No one moved. "No," Dr. Thorn finally muttered as he stumbled back a few feet. "It cannot be"

An arrow suddenly shot past Evangeline, like a streak of moonlight as it impaled the manticore's shoulder. The creature staggered backward, wailing in agony.

"Curse you!" Thorn cried, unleashing his spikes in an assault of dozens in the direction the arrows doubled the size of the spikes shot back, and sliced multiple thorns in half.

Evangeline got to her feet, pulling the raven-haired boy up with her as she recognized the work of the hunters.

The monster quickly pulled the arrow from his shoulder as a howl of pain escaped, allowing Percy to lunge and attempt to swipe him with Riptide. But Thorn wasn't that injured, using his tail he slammed against Percy's shield and sent the boy flying to the side somewhere near Thalia.

Finally, the hunters made their way out of the woods and let their appearances be known. The youngest seemed to be ten and the oldest had to be somewhere around fourteen. The archers advanced on the manticore, bows raised.

"The hunters!' Annabeth cried.

"Wonderful," Thalia grumbled. Evangeline didn't mind the hunters, she respected their beliefs and life choices, so she and the hunters were on good terms. She always was quite fond of them.

If she was being honest Evangeline had always wanted to become a hunter.

An older girl stepped forward, her bow raised and held up towards Thorn. She stood tall, with coppery colored skin as silver circles decorated the top of her long dark hair. "Permission to kill," the old accent flowed off her tongue easily and that only meant one person: Zoë Nightshade. "My lady?"

"This is not fair!" Thorn wailed like a child. "Direct interference, it is against the Ancient Laws!"

"Not so," another hunter stepped forward, except this time the brunette recognized her to be the goddess Artemis. "The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere, and you foul creature are a wild beast." The goddess turned her attention to the girl beside her. "Zoë, permission granted."

The creature growled, his eyes quickly glancing towards Thalia and Percy who lay in the snow struggling to get up. "If I cannot have them alive," he threatened. "I shall have them dead!" He lunged at them.

Evangeline heard Annabeth yell, she saw the blonde charge toward the monster with her weapon drawn.

"Get back, half-blood!" Zoë commanded, lowering her bow for a moment. "Get out of the line of fire!"

But she didn't listen, instead, Annabeth had leaped onto the creature's back. Her knife dug into his skin. The manticore hailed and began turning in circles while the blonde girl held on.

"She has given us an opportunity," Zoë spoke, raising her bow once more. "Fire!"

But Annabeth didn't let go, no matter what.

"Annabeth," Thalia called, attempting to get to her feet but only fell back down right away. "Move, get out of there!"

"Now!"

"No!"

The daughter of Hades watched as the arrows flew in the direction of the demigod. The first arrow landed in the creature's neck, then his chest.

Thorn began staggering backward as he attempted to regain his balance. "This is not the end, huntress!" He wailed. "You shall pay!"

Evangeline met Annabeth's gaze as the creature's heel reached the cliff and the screams of her friends echoed through the air, the snow failing their attempts to get up.

"No!" Evangeline cried as she shadow traveled herself to the edge of the cliff, looking down at the edge where the blonde and manticore had once fallen off.

"Annabeth," Percy said as Evangeline made her way towards the hunters. "You have to let us save her!" The goddess's moonlight eyes landed on the brunette but said nothing. "I'm sorry, but your friend is beyond help."

Evangeline narrowed her eyes at the goddess. Percy struggled to his feet, a couple of hunters helping him stand. "You are in no condition to hurl yourself off cliffs,"

"Let me go," Percy demanded as he shook off the hunters. "Who do you think you are?"

"Percy," Evangeline said. "They're just doing their job."

The boy rolled his eyes as Zoë stepped forward as if to smack him for his words towards the goddess.

"No," Artemis stopped her hunter with a soft shake of her head. "I sense no disrespect, he is merely distraught and does not understand."

"I am Artemis," the goddess stated her eyes glowing against the winter moon. "Goddess of the Hunt."

"Um," The boy lightly scratched his head with a confused look. "Okay..."

His answer was nothing compared to the Grover's, who had knelt in the snow and began yammering.

"Get up, goat boy!" Thalia snapped, pulling the satyr by his shirt. "We have other things to worry about, Annabeth is gone!"

