Make me. Percy's unusually bold response made her head spin. Just a moment before, there was a serious chance of sending him to Hades early, or at least shocking him enough to numb his fingers for a week. The guy didn't know how to shut up, and he never considered what anyone else wanted or thought. He always thought he knew best, and now, he was nowhere to be seen.

Right then, the opportunity would have been perfect. The crackling within her fingertips was mere inches from coursing through his veins. The faintest twitch in his green irises betrayed his uncertainty at the outcome if they truly came to blows. She couldn't help but relish the seedling of fear she could place in him.

He was such an idiot. It was too late to apologize, so any attempt to reconcile felt more like a pity party for himself, rather than a genuine admission of guilt. He didn't think she could handle the truth, and if she hadn't come back, the truth would have remained a mystery to her. He was fine with just letting her be a tree. Luke had saved her. He knew she would come back. Sure, he might be a little…off track at the moment, but he must've still had some good in him. During their days on the run he had always been a little impulsive, but he never hid anything, even when he had to confess some of his less than moral behavior.

Percy was wrong. She could handle the truth. His arrogance would be the death of him, if she didn't cause it first. As those thoughts crossed her mind, she began to fiddle with her silver bracelet. Sure, he got on her nerves and he had lied to her, but he was also her best friend for over a year. Her conversations with Annabeth had all but proven that the guy, while completely inept when it came to teamwork, was at least well-intentioned and protective. At the very least, maliciousness would have been at the bottom of his list of qualities...

Her heart pricked as her flow of memories carried her back to the dreamscape. All the card games they played, all the fun music they listened to, and all the stories they shared with one another tore through her mind without restraint. Her soul hungered to return to those days. The days of ignorance when she was in an essentially endless sleep, only to be interrupted by the boy with the sea-green eyes.

Instead, she had returned to life, looking into those green eyes and feeling the weight of his comforting touch. She felt herself sink into the memories subconsciously, desperately searching for the warm blanket of security she had lost so many years ago when she ran away. Then, in an instant, her view of that blanket, Percy Jackson, had shattered, reminding her of the cold, cruel, and unforgiving nature of the world. Even your best friends can hurt you, and the knife always hurts more when it's driven from behind.

Yet, at that final moment when she could've used him as an outlet. When the inferno of her emotions crackled on her fingertips, he stood and said, 'Make me.' His eyes darted to her lips, almost like a challenge. For that fleeting moment, her heart began to race. Briefly, she didn't hate Percy Jackson, and that scared her more than the monster she was about to fight.

It was stupid really. The first thing he did was run off on his own. Fighting monsters alone is how demigods get killed. Why didn't he understand? If he ran off to meet every danger head on, he'd eventually be outmatched. His friends, Annabeth, Grover, the kids at camp, they'd all be distraught. An uncomfortable truth she had been wrestling with began to piece itself together. She and Percy were incredibly similar, a fact that Annabeth would never let her forget whenever she'd rant to him about his insufferable ideals of protecting others from harm at any cost. Would he have sacrificed himself in the same way? The pit in her stomach gave her the answer. He was insufferable, stubborn, and unwilling to ever listen, but he'd sacrifice his life for a stranger.

A cool breeze danced through the room and a shiver crawled up her spine. Something was wrong. She quickened her pace as she scoured the room for Grover. Annabeth would be nearby with him. At least, Thalia hoped so, given that she was still invisible.

She spotted him in the corner of the room, muttering to himself. At least, that's how it would have looked to an outsider, but Thalia let out a sigh of relief knowing that Annabeth was close.

"We need to leave, now." Thalia said. "Percy ran off by himself like an idiot. Something's happened, I can feel it."

"She's right," Grover confirmed. "I have an empathy link with him. He just reached out to me. Thorn has them. He's playing nice right now to buy some time, but we need to be quick."

Annabeth took off her cap and materialized next to Grover. "Where are they?"

"I'm not entirely sure." Grover said. "I'll see if our empathy link can give us something." He closed his eyes to concentrate, but shrugged in frustration when he came up empty. "In the meantime do we have any idea where to start?"

