Back From Tartarus

3|THALIA GRACE

Annabeth tumbled around, unsure of where she was. Maybe in New Rome. She needs to get to America... to her friends. If they're alive. Annabeth assumed that her friends won the war because everything is way too... normal.

"Annabeth, is that you?"

That voice came from a girl, who looked about fifteen with a kind of glow. Her hair was black and short and her eyes were electric blue. She wore all black and stood in front of an exhausted Annabeth, who has been wandering for ages. This girl is—-

"Thalia," Annabeth breathed out. It was her friend who hasn't seem to age a bit, but of course not. She's a Hunter of Artemis. Annabeth wasn't sure how long it's been, but it feels like a long time.

Thalia wasted no time in embracing her blond friend, both of their eyes becoming a little misty and teary. "Oh my gosh, Annie," Thalia says. "It's been three years! I thought that you were dead!" When she let go, she said, "Where the hell were you? You couldn't have survived in Tartarus for that long."

So her friends told Thalia that she was in Tartarus. It would make her explaining easier. "I actually have been down there for three years," Annabeth said, but that's all she wanted to say on the matter.

"Annabeth," Thalia says slowly, "where's Percy?"

That's when Annabeth started crying all over again. "Oh, Thalia, I-I think he's dead!" she wailed. "It's all my fault. If he didn't come in after me this wouldn't have even ha—"

"It's not your fault," Thalia says. "You've been through a lot, I can tell. Would you like to go to Camp Half-Blood?"

"D-Does that mean we won?" Annabeth asked, her voice shaky. She suspected as much, but it'll be nice to hear her thoughts confirmed.

Thalia nodded. "Yeah, everything's good now," she says. "I'll get Lady Artemis to send you to New York, okay? Is that what you want? I am sending you don't want to talk about all you've been through, which I understand. You need comfort. Comfort at camp. From friends. Chiron. Safety, too. They would want to know you're okay, as well."

"Y-Yes, Thalia, please," Annabeth practically begged. "I...I want to see everyone."

"ARTEMIS!" Thalia suddenly bellowed, causing Annabeth to flinch in shock. Does she seriously think that's going to work - oh. Artemis appeared, looking like a thirteen year old, as always.

"Hello, Thalia," Artemis says, seeming a bit miff. "Why did you call me?" She then glanced at Annabeth, her eyes widening slightly. "Oh. Annabeth? You're not dead? Well, you're a strong one just like I thought."

"Can you send her to Camp Half-Blood, please?" Thalia asked.

"Sure, but Annabeth, wouldn't you rather join the hunt?" Artemis said. "Your years in Tartarus haven't aged you and we can certainly use a strong girl like you."

"I'll think about it..." Annabeth said, weakly. "But I'll like to go to camp first." Maybe Percy did escape and he's there... waiting for me.

Artemis nodded. Thalia smirked at Annabeth, giving her one last hug. Then, Annabeth disappeared, only to be standing in front of a shock Chiron and a ticked off Mr. D at Camp Half-Blood.