"Hold up," Bianca spoke up, earning all eyes to land on her. "Who... who are you people?"

The goddess's expression softened as she began speaking. "It might be a better question, my dear girl," Artemis said softly. "Is who are you, who are your parents?"

Bianca spared a glance at Nico, but the younger boy was too busy looking around at everyone with amusement clear in his eyes. "Our parents are dead," she finally said. "We're orphans, there's a bank trust that pays for our school but..."

She faltered upon seeing the faces everyone was giving her, like they all knew better than what she was saying, "What?" Bianca asked. "I'm telling the truth."

"You're a half-blood," Zoë explained. "One of thy parents was mortal, the other an Olympian."

"An Olympian... athlete?"

"No," the hunter corrected. "One of thy gods."

"Cool!" Nico finally voiced out of his thoughts, the excitement in his eyes seeming to glow.

"No!" Bianca threw her hands out, shaking them rapidly. "This is not cool!"

Evangeline finally remembered where she knew the siblings from. Nico was the kid who she had met at the Lotus Casino.

Speaking of Nico, he had a different reaction than his sister as he danced around with glee. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts that do six hundred damage? Does he get extra movement points for"

"Nico, shut up!" Bianca snapped, grabbing her hair lightly. "This is not your stupid Mythomagic game, okay? There are no gods!"

Thalia stepped forward, kneeling to Bianca's height with a sympathetic smile. "Bianca, I know it's hard to believe but the gods are still around. They're immortal, and whenever they have kids with humans, kids like us," she shot a look towards Percy and Evangeline. "Well... our lives are dangerous."

"Dangerous," Bianca repeated. "Like the girl who fell."

Everyone looked away from the girl. Artemis spoke up, "Do not despair for Annabeth," the goddess said. "She was a brave maiden, and if she can be found I shall find her."

"Then why don't you let us go look for her with you?" Percy questioned.

"She is gone, can't you sense it? I do not know exactly how or why, but your friend has vanished."

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

"He's 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."

"Or," Evangeline explained. "They'll hunt us in return."

Bianca shivered as she shared a glance with her bother. "Nico, you remember last summer, those guys who tried to attack us in the alley back in DC?"

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

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

"Grover?" Bianca's eyes widened. "You're a demigod?"

"Satyr, actually," Grover kicked off his fake feet and shoes, displaying his goat hooves to the kids.

"Grover, put your shoes back on," Evangeline rolled her eyes at the satyr. "You're freaking the poor girl out."

"Hey, my hooves are clean!"

"I'm sure they are, Goat Bride,"

"Hey!"

"Bianca," Percy interrupted as he stepped towards the girl. "We came here to help you, you guys need training to survive. Dr. Thorn won't be the last monster you meet, you need to come to camp."

"Camp?"

"Camp Half-Blood," Evangeline replied. "It's where half-bloods learn to survive."

"You can join us," the son of Poseidon offered. "Even stay year-round if you'd like."

"Sweet!" Nico cried. "Let's go!"

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

"There is, another option," Zoë suggested, immediately earning a complaint from Thalia.

"Zoë," Artemis called. "We will rest here for a few hours, raise the tents, treat the wounded, and retrieve our guest's belongings from the school."

"Yes, my lady."

"And Bianca, come with me," The goddess instructed. "I would like to speak with you."

"What about me?" Nico asked.

The hunter analyzed the boy before her gaze quickly turned to Grover. "Perhaps, you can show Grover how to play that card game. And, he would be willing to entertain you... as a favor to me?"

The satyr practically tripped over himself, just to make it to Nico's side. "You bet, come on, Nico!"

The satyr led Nico through the woods as the younger demigod began explaining hit points. Artemis guided Bianca along the cliffs, and the hunters began following their orders by making camp.

Zoë shot Thalia one more glare, then left to go help whoever may need it. Once the hunter was gone the daughter of Zeus stomped her foot. "The nerve of those hunters, they think they're so... Argh!"

"I'm with you," Percy stated. "I don't trust-"

"Oh, you're with me?" Thalia's rage turned on him while Evangeline walked away from their argument, she was feeling tired from the usage of her powers and didn't have the energy to deal with Thalia's anger. She watched the argument from afar.

