Again, I don't own PJO. I also don't own Denver, Colorado, but I will once my world takeover is complete. I really just chose Denver randomly. I needed a Western city that wasn't in California and Las Vegas had been used in the first book. So, enjoy and please review!

Chiron quickly called a meeting of the cabin councilors. As the only members of their respective cabins, Ryan and Jay were both automatically councilors. Others included Annabeth, Clarisse, Nico (who was in the same situation of being the only member of his cabin), and Percy Jackson, the hero of Olympus himself. Every occupied cabin was represented, even Eris', though Aaron looked liked he would rather be anywhere else. After everyone arrived, Chiron told them of the prophecy and repeated it word for word.

"Well, the second line is clear," Annabeth said when he finished. "Jay is the only 'Victory's daughter' at camp, so this is her quest."

"She also has to choose three to go with her," Percy added. 'That's obvious from the last line." The fact that the last line also meant that they wouldn't all be returning hung unsaid in the air.

Jay stood up. "You all know that I haven't been at camp very long, nor have I ever gone on a quest before." Ryan noticed she looked far more serious than he had ever seen her. "But since this is my quest, I have to choose who comes along, correct?" She looked over at Chiron who nodded.

Jay took a deep breath. "I definitely need to have someone with experience. Annabeth, could you come along?"

Annabeth furrowed her brow, obviously thinking hard. "I've drawn the plans for the reconstruction on Olympus and the work is going smoothly. I'm sure I could have my siblings look after it for a bit. So I'll come." Ryan noticed Chiron give a slight sigh. He was likely relieved that Jay wouldn't be going into this blindly. Ryan was considering this which, combined with his natural ADHD, almost made him miss Jay's next words.

"Ryan, you're coming too."

Ryan blinked his eyes, thinking he had misheard. At the same time, voices rose all around the room, some saying he was too new and a few outright declaring he wasn't trustworthy enough for something as important as a quest.

Jay glared at them all angrily. The protests quieted, many likely remembering how Jay had beat Clarisse in the duel and could easily turn those skills on them. "Ryan is my friend. This is my quest and I feel he is very trustworthy. Also, he was present when Rachel gave the prophecy. I think that shows that he is involved in some manner."

Ryan knew better than to disagree with Jay when she was in this kind of mood, Besides, going on this quest was better than remaining at camp where no one would speak to him. "I'll go," he replied simply.

Jay's eyes searched the room. Ryan could guess her dilemma. She had to find someone who she could trust, yet who didn't hate him. She had already chosen Annabeth, and there weren't many more who even spoke to him.

"I'll go."

The whole room, Jay included, turned to see who had spoken. To everyone's surprise it was Nico. Annabeth quickly began speaking, and Ryan swore he saw an idea coming to life in her head. "That makes perfect sense. We know we have to go to the far West from the prophecy and Nico's ability to shadow travel can get us there faster. Also, having a child of the Big Three along will help. Nico has learned to manipulate the Mist as well as Thalia could, so we won't have to worry about mortals. It's the perfect choice."

Sooner than Ryan expected, their group was approved and a plan was made to leave the next morning. As Ryan and Jay left to gather the gear they would need, Annabeth pulled them aside. "Sorry for doing that Jay, but I didn't want to give anyone a chance to make a contradiction. Nico is powerful, but moreover he doesn't hate Ryan. No offense," she remarked to Ryan. He shrugged, he was used to it. Jay nodded, agreeing with Annabeth. She then ran off, seemingly heading to the Hephaestus cabin instead of her own. Ryan decided it wasn't really his business and left to pack.

They met at the camp entrance the next morning. Ryan didn't have much to bring, his ring was his weapon and his backpack only contained a change of clothes, some water, and some of the ambrosia-squares Chiron insisted they all bring. Though it was food of the gods, it could heal demigods too. "But be careful," Chiron had warned. "Too much could make you combust." Well that's a cheery thought, Ryan though cynically. Spotting the others, he saw Annabeth was also carrying a backpack. She held her cap in her hand and was in the process of tucking a celestial bronze knife in her pocket. Jay, who was standing nearby, was wearing her super-fast shoes but didn't seem to have any weapons.

"Jay," Ryan asked when he reached her, "didn't you bring a weapon?"

Jay smiled as she turned to face him. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a pair of bronze knuckles. Celestial bronze knuckles. "I had the Hephaestus cabin make them for me," she explained. "My punches do more damage than my sword stokes anyway."

Looking up, Ryan saw Nico approach. He didn't seem to carry anything besides his sheathed Stygian iron sword. "I'm ready to go," he announced as he reached them. "But does anyone know where we are going?"

No one spoke for a minute. "Well," Jay started, "We need to go somewhere to the West, but I don't really know where."

Ryan suddenly felt himself opening his mouth to speak, though he hadn't intended to. "Denver Colorado," he announced. Everyone looked at him.

"How do you know that?" Jay asked, appearing extremely puzzled.

"I have no clue," Ryan replied nervously. "I didn't even intend to say it. It just came out"

Annabeth looked thoughtful. "Maybe not. Hecate is the goddess of crossroads. Maybe you know instinctively where we need to go. It is as good of a guess as anywhere else."

Nodding, Nico motioned to everyone to touch him. "Hold on," he warned as he walked into a particularly dark patch of shadow. Ryan felt like the floor had fallen out from under him. The next thing he knew, they were standing in the back of some large building. Tall mountains rose in the distance.

"Wow," was all Ryan could say as Jay muttered "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

For the next few minutes, all any of them (except for Nico) could do was laugh.

P.S. Next chapter you get to meet "those of which they don't know"