Chapter 16

The walk back to the diner from the water park didn't take long. When the group arrived in the diner parking lot they found the God of War waiting for them, as he sat on his elephant like motorbike.

"I'm a little impressed," Ares said to the group. "I honestly didn't think you kids would make it out alive. Despite being a crippled fool my brother does make some half-decent machines from time to time."

"So you knew it was a trap?" Percy asked while Ares shrugged.

"Bet that crippled black smith was surprised when he netted a couple of stupid kids."

"You know you should treat him better. He is your brother after all. I thought family was supposed to look after each other not fight," Naruto said while Ares snorted.

"Sap. Where is the fun in being all fun and loving when you could just fight it out? Besides I have enough fun messing with ole Hephy when I'm lying on top of his wife," he said with a sick grin on his face that made all four of them feel disgusted at the man.

"How could someone like this be a god," was the thought running through their heads.

"You're a jerk," Naruto said as Percy shoved the shield into Ares arms. Naruto saw the man was obviously trying keep his temper under control since his eye sockets which were burning like wild fire was causing his sunglasses to melt a little.

However then Naruto frowned a little when he noticed the state Ares was in. His clothes looked a little torn as he had bruises and scratch marks over his face which was slowly healing.

"What the hell happened to you?" he asked as the others were beginning to notice the same thing.

"None of your damn business," Ares growled out before both Naruto and Percy had a smirk appear on their faces.

"Someone kicked your as didn't they?" Percy said getting a glare from Ares while Annabeth and Grover were panicking al little at how their two friends could have the guys to insult a god that's standing right in front of them.

"Watch what you say you little punks. Your mommies won't be able to fight for you all the time," he said causing realisation to hit Naruto and the others who then began to laugh

"My mom did that to you didn't she?" he said throwing his head back with laughter.

"I knew my mom was awesome but I never expected this," he said as Ares now had smoke and steam coming of his body. Percy too was laughing. While Annabeth and Grover were literally holding their breaths as if they were expecting a nuclear explosion to suddenly occur.

Ares gripped his shield as it changed from a shield and into a bullet proof vest. A dark look crossed face before it quickly disappeared. When he clicked his fingers an eighteen wheeler truck appeared across the street from the diner.

"That's your ride. Take you straight to L.A., with one stop in Vegas. You're lucky I'm even bothering to help you but if I didn't no doubt those damn sisters of mine would have something to say about it. But be warned insult me the way you did today, I will make my father zapping you with lightning look like nothing compared to what I will do to you," he said as thunder roared above his head but Ares ignored it.

"That's our ride?" Percy said looking at the truck which said KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL: HUMANE ZOO TRANSPORT. WARNING: LIVE WILD ANIMALS on the side of it. "You have got to be kidding."

"Consider yourself lucky I'm giving you this at all punk," Ares said. The back door of the truck unlatched. "Free ride west punk so stop your bitching and complaining. And here's a little something for doing the job."

Ares threw bag to them before he hopped back onto his motorbike. They all looked inside to see that Inside there were fresh clothes for all of us, twenty bucks in cash, a pouch full of golden drachmas, and a bag of Double Stuff Oreos.

"I don't want your lousy—"

"Thank you, Lord Ares," Grover interrupted Percy and gave him his best red-alert warning look. "Thanks a lot."

Ares looked like he was about to disappear before Percy spoke up again. "You promised me information about my mother."

"That's true I did," Ares said rubbing his chin before he smirked. "Since I'm in a giving mood I guess I can share a little info with you."

"You sure you can handle the news?" He said as he kick started his motorcycle. "She's not dead. She was just taken."

"What do you mean taken? Percy demanded. "Why would anyone want to take her in the first place? She has not done anything wrong."

"I mean she was taken away from the Minotaur before she could die. She was turned into a shower of gold, right? That's metamorphosis. Not death. She's being kept," Ares responded. Percy looked like he was going to ask more questions before his bike roared with life.

