Wow I'm so sorry. I don't know how long it's been, but it's been too long, that's for sure. I'm re-motivated to write now that I know that a new series is coming out and I'm super excited. It's kind of weird knowing that we'll know about what actually happens after The Blood of Olympus, and all my writing is just some wishful thinking. Oh well. Enjoy.

Chapter 35:

I wake up the next morning warm and content. The first thing I notice is a blanket draped over me, something I didn't remember when I fell asleep last night. Sitting up, I get a better look at the blanket and to my astonishment, it's made of woven leaves and twigs. Cameron's also covered by a blanket similar to mine, still asleep.

"Hey sleepyhead," Miranda walks up to me and hands me a basket of fruit. "Eat up. Last night was a mess."

"Thanks," I grab a banana. "And thanks for the blanket. Do you know what time it is?" The combination of clouds and trees cover up the sun from where we're sitting.

She pulls out her smartphone and takes a bite out of an apple. "Yeah, it's almost noon." After a pause, she adds, "Sorry about last night. After Shadow Traveling, I felt so sick. I feel so bad you had to fight that bear on your own. I hate being useless."

We meet eyes and I give her a confused look. "What are you talking about? You saved my ass last night. Without you, we'd all be doomed."

"Yeah, but I didn't help you earlier. I'm sorry I didn't help you."

"Don't worry. We're a team now, we work together. We have each other's back," I think it's sweet that Miranda felt bad about not helping, but like what could she have done? She's the daughter of a nature goddess, and they're not very good at combat.

Just then, Cameron wakes up and yawns. "Hey guys!" The cheerfulness in his voice brings out some anger in me that I can't explain. "What's up?"

I give him a deadly scowl, wiping the smile off his face in an instant. "If you didn't faint last night like a wuss, then you'd know what happened." It's not uncommon for people to faint the first time they Shadow Travelled, I've even fainted a few times. But this irrational hatred bubbles up and I lash out.

"It's okay that you fainted, we're glad you're feeling better," Miranda tries to soften my insults, but Cameron still seems hurt. "What Nico was talking about was that after you fainted, a bear thing attacked us. I was also incapacitated, so we owe Nico for saving our hides."

"That's not true, you were the one that smushed the bear with a tree." I point to the fallen tree as proof. "Whatever. It's over, we need to keep moving."

With that, I get up and hand Cameron the basket of fruit. "Anyone know which way to go?" A chunk of pear flies from his mouth as he says that.

Miranda snaps in response, growing a sunflower right by her feet. "So if that's east," she points toward the direction that the sunflower is facing. "And we need to go south," she turns herself 90 degrees. "Then we need to go that way."

"I have no idea what you just did, but you seem like you know what you're doing," Just watching her figure out where to go gives me a headache. I can Shadow Travel wherever someone tells me to go, but they better not expect me to figure out if we're facing north or south.

Without another word, we start following Miranda "due south", whatever that means.

For almost the whole day we walked through the forest. Obviously, Cameron begged (more like politely asked) us to stop at least 20 (twice) times to take a break to eat or pee.

By the time the sun is halfway down the sky, I start getting a little aggravated too, just because nothing exciting has happened. Once we were assigned to this recon mission, it was a relief to get away from the air of crisis and impending war. But now that we're out in the real world, I've been on edge the whole day, half expecting the monster army to pop out of nowhere and pounce on us.

"Do you hear that?" Miranda looks around curiously and squints ahead of us. "It sounds like a whole party's up ahead."

She goes quiet again and I strain myself to try and hear something. Sure enough, I can make out the faint sound of people cheering ahead of us. I put up my hand to signal them to stop, and I draw my sword. Cameron follows my lead and pulls out his bow.

"What are you guys doing?" Miranda whispers harshly. "They sounds friendly enough and there's probably like a hundred of them. An ambush won't kill all of them, if they're hostile."

I scowl, but I see her point. I grudgingly put my sword away and I see Cameron do the same. As she walks toward the noise and people, she adds, "And if it's some mortal party, they wont appreciate us barging in with our weapons drawn. Just follow my lead."

Cameron looks at me and shrugs. I follow her, grateful I don't have to do the talking. I just hope the people won't be bothered by Miranda and I carrying swords on our belts.

Once we pass all the trees, with Miranda still in the front, the clearing is a lot bigger than anticipated. And much more filled up.

It turns out that it was actually an open arena, with a paved track and bleachers. We walk in during a race, with people on the bleachers screaming their lungs out. We cross into the arena and I take a moment to look for threats.

Everything seems so out of place; I feel like I'm at a college football game. There are guys with body paint all over their chest, people with matching t-shirts, and the stench of spilled beer. The only question is why this is all happening in the middle of nowhere.

The crowd goes even crazier as the runners get closer to the finish line. I squint to see the outcome and notice the only girl dash by the finish line before any other runner can.

"What kind of race is co-ed? I thought there were different divisions for men and women," Cameron whispered to me.

I shrug and try to figure out what is going on. I'm not easily surprised, being a demigod makes you see pretty weird things, but this is a little odd.

In the middle of the bleachers is throne box with two older people sitting on thrones. It kind of reminds me of the movies with gladiators fighting in the Colosseum and the Roman Emperor sitting in his own little box.

Before I point them out, Miranda is on the move. And she's heading straight toward the thrones. "Wait, wait. Why would we want to talk to those old people. They seem like the ones in charge," I try to argue with her.

"I told you, stay quiet. I'll do the talking," she responds while dragging Cameron with us. "And don't draw your weapons. Be friendly."

Without any other plan, I follow her toward the podium. We stick near the bleachers as to not stand out more than possible. On our way there, I notice the girl who won the footrace walk toward the podium where we're going as well.

Once we get to the podium, the man on the throne finally notices us and the two of us. A broad smile crosses his face and he booms, "Yet another suitor has arrived!"