I'd like to thank these people for reviewing so far:

Amy's Mischievous Little Owl- I thought Sagesse was Greek, but it could be French. I don't speak either language. Long as it means wisdom, I don't really care.

Yeperdoodle- the reviews are slowly climbing up. Thanks for liking!

Arrivederci/ Anonemuss14- which would you prefer to be called? Your review gave me lots of insight as to what readers are seeing and thinking. I like the format of your review, with praise, criticism and advice. I don't know if I CAN keep a story like this realistic, and my idea might be a little… out there, but I'll try my best. Please don't hesitate to point out any flaws in my writing, I like my work to be to the best of my ability.

Bilboardcrabs- the thing with Luke Castellan is coming up, don't worry. Now that I know what a slash pairing is, I can assure you one hundred percent that there are NO slash pairings in this story, or any other story I might write.

Boomboomshark8

ButterflyFlyToMe- My least favourite chapter as well… but Prachel is an important part of the story, you'll see why soon.

Colts12broncos18

Frovey- thanks! :) I hate boasting, and I don't want anyone to think that I'm boasting when I say I'm only thirteen, but fact is fact. How old do you think the average FF user is? My guess is fifteen to eighteen, maybe. I really don't know.

MysteryGuest- I wanted to do something a little different, it's why Annabeth and Percy aren't together straight away, and Percy loves Rachel first. No, the sleepover wasn't anything like that. Just an innocent sleepover. Thanks so much for showing your support towards my story! :)

Codex

Katara43

Abertha- thanks for answering my question about AU and slash pairings! I looked at your name, and thought I recognised it, then I realised that I'd seen it when you reviewed on my other story, One In Thousands. Pizza shapes are my favourite food! :)

Name T.H.E- I do kinda agree when you say the story is at a standstill. It didn't really turn out the way I wanted to, this story. But, as my first ever FanFic, I think it turned out quite well. Thanks for liking it anyway, however horrific it turns out to be.

EmilyJackson- Hero- Haha, I'm back! No internet for two weeks was a terrible time, and I missed every one of my fans. It's good to be able to post again :)

Finally, onto the story!

Chapter 11:

Jupiter's Land

Annabeth wasn't sure who she was more angry at- the boy, Andy, for taking advantage of her, or Beckendorf, for leaving her and Thalia on the side of the road, prey for any predator, man or beast.

Annabeth also felt woozy. That drink Andy had given her- the sweet blueberry juice that had been enchanted by the most powerful shaman to walk the earth- it had been delicious, but Annabeth had not considered side effects, not even been deterred by the fact that the ice cold drink was seeping lilac steam. Unusual for her, when she was usually so observant and doubting of strangers.

Holding fast to Thalia's waist, Annabeth felt freer than she had in six years. Adrenaline was pumping through her veins, making her heart pound and her ears ring.

How long had they been riding now? Ten minutes? Twenty? Shouldn't they have come across some evidence of civilisation by now?

Annabeth rested her head on Thalia's bony shoulder, feeling dirty. Her body tingled where Andrew's snake- like fingers had touched her. She shuddered. And then another image flashed through her head- it was blurry, as her head had been all muddled by the potion, but she thought she remembered-

"Thalia," Annabeth said hesitantly. "Before, in the wagon, to get away, did you- did you stab Andy? With that guy's knife? With Killian's knife?"

Annabeth felt all of Thalia's back and shoulder muscles tense up.

"I don't want to talk about it," Thalia gritted her teeth, remembering the horrible feeling of hard steel slicing so easily into soft, exposed flesh. Like a knife into butter. Thalia squeezed her eyes shut against her shame. She wondered if the guy was still alive, suffering, in agony, as his mates hovered over him, unable to do anything but watch their friend die slowly from an open wound.

The hot sun beared down upon the girl's sweaty backs. They stopped next to a muddy oasis for five minutes to give the poor horse a break. Carrying two people on a stinker day like this? Thalia almost felt sorry for the beast.

They rode on.

A glint caught Annabeth's sharp eye.

She lifted her head lazily. And then her spirits were lifted drastically. "Thalia!" she shouted, shifting so much that the horse neighed in protest. "Thalia!"

Thalia grunted. She was a little miffed at Annabeth for letting Andrew- do things. And, yeah, Annabeth had been under the influence of a potion, but still. It was wrong. Gross.

"Thalia! Look!"

Annabeth pointed. "Do you think that that's the village? The one that Percy and Beckendorf mentioned?"

Thalia's eyes followed Annabeth's finger, and saw the unmistakable glint of civilisation in the distance. If Annabeth hadn't noticed that, they would have completely missed it, passed it by.

