Kayla, Jake and Nat were watching the apartment door from around the corner. "So I beat everyone inside up and clear the zone." Kayla asked.
"Sweep the house." Natasha corrected. "And I can do it. If you want." she added on as an afterthought.
"All three of you are. Ancient Laws and untrained mortal, remember. Now have it."
"Sorry about this." Kayla told Sally before darting forward and kicking down the door.
With her enhanced speed and strength it shattered like glass, startling the five agents within.
Jake fire three arrows at once, coated with the juices of the Lotus Flower.
As soon as they hit the agents were high, sitting and playing on Percy's old Playstation.
The other two were quickly knocked out by Kayla and Nat respectively.
They cleared the house, finding one more agent in the bedroom but soon deemed it safe.
Sally and Percy came in, Percy grabbing a worn orange shirt off the back of the couch.
"What are Ancient Laws?" Nat asked as Sally packed.
"There are certain laws that the gods must follow that dictate their interaction with mortals."
"What are they? If I may ask." Nat quickly backtracked.
"Its fine. There are four big ones.
1. A god cannot steal another gods symbol of power.
2. A god cannot enter anothers domain without permission.
3. A god cannot attack a mortal unless challenged or attacked first. That's why Nico, an immortal demigod, dragged you to me that night in the graveyard. If I was to help to had to attack first.
And 4. A hero must be raised by their mortal parent. That's the one that affects heros the most. Any questions?"
"Domains?"
"Ah. Well my Sphere of Influence is that of Heros, tides, and blue food. That is what I am the god of. They are in my control. I can influence them as I see fit. So anywhere that heros gather is considered my domain. So the Guardian Camp, The Amazon Base, but Hera, Ares and I count for that one, and both Camps. Make sense?"
"Okay. So Lord Zeus would have to give you permission if you wanted to go in an airplane?"
He nodded, visibly pale. "I hate airplanes. When I was mortal Zeus nearly struck me down whenever I got more than 10 feet in the air. My Uncle and Father are rivals. Its calmed down the last few decades but it's still there."
Nat was processing this information when Sally came back with a duffle bag. "All set."
They left the apartment just as a Shield agent ran past.
Nat grabbed her mortal blades but Jake stopped her
Percy had his eyes closed like his was concentrating, being led by Kayla as the agents ran right by them.
"I love the mist." Jake said. "We probably look like mortal civilians to them."
They kept moving, meeting up with Clarisse and the rest of the guardians who had literal sacks of candy slung over their shoulders.
"Here, Prissy." She said, throwing a bag to Percy who eagerly started tearing into the blue candy.
"Alright. Lets get to Camp. Thalia says that the Hunt will be there so if anyone gets turned into a Jackalope don't come hopping to me. Artemis promised only to change Guardians who deserve it so your on your own." Percy said around a mouthful of blue sugar.
They walked this time, joking around and snacking on their prizes.
Nat had a bag with her. Wanda had given it to her. She had found a shop where they sold international candies and had filled the bag up with a variety of sweets.
Natasha smiled. "Thank you." she said, making Wanda grin.
After an hour of walking most of the candy was gone, and they were in the middle of nowhere, looking at a pine tree cresting a hill.
Thalia smiled sadly. "This was where I died." She said softly.
Percy put a hand on her shoulder and brought a counch shell to his lips.
The low sound ran across the valley and Nat could hear a boy scream "They're here!"
The Guardians all took off running over the hill, Nat among them, reaching the top of the Hill where all but Nat, Wanda, Sally, Clarrisse, Percy and Thalia, raced into the Summer camp.
Over a hundred Cabins stood proud, each representing a Greek God. A huge forest took up a quarter of the camp and a lava spewing Rock wall shook as Campers tried to climb. A huge Blue House, freshly painted stood closest, where a white centaur cantered towards the small group on the hill.
"Welcome back, lord Perseus."
"Chiron!" Percy whined. "I said not to call me that!"
"Hush little Percy, dont say a word. Chirons always gonna call you his lord."
Percy whirled, throwing a knife at Nico who simple vanished back into the shadows, his laughter echoing as the knife embedded itself up to its hilt in the tree.
"Hey. That's.me you just stabbed!" Thalia yelled, shooting arrows at the god. "Get back here."
"Yes! Stab the Percy!" Clarisse yelled, throwing her spear at the fleeing Percy, who was being chased by the two llieutenants down the hill towards the bay."
"Chiron. Its good to see you." Sally said, hugging the centaur.
"Sally. Long time no see. Immortality suits you. Welcome to Camp Half Blood."
Sally stepped forward past the tree, but when Natasha tried to follow Wanda and Sally she ran into a wall.
"My apologies Guardian." Chiron said. "But only Half bloods and those with permission from one or Percy may enter. What is your name?"
"Natasha Romanov."
"I, Chiron, Trainer of Heros, allow Natasha Romanov to enter Camp Half Blood."
Natasha stepped forward and the wall was gone, as if it has never been there.
"What keeps mortals from finding this place?"
"Any who know nothing of the gods will find themselves with something urgent that needs done or a sense of dread. Not to mention the mist hides this place well. It looks like a strawberry farm to mortals and as you saw, you need permission to enter. This is the safe haven many demigods live in." Chiron explained.
"Percy said I have siblings here." Wanda said, hope in her eyes.
