Thirteen year old Nevah

I grumbled curses under my breath as I picked up my longboard out of my locker. My jacket remained unzipped as I wore thick layers underneath. This type of winter was something I wasn't used to. After school detention sucks. If it wasn't for Lupe and Anwar talking so loudly during our group activity, we wouldn't have been served detention.

The teacher already hated the three of us as it was. Ms. Wilson was an old hag who had never been married, let alone a relationship longer than five minutes. She was a bitter old teacher who took out her anger onto the students.

"Stupid boys." I uttered, pushing the front doors to the school open. Looking around for my half brother, I noted the silent sidewalk. I groaned and rubbed my temple. "Of course he went home without me."

"Problems with boys?" A girl dressed in silver attire guessed.

She was sitting at the bottom of the steps. Her aura was definitely not human, she appeared to have a silvery glow. The girl's dark brown hair was in a French braid with a silver circlet on her head.

"Sadly." I nodded with a sigh.

"Boys are untrustworthy. You can only trust thy sisters to have thy back." The girl turned to face me.

"Most boys might be, but I know quite a few trustworthy men." I furrowed my brows at the girl's old fashioned talk. "Are you practicing for that Shakespeare play the school is running? Man, you theatre kids take your roles seriously."

"Shakespeare?" The girl titled her head in confusion.

"Never mind." I shook my head. "I'm Nevah by the way."

"Zoë." The girl smiled at me. "Lady Artemis has sent me to talk to thee."

"Lady...Wait the goddess Artemis?" I blinked in awe. "Why would she want you to talk to me? Who are you?"

"A Huntress who has worked under Lady Artemis for over a thousand years. Lady Artemis told me to give thee this pamphlet." Zoë took out a fancy looking pamphlet that had silver detailing. She handed it to me. "She wants thee to be a part of the Hunters. We vow to not date any boys or men since they are unfaithful. We rely on our sisterhood and fight alongside Lady Artemis. It's a family, nothing but sisters."

"Uh..."I glanced at the pamphlet that was now in my hands.

"You have plenty of time to decide. Just call upon Lady Artemis and she will explain everything to thee." Zoë stood up.

"If...if I do join this Hunters...what does that mean for me?" I questioned, biting my lower lip.

"You shall not date or fall in love with any male. However, thee shall be immortal unless slain in battle." Zoë informed me.

"Is...is it worth it?" I asked hesitantly. I could already see Percy's heartbroken reaction to all of this.

"Yes." Zoë sent me a large smile.

The Huntress soon left, leaving me all alone at the entry of the middle school. With a sigh, I sling my bag off of my shoulder and zipped it open. I shoved the pamphlet into the bag and zipped it shut. I can think about this more in detail later.

Adjusting my bag over my shoulders, I placed my longboard on the ground. I placed my left foot on top and started to push off the ground with my right foot. Once I had enough speed, I brought my right foot on top of the board.

The wind rushed passed my face as I made my way back to the Jackson's apartment.

▷

It was now a few days later.

Annabeth, Thalia, Percy, and I were being driven by Sally to our mission. Grover had sent a distress call from his undercover mission at the boarding school, Westover Hall. I sat in the back with the girls, leaving Percy to sit in the passenger seat (not that he was complaining about it).

Once we had arrived, we quickly got our things. We had to pack a duffel bag with clothes in case this recruitment took longer than a day. I slung the strap of the duffel bag over my shoulder when we stepped outside the car. The cold wind stung my face, causing my hair to whip around.

"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" Sally asked.

"No, thanks, Mom." Percy said. "I don't know how long it will take. We'll be okay."

"But how will you get back? I'm worried, Percy." Sally worried.

"It's okay, Ms. Jackson. We'll keep him out of trouble." Annabeth sent her a reassuring smile.

"We'll be fine, Sally." I nodded. Sally seemed to visibly relax. "Promise."

"All right, dears." Sally started. "Do you have everything you need?"

"Yes, Ms. Jackson. Thanks for the ride." Thalia told her.

