"Stop moving!" The cyclops roared as it hefted its weapon. It had ripped a telephone pole out of the ground and was swinging it through the air with impunity. "Let me eat you!"

Ryker ducked under the long wooden pole for the umpteenth time. "No." He said curtly. He wished now more than ever he had his bow. Ever since he had left camp the previous day he had been accosted by various monsters, all of whom were eager to devour him. Ryker had scarcely had an hour without running across some manner of creature who wanted him dead.

The cyclops raised the telephone pole above its head and brought it down in a murderous arc directly where Ryker was standing. He dove out of the way at the last possible second, a snarl on his lips. "Enough of this." He said through gritted teeth. He had been avoiding the cyclops' attacks for the past fifteen minutes and both his patience and stamina were growing thin. While the Cyclops struggled to pick the telephone pole again for another swing Ryker retreated a safe distance and pulled off his clawed gloves. Feeling only slightly foolish he assumed the stance he would have taken with any normal bow. He blinked in surprise when a large ghostly silver bow seemed to sprout from his hand. Ryker reached forward and grabbed the silver bowstring and began to pull back. As he did so an arrow appeared on the bow, elongating as Ryker drew back. The cyclops had gotten control of its weapon by this time and now advanced slowly on Ryker, eyeing the massive silver bow. Ryker aimed at the cyclops chest and released in one smooth motion. The silver arrow flew true and seemed to hit the cyclops directly in the chest. Rather than sinking into the monster's chest however, the arrow left a massive gaping hole. Ryker took a surprised step back as he peered through the monster's chest into the woods behind it. Without another sound the cyclops crumbled away into dust leaving the telephone pole to thump heavily onto the ground.

The bow fizzled out of Ryker's hand and with its disappearance came a substantial amount of pain that racked Ryker's body. It faded as quickly as it had arrived, but its presence had forced Ryker to his knees. He knelt there for a long moment before he got back to his feet and pulled his gloves back on. "Okay, using the bow brings pain." He muttered. "Good to know."

He glanced back to where the cyclops had been standing and recoiled slightly when he beheld the sight of the forest behind it. Several trees had circular grooves cut into them, and several more were on their side. Ryker stared down at his palm and then back to the woods before he closed his hand into a fist. Artemis's bow was powerful indeed. Perhaps too powerful.

Were you planning on walking the entire way to Camp Jupiter? Silver asked as he fluttered down from a branch and came to rest on Ryker's shoulder.

No, I thought I would fly. Ryker answered with sarcasm dripping from every word. Of course I'm going to walk.

That would take forever! Silver complained ruffling his feathers irritably.

Well what would you suggest? Ryker snapped, moving off through the woods once more.

We could always steal a car. Silver offered. You are only a couple miles away from a small town. We could be there in an hour and have a car in no time flat.

Ryker looked incredulously at the bird. What kind of bird are you? Isn't that sort of thing you know, against the law?

Yes. Yes it is. Silver raised her wings in what Ryker considered a bird-shrug. But it's better than having to walk all the way there.

I can't drive. Ryker argued.

I can. Silver said dismissively. Or I've watched enough humans to know the general idea.

Ryker had seen humans driving in their cars before. From what limited experience he had he knew that you had to simultaneously steer, watch where you were going, and apply pressure to something called an accelerator. He was fairly certain that Silver would not be able to accomplish two of these things at one never mind all three. How? He demanded with a fair amount of exasperation in his voice. You are a bird. With wings. I might not have much experience with cars but I know you at least need hands.

Oh, I haven't shown you yet have I? Silver realized. He fluttered off of Ryker's shoulder and came to rest on the ground in front of him. Ryker paused and looked curiously down at the little bird.

"What are you doing?" He inquired. "Look, walking isn't all that bad. You've been on my shoulder almost the entire time anyways."

Silver didn't answer. Instead he shuffled his wings and closed his eyes. Ryker opened his mouth to ask another question but it faded to nothing as Silver began to change. The feathers of his wings seemed to melt away until pink flesh emerged. He grew several feet in a very short time and long dark hair grew from his scalp until it was midway down his back. When Silver finally finished the transformation Ryker realized that he was very very mistaken about something. "You're a girl!" He said accusingly.

"Of course I'm a girl." She said dismissively. She was wearing some sort of gown that seemed woven of the very feathers she had as an owl. She ran her hands along her arms and shivered.

"I thought you were a guy this entire time." Ryker was still unnerved by the revelation. "How can you transform like that? Can all animals do that?"

"Not hardly." Silver snorted and shook her head. "Your mother gave me this form as a gift. I helped her a long time ago and she rewarded me."

"Uh…" Ryker searched for something to say. "Very well. You said you can drive?"

"I said I know the general idea." Silver corrected. She scowled down at her gown and shook her head. "Does that pack that Artemis gave you have any other clothes in there? This is not very good for long journeys but it's what I end up wearing every time I transform back."

"Actually, yeah." Ryker swung the backpack from his shoulders and dug around inside. The bag contained a tent, some of the odd silver cords that the Hunters had used to capture Ryker, several sets of clothes that were clearly for Hunters, and various other odds and ends. He pulled the clothes out and offered them to Silver who gladly accepted them and stepped behind a row of trees. Ryker awkwardly waited for her to change, scanning the woods in the event that other monsters had come across their scent.

"Okay, much better." Silver returned from around the side of the tree and Ryker scowled immediately. Garbed in the typical dress of the Hunters, Silver looked like she belonged right among them. "What?" She asked, noticing Ryker's look of disdain.

"Nothing." He sighed. "So are you sure about this? I thought humans take exception to their laws being broken?"

"Plenty of other demigods have stolen cars before." Silver told him frankly. "And they got away without getting into trouble. I've seen them do it. Now, if you think that I am going to be flying from tree to tree across the entire country then you are absolutely wrong."

"You know, you aren't just the most bossy bird I've ever met you are the bossiest girl I've met too." Ryker growled as Silver led the way towards what Ryker assumed was the town. "Won't humans be concerned if monsters start attacking a truck?"

"I doubt they would even notice. The Mist will cover them." Silver said dismissively.

"The Mist?" Ryker inquired, unfamiliar with the term.

Silver groaned and shook her head. "Typical. I get stuck with the one demigod alive who knows next to nothing about anything. Alright, listen up. Since we have some time I am going to tell you everything you will need to know about the Mist, the Greek and Roman gods, your mother, and anything else I feel like telling you about. I might even tell you about preening. It's not as easy as you'd think."

Ryker was then subjected to Silver following through on her promise. She told him about everything that she knew of. Preening included.