*Hey everyone, Just to say this in caseyou have not read my other story "An Unexpected Future" I am a high schooler. I have homework and projects and all the other stuff that comes with the job of being a student. I am as I mentioned earlieralso writing another story and so this will have slow updates. I hope you all are enjoying my stories.*

"I can read next" Paul said nervously as he approached Athena. She just passed him the book and he began to read.

HAZEL HAD NEVER FELT SO HAPPY. Well, except for maybe on the night of the victory feast at Camp Jupiter, when she'd kissed Frank for the first time... but this was a close second.

Frank blushed again and tried to hide his face in Hazel's shoulder in his embarrassment.

As soon as she reached the ground, she ran to A room and there her arms around his neck. "I missed you!" She pressed her face into the horses warm flank, which smelled of sea salt and apples. "Where have you been?"

Arion nickered. Hazel wished She could speak horse like Percy could,

"No you don't, especially not if it is to speak to that horse. Half of the things he says are cuss words! He is the rudest horse I have ever met." Percy commented.

but she got the general idea. Arion sounded impatient, as if saying No time for sentiment, girl! Come on!

"You want me to go with you?" she guessed.

Arion bobbed his head, trotting in place. His dark brown eyes gleaned with urgency.

Hazel still couldn't believe he was actually here. He could run across any surface, even the sea; but she'd been afraid he wouldn't follow them into the Ancient Lands. The Mediterranean was too dangerous for demigods and their allies.

"That is so cool! How can he do that?" A mortal asked curiously while Hazel just shook her head before responding " I don't actually know, I didn't ask because I was always too busy trying not to die. " "Oh" was all the mortal could say.

He wouldn't have come unless Hazel was in dire need. And he seemed so agitated... Anything that could make a fearless horse skittish should've terrified Hazel.

Instead, she felt elated. She was so tired of being seasick and airsick. Aboard the Argo II, she felt about as useful as a box of ballast. She was glad to be back on could ground, even if it was Gaea's territory. She was ready to ride.

"Aren't you always? " Annabeth retorted.

"Hazel!" Nico called down from the ship. "What's going on?"

"It's fine!" she crouched down and summoned a good nugget from the earth. She was getting better at controlling her power. The precious stones hardly ever popped up by accident anymore, and pulling gold from the ground was easy.

All the mortals mouths dropped open at just the thought of that being easy.

She fed Airon the nugget... His favorite snack. Then she smiled up at Leo and Nico, who were watching her from the top of the ladder a hundred feet above. "Arion wants to take me somewhere."

The boys exchanged nervous looks.

"Uh..." Leo pointed north. "Please tell me he's not taking you into that?"

Hazel had been so focused on Airon, she hasn't noticed the disturbance. A mile away, on the crest of the next hill, the storm gathered over some old ruins-- maybe the remains of Roman temple or a fortress. A funnel cloud snakes it's way down toward the hill like an inky black finger.

Hazel's mouth tastes like blood. She looked at Arion. "You want to go there?"

"Where else but the danger could you possibly need to go to As a demigod? " Percy asked.

Arion whinnied, as if to say, Uh, duh!

Well... Hazel had asked for help. Was this her dad's answer?.

She hoped so, but she sensed something besides Pluto at work in that storm... something dark, powerful, and not necessarily friendly.

Still, this was her chance to help her friends -- to lead instead of follow.

She tightened the straps of her imperial gold cavalry sword and climbed into Arion's back.

"I'll be ok!" She called up to Nico and Leo. " Stay out and wait for me."

"Wait for how long?" Nico asked. " what if you don't come back? "

"That's the question you try to avoid asking because it will jinx it, Nico" Jason pointed out.

"Don't worry, I will," she promised, hoping it was true. She spurred Arion, and they shot across the countryside, heading straight for the growing tornado.

Paul closed the book. Then he asked the question we all were thinking about... "Who wants to read next?" Frank stood up and raised his hand " I will, Mr. Blofis" he said as he walked over to Paul and took the book before walking back over to his seat next to Hazel.