So, in the 7+ years that I've been gone from fanfiction, I have graduated from high school, graduated from college, and moved to another country. So, that's a bit weird to think about. But, since getting a real grown-up person job, I've had a lot less stress and a lot more free time, which means I have been writing like you wouldn't believe. In the two months since moving abroad I have filled 4.5 notebooks with story plots, characters, and ideas, so I figured maybe I should start typing some of them up. I've been reading the Heroes of Olympus books, because I never got the chance to read them in high school, and I only finished the Son of Neptune, but Reyna is already my favorite character. So, I decided to write a story about her budding friendship with Jason. I've been doing a lot of research for these characters, but like I said, I haven't finished the series yet, so if you notice any inconsistencies please let me know. I hope you enjoy.
~ArtemisFrimm
I.
Jason never dreamed. This was fairly unusual for demigods. Most demigods dreamt about upcoming quests, or about monsters, or about traumas from their past. But Jason never dreamed. Every night for as long as he could remember, he would go to sleep at night and wake up the next morning with absolutely no recollection of any sort of dream. He didn't even have the normal, boring mortal dreams like dreams of flying or dreams about being caught in public in his underwear. It irked him above all else.
His friends in the Fifth Cohort would often talk about their dreams before they went on amazing quests, and his peers would talk about visions of their godly parents or patrons. But he never had a dream, and he never had a quest. He had been at camp longer than almost anyone, but he had still never been chosen for a quest. He blamed it on his lack of dreams. If he would just have a dream, maybe then he would have a quest.
So, on the evening of June 30th, when Jason had his first dream, he was ecstatic.
He dreamt he was in Rome. At first, he thought it was in New Rome, the architecture, the atmosphere, it all felt like New Rome, but he realized this place was more ancient; more powerful. He stood outside of a temple perched on top of a hill that overlooked the city below. The sun was setting, and Roman citizens walked about the streets, many returning to their homes for the night.
An inscription was carved into the marble detailing above the entrance: Templum Iovis—Temple of Jupiter. Jason's heart raced. He wondered if his father would actually be speaking to him. He'd never heard anything from his father. Even when he was brought to camp, his father never claimed him. Lupa had simply brought him to camp and declared him the son of Jupiter.
He walked into the dark temple. A larger-than-life (he assumed) statue of Jupiter sat on a massive marble throne that rose to the ceiling. Jupiter's stone eyes stared coldly ahead, and Jason wondered briefly if he was supposed to present an offering or say some magic words.
"No magic words required." A voice spoke from behind the statue, causing Jason to jump. A tall woman in dark robes emerged from behind Jupiter's throne, and Jason had an instinctive feeling that he should kneel.
The woman smiled, but her smile didn't meet her eyes. "I'm glad to see you haven't inherited your father's manners." The woman said, "You may stand, hero."
Jason rose unsteadily to his feet and tried to recognize the woman in front of him. "You're Juno." He said, "Aren't you?"
"I am." She said evenly.
Jason shifted uncomfortable, "Look, um, I don't mean it in a bad way, but why are you here? You're not here to kill me, right?"
Juno laughed not unkindly, "No, Jason. I am not here to kill you. I am here to give you this."
She tossed Jason a gold coin. He caught the coin easily. On one side was an eagle, the symbol of Jupiter and the word IVLIVS, on the other side was a lightning bolt. "Uh, thanks?" Jason said, unsure what he was supposed to do with a coin.
"Flip it in the air and catch it." Juno instructed.
Jason did as he was told, but as the coin flipped in the air, it turned into a sword made of Imperial Gold. Jason caught the sword easily, amazed at how balanced it felt, almost as if it had been made specially for him. He tossed the sword into the air, and it returned to the coin. "That's incredible!"
"It is a special weapon. A birthday present from your father. If the coin is flipped on heads, it will become a sword, tails it will become a lance." Juno explained.
"Juno, I can't thank you enough." Jason said, "But if this is a dream, how can I use it?" he asked, still marveling at the coin.
Juno stared at him evenly, "Let's find out. Wake, hero."