Thalia racked her brain, but came up empty. The best plan would probably be to leave through the entrance closest to where the kids were before Percy disappeared. She fought to keep the smirk off of her face. Percy was a fighter. He would be fine and she couldn't wait to rub it in that her plan was right.

"We should go check the exit where we last saw the kids. I bet Percy made a beeline for it. Grover, keep checking your empathy link. If he's smart, Percy will try to contact you through it."

"Sounds good," Grover replied. "Lead the way."

The damp halls felt suffocating and the gray walls embodied the storm that was brewing outside. The soft drip of water from the ceiling betrayed the age of the place, but there was no sign of Percy or the Di Angelos. Damn it. Why did he always have to do everything alone? Now everyone was in danger.

Then, something caught her eye. The first sign of a fight. A divot in the stone wall and a spatter of blood surrounding the area. Thalia ran her fingers through the indent. A large projectile at high speed. Although whether the small pieces of stone under the divot were part of the wall or the remnants of the weapon was unclear. Still, it was something. Her heart sank as she realized the extent of the blood-red stain that now coated the wall.

The only reassurance she had was the lack of a prolonged struggle, suggesting Percy was playing for time. She had been expecting to see heavy lines that marked the dragging of unwilling participants. Instead, there seemed to be nothing more than four sets of footprints breaking the uniform layer of dust on the floor, blood drippings accompanying the largest human set.

"Guys, I'm getting something." Grover said.

"What is it? Where are they?" Thalia asked expectantly.

"Outside, by the cliffs. Percy says they're still alive, but to be wary of Thorn. He can throw spikes, is wicked fast, and incredibly deadly. Percy said he's playing nice to protect the kids. But we need to hurry."

"Percy doing the smart thing? Atlas must have let go of the sky." Thalia quipped.

"We have no time to waste. Let's go." Annabeth urged. "Now!"

She hastily threw her Yankees cap back on her head and instantly vanished. Her soft footsteps echoed throughout the halls, but they were easy enough to follow as Thalia and Grover sped down the hallway behind her. The original plan of a stealth mission had been compromised. The world began to quiet around Thalia, the ambience slowly being replaced by her own rhythmic heartbeat. No more time for plans and discussion. The fight was about to begin and it was time to trust her training. Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. What he lacked in tactical brilliance, Percy made up for in instincts and adaptability. She had to give him credit, it was a principle he seemed to understand innately.

Throwing open the doors, Thalia shivered as the cold air sliced through her, chilling her to the bone. Quickly locating Dr. Thorn's menacing figure, and Percy standing protectively in front of the kids, Thalia led the charge as they closed the distance to the cliff's edge. It was time. Her chemistry with Annabeth hadn't frayed in the slightest as the daughter of Athena plowed into Percy and the Di Angelos, causing Dr. Thorn's first volley of spikes to narrowly miss. She rubbed her shoulder in an unconscious sympathy as she observed the black spikes for the first time. Still, Percy was on his feet, ready for a fight, even if he was favoring his right shoulder.

Now it was her time to shine. She tapped her silver bracelet, which transformed into her favorite magical item: her shield, Aegis. It was likened after her sister, Athena's. Etched into the bronze was the likeness of Medusa. Sure, it couldn't turn people to stone like the real thing, but all she needed was the moment of hesitation. Not even monsters were spared from the hideous rendering.

She uncapped her can of mace that she stored in her pocket as it slowly began to expand to full size. Her fingers twitched as the familiar bronze metal appeared in her hand. She knew her way around most weapons, but nothing could compare to her reliable spear. With her spear in her right hand, and Aegis in her left, she did the only thing she could. She charged Dr. Thorn.

Dr. Thorn hissed as he caught sight of Aegis, but he did not falter like many weaker monsters. That was alright, she expected nothing less, which was why she brought a team. The world began to slow around her. The faint sound of a helicopter permeated through the icy wind and the clashing of weapons as her body moved without being told. One moment, that was all she needed.