"Extra sweaters? You have my cell phone number?"

"Mom-" Percy tried to stop her, being embarrassed by his mom.

"Your ambrosia and nectar, Percy? And a golden drachma in case you need to contact camp?"

"Mom, seriously!" Percy let out in frustration. Sally frowned, hurt written all over her face. "We'll be fine. Come on, guys."

"We'll keep you updated. Thanks, Sally." I sent her a small smile before she drove off.

"Your mom is so cool, Percy." Thalia told my half brother.

"She really is." I agreed.

"She's pretty okay." Percy admitted. "What about you? You ever get in touch with your mom?"

"If that was any of your business, Percy," Thalia glared at him.

"We'd better get inside. Grover will be waiting." Annabeth quickly interrupted.

"You're right." Thalia looked at the castle that was the boarding school and shivered. "I wonder what he found here that made him send a distress call."

"It could be anything." I frowned.

"Nothing good." Percy guessed.

We trekked towards the entrance of the school. I pushed open the oak doors, causing them to groan. The four of us stepped into the entry hall in a swirl of snow. The place was huge, lined with flags and weapons on the walls.

"Whoa." Percy gaped.

"More like creepy. What type of school shows off weapons?" I looked around, my eyes stoping at the battle axes. A tingling sensation crawled down my back. "Is it just me, or are you guys getting bad vibes?"

"Nope, me too." Percy nodded.

"I wonder where-" Annabeth was cut off by the door slamming behind us.

"Oo-kay." Percy mumbled. "Guess we'll stay awhile."

Dance music was echoing from the other end of the hall. There must be a party of sorts going on. We quickly stashed our bags behind a pillar before heading down the hall. It wasn't long until trouble found us, and by trouble I meant adults. To make matters worse, they were dressed in military uniforms and walked with their backs straightened. They must be teachers here...or punishers.

"Well? What are you doing here?" The woman demanded.

"Um..." Percy blinked, not knowing what to say. "Ma'am, we're just-"

"Ha!" The scary man snapped in a French accent, causing Percy to jump. "Visitors are not allowed at the dance! You shall be eee-jected!"

Well that's it, we're screwed.

Thalia took a step forward and snapped her fingers. It created a shard and loud noise. There was a small gust of wind that ripples out of her hand and drifted across the room. The banners from the wall had rustled from the drift.

"Oh, but we're not visitors, sir." Thalia said. "We go to school here. You remember: I'm Thalia. And this is Annabeth, Nevah, and Percy. We're in eight grade."

I held back the urge to look at her stupidly. The man wouldn't lift his narrowed gaze from us. His two colored eyes made him look even scarier than before. One was blue and the other brown.

"Ms. Gottschalk, do you know these students?" The man asked.

"I...yes. I believe I do, sir." Ms. Gottachalk frowned at us. "Annabeth. Nevah. Thalia. Percy. What are you doing away from the gymnasium?"

"You made it! You-" Grover ran up to us breathlessly. He froze when he saw the teachers. "Oh, Ms. Gottschalk. Dr. Thorn! I, uh-"

"What is it, Mr. Underwood?" Dr. Thorn detested. "What do you mean, they made it? These students live here."

"Yes, sir." Grover nervously swallowed. "Of course, Dr. Thorn. I just meant, I'm so glad they made...the punch for the dance! The lunch is great. And they made it!"

Dr. Thorn glared at all of us. I sent him a sheepish smile.

"Yes, the punch is excellent." Ms. Gottschalk dreamily sighed. "Now run along, all do you. You are not to leave the gymnasium again!"

We quickly said our "yes, ma'am" and "yes, sirs" before quickly leaving the scene. Grover ushered us down the hall to the gymnasium. I could still feel the teachers watching us.

"By the way, I'm not an eight grader." I sent Thalia a raised brow.

"Yeah, but they don't know that." Thalia shrugged.

"How did you do that finger-snap thing?" Percy asked.