"See you later kiddies," he said as he revved his Harley and then roared off down Delancy Street causing whatever car were on the road to part as he raced past.

"I really hate him," Naruto said as he watched the God of War leave.

"The feeling is mutual," Percy said as his hands were balled into fists and shaking slightly.

"I swear you two are just asking for trouble," Annabeth said shaking her head.

"Well next time Ares better be nicer or he is going to find that shield we brought him shoved up where the sun doesn't shine," Naruto said as the others couldn't tell whether he was being serious or not and by the look on his face they did not want to know either.

"Well if we're taking the zoo express," Grover said, "we need to hurry." He pointed over to the diner and saw two truck drivers who they figured must have been the owners of the truck just finishing their meal and were beginning to stand up.

They ran up to the truck and began to climb in one by one. It was dark but they could just about to see with the light that was being created by the moon.

There was a single walkway going through the middle of the truck which led to some crates at the other side of the truck. Along the walkway were multiple metal cages. The scene in front of them was one of the saddest scenes Naruto and the others had even seen.

In the cages were a zebra, an albino male lion and an antelope. The antelope had a balloon tied around one of its horns and its legs looked so skinny they were not sure if it could stand at all.

The zebra meanwhile was matted with chewing gum all across its fur that had stuck in and its fur looked like it losing its colour.

While the lion was skinny. So much so that its ribs was visible. Its cage was small it barely had room to move and its blanket beneath it was both in tatters and soiled on.

Littered in front of the animals were various bits of food that were in the completely wrong cages. The meat had been thrown in the Zebra and Antelope cage while the turnips and vegetables had been thrown in the Lion cage. It was if they were trying to make the animals suffer so much that they would even taunt them with their own food.

"W-WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" Naruto shouted angrily as fists were clenched so much that it was causing his hands to bleed.

Grover was in the same about as Naruto. "This is kindness?" Grover yelled. "Humane zoo transport?"

The truck began to move with the return of the drivers and it forced Grover, Annabeth and Percy to fall onto the ground while Naruto managed to hold onto the side.

Everyone slowly moved to the back of the truck and sat with their backs to the crates while Naruto and Grover were looking over the animals that all had sad looks on their faces.

"Water" was all the Antelope was saying as its head rested on the ground. Grover who was closest to the antelope opened its cage and grabbed a giant plastic jug of water that was stored at the back of the truck and poured some of the water into its bowl. The antelope quickly drank the water and Naruto and Grover could both hear the Antelope saying thank you to Grover. Naruto also removed the ridiculous balloon on its horn and threw it aside.

Next was the Zebra that was crying out "food," and "someone get these things of me." No doubt it was referring to the bits of chewing gum that littered its back. However it was Percy that got up and entered the cage this time and was beginning to remove what peace he could while Grover and Annabeth slowly picked up the bits of meet.

Naruto meanwhile was standing in front of the albino Lion and just looked at the beautiful animal in its hazel colored eyes. The lions eyes were old as if filled with wisdom but it held so much pain and loneliness that Naruto knew all too well. Lions were family animals meaning they stayed in large groups. They simply weren't meant to be left all o their own like this.

"Family" Naruto could hear the lion saying as Naruto slowly opened the cage.

"NARUTO WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Annabeth whispered furiously.

"He won't hurt me," Naruto said as he crouched down in front of the lion and began picking up the bits of turnips. "Give those to the Antelope and the Zebra. They should be able to it since it still looks somewhat fresh."

Annabeth did so while Naruto took the hamburger meat and placed it in front of the lion. The lion looked at the meat before slowly it began to eat the meat. Naruto could only guess how long it had been since it had a somewhat decent meal.

He looked over to see the Zebra and Antelope also eating the vegetables as Naruto could hear both animals giving their thanks.

"Thank you" a deep voice said catching Naruto a little of guard. He turned around to see the lion staring at him with it giant hazel eyes. "It has been a while since I could have meat. Any longer and I probably would not have survived much longer" the lion said as it continued to at the meat in front of it.