She raised Aegis, and then she found it. Dr. Thorn's eyes began to narrow in the beginning of a wince. Here it was. Her muscles tensed, and she dashed through the opening the monster had left in his haste to avoid Aegis. Just under his chin, she saw her chance. Electricity began to course through her fingers to the tip of the spear, creating a familiar buzz. She began her strike, but the mirth in the monster's eye told her she had made a terrible mistake.

Dr. Thorn should not have been that fast. One glance at his pleased face, and Thalia knew that this was no accident. From the corner of her eye she saw his massive hand coming straight towards her, and her reflexes took over as she threw her spear.

She didn't get to spend very much time at camp before going to school in the city with Annabeth, but she did get in time for a few lessons after her return to normal. Chiron taught her the best defense is a good offense. A fighter who is always on the defensive will eventually lose if they are not willing to counter. However, even when fleeing may be the best option, creating separation is always a necessity for a quick escape from a poor position.

Her desperate gambit would require him to make a choice. Kill her, but sustain severe, possible lethal damage, or sacrifice his best chance to kill her, but live to fight another day. Stalemate. It was the best move on the board at the moment. It seemed that Dr. Thorn also understood the stakes. Why would he, who viewed himself as the queen, sacrifice himself for what he deemed was a lowly pawn. As her fingers released her spear, she felt herself relax slightly as his hand changed course.

She forced herself into a backwards roll, the cold snow seeping through her coat. At the same time, Dr Thorn's hand had transformed into a massive orange paw, swiping away the spear as though it was little more than an annoying fly. Still, it was just enough separation so she could shoot to her feet. Sure, now she was without her weapon of choice, but Aegis was a weapon in its own right. Plus, as a daughter of Zeus, she could always rely on the storms in a pinch.

With the spear cast aside, he once again refocused on his target. He moved at an almost impossible speed, with his orange paw bearing down on her. She raised her shield, trying to brace herself for the impact. Sparks flew as his claws connected, forcing her backwards once more. Still, she retained her footing. The previously faint sound of the helicopter was now increasing, adding difficulty to the task of listening for soft sounds of movement. Sight was her best weapon, but she still felt uneasy at the prospect of continuing this fight without her spear, and with her hearing diminished.

She was lucky. Her eyes had remained focused not on Dr. Thorn's head, but behind him. Spikes were hurtling towards her torso, right where her flank was currently exposed. She dropped the shield to cover, but she could not brace. The spikes hit with a nearly teeth shattering impact, sending vibrations throughout her body. These vibrations were unlike the familiar ones of electricity. Instead, they felt much more like Percy's when he shook the earth.

The cold snow stung against the small bit of skin that was exposed as she fell to the ground. She wheezed, attempting to regain her wind. It was at this moment she was grateful she had insisted on bringing her companions, as Grover began to play his reed pipes. Massive roots sprouted out the ground and began to wrap around Dr. Thorn's legs, slowly weaving him into a net. Sure, on their own, they would likely do little more than irritate the monster, but with three demigods that could attack like wolves, the roots would do the trick.

Unfortunately, this was where their luck ran out, as Dr. Thorn began to change. He began to grow even larger, choosing to shed any semblance of his human facade. His face remained the same, incredibly unsettling and waxy. His body had transformed into that of a huge lion, and his leathery spiked tail whipped deadly thorns in all directions.

"A manticore!" Annabeth was now visible, losing her cap after her collision, and alarm crept into her tone as well as her expression.

The Di Angelo siblings seemed to be wondering what the hell was going on, and if she were in their place, Thalia would likely have similar questions. There just wasn't time right now to get them up to speed. If they survived, then they could know the truth.

The manticore began clawing Grover's weeds, destroying them faster than they could grow. Then, his waxy, snake-like face began to turn towards the others. His creepy smile looked more like a grimace, but it betrayed his confidence. He was sure that he would not his arrogance could be used against him, Thalia mused.

