Chapter 3:
We had been walking for five minutes when my three friends stop. Azura and I stop behind them.
`Why did we stop? Are we here?'
`Yep!' Breanna smiles at me as she steps aside so I can look at the takeoff point. It is so beautiful, the spot is a large field in the middle of nowhere that is covered in small flowers and small vines that have previously sprung from the soil have now grown high and connected with a vine growing the other side making an amazing arch down the centre.
`Wow.' I whisper under my breath.
Azura comes next to me and gives me a hug.
`What was that for?' I laugh, `What did I say?'
`Nothing, it is just that this is where I met your mother when I asked her to take care of you and told her about myself and your father.'
I give Azura a hug back and take her hand. I give it a slight squeeze before I let go and make my way down the arch with my three best friends by my side. I look at Grace on my left, she is so beautiful, I have always envied her beautiful face, her naturally fluffy, brown hair and she is the perfect height. I then look at Kellie. Kellie has been my best friend for years and she has always been there for me throughout the times things have been really hard for me, she has gorgeous, short blonde hair, she has an enviable passion for all animals and loves to come with me camping out in the bush beside her house. Lastly as we near the end of the vine arch I look to Breanna. Bree is taller than my other three friends but slightly shorter than myself. She has hair the same length as myself but is blonde, she has always has so much fun when I challenge her to a battle, whether it is a physical battle or one in school she loves them all. Breanna is so smart, she loves school but is also a very sporty and athletic girl. I then glance at my friends as they confidently walk ahead of me and stand at the tree we need to take off at. They all look around at at me because I had fallen behind and I feel very shy. I am nothing special at all, just because my parents are not like your average parents, it doesn't have that many benefits except the wings. I am freakishly tall with ugly, flat brownish, golden hair that reaches mid way down my back which I usually have to have braided for school. I do love school, and really enjoy learning as much as I can. I love to play the violin and guitar and especially sing. My teachers all tell me that I am dyslexic and have ADHD just like my three friends but mine always seems to be worse and make me mess up in the most important of times.
As I reach the tree with Azura, my friends have mounted their Pegasus.
`Lauren, our Pegusi really like you!' Kellie tells me happily.
`I know.' is all I can say as I stare open mouthed at the three Pegusi. ` I can hear everything they are saying!'
`Yeah, most Half Bloods can understand Pegusi except for those whose parents hate animals and/or flying!'
Azura's wings appear on her back and asks me to do the same with my wings. I mentally ask them to appear and am ecstatic when they do. Azura and myself fly into the air with my friends all following behind riding their Pegusi.
`So Kellie,' I ask, 'Who are your parents?'
`Well, you have met both my father and my stepmom. My real mum is Artemis. Goddess of the wilderness, animals and young girls.'
`That is so cool!' I say. `Grace? Breanna?' I call to them from the other side of Kellie and against the loud wind we are flying through. `Who are your parents?'
Grace answers first, `My mum is Aphrodite!' she calls back. `Goddess of beauty and love.'
Breanna then answers after. `My mum is Athena, Goddess of wisdom and battle strategies.'
`That is so cool! Do you know who my father is?' I call to Azura.
`No, he never told me his real name!' Azura calls back
`You will need to be claimed by your father when he wants to let you know who he is, he will.' Kellie tells me calmly.
Around 7 hours later I am so tired that my eyes keep closing mid flight and my mum (Azura) has to keep grabbing my arm to stop me from falling.
`Ok girls, we are now over the area where we will be staying the night. If we head down now, we will not be seen by anyone and even if we are, hopefully the mist here is strong.'
We all, half falling asleep, descend to the camp area and land under the old oak tree. We slowly climb into the tents which Azura made magically appear and fall asleep.