Homeward Bound

Battered beaten and injured they all get to Gary's house where Mrs. Ward was waiting for them ready to help with any healing. Fortunately no one was severely injured and only required a short healing session with Jasmine to heal their worst injuries not needing surgery.

Gary dismisses everyone except for Sara, Graham, Jordan and Steven so they all could talk in private. Gary and Sara explained about the boys all being Demigods and that the weapons they received were magical and that they could be trained properly on how to use them and their powers at camp. They all agreed but wanted to see what their mortal parents would think before they made any kind of choices. Gary respected their wishes and drove them home to have a word with their parents.

Gratefully the parents agreed to letting their kids go to the camp mostly by Sara's persuasive Telepathic power changing their minds. So once back at Gary's house the others are packed and ready to go after a long conversation Gary finally convinced his mom to allow him to use her van.

Gary, Melody, Steven, Tabbie and Sara were in the van. While Jordan, Jasmine, Graham and Cookie loaded into Jordan's car with most of the bags split up the load between the two cars. They get out on the highway with no problem. Gary drove the van while Jordan followed. They pass several stores and restaurants and finally got on the bay bridge.

Steven asked "wow I wonder what happened to the bridge over there."

Gary and the others explained about the fight with the Chimera impressing Steven. After about two hours of driving the mood In the car changed dramatically. Tabbie shrieked when everyone looked at where she was pointing at. Stevens arm was turning a dark blue then he started to jerk around in the back seat uncontrollably.

"What's going on with him?" Asked Sara trying to assess the damage from the front seat. Gary quickly pulled over and got out of the front seat to see what all the hubbub was about.

" I don't know, no Mel, not you too!" Said Gary looking at her for some help. Jasmine came running up to see what's going on.

"Jasmine, get in here and help me Tabbie you get up front and drive Sara direct her the shortest way possible get us to camp," said Gary. Tabbitha made no arguments and jumped in the front seat. She speed off down the road and Jordan followed being directed by Cookie.

"Jasmine get the herb bag out of the back." Said Gary pointing to the back of the van. She rushed to the back and returned with a black leather bag.

"Here it is."

"Quickly the kingsfoil and sage I need it." Asked Gary. Jasmine handed Gary what he asked for they looked like a weed looking plant with very tiny flowers. Gary snatched it quickly from her and popped it on his mouth and chewed it then spat it back out into his hand and rubbed it around his friends arms just above where the infection hadn't reached yet. As the infection got to the ring of herbs it stopped spreading.

"How did you learn to do that?" Asked Jasmine referring to the plant.

"A little something Charlie taught me." He said breathing heavily. Then the two began to shake violently once again but it was only their arms where the infection seemed to be spreading from. Then their throats began to swell up and turn red as if they were having a strange reaction to the poison. Gary pressed his ear to their mouths and said:

"Okay Jasmine they've stopped breathing we need to perform CPR." said Gary beginning to perform the technique on Melody while Jasmine did the same to Steven. They began to breath again but it was very weak then their throats stayed red and their faces started turning blue.

"Jasmine hand me the pod looking thing inside the bag." Said Gary continuing to push on Steven and Melody's chests. Jasmine dug through the black leather bag and pulled out a black pod looking plant and handed it to Gary. He broke it open with his teeth and shoved each half down their throats. The red swelling started to go down significantly.

"What was that thing?" Asked Jasmine.

"A bizore, it opens up the airways when someone's been poisoned."

"Did Charlie teach you that too?" Asked Jasmine.

"Yah it won't stop the infection but it will slow it down but once it reaches their hearts I can't do anything about it." He said. Their vanes turned black once again now leading from their necks and moving very slowly to their chests their bodies shook violently once again.

"We're at camp do you want us to stop at the gates?" Asked Sara looking back at them.

"No Sara take the wheel drive straight through get us to the infirmary they can't last any longer I'm running out of ideas." Said Gary. Sara switched places with Tabbie and drove straight through the boundaries of the camp then through the trails leading throughout.

" don't worry about the campers they'll move just keep driving." Said Gary looking out the windows seeing several campers jumping out of the way from the two vehicles driving through the camp at high speeds then they stopped just outside the infirmary Gary opens the doors carrying both Steven and Melody.