Then it happened; another volley of spikes, but this time not aimed at her. Thalia saw them hurtling towards Percy and the Di Angelos. The projectiles were far too fast to evade, and she was sure that the demigods were about to turn into mincemeat. Riptide was a good weapon, even she could admit that, but parrying that many spikes simply wouldn't be possible. Percy remained calm, and quickly tapped his wristwatch. A beautiful bronze shield emerged just in time. It clearly wasn't quite as sturdy as her own, given the resulting damage, but it did the trick. Even with the massive dents, she could see the saga depicted on the face of the shield.

Going in a clockwise direction, the first scene looked to be a fight scene with some giants. Next, it was battling what looked like massive bronze bulls around a central, very sick, pine tree. Thalia assumed that was her. Suddenly the events all began to make sense. They all matched the recollections Annabeth had told her about the quest through the Sea of Monsters. It was such a beautiful piece of craftsmanship that it pained her to see the damage the shield took, even as she was grateful it had done its job.

"Yield!" Dr. Thorn yelled. "You cannot win, even though you outnumber me. Who knows? If you yield I may even let you live. If not, at least I can promise you that I'll kill you quickly."

There it was. That arrogance. She felt her blood begin to heat up and she took a deep breath. Arrogance is what got you killed. It didn't matter if it was man or monster, pride was a killer all the same. Of course, she could fall victim to the trap as easily as anyone else. She would not fall for his goading or his threats. She could happily enjoy gutting him after he was no longer a threat.

"Never!" Thalia shouted in response. Dr Thorn scoffed in French. Her mind began to fog. She felt as though her limbs had been filled with a high octane fuel. This monster didn't deserve mercy. Aegis could shield her until she reached her target. She didn't need a spear for this. All she needed was one well timed blow. Manticore, man, or any other kind of being. If they had flesh, they could burn. With enough electricity, any type of flesh would fry. She would be happy to provide the voltage.

He was still gloating in his assured victory. Now was her chance. She closed the gap in an instant. Dr. Thorn realized what was going on and began to turn to guard, but it was too late for him. He was still unguarded, right where his heart would have been.

What saved the piece of shit was the helicopter. It appeared out of the mist with a thunderous noise and a blaze of light. Just beyond the cliffs, the rotors began to blow the snow, obscuring Thalia's line of sight on the monster. From what she could make out, the helicopter was a sleek black military-style gunship. It looked like it had to be manned by mortals, and Thalia wasn't sure if helicopters counted as the sort of technology that could be problematic, so she ruled out demigods preemptively. At least, friendly demigods.

Thorn made use of the distraction and struck her side, sending her careening through the field. The blinding lights of the helicopter had sent her off course, directly into him. She began to gasp for air, desperately trying to force air back into her lungs. Her spear lay next to her, previously cast aside. Fortunately, it didn't look broken. The manticore stared creepily, his triumphant expression looking alien on his waxy face.

She scrambled towards her weapon, but she would be far too late. He was too fast, and he wouldn't be giving her a second chance. A spike appeared in her line of sight, aimed straight for her head. It was much too fast to dodge and she flinched. For a brief moment, she had some sympathy for Percy's shoulder, thinking her head would soon meet the same fate. But the impact never came. One second turned to two, and she was still alive.

Opening her eyes, there was Percy, panting like he had just run a marathon. Streams of his blood were flowing in rivulets down his arm, creating web-like patterns on his skin. From his hands, the drops fell to the snow, creating a slowly growing sea of crimson as he held his shield over the two of them. How he had gotten over to her that quickly, she wasn't sure, but she could at least begrudgingly accept that he had saved her life.

"Thanks," Thalia said. "Although if you would've waited, you might still have a functional shoulder."

Percy held the shield above the two of them, wincing as he did so. "It works just fine. Besides, it did just save your life."

"Now we're even then. Thorn would've killed you if we hadn't come to save your ass."

"That makes it two to one actually." Percy cut in.

Thalia frowned. She didn't really want to count the 'first time' he was envisioning. Still, she figured it probably wasn't the best time to debate the morality of Luke's actions with someone who couldn't be convinced anyway.

"Whatever. If you bleed on me I'll kill you before Thorn does."

Percy's brow furrowed. Then, the corners of his lips began to twitch. "That might not be so bad," he said. "After all, I've always wondered how you'd look in red."

