Obligatory Disclaimer: I own nothing here, accept Nixie and Lucy who are MINE. All rights go to Rick Riordan and Stephenie Meyer.

Antelope or Duck?

Thalia's POV

Blonde hair. Blue eyes. For Gods' sake. Could you get anymore stereotypical, or idiotic?

I glared at the boy in distaste. Not only is he a half-blood, he knows about the Hunters, and our vow to stay single for the rest of our lives. Yet, the idiot keeps hitting on me. He's worse than Leo, as I find Leo hilarious, with his hopelessly smitten ways, but this guy thinks he actually has a chance. Or maybe his mother just wants to spite me and Lady Artemis. Stupid Aphrodite.

"So, sweetheart, busy tonight? Because I know this gorgeous place by the beach... You and me, under the stars, candlelit, with a tub of chocolate ice cream?" Adrian smiled at me, his white teeth reflecting the rays of the sun right back in my eyes, making me blink. His smile widened, and I realised that the vlacas thought I was fluttering my eyes, flirting.

I looked him right in the eye with a thoughtful expression.

"I'm just thinking..." I trailed off.

"Don't worry, Thals, I promise that we won't get caught, I'll keep you safe."

He thinks he can keep me safe? He's the one he should be worried about. He's lucky if I don't electrocute him into the next millennia. And Thals? There is a very small list of people who are allowed to call me that, and Adrian seemed to want to learn everything the hard way.

"No... Just wondering if you would prefer antelope, or duck? Hope you don't mind fried."

"Why?" Adrian asked, his eyebrows pushing together as he thought. Don't strain yourself. I thought. There's no use thinking when you haven't got the brain capacity for thoughts.

I smiled at him. "Because when Lady Artemis finds out you've been flirting with me, she'll change you into either an antelope or a duck. Then, after we have hunted you down, I'd like to fry you, daughter of Zeus and all that, but I understand if you would rather be cooked slowly over a campfire. It really does give the meat that woody, tangy taste."

He stared at me. "Wait a second." His eyes drew closer together in concentration, making him look like a cross-eyed loon.

"Do you mean that you... don't like me?" Took him long enough.

"No, I mean that I hate you, and if you don't get out of my face this instant, you're going to be nothing but a pile of ash." His eyes widened, and he turned around and ran for his life, stumbling over his own feet. Maybe a rabbit would suit him better.

"And don't call me Thals!" I yelled after him.

"Trouble, Lieutenant?" I turned, and glanced up to see Nixie perched in a tree at the border of the forest. She was a small little thing, a bit like a bird, with tanned skin and dark red-gold hair that made her head look on fire in the midday sun. Nixie looked about fifteen, generally acted as though she was five, and was one of the oldest members of the hunt now that Zoe had gone to live among the stars.

She jumped off her branch and almost floated down to the soft green grass.

"That jerk looked like he was giving you a bit of trouble." She jerked her head in the direction that Adrian had ran off. She looked me straight in the eye and smirked.

"You were actually thinking about it, weren't you?" As Artemis' lieutenant, I really should take care of the flirtatious boys myself, but Adrian had really been getting on my nerves. We'd been staying at camp for three days, multiple fights breaking out between hunters and campers, and the idiot hadn't left me alone for a minute of it.

"This one really deserved it." I said.

"Can't argue there." Nixie said, stretching her arms out behind her, almost like wings.

"Artemis is back." She said.

"What? Why?" I asked. Why hadn't I been the first to know?

"Dunno, but she's called a meet for all the hunters. She's worried about something. I came to tell you, but you looked like you were having such fun with Mr Scaredy-cat."

"Har-dy har har." I turned, marched across the camp ground, campers, scampering out of my way. I had earned quite a reputation after the Second Titan War, and now all the younger campers were terrified of me. It was funny at first, though now it's just getting annoying.

Nixie skipped after me, raising an eyebrow at any boy who looked our way.

We passed the archery field, and I saw Annabeth wave at me, though she frowned when she saw the look on my face.

Percy turned to wave at me, and as he lifted his hand off the loaded bow he held, the arrow shot out and hit Clarisse in the butt. He took one look at the murderous expression on her face, and pelted away, Clarisse howling as she chased after him.

It was good to see that some things never change.

I marched into Artemis' softly glowing silver cabin, where the rest of the hunters had gathered. Nixie slid in behind me, shutting the door quietly.

I bowed deeply to my sister, who stood near the back of the room, hunters gathered around her. "My Lady." She bowed her head to me.

"Now all my Hunters are here, I have some news that must be attended to at once." Artemis looked around the room, staring every hunter in the eye with her silver orbs. The newer ones flinched at the look, while the more experienced hunters grew more worried. Something bad was coming.

"My Hunters. As you know, I have been absent from the Hunt for three days, leaving you here, at Camp Half-Blood, where I knew no harm would come to you. At least, nothing you couldn't handle." She winked at me. I winced mentally. Adrian better hope that Artemis never found out exactly which boy had been hitting on me.

