𝗣͟𝗜͟𝗡͟𝗘͟ᑦᴼᴺᴱ 𝕱ace.

"we aren’t angry at you, luke," thalia says, though she can audibly hear percy scoff from behind her. she turns her head just long enough to give him a sharp glare before facing the other again. she remembers how he used to look— skin warm and full of life. now he’s pale, almost ghostly, and his eyes are so much darker. this wasn't the luke she knew. but a part of her still hopes that the boy who made that first journey to camp half-blood with her is still in there. "if you just come back with us… things will be different." she begs, her voice cracking. maybe it was naive of her to think the gods would allow him back with open arms after all that's been done, but she couldn't help but have hope despite knowing what will probably come.

"no, annabeth!" she's turns on her heel, one hand lifted as if she can physically stop the girl from following her. she could strike her with a lightning bolt, if she wanted to— but she wasn't that cruel. the frustration in thalia's tone fades almost instantly, melting into regret as soon as she realizes how harsh she had been. she only remembers bits and pieces of what happened five years ago, but one thing that stuck out to her was how difficult it was holding off the furies and hellhounds that day on half-blood hill. long enough for annabeth and luke to get to safety. if the two of them had stayed? they'd probably both be dead, and she would’ve been a pinecone tree forever. it’s better if she goes alone.

"i'm sorry," thalia said quietly. "you- you can't. i need to do this on my own." the orcale might have spoken of a group, of her not being the only one on this quest, but the girl won't let that future take shape. NOT not if it meant risking the other girl's life again. "i'm going to do this on my own."

"not until you put riptide down first," she answers impertinently, holding the spear in front of his neck. chiron was in the background, commanding the two of them to bring an end to their nonsense before one of them gets hurt, but neither of them seemed to care. "you were our defense, remember? you were supposed to stay at your post and defend! but no. you didn't listen. you never do." there was a clap of thunder in the distance, and it looks as though her eyes had darkened with the rain clouds merging above their heads. thalia's expression tightens in frustration, "my gods, you're so infuriating!"

they had barely made it two blocks into downtown before the hellhound cornered them. the girl raised her shield up, the spear in her hand crackling with electricity— while the other dodged a swipe meant to take his head off. to the mortal world, of course, it just looked like two teenagers crashing out in the middle of the sidewalk and destroying a decorative fountain in the process. briar had tried to mess with the mist, but with both of them occupied with trying not to die? it was hard to keep up.

"shadow travel would have come in handy right now," thalia says through gritted teeth, zapping the monster with her weapon, "ya' know, if you didn't almost pass out every time you try it." she couldn’t blame him— shadow travel wasn’t the easiest thing to perform, but man would it be convenient right now. "my brain's empty, bri! please, tell me you have something in mind."