"Percy Jackson you better not or–"

A clear piercing sound cut through the air, effectively ending her sentence. Thalia's heart sank. She would've rather fought any monsters than deal with those holier-than-thou stuck up environmentalists. The hunting horn sounded once again, signifying their orders to advance.

The manticore froze, his triumphant look transforming into one of alarm. He knew these girls too. "No," he said. "It cannot be–"

A familiar blur of moonlight whizzed past. A glowing silver arrow suddenly sprouted from Thorn's shoulder. Justice, Thalia thought, for the boy who was currently bleeding over her. Well, despite their many flaws, the girls were good at one thing: hunting.

Thorn staggered backwards, wailing in agony as blood gushed from his shoulder.

"Curse you!" he roared. He unleashed his spikes, dozens at once, into the woods where the arrow had originated. In response, silvery arrows shot back, slicing his projectiles with precision and force, not even being disrupted in their course.

The manticore pulled the arrow out of his shoulder with a howl. His labored breathing betrayed his fear and fatigue. Percy stood in preparation to strike, leaving a ring of crimson in the snow around Thalia.

If he had truly been as hurt as he looked, Percy would've sliced him to bits, but the monster was either a great actor, or stronger than they had evaluated. Mimicking the speed of his projectiles, he swung his tail towards Percy. It collided with his shield, but the force was enough to knock him to the side.

Finally, the Hunters decided to show their faces. The girls emerged from the woods like a pack, ready to finish the manticore. Thalia couldn't have picked the girls out individually given the fact that they all wore the same clothing. She wrinkled her nose slightly as she remembered old school uniforms she had been subjected to. Sure, their matching outfits of silvery ski parkas and jeans didn't look bad, but it was the seemingly mandated uniformity that felt scanned herself for patches of red. At the very least, if Percy had bled on her, she wouldn't look like she belonged with the hunters. The undisturbed silver gave her the answer. Much to her surprise, she felt thorns of disappointment prick her heart.

The one Huntress that Thalia did recognize stepped forward with her bow drawn. Amongst the Hunters, she was the only one who could have passed for something resembling an adult, standing out amongst her peers. Her long dark hair was tied back, likely in preparation for the mission they were now on. Atop her head was a silver circlet, braided into her hair so it sat like a crown. The Lieutenant. Her caramel skin faintly glowed with silver, as if she had a portion of the moon within her. There was no mistaking the identity of Zoe Nightshade, first among her peers. "Permission to kill, my lady?"

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

"Not so," another girl said. Thalia wracked her brain trying to recognize her. It wasn't like she was on good terms with them, but her usually sharp memory couldn't even pinpoint the girl's face from her previous encounter with the group. The girl looked about thirteen, but if Zoe was tinged silver, this girl was the source of the entire color. Her auburn hair was gathered back in a ponytail, but her eyes were what gave away her identity. Silvery yellow crescents danced in her pupils, as if the moon itself resided within them. Thalia's memory clicked at the same time the girl's gaze drifted over to them, at which point Percy decided to gasp as though his breath had been snatched from him. Thalia rolled her eyes. She could tease him about it later, but she didn't really blame him. Divine beings were vain, prideful, and beautiful. Artemis was no exception, except that her beauty was not superficial or surface level. Rather, it was the type of wild beauty that could only be found in the wilderness when it was bathed in moonlight.

Artemis's gaze returned to the manticore. "The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast." She addressed her lieutenant. "Zoe, permission granted."

The manticore growled, and his pupils began to flare. "If I cannot have them alive, I shall have them dead!"

Thalia snapped out of her stupor. Dr. Thorn was coming for them, and as before, he was moving too quickly. Her limbs felt as though they were filled with lead, and her previous adrenaline had nearly faded. It didn't really matter the incoming threat, she would be too powerless to stop it. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Percy in the same state, grasping his sword, but he would never raise it in time. Just a few more seconds, that was all they needed to gather their weapons in defense.

That's when Annabeth did one of the most reckless things she'd ever done. She charged Dr. Thorn.