A few minutes later she saw Thalia march off, she sighed at the girl's anger. Evangeline shook her head as Percy walked past, taking her hand into his and dragging her to the campfire the hunters had built.

After a while, one of the hunters brought the demigods their backpacks. Grover and Nico had come back, they sat next to the children of Hades and Poseidon.

"Big collection," Percy commented seeing Nico's figures he pulled out from his bag.

"I've got almost all of them, plus their holographic cards!" The boy grinned. "Well, except a few rare ones."

"You've been playing this game a long time?"

"Just this year, before that..." The boy's eyebrows knit together in thought.

"What?"

"I forgot, that's weird." He wordlessly shrugged before his smile returned. "Hey, can I see that sword you were using?" He asked, looking at Percy.

The son of Poseidon showed him Riptide, proceeding to explain how it transforms from a pen into a sword and vice versa.

"Cool! Does it ever run out of ink?"

"Um, well, I don't write with it."

"Are you really the son of Poseidon?"

"Well, yeah."

"Can you surf really well, then?"

The raven-haired boy's gaze moved to Evangeline and Grover, the satyr was failing to hide his grin while Evangeline watched with an amused look.

"Jeez, Nico." Percy sighed and turned his attention back to the boy. "I've never really tried."

He continued asking questions. Questions like:

If Annabeth's mother is the goddess of wisdom, then why didn't she know better than to fall off a cliff? Evangeline blinked, he did have a point.

Nico then turned toward the brunette. "Is Percy your boyfriend?"

Evangeline coughed. "What?"

"Are you two dating?" He asked once more. " 'Cause I saw you dancing, and he called you princess."

The brunette caught sight of Grover who was failing miserably to hide the smirk on his face. "Come on you two, it's not nice to lie to a kid."

"Shut up, Grover." The children of Hades and Poseidon spoke in unison.

The two shared a look, quickly looking away as the boy attempted to stop the blood rushing to his cheeks. Evangeline cleared her throat, as she crossed her arms.

"Percy Jackson," Zoë showed up and she sent Evangeline a subtle nod, and her gaze returned to Percy. "Thee's presence, is, summoned by Lady Artemis."

Grover's mouth dropped at her words, but Percy seemed glad for the escape as he hurriedly followed after the huntress.

"So," the satyr dragged his words. "did I miss something while I was gone?" He smirked.

Evangeline smacked Grover in the arm. "No, you didn't, because nothing happened."

"You're in denial." Grover whispered.

It wasn't long until Percy returned, but he seemed off. It was like he had just been told something he didn't agree with, or was wrapped in a situation he couldn't stop. Thalia had returned from her walk right after he came out of the tent.

"You got to talk to the goddess, and it's not a big deal?" Grover's eyes narrowed after Percy had finished explaining what he had just gone through. "What is wrong with you?"

"Don't forget, the last time the hunters showed up to camp." He froze just from her words.

"How'd they even show up here?" Percy questioned, watching the hunters quickly tear down their campsite. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

"And Bianca joined them," Thalia scrunched up in disgust at the thought. "It's all Zoë's fault, that stuck up no good-"

"Who can blame her?" The satyr sighed heavily. "Eternity with Artemis, that's a dream."

Thalia rolled her eyes. "You satyrs, all in love the goddess. Don't you understand she'll never love you back?"

"But she's so," Grover swooned. "So into nature."

"You're nuts."

"Nuts and berries."

"About time," Artemis's voice rang over the camper, stopping their mini argument. "He's so lazy during the winter."

Percy arched a brow, clearly confused about what the goddess was waiting for. "Who is?" Evangeline asked.

Artemis pursed her lips, "Apollo. Now don't look until he parks." A sudden blast of light hit the horizon at her words, and the girl shielded her eyes until the light died down a moment.

Parked in front of the group was a convertible Maserati Spyder, red metal glowing due to the god flying too close to the sun. Apollo got out smiling, he had aged down to seventeen with his sandy hair and a bright smile on full display. He dressed for the occasion of summer with jeans, loafers, and a sleeveless top.

"Wow," Thalia muttered, quickly closing her hanging mouth. "Apollo is hot."

