Reyna's POV

"You're leaving? Why didn't you tell me earlier? Where are you going? How long are you going to be gone?" Thia asked, rattling off questions at a hundred miles an hour.

"It was a last minute decision. It'll only be for a day or two," I promised. Thia bit her bottom lip and fidgeted with her fingers. Thia was very good when it came to controlling her emotions or expressing them at reasonable times but there was one thing she didn't have much control over. Her anxiety. It had only gotten worse with age. She hated it when one of us left.

When she was younger she'd cry for ages before falling asleep and when she woke up she didn't really talk much. Her normally spastic and humorous personality would become quite and shy as she over thought everything that could go wrong if one of us was away.

"What is it for?" Thia asked, her eyebrows knitting together.

"Just checking up on something I'll be fine. Please, don't worry. It's not your job," I sighed, moving a piece of hair out of her face.

"I can't help it. Are you going by yourself?" Thia asked, already slipping back into her anxious mindset.

"Yes," I nodded, shooting Thalia a look for help but she just shrugged.

"But that's not safe! What if something happens?" She asked, her breathing already becoming shorter as her worry increased.

"Thia. Listen to me. I'm going to be okay. You're going to be fine." I rested a hand on either side of her face so she would look at me.

"Right," Thia nodded, but she didn't seem convinced.

"Alright. We're going for a walk. Just the two of us," I sighed.

Thia gave me a confused look. "What?"

"Come on. Put your shoes on." Thia paused for a moment before running upstairs.

"What's your plan?" Thalia asked.

"Nothing. We're just going to talk. I think she needs to." I shrugged as Thia bolted back down the stairs and skittered to a stop in front of me.

"Um. Where are we going?" She asked.

"Doesn't matter. Come on." Wrapping an arm around her shoulders I lead her out the front door and eased it shut behind us.

"Did I do something wrong?" Thia asked nervously.

"Nope," I smiled. She let out a sigh of relief and relaxed a little leaning into my side. " I just wanna talk. What's got you so...uptight?"

"You're leaving." Thia looked at me as if it should have been obvious.

"Yeah but what specifically about that is bugging you?" I asked. Thia frowned, thinking for a moment.

"Just what could happen. Like what could go wrong." She looked down at the ground as if it held the answer to all of her worries.

"What do you think could go wrong?"

"You could get hurt or lost or something worse. I just want to make sure you'll come home." And that was it. One of her biggest fears was always whether or not Thalia and I would come home from whatever minor quest we had to complete. Thia knew all about the wars, stories, and close calls we'd had along with our friends.

"One thing that I've learned over my life time is that if something is meant to happen it will and there's nothing we can do about it," I explained.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Thia asked, raising her eyebrows.

"The point is. If something is going to happen it will. But we can't live in fear about things that may happen. None of us ever know our destiny. If we run away from everything because of what may happen we won't get anywhere. So just try and relax. I plan on making it home. I have you to think about." Thia's expression softened and she tackled me in a hug.

"You're the best in the whole wide world!" She smiled.

"So I've been told," I laughed, kissing the top of her head.

"By who? Mama? She's supposed to say that." Thia snorted.

"So are you!" I joked.

"No, I'm supposed to be a moody teenager who doesn't like her parents." The two of us laughed because Thia was as far off as you could get from that.

"Okay. Go do what your little heart wants," I sighed. She smiled cutely as I ruffled her hair.

"Alright. Love you." She turned on her heel and ran off, quick as always. She'd definitely kick the crap out of anyone when it came to a foot race.

Shaking my head I walked back home to find Thalia sitting on the edge of the counter kicking her legs looking bored.

"So how'd it go?" She asked looking at me expectantly.

"Good," I shrugged.

"Does that mean you have to leave now?" Thalia asked a little sadly.

"Yep, but I'll be as quick as possible," I promised.

"You know these things never go as planned," she frowned.

"Which is exactly why I have no plan," I admitted, earning a slight glimmer of amusement in her eyes.

"Great. Very reassuring. Nice to see you've accepted my logical thinking skills." She was always sarcastic.

"Charming. Well as much as I hate it I have to go," I sighed, glancing at the clock on the wall.

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice the time," Thalia frowned, glaring at the clock accusingly.

"Sorry, I have good eyesight."

"Just watch, you'll be the one who ends up having to wear glasses," Thalia smirked.

"Well according to Jason's eyesight that may end up being you." Thalia pretended to be offended but I could tell she was just trying to distract me from leaving. Before she could come up with another clever response I kissed her.

"Cheater," she mumbled. Laughing, I pulled back. "Go on, get going."

"See you as soon as possible." Thalia rolled her eyes but she wasn't really irritated. "I love you."

"I love you too," she smiled thinly. I didn't have anything to take with me as I figured it was going to be a short trip. I didn't really want to leave but I had to.

Stepping outside once more my journey to New York began. I wondered how things were. If Grover was okay or not and if the problem at hand was still spreading.

I also wondered if CHB knew of the problem. Maybe the others were also curious. That, or if it was effecting some other area. If it was in other parts of the world as well no one had noticed it yet.

Time went by slowly, especially since I was by myself. There was no one to talk with to help pass the time. Quite frankly, I wasn't that used to the quiet. With Thalia, three dogs, and Thia there was always something going on that was typically entertaining.

