Short but fun, it sets things up really well and you will like what happens...
"I guess this is goodbye."
Aaron turned to Charlie's voice as he stood by the Golden Fleece bearing Pine tree, soaking in it's potent magic while he still could. He felt so strong being near it, the mere act of tapping into it's magic eased his fears of the journey and the potential for death and pain. He felt his body charge with incredible strength, his muscles become lighter, his mind clearer. He would miss this magic, dearly.
But not as much as he missed Charlie, who he quickly embraced with all his might. "I'll miss you, you old fool."
"Same." They held each other for a moment before pulling away and turning to a crying Will.
Will threw himself at Aaron, almost sobbing into his chest. "I hate that you have to leave."
"So do I, Will, but I do have to go... be strong and look after everyone until I return. Maybe be freinds with Nico, he seems quite lonely." He whispered, loudly, making Nico who was standing next to Will snort loudly in derision. He then pulled Nico in for a group hug. "You both behave yourself, don't make me come back to beat you both for being pests." The boys hugged him tighter for a moment.
As they seperated, he turned to Dionysius and smiled. "I am sorry to leave you, I am the only one you like here bar Chiron. Your going to be so lonely."
The man sighed. "Probably, but I can manage for a year..." He smiled then. "Don't get killed, I would hate to have to go to the Underworld for a third time."
Happy, he turned to his final friend... garbed in white, she radiated an incredible amount of magic. "The first follower of Hera, that's different." They shared a laugh, warm and true.
Silena pulled him in for a warm, loving hug. "I'll miss you too, but maybe we'll cross paths. Who knows, right?"
"Yeah, who knows. I can sense people like you, not far away. I can't beleive your the Matron. Big deal, isn't it."
"It is... I am honored, I really am."
Sighing, Aaron leaned against the tree that was one Thalia, only to recoil and hiss as energy shot through him... Thalia's energy, her potent lifeforce and the raw force of her spirit. He felt her mind brushing against his, and only a handful of words crossed his mind.
"Wolf House, California!"
Thalia was all but screaming it into his mind, making him realize she had in fact heard his prayers. "Well, that was fun... I just got a note of where to start." He explained to the worried eyes of his freinds, who had watched him cringe. "Thalia reminded me, through her connection to the tree, of where to start my pilgrimage. I can't share but I can tell you I have a starting place." Sighing, he turned away from his friends, noting Meggy's absence. They had said their goodbyes that day already, when she sobbed into his arms for half an hour and packed him full of potions, lotions and whatnot to make him as safe as possible. "It is time we get started... I will see you all again, one day... behave yourselves."
And with that, he, his new Familar Lydia ( who was walking besides him) and Silena took their first steps away from the camp and made their way down to the base of the Hill where Hera and Argus were having a conversation by the Camp Van. Surronding them was a group of girls of a variety of ages, all graced by Hera's immortal power. The two immortal being said nothing to Aaron, just smiled at him as he crawled into the van. Within minutes they were off, towards the nearest airport. Watching Hera and her group scurry off into a massive bus that appeared from out of nowhere.
"""
It took nearly three hours for Aaron and Lydia to get onto a plane, taking a moment to say goodbye to Argus naturally. As they flew, Aaron allowed himself to fall into a deep sleep, preserving his mystical energy until he landed... which happened in good time, thanks to his nap. He awoke, just in time to be let out of the plane where he immediately took off. He would have asked for directions to the Wolf House, but as it turned out he didn't need them...
He could feel it, actually he could feel two massive swaths of power in two places. Each in a different direction, one that felt like the Camp he left behind filled to the brim with a variety of temples and essences. The other like a memory, a sacred place that radiated the essence of beginings not unlike the Big House. It was strange, but he knew that both places were related to each other and only vaguely related to the Titan Mountain he had only just been at not that long ago. How he knew that one place was the Wolf House, he had no idea, but it just... made sense, bordering on instinctive. He had learned a long time ago not to ignore that sort of feelings.