Thalia yanked the reigns and the horse snorted. "Come on, beast, move it!" The horse reluctantly obeyed.

Thalia steered the beast off the track and into the sparse vegetation. It was a complete dump out here, she thought.

Not really a desert, as the soil was moist and native trees still grew, but near enough to a desert. It was hot and the air was humid.

Thalia smacked the horse's rump and it whinnied and snorted. "Gods, I hate horses," she grumbled. Annabeth rested her forehead on Thalia's back.

"I feel like an idiot," she mumbled.

"Why?"

"My stupid dress. Do you see anyone else wearing a dress around here?"

"Hmm, let's see, well, that tree over there is wearing an outfit of slimy green moss, that sparkly rock that we passed just now is covered with_"

"Thalia," Annabeth interrupted. "I'm serious. These people hate me. The last thing I need is for them to see me wearing the castle insignia, while riding a horse that was stolen from their people."

Thalia ground her teeth in frustration. Annabeth was such a pessimist sometimes. She didn't reply.

As the horse trudged along, dust stirring up, bugs buzzing and biting, the village in the distance was growing in size as they got closer and closer.

Another ten minutes, and they had arrived at the large wooden gates of Jupiter's Land, tall and imposing on two young, lost girls.

Annabeth climbed off the horse, her backside aching immensely, and waddled over to the gates. Just as she was about to rap sharply to get the attention of the guards, a voice behind them said gruffly, "Can I help you ladies?"

Thalia nearly fell off the horse in momentary fright. Annabeth turned and saw a man of about Thalia's age approaching them warily, spear hefted.

"We wish to enter," Annabeth said, her voice shaky. She subconsciously backed away.

"By law, you are prohibited entry to Jupiter's Land until you provide evidence of your cause here. Bound by village rules, I'm afraid."

Thalia glanced at the man suspiciously, slipping down off the large horse, which was foaming at the mouth and sweating in the summery heat. "What kind of evidence?" she asked, frowning. "Isn't being here, asking kindly for entry, enough? Search us, you will find no harmful instruments."

Thalia could have slapped herself in her stupidity. Killian's knife! It was hidden down her bosom! She flushed blood red at the thought of what she would have to do.

The man nudged Thalia with his spear. She cringed.

"Um, sir. May I rephrase? I do have a weapon to declare," she said, biting her lip.

"Please put it on the ground in front of you. Your honesty is greatly appreciated." His replies seemed almost rehearsed.

Thalia once again blushed deeply. "Excuse me, sir," she mumbled, turning around and quickly stuffing her hand down the bodice of her dress and throwing the knife on the ground. Annabeth stifled a snort.

The man bent down and picked up the blade between his fingers. "Where did you get this?" he asked, slowly straightening up.

"What's it to you?" Thalia challenged, forgetting to whom she was speaking.

The man frowned at Thalia. "This particular blade is number 459 of a batch of five hundred, custom made in our forges. Once again I ask you: how did this blade be to be in your possession?" The man's voice became slightly threatening.

Thalia opened her mouth, completely stumped as to what to say, when another voice called from over the gates: "Oi, Connor, Beck's wondering what's taking so long! Who's that?"

The man, Connor, glanced up at his mate in annoyance. "No one of importance, Travis. Tell Beck that I'll be only a short while."

Annabeth cleared her throat and stepped forward. "Are you satisfied now? We are innocent travellers, in need of a place to stay for a couple of nights. Honestly, you'd think we were criminals on the run from the castle_"

"Ah," Thalia interrupted. "We passed the test, didn't we?"

Connor stared at them, indecision in his eyes. "I have a bad feeling in my gut…" Thalia's keen hearing picked up Connor's muttering. "I'll bring you to the village's leader, Chiron Brunner. He can then decide what to do with you. Come with me, and I can introduce you to the village.

I'm sorry. Boring chapter. Real action starts in the next chapter. Percy and Annabeth haven't had a proper meeting yet, have they?...

Also, is anyone interested in being my Beta Reader? Since I've only been on here for a little longer than two months, I'm still kinda new. How does this whole Beta Reader process work? Isn't it like, before I post, I get somebody to check my work and they point out any mistakes? My little sister offered to do it, but… I'd probably trust my inanimate bed to do a better job, no offense to her…

So, please don't forget to review, and maybe check out my new story, Last Wish, which is basically the Final battle of the Giant War. Percy dies, and his last wish is for Annabeth to live a long and happy life with someone else. She never stops thinking of him, though, and she loves him forever. I'd appreciate it if you left a review on that one, as well.

Thanks for reading,

MashPotatoeSquishBanana :)