Octavian walked over to Reyna with a huge grin on his face.

"Guess what!" He said taking her by the arm.

"Oh no, what have you done now?"

Octavian laughed, "you, me and Jason. We've been assigned a mission!"

Reyna's fifteen year old face lit up with excitement, "cool! Always wanted to go on one! But you know-"

"Yeah, rules blah, blah. You've been over them a thousand times. Fight in formation. Got it!"

"I meant," she said grabbing his ear, "any mucking about and you're dead!"

Octavian pulled away from her and rubbed his now red ear, "told you, got it."

After finding Jason, Octavian explained that the mission was simple.

There had been some monsters bothering some towns close to the camp and they were to get rid of them. When Reyna asked why the three of them had been chosen and not stronger demigods Jason replied with a laugh.

"I'm the son of Jupiter, I'd say that I'm the strongest demigod going!"

"You can't even use your powers without suffering some recoil." Octavian said, "remember that time you went near that electricity box and you-"

"Well at least I've got powers!"

The instant Jason had said that he regret it.

Octavian stormed off out of the camp. Reyna and Jason took after him calling his name.

They found Octavian shouting at the sun, not even bothering to cover his eyes. Reyna sighed heavily. Octavian was having his famous 'lets shout at the sky and look crazy' moment.

"Damn you, Apollo!" He shouted, his voice breaking, "I'll cut you!" He took out his knife and sliced at the sun rays, "I'll show them. I'm powerful too!"

"Octavian!" Reyna shouted, she stood at least five meters away from him with her hands stretched out, "come on, stop this. You'll find out your powers soon. I haven't even been claimed yet."

Octavian listened to her. She was always right. He slid his knife back into its holder.

Reyna smacked him over his head.

"Idiot!" She turned and glared at Jason, who was snickering to himself, "not a word!"

"Sorry, man. I didn't mean it." Jason said to Octavian.

He shrugged, "it doesn't matter. We've got some monsters to kill. Silly things like powers don't matter."

Jason knew by the tone in his voice that he hadn't meant it. It did matter, a lot.

Octavian had always been at the camp, almost as long as Jason had been there. He couldn't remember what had drawn them together, but they had been going good friends, best friends. When Reyna came to the camp they had befriended her and the three of them were as thick as thieves.

Octavian had a family, he spent every winter with them, he even went to a mortal school. But when he came back from those visits he'd be nasty for a while, dilberatly doing things to hurt others. He refused to speak about his family. He had no photos, nothing to remind him of his mortal family.

Jason had seen Octavian with his family once. He was lucky in a way, his family looked happy. He had two older brothers and a smiling mother. He had a step-father who treated him like his own son. Jason had always wondered what the issue was.

They walked through a town that had the faint smell of monster. Octavian lead the group, he kicked a pebble along the pavement with his hands in his pockets.

The dream he had had the night before replayed in his mind.

Running. He was running away from a wolf? Bear? Something scary.

It jumped onto of him and tried to eat him. He screamed for someone to help, but the names were lost. Octavian couldn't speak.

Octavian made his first kill.

The blood of the animal was not like normal blood. It was words. The blood was words.

Octavian blinked and focused on the task. Find and get rid of the monsters destroying the local town.