"You're welcome," Naruto said getting a small nod from the lion.

"You can tell your friends I won't harm them since they have helped me and the others."

Naruto was about to but Grover had obviously heard them talking and relayed the message to them and he could see Percy and Annabeth untense their body.

"You should help them too, they need it the most," the lion said as it turned its head and looked over towards the crates. Naruto frowned a little and walked over towards where the Lion had motioned. The others did the same as they saw Naruto walking in that direction with Grover following behind him.

When he got to the crates Naruto let his eyes widen slightly when he could hear whimpering coming from behind one of the crates.

Grabbing it he moved it out of the way and put it to the side. What he found left him a little surprised.

Behind the crate was another cage however this one was tiny being even slightly smaller than the crates. When Naruto looked in he saw two small pairs of amber eyes looking back at him in fear. When the light from the moon slowly drifted over to them he saw that in the cage was none other than two tiny wolf pups that could not have been more than a few months old.

One of the wolves was pitch black and melted so well into the darkness that you would not have seen the pup if it was not for the amber eyes. The cub itself was small and Naruto figured he could have probably picked it up with just one hand.

His gaze turned to the other wolf pup and he had to admire how beautiful the cub was. The cub was as white as snow and looked to be only slightly smaller than the black pup. When the moonlight hit the pup her fur was like a cross between white and silver that it sparkled a little.

"No way," Grover said looking at the two wolf pups with wide eyes.

"What? What is it?" Naruto asked curious at what Grover was getting at.

Naruto looked at him as if Christmas came early. "Naruto these aren't just regular wolves," he said confusing Naruto and the others. "These are dire wolves."

"Dire wolves?" Naruto asked.

"They are a breed of wolves that are so rare they are hardly ever seen. Hell most people go their whole lives with never even seeing one because they are so rare. Not even the hunters use Dire Wolves because there are so few left in the world."

"Why so few and what's the difference between them and regular wolves?" he asked to which Grover answered.

"I'm not sure. It all started when Pan disappeared. The wild places were his domain and many of the first places that got destroyed were habitats of Dire Wolves. Slowly they died off but there were some left the wild. But to see two like this is just incredible. But what are they doing here and how did the mortals see them?"

"You said some of the mortal can see through the mist. Maybe these truck drivers are the same. Since the pups are only small maybe they just figured they were regular wolf pups."

"Maybe," Grover said. "But the difference is the size that they grow to. While normal wolves grow to about hip level on a person, Dire wolves grow to the size of a horse," he said causing Naruto's and everyone else's eyes to go wide. "They may be small now but in the future they will be enormous. Easily the size of full grown person."

"Wow," Naruto said as his attention went back to the wolf pups that were still scared. He lowered himself to their level and slowly opened the cage which used the two pups to back up slightly.

Grover did the same as Percy and Annabeth watched. Just as Naruto opened the cage door fully he could hear their tiny voices. Hearing them could make out the black furred pup was a boy and the soft little voice from the white furred pup was a girl.

However it was the words that came from them that caused them both to freeze and look at the pups sadly.

"Where are we? I want to go home."

"Mommy, where are you? Where did you go?"

The last comment which came from the white furred wolf caused a single tear to fall from both Naruto and Grover's eyes. She sounded so heartbroken, so lost that it was breaking both their hearts. Since they were here they could only guess that the mother was killed since wolves were very loyal animals to each other and stayed in packs. Being as young as they were no doubt the mother would have had to of been close. Since she wasn't that was their best guess.

"What's wrong?" both Percy and Annabeth asked worriedly as they saw the tears that went down their friends faces. It was Naruto who answered.

"They're scared. Their crying out for their mom," he said as Percy and Annabeth got a sad look in their face.

While Grover sniffled a little it was the crying out for the mom from the white furred wolf that really hit home for Naruto.

