Mom, Zoë, and I walked over to the two new demigods, Thalia, and Grover.

Grover started groveling at mom's feet which she looked annoyed beyond anything at, "Stop it Satyr before I change my mind about not hunting your species" Mom said

Grover gulped and hid behind the older of the two demigods. "Percy, Thalia, Zoë I believe you three need to have a talk together, and you better talk and not glare at each other. After your talk Percy and Zoë come see me in my tent" mom ordered, and us three head off before we knew what else mom was talking about with the new demigods.

As soon as we were out of hearing range Thalia turned on Zoë, "Why did you do it. Annie could be de..." Thalia started but I covered her mouth. "Let Zoë speak please I'm actually interested in what my sister has to say to us" I whispered into Thalia's ear.

Thalia did the mature thing and licked my hand, which I promptly removed. "fine" she said bitterly

Zoë looked at Thalia sadly, "I'm...I'm sorry Thalia for what I said back then, it wasn't the time or place to tell you that, and I was being rude with my delivery" Zoë stated to thalia before taking a deep breath, "and and I'm sorry about Annabeth, to both of you. But there wasn't any other options left. I hoped she would have been wise enough to listen to Percy and Phoebe, and get off, or at least after I gave the order to fire, but she didn't" she stated

"We could have waited longer" Thalia stated still looking at Zoë pissed off.

"Thalia, if we waited longer it would have given the manticore time to use his tail against Annabeth, and if they gave Annabeth the time we gave the manticore more time to kill her has well" I said simply

"You're siding with her" Thalia asked

"No, I'm stating that if we waited for Annabeth to get clear of the line of fire, that she could have died in front of us and not have been taking instead" I said simply to Thalia who started crying, as she finally started using her brain.

"Thalia you know the prophecy, you are expected to lead, and lead well. You have the capability and brain to do so, but like your father you charge first and ask questions later. You must learn patience and knowing the time to strike" Zoë said

"Oh really" Thalia said sarcastically

"yes, remember the plan that Percy said, you two distract and use your powers" Zoe said

"yeah" Thalia stated annoyed

"yet you charged not using your powers. Thalia I know you might dislike or even detest your father, but as he has said to Percy, there will come a time when you will need to know how to use your powers and use them well. So practice and train with them, even if you don't like their origins" Zoë said

"That's actually wise. Are you sure it wasn't Annabeth or Athena who said that" Thalia snickered, only for a slight rumble of thunder to sound overhead.

"Yes it was your father who told me that Thals, though Zoë slightly modified it, mine was more about my more energy taxing powers, that I didn't necessarily like to use" I stated

Thalia chuckled before hugging me, "We'll get her back right" She muttered

"we'll find her, Thalia" Zoë said

"Good talk" I questioned, and both girls nodded before we started heading back to the hunter's camp.

Zoë and I walked into mom's tent after Thalia left to join Grover and the younger demigod, and I questioned where his older sister was until I finished walking into the tent. "Ahh good how was the talk you three had"

"Good" Zoë said

"Zoë wounded her ego and coached Thalia" I said

Mom just nodded while Zoë glared at me for the wounded ego bit.

"Who are you" The newbie asked

"Oh these two are Zoë Knightshade, my lieutenant, and Percy Jackson my adopted son" mom said introducing us, "Though they act like Apollo and I did before my brother apologized to me for the harm he caused to my domains" mom leaned in and whispered to her.

"Anyways Bianca, let's go over it again, what exactly did thorn say" Mom asked

"thorn" I questioned

"The manticore" mom said quickly, I nodded in understanding.

"Well he took us outside the school and went on about how the general is making his move and something about a great stirring" She said

Mom seemed to nod in thought. "Zoë get the despicable boy" mom said

"Peter" Zoë questioned

"Is that his name, Oh well yes that one Poseidon's spawn" mom said, and Zoë left.

"you won't hurt my brother right he hasn't done anything wrong you know" Bianca said

"No" mom said, "we won't harm him so long as he abides by our rules"

"What could he have done wrong" I asked

"Thanks Lady Artemis. And he's different ok" Bianca said

"Different how" I asked

Bianca looked at us nervously, "please swear that you won't harm him or turn him in" she asked nervously

Mom seemed curious about it at this point, "I on behalf of my hunters and son, swear on the styx that we won't harm or turn your brother in for what you are about to tell us" she said and thunder rumbled in classic Styx oath fashion

"He's homosexual, Ok. I'm scared and do not know what's going to happen to him, and he doesn't realize it but I see it in the way how he acts, he never pursues girls, and only befriends them, while he's scared to talk to other boys, unless it's about mythomagic" She said, hiding her face in what seems like embarrassment.

