Children of The Big Three, Book 3: Titans Curse

Chapter Three: Did We Just Lose?

"Give the kid up, grimace."

"Is that it's actual name?"

"No-I don't know actually."

"I go by Dr. Thorn."

"I don't think we asked you."

Each of our heroes had their weapons pointed at the Manticore, Percy being in the middle with Riptide. The problem was that the monster had its claws against the new kids throat, so they couldn't really make any advancements toward the creature.

"What's your deal, anyway? Why not just kill the kid?" The kid didn't look to thrilled at the prospect, but Dr. Thorn just nodded.

"A fair question, Daughter of Zeus. Mayhap's I simply want to eat him at home, or perhaps your camp isn't the only ones recruiting Demi-Gods.. Or maybe, this one here has a bigger role in all this then you'd expect." The manticore replied.

"Well pal. We're kind of in a standstill here."

"Yes, I have eyes."

"So, How is this gonna-"

Then a arrow hit Dr. Thorn in the neck.

Which, to be fair, scared just about everyone involved. Our three heroes jolted in alarm, the kid flinched, and the manticore howled in pain. It released a bunch of weird spikey looking things from its tail, which flew off in the direction that the arrow had come from, and after a few moments of silence, Dr. Thorn was satisfied that the disruption had been dealt with. That was until a flurry of arrows came barreling toward the creature. It raised both arms to block, and the child used the opportunity to book it behind Nico.

"The Hunters of Artemis."

"The who's of what?"

"Well, from the name; I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say they hunt stuff for Artemis."

"Oh.. Yeah that makes sense." Percy had forgotten who Artemis even was, but he thought that now wasn't exactly a good time to mention that little detail. Meanwhile, Dr. Thorn had gone through some thought as well. It wouldn't last long here, not with Artemis and her blasted hunters here. The child it had been after now seemed an impossible task, so it was gonna have to improvise. It supposed that the child could always be claimed later, and for now it just needed a surrogate for the General. It looked at the three in front of it. If it had to pick the most physically fit out of the three.. It lunged,

And grabbed hold of Percy.

"Percy!" Thalia yelled in a panic. Percy, who had been a little distracted by the whole hunter thing, was startled enough to drop Riptide, like a noob. The manticore immediately began heading for the edge of the cliff this engagement had found itself on. Thalia ran towards the two, but Dr. Thorn simply jumped off the edge. In a last ditch attempt, Thalia reached her hand out, and for a split second, her and Percy's fingers touched, but she was unable to keep him up. Thalia looked down, and resisting the urges to throw up at the height, she saw that both Percy and the manticore weren't there. She hesitated a moment, but then was about to jump after them to look for him, if Nico hadn't grabbed her dress at the last second to pull her back.

"What are you doing?!"

"What am I doing? What are you doing, Thalia!?"

"I'm looking for Percy."

"Thalia. Look at me!"

"I'm going-"

"I don't want to lose two friends today, Thalia!"

"He's not dead, Nico!" Her voice came out harsh and angry, and her breathing was hard. After a moment, she pushed past Nico, toward the truck.

"Where are you going?"

"Camp."

"Why?"

"I'm going to get a quest to save Percy from.. Wherever he is, the normal way. If need be I'll beat a prophecy out of the Oracle."

"That's not how-"

"It. Is. Now." The weather seemed to be agreeing with Thalia, sky darkening and thunder rolling with her emotions. However, her little march was interrupted a little looking girl with black hair and a silver outline, more so then the other hunters.

"Thalia Grace."

Thalia gave an impatient sigh. "Artemis."

"Zöe? Set up camp." Zöe simply nodded, and got to work. "Come, Thalia Grace. There is much I wish to discuss."

"If this is about me joining the Hunters, my answer is still no."

Artemis gave a frustrated sigh in return. "Truly? I thought perhaps the showing the males in your party would have shown you the error in working with them."

"Did you just mock my friends?"

"Which one? The one who did nothing or the one who was so underprepared he got thrown off a cliff?"

Without another word, Thalia walked right by the Goddess, and opened the door to the truck. "I was not done speaking, Thalia Grace."

"Yeah, well I am."

"You'd do well to remember that you are but a mortal-"

"And you'd do well to remember I don't care. Good day, Artemis." She slammed the door shut, started the car, and drove off. Artemis sighed, she could just not understand that girl. What she offered was kinship, partial immortality, and a eternity free from men. What more could one want? The Goddess then heard the sound of footsteps, to heavy to be any of her hunters, pass by. She looked to see the Son of Hades, who she noticed looked quite dejected. He spoke.

"Thals! Come back! You're my ride!" He threw his hands up in exhaustion and annoyance. The Goddess threw up an eyebrow, and it seemed the boy noticed, since he seemed embarrassed. "Oh, uh, sorry for yelling. She was.. My ride. Back to camp." The Goddess nodded, and they stood there in silence for a second. "Do you know if Artemis has a way back to camp, or is that rude? Cause, uh, hate to be rude. But uh.. It's pretty cold out here." It was obvious that Nicos mind was elsewhere, for he didn't even recognize the girl in front of him as the Goddess of the Hunt.

"Ah. Yes; I believe she's calling her brother to carry the hunters to Camp Half-Blood."

"Oh? Why?"

"She's doing a solo hunt."

"Oh.. I feel that. So, when is Apollo-"

A masculine voice could be heard in the distance, along with a blinding light.

"Ladies!.. And.. Cousin? I think? I dunno, God families are weird. But anyway! Heard you needed a lift?"