece for ;)

Luq707: Great constructive criticism. I wrote the alarm clock scene in a confusing way. What I meant to write was a camp horn from outside woke them up and Percy looks at the clock wondering why it didn't go off. Definitely butchered that part. Thanks for being so involved in the fic!

The Last Soldier: Thanks for reviewing and I definitely see what you're saying about the imagery. Sometimes I get too focused on describing everything just for the sake of describing it. I had that in mind when writing this chapter and I think the flow is more to-the-point. I really appreciate it!

Detectiveanomoly: Unfortunately I don't have a discord but I'm glad you liked the chapter!