Annabeth Stagitta- [i]Lamia Scale[/i]

The natural spring that poured out from the mountain near the town Lamia Scale called home was a peculiar little spot, and a popular one to boot. Despite the somewhat lengthy hike required to reach it, denizens of the town would frequently make the trip to play, picnic, and refresh themselves in and around the cool waters. Especially today, with the weather around the town as blisteringly hot as it was, the spring was surrounded by families seeking shelter from the heat. A young mother stood ankle deep in the water, gently cradling her newborn babe as her youngest, a boy of 9, tossed a ball about. When he tossed it toward her, she gently kicked it back to him... only to have him miss it and go sailing toward the trees. As she moved to stop the boy from chasing it into the woods, however, the ball was gently lobbed through the air to land in front of him again. When the mother looked to see who had returned the ball, she gasped in pleasant surprise- stepping through the trees was Annabeth, a cheery smile on her face. It so happened that the spring was one of Annabeth's favorite places in the world, which is why she always made a detour to the spring as she returned from a Mission, no matter how out of the way it took her. And now, having returned from her years long Mission, she was welcome sight to most everybody there.

[b]"Oh! Miss Stagitta!"[/b] cried the mother, [b]"You're back!"[/b]

[b][color=f7941d]"Alicia,"[/color][/b] Annabeth replied with a wave as she set her things down, [color=f7941d][b]"How many times must I tell you to call me Anna? And who is this in your arms?"[/b][/color]

[b]"Ah, I'm sorry,"[/b] Alicia answered, [b]"Quite a bit's changed in the past six years, as you can tell. This is Lily."[/b]

[b][color=f7941d]"I see. Hello, Lily..."[/color][/b] Annabeth said as she gently tickled the baby's chin, using the high-pitched voice reserved for pets and little children, [b][color=f7941d]"Is all well at the Guild?"[/color][/b]

[b]"Nothing's amiss that I've heard. Quite a few of them left this morning, but I'm sure all is well."[/b]

[color=f7941d][b]"Well, that is good news. Perhaps I'll..."[/b][/color]

Annabeth's speech died in her throat as she looked past Alicia toward the horizon. Something there caught her eye, a bright flash of light in the distance. Anybody else might have missed it, but Annabeth's eyes were well accustomed to picking out such things. All of a sudden, a feeling of dread came over her. Something was wrong. She could feel it in her bones, much in the way a mother could simply feel it when their child was in danger. 

[b]"Anna?"[/b]

[color=f7941d][b]"Excuse me Alicia, it seems I may have something to attend to. Could you see that my things are dropped off at the Guild when you head home please? Thank you."[/b][/color]

With that, Annabeth jogged back to her things, grabbed Hylias from her pack, and began to channel her magic. A large arrow appeared in the air above her, floating steadily in midair. With a graceful hop she leaped up to it, gripped the shaft, and swung herself to sit atop the arrow like a witch on her broomstick. A snap of her fingers followed, and the arrow took off through the air, soaring toward the site where she had seen the great flash of light. All the while, her worry grew. What was happening over there?