" I need some Apollo Campers Now!" He yelled. Seconds later eight boys come out holding two stretchers they take Melody and Steven from him and carry them into the building.

"You need to stay here." Said a young boy wearing a Cowboy hat. He had one of those southern country accents.

"Michael you have to save them, Please." Said Gary as Jasmine ran inside to help with the procedure.

"We'll do our best but we don't know what caused this so it'll be harder to figure out what's wrong." Replied Michael placing a hand on Gary's shoulder and rushing inside to help his siblings.

Out of nowhere Savanna, Chiron, Friedan, Kelsey and Emma come sprinting down the hill all of them had their weapons drawn as if they were ready for a fight. Jordan and Graham pulled out their weapons thinking they were in for a fight.

"GARY? Well well my boy, you know how to make a entrance don't you." Said Chiron clapping his hands and laughing. Emma and Kelsey sprinted forward to hug him. Friedan walked up and clapped him on the back while Savanna just said "it's good to see you back bubby."

"Yah I'm sorry we weren't here when you guys arrived but..." Began Gary.

"Dionysus and Friedan told us about your quest when we got back yesterday." Said Savanna looking at Jordan, Graham and Jena. The boys put away their weapons seeing no danger in the young girls eyes.

"Yah, that reminds me, Sara can you take Tabbitha, Jordan and Graham to the big house for the camp video for me?" Asked Gary wiping sweat from his forehead.

Sara agrees and pulls the three recruits to the big house. Gary walks over and talks to Savanna and Chiron he explained about everything that happened, about Steven being their brother and everything. Three Hours pass, Michael and Jasmine emerge from the infirmary to deliver the news.

"We have stabilized both of them, they just need a rest for now." Said Michael.

"Do we have any idea what caused it?" Asked Gary.

"Yah it was this..." He held up a bloody stained shirt using a pair of cooking tongs.

"So what, it's just a Shirt with blood on it." Said Gary.

"That's not just any kind of Blood, that's Centaur blood it's very poisonous to Demigods they're lucky you were able to act quickly, that's what killed Hercules' mortal body back when he fought Nessus two thousand years ago." Said Chiron.

"Gary's quick thinking was enough to slow things down enough for us to take over." Said Michael looking at Jasmine for conformation.

"Good show Gary, what's wrong my boy?" Asked Chiron turning his attention to Gary who had a look on his face that looked as if he had seen a ghost.

"That worries me because Luke put some of Nessus' blood into a potion vile just before he escaped." Said Gary.

"I fear we haven't herd the end of Luke my young friends." Said Chiron. Gary just gave him a very concerned look.

Everyone went their separate ways, Gary did not leave the infirmary for three days while his friend and brother were resting. He dozed off sitting in a chair between them resting his head on the wooden support beam behind him. Melody and Steven woke up and saw him asleep then they stood and covered him up with a blanket. Chiron wheeled in and saw them. He motioned for them to come outside while Gary rested.

"Hello, Melody it's wonderful to see you and it's nice to finally meet you Steven." Said Chiron bowing his head saying hello.

Steven returned with a hand shake and Melody hugged her old friend and mentor. Gary came running out of the building in a panic. When he saw them talking he rushed over to them and picked them both up as happy as could be. He had tears of joy on his face.

"Never scare me like that again you two." He said while holding one in each arm.

"We won't Gary." Said Melody returning the hug with enthusiasm.

"Yah, oh hey Gary, let go really quick." Said Steven.

"What's up bud?" He said releasing them but kept his arms around Melody's waist.

"I took this from Shepler before he died when you flung me at him..." He pulls out a conch shell that looked like it was shaped into some sort of horn. "It was glowing blue when I picked it up so I wanted to make sure it wasn't important." He said handing it to Chiron.

"Do you know what this is my friend." Asked Chiron in awe.

"No." Said Steven

"I don't even know what that is." Said Gary with interest.

"This is the Horn of Boreas, it has been missing for one thousand years it's what he used to use to create his blizzards before his staff." Said Chiron.

"Should we give it to him? Where is he? I'd like to meet him." Said Steven.

Gary, Chiron and Melody gave each other matching expressions of disappointment then explained the law about how the gods aren't allowed to see their Children.

