The boy was running with all his might. He had put some distance between himself and the monster chasing him, but he didn't want to take any chances. The thrumming ran throughout his entire body. The boy was close, really close. He was sure he was almost there, when he burst into a clearing. If he wasn't already out of breath, the sight would have taken it away. Up a green slope was the barrier and in the clearing between the boy and the barrier were several men with dangerous looking guns. Several black SUVs were parked and some men in suits were talking to each other. the boy started to retreat back into the woods when he heard the crashing behind him. Sure enough, when he turned to look to see what the noise was, there was the monster. She looked furious. There was no choice. The boy plunged into the clearing, running with all his might. He zigged and zagged like Lupa taught him. He ran past the first man, startling him. An other man held up a hand to imply that he stop, but the boy was more afraid of the monster chasing him than the man with the large gun. He, instead, used his momentum to slide between the man's legs. He popped up and kept running, not daring to look back. By now, the boy had caught everyone's attention. The guns then started firing. He zigged and zagged until he reached one of the cars, where he then slid under it. On the other side were two more men. He grabbed the first man's large gun out of his hands and used it like a baseball bat and hit the other man in the jaw, effectively taking him out. The boy then used it to swing at the other guys legs, but he dodged. The boy was so close to the barrier that he threw the gun as hard as he could at the man, effectively distracting him and ran up the hill with all his might. His body ached so much, but he pushed through the pain. Bullets ricocheted around him. Just a little further. A bullet tore through the boy's shoulder. He cried out in pain, but kept going. Just a few more feet. A bullet hit him in the leg. He fell to the ground whimpering. He kept climbing with his good leg and arm, when he noticed one of the men wearing a black suit walk toward him. He was bald and had a disturbing glint in his eye. "Persistent one, isn't he? Take care of him."

The boy struggled again to climb the hill, ignoring the fact that a man now had a pistol pointed right at him. "BANG."

Reyna sat straight up in bed, covered in sweat with her heart racing. It was the third dream she had had but with a different kid. This dream was the final straw. A kid had been shot. Reyna dressed quickly and raced to the barrier on the hill. When she got there, she looked out over the clearing. Everything looked peaceful in the early morning rays. The camp would just be getting up. But her gaze stood fixed on the clearing, looking for any sign of what happened. Finally she crossed it. She eyed the ground until she found what she was looking for, blood. She crouched down and brushed her hand across the blood tainted grass. Her heart ached for vengeance. She then became aware of another presence. She looked up to find a gray wolf staring back.

"Lupa." Reyna bowed her head in reverence.

Lupa padded softly over to her sniffing the blood in the grass and then the blood on her hand. The wolf's ears flattened against her head and she showed her teeth with a low growl.

Reyna didn't feel threatened, instead she felt the mother wolf coming out in her. A bond the two shared. "There has to be something we can do." Reyna pleaded to the wolf.

Lupa lowered her head slightly. A motion that Reyna recognized immediately. Reyna placed her own forehead on Lupa's, a motion that said, "I am with you."

"Thank you." Reyna replied. She stood and walked back into camp with Lupa by her side. They walked steadily toward New Rome. It wasn't until they began walking past Camp Jupiter that they began to draw notice. Soldiers would stop what they were doing and watch as they passed. Once they were a good distance away, the murmerings and whispers would break out. She could only imagine the theories that they were coming up with. It had never been known for Lupa to actually come to camp. It could only mean something serious was going on if she were here.

"Reyna." Frank called out to her and approached them. He bowed respectively to Lupa. "Lupa." he said reverently.

"Frank, I need you to call an emergency senate meeting." Reyna ordered.

"Does this have to do with your dreams, the missing kids?"

Reyna raised her hand to show the blood on it.

Frank paled. "I'll get right on it."

She was satisfied as Frank began calling out orders to nearby soldiers. Frank was a good praetor and they worked well together. Reyna and Lupa entered the empty senate house, sat down and waited patiently. She watched with some satisfaction as each senate member rushed in, stop short at the sight of the wolf, then proceed carefully to their seat. Once everyone had arrived, including Frank, Reyna called the meeting to order.

