Thalia's POV

It wasn't exactly surprising or embarrassing anymore to wake up somehow tangled together with Reyna. At this point I kind of expected it. She had an arm draped across me with her other hand pinned between our chests. One of my legs was slung over hers and my arm rested on her side where my hand settled lightly on her hip. Everything would have been fine if it weren't for her face being nestled into my neck where hot breath brushed against my skin. For a moment I was a little dazed before I realized there'd been a reason I'd woken up.

"So that's where you ran off to." It was Piper which wasn't much of a surprise except for the fact that she was soaking wet.

"What?" I asked trying to stay quiet so Reyna wouldn't wake. "How long was I out? Is it still raining?"

"About eight hours and yeah it's still raining. Jason was looking for you." Piper said.

"Why?"

"There was a big water and mud fight. He figured you'd probably be part of it but you weren't there." Piper said before glancing about and looking for something to semi dry off with.

"I was tired. Besides I had fun on my own." I said sitting up slightly.

"Uh huh." Piper mused. "So what'd you do anyways?"

"Just some stupid game. We took turns coloring pictures. Except I suck at drawing." I smiled slightly. "Reyna's really good though."

"Well, Jason sucks too so obviously artistic capabilities do not exist in your family." Piper laughed at last finding a towel and drying her hair with it.

"Yeah maybe." I mused. Reyna shifted slightly curling around me more. She was very much like a cat at times.

"Well, it sounds like fun. More fun than I had. There's nothing like getting destroyed by Percy." Piper sighed her eyes shifting to the door as Percy walked in.

"Sorry for killing you," He said, hugging Piper who groaned and tried to shove him off.

"You're not sorry," She frowned wiggling out of his hug.

"You're right," Percy smiled. "At least let me dry you off."

Piper let him do so and tossed her towel at him. "Thanks."

Percy nodded and turned to leave before back tracking and raising an eyebrow at me.

"What?" I asked slightly irritated.

"Oh no I just thought maybe you'd be wet to," He said.

"Nope. I missed the water fight," I said with a shrug. Percy snickered slightly and Piper smacked his arm. She grumbled something incoherent into his ear as if reprimanding him.

"Anyways," Piper sighed," after breakfast we got work to do."

"Yeah sure. Maybe I'll get to crawl under everything and grab people's ankles again," I joked.

"You nearly made me die," Piper glared half heartedly.

"It's not my fault you jumped like thirty feet in the air," I laughed. Percy and Piper laughed as well before they ran back out to do who knew what.

Sighing, I relaxed in the quit once more, aware of the fact that Reyna had to have been extremely tired since she hadn't stirred throughout the entire interaction. Somehow, she'd managed to sleep like a rock. I didn't mind it so much. Carefully, I shifted her so I could lay back down again without waking her up.

Reyna's hair had fallen from her braid slightly and most of it had draped across her face. Smiling slightly I brushed it aside and tucked it behind her ear. Her expression was a thoughtful one. Almost as if she were contemplating a very important matter.

Her eyes fluttered for a brief second before her hold on me tightened. I couldn't help but frown slightly. If she was having a nightmare I'd wake her but I wasn't sure. Besides there was no point in senselessly disrupting her slumber. After another minute or so she finally woke and let out a sigh.

"What? Am I that ugly that you need to sigh when you see me?" I joked. Reyna laughed softly, is if she were afraid of being too loud.

"Yeah that's exactly it," She said rolling her eyes.

"I'm just kidding. What's up?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing. I'm fine. I was just thinking," She said eager to avoid my gaze.

"Yeah could tell," I smiled slightly. "When you think in your sleep your face gets like this."

I scrunched up my face into the same expression she'd worn before. Her laugh was a bit louder and more genuine this time.

"Well, thanks I totally needed to know that," Her smile albeit beautiful, faded quickly.

"Seriously though what were you pondering in that big brain of yours?" I asked.

"Just that you don't age," She shrugged. "Have you ever wondered what that's gonna be like?"

My smile slipped slightly.Truthfully, I'd thought about it before. In fact I'd thought about it a lot. It was one of those things that I pretended didn't exist but when for the briefest moment I let it crawl it's way back into my consciousness I was crippled.

"Y-yeah I have," I looked down. "A lot actually I prefer not to think about it."

"It's not something you can avoid." Reyna reminded. "It pains me to think that you'll have to watch everyone else age and-"

"I said I don't like to think about it." My words were harsh, more so than I expected, but I could already feel my attitude deflate as I pictured my aging brother and friends. "What made you think of that anyway?"

"Just a dream is all," Reyna shrugged but I knew she wasn't telling me everything. If things were different I would push the topic, but now wasn't the time.

"Come on we have stuff to do."

"Don't remind me," Reyna sighed standing up as well. She tugged her hair out of its usual braid and ran a hand through it. It was sort of mesmerizing to actually see her hair down albeit a bit odd. It was wavy from being pulled back for so long, and somehow it looked perfect, glossy, and soft.

"You should leave your hair down more. It looks nice." I mused walking by and running a hand through it quickly. "But you're going to say 'it's better tied back so it stays out of my face blah blah blah.'"