Jason instantly woke up. Sunlight streamed through the windows of the Fifth Cohort barracks. He reached into the pocket of his pajama pants and pulled out the coin from his dream. He grinned, and flipped the coin, watching as it transformed into a lance.
"Whoa." Dakota stared at him blearily from his bunk. A serious cowlick made his hair stand up in the back of his head, and his mouth was still stained from his Kool-Aid from the night before. "Where'd you get that?" he asked.
Jason told him about his surprise visit from Juno as the boys got dressed and headed to the canteen for breakfast.
"That's crazy, man." Dakota said. "Maybe you'll finally get your first quest after all."
"That would be probably my best birthday present ever." Jason grinned.
"Definitely better than the surprise party Gwen and I had planned for you." Dakota said, already on his second glass of Kool-Aid.
Jason's grin grew wider, "Surprise?"
"Damn it, Dakota you dummy. Did you just spoil the secret?" Gwen asked, joining them at the table.
"Relax, I didn't tell him about the party." Dakota said. Gwen stared at him in exasperation as realization dawned in Dakota's eyes. "Uh, it's not a party for you." Dakota said, trying to backpedal, "It's for uh… another Jason."
Gwen smacked her forehead and groaned, "Dakota we were so close." But Jason just laughed. His friends remembered his birthday, and they even planned a surprise party for him. As he went about his day, he thought that nothing could ruin his mood. In his combat class, he easily beat his classmates, his new sword making combat even easier for him. Not even Octavian could bother Jason today.
After lunch he sat with the rest of the Fifth Cohort at the campsite outside of the barracks. Charlie Taylor, the Fifth's senior officer had bought Jason a cake, and even the praetors had stopped by to wish him a happy birthday. They had just finished singing happy birthday, when a messenger ran to the campground out of breath. "Praetors!" she shouted.
"Maggie, what's wrong?" Praetor Lee asked the girl as she approached.
"There… there's a new… a new demigod!" she huffed. The praetors quickly ran off to the Little Tiber to meet the new recruit. Jason looked at his friends, who shrugged and followed the crowd to catch a glimpse at the new camper.
At the edge of the river was a girl, who couldn't have been older than twelve, fending off three humanoid monsters with razor-sharp tusks protruding from their heads. She was tall and slender with light brown skin and long black hair pulled into a messy braid down her back. She looked exhausted. She had a few cuts on her arms and legs from where the monsters had apparently gotten her with her tusks, and strands of her black hair had come loose from her braid.
"Shouldn't someone help her?" Jason asked. But the campers seemed to be in awe. The girl fought with the fierceness of a wild animal, as she slashed through two of the monsters with an iron sword. But while the girl was distracted, the third monster charged at her, knocking her under the water.
The praetors, Lee and Aurelia broke out of their stupor and rushed into the water to help the girl. Miraculously, the girl had managed to slay the third monster without more than a shallow cut on her cheek.
The praetors helped the girl out of the water, and somebody ran over with a towel to give her. She was young, but her dark eyes held had a fierce gaze, like she dared anyone try to challenge her. Despite being drenched and almost drowned by a monster, she held herself very regally, like she was very aware of her power.
"Who are you?" Lee asked, once they reached the river bank.
"My name is Reyna. I was trained by the wolf Lupa. She sent me here." The girl said. She had the slightest hint of an accent that Jason couldn't place.
"Are you a demigod then?" Aurelia asked.
"Yes." Reyna answered.
"And who is your godly parent?"
At that, Reyna's strong façade flickered for just a second, but she regained her composure so quickly, it hardly showed. "I don't know." She said.
Aurelia and Lee exchanged looks and seemed to reach some sort of nonverbal agreement. "Very well, Reyna. Come with us. We have a few more questions to ask you." Lee said, before turning his attention back to the crowd, "Everyone return to your posts."
"Wow." Dakota said, "That was pretty dope."
Jason didn't know why, but he felt a twinge of annoyance, "It wasn't that impressive."
Gwen gave him an incredulous look, "She took on three fully grown Aeternae by herself and got away with just a scratch." She said, "I'd say that's pretty impressive for a demigod that young."
