Disclaimer: Miss Author does not own PJO/HoO. She doesn't even look like Mr. Riordan.

Thanks to every one who reviewed:
potatofairyilzm - thanksies, hey I'm listingin' to 1D
trustingHim17 - merci (yay! I'm so good at French-NOT)
A Person - nice name, thanks for your opinion
the electric phantom - incredibletastic? I don't think that's a word...
Hazel - um is that I am Hazel Daughter of Pluto? If it isn't...sorry, free cookie for you (::). If it is, why'd you change your name?

Yay! An update. Lately I've been trying to update before noon. That's not going to work when school starts. :(

Enjoy and please review!

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"Come with me." Lupa growled and walked away. I blinked and followed her.

If seemed as if we walked for hours. My feet were killing me, but I didn't care. My sister was gone. What was there to care about?

"Stop thinking about your sister." Lupa said without looking back. My eyes widened. "Those who love you never really leave you."

I looked at the ground. It was mostly dirt with some tufts of grass. And a daisy. I carefully plucked the daisy, tucked it into my pocket, right above my heart, and thought about the happy memories of my sister. I promised myself I wouldn't be miserable just because she isn't right next to me.

"Better. Now what do you know about the Roman gods? You seem to know more than the average recruit." Lupa had stopped in a great stone cave that was fixed up with purple hangings and candles.

"Um. My mother was Bellona, goddess of w—" I started.

"You mother is Bellona." Lupa interrupted.

"Um right. My mother is Bellona, goddess of war. There are other children of Roman gods and they all live together at Camp Jupiter." I finished.

"Yes. Do you know how to fight?" Lupa asked while sniffing my pockets. "I see you have your own weapon. A golden sword, yes?"

I blinked. Can this wolf smell metal?

"Only Imperial Gold, I'm afraid." Lupa said, answering my thoughts. "And yes, I can read your thoughts. So you do know how to fight, or you don't?"

"I can, but I'm not very good." I muttered, kicking at the ground.

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy." Lupa chastised. "Let's put your skills to the test, now, shall we?" Lupa lunged at me.

In one smooth, quick movement, I dodged Lupa and unsheathed my sword.

"Mmm, you need to clean your blade." Lupa lunged at me again. This time, I was prepared; I sidestepped and swung my sword. Lupa leaped back.

"I hope you know silver is the only metal that can do any damage to wolves." If wolves could look smug, Lupa certainly did. I grumbled and this time when she lunged, instead of swinging or stabbing as I would have, I slammed the butt of my sword to her side.

"But a good thwack in the side can cause some discomfort." Lupa muttered. Then louder, she said, "Ok, we are finished."

"Already? That was barely two minutes." I was surprised.

"A word of advice, don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning." Lupa said. "Come and sit."

I sat. Quick as a whip, Lupa wrapped a piece of cloth over my eyes. "I need to test your senses." Lupa stood me up, spun me around, and settled me in the middle of the room, or should I say cave. "I am going to come at you from different angles. Your job is to dodge or push me back. If I knock you over, I win. If you block me or dodge, you win. You only have to win three times. Okay, starting now."

Lupa's paw whacked at my leg and I fell over. "Get back up. A Roman warrior never gives up."

I stood up. I strained my ears. I could hear the pads of Lupa's paws quietly walking around me. Suddenly, Lupa's footsteps changed and a second later I was once again on the floor. I stood up again. I knew what to look, or rather hear, for now. This time, when Lupa's footsteps changed, I squatted. I felt Lupa's paw whisk over my hair, barely missing my head.

"Good job. That's one."

The next time Lupa's footsteps changed, I jumped as Lupa swatted at the air where my legs were half a second ago.

"Good. Two."

Lupa managed to knock me over twice more. Then, the third time after my two successes, her footsteps changed. I knew her paw was going to come at my head so I jerked my arm in front of my face. Lupa's paw collided with my arm instead of my face.

"Good. You passed."

I grinned. Now what?

"Now you leave."

"Huh?"

"You have passed all the tests. I do not need to teach you more. You know who you are. You know what you're looking for, and where. Your senses are superb. You reflexes and fighting skills as well. You may spend one night here, but tomorrow morning, you will have to leave for Camp Jupiter."

"But where is Camp Jupiter?" I asked.

"Hone your senses. You'll know. Tomorrow, I will send you south. You're on your own after that."

I nodded and gulped.

"Worried?" I nodded at Lupa's question. "Don't be. If the problem has a solution, worrying is pointless, in the end the problem will be solved. If the problem has no solution, there is no reason to worry, because it can't be solved. You're problem has a solution, so don't worry."
I sighed. More of Lupa's advice that makes my head spin.

"You should get some sleep. You can sleep here." Lupa gestured to a corner in the cave. "Goodnight. Tomorrow you will leave for camp." She walked away.

~oOo~

I took the daisy from my pocket and put it next to me on the ground. It was a sad flower now. It was dying. But I didn't feel sad. Not at all. I had a future, a destination, now. My sister had made her choice, and I had made mine. I closed my eyes and smiled. My sister. I twisted her ring on my finger. I couldn't wait until tomorrow. I believe tomorrow is another day…and I believe in miracles.

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All credit where it's due. The quotes are from Norman Vincent Peal, Erwin Rommel, and Audrey Hepburn.

There is still time to put in opinions about Jeyna if you haven't!

BTW reviewer #50 will get a surprise!

BYEE!