Chapter 45; Traveling Isolation

Drake POV

I packed up my messenger bag with any needed items. Photo album, which I continued from Luke's, my camp necklace, my ring that turns into a sword, extra ambrosia and nectar, a first aid kit, and so forth. I sighed. Taking my guitar from its hiding spot. All my half brothers and sisters sat in their bunks. Frowning.

"We're gonna miss you, bro." Travis spoke first. It was un-needed, but everyone nodded. I put on my messenger bag and picked up the guitar. I smiled.

"Hey. Come on. I'll be back before you know it." I smiled at them. Soon, they did something unexpected, first it was my half sisters, they all hugged me, soon joined by my brothers. Travis and Conner waited by the door. I blinked back tears and did my best to hug them all back. They let me go as I walked to Travis, we fist bumped and did a man hug, same goes with Conner. I walked out, they waved as I made my way to the Apollo Cabin. I knocked on the door, Lizzie answered almost immediately. She hugged me around the neck, Ajax looked from afar, tears were being held back as he smiled sadly at me. I held Lizzie for a while longer.

"I don't want you to go.." She said sadly. I tilted her chin up, she looked at me, tears streaming down her cheeks as she cried. I kissed her lips softly, I put in all my thoughts into the kiss, she happily kissed back as we broke apart.

"Hey…I'll be back. Don't worry." I said to her as she nodded, giving me a kiss on the lips one last time. I went to Ajax, smiling.

"Hey kid. Here…This is yours now." I told him, bringing my guitar to him. He took it, blinking. "Everything you need to learn on how to play, tune, and write sheet music for your guitar." He smiled softly, before setting it on his bunk, I crouched and gave him a hug as he returned it.

"Take care of yourself, Drake." He said to me softly. I nodded.

"Likewise, kiddo. Take care of Lizzie and Ashley as well." I told him as he nodded, I got up, ruffling his hair as I made my way out towards the outskirts of camp. I said goodbye to Veronica, Nyssa, Ashley, Chiron, and Argus. I found my father, Hermes by the fleece, waiting.

"You ready, son?" He asked. I nodded.

The plan was simple. Isolate myself from any mortals. Which means traveling through the wilderness, not going to any big city such as Manhattan or New York. Small towns are ok, just don't stay too long. I tugged at my messenger bag strap. I closed my eyes as he snapped his fingers.

"Alright son…Good luck." He said. Which was probably the cue that I could open my eyes, so I did. Seeing wilderness around me. I sighed.

What I did was what I did all along.

Moving Forward.

Nyssa POV

That knuckle head left. He was the only non Hephaestus kid who knew what he was doing with machines, and he just…Left. Everyone in the forge was sad. No doubt about that. I continued our latest project; Robot dummies. Drake had the idea, instead of using humans to practice, we use robots. It was a good idea and Chiron approved. Drake did half of the numbers, so, here I was, depressed, but still working on our last project. I just couldn't wrap my head around that lunch…

~Lunch Time~

"Attention everyone!" Chiron said. We all hushed down and looked at Chiron, surprised to see Hermes sitting by his son, Drake, at the head table. "I have bad news…" He said simply. "As you all know, Drake, is slowly being taken over by Kronos, our once titan enemy." Everyone nodded, shuddering in remembering their time with Kronos, or experienced Kronos time slowing ability. "In order to protect the camp, Drake is needed to be isolated. By doing this, the gods think that the take over, will slow down. As of yet, Kronos is slowly taking over." Everyone started whispering. I looked at Drake, who was looking at Lizzie.

"And so, Drake, is going to be traveling by himself. With no Drachmas, and no partners." Hermes said, sadly. "To be focused on the world around you is easier to be alone. Remember, Drake traveled before coming to camp,so he would know." Drake nodded at this as he sighed it seemed.

"After lunch, he will be set off to the world. With only his personal items, and his weapon. If you wish to say goodbye to Drake, do so now, or after lunch… That is all." Chiron ended the announcements, no one dared speaking up for CTF or chariots racing. Drake was a well known camper.

"I guess this is it, huh Messenger Boy?" I asked him, when it was my turn to say goodbye as he nodded, smiling sadly.

"I did half the 'bots already.. Thought I'd let you know." He said. We shook hands. I smiled as he smiled as I walked back to my table to dump the rest of my food to the gods. Lost my appetite.

George POV

Drake left. Not so great. No one is allowed to go with him, but its hard to say goodbye to my once commander. So, I did the only thing. I saluted him from a far and raised a wooden sword I borrowed from the arena, he saluted back and raised his fist, grinned at me sadly as I smiled back. We had one last round of sword practicing before lunch when he broke the news personally. I was sad to say the least, then again, who wasn't? By the time he left, most of the camp fallen into a small trance, going about their day with not as much laughter, with out as much enthusiasm, and the works. I could say, it was a bit depressed when my commander left.

I hope he returns safely.