Jason

It was too early for a quest. Jason had been dragged out of bed before it was even light out and he didn't get how Octavian expected him and Raven to do anything this early in the morning. He just hoped that the monsters got to sleep in instead.

Jason could have slept for another couple hours and he would have if he was the quest leader. Which he and Raven discussed. Which he and Cameron discussed on the way into the Senate meeting, so he had no idea why she'd sided with Octavian. He figured him and Raven could take Gwen or Dakota or Sarah with them. Anyone really. Anyone except that snake of an auger. Jason really didn't trust anyone as selfish and power hungry as Octavian around an object that could turn tides in his favor. Cameron shouldn't have even let him come along let along on the quest let alone lead it.

Not to say that Jason really wanted to do it himself. In all honesty a part of him was relieved he didn't have to. The last thing he wanted to do was give the camp another reason to look at him as a leader. All he'd wanted to do was help Raven get her mom's scale back and she needed a Centurion to come with her in order to embark on a quest so it just seemed like a perfect fit. There was nothing leaderly about it.

Jason didn't like to think of himself as a leader. The other campers enough of that for them and him. It was only because he was son of Jupiter. He really hated that. He didn't want to be the prince everyone expected him to be. That's why he was trying so hard to change the way people looked at him. Unfortunately nothing seemed to be working. He'd become Centurion despite his efforts and now that the rumors of Cameron's resignation as Preator had spread he'd heard more than a few whispers between campers saying he'd make a great Preator. Which was insane. He was only 13. He was the youngest Centurion at camp, he couldn't be Preator. He didn't even want to be Preator.

He forced himself to focus on what was right in front of him.

Jason fell into step with Raven and Octavian as they made their way up the hill where Terminus stood looking like he might fall sleep too. Jason pondered that for a second. Did gods even sleep? He didn't suppose they needed too as immortal beings but they might want to. Sleep was nice. Sleeping was what he should be doing at the moment. Stop it, Jason ordered himself, you can sleep on the train.

After a bit of back and forth Octavian had gotten their group Train tickets and weapons and money and enough stuffed animals to satisfy Octavian for months. Jason had seen Demigods go off on a quests ten times more important than this one with less than half the stuff Octavian had weaseled his way into getting. Jason supposed it was one of the benefits of being Octavian's friend. But then again, Jason reminded himself, no matter what the benefits of being Octavian's friend were it didn't out weight the downfall.

Not in the slightest.

Raven smiled politely at Terminus "Good morning," She said cheerfully although Jason knew she was just as tired as him, if not more so. After all she shared a room with Octavian. He shuddered at the though. He felt bad for Raven, having to share a room with that creep. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep if he was in her position and he was pretty sure she felt the same.

Still she smiled politely and made small talk with the boundary god as he checked their IDs and asked if they 'Had anything to declare' which most no one ever did. He didn't blame them. If he were to die on a quest he didn't think he wanted his last declaration reported back to everyone at camp through the mouth of an armless god who Jason knew no one really took seriously. Terminus finished off the little encounter by patting Jason down with his eyes and wishing them luck.

Great Jason thought, we can use as much of it as we can get...

Jason fell into step with Raven as they made their way down the hill, following Octavian who was about fifty steps ahead of them. Jason offered her a smile but now that the armless god had been left behind Raven had dropped the smiley act and went back to glaring at her feet, which she'd been doing all morning.

"You should be leading this quest" She finally muttered after a moment of silence.

Jason's heart dropped just a little. Jason had always befriend the least popular people at camp in an attempt to get people to stop looking at him as a leader, so Jason didn't have a lot of close friends or anyone who he really connected with. He knew it was silly since he had only known Raven for a little but he could just feel that she was different. They connected. He guessed he'd just hoped she'd see him for who he was and not the way everyone else did. But he knew it was unfair to hold it against her so he dropped it.

"Well Octavian may think that he's leading this quest but ya know what?" Jason said, "we both know the person who ends up leading this quest is you."

