I do not own anything.

CHAPTER VIII

New Friends, Old Enemies

I woke up with a splitting headache. My body felt like it was just crushed under a bulldozer, and my throat was dry. I had a vague memory of what happened, but not much. I think someone busted a move? No, no, Buster. Er, Apollo. Or is it Phoebus? Which one is him?

"Fauna, are you okay?" Danny asked. He was leaning over me, and so was Agathe, all snakes and stones again. I sit up, nearly bonking my head with Danny's.

"I'm fine, just worn out. Sorry about all of that, though." I said, rubbing my head.

"What are you sorry for? That was awesome! But we gotta get going, Brine-Stein. Already lost a lot of time. I nodded, making a failed attempt to stand up. I still felt pretty weak, and no one was in sight. Danny and Agathe both helped me up, and I used them for support. At the speed we were going at, we would probably make it to Olympia in about, a bazillion years.

"What's your quests prophecy?" Agathe asked me.

"Well, it starts with Seek out the goddess of great mirth/One's lost to find the truth of birth," I told her weakly.

"Okay, that makes sense to why we're heading west, because Komodia is there."

"Komo-what?"

"Komodia. Didn't Annabeth teach you about her? Haven't you ever heard of her before?" Agathe asked. Fauna blushed a bit.

"Well, yes, but I never really paid attention. Next line! The seeker driven into crazed/Thy true powers only grazed, Lost into the forbidden lands/ Returns to do his final stand . . ." Fauna looked over at Danny, who's seemed to have paled. "So, any heroes you've met, Agathe?" Fauna asked quickly, trying to change the subject.

"Oh, yeah! Plenty, although most have killed me, but there was this one guy named Adonis, and he was absolutely handsome! Although, I never got to see him that often. A third of the year he spent with Persephone, another third with Aphrodite, and usually the last third with Aphrodite. But one year, he spent the last third with me! He always got me into the best parties, and I even partied with Dionysus, but now he's a god, I think. Or is he dead?"

"I thought he died from the boar?" Danny said.

"Yes! Oh, it was gruesome. Artemis sent this boar to kill him because he was a better hunter than her." Thunder rumbled in the sky. "No offence intended, Lady Artemis! Anyways, there was also Nestor. Heracles killed his family. I didn't like him that much."

"I think he is immortal," I say. "I think he was Aphrodite's lover."

"How many lovers does that woman have?" Danny asks.

"Let's just stick with a lot."

I was just fine until it started to rain. This was all from Zeus, so I got wet. What joy. Danny and Agathe found a cave, and set me down in there, after making sure it was monster-free. Danny took out some food he packed and gave me some. Agathe took watch, and being a monster, wasn't able to eat human food.

"You guys go to sleep. I got everything." I nodded, and layed down, using my backpack for a pillow. I started to shiver, considering how cold I was getting. Although I shouldn't be shivering, when it's close to the middle of the summer. I shot up and started to cough violently.

Danny felt my forehead. "Your burning up. I think you have a fever." Danny made me lay down again, and wrapped me up in my sleeping bag. He trickled a bit of nectar in my mouth and I felt some of the fever go away. "Go to sleep. Don't worry, we'll make sure nothing hurts you."

"Promise?" I ask sleepily.

"Promise. Now go to sleep, Brine-Stein."

I felt myself drifting off into sleep, listening to the rain pound against the ground and cave, and Agathe and Danny quietly talking.

I saw Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. It was morning, and they were talking to a poodle. It sat on Grover's lap. The three of them seemed to be arguing about something, but I couldn't hear. Then it switched, to someone else's view. Phaedra was hiding behind a thick tree, watching their every move.

The dream blurred, and different picture came in. I was maybe two years older, but there was a kid, maybe ten, sticking to my side. I saw myself laugh and pry the kid off my side. He had dark hair and obsidian eyes, but an anxious look on his face. I felt tempted to comfort him and ask him what was wrong, but I couldn't. I felt stuck, just able to watch.

It switched again, but it was anything but happy. I was laying on a stone table that was covered in vines. I looked like I was sleeping. Dream me suddenly woke, but with eyes of gold, giving off a sinister feeling. She laughed, and that's when I screamed.

I woke up screaming, feeling a sword in my side. Whoever stabbed me took it out of my side, and got ready to strike again. I rolled out of the way of their sword, my body burning. I got up hastily, ignoring my pain. I tapped my ring, and it became a three-foot long sword, sometimes bronze, sometimes gold.

Our swords clashed, and I felt the adrenaline rush I always get when fighting. I jumped over their sword just as it missed where my feet where. I slashed at their chest and gave the stranger a good sized cut.

It was morning outside, but dark enough in the cave so I couldn't tell who it was. I kicked them square in the chest, and the person staggered back into the morning light. I was a boy, with golden hair and electric blue eyes.

"Dude, what's your problem?" I asked him. He seemed stunned that I wasn't a monster.

"You're not a monster?" he asked. I shook my head. I heard fighting elsewhere, but I couldn't focus on that right now. "Are you a demigod?"

"Well, duh. I'm guessing you're a demigod too," I said, smiling weakly. He glanced at the wound in my side and helped me sit down. I took out some ambrosia and nectar. "Lie down," I ordered the guy, and he did so. I probably shouldn't have helped this guy, but he was just a kid like me. I trickled it on the wound I gave him, and he poured some on my wound.

The fighting outside increased, and the boy's eyes widened. "Oh, gods, we need to stop the fighting outside," he helped me up and we went outside of the cave, and saw monster dust on the ground, and Danny fending off two people. "Bobby! Gwin! Stop!" he called. They did so, and looked at Jason, waiting for another order.

"Great, not who's this guy?" Danny asked.

"I'm Jason, Jason Grace. Son of Jupiter," The boy said.