It hit home because he had been in that similar position so many times when he little.

"Mommy, Daddy where are you? Why did you leave?"

"What did I do wrong? Old man where are they?"

"Do they love me? Did they love me?"

He could remember all the times he spent curled up on his bed in his tiny apartment back in the leaf crying out for his parents, never knowing who they were or where they were.

And it was because of this, that he was so happy to finally have his mom in his life.

"It's okay little ones. I won't hurt you. I promise," he said looking at the wolf cubs that were looking at him warily.

He could see they were both nervous and he couldn't blame them if the drivers had been treating all the animals so badly.

"You don't have to be afraid," he whispered. When he did the black furred pup very slowly moved towards him.

"P-Promise?" the pup asked to which Naruto nodded his head.

"Promise."

When he said promise the black furred pup went to his outstretched hand. Naruto slowly picked the black furred pup up and wrapped a blanket around the pup which began to snuggle into the blanket happy at the new source of warmth.

It was then that the white furred pup slowly moved towards Naruto. Doing the same as before Naruto gently picked her up and put her in the same blanket with the other pup.

When he did he moved over next to one of the crates leaned his back against one of the crates and outstretched his leg. He gently placed the two pups on his lap wrapped in the blankets.

"Warm. He is nice and warm," he could hear the white furred pup say as the pup drifted off to sleep as did the other pup.

Naruto could hear the light snores coming from the two as he gently stroked their fur, further comforting them.

"You seem to be quite taken with them," Annabeth said as she sat down beside Percy as she watched Naruto gently stroke the two wolf pups and tried to suppress a girly squeal at how cute it was watching them curl up in his lap.

He didn't answer straight away and he kept his gaze on the two pups. "I know what it's to call out for a parent that I didn't know would ever show up. Their eyes were full of fear. So much so that I recognized it because I had those eye so many times when I was little. It's difficult to bare with when you call out for a mother that you don't know if they are even alive or if they even know and care about you."

The group stayed quiet. Grover was whispering with the other animals while Naruto kept and arm around the wolf pups. He could feel himself drifting off to sleep.

"Jinchurikii," he heard Percy say that made his head turn around and look at Percy and Annabeth who were both looking at him. "What's a jinchuriki Ares mentioned it when we were back in the diner and it's been on my mind of what it was. It doesn't sound very Greek."

"It wouldn't sound Greek. It is a term that comes from my world. I'm not surprised Ares knew it but I didn't expect Echidna to know it since monster apparently can't go to the Elemental Nations."

"And you told me the same thing yesterday back on the arch. And like you just said Echidna also said it? What does it mean?"

Naruto sighed. "It was now or never," he thought as continued to slowly stroke the pup's fur.

"Jinchuriki is a word that means 'Human Sacrifice,'" he said surprising Percy and Annabeth. "What I'm about to tell you will probably shock both of you but I don't want either of you to interrupt while I'm explain it," he said getting nods from Annabeth and Naruto.

Grover to was listening but despite already knowing he felt it best to listen over to see what Percy and Annabeth's reactions would be.

"In my world there are nine creatures known as The Tailed Beasts. They are nine creature completely made up of chakra that has managed to form a conscious and take a physical form. They are incredibly powerful, so much so they could likely destroy entire villages single handily."

"The nine beasts are the One Tailed Shukaku, Two Tailed Hell Cat, Three Tailed Tortoise, Four Tailed Monkey, Five Tailed Dolphin Horse, Six Tailed Slug, Seven Tailed Beatle, Eight Tailed Giant Ox and finally the strongest of the nine, the Nine Tailed Fox."

"Over time the shinobi from my world found a way to use a shinobi art known as Sealing to seal these nine creatures into people," he said getting shocked looks and gasps from Percy and Annabeth but neither spoke and urged Naruto to continue.

Here came the part he was dreading.

