I woke up slowly as if I was rising from molasses. I felt close to consciousness many times but my dreams would quietly lure me back. When I finally awoke I realized I was in an unfamiliar place. I was lying by a stream in a forest. My name was Percy. That is all I remembered. A bubble of panic slowly rose within me. Who was I? Where was I? What had happened?

I sat up quickly trying to shake off my confusion. It was then I noticed the rustling in the leaves and the ominous growling. I stood up warily and, as if by instinct, reached into my pocket. My fingers grasped a small ballpoint pen and pulled it out. I looked ordinary in all respects but a small voice in the back of my head whispered uncap it. I did and a long bronze sword erupted out of it. Somehow I wasn't even surprised. This seemed normal.

I turned to face the noise with my sword in front of me and realized with a shock that the noises weren't just coming from one place but from all around me. I was surrounded. I gulped trying to swallow my fear and look brave.

Then, a single wolf strode out of the dense forest looking regal and proud, Dangerous. The wolf looked over me and with a snort announced

"I am Lupa. State your name."

I knew better than to disobey so I responded "My name's Percy." I said it with a sort of question on the end.

The wolf Lupa noticed and if wolves could smile she did. I t wasn't welcoming however it was as if she was excited to eat me.

"Percy. Percy Jackson. I know of you. Now tell me son of Neptune why has Juno delivered you here?"

"Umm who? I've never even heard that name before."

Lupa frowned then said "I guess to you it would be Hera."

The name seemed to ring a bell somewhere in the void of my brain but I still couldn't grasp the memory. My puzzled expression seemed to confirm something to Lupa. She called to the other wolves saying

"Unfortunately my brothers and sisters we won't be feasting on him tonight. He has the blessing of Juno."

The other wolves appeared from the forest looking thoroughly disappointed.

I couldn't stand it any longer "Who is this Juno or Hera person you keep talking about? I have a feeling she's important but I-I just don't know! I can't remember!"

Lupa came closer "pax Percy," she said mixing Latin and English. "Juno has removed your memory for the time being but has reassured me that, in time, it will return."

I knew I needed to keep my temper but I couldn't, I was too frustrated. "What is this whole son of Neptune business? Who does this stupid Juno person think she is? Why did she take my memory?" I was practically shouting now. "What does she mean 'in time'? I want my memory back now!" It just occurred to me how odd it was that I was yelling at talking wolves so I added "I want to walk away and never see talking wolves again."

I was panting with anger. Lupa the wolf didn't respond but instead stared at me her eyes boring into me. I looked away and then before anyone could stop me I turned and ran.

All at once the wolves sprang into action leaping at me from all directions. I yelled and turned. I swung the sword I had almost forgotten I was carrying with surprising skill. It caught a large brown wolf right on the snout and carved a large deep cut. The wolf howled in pain and dropped to the ground. I gasped and then kept running. I heard the rest of the wolves barely five feet behind me. All at once I saw Lupa crouched in front of me. How did she get there so fast? I skidded to a halt and was about to turn away when she pounced on me. My head hit the hard ground with a heavy thud and I blacked out.