"I have had some very important meetings to attend on Olympus. Though it is not either solstice, all Olympians and Lord Hades where there." But Hades was not allowed on Olympus, except for the Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year.

"There have been reports of monsters in a small town in Washington. Monsters that do not fit any description I have ever heard, or seen." That's impossible! Artemis has been hunting for thousands of years. Surely she should know every monster out there?

"These sightings are all reported to mortal authorities by mortals." What? Mortals can't see through the Mist. Well, there are a few clear sighted, but they usually convince themselves they are insane before anything gets out of hand.

"Large wolves, the size of horses have been sighted a few times by locals who have lived in the town their whole lives, and have never seen the likes before. A few hikers have disappeared in the area over the years, howling is heard at night, and the wolves seem unusually intelligent."

"We have cleared up any inconvenience that the mortal authorities might pose, but there is still the matter of unknown monster sightings. My father, Zeus, fears that the Mist may have disappeared in that area, but I believe it is far worse than that. I fear that a new breed of monsters may have appeared with the ability to be seen through the Mist. If this is true, they have the ability to show our world to the mortals." Artemis continued.

The face of every Hunter in the room was solemn, scared. We have all seen how mortals reacted to a monster attack, even through the Mist. If they actually saw what was happening around them... I don't want to know what that could mean to us, and our world, or the poor, confused mortals.

"I have been asked to send out a small team of Hunters to the town of Forks." Her eyes twinkled, and everyone took the lapse in the dense atmosphere to smirk. Really? A town named after an eating utensil?

"This group must track the monsters, which have been spotted near Forks, and the reservation La Push. They must find out what they are, and investigate how they can be seen through the mist. I have picked four of you to carry out this quest." Everyone glanced at their neighbor, wondering who Artemis would pick.

A small thirteen year old stepped forward, and politely bowed to my lady.

I recognised her to be Lucy, a daughter of Demeter, the girl who had joined us yesterday, and her dark hair and shy aura reminded me of Bianca di Angelo.

"Rise." Artemis nodded at Lucy.

"Umm, Lady Artemis, I was wondering, and I'm really sorry if it's just a me being the new girl thing, but why aren't we all going together?" Lucy kept starting and pausing, then she would speak very fast, as if trying to get all the words out before she collapsed. Someone was nervous.

"We usually would, Lucy. But this mission has special circumstances. If the Mist has disappeared in that area, then a large group of young girls will draw unwanted attention. If only four of you are sent, then it will not draw so much attention, as a small group is far easier to hide." Lucy nodded humbly, and stepped back.

Artemis looked me in the eye. "Thalia. As my lieutenant, you have led the Hunters well in my absence. It is my wish that you now lead the group of Hunters to carry out this mission." I took a step forward and bowed.

"I would be honoured, my lady." Inside, I was screaming with joy. I love the hunters, they're my sisters, but like any older sister, I need a break.

"Phoebe. You are my best tracker, and if you would be willing to join Thalia?' Phoebe stepped forward and bowed.

"I would be honoured, my lady."

"Lucy. You are new to my hunters, and I feel this would be an excellent time to learn more on how we work, and to prove yourself." Lucy had a look of delight on her face as she stood forward, bowed, took a deep breath and responded, "I would be honored, my lady."

Artemis' eye traveled to the back of our group.

"Nixie. I feel that your particular talents would be a handy precaution, and an excellent addition to the quest." Nixie bounced forward, and bowed so fast I wondered if she would faint.

"I would be honoured, milady." She grinned.

Artemis nodded at the four of us. "There is a forest in Forks where you can camp. My brother," She scowled at this, "Will take you, at first light, to Forks." We bowed again, knowing ourselves excused so that we can make preparations for the journey.

"And girls." Artemis called.

"Be careful. You have no idea what you're up against."

AN: Greetings, Creatures of the Universe. I'm a new author to the world of fanfiction, this being my first story. Hope you like my fic!

I just want to get some things out of the way, so:

1) I have only read Twilight once, several years ago now, so most of my Twilight facts are based off other fanfics, and the Twilight Wikia. I'm really sorry if I get anything wrong, and if I do, please tell me, and I'll try to correct it where possible.

2) My eleven year old younger sibling is Beta-ing for me, and I have to say, she's doing a terrific job with spelling and grammatical errors, and I am also looking through it, but spelling is not my strong point. So just tell me when I get something wrong.

3) PJO fans might be a little annoyed this is an imprint fic with Thalia, who is not supposed to fall in love. I know, and I don't like fanfics where Thalia falls in love, so I'm being incredibly hypocritical here, but this idea would not leave me alone, and I'm trying to make it as realistic to the storyline as possible.

4) It's set at the end of Twilight, and I'm trying to keep it up to date with the PJO/HOO, but as all the books have not yet been released, it might be completely messed up by the time Rick Riordan finishes.

5) I'll try to update once a week.

6) Flames are not acceptable, and will be reported. Constructive criticism will be welcomed with a high-five (And not to the face)

If you've made it to the end of the AN I'm impressed. I hope you like my story!

Please review. Don't you think it's amazing that in one word, two seconds, you can make someones day?