Mom and I shared a look, and we were struggling not to laugh homosexuality is pretty much allowed everywhere in western civilization now, maybe not equal rights yet, but you aren't a criminal because of it.

"Uuhh Bianca, from what I've heard of the mortal world, The US legalized homosexual acts like 5 years ago in the Supreme Court case of Lawrence v Texas. Did you not know about that" I stated and then asked

"Lawrence v Texas...no you said it was decided five years ago but I don't recall any Texas court case called Lawrence V Texas from that long ago" she stated

I looked at mom and she seemed to be stuck for answers, "uhh Bianca who's the current US president" mom asked

"Franklin Delano Roosevelt" she said

"Look Bianca, I know this may be hard to believe, but the year isn't whatever you think it is, it is actually December of 2007" I said slowly, breaking the news to her bluntly.

She seemed to be getting some sort of flashback with memories, "so my dreams weren't fake they were real" she mumbled , "Madre is dead"

"I'm sorry" I quickly mumbled

"What am I going to do. I'm supposed to be like 77 years old now, but I'm still like 12" she said

"live your life as if you are 12" I suggested

"and how would I do that do you suppose" she asked, but that's when Zoë came in dragging Peter.

"We will continue this later" mom said, "Now Poseidon spawn" mom said

"It's Peter milady" Peter said bowing and being dramatic and I was even thinking of castrating the boy now.

"Yes Perry, anyways Bianca here told me some troublesome things that thorn said, I just want you to go over it to make sure she hadn't misheard anything" mom said, and peter looked offended by mom intentionally calling him by the wrong name.

"well he dragged us outside said the general was planning his escape, and went on about a great stirring and how they were finally going to get the monster they needed, all while threatening and lying about my intelligence" Peter said

"milady the scent" Zoë stated

"ah yes, anyways Peter you are not need here any long so go out and entertain Nico and the Satyr" mom said and he was shoved out of the tent by magic.

"Well what should I do" she asked

"you could join the hunt" mom said, "I've already told you of the benefits of the job"

I thought about it, mainly the Nico kid. Zoë was going on about how great life in the hunt was when I spoke up" I object" I stated simply

that got both Zoë and mom to look at me funny, "And do tell us why you object" mom said

" Yeah sure the hunt is great and all, partial immortality, not too many responsibilities, certainly less responsibilities than raising a younger sibling with no parental help at 12. But there is Nico to concern. If she joins, now she will basically be telling him I'm choose having an older brother, over a younger one, since I'm the brother of the hunt. What kind of message does that send to the ten year old, as it most certainly isn't a good one. And from what I am aware of her only reason to join the hunt would be to be relieved of the stress of raising a younger sibling, at a young age, yes" I asked and Bianca somewhat nodded her head, "Nico would already be going to camp anyways, and thus be getting raised by the senior cabin members, Chiron, the original Perseus, and the other trainers at camp. I would think it be in the better interest of Nico's moral character, to still have Bianca around until such a time where he has established friendships and trust amongst the other campers, so he would be fine with Bianca eventually joining the hunt or forging her own path." I explained

"So you're telling me not to join because of my brother" Bianca asked

"Yes and no, not because of him directly, but for the betterment of his mental state. He's about to enter a place, and presumably live in said place, where he doesn't really know anyone yet. It will be easier for him to make friends, and bond with others, if he has someone he can already rely on there to look over, guide, and advise him" I stated

Bianca seemed to think on it, "I didn't know you had a brain brother" Zoë stated

"That's because I took yours" I countered

"Children stop let Bianca think" mom said separating Zoë and I

"I... I think I would like to wait a little while, at least until I know my brother is taking care of, and has some friends his age for once" Bianca said,

"An honorable choice, though I can't say i'm not upset. You will make a great huntress whenever you decide you're ready" mom said

"But we must be getting a move on, dawn is approaching" mom said

Oh yea Uncle Apollo is coming.