"You mean the Mist? Hasn't Chiron shown you how to do that yet?" Thalia questioned.

Percy didn't reply. Grover held open the door to the gym and hurried us in.

"That was close. Thank the gods you got here!" Grover stated.

The girls and I exchanged hugs with the satyr. Percy stuck with giving his best friend a high five. I raised an eyebrow at Grover's black shirt that read WESTOVER HALL: GRUNT. Weird.

"So, what's the emergency?" Percy questioned.

"I found two." Grover said after a deep breath.

"Two half-bloods? Here?" Thalia said in amazement.

Grover nodded. It was rare to find one demigod. Chiron had sent the satyrs to scour the country for demigods in all the schools from fourth grade up. We have been making campers and sadly needed more people. To make matters worse, there went many demigods out there.

"A brother and a sister." Grover informed us. "They're ten and twelve. I don't know their parentage, but they're strong. We're running out of time, though. I need help."

"Monsters?"

"One." Grover nervously said. "He suspects. I don't think he's positive yet, but this is the last day of term. I'm sure he won't let them leave campus without finding out. It may be our last chance! Every time I try to get close to them, he's always there, blocking me. I don't know what to do!"

Grover looked at Thalia for help. I glanced at my half brother to see him try and hide his frown. He was upset. However, out of all of us, Thalia had more experience with this type of thing. Grover was only asking for the best help.

"Right. These half-bloods are at the dance?" Thalia guessed. Grover gave her a nod. "Then let's dance. Who's the monster?"

"Oh," Grover looked around nervously. "You Just net him. The vice principal, Dr. Thorn."

"Great." I huffed.

We moved to the side of the dance floor. The kids were going nuts for a military dance. Groups of girls wearing spaghetti straps and bright colored pants moved in swarms. The older boys were chilling against the wall, some looking very uncomfortable with the party.

"There they are." Grover nodded toward the group of younger kids at the bleachers. The sister was wearing a green floppy cap while the brother shuffled through a set of trading cards. "Bianca and Nico do Angelo."

"Do they...I mean, have you told them?" Annabeth questioned.

"You know how it is." Grover shook his head. "That could put them in more danger. Once they realize who they are, their scent becomes stronger."

"So let's grab them and get out of here." Percy offered, already taking a step forward.

"I don't think it's going to be that easy." I frowned.

"She's right." Thalia quickly put her hand on Percy's shoulder to stop him.

Dr. Thorn had entered the gym. He was near the siblings, nodding coldly in our direction. I gulped. He knows and wasn't at all affected by Thalia's snapping trick.

"Don't look at the kids." Thalia ordered. I quickly averted my gaze away from them and looked at the boys leaning against the wall a few feet from us. "We have to eat for a chance to get them. We'd need to pretend we're not interested in them. Throw him off the scent."

"How?"

"We're four powerful half-bloods. Our presence should confuse him. Mingle. Act natural. Do some dancing. But keep an eye on those kids." Thalia told us.

"Dancing?" Annabeth asked.

Thalia nodded. I bit my lip, how do I act normal? I've never been normal. Thalia tilted her head to the side and scrunched her nose in disgust.

"Ugh. Who chose Jesse McCartney?"

"I did." Grover looked at her hurt.

"Oh my gods, Grover. That is so lame. Can't you play like, Green Day or something?"

"Green who?"

"Never mind. Let's dance."

"But I can't dance!"

"You can if I'm leading." Thalia told him. "Come on, goat boy."

Thalia grabbed his hand. Grover let out a yelp as she led him onto the dance floor. Annabeth smiled at the two.

"What?" Percy turned to look at her.

There was a look in his eye that I have never seen him wear.

"Nothing." Annabeth told him. "It's just cool to have Thalia back."

"So... um, design any good buildings lately?" Percy asked.

I turned to look at him as if he were stupid, which he is, for asking her a question like that.

"Oh my gods, Percy." Annabeth's eyed lit up.

