I know it's been a while, but I really wanna get back into this Fanfiction. I will try to update at least once a week for sure :)

Guest: Here you go, a chapter just for you! ;) Thank you for being the only person who reviewed, it really meant a lot and it definitely got me back to writing this Fanfiction!

"Are you sure it was a good idea to leave Stabby behind us without tying him down or something?" Faith was jogging beside me, sweat starting to shine on her forehead. We had been on the move for about four hours now, and I was getting to the point where I was ready to collapse.

Vaz hung back a little bit. She had a determined look on her face, but I could see in her eyes something different. Something had changed, and I had a feeling it had to do with her dad. Stupid Stabby.

I tried to respond to Faith, the words coming in between pants. "I think…so. No good….other option…oh my gods please can we take a break?"

Faith put her hand on my shoulder and we slowed to a stop together. Vaz, who apparently wasn't paying attention, crashed into us from behind. With an 'oomf,' we all sprawled out on the ground, dog pile style. I was on the bottom of course, being squished.

"Sorry," the daughter of Hecate said emotionlessly, rising to her feet and helping Faith and I do the same. "I was thinking."

"You don't…" Faith paused. "You don't think he was really being honest about your dad, right? I mean, he could've been saying a whole bunch of things."

"It's not that simple," Vaz replied, still seeming emotionless. "I think he's telling the truth."

I was stunned by how cold she looked. Faith didn't seem to want to ask any more questions, but I had some of my own to direct at her. What had Stabby meant when he said that she knew the owner of the bow? Did she really? And if she did, why wouldn't she have told us, anyway?

My fists clenched. I couldn't let some scrawny guy with cinnamon breath mess up the whole quest with a few well placed words.

"We gotta get our head in the game, guys," I said as we all stood in a circle, facing each other. "If we don't focus, we're going to get ourselves killed. I don't know about you, but I wasn't planning on dying anytime soon. I have a lot more to do."

"He's right," Faith nodded. "Let's forget about Stabby for now and focus on why Apollo would leave us here, anyway. He said that we would find some answers."

Vaz shook her head as if to clear it from whatever thoughts she had been brooding on. "He was acting like the PoP camp wasn't far off. Maybe he dropped us right into the lion's den."

I shuddered. "Faith. You said you would know their patterns. Does a forest seem like a place where they would camp?"

"It's not the terrain that they care about," she shrugged. "They like to be near big cities though. Does anyone have any idea where we are?"

"Nope," Vaz shook her head. It struck me that we could be in another country for all we knew.

"So the plan is… wander around until we hopefully find a giant encampment of monsters who probably want to rip us to shreds?"

Both girls looked at me with identical twisted smiles. "Yep."

"Lovely."

And so we were back at it again, jogging at a semi quick pace through the leaves and brush. I knew we should be making a bunch of noise, but for some reason, even the dry twigs being trampled under our feet were quiet. Was this Hecate helping again?

The hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up suddenly. The girls seemed to feel the same unease, and we all quietly slowed to a stop once again. No one said a word.

I saw, out of the corner of my eye, Faith knock an arrow to her bow. Vaz drew her sword. Gulping, I took out my own knife, feeling small and helpless next to the two experienced girls beside me.

A bush moved to my left, and Faith let two arrows fly before I had time to blink.

"Now, now," a familiar voice sighed. It seemed to be coming from all around us. "Don't be like that."

"Luke, you really should've just let him fall," Vaz growled at me. We all recognized Stabby's velvet tone.

"Ah, but I'm here because he let me live." The scrawny boy vaporized five feet in front of me, hands in the air as a sign of surrender.

Faith didn't seem to care, and sent another arrow zipping his way. I swear I saw him roll his eyes before he vanished and reappeared, letting the point zip through where he once was.

"Let him talk," I found myself saying in a firm voice. To my surprise, both girls lowered their weapons.

The air seemed to sizzle with tension. I waited for Stabby to offer an explanation, knife still grasped firmly in my hand. For some reason, I felt secure.

"I am an asset to the PoP," Stabby started. He leaned against a tree while he talked, peering delicately at his fingernails. "They hired me to track you down."

"Track us down? I thought you wanted the bow," Vaz scowled.

"Well yes," he smiled, showing perfect white teeth. "They want the bow back, as well. But they also want Luke, here," he gestured to me airily. "I'm sure Chiron told you about the prophecy."

My expression must've said everything, because he laughed. "Ah, or perhaps he didn't. I assumed that such an important one would've been passed on, but I forgot that they have been trying to keep you out of the loop for years. You mean so much to your parents, that they doomed you trying to protect you."

"Stop speaking in riddles," Faith growled. I saw her eyes flicker… since when had they been green?

"They aren't riddles, silly," he continued to grin. "Have faith."

"Stop antagonizing us and tell us why you're here," I took a step forward towards him, not sure if it was a brave move or a stupid one. "Just get to the point."

"I'm here to help!" he spread his hands out in front of him. "When little Luke here saved my life, I realized that meant that I owe him. I hate being in debt, you see. So I'm going to do your little group a favor."

"As if we'll accept your help," Vaz scoffed. "You were going to stab Luke."

"Don't be so naive, I was merely using trade tactics. I wouldn't really stab him. Not when he has such an important role to play."

More riddles. I was getting more and more fed up with this guy as he talked. Despite appearing our age, he talked to us as if we were children. Then again, I was desperate to find Mom and Dad. But was I really desperate enough to take the help of someone this shady?

I made up my mind. "Guys, I think we should let him help."

"Are you crazy?" Faith said from behind me. "He's a snake."

"Guilty as charged," Stabby smirked.

"What other choice do we have? We have no other leads, and we don't know how much time we have. There is no prophecy to guide us. Stabby here is our only shot."

"Stabby?" Stabby shook his head. "You people have no sense of originality."

Vaz ignored him. "Luke, do you know what you're risking here? He could just be tricking us. He could lead us right into a trap."

"She's right. I don't think we should accept his help," Faith frowned. "If he could just leave us alone, that would be enough for me."

"He could tell us more about Mom and Dad," I protested. At this point, we were all ignoring Stabby. "Or he could tell us about the owner of the bow. Or the prophecy. Or where the PoP is."

"But he's a bad guy, Luke. Lesson one in demi-god training; don't trust the bad guys!"

"If you hadn't noticed, I'm not a demi-god," I scowled at Vaz. "I'm just a descendant. And I want answers."