Besides, when it was quiet it allowed my thoughts to wander. I thought back to my conversation with Thia. The more I reflected on it the more I thought that maybe I should be more worried than I was. I absentmindedly touched the scar that ran down my sternum. The last thing I needed was another incident like that because I wasn't going to have anyone to help me.

The trip was short as expected, or relatively short. I guess getting lost in thought helped pass the time. It wasn't hard to figure out where Grover was. The sky was clear except for a funnel of dark looking clouds in one particular and odd location. A sure indication of the spot from his pictures.

"Thank goodness you're here." Grover sighed in relief upon my arrival. He gestured to the woods which were even worse now and the darkness was only spreading. It latched onto anything it could touch. "It's gotten worse."

"Still no idea of what it is?" I asked.

"No," Grover frowned, shaking his head. I noticed that his horns had gotten particularly longer. A lot of time had passed. Everyone was getting older. Well, almost everyone.

"Great," I sighed, taking a step towards the dark woods.

"Careful," Grover warned. "I wouldn't get too close to that stuff. I don't know what it can do."

"Well, let's see." I picked up a nearby stick and tossed it in between the trees. I waited to see where it landed. Nothing happened. "Nothing."

"Okay," Grover nodded, a curious expression taking over his features. He took a step towards the woods as well.

"Maybe it's just attacking the trees," I shrugged.

"Like a virus?" He asked, picking up another stick and doing the same thing I had.

"Maybe. There's only one way to find out." I drew the only weapon I'd brought with me not expecting to use it but it was better to have it handy in case I needed it.

"You want to go in there?" Grover asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Unfortunately, yes," I sighed. Grover nodded and raised his pipes to hover just beneath his lips. "I'll go first."

"By all means go ahead," Grover mumbled. The first step inside was hesitant but when nothing happened I took another and then another. Again, there was no reaction. No response from the darkness. It was odd, but maybe I was right. Maybe it was just some sort of virus spreading through the woods. I recalled hearing about evil nymphs or spirits that could alter nature to a corrupted form. Maybe this was the case.

"Nothing." Frowning, I looked around expecting something to happen. Grover's eyes scanned the trees and after a moment he lowered his pipes.

"Do you think if we keep going we'll find the heart of the problem?" He asked. "I mean, it has to have started somewhere."

"Sounds about right. Come on." Sheathing my sword I jogged off in between the trees. I didn't know how long it would take us to get to the center of the problem but I didn't want this trip to last longer than it needed to.

Grover scampered easily through the terrain. His hooves were a perfect fit for the landscape. He was extremely quick though one wouldn't believe it simply by looking at him. I wasn't quite sure how much time had passed until he skittered to a stop in front of me.

"What is it?" I asked, stopping beside him.

"I think we found the center," Grover breathed. There was a pulsing black orb like structure in the center of a clearing. Every now and then a wave of energy would emanate from it. The wave would ruffle the trees and I figured that was how the darkness spread.

"It's like a...heart," I frowned.

"Gross," Grover shivered.

"Only one way to get rid of it I suppose." I drew my sword once more and crept towards the odd object. It was strangely pleasing to look at. The odd structure demanded your attention like it wanted you to try and figure out what it was. Nearly a foot away I raised my blade ready to strike the object when I heard the first sound of movement besides my own or Grover's.

Glancing over my shoulder I tried to decipher what was moving between the trees. The only problem was that everything seemed to blend together.

"What is it?" Grover asked skittering nervously.

"I heard something." After another moment of scanning the tree line I turned back to the orb and went to strike it. Grover's yelp of surprise halted my blade merely a centimeter over the target. Turning around I sucked in a sharp breath of surprise.

There was a tall shadowy figure made of pure dark energy. It's front arms were long and dragged the ground, its palms large, and its fingers had claws the size of my forearms. White eyes rested somewhere in the blackness that was supposed to be its head. The creature had a massive underbite with razor sharp teeth jutting out of its bottom jaw.

It let out an earth shaking roar and beat its fists against its chest we it's white eyes glared down at Grover before shifting to me. It lowered down on all fours into a crouching position.

"I don't think it wants you to touch that thing!" Grover called, his voice wavering nervously.

"No kidding." I watched the monster wearily. A second one burst through the trees having heard its companion's cries. "What are these things?"

"Absolutely no idea," Grover winced, watching wide eyed. The second was different than the first. It was thin and lanky with the long arms but no under bite.

It sniffed the air and its eyes turned to me yet again. The two looked at one another and communicated in ear splitting shrieks and clicks.

"I don't think they like you." Grover took a step back towards the way we had come.

"This might be a good time to-" Without warning the creatures charged. "Run!"

Grover didn't have to be told twice before taking off at an all out sprint. Sheathing my sword I took off after him ducking between the legs of one of the beasts. It's massive clawed hand swiped sluggishly at me.

I ran into the tree line hearing an agitated shriek from somewhere behind me. Great, more reinforcements. This time, however, while navigating the wilderness the wild seemed to come alive. Tree branches moved trying desperately to snag my clothing and halt me in place.

Roots rose up from the ground threatening to tangle my feet. On my way out I spotted a deer frozen in motion with a black casing around it. Swallowing hard I turned away from it and hurdled a log. Landing firmly on the ground I spotted the treeline just ahead.

Grover broke through and waved for me to hurry. Gritting my teeth I made a last ditch attempt to go faster sensing the forest growing angrier by the second. Something was nipping at the back of my heels. Grover stood wide eyed at the exit as I broke through the tree line mid stride.