"Ah yes. Cabin 20. Hecate. I believe a young woman by the name of Maria is currently counselor. I'll show you there."
Sally took Nat's hand and pulled her towards the cabins. "Perseus is Cabin 104. But my son said that we would set up camp near the sound."
When they reached the beach the camp was already set up, the smell of smoke coming from Leo's tent. Nat hadn't seen him during the trip so he must have won that fight about being packed in his tent.
"Hey mom." Percy said, giving Sally a hug. "We got a tent set up for you near mine and Kayla set up your's near hers."
Natasha nodded and headed for her tent, Percy watching as she went.
"So what do you think of Camp?" he asked.
"I think I want to see that Creek you told me about. The one where your father claimed you as his son."
"Right this way."
They took off towards the woods, smiling, joined by Travis and Connor, although Sally was unaware of Percy's guard.
Nat checked out her tent. It was bare except for a bed and wardrobe filled with three sets of Guardian uniforms. She would have to ask for a shopping trip later.
Next to the bed was a rack with knives, swords and to her surprise, Celestial Bronze widow stingers, which immediately went on her wrists.
She put two knives in each of her boots and decided to explore the rest of the camp, making sure she could leave the Guardian camp first, some thing Clarisse approved.
"Try not to get your podex kicked, rookie!" she called out after Nat's retreating form.
Heading out she started walking toward what looked like an amphitheater where she could hear a play being put on.
But here at Greek camp the plays were preformed as they were meant to be. In Greek.
Unable to understand Nat kept moving, checking out the cabins.
The first twelve were the largest and seemed older than the rest but each cabin was different from the rest, decorated in anything ranging from seashells to plants and barbed wire to rainbows.
She stopped briefly infront of Cabin 20, decorated with the symbol of the triple goddess and keys.
Inside Wanda was talking with someone who looked a bit like Pietro and a younger girl who had the same eyes as the avenger.
Nat kept moving, not wanting to interrupt.
She saw a little girl sitting by a huge fire in the middle of the clearing, stoking the fire.
"Hello." She said.
The young girl looked up, surprised. "Hello. Who are you? I haven't seen you before."
"I'm Natasha. I just joined the Guardians recently so it's my first time here."
The girl nodded, her brown hair nearly hidden by her woolen hood. "I've been here a while. I usually tend the sacred flame. I consider it my duty."
"It sounds lonely." Natasha says. "I remember doing this back home, in Russia."
"You are not from here?" The girl asked.
Nat shook her head. "No. I came here long ago. I was trained to fight an enemy I had no quarrel with and it just became my life." She smiled sadly. "That was a lifetime ago."
"Why did you join the guardians. You haven't been here before so you must be a mortal."
"I challenged Percy unknowingly and apparently impressed him. He let me join up."
"You didn't answer my question."
Natasha sighed. "I'm a solider. I've seen a lot of people die. I've seen a lot of kids die. If I can save even one it would be worth it."
"But your old life saved many. Why change it so drastically? Leave everybody behind?"
"Because I always knew there were things much bigger than me. I always knew I was a pawn, a piece on another's board. But with the Guardians I feel like I can make a difference. I can save people who don't even know they are in danger. I can stop events that would effect the mortal world from ever happening."
"You wish to keep humans safe and happy?"
"Yes."
"Even if it means sacrificing your own life?"
"Without hesitation."
The girl smiled. "I don't usually talk to mortals. Its nice to be reminded that they are not all as cruel and heartless as I've seen. The hearth has always been a place of safety and family. Those who wish to bring those things to others will always have a place at it's side." The girl met Natasha's eyes and lowered her hood, revealing flamed where her eyes should have been but Nat blinked and realized her eyes were just the color of amber. "Go in peace, Natasha Romanov. May those you protect never know the pain of loss. Now. I have things I must do. May we meet again."
"It was nice talking to you. Thank you for listening."
"I will always be here, if you need an ear." She said.
Nat stood and smiled. "I'll see you later. Oh. I almost forgot to ask your name."
"Hestia. My name is Hestia."
Nat never wondered how Hestia had known her last name.
After an hour or so of wandering she came across an arena and took a seat next to another guardian, Marc, who was watching two campers spar.
"Who do you think has the upper hand?" Marc asked her out of nowhere.
"Honestly, the boy. He has weight and experience on his side. But I think the girl is more clever than shes leading him to believe."
Her words were proven true a moment later when the girl preformed a rather tricky looking maneuver and the boy's sword went flying, her blade at his throat.
"Winner! Andromeda Marshall!" the refereeing Satyr yelled.
Nat turned to Marc and jumped back, drawing a knife.
"Marc has brown eyes." She stated simply.
"That is because I'm not Marc. Just borrowing his looks for a moment." His features flashed briefly to the leader of the guardians before flashing back. "I'm always looking to recruit but no one is willing to knowingly fight a god. Besides you of course."
Nat's eyes narrowed and he laughed, standing up and jumping down the seat rows. "I wish to challenge Andromeda Marshall!" he yelled.
Andromeda looked worriedly at her previous opponent who nodded. "This is Marc. He comes here often when the Guardians visit." the older camper said to the 13 or so year old girl. "Go ahead. He'll give you a challenge and some great advice. He helps a lot of campers out."
"Okay then. I accept your challenge." Andromeda said, drawing her blade.
The disguised Percy smiled and pulled out his sword.
"And begin!"