They trekked up a hillside, Thalia's feet growing numb with the effort. But she'd adjust, she knew she would. A huntress. It didn't sound so horrible, stuck next to her name. She thought she might grow to like it there.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Apollo came out of nowhere, and Thalia wondered about it until she realized that gods could do that, of course.

"Um…" Her eyes were caught on his, making it rather hard to come up with an articulate affirmation. "Yeah, I made up my mind…" And she was fairly certain about it, give or take the occasional doubt.

"I know," he said, trying to appeal to her with an innocent expression. "But think about it. There's no turning back from this, Thalia." The use of her name almost made her drop reason and chastity all together, but no… she couldn't.

She nodded. "That's why I'm doing it."

"Security?" It wasn't exactly what she'd meant, but true all the same.

"I guess so."

"Well, if you want some advice –"

"Leave her alone, Apollo," a crisp voice called. Artemis. She sounded bored, already adjusted to her brother's antics. For some reason it made Thalia feel all the more embarrassed for doubting herself. She'd have to check that, in the future.

"I'm sorry Thalia," Artemis said, turning around and waiting for the two of them. "You'll have to excuse my brother. Sweet really, but doesn't understand the purpose of the Huntresses." Apollo rolled his eyes, and Thalia nearly laughed. Of all the gods she'd met, these two certainly seemed the most human and relatable.

"Oh, that's okay," Thalia replied, surprising herself, "I think he just wanted to share his… perspective."

Artemis put her arm around Thalia. "Well don't listen to him one bit, okay? I'm so happy you're joining us." Thalia felt her skin glow at the compliment. Glad to have her aboard. She'd never had a god be glad about her before.

"You're so stubborn," Apollo muttered, now aggravated. "She deserves to have a chance to think about it, before throwing her whole life away."

Thalia backed away slightly, as Artemis's eyebrows rose in fury. "Throw her whole life away? That's really what you think of the Huntresses?"

Thalia tuned out the rest, discovering that god squabbling was significantly louder the human squabbling. It felt… flattering, though. She didn't always get to be the afternoon to their peaks of the day. They were fighting over her, and she couldn't remember another time in her life when that had been the case.

"That's why I want to join," she said it aloud, somewhat unintentionally.

"What's why?" The twins said, nearly in unison.

"I want to be a part of something." She grimaced; it sounded so incredibly trite that she hoped Artemis wasn't offended. But when she looked at the gods, both were smiling.

"I understand," Artemis said gently, "And you will be, Thalia." Thalia allowed herself to smile, deciding that she liked it when they used her name.

Artemis turned to Apollo then, eyes narrowed. She was challenging him to ruin it. "I… get it too," he said with a shrug. "Oh well, can't save them all." He turned, ready to leave them. "Just so you know, though," he whispered, right in Thalia's ear, "You could belong anywhere."

"Thank you," Thalia replied, even though she knew it wasn't true.

"Are you ready?" Artemis asked, gazing at Thalia with concern.

Thalia took a moment, feeling like she should call internal attention to the new chapter in her life. "Yeah, I'm ready."

A/N: Hope you liked it! This is something I wanted to do for a while, although it didn't really turn out like I expected. Reviews are appreciated.