Stuck: A Thalia Grace POV

As a Tree

My life seriously sucks. You think your life is bad? Well I'm sorry to say, it's probably not as bad as mine. How would you like to be stuck in the same stinking spot for YEARS and not be able to move at all? No? Yeah, thought so. Be grateful for the life you have, cus it could be worse. I have to watch a group of "unique" kids train and have fun while I sit and watch and protect them all. And do I ever get a thank you? No, no I don't.

I didn't choose to be this way. It didn't always used to be like this. I had a real life with real friends. I was a good child and even a great friend. This shouldn't even be considered a punishment, but it sure feels like one to me. It was supposed to be a "gift" that saved my life. Some gift huh?

Crazy how this even started.
I don't know what happened. One second I was just trying to help my friends escape that horrible creature and the next thing I know I pass out and wake up as a freaking tree! Like really?! How did that even happen?! I guess my dad felt bad and didn't want his "precious" daughter to die so he turned me into some guardian tree. Sheesh. If he wanted me to live, he could've made me LIVE, ya know?! Not turn me into a tree! Well...a "special" tree. At least I can see the whole camp and keep an eye on everyone since my protection goes around the whole camp. That's pretty much the only cool thing I get.

Years pass, kids come, kids go on quests, kids come back and celebrate and the cycle repeats. Gets kinda boring. Nothing much I can do about it though. However, things DID start to change a bit when some fancy pants boy comes to camp. Gods, does he make things go crazy round here. Making the camp bully upset, tsk tsk. Poor sucker. But he IS kinda cute. Shocking green eyes and messy dark hair. Ah, what am I saying?! I'm a tree for crying out loud! Oh, and guess what. Only after a few days of being there, he gets to go on a quest! And of COURSE he comes back a hero! Typical. And one of my old friends turns out to be a traitor. Saw that coming. Things are going great after that, same as usual.

Everyone's back to training and having fun while I stand here protecting them, until some butthead comes crashing through my protection layer wrecking havoc! Gods, did that hurt! It feels like someone ripped open my stomach! What in world happened?! How could that thing have gotten past me? Ah, everyone is gathering around now, the metal beast is destroyed, thanks to Mr. Fancy Pants Hero. Hmm, what are they doing now? Is there going to be a new quest? Mhm, what'd I say? They send Miss Bully on a quest to find an oh-so powerful fleece that can heal me. Wait a sec. I must be seriously hurt! I could be dying! I even FEEL like I am! She better hurry! I don't want to die! I mean life as a tree isn't great, but I'd rather live! Oh ho ho, and there goes Mr. Fancy Pants, Goat Boy, and Miss Know-it-all and some new freaky eyed dude leaving the camp. Awww, how sweet. They all care so much about me that they all have to go get the magic fleece. I'm touched. Not really. Ugh, I feel so sick. If trees could throw up I would. I think my bark is turning white. How wonderful.

Days pass and I feel weaker and weaker each hour. I can barely see the camp. They better hurry. I don't have much longer to live. Time is a blur now, and so is the camp, and I feel myself slipping away. My power is slowly diminishing. I feel so small and frail and broken. I'm about to pass out from weakness when I feel a great warmth surround me. I'm feeling stronger, bigger, and fuller. I can feel my power surging back through me. I can see the whole camp again! They did it! They sure were cutting it close! Oh, there's the fleece on my branch. It's absolutely beautiful. Music vibrates from the camp. Ah yes, celebrate another victorious quest. The one quest that I'm actually involved in is one where I'm dying. Well, at least I'm still alive. Woah, what's this tingling sensation? That's strange, what's happening? Did the fleece backlash? Did someone take it off? No, I don't feel sick. I feel...feel like I'm shrinking! What the...?! Well the tree isn't shrinking but it's like my soul is! What the hell is going on?! I can hear people talking faintly before I black out.

I wake up to the sound of someone's voice. I open my eyes slightly. I cough, shaking. I feel so dang cold, and tiny. Strong, sturdy arms are holding me up. "I'm Percy. You're going to be okay. Everything's alright. What's your name?" the person holding me asks. I look up to see the face of my waker. Staring into his deep green eyes, I answer, "I'm...I'm Thalia, Thalia Grace. Daughter of Zeus."