"You are one hundred percent correct but thank you," She smiled, already redoing it.

"No problem. See you later I guess. I'm going to breakfast." With that I left her to her own devices and went to breakfast not caring if I was appropriately dressed, which meant not being in pajamas, because screw the rules I was freaking hungry.

I earned myself a few glances but no one seemed at all surprised. I guess they got used to this kind of stuff with Percy and I being around and all.

"Looking good," Conner joked as I passed the Hermes table.

"You know it Stoll." The two of us laughed at one another for a moment as I took in his appearance. While I was in my very unflattering pajamas, he had a sharpie mustache on his face probably drawn on in his sleep by a sibling.

As for breakfast, it wasn't much of a breakfast. Almost everything stuff had been eaten already and I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted on my magical little plate. All I knew was that I was hungry.

"What's there to eat?" Reyna asked having managed to already get dressed and look like an actual decent human being in the time it took me to settle on what I wanted to eat.

"Eh not much what do you want?" I asked.

"Something healthy," Reyna shrugged. With a shrug of my own I tossed her the apple from my plate.

"Does that work?" I asked.

"Good enough for me. I'm gonna go see what we have to do for today." Reyna said and walked off. I watched her go before seeing Leo give me a weird look.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." His grin was imp like and he turned back around to his own breakfast. I noticed that Calypso was with him, she didn't stay at camp long, she came and went but always found her way back. I never figured out where she went exactly but wherever it was she seemed to enjoy it. I thought it maybe had something to do with Leo because he'd disappear sometimes too.

Anyways enough about their relationship. Turns out Reyna and I were in charge of training. It was gonna be interesting for sure because I'd never taught anything with her before.

The first thing I did was gather up a group of potential archers and took them to the range. The others watched curiously. I walked down the line correcting stances and shoulders. Sure enough when I told them to fire nearly everyone hit the center.

"That's incredible," Reyna mused raising an eyebrow.

"Not really. I'm used to teaching. I could teach everyone if they were patient enough." I smiled as they continued to fire off shots getting better with each one.

"Probably couldn't teach me. Even Frank couldn't. I suck with a bow," Reyna admitted her cheeks flushed slightly as if she were revealing a big secret. Which was probably true since she seemed like the type of person who could master any weapon.

"Well, maybe I can teach you later," I suggested. Reyna nodded and we went on with the lessons. By the end I was pretty sure we had a kick ass squad going on but Reyna didn't seem impressed. It was as if the more time that passed the bossier she got. For a moment I could see a certain glint in her eye.

"You good?" I asked as they took a water break.

"Don't be satisfied with their current state," She frowned, tilting her head to study me. "It's not good enough."

"What do you mean? They could totally fit in with your most elite cohort by now." I glanced at the lean and mean looking group of demigods behind her. They seemed suited enough.

Reyna shook her head. "Look I just have a feeling is all."

"Just relax. Shake it off. It's probably nothing." I smiled, hesitantly resting a hand on her arm.

"Thalia, we can't settle for anything. You know what we're up against. You're the most powerful person I know and they nearly killed you." Reyna said a rare look of fear in her eyes. For some reason I felt as though this went back to the dream she'd had.

"Do we need to talk? In private?" I asked quietly. The trainees had started to crowd around a bit watching curiously while some seemed like hungry dogs trying to pry into what was going on.

"No I'm fine. Honestly. I'm just nervous is all." Reyna tried for a smile but I wasn't buying it.

"Class dismissed we're cutting it short for today guys. Good work." I ordered but no one showed the slightest inkling of moving. "That means scram!"

They all snapped into action and scurried off leaving Reyna and I alone.

"You didn't have to do that," Reyna muttered.

"Doesn't matter. Now talk. Tell me about that dream of yours. What really happened?" I watched as Reyna hesitated slowly collecting her thoughts.

" I don't remember all of it but I guess that doesn't matter to much." She silently pondered for another moment before taking a deep breathe, "I saw us fighting. Not just this battle. Years in the future. War upon war upon war like a never ending cycle. But each time the others, me included, we got older and weaker and tired and one by one we  died. Then there was you same as always. Only it was as if every battle no matter how hard you trained people or fought it wasn't good enough. It was as if a proper future couldn't exist without us because anyone who came after us wasn't strong enough. Good enough."

"Oh." I wasn't expecting it to be something like that. Part of me wanted to say something. The other part of me wasn't sure what to say. Instead, I stood there looking like an idiot.

"Forget it. I didn't say anything." Reyna sighed and turned to leave. As if by sheer panic I reached out and caught her by the arm.

"No! Don't go! I-it's just...I've had the same dream before." It was true nearly word for word. I'd had it numerous times before. It was scary to think about. In reality, I was certain we all wondered the same thing from time to time. How many times were we going to have to do this? What would happen if we weren't around anymore? Who would do the work after us? "Exactly the same one."

"You have?" Reyna asked in surprise.

"I think to some extent we all do," I nodded as she turned back around to face me. "But the difference is we don't get too caught up in it."

"How can you not?" Reyna asked. "I've had the same dream for years and each time it gets worse. Something makes it worse than before and it only worries me more."

