Child of the Moon

Thalia Saves The Day

Hestia was waiting for us at the elevators.

Hestia: Good luck, heroes.

Percy: Thank you, Lady Hestia.

YN: It was good to see you again, Hestia.

She smiled at me, and disappeared in a burst of flames. We got in, and began our descent back to the lobby. Percy turned to me.

Percy: You've met Hestia?

YN: Huh?

Percy: When we were up there, she said it was good to see you again.

YN: Oh yeah. I was born up here on Mount Olympus. My mother had no clue how to raise a kid and needed to be with her Hunters, so Hestia helped her raise me on Mount Olympus for eight years, then she brought me to Luke and Thalia, who took me in.

He nodded as the doors dinged open and we went back out to the street. Mrs. O'Leary was the only one happy about the sleeping city. We found her pigging out at an overturned hot dog stand while the owner was curled up on the sidewalk, sucking his thumb. Luna ran over to play with her. Argus was waiting for us with his hundred eyes wide open. He didn't say anything. He never does. I guess that's because he supposedly has an eyeball on his tongue. But his face made it clear he was freaking out. I told him what we'd learned on Olympus, and how the gods would not be riding to the rescue. Argus rolled his eyes in disgust, which looked pretty psychedelic since it made his whole body swirl.

YN: You'd better get back to camp. Guard it as best you can.

He pointed at me and raised his eyebrow quizzically.

YN: I'm staying.

Argus nodded, like this answer satisfied him. He looked at Annabeth and drew a circle in the air with his finger.

Annabeth: Yes, I think it's time.

Percy: For what?

Argus rummaged around in the back of his van. He brought out a bronze shield and passed it to Annabeth. It looked pretty much standard issue, the same kind of round shield we always used in capture the flag. But when Annabeth set it on the ground, the reflection on the polished metal changed from sky and buildings to the Statue of Liberty, which wasn't anywhere close to us.

YN: A video shield?

Annabeth: One of Daedalus's ideas. I had Beckendorf make it before... anyways, the shield bends sunlight or moonlight from anywhere in the world to create a reflection. You can literally see any target under the sun or moon, as long as natural light is touching it. Look.

We crowded around as Annabeth concentrated. The image zoomed and spun at first, so I got motion sickness just watching it. We were in the Central Park Zoo, then zooming down East 60th, past Bloomingdale's, then turning on Third Avenue.

Travis: Woah! Back up. Zoom in right there.

YN: You see monsters?

Connor: No, right there! Dylan's Candy Bar!

Connor grinned at his brother.

Connor: Dude, it's open. And everyone is asleep. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Katie: Connor! Travis! This is serious. You are not going to loot a candy store in the middle of a war!

Connor: Sorry...

Travis: Yeah, what were we thinking.

They didn't sound very sorry. Annabeth passed her hand in front of the shield, and another scene popped up. FDR Drive, looking across the river at Lighthouse Park.