"Oh gods." I groaned, already drowning her out. I loved her like a sister, but architecture made no sense to me. I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around I saw one of the guys from the wall smiling nervously at me. He had his hands dug in his jean pockets. "Uh, hi?"

"Hey, uh," the guy rubbed the back of his neck, "so I saw that you looked insanely bored over here with these two and I was wondering if maybe...if maybe you wanted to dance with me?"

"Uh," I blushed, looking over at Annabeth. She gave me a nod with a large smile. Percy gave her a glare. Biting my lip, I turned towards the boy. "Sure."

"Cool." He grinned. He held out a hand toward me. "I'm Jake by the way."

"Nevah." I took his hand.

"Nice name." Jake led me to the dance floor.

"Touch her inappropriately and I swear-"

"Calm it, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth placed a calm hand in my brother's shoulder. He visibly relaxed under her touch. "She's having fun."

"No, she bett-"

"I'm so sorry about them." I groaned, pulling Jake deeper into the dance floor to avoid my embarrassing brother. "He can be a bit protective."

"Brother?" Jake assumed, hesitantly placing his hands on my hips.

"Little higher there buddy!" Percy called out.

"Yup." I winced. I took a hold of Jake's hand and placed them on my shoulders. He loosely draped them on my shoulder as I placed my on his. "Let's just dance like this."

"Sounds good to me." Jake smiled.

"Dance, you guys!" Thalia commanded Percy and Annabeth. "You look stupid just standing there."

"My friends are embarrassing." I groaned.

"Well, mine are too. Look." Jake pointed over  shoulder. There was a small group of guys holding empty cups. One would had placed a cup on his head, punch filled to the brim. He was trying to balance it as the others started to toss food into the cup. "I think yours are way cooler than mine."

"Yeah, yeah I guess so." I laughed.

"I don't really remember seeing you in class." Jake tilted his head as we continued to sway to the music. "Are you in seventh grade?"

"Oh, uh, I'm supposed to be," I held back the urge to wince, "but I skipped a grade."

"Ah, so you're a smarty pants." Jake teased. "Nice."

"Wait...really?" I blinked in surprise, not expecting that. "Most think that's weird."

"Nah, it just means your hella smart." Jake said.

"Thanks-"

"Nev!" Annabeth rushed over to us with Grover and Thalia in tow. "We got to go. Now!"

"O-Okay." I quickly nodded, noting the urgency. "Thanks, Jake, but I've got to go."

"Uh, see you later?" Jake waved at me confused.

I didn't have a chance to respond. Thalia grabbed a hold of my arm and ran out the of the gym. I was hoping to see Percy waiting for us, but he was no where to be found.

"Where's Percy?"

"Dr. Thorn has them." Grover panted out.

"Oh, that's wonderful!" I sarcastically let out. "Plan?"

"I'm gonna use my invisibility cap and knock the guy Percy and the siblings down. You all use that as a distraction to fight Thorn. We'll fight from there until we kill him." Annabeth informed.

I gave a nod and pushed open the front door to the school. We quirky and stealthy snuck close to the group in front of us. Dr. Thorn had the siblings and Percy near the cliff. He looked like an overgrown tiger with spikes on his tail, that he was about to launch at the three.

Annabeth sent us a look before placing the cap on her curly locks. She quickly disappeared from out sight. I got out my weapon from pressing my charm bracelet. The di Angelos and Percy were knocked to the ground. Dr. Thorn looked surprised. Taking that as our cue, we attacked.

"For Zeus!" Thalia attacked Thorn with her scary shield Aegis.

She jabbed his head with her spear. The monster only nearly and swatted it away. Using his orange paw, he slashed at Thalia's shield. She quickly rolled backward and landed on her feet. Using that, I ran at him and leaped forward. I slashed my sword along his furry back. He let out a painful towards, arching his back.

The loud sound of a helicopter approaching came from behind me. I couldn't waste my time to be distracted by it when Dr. Thorn swung his tail. I ducked to the ground and watching as a spikes flew over me and at Thalia's shield. The daughter of Zeus was knocked over due to the impact.