"From what I understand, the night my mother gave birth to me the leaf village was attacked by the Nine Tailed Fox. My father, the Hokage of the village had a duty to protect the village and fought against it but as strong as he was, even he could not beat it."

"So he must have figured that the only way to beat the fox was to seal it into something or in that case into someone. And at that moment in time there was only was person he could seal it in to," he said as Percy and Annabeth eyes widened in realization.

"Since I had just been born I was the best candidate since a newborn babies chakra coils are developing it could grow accustomed to the power of the fox. So shortly after I was born, my father sealed the fox into me, making me the jinchuriki of the Nine Tailed Fox."

"Then my dad died sealing the fox and my mom had to go because of the laws."

Grover looked down at the ground sadly while Percy and Annabeth both had a emotionless look on their face with both of them taking in the explanation on the fact that Naruto had some all powerful chakra monster sealed inside him.

"So Ares knew about it and that why he was taunting you about it back at the diner along with Echidna back at the arch. They knew you had the fox sealed in you and were using it to get you angry. And on the Arch when your eyes went red and you suddenly became all powerful. That was you using its power," she said getting confused looks from Percy and Grover who had not heard this part.

Naruto nodded. "With the seal in place my dad put on, I can draw on the power of the fox when I want even thought the fox doesn't like it. It also gives me my rapid healing which pretty much heals me from just about anything. Things like anger, frustration and pain draw out the fox's power."

"That's what happened back on the Archway," he said looking at Annabeth. "Echidna pushed me and pushed me to the point where I unconsciously began drawing on its power which gave me a hell of a lot of strength but also made my eyes go red and my appearance go a bit wilder."

"C-Can you talk to the fox?" Annabeth asked getting more and more curious.

Naruto shook his head. £I have spoken to the fox only a few times but ever since I arrived in this world he has been silent. I haven't heard a single word from him."

"So it's asleep then?" Percy asked to which Naruto shrugged a little.

"Your guess is as good as mine," he said before looking at the two with raised eyebrows. "So it doesn't bother you? The fact that I have an all powerful demon fox sealed in my gut," he said and was surprised to see them both shake their heads.

"Not really. I mean it is a bit of a shock knowing your friends as something like that in him but you're still Naruto. So no nothing changed. You're still our friend and that is that," Percy said with Annabeth nodding.

"Thank you," Naruto said as his gaze went back to the wolf pups. Percy and Annabeth smiled before there gaze went to Grover

"Did you know?" they asked to which Grover nodded.

"I was there where he informed Chiron and Mr D about it. Sorry I did not say anything buts it's not my secret to tell," he said getting nods of understanding from the two.

The two turned back to Naruto to ask more question but stopped when they saw Naruto had fallen asleep with the wolf pups held tightly against him.

Smiling and thinking that it was a pretty good idea; they all began to shut their eyes and quickly fell asleep.

Next Morning

Naruto winced as his head hit one of the crates as the truck drove over some bumpy terrain that woke him up from his sleep. He could ear groans and guessed the other had also been woken up from the bump.

He had kept his eye closed in an attempt to go back to sleep but suddenly felt small paws push up against his chest and something tickling his chin.

Trying not to laugh he opened his eye and gazed down to see the two wolf pups licking his face both with a happy look on their face, the opposite of what they had during the night.

"Well you two seem happier this morning," he said as he the two wolf pups continued to lick his face and snuggle up against him.

"Warm. Nice and toasty," he could hear the female pup say and the male one nod along.

"My names Naruto, It's nice to meet you both. I hope you both slept okay," he said.

"I'm Tiber," the little black haired wolf said as he sniffed the air around him.

"I'm Luna," the little white haired wolf said as she looked at Naruto with hopeful eyes.

"That's a very pretty name Luna," he said getting a lick of appreciation from Luna and stroked Tiber's head.

"Do you know where momma is?"

Naruto felt his heart clench and shake his head. "I don't. I am sorry but I don't know where she is." The little wolf whimpered slightly but Naruto held her close. "Don't worry. You and Tiber don't have to be scared. You can stay at the camp where I stay at if you like. You can be safe there."

