Percy, Annabeth and a couple of Apollo campers trudged up the hill, towards Thalia's tree. Annabeth had been on her way to the Big House when she had spotted fire dancing across the hilltop in random spurts. She had also heard faint shouts and clanging off metal.

The group reached the top, to see two kids running about, one braver and taller than the other. They were fighting a dozen or so dracaenae. How the reptilian women got so near the camp, they weren't sure, but these kids were putting up a Hades of a fight. That's when Percy spotted the obvious thing- both of them had tails, similar to those of lizards or salamanders.

The shorter one was dodging attacks from the dracaenae's various Greek weapons. Occasionally, jets of fire would escape directly from their hands.

"What are they?" Annabeth asked, standing at Percy's side. Percy wasn't sure, but he reached into his pocket and Riptide grew in his hand. The sword the taller... creature was fighting with clearly wasn't celestial bronze.

"I don't know, but we have to help them." The five of them charged the group as fire from the little one's hands sent a few of the dracaenae into a panic. Annabeth drew her knife and ran to the small one's aid. She stabbed one of the reptilian women, who instantly disintegrated. The others backed up uncertainly only to have arrows rain down on them.

Percy was on fire- Annabeth watched as he swung his sword low, slicing through the snake like trunks of one of the foes. As the reptilian woman fell to the ground as yellow dust, Percy smacked another in the face with the butt of sword. She crumpled to the ground and Percy stabbed down into the enemy's gut. He turned on the other, supposedly braver reptilian woman, her sword clashing with his. He threw his weight against both blades and kicked his opponent in the stomach. She tumbled back, tripping over her snake-trunk legs. Percy slashed with a wide arc. She clutched her stomach before crumbling to the ground as dust.

The remaining dracaenae turned tail and fled. The Apollo kids let loose a volley of arrows. The hill was dusted in the yellow remains of the dracaenae.

Percy turned, only to find that he was at sword point. "Whoa, easy. We just helped you. Take it easy." The smaller one walked up to their accomplice and put a hand on their elbow, tugging them back slightly.

"Alfie, hear them out. He's right." Alfie relaxed slightly, but he didn't move the sword. His friend kept a firm grip on his arm. "Alfie," She warned, pulling sharply on his arm.

"Where are we?" Alfie spat, glaring at Percy. Riptide shrunk in his hand and Percy slipped the pen into his pocket. "And what the hell were those freaky snake people?"

"It'd be easier to talk if I didn't have a sword at my throat." Alfie's eyes narrowed dangerously. "OK, OK. You're on the hill of Camp Half Blood," Percy waved down at the valley. "This is one of the two safe havens for demigods, like us. We train under the Greek style of the gods." Percy expected one of the two to say something. "Where are you two from? And... err... no offense, but what are you?"

"Alfie, put your sword away, dammit." Alfie's friend ordered through gritted teeth. "Remember what Mother Lizard said about demigods?" Alfie reluctantly lowered his sword. "Sorry, but he's been a bit edgy lately." She thought for a few seconds. "Just call it an Alfie thing."

"Erm... OK." Annabeth said, standing next to Percy. She put a hand on his shoulder and whispered, "Should we take them to Chiron?" Percy nodded. "OK, Alfie and-"

"Ronnie."

"OK, hi. We're gonna take you to see Chiron. He's-" Alfie cut across her, sheathing his sword in a holder he had one his back, the strap going over his left shoulder, down to his right hip and round again.

"A centaur."

"How'd you know?" One of the Apollo kids asked. Alfie chewed his lip thoughtfully. Ronnie was watching him.

"We're... learning about Greek mythology."

"You go to school?" Percy asked before he could stop himself. Alfie glared at him. "OK, where did you come from?"

"Not here, clearly." Alfie replied shortly. Ronnie shook her head at him, before looking at the five demigods.

"Where's this Chiron guy?" She asked, keeping her tone as level as possible. She was scared. Alfie knew, being the ideal big brother, always knowing how his sister was feeling. It was what he did, what he could do. She linked her arm through his, trying to get him to calm down. The demigods introduced themselves before turning and leading her and her brother down into the valley.

Alfie had calmed down, sitting on the railing of the Big House, as it was called. This place was amazing, but crazy. Numerous huts were scattered about across the valley, all dedicated to every minor and major Greek deity there was. There was one of the main Greek gods here- Dionysus. God of wine. Alfie didn't really like him. He noticed that Ronnie was uncomfortable around him. She hadn't imagined a Greek god to be drinking Diet Coke, playing pinochle and wearing bright leopard print T-shirts.

He had learnt the parentage of the demigods who had helped him and his sister on the hill. That Percy dude's dad was Poseidon. The girl, Annabeth, her mom was Athena. Alfie idolized his mom, but he wished her had a dad like Poseidon or one of the other Greek gods. Well, maybe not Dionysus.