Grover was behind us playing a tune on his reed pipes. Grass broke through the snow and wrapped around Dr. Thorn's legs. The monster roared in distraction and started to grow larger. He looked like a huge lion with a human face and a tail with spikes.

"Ugh, he just got ten times more uglier." I stood up, scrunching my nose in disgust.

"A manticore!" Annabeth suddenly appeared next to Percy.

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

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

"Wait, what?" I blinked at the young boy in confusion.

"Get down!" Annabeth pushed the siblings down into the snow.

Percy was quick to hit the wristwatch that Tyson had made him. It spiraled into a shield. I raised my sword, ready to attack when Thorn swung his tail at Grover and I. We were thrown next to Percy. I let out a groan as my head hit the ground. The snow did no help with softening the blow.

"Yield!" Thorn roared.

"Never!" Thalia yelled back and charged at the monster.

When I thought Thalia was finally going to kill him, a loud noise and blazing light showered over us. The helicopter had relaxed military rockets at us. Thalia stopped and was momentarily blinded by the lights. Thorn quickly swatted his tail at her weapons. The field flew away in one direction and her spear the other.

"Thalia!" I sat up.

"No!" Percy ran out to help her.

He parried a spike away before it hit Thalia in the chest. Percy raised his shield to cover the both of them from the oncoming spikes. I quickly stood up, exchanging a look with Annabeth.

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

A clear, piercing sound of a hunter's horn blew in the woods. Thorn froze.

"No. It cannot be-" He was cut off by a silver arrow digging into his shoulder. Thorn staggered backward as he wailed in agony. "Curse you!"

The manticore unleashed spikes in the direction of the woods. Just as many silver arrows intercept the spikes and sliced them in two. I gasped in shock. Thorn growled in pain after he yanked the arrow out of his shoulder. He breathed heavily. Percy went to swim his sword at him, but the manticore easily dodged him. Thorn slammed his talk into his shield and knocked Percy aside.

Dozens of female archers in familiar silver parkas and jeans walked out of the woods. The youngest looked around ten and the oldest around fourteen. Their bows were pointed at Thorn.

"The Hunters!" Annabeth pointed out.

Thalia muttered something under her breath. I wasn't able to hear what she said. Percy looked at Thalia in question.

"Permission to kill, my lady?" Zoë stepped forward with her bow drawn.

"This is not fair! Direct interference! It's against the Ancient Laws!" Thorn wailed.

"Not so." A girl with auburn hair and eyes the color of a glowing moon stated. "The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast. Zoë, permission granted."

My mouth opened in shock. That was Lady Artemis? She looked like a young girl.

"If I cannot have these alive, I shall have them dead!" Thorn growled out as he lunged towards Thalia and Percy.

"No!" Annabeth yelled as she charged at the monster.

"Annabeth!" I tried to reach for her.

"Get back, half-blood!" Zoë said. "Get out of the line of fire!"

Annabeth ignored the Huntress and leaped into Thron's back. She drove her knife into his mane. Thorn howled as he tried to fling his tail at Annabeth and twirled around. The demigod held on for her dear life.

"Fire!" Zoë ordered.

My blood ran cold. I went to run toward Annabeth, to pull her away. However the di Angelo sibling tugged me back down.

"No!" Percy screamed.

The Hunters shot their arrows. Thorn staggered backwards as he was hit repeatedly.

"This is not the end, Huntress! You shall pay!" Thorn leaped over the cliff with Annabeth still on his back.

"Annabeth!" Percy yelled, running after her.

The helicopter started to fire at us. I shielded the siblings with my body. Most do the Hunters has scattered once the bullets started to make small holes in the snow.

"Mortals are not allowed to witness my hunt." Artemis thrust out her hand and made the helicopter burst into a flock of ravens.

When the bullets stopped, I helped the siblings stand up. Gulping, I took a step towards the cliff and peered below. The crashing of the waves cause me to wince. There's no way Annabeth would have survived that fall. But there was no evidence that they even fell into the water. Overall I was confused. Biting my lip to stop myself from crying, I walked back towards the group.

