The End of Everything

Learning Curve

Reyna's POV

For a moment I thought everything that had happened had simply been a dream. Only it wasn't. Everything I'd told Thalia was true, I meant all of it but it didn't mean I wasn't sad.

How could I not be? At least for her sake, but as I contemplated the entire situation I couldn't help but grow frustrated and angry. Not at her of course, but at the stupid gods on their pristine thrones watching everything happen.

It really wasn't fair. I'd expected things to be simple after New Rome's Civil War and for a very long and pleasant time it was. It just never lasted. Sighing, I glanced over at Thalia who was still asleep. She wasn't going to wake up anytime soon, the poor girl was exhausted. I could only imagine how she'd feel when she did wake up.

Her hair was wild and had the faint smell of sweat but I was used to it. She was curled against me like a cat, managing to be impossibly small. It was strange to see only two of her four appendages. Her arm on the right side ended just after the shoulder by an inch or two.

Bloodied bandages covered the clean cut stump and I was thankful I couldn't see what was underneath. Thalia's leg stopped about five or six inches down from her hip, it too was effectively covered and bandaged.

Sighing, I traced a small pattern on her shoulder. I would have to take her to camp as soon as she woke up and have Will look over everything to make sure she was healthy. Then I'd have Leo start working right away if he could. Maybe Sol could help if they were even there. They'd been spending a lot of time away from camp in Hephaestus' forges as of late. Ultimately, I didn't want Thalia to stay uncomfortable any longer than she had to.

Sighing, I studied her as she slept. Her eyebrows were slightly creased like she was thinking while she slept. Her lips were parted ever so slightly and on occasion her adorable little nose would twitch like she was smelling something she couldn't quite place. How she was so beautiful I had no idea. It really couldn't be physically possible but there she was.

Limbs or no limbs, Thalia Grace was a master piece and I was lucky enough to have her as my own. I stayed quite for some time until at last she began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open revealing her ever stunning blue irises.

"Morning?" Thalia squinted, noticing the light reflecting harshly from outside.

"Afternoon," I corrected. She nodded and yawned trying to snuggle closer. Laughing I wrapped my arms around her and tugged her closer. "Better?"

"Mhm," Thalia nodded, sleepily giving me a kiss on the lips. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." She smiled at that and rested her head on my shoulder.

"So, what is this story about bats you have to tell me?" She asked. I had nearly forgotten all about it until she brought it up.

"Oh, don't get me started." I launched into the story earning a laugh or two from Thalia as she listened. "So I had no weapon. I just grabbed a tree branch and swung it around like crazy. I promise you I had the best batting average of the century."

"I don't doubt it. You're Babe Ruth." Thalia smiled. "Especially the babe part."

"Are you hitting on me?" I asked, raising my eyebrows slightly. Thalia laughed and rolled her eyes. "I'm kidding."

"I can still hit on you if I want to." Thalia stuck out her tongue.

"I know. Now, let's get going. We have to get to camp and get you fixed up." Thalia sighed, her mood dropping dramatically but she nodded. "Do you need my help getting ready? I don't mind."

"Yeah," she nodded. Smiling softly, I helped her get changed and cleaned up a bit so that dirt wasn't stuck to her cheeks. Any lingering blood I wiped off and helped groom her hair so it wasn't as wild. "There. Good as new."