"Really?" both Luna and Tiber asked getting a nod from Naruto and both licked is face happily getting a chuckle from Naruto.

Naruto closed his eyes and sent a prayer to his mom.

"Mom if you can hear me, please can you teleport or transport these wolf pups to Camp Half Blood. I think they lost their mother and as much as I want to keep them with me, I can't risk it since I'm on a quest. Send them to Chiron."

Naruto sat there and looked at the wolf pups waiting for something to happen until they began to shine in a bright silver light.

"I'll see you both soon," Naruto said to the wolf pups.

"Bye Naruto," they both said before they disappeared.

Naruto smiled and prayer to his mom again. "Thank you mom. Next offering I can send you, expect a big whiff of Ramen again. Oh and thanks for kicking Ares's ass. The guys a jerk."

Naruto turned to see the others looking sat him oddly before he quickly explained it to them.

With Artemis

Currently sitting in the her tent at the campsite somewhere in the Colorado wildness, Artemis at on her bed as she ran a brush through her hair trying to get rid of her bad case of bed hair.

Her hand were a little sore after giving Ares a good ass kicking along with Athena for putting their children in harms away all for some stupid shield. He was lucky all they did was beat him to a pulp other wide she would have made sure Ares could not walk for at least a week.

"Are you safe Naruto?" she thought to herself as she had heard of his latest exploits. Stunning the Nemean Lion, helping to defeat the Chimera and defeated Echidna. Although she was immensely proud of him defeating the mother of monster, her godly blood went cold when she found it he had unconsciously tapped into the Kyuubi's chakra. Even thought it was only a small part, just the thought of her son having to use its power sent shivers down her spine.

She hated that damn fox more than anything in the world and still hated that it had to be Naruto it was sealed inside off. She would have liked nothing more than to remove it from her baby boy but she knew the effects it could have on Naruto could be disastrous.

"Mom," she suddenly heard in her head and eyes widened when she realized Naruto was praying to her.

"If you can hear me, please can you teleport or transport these wolf pups to Camp Half Blood. I think they lost their mother and as much as I want to keep them with me, I can't risk it since I'm on a quest. Please send them to Chiron."

Artemis couldn't help but smile. She guessed he had discovered that he could talk to animals. She was beginning to wonder when that ability was going to kick in.

She closed her eyes and focuses in on Naruto and saw his image and where he was using her godly powers. She also beamed when she saw two little wolfpups, one black and one white was licking Naruto and both seemed to be enjoying his company. No doubt they had felt connected to Naruto already.

She clicked her fingers and teleported them both to Camp Half Blood, happy that Naruto would have tow wolf companions with him when he got back to camp.

As she began brushing her hair again it was not long before he got a reply back from him.

"Thank you mom. Next offering I can send you, expect a big whiff of ramen again."

Artemis felt her stomach rumble a little at the mention of ramen. Although she wouldn't admit it, ramen was a guilty pleasure food for her and she had such a craving for it during her pregnancy it became a big favourite of her. No doubt it passed onto her son.

"Oh and thanks for kicking Ares ass. The guys a jerk."

She laughed. "You are welcome my boy. You are welcome."

Camp Half Blood

Chiron wheeled into his office after having to break up another small fight, this time between the Apollo cabin and the Ares cabin. Thing were really getting worse and could only pray that Percy and the others retrieved the bolt in time.

As he wheeled n he stopped when he noticed two little wolf pups sitting on his desk and also noticed they were sitting on the paper word he had just finished.

"Urm hello," he said to the wolves as the wolf pups titled their head to the side in confusion.

Luckily Chiron had not noticed the nice little smelly gifts the wolves had left him on his desk as he wheeled over to them.

With Team Demi God

The group stood up in the truck as they began to feel the truck come to an abrupt halt and could now hear the drivers muttering to each other as they heard doors slam.