"No!" Thalia yelled.

"Get back, half-blood!" Zoe yelled. "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, her dagger acting as her anchor.

"Fire!" Zoe ordered.

Percy had now gotten to his feet, sword raised, but it was too late. Thalia wanted to yell at them to stop, that they could hit Annabeth, but the words died in her throat. The pit in her stomach betrayed what was going to happen. She was witnessing a car crash in slow motion, and all she could do was watch the disaster unfold in front of her. Fortunately, Percy seemed to have the same instinct.

"No!" he screamed.

But the Hunters let their arrows fly anyway. The first one caught the manticore in the neck. Another hit his chest, causing him to stagger backwards. "This is not the end, Huntress! You shall pay!" he wailed. Then, despite his injuries, he turned towards Thalia. An unsettling smile, too wide for his face, graced his features. "I shall see you soon enough, daughter of Zeus."

Throwing her a wink that only she could see, he turned and jumped off the cliff. Annabeth was still hanging onto his back, and her scream carried out as they careened downwards into the darkness.

"Annabeth!" Percy yelled.

By now, Thalia had staggered to her feet. Percy had broken into a run for the edge of the cliff, and she was about to join him when the sound of gunfire erupted from the helicopter.

Most of the Hunters, except for Zoe and Artemis, scattered as bullet holes began to paint the landscape. Thalia dove for cover, using her shield to protect herself. Percy did the same. Artemis on the other hand, looked at the helicopter as if it was little more than a cockroach she needed to crush under her foot.

"Mortals," she announced, "Are not allowed to witness my hunt."

She thrust out her hand, and the helicopter exploded. However, instead of the fiery debris Thalia was expecting, the black metal simply dissolved into a flock of ravens, which scattered into the night.

One second turned to another before the shock seemed to dissipate from the air. Percy was the first to react, dashing towards the edge of the cliff in a desperate bid to jump after them. Zoe intercepted his path.

"Thou hast no chance," Zoe said. "Stand down."

"Oh shut up, who are you to tell me what to do? Annabeth's just been taken. I'm going after her!"

"Do not make me ask again, boy." Zoe threatened.

"You're either going to help me get her, or I will go through you. Final warning." Percy growled, the ground slowly rumbling in confirmation of his threat.

"Stand down." Artemis said. "I will forgive your rudeness to my Hunters because I sense you do not actually know who we are, yes?"

"Same threat goes to you, lady. Just who exactly do you think you are?"

In that moment, Thalia expected him to be killed right where he stood. Instead Artemis just chuckled, as if a petulant child told a mildly amusing joke in his rebellion. "Well, if you must know. I am Artemis, goddess of the Hunt. Your friend is beyond my help. Do not delude yourself, she is not in the sea below. You could feel it if she was. Now, I would advise you to stop testing my patience, child."

He didn't look happy about it, but Percy finally relented. Thalia found that mildly surprising, but even he seemed to know when a fight just wasn't winnable. The rumbling began to cease, but the reality remained. Annabeth had been taken, all because Percy had thrown himself into a stupid situation and taken a monopoly on decision-making. Thalia began to feel her bones go numb, and a lump began to form in her throat. If he hadn't decided to go off on his own, they could've formed a plan. Losing yourself during the mission just meant both the targets and the agents would die.

She steeled herself. Now was not the time for grief. No mission was complete until the survivors returned. She blinked away the tears threatening to form in her eyes and took a deep breath. Annabeth was a fighter, and she was intelligent. She wouldn't just give in or let herself be killed. Thalia could recall her stabbing a cyclops in the foot when she was seven, and the memory brought a ghost of a smile to her lips.

Her expression quickly hardened when she caught Zoe's cold gaze, effectively redirecting Thalia's attention. "If you had just decided to join us then none of this would have happened."

Normally, she would've shot back at the huntress, but all she could do now was level the girl with her own icy stare. Even as she felt the pressure build behind her eyes, she forced herself to repeat the same mantra over and was not about to cry in front of anyone, least of all Zoe Nightshade and Percy Jackson.