Jason frowned, "I could've taken them." He said, unsure why he was so bothered by the new demigod.
"Yeah, but you've also been at camp since you were in diapers." Dakota pointed out, "Besides, I think she could kick even your ass in combat if she wanted to."
Jason scowled, 'No she wouldn't. She wasn't that good."
Gwen and Dakota shrugged, "Whatever you say Jason." Gwen said with a small smirk, "Come on, let's go cut your birthday cake."
But Jason suddenly didn't feel in a celebrating mood anymore.
That night at assembly, the praetors called for attention. The new girl, Reyna stood behind them, looking completely indifferent to all of the eyes on her. She had cleaned up after her impromptu swim in the Tiber. Her black hair was neatly braided down her back, and the cut on her cheek had mostly faded. Instead of her old tee-shirt and shorts, she wore a purple Camp Jupiter shirt and dark jeans.
"Romans, as you already know, we have a new recruit. Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano wishes to join the legion. A flash of annoyance crossed Reyna's face as Lee said her full name, but she quickly collected herself.
"That's a mouthful to say." Dakota whispered loudly. Gwen elbowed him in the ribs.
"What do the auguries say?" Aurelia asked Octavian.
"I have read the entrails." Octavian said dramatically, "The auguries are favorable. She may join the legion." He gave Reyna a cheeky grin, and Reyna narrowed her eyes ever so slightly.
The campers shouted, "Ave hail." And the senior officers from each cohort stepped forward. Charlie Taylor, from the Fifth Cohort was the most senior officer in the camp, having been at camp even longer than Jason.
"Recruit, do you bring any credentials? Any letters of recommendation?" he asked.
Reyna shook her head, "No."
"I wonder if the First will try to take her anyway." Gwen whispered.
"I doubt Octavian would allow an unclaimed camper into the First." Jason pointed out.
"I don't know, the slimeball seems to be pretty interested in her." Dakota said, nodding toward where Octavian stood. He was definitely watching Reyna closely, and it made Jason briefly feel bad for the new girl. Octavian had only come to camp two years ago, but he had quickly risen to power as auger and centurion of the First Cohort. He was sneaky, and conniving, and Jason had hated him from the moment he arrived at camp.
"I will stand for her." Said Evander Jackson, a centurion from the Third Cohort.
Lee nodded, "Evander Jackson, you stand for the recruit. Does your cohort accept her?"
The members of the cohort banged their shields and spears on the ground.
"My cohort has spoken." Evander said, "We accept the recruit."
Aurelia turned to Reyna, "Congratulations, Reyna. You stand on probatio. You will be given a tablet with your name and cohort. In one year's time, or as soon as you complete an act of valor, you will become a full member of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata. Serve Rome, obey the rules of the legion, and defend the camp with honor. Senatus Populusque Romanus!" The rest of the legion echoed her chant.
Reyna nodded once before going to join Evander and the rest of the Third Cohort.
"Maybe we should have tried to accept her." Dakota said glumly, "We never get cool recruits."
"What are we, chopped liver?" Jason asked.
"Might as well be."
"She hasn't even been claimed by her godly parent yet. She could have some super lame god as her parent." Jason argued.
"With fighting skills like that?" Charlie said, joining them at the table, "doubtful."
Jason scowled. Why is everyone making such a big deal about her?
"What's go you so worked up anyway?" Dakota asked.
Gwen smirked, "Is wittle Jason jealous of Reyna?"
Jason almost spit out his drink. "Me? Why would I be jealous of her? I'm the son of Jupiter. What do I have to be jealous about?"
"Maybe the act that she's the first person who could probably kick your ass in combat and she's a girl and probably younger than you?" Dakota grinned, sipping his Kool-Aid.
"First of all, she would not kick my ass." Jason growled, "Second, I don't care if she's a girl or younger than me. I just don't like that everyone's making a bigger deal out of this than it needs to be. She's good with a sword. So what? Lots of demigods are."
Gwen and Dakota exchanged looks like they didn't believe him, but they dropped the topic. Jason had a feeling he was really not going to like Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano.