The sky was darkening and Stewart had the lead while Tyson and I quietly walked behind. After Tyson had what he wanted to say, he seemed the quiet type like Stewart, except he'd see something interesting and ask me to tell him what it was or what was going on. So far, no monsters attacked, but that didn't mean they weren't on our trail. Stewart and I were powerful demigods and the more you figure out just how powerful you are, the stronger the scent becomes.

"Sunny boy, how about we stop and call it a day?" I asked.

"We can't," Stewart stopped, "there's been a cyclops stalking us all day."

I sighed and continued on. Sometime after we had spoken, we came upon a thick forest. Tyson clutched my arm with his big hand, sharing his nervousness with me.

"Ugh, it's too wide to go around," I grumbled, "looks like we're going to have a long night."

"Sounds like it too," Tyson added.

I brought out Heartbreaker and Stewart equipped his bow and we stepped into the vast, dark forest. The moon was blocked by the trees which made up a cage that kept us from ever escaping its

blackness. Stewart tossed me a flashlight after Tyson had stumbled and face-planted in the cool forest floor. If I wasn't scared out of my shorts, I would have cracked-up.

There was a rustle in the bushes. I jumped and readied Heartbreaker; a rabbit darted away from the flashlight beam. Snickers from Stewart's direction made my face feel hot (out of anger or embarrassment, I still do not know), though no one could tell because of the dark. There was another rattle of bushes, except it was much bigger.

I heard low whispers of deep voices in the distance. Muscles tensed, I followed the grumbling voices. Stewart and Tyson didn't notice me walking off but that was the last thing I needed. The whispering grew louder and I stopped when it became audible and there was a glow of a small campfire.

"It's Alyssa Combs, the half-blood that Eris wants captive," one said.

"But didn't she kill one of us?" a second asked.

"Yeah, but just one and she wasn't alone," a third scoffed.

A rock was kicked when I had taken another step.

"What was that?" the first one spoke again.

I clenched my teeth and put my back against the rock formation. A giant hand clenched the wall above me and there was a sniffing sound.

"What do you smell?"

"Half-bloods, but more than one and the smell is extra strong."

Argh, Sunny boy was right, I thought.

The cyclops stepped out from the arch the formation made. Luckily, he was looking the other direction so I slipped past his blind spot; unluckily, the other cyclops saw me and I was snatched up in an instant, his grip squeezing the life out of me, making me drop Heartbreaker.

"Hey Chomp, look at what I found," the second one chuckled.

"'We found' stupid, we found her," the third one reminded.

"It looks like our hunt is done boys," the first one announced, adjusting his belt.

I struggled against his grip but it was like being trapped in a metal cage. A silver arrow whizzed past my ear and sank its point into the cyclops' neck. It was followed by others and the howling cyclops was sent to Tartarus. Before I hit the ground, the first cyclops caught me, jerking upwards so hard that it felt like my teeth would fall out. He started off, with the third towing behind him.

Straining against the cyclops' grip was not the best idea, but it was my only option. Volleys of arrows shot forward and suck themselves in the back of the first cyclops, but he still kept running. It was still pitch black went the light of the campfire was gone and I couldn't see the archers of the arrows. From the many arrows firing at the same time I could tell there was more than one.

The moonlight suddenly shone brighter and broke through the trees' branches. The light focused itself on a girl, no more than twelve years old, who stood in front of the cyclops' path. She strung a bow and with flawless aim, shot right into the cyclops' mouth, which was opening for a roar. With inertia still carrying me, I tumbled against the forest floor and a sharp pain shot through my body.

There was a second arrow, but it wasn't from the girl, and it scored right in the cyclops' weak

neck and the one shot, turned the monster into dust.

I looked in the direction from where the arrow came; Stewart stood with an empty bow on the branch of a tree. Shakenly, I got to my feet but before I could take a step, I was surrounded by girls in white camo jackets and all seeming to range in ages from ten to thirteen and the moonlight shone on me.

Another girl, who looked older than the rest, came up to me. Her bright blue eyes were outlined with black makeup and her black hair was punk-style. Just from looking at her, I knew she was a half-blood.

"You're a half-blood," she said, her eyes searching me, "of Aphrodite I'm guessing?"

"Yes, and who are you a daughter of?" I asked.

"I'm Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus," she replied.

I scanned the forest around me and saw Stewart and Tyson, ready to fight and I shook my head. Thalia saw this exchange and flashed a look in his direction.

"Is he a half-blood as well?"

"Yes," I gestured for Stewart and Tyson to come forward.

The twelve year old girl who had saved me came up with the moonlight following her. She looked much like Stewart, with auburn hair, but her eyes amazed me how wise and old they looked. Her eyes were much older than she was; there was also a silver glow, much familiar to the other hunters.

"You are lost half-bloods?" she asked.

"No, we're headed in the direction of Mount Rushmore on a quest," I answered.

"Alyssa Combs, all of Olympus is talking about you."

Wait, if she's been at Olympus that means she's...

"I am Artemis, goddess of the hunt and you are lucky to find us. Thalia, have the Hunters ready to continue."

Stewart had made it to where we were speaking; every time a hunter would look at him, they'd have a face of disgust when they'd turn away. Tyson sat down from a small distance and started working on a project he had stored in his pocket and wrapped in a cloth.

"You are a son of my brother," Artemis spoke, "I am glad he finally has a son that looks more like his sister."

"And I'm guessing you're my aunt," Stewart said slowly.

"I don't mean to break up this family reunion but aren't you supposed to be older?" I asked.

"I prefer to take the form to look most like my hunters."

I nodded.

"Now, my nephew, you're different compared to how some of my brother's sons are, and your archery skills are sharp as blades," Artemis pulled out a sword from her backpack, "Take this, it will help you through the night and be a weapon whenever you may need it."

Stewart accepted the gift and pulled the celestial bronze sword from the scabbard. It looked ancient and what made it even more awesome was when the moonlight shone, it glowed. Stewart nodded a thank you and sheathed his sword.

Thalia came up to me before the hunters left and said, "Tell Jason and his friends hi for me when you get back to camp."

If we ever do get back to camp, "I will."

The Hunters lead by Artemis ran into the forest and disappeared in the dark.

We had finally made it out of the forest with the help of Stewart's sword, which lit the path to the exit. My body was cursing at me about not sleeping and the pain it was in. Stewart hadn't said a word since we were visited by the Hunters and Tyson even was quieter than usual. Maybe they've both that a rough night I thought.

"And a son of Apollo's sword will glow for the night," the words were true. And what was coming up, haunted me every night.