"You." Zoë looked at Thalia in distaste when the Hunters approached us.

"Zoë Nightshade. Perfect timing, as usual." Thalia's pics trembled with anger.

"Five half-bloods And a satyr, my lady." Zoë informed Artemis.

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

"Annabeth! You have to let us save her!" Percy yelled at the goddess from his sitting position.

"Uh, Percy, you need to calm down." I squatted and placed a gentle hand on my brother's arm as my throat tightened. I frowned when I noticed the blood and gashes he had. His skin was turning an awful color. "Hey, you okay?"

"I'm sorry, Percy Jackson, but your friend is beyond help." Artemis faced him as he struggled to stand up. I tried to stop him but he swatted my hand away. Some of the girls had helped me hold him down. "You are in no condition to be hurling yourself off cliffs."

"Let me go!" Percy demanded. "Who do you think you are?"

"Percy!" I scolded. Zoë took a step forward. I quickly stood up and blocked the Huntress. "Hey! He doesn't know."

"Know what?" Percy looked up at me.

"No." Artemis told Zoë. "I sense no disrespect, Zoë. He is simply distraught. He doesn't not understand. I am Artemis. Goddess of the Hunt."

"Um...okay." Percy blinked in surprise.

"Thank you, Lady Artemis! You're so...you're so....wow!" Grover stammered, kneeling in the snow.

"Get up, goat boy!" Thalia snapped. "We have other things to worry about. Annabeth is gone!"

"Woah. Hold up. Time out." Bianca said. Everyone looked at her. She pointed her fingers at all of us in confusion. "Who...who are you people?"

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

"Our parents are dead. We're orphans. There's a bank trust that pays for our school, but..." Bianca faltered. I looked at her with a tilted head. "What? I'm telling the truth."

"You are a half-blood." Zoë told her. "One of thy parents was mortal. The other was an Olympian."

"An Olympian...athlete?"

"No. One of the gods." Zoë corrected.

"Cool!" Nico exclaimed.

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

"Does Zues really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage?" Nico started to dance around excitedly. "Does he get extra movement points for-"

"Nico, shut up!" Bianca cupped her face with her hands in frustration. "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." Thalia told the girl softly.

"Dangerous, like the girl who fell."

Thalia turned away. I squeezed my eyes shut to hold back the tears as my heart clenched.

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

"Then why won't you let us go look for her?" Percy asked.

"She is gone. Can't you sense it, Son of Poseidon? Some magic is at work. I do not know exactly how or why, but your friend has vanished."

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

"He was a manticore. 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 explained.

"Or they'll hunt us." Thalia added.

"That explains..." Bianca shivered. "Nico, you remember last summer, those guys who tried to attack us in the alley in D.C.?"

"And that bus driver. The one with the ram's horns." Nico said. "I told you that was real."

"That's why Grover has been watching you. To keep you safe, if you turned out to be half-bloods." Percy started.

"Grover? You're a demigod?" Bianca stared at the satyr.

"Well, a satyr, actually." Grover corrected her and kicked off his shoes. Bianca paled at the sight of hooves.

"Grover, put your shoes back on." Thalia told him. "You're freaking her out."

"Hey, my hooves are clean!"

"Bianca, we came here to help you. You and Nico need training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet. You need to come to camp." Percy informed her.

"Camp?"

"Camp Half-Blood. It's where half-bloods learn to survive and stuff. You can join us, stay there year-round if you like." Percy suggested.

"Sweet, let's go!" Nico quickly said in excitement.

"Wait." Bianca shook her head. "I don't-"

"There is another option." Zoë brought up.

I was wondering when they would bring it up.

"No, there isn't!" Thalia glared at her. The  Huntress glared right back.

"We've burdened these children enough." Artemis announced to her Hunters. "Zoë, we will rest here for a few hours. Raise the tents. Treat the wounded. Retrieve our guests' belongings from the school."

