𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒐𝒓𝒆－ 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

𝑬𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏

She headed toward the entrance, shaking her head at Coach Hedge who was trying to talk to the annoyed blonde leaning against the wall. Hailee rolled her eyes at the short satyr.

"Hedge, I suggest you don't do that unless you want an arrow through your eye," Ariadne said.

Hailee grinned. "There's my favorite troublemaker." She gave her a fist bump. "How are you?"

There was a softness in her voice. She knew it was about how she was handling Percy's disappearance, which she didn't really have time to worry about with their quest.

"I'm fine," she muttered. Ariadne picked at her nail. "Just worried."

Hailee nodded.

They set up the the silver tent pavilion right outside the cave. Hailee did it incredibly quick, even without Ariadne's help. Inside was a kerosene heater keeping them toasty warm and a bunch of comfy throw pillows. Piper was brand new by the time Thalia, Jason, and Leo exited the cave. She was decked out in a new parka, gloves, and camo pants like a Hunter. She and Hedge and Hailee were kicking back, drinking hot chocolate.

Ariadne was pacing back and forth while holding her cup of the steaming drink. She couldn't sit down comfortably. Hailee had given her a new black parka due to hers being torn. She had on a pair of black gloves with a pair of new pants.

"Oh, no way," Leo said. "We've been sitting in a cave and you get the luxury tent? Somebody give me hypothermia. I want hot chocolate and a parka!"

Hailee sniffed. "Boys," she said, rolling her eyes at him. She didn't think all boys were bad—Percy was a good guy—but many annoyed her.

"It's all right, Hailee," Thalia said. "They'll need extra coats. And I think we can spare some chocolate."

Hailee narrowed her eyes, but soon Leo and Jason were also dressed in silvery winter clothes that were incredibly lightweight and warm. The hot chocolate was first rate.

"Cheers!" said Coach Hedge. He crunched down his plastic thermos cup.

"That cannot be good for your intestines," Leo said.

Thalia patted Piper on the back. "You up for moving?"

Piper nodded. "Thanks to Hailee, yeah. You guys are really good at this wilderness survival thing. I feel like I could run ten miles."

Thalia winked at Jason. "She's tough for a child of Aphrodite. I like this one."

"Hey, I could run ten miles too," Leo volunteered. "Tough Hephaestus kid here. Let's hit it."

Naturally, Thalia ignored him. Ariadne knew it was a pointless effort.

It took Hailee exactly six seconds to break camp, which Leo didn't seem to fathom, as his shock was written all over his face.

Thalia ran uphill through the snow, hugging a tiny path on the side of the mountain, and soon the Hunters and Ariadne left the others in the dust.

Coach Hedge leaped around like a happy mountain goat, coaxing them in like he used to do on track days at school. "Come on, Valdez! Pick up the pace! Let's chant. I've got a girl on Kalamazoo—"

"Let's not," Thalia snapped.

So they ran in silence.

Ariadne took short breaths while running next to Thalia. In all her time as a demigod she had gotten great at running for a long time, it was a skill she had picked up easily.

They eventually were able to stop, but Leo was so lost in thought, he didn't realize they had stopped. He slammed into Thalia and nearly sent them both down the side of the mountain the hard way. Four tuna fly, the Hunter was light on her feet. She steadied them both, then pointed up.