Raven scrunched up her nose, "I don't know about that. I'm not a leader."

Jason nodded. He could relate.

Octavian called back to them "Would you two hurry up?! By time we get anywhere it's going to be night time!"

"Sorry to disappoint you Octavian!" Jason called back, "But it already is night time."

He gestured up at the early morning sky. Raven let out a snort and giggled which made Jason break out into a grin. Her laugh was dorky and cute, and he preferred it way more than her glaring at her own shoes.

"Ha-ha" Octavian yelled back, not laughing at all, "Keep laughing Grace and I'll make sure Nemesis wrings your neck first when you make us fail this mission!"

"Oh, I'd like to wring his neck," Raven muttered. Jason couldn't help but notice that Octavian had a real talent for killing Raven's good moods. She shoot daggers at the scrawny blond with her eyes, although Octavian seemed to have turned away and continued walking.

She sighed in exasperation and ran her fingers through her hair. Her jet black curls cascaded down from her silver circlet which looked like vines and leaves wrapping around her head. It was engraved with some ancient lettering that he couldn't read but Raven had explained that it was almost like her Coat of Arms as Bringer of Hope. Whatever that meant.

When Raven had first entered the camp in her Roman robes Jason had thought she'd looked like a princess. Now the Circlet was the only regal thing left about her, which he was thankful for. She was much less intimidating now in her purple Camp Jupiter tee and a orange hoodie.

The only thing she carried with her was that little moss green backpack yet she never really ran out of things to wear. Where did it all go? But yet again he supposed that was probably the least mysterious thing about Raven. But that was fine. That was what made her so intriguing.

After a quick bus ride into los angles the three made it to the train station and Raven promptly fell back asleep while they waited for the train. Jason and Octavian waited in silence and equal agitation. Jason and Octavian had never gotten along. Jason had always been modest and brave while Octavian was a selfish coward. They'd hated each other from the day they met and Jason imagined they'd continue to hate each other until the day they died. Jason just hoped that wasn't for long time, though as a Demigod one never knew for sure.

Jason remembered when they'd first met when Jason joined the Legion and Octavian had tried to weasel his way onto his good side, unsuccessfully. Jason was just grateful Octavian hadn't been as persistent with him as he was being with Raven. But Jason knew the harder Octavian pushed the more Raven would resent him. For a boy who supposedly knew the will of the gods he sure didn't know a whole lot about friendship. It was almost sad. But yet again Jason wasn't sure if you could call what Octavian was offering 'Friendship'.

Jason didn't even know why he wanted to go on this quest at all. Octavian hated leaving camp, and he hated Jason even more. Jason was pretty sure him and Raven weren't besties or anything so he didn't get it. What did Octavian gain by tagging along on this quest? And Jason knew as well as anybody Octavian didn't do anything unless he gained something from it.

Raven's head nodded and fell on Jason's shoulder with a soft snoring noise. Jason chuckled a little and smiled. Raven had her mysterious side, and her clever side, but Jason liked her awkward side best, it was the most relatable part of her. No matter how clever or all-knowing or powerful she seemed she still snored, and said the wrong things and got mad and happy and generally nerdy. Everyone was saying she was like a goddess in disguise but this side of Raven only proved to Jason just how human she was.

Jason blinked when he looked up at Octavian who was staring at the two of the like they'd just sinned in church. Jason raised an eyebrow at the augur "What?"

"Don't get big headed Grace," His stare turned into a sneer, "People may think you rule the camp but you're not that charming."

Octavian's eyes drifted down to Raven as he said the word 'that'. Jason glared at Octavian. He was such a jerk. Even if Jason did like Raven, it wasn't any of Octavian's business. Beside's Raven and him weren't like that. Sure he liked her, but as a friend. She was cool, and right off the bat the two of them had clicked. He'd only known her a few days and he already felt more comfortable around her than he did around anyone at camp.

