Snowfall

Missing Persons

Thalia was worried. Really, the whole camp was worried, but Thalia was probably the one freaking out the most. One, her baby brother had come back from the dead and was actually a Roman demigod. Two, her cousin, her friend, was missing. When she met Jason, he hadn't had all his memories regained, and so Thalia wasn't aware that, like Percy, he was the leader of his camp. She didn't have enough information to connect Jason to Percy, and as such was much more worried than those at Camp Half-Blood. Artemis couldn't tell her either, with Zeus being paranoid and shutting down Olympus.

Thalia was surprised that Artemis had listened to the command, and was pretty much expecting the dream visit the goddess sent. Thalia was informed that Percy had just entered Camp Jupiter and could reach him maybe a day before the Argo II did, possibly even participate in the battle that was inevitable with a whole army marching towards the Romans. She immediately informed the hunters that they were heading for San Fransisco, and they were off.

Artemis had predicted right. They reached Camp Jupiter just as the Amazons did, taking up places surrounding the army and letting loose. Thalia did her best to fire at the same time as she searched for Percy, and managed to find him. He was the one occupying Polybotes. She cursed him internally and turned her attention to the giant. With him being so, well, giant and unaware of her presence, it was easy to score shots. First in the foot, then the hand, then his cheek. He howled, stumbling to the side.

She noticed Percy sprinting away, and she desperately hoped he had something in mind. She did her best to keep the bane of Poseidon off his feet but he was too strong and batted away most of her arrows. Percy seemed to have a plan established, so she left him to it and fired at the army once again.

She only looked back when Polybotes crumpled into golden dust. Almost all enemies were dead and the archers were picking them off while the legion marched towards Percy, lifting him in the air and chanting loud enough that she could hear 'Praetor!' She wasn't surprised. Percy was practically the embodiment of a perfect leader; for war, at least.

The hunters joined the rest of Rome and Thalia pushed past the crowds to reach Percy. He was conversing with a large Asian boy and a petite dark-skinned girl. When he spotted her, his face broke out into a grin.

"Thalia!" He moved around the two other teens and hugged her, lifting her off her feet.

She chuckled, smacking his arm. "Put me down, Kelp Head. Missed you, too."

He set her down, still smiling like an idiot. "Welcome to New Rome. Since when did the hunters come here?"

"Since never," Thalia admitted. "Artemis contacted us and told us about the upcoming battle, as well as you being here."

"Isn't Olympus closed?" Percy asked.

Thalia snorted. "Yes. You really think Artemis would listen?"

"You have a point," Percy admitted. "Well, I'm not complaining. It's good to see a familiar face." He beckoned the other teens over, who were both standing with confused expressions on their faces.

"Isn't that a hunter of Diana?" The girl asked slowly.

"You know about them?" Percy questioned.

"We've been told about them but never seen them. They were believed to be rumours," the boy answered.

"That's because the hunters are Greek," Percy said. "Meet Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus, lieutenant of the hunters. Thals, this is Hazel, daughter of Pluto, and Frank, son of Mars."

"Nice to meet you," she said, extending her hand to the teens. "Hope Percy wasn't too much of an idiot."

"He was fine," Hazel responded, still looking confused. She looked to Percy. "You're friends with the lieutenant of Diana?"

"She was a camper for a year before the hunt," Percy said. "She doesn't hate men as much as the rest of the hunters. I find her tolerable."

"Percy, what are you talking about?" Thalia demanded. "You're practically friends with the whole hunt. Including Artemis."

"Artemis is probably the most lighthearted god that there is," Percy said. "I actually don't get why everyone's so afraid of her."

"She likes you," Thalia said. "Most males can't say the same. If she doesn't like you, you are dead. You've seen what she does to people she dislikes."

"That's true," Percy sighed. "Is she planning revenge on me yet?"

"Probably. First, though," Thalia send a shudder of lightning through her body. "I believe my revenge is in order."

Percy gulped. He hoped he didn't die.