Turning, thankful for the cooler air of winter, Aaron and Lydia made their way away from the Airport and mosied on over to the powerful aura he felt. As they walked, knowing it would take hours, he assesed the energy he felt.
'It's strongly Earth based, not unlike my Earthspring Garden... and I sense something concious about it, and a I sense a secondary essence, a God tier power... it's female clearly, and strong but not Olympian level. I cannot tell much more then that, only that is feels little like Artemis. Wild and ruthless and very connected to nature. Hmm... what could it be?'
The trip to the location he sensed took several hours, it was near night time by the time they reached it. They had to go past highways, over hills, through small gardens and so on. Nothing, not a single monster or god or spirit came near them. He didn't even see or sense any, perhaps it was the Titan's Mountaint hat kept them away, perhaps it was his own aura... who knew? Aaron did make a mental note of it, in case it meant something worse then he realized. To his shock, even Lydia didn't seem to notice anything, which only added to his worries.
Eventually they found themselves approaching the Wolf house, which turned out to be a mass of Red bricks and pieces of hewn lumber. He shuddered as he approached, magic rushing through the earth via ley lines. He felt stronger, sharper and more clear as he approached. His mind focused in a way it only did when he was around potent magic, he knew his spells would be stronger, his command of magic greater. Whatever this place was, it was not to be trifled with.
Moving into the building, he realized they were were being watched...
Gathering his magic, of soul and earth, he readied himself for a fight..."Lydia, I know you can understand me... get ready girly!" He whispered, getting a whimper from the poor wolfy, who was no match for anything in a fight at the moment. He only hoped she would be okay...
He reached for his sword, in the form of a bracelet, only to be knocked back by a massive force a moment later. He sent out a blast of energy, sending that thing flying. Rolling to the left, he grabbed Lydia into his arm and twisted his sword into existence, falling into his stance... only to see a large shewolf staring back at him with amusement. She was radiating vast amounts of energy. smirking at him with eyes and mouth.
"A powerful sorcerer, you are Aaron. Juno was right, indeed." The wolf spoke to him, making Aaron scrounch through his weak understanding of Roman Mythology.
Trying to be respectful, knowing she could rip him apart, he offered the only name he knew. "Lupa?"
She nodded. "Yes, that would be me. I am to test you, before allowing you to find my Roman children. To test you and your Familar Lydia." She smirked at Lydia, who huffed and tried to pull herself from his grip. "A strong soul, I can sense that much. She would be a powerful force for you, once you train her to be as powerful as she can be. Now... you will sleep here child, tomorrow is where we will start your tests."
For no other reason then knowing anything about Lupa, the mother of Romulus and Remus, he knew this would not be a good experience...
Realizing he was by dozens of other wolves, looking at him from the shadows, Aaron grabbed his sleeping back and found a comfy place, casting a quick spell of detection and protection. Lyida, sweet girl, curled into his chest and slowly fell asleep. It took Aaron much longer to do the same, but eventually he did in fact fall asleep despite the monsterous beings so close to his presence.
:::
Lupa sniffed the boy as he slept, taking in his power and strength. 'He reeks of Greek magic... and he is strong. Stronger then any mages at Camp Jupiter, but is he as skilled... that is yet to be seen. Typical for a Greek Sorcerer, they obsess over power but rarely work on skills. This will be a challenge for him, if nothing else. He was strong enough to send me flying the moment I attacked him... that proves good reaction time and strength. He was able to grab his small familar and arm himself within seconds...
I am excited to see where he goes from here, how powerful and skilled he will become. It has been far too long since I tested a pure mortal, especially one marked so deeply by magic and experience. I can smell he held the sky up not that long before this... Juno may be right, he could bring much to Rome. Or he could die by my hands... only time will tell.'
Huffing, the Goddess of Wolves, lay down and quickly fell into a deep sleep, happy to be starting the journey of another child once again.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
Short but fun.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.