Percy stared at the daughter of Zeus with a dumbfounded look. "He's the sun god."

"That's not what I meant!" Percy slightly looked at the brunette, who tilted her head as she observed the god.

"Little sister!" The sun god called, his smile widening. "What's up, you never call or write. I was getting worried!"

The goddess sighed. "I'm fine Apollo. And I am not your little sister."

"Hey, I was born first."

"We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue-"

"So what's up?" He interrupted grinning. "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"

Artemis gritted her teeth. "I need a favor, there's some hunting I need to do alone. Can you take my companions to Camp Half-Blood?"

"Sure, sis!" Apollo raised his hands in a stop gesture, his eyes glowing slightly. "I feel a haiku coming on."

The hunters groaned, some even going as far as to plug their ears.

"Green grass breaks through snow.
Artemis pleads for my help.
I am so cool."

"The last line, only four syllables." The goddess pointed out.

"Was it?"

"Yes. What about 'I am so big-headed?"

"No, no, that's too many." Apollo began muttering to himself while Zoë turned to the three demigods and satyr. "Lord Apollo has been through a haiku phase since his last visit to Japan, it's not as bad as his visit to Limerick."

"I got it!" The sun god announced, interrupting the hunter. "I am so awesome, that's five syllables!"

"Transportation for the hunters, you say?"

Apollo grinned. "Good timing, I was just about ready to roll."

The goddess pointed at the campers. "These demigods will also need a ride," she instructed. "Chiron's campers."

"No problem," The sun god began inspecting them slowly. "Let's see... Thalia? I've heard about you."

Thalia's cheeks turned red. "Hi, lord Apollo."

"Zeus's girl? Makes you my half-sister, say you used to be a tree once. "Man, I hate it when pretty girls turn into a tree. Once there was this time when-"

"Brother," Artemis called, stopping her twin. "You should get going."

Apollo turned to the brunette. "Evangeline Merlyn, I presume."

"Hi," Evangeline said.

The god tilted his head as he watched her, a charming smile making its way onto his lips. "You are gorgeous, darling."

"I'm supposed to be telling you that, sunshine," Evangeline told him.

Apollo blushed. "I like you. You're charming." He smirked.

Percy coughed really hard and Apollo moved his attention onto the son of Poseidon, his eyes narrowing. "Percy Jackson?"

"Yeah? I mean, yes sir."

Apollo didn't say anything.

"Well!" He said at last. "We'd better load up, The ride only goes one way and if you miss it, you miss it."

The brunette looked at the Maserati, which would seat two people max.

"Cool car," Nico said, standing next to Evangeline.

"Thanks, kid,"

"But how will we all fit?"

"Oh," Apollo's smile pulled into a frown as he slightly pouted. "I hate to change it out of sports car mode... but, I suppose."

With the beep of an alarm, the car glowed brightly and Evangeline thought she would go blind from the energy. The glare died down a moment later, the sports car had been replaced by a shuttle bus.

"Right," he mumbled, still pouting. "Everybody in."

Zoë began ordering the Hunters, organizing their load as Apollo volunteered to help carry her luggage. The huntress recoiled visibly at the idea, her eyes flashing murderously.

"Brother," Artemis lectured. "You do not help my hunters, look at, talk to, or flirt with my hunters. And, do not call them sweetheart."

The sun god held his hands up innocently as a smile laced his lips. "Sorry, sorry. Anyway, sis where are you off to anyway?"

"Hunting," the goddess spoke bluntly. "Which doesn't concern you."

"I'll find out," Apollo tapped his temple with a cocky grin. "I see all, know all."

Artemis snorted at her brother's antics.

"Just drop them off, Apollo." The goddess ordered in a stern tone. "No messing around!"

"No, no! I never mess around."

Artemis rolled her eyes, turning her gaze to the campers, hunters, and satyr. "I will see you by winter solstice, Zoë," the huntress instructed. "You are in charge of the hunters, do as I would do."

"Yes, my lady."

The goddess touched the ground beneath her like she could already sense the tracks. "So much danger," she mumbled when she arose. "The beast must be found."

Artemis took off into the woods, melting into the shadows as Apollo returned their attention back to him. "So," he grinned, jingling the car keys. "Who wants to drive?"

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