"What made this one worse?" I asked.

"You." She said simply. It was surprising and I hadn't expected it in the least.

"Me? What did I do?" I asked.

"Nothing. That's the thing nothing changed with you," Reyna said. "You were the same. You're always going to be the same. Everyone you care about- we aren't going to be the same. And it's going to be hard for all of us. I mean, when we're all older it'll be nearly impossible to look at you without feeling sad. We're all going to leave you behind."

"I knew that going into this Reyna. I knew that as soon as I joined the hunt the only way I die is in battle." I smiled but it didn't reach my eyes. For a moment I paused, suddenly realized something about myself. Something I hadn't taken the chance of noticing before. Reyna noticed it too. I could see it in her eyes but she didn't say anything. She let me come to terms with it on my own.

There was a reason I was so reckless in battle. While death scared me, maybe not as much as the others,  it was the only way I'd ever get see my friends and family again. As morbid as it was it didn't matter whether it happened now or later at some point it would have to. If not, then I'd live for thousands of years just like Zoe had, and I could finally understand why she'd always seemed so unhappy.

"I need you to make me a promise," Reyna said suddenly. She took both of my hands in hers.

"Uh okay but I'm not good at keeping them. I hope you know that," I admitted. It was true. I always struggled to keep promises. I was too impulsive with things. It was part of the reason I never swore on the river Styx.

"When the fighting starts and it gets bad promise me you aren't going to be the hero," Reyna insisted.

"I can't promise that. Not if people need me," I replied, shaking my head.

"I'm serious. Don't go out of your way to do it. For once just fight like a soldier not a leader." Reyna's grip tightened a bit like it was a silent way of pleading with me.

"That's not who I am and you know that. If I were to ask you the same question you'd tell me no. Romans sacrifice for the cause right?" She nodded and I could tell she knew she was losing the fight. "Well it's not very Roman of you to ask me that."

"What can I say?" Reyna laughed slightly. "I've been around a Greek for too long."

"My bad." We both laughed but it wasn't loud and boisterous like it could have been during a much happier time. "I'll...I'll think about it. In the meantime we have work to finish up."

"How long will you stay up doing it?" Reyna asked eyeing the setting sun. Truthfully, I hadn't realized how much time had already passed.

"Not sure. Probably pretty late. You know how I like the night time," I smiled thinly.

"I'll stay up too," Reyna offered.

"Cool. Oh and don't bother sleeping in the Artemis cabin. It's way too crowded. You can just stay in my cabin." Reyna seemed a bit unsure about the offer. "Don't worry about it. If Jason has a problem with it he can talk to me."

"Er...okay then. Sure, I guess." Reyna nodded, but her posture clearly indicated a bit of nervousness.
With that settled, the two of us left the arena behind. Unfortunately for us, we were stuck building walls again and I had half a mind to bale out and go back to the arena. See, it wasn't that I minded the work. That wasn't the bad part. It was the people I had a tendency to get stuck working with that was a pain in the ass. But, like with anything, there were ways to make things fun.

"Look who showed up," Nico smirked walking by in a tool belt that was hardly staying up on his skinny hips.

"You?" Reyna asked smiling slightly.

"Nice sarcasm," Nico winked. "I was referring to the two of you though."

"Well, we're here now so what's my job?" I asked.

"Don't ask me! Ask Annabeth she's got it all figured out. With Malcolm's help of course," Nico explained.

"Right." I turned to run off to where I'd spotted Annabeth from before when I felt a small tug on my hand. Mentally cursing myself I realized I'd yet to let go of Reyna's hand. She quickly unlaced her fingers from mine and walked off with Nico.

"Shit!" Annabeth winced shaking her hand.

"What did you do?" I asked jogging over. She looked up at me surprised that I was there.

"Paper cut," She grumbled and held her finger up to show me. I took her hand and examined it. Using my shirt I wiped the blood away and put pressure to the small wound. "You didn't have to do that."

"Nah, it's okay I don't think you have any bandaids on you anyways." I said looking at her knowingly and Annabeth smiled.

"Not a chance." She laughed, "you know me too well."
"Of course I do." A little while later the wound had stopped bleeding and though it stung she wasn't too mad.

"Thanks Thals." Annabeth smiled and gave me a quick hug something she hadn't done in a while before going back into boss mode and telling me what my job was. It was the same as before except I was given specific instructions to not touch anyone's feet. Which sounded really weird after I thought about it.

"But that's what makes it fun," I pouted.

"Yeah until someone dies," Annabeth chastised.

"She needs a shirt that says occupational hazard on it," Nico joked running by.

"I agree!" Piper yelled from where she was dangling over head in a harness attaching bronze plates to cover the walls' outer skeleton.

"I hate all of you," I grumbled but in a playful manner. They chuckled and I busied myself with crawling underneath everything all over again. Only downside to the job was I pretty much looked like the earth had pooped me out afterwards. Being covered from head to toe in filth. Needless to say I earned a lot of weird looks at dinner.

Overall, everything seemed to be going well and in reality it was as if war wasn't actually on our doorstep. But fate had a cruel way of mocking people. Little did any of us know that tomorrow was going to be a trial of its own.