"Hey Gary why don't you take your brother to the forges to get fitted for his weapon and armor." Said Chiron.

"Sure okay let's go Steven." Said Gary walking him and Melody excitedly down the trail that lead to the forges. Several campers congratulated them on their quest and introduced themselves and so on. Inside the forge every member of Gary's team is waiting for them.

"Hey!" Cheered everyone.

"Oh hey guys, this is Steven. Come here bud I want you to meet my friends Emma daughter of Athena, Kelsey the daughter of Aphrodite, and that's Friedan the son of Dionysus." Said Gary introducing them all.

"And who is that?" Asked Steven to Melody Indicating Savanna, while Gary talked to Emma and Kelsey about something pertaining to the roman camper.

"Oh your brother has no train of thought that's Savanna daughter of Boreas your younger Sister." She said clapping him on the back.

"So I have an older brother and a little sister, this has been a good week for me." He begins to laugh along with everyone else who was listening.

"So, Gary tells me you do well with Axes in battle." Said Cookie Circling him with two more blacksmiths following his lead.

"Yah." Said Steven nervously, Gary and the others were trying to hold in their laughter since they always pick on the new people like that. Graham, Tabbie and Jordan are the only ones not laughing since they don't know what's going on.

"Unfortunately we already have an Axe Master." He said pointing a big thumb at Sara.

"Oh so that means you'll have to figure something else out for me then?" Said Steven.

"yah give my brothers and I about two hours and come back we'll have something for you by then." Said Cookie.

"Oh, Cookie come here for a sec." Said Steven leaning in to whisper something in Cookies ear. What Steven said to him must have caught his undivided attention because he cocked his head up and turned right away to the work bench.

"Okay everyone let's give Beckendorf, Cookie and Jake some room to work." Said Gary.

" yah let's show the new comers what trained Demigods can do." Said Melody.

They all agree and run to the combat arena. Savanna, Friedan, Emma and Kelsey Line one side of the arena while eight Ares Campers lined the opposite side armed with spears and Swords. Everyone of them charged when Gary rung the bell. Savanna shot two of the boys in the knees taking no grief and smacking them with her bow knocking them out. Emma soured into the air and kicked two others in the faces and then slammed her bronze mace into their chests knocking them out as quick as light. Kelsey was actually struggling a tad bit because the two Ares boys she was fighting weren't letting her crack her whip. But she got lucky and wrapped one of their legs together and slammed him to the ground and into the other then she unwrapped it from his legs with a jerk of her wrist and sent a wave of intense flames that made the boys yield. Friedan stabbed the ground with his spear and used it to spin in a circle kind of like a horizontal gymnast pole swing slamming one of the Ares boys into his brother then holding up his hand wrapped the other in a grape vine.

"Kelsey's gotten really good with that whip I gave her last summer hasn't she. " said Melody to Gary who nodded in agreement. Jordan, Graham, Steven and Jena looked at each of them in amazement.

"When are we going to be able to do stuff like that?" Asked Graham.

"Once you've trained up properly." Said Chiron walking up clapping now in his true form.

"Ah, Chiron I'd like you to meet Jordan, Graham and Tabbie." Said Gary placing a hand on each of their shoulders as he said their names.

"Hello everyone, but we'll have to get formerly aquatinted later, Gary you and Jasmine need to come with me, we have much to discuss." Said the old Centaur.

"Okay, Savanna..." He yelled into the arena. "... You take Steven and Tabbie to the Cabin to get settled in. I'll meet up with you guys later."

Savanna nodded jumped from the arena next to Steven with a cool gust of wind picking her up. She grabbed his arm and Tabbie's jacket and pulled them off toward their cabin. Gary Chiron and Jasmine walk silently the opposite way going to the Big House.

They enter the Library to see a short woman with shoulder length brunette hair. She wore black sweat pants and a pink under armor shirt. Her smile was bright, Gary recognized her straight away. When she saw his face she sat up and crossed her legs in attention.

"Mrs. Glessner? What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Hello Gary. Jasmine." She said standing up, she flashed a blinding silver then where she stood was the recognizable eighteen year old Artemis. Gary just looked on as shocked as could be not that it was her but because she used his name without puking.

"My lady why have you summoned us?" Asked Gary bowing his head.