"The trucks stopped," Grover said. "They must be coming to check on the animals."

"Hide!" Annabeth hissed as she quickly threw on her cap and turned invisible. "Grover, Naruto and Percy had to hide behind the crates since there was not much else to hide behind."

"Man!" one of the truckers said as they opened the truck doors and stepped inside. "I wish I hauled appliances." He climbed inside and poured some water from a jug into the animals' dishes.

"You hot, big boy?" he asked the lion, and then splashed the rest of the bucket right in the lion's face.

"I swear I will eat you," Naruto heard the lion say and to stifle a laugh.

"How you doing', Stripes? Least we'll be getting rid of you this stop. You like magic shows? You're gonna love this one. They're gonna saw you in half!"

"This is disgusting," Naruto thought to himself as he watched how the truckers treated the animals. Not wanting to watch anymore he stood up from his position getting the attention of the two truckers.

Both looked beyond pissed but before any words could be said Naruto knocked one of them out with a clean chop to the neck and Annabeth appeared behind the other and knocked him out with the blunt side of her knife.

"I sweat this transportation cannot be legal," she said taking of her cap and becoming visible. Percy and Grover got up from their spots

"It's not. Their smugglers," the antelope said as Naruto and Grover nodded.

Naruto dragged the two smugglers to the side as the others began to unlock the cages of the animals. Naruto tied the two up and as the Lion exited his cage he had a hungry look on his face.

"As much as I want to let you, it's best you don't," Naruto thought while the Lion look liked it shrugged.

"I don't eat junk food anyways" the lion said causing both Naruto and Grover to snort with laughter.

"I'm going to place a sanctuary sanctum on them so they can go straight to safety. We don't want them getting recaptured or getting in any more harm's way. "They'll find water, food, shade, whatever they need until they find a safe place to live," Grover said.

"Good thinking," Naruto said as he walked up to the lion and patted its head. The lion didn't seem to mind since it already knew that Naruto was a friend and being the son of Artemis, the lion naturally felt at ease around him.

Once that was done they pushed the truck doors wide open. As soon as they did the lion, the antelope and the zebra all burst out of the truck and ran off down the streets of Las Vegas.

"Well if a Lion running down the street of Vegas does not make the new then who know what will," Naruto said making the others chuckle. They could hear scream and shouts of terror from the people just walking by. They doubted meeting a lion was on the to do list that day.

They stepped out of the truck and put their hands in front of them to stop the sun from blinding them from how bright it was. It was warm as well. So much so that they all took their jackets off.

"We may need to find a new way of getting to LA since we have knocked out our drivers," Percy said.

"True. We have six days left until the solstice right?" Naruto asked.

"That's right," Annabeth said. "We are making good time."

"So where in Vegas have we even ended up exactly?" Percy asked getting shrugs from the others.

"Not like I have ever been here Percy," Naruto said getting a sheepish smile from the boy.

"We may as well take a look around why we our here," Annabeth said as the group began to walk around Vegas leaving the truck behind which was beginning to draw attention by the people passing by.

They passed the Monte Carlo and the MGM. They passed the miniature pyramids, a pirate ship, and the miniature version of the Statue of Liberty. Each time they went passed a casino they had to drag Annabeth away as she was admiring and gossiping about its architecture.

Naruto also wanted to head inside and maybe do bit of gambling since he did have the most amazing luck known to man but the idea was quickly shot down by Annabeth who simply told him he was not old enough.

He could have just told he would use his transformation technique but he thought best not to argue.

As time went by the group eventually found themselves lost and found themselves at the far end of Vegas.

"Great, where have we ended up?" Percy asked.

"You guess is as good as mine," Naruto said as leaned against a nearby wall.

"We could go over there and asked for direction. Maybe a cab too since we need to find some way to get to LA," Annabeth said as she pointed to a building behind them.

The boy all looked in the direction she was pointing in