"Do everyone a favor and tie yourself in a bag with a weasel Octavian," Jason spat.

"You gonna make me, son of Jupiter?" Octavian countered.

"Maybe I will," Jason shot back.

"Will both of you shut up I'm sleeping" Raven muttered.

The two boys glared at each other and Jason looked away with a huff and Raven made herself comfortable on his shoulder dozing off again. It wasn't a romantic gesture or anything. More of a 'Hey you're going to be my pillow for the next few minutes, deal with it' kind of thing. And Jason was cool with that but it was stopped short when the train pulled into the station. Raven stretched and got up.

Boarding the train Jason struggled to keep track of Raven and Octavian. Camp Jupiter was crowded sometimes but nothing like this. Finally the three of them found their seats. Jason's eyes scanned the area. The inside of the train was well lit and expensive looking. The seats were made of leather and every other row was turned backwards to create little booths to sit in, with a flimsy wooden table to separate them. The floor was lined in green carpet and above them the ceiling was made of oak and the yellow train lights reflected off it warmly. Jason sat in the seat closest to the window and Raven had slide in next to him, Octavian sat in the seat across from them.

Raven fell back asleep on Jason's shoulder for awhile and he was starting to get the feeling she hadn't slept at all the previous night. After all now that he was awake and actually on the train it became apparent to Jason just how real this quest was. Ever nerve in his body tingled.

Octavian was reading out of some leather bond book and grinning contently, ever once in awhile he'd stop and rub the binding of the book with his fingers like it was made of precious metal and stare at it, not reading, like he was deep in thought, then his face would turn red, the way it did whenever he was really mad, shake his head, furrow his brow and continue reading before starting the whole process all over again a few minutes later. Sheesh, this guy really was crazy...

Raven snored ever once in awhile and would mumble in her sleep and reposition herself every so often so Jason took to watching her after Octavian's repetitive insanity became boring to watch. After while Raven's sleeping habits bored Jason as well and he gazed out the window for awhile. Trains were so confined and small and Jason found himself wishing he was outside flying instead. As the son of the god of the sky Jason found himself less than ecstatic with the idea of being trapped in small places. He didn't know if he could take this for another hour... And this train only took them as far as Houston. Then they had a bus to catch. Which was even smaller... Jason groaned mentally.

Raven woke up a while later and poured over the map in her hand, Miami Beach circled in red marker, camp was circled in black on the other side of the map, and up in the corner she'd circled long island in yellow. It was faint like she was trying to hide it but Jason noticed it anyway. He wondered what was there. He supposed if it mattered she'd have told him.

She looked at the map then to a book in her lap and scribbled a couple notes on a piece of paper. She kept the book hidden for the most part so Jason couldn't tell what it was, he only caught glimpses of the book and the most he could tell you was that it had an orange cover with a big eye on it. She kept looking between the two boys as if suspicious then returning to the writing.

Finally she closed the book and slipped it into her bag, "I'm going to the bathroom. Don't cause a disaster or anything. Looking at you Octavian."

"Oh but Raven how can we cause a disaster when we brought the biggest walking disaster on earth onto the train with us?" Octavian smirked without looking up from his book.

"Oh shut up would you" Raven rolled her eyes.

"You started it" Octavian shrugged

"Can we please stop fighting?" Jason intervened, this argument was starting to sound more and more like two kids yelling at each other on the play ground. "We are never going to complete this quest if you two don't learn to at least tolerate each other"

"I'm sorry Jason I distinctly remember saying the same thing to you about half an hour ago," Raven smirked, but not in a mean way. He knew she was just messing with him but he still blushed realizing he had no room to talk and rubbed the back of his neck, "Anyway don't cause any trouble."

"Got it" Jason replied as she walked off.

Looking back Jason felt like a fool, because clearly he hadn't gotten it because even though the trouble caused wasn't his fault, when Raven wandered back everything had descended into chaos. And not in the good way.