"Alfie? You OK?" Ronnie was walking towards him. She had dropped her hood, letting her dark brown hair fall past her shoulders. They were Lizardians. Mutant lizards. They had two fingers and a thumb on each hand. Their feet were rounded at the toes, but other than that foot-shaped. Apart from there almost pale yellow fronts, they were green, different shades of green. Ronnie's skin was lighter than Alfie's, but they had similar colour eyes, as long as Alfie wasn't angry. Their hair was the same dark brown as well.

"Yeah. Just confused on how we got 'ere." Ronnie sighed.

"I'll try and see where we are. Knowing Michael's tech, we could be in another dimension or something." Alfie folded his arms and studied his sister. "What?"

"Somethin' tells me ya've given this alot of thought." Ronnie smiled sheepishly, shrugging her shoulders. "We big brothers know this things, sis." Ronnie's smile brightened.

"I'll try and get through to Mom in the morning. I'm really tired."

"All that fire ya used, I ain't surprised." Ronnie moved to stand next to him. She was still unnerved about this place, but not as much as she had been earlier. Alfie put an arm round her. "Take it easy for the rest o' the night, OK?" Ronnie nodded, resting her head on her brother's shoulder.

"Mom will hear us, right?" Alfie wasn't entirely sure. If they were in another dimension, their mom might not be able to hear their thoughts, even on a spirit plane. "Alfie?" Alfie looked round to see his sister was watching him, anxiety in her eyes.

"I hope so, Ron."

"You two want hot chocolate?" Annabeth was back. Ronnie perked up slightly. Hot chocolate was a weakness. "I take that as a 'yes' then, Ronnie?" Ronnie nodded. "OK. What about you, Alfie?"

"Err... yeah, go on then, if ya don't mind." Annabeth smiled kindly and went back into the Big House. Percy was waiting for her.

"They actually aren't that bad for Lizardians." Percy grinned. "But I think they're feeling homesick."

"Homesick? They just got here!"

"Hey, something could be going on where they live, Seaweed Brain. Don't judge them too harshly." Percy blinked blankly at her, before blowing a raspberry at her. "Very grown up for the son of Poseidon." Annabeth went into the kitchen and started making the Lizardians the hot chocolate. Percy came in and stood next to her.

"I wanna see how the camp reacts to them." Annabeth laughed softly. "Or, get this, how Octavian reacts."

"I'll be more worried how your mom and Louisa reacts. Namely Louisa." Percy nodded in agreement, grinning. "No offense, Percy, but you're sister's insane."

"But in a good way." Grover stood in the doorway, wearing nothing but a Camp Half-Blood T-Shirt with his reed pipes around his neck.

"G-Man!" Grover smiled bashfully as Percy greeted him with an underarm headlock and a noogie.

"Have you seen who's outside?" Grover shook his head. "Dude, you just have to meet them."

"And while you're at it, take them their hot chocolates." Grover took the hot drinks from Annabeth and Percy lead him out.

Ronnie was there, leaning on the porch, staring out at the valley. She turned round as Percy and Grover approached. Grover nearly split the hot drinks. Ronnie dashed forward and steadied his hands and the drinks.

"Hi, I'm Ronnie." She smiled kindly. Grover gave her the one of the drinks.

"Grover."

"Ronnie, where's Alfie?" Percy asked. Alfie appeared to be a bit of a trouble-maker and Percy could do without the camp being disturbed.

"He's on the roof. He said he had to check something." Percy and Grover looked at each other.

"That's OK, right? I can call him back down."

"Erm... no, that's OK. What's he doing? And how did he get up there?"

"I climbed." Alfie's voice sounded relatively close. Ronnie moved off the porch and looked up. "Hey, sis." Her eyes sparkled cheekily. She sipped her hot chocolate, holding it in both hands. Alfie landed next to her, having jumped from the roof. The siblings were dressed similarly: dark hooded jumpers and dark tracksuit bottoms. Alfie had a plain cap, navy blue with a red beak.

Percy felt hands on his arms. Glancing round he saw Annabeth.

"Everything OK?" She asked.

"Yeah, I think so. Where are they gonna bunk? I'm sure the Hermes lot will freak." Annabeth grinned. "Let me guess, you already talked to Chiron?" Annabeth nodded, smiling sweetly.

"He said they could stay up in the Big House until the campers got used to them." She looked at the mutants. "Is that OK?" Alfie and Ronnie looked at each. Ronnie sipped at her drink. Alfie sighed.

"Yeah. Thanks." He smiled sadly. He turned his back to their new friends, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his drink. He stared up at the stars. Annabeth, Grover and Percy looked at each other.

"Let us know if you need anything." Annabeth said kindly. Alfie muttered something. To Ronnie it sounded like 'a ticket home would be nice'.

"Thanks." Ronnie smiled warmly at them and then moved to tend to her brother. She stood next to him, hand on his arm.