"This is actually very hard for me to admit but... You did very well on this quest... For a boy." She said with derision.

"I couldn't have succeeded without Jasmine by my side."

"Yes I know, I was watching you two very closely, you two seemed to work very well together so I have decided something very difficult for me to let go." She said as if every word was hard to say.

"Yes my lady?" Said Jasmine looking into the Goddesses silver moon colored eyes.

"I have decided that Jasmine remain here at the camp to become a permanent member of your team."

Gary was so bewildered by what she said he had absolutely no words.

"Thank you my lady, thank you we will not let you down." Said Jasmine hugging the goddess.

"It is my gift to you for a job well done." She said staring at Gary intently. Her appearance flashed between her normal form and Mrs. Glessner. Gary asked Chiron to Summon his team to the Big house so they could tell them the good news.

Walking into the room Sara almost let the surprise out of the bag when she let out a happy shriek obviously having read someone's mind to figure out why she was called. Gary and Jasmine told everyone the news. Making them all super happy Artemis said her goodbyes, flashed Silver and was gone.

"Hey Steve why don't we head back to the forges to see if Josh has your weapon ready for you yet." Said Gary pulling him out of the Big house and back down the hill towards the firry hot forges.

Once they were in view of the forges they see Cookie standing out front with his arms crossed he had a small cloth wrapped around something.

"Ah good to see you finally came back around, come inside so we can talk."

On the way inside Gary tells Cookie the good news about Jasmine being able to stay at the camp which sent a jolt of excitement into Cookies voice.

"So did you have any kind of trouble with my request?" Asked Steven.

"It took a lot of Hephaestus magic to charm it the way it is so you need to be extremely careful with these." Said Cookie handing the wrapped up cloth to Steven who enthusiastically unwrapped it. He revealed them to be twin Bladed Boomerangs they were about half a foot long on either side and the blades glowed icy blue like Gary's, Stevens and Savannas eyes. On one side was the wood where he was able to throw them and the opposite was the very sharp blade.

"They can pierce through almost any kind of Metals and armor, all you have to do is throw it." Said Cookie looking over Stevens shoulder.

"Bechendorf, Jake and I charmed them to return back to you after you throw them even after they hit something." Continued Cookie looking at Stevens amazed expression.

"That must have taken a lot of power to forge." Chimed in Gary from the door.

"Yah but it is worth it." Said Cookie. Steven turned and gave Cookie a nice thankful handshake.

"Hey Gary why don't we go practice." Said Steven punching Gary's shoulder playfully.

"Okay let's go little bro." Said Gary putting Steven in a playful head lock and messing with his hair. Steven breaks free and starts to run out the door and accidentally bumps into Savanna. She gives him a devilish look then smiles, punches his shoulder and says;

"Tag Your it." She and Gary run to the combat Arena being chased by Steven. Once in the arena they take up positions on opposite sides of the field. The stadium started to fill as campers saw a fight about to begin then out of nowhere Melody rang the Gong. Gary gave her a smile.

Steven started the fight by throwing one of his boomerangs as Savanna shoots arrows at him knocking them out of the air as they hit it. She jumps just narrowly dodging it from hitting her. Gary sprints over and playfully swings his staff at Steven who blocks it with his remaining boomerang which creates Blueish sparks. Savanna comes out of the corner of Gary's eye so he moves making her slam her daggers into the staff creating even more sparks. The first boomerang sails back to Steven but Gary pushes both of his younger siblings in opposite directions. Steven caught it and dodge rolled as Savanna took out her bow and fired arrows at her older brothers. Gary swatted them out of the air with his staff while Steven flung his Boomerangs into the arrows intercepting them mid air and catching them as they sailed back at him.

Gary spun his staff in a circle blocking arrows from hitting him, Steven then flung one of the boomerang's at his older brother forcing him to dodge out of the way. As it sailed back to him Savanna shot arrow after arrow to him but he blocked them with the remaining boomerang.

The crowd around them cheered wildly as they showed off their skills. Steven was the roar of the camp considering on how new he was to his powers and his ability to still be standing against Gary and Savanna. They continue to fight playfully not really trying to harm each other as it begins to snow around them. The vision starts to fade darker and darker.

THE END