"Yes, my lady."

"And, Bianca, come with me. I would like to speak with you." Artemis beckoned the girl.

"What about me?" Nico asked

"Perhaps you can show Grover how to play that card game you enjoy. I'm sure Grover would be happy to entertain you for a while...as a favor to me?"

"You bet!" Grover almost tripped as he got up. "Come on, Nico!"

The two walked towards the woods talking about the game. Artemis started to lead Bianca towards the cliff before she looked over her shoulder to look at us.

"Nevah, would you please join us?" Artemis sent me a smile.

I bit my lower lip, glancing at Thalia and Percy. Thalia's face was turning red from anger. She clearly didn't like the Hunters. She shook her head at me. Percy was confused. He kept looking between the both of us with furrowed brows.

"Of course." I shoved my hands into my pockets and followed after the goddess.

"The net of those Hunters!" Thalia's voice carried in the wind.  I could hear Percy asking Thalia a million questions.

I swallowed as I topped next to Bianca.

"You know what I'm gong to talk about, Nevah, correct?" Artemis stared at me curiously.

"Yeah." I softly nodded.

"I have just informed Bianca about the Hunt. Zoë has informed you about it, yes?" Artemis waited for my response. I gave her a small nod. "You are both free to be apart of it. You'll have immortality, be a maiden eternally,  and it will be a family."

"C-can I think about it?" Bianca stuttered out.

"Of course, dear." Artemis sent her a smile. She looked at me. "And you?"

"I-no, no." I quickly shook my head. "I've finally found my family. I'm not leaving them."

"I understand. Just know that you are more than welcomed to join my Hunt until you become an adult." Artemis placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "I had actually considered asking you to join us when you were traveling the country on your own, but I decided otherwise. Maybe if I had asked you then, you would hav had a different answer. It would have been nice to have you as a part of our Hunters. You may go check on your brother. I'm sure he's being tested for his wounds as we speak."

"Thanks you, Lady Artemis." I sent her a forced smile and quickly walked towards Thalia.

"What did she want? What did you say?" Thalia quickly stood up from her spot on the ground.

"About the Hunt." I started. Thalia's face started to turn red again. "But I declined. I'm not leaving you guys. I can't do that to Percy."

"Good." Thalia sighed in relief. "He's getting healed by the way. Kept asking what the goddess wanted to talk to you about."

"What did you tell him?" I bit lip and sat down.

"That you would tell him. I'm not going to interrupt the sibling bond you two hand finally grown." Thalia sent me a smalls smile.

"Thank you." I sighed in relief.

Thalia plopped down next to me and brought her knees into her chest. I leaned my head on her shoulder as I let my mind wonder. Most of the time, it was about Annabeth and the fear of how Percy would react to my invitation to become a Hunter. A couple of minutes had passed by as the both of us sat in silence. Percy had came back towards us with a large frown.

"Hey." I sat up straight. My brother blinked out of his thoughts and looked down at me. "Everything okay?"

"We're you going to tell me?" Percy inhaled sharply. He was trying to hold onto his cool. "About Zoë giving you that stupid pamphlet?"

"I was...eventually. But I didn't know how." I looked down at the snow covering my boots.

"Did...did you accept it? She wouldn't tell me." Percy swallowed anxiously as he sat beside me.

"No." I quickly looked up at him and shook my head. Percy sighed in relief. He brought me into a tight hug. My heart warmed and I placed my cheek on his shoulder. "You're family. I'd never leave you like that. Even if you are annoying."

"Looks who's talking." Percy chuckled out, playfully shoving my shoulder.

"I'm all seriousness, I'm glad you and your mom took me in. I have no clue how I'd be sane if I stayed in camp year round." I sighed. "So thank you."

"You're my little sister. I'd doing anything for you."

Long chapter I know but 1) I just couldn't end it with Annabeth falling off the cliff and 2) bc you guys deserve it. Might have a chapter later on with happy/pure Nico and Nevah bonding