"Honored members of the senate, and honored guest, Lupa." She nodded to the wolf. "This meeting has been called to address an urgent matter. Three . . ."

Lupa interrupted her with a loud bark that echoed throughout the building. Then she pawed the ground five times. Reyna blinked in shock. She had only seen three kids in her dreams, but evidently there had been five.

Reyna composed herself, "Five kids, who were making their way to camp, have ben abducted by mortals. This is no coincidence. Action must be taken, for the future of Rome."

"What evidence do you have, Praetor?" Senator Marino asked.

"I have had several dreams, several nights in a row watching these kids fighting mortals, grown men with guns, to get to the barrier only to be captured. The last dream, last night, I watched a boy get shot multiple times. I went beyond the barrier and here is the blood to prove it." Reyna held up her hand to show the blood. "That is when Lupa showed up."

"The trial is meant to have difficulties in it. It is what weeds out the strong from the weak." Another senator argued.

"Against monsters. Not mortals." Another senator stood up. "We are sworn not to use our abilities against mortals. So these kids are only doing what they have been taught."

"What about the local authorities?" Another asked.

"We've called the local authorities. They let them continue their activities as though nothing had happened, even though they saw it right before their eyes." Reyna argued. We can not stand idle anymore. We need to take matters into our own hands. Drive them from our borders."

"Our weapons aren't meant to fight mortals, only immortals. We can't battle guns!" A senator argued.

"Look to the Arguries!" A voice called out.

All eyes turned toward Brooke, a young girl, maybe thirteen years old. She stood before the senate and cut open a stuffed bear and pulled out the stuffing. Everyone was silent as they watched.

"You will go to the dark city and lure a mortal hero.

Together, you will face your enemies.

This is not a single battle but a war.

Beware the immortal mortal."

She sat down as though she were exhausted.

Everyone was silent as they contemplated what Brooke had said. "Where is this dark city and how do you lure a mortal hero? Reyna asked the question on everyone's mind. She was surprised when she saw a solo hand rise up. Most people in the senate would shout out what ever they wanted to say, so she felt a little irked that this kids was acting like a student in a classroom. "Yes?" She tapped her foot impatiently.

"Um," the kid adjusted his glasses nervously. "There are mortal heroes in the world. They're part of an organization called the Justice League. Some are super powerful and are most likely immortal, but there are some that are just regular mortals. Like Batman, or the Green Arrow, or the Black Canary." He was getting more comfortable talking as this was clearly a subject he was passionate about.

Reyna held up a hand and said, "Wait!" He stopped and looked around embarrassed. "So the world considers these men heroes?"

"Men and women." He corrected. They've helped stopped an alien invasion, and . . ."

"Stop." Reyna commanded. "So you think we're supposed to lure one of these heroes into fighting for us?"

"Um, yes?" He said with less confidence.

"What makes you so sure?"

"The other line." He said nervously. Reyna raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue. "The dark city. It has to refer to Gotham, home of Batman. It is known for its most violent criminals. And it just so happens that there is a charity event this weekend in Gotham where the Justice League is going to be there. They're going to sign photographs, have pictures taken. It's going to be amazing!" He said the last part with a little too much enthusiasm.

"Sounds like you have your destination, Praetor Reyna." The head of the senate said.

"Me?!" Reyna protested.

"You have been having the dreams, and Lupa came to you." The senator pointed out.

Reyna sighed and conceded his point. "But how do you lure a hero?"

The question hung in the air for a moment until a feline voice answered. "Well, that's obvious." A beautiful young woman answered. "You lure them with you."

Some men chuckled at this revelation, while others coughed uncomfortably. "Well, it looks like you have your companions for your quest." The head of the senate chuckled.

Lupa barked and wagged her tail in approval. Reyna looked down at her, "You have got to be kidding me."