The Troubled Guardian ON HOLD

Chapter 12: Family Consoling

PERCY POV

"My name is Perseus Jackson" it was like a shockwave had just blasted through all the hunters, identical faces of shock were shown on their faces. Then with a choked sob Thalio...wait Tali? No...Thalia ran off.

Artemis looked at me and whispered "I handle it" and ran off as well.

'Well great' I thought 'Now I'm stuck with all these teenagers'

ARTEMIS POV

Entering Thalia's tent I'm immediately greeted with the sound of crying, scanning the tent I see the sound is coming from a cocoon of blankets and pillows. Walking over to the pile and lifting the outer layer I'm greeted by a surprise.

Instead of the Usual Sulking maybe a little teary-eyed Thalia I expected to see, I see someone who looks like a four-year-old in an immortal 15-year-old body. Thalia is curled up in a tight ball, arms wrapped around her legs. Loud sobs were emanating from a pillow her face was buried into.

Sitting down I just wrap her in a hug and comfort her, I know Percy is the only one who can help her right now, but I can at least let her know I'm here, I settle in for a long wait and whisper "It's alright, it's not your fault".

Surprisingly the sobs stop and Thalia looks up from her pillow. "How's It not?" she says "You saw his face, his eyes! They are RED! His hair is literally white! None of this would have happened if I didn't make Annabeth go on that date! They would be happy, together, and married! This is my fault! MINE!"

With that, she goes back to sobbing into her pillow. Angry tears falling from her eyes.

And I wait.

-LINE BREAK-

I don't know how long I was sitting there, just hugging Thalia, when eventually I hear Percy's voice "Can I come in?". "It's alright Percy".

PERCY POV

While I was all for answering all these girls' questions I had more pressing matters of discussion that I Have to have with a certain cousin.

After I was finally able to leave the group of interrogators I made my way over to Artemis energy signature '

don't you find it a little weird that you've memorized Artemis' power signature?'

'No, it's a perfectly normal thing that deities who are friends do, perfectly platonic friendship activities'

Darius is my wolf side (A/N, BOOM), I know what powers do I not have? Lupa thought that I gave up on too many of my rewards and nicely (violently) gave me this power as a gift. No one actually knows that I have a wolf form and I personally want to keep it that way. Though we are the same being he is technically his own person (or wolf) so he likes to comment on my thoughts and actions all the time.

'You really believe that?' There he is again!

'Yes! Now Stop!'

'I will, but tell me this, do you have Thalia's energy signature memorized into your very core?'

'No' It sucks to be losing this argument I mean he is me! This is weird.

'What are you trying to prove Darius?' 'Oh Nothing, just that you are a BLIND IDIOT, NO WAIT, THE KING OF IGNORANT POO HEADS, THE-' And with that I internally mute him 'Thank you Lupa, I don't know what I would have done if you didn't teach me that!'

With the Darius problem fixed, for now, I call out to Artemis "Can I come in?"

"It's alright Percy"

3rd Person

Entering the tent Percy immediately went towards Artemis and the bundle of blankets that was Thalia. Artemis got up and lent Percy some space.

"Thalia? Knock Knock?" Percy said only to get a sob in response. "Thalia you know I really must thank you" That got her attention.

"Why? It's all my fault!" Percy sighed. "Your right Thalia, it is your fault, it is your fault that Annabeth is happy, it is your fault that Annabeth stayed sain while I was gone, it is your fault that Annabeth found someone to love her again, as much or even more than I do. So I really must thank you" This made Thalia quiet.

"Thalia, I know you blame yourself over what has happened, I know me returning now has bright those emotions back to the forefront, but I'm not the problem here I've already forgiven you of the very few wrongs you committed against me. But your right It's your fault, because you can't forgive yourself".

Thalia buried her head back into her pillow. "Now this is not the kind of comfort you want, but this is the kind of concert you need. Someone who is gonna kick you right back onto the road and say 'quit moping!' so here I am.

Artemis and I are going to leave, were going to go out there and fix dinner for over 50 girls between the ages of 5 and 3000, so having the lieutenant would be helpful. You have five minutes to get this out of your system, and then you come out of this tent the headstrong sassy Thalia we all know and love, got it?"

Percy didn't even wait for an answer he just walked out of the tent, Artemis following closely.

"That wasn't very nice Percy" Artemis scolded.

"I know, but it was what she needed. Thalia is strong and stubborn soft words won't break through her personal barriers, but a hard-talking two and things that make her think about her situation will. Different ways work best on different people, I would never even think of talking to Lily that way, she would need someone to hug, and shoulder to cry on, and some soft converting words. Thalia well she's not five."

Artemis thought for a minute " That makes sense but not totally some people do need a few rough words to get them out of their heads, but everyone will eventually want the kind-hearted words, even Thalia, heck one day even you."

"While with Thalia you are correct, as of now I don't think I will ever fit in that category".

"Be that as it may I think one day you will" under her breath she couldn't help but mutter "and I'll be there for you when you do Percy" but Percy didn't catch it.

"Now, Percy how well can you cook?"

-Line Break-

Later Thalia walked out of her tent, the stern talk Percy gave her had given her things to think about, when she reached the center of camp she saw Percy and Artemis sitting next to each other, Lily in Percy's lap, as Percy told some more dialed back stories from his past. Thalia immediately noticed something 'those three look like a small family' and then she added 'well if Percy's features weren't so screwed up' and she knew that a betting pool better is started on when they get together, cause she knows...not oven the hunter's oath is going to stop this relationship.

THERE DONE! TOOK A WHILE I'VE BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH OTHER STORY IDEAS BUT THIS ONE STILL HAS MY MAIN FOCUS. IT'S A LITTLE SHORT BUT HEY WHAT CAN YA DO? NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE MORE OF THE HUNT IF YOU WANT YOU CN SUGGEST HUNTER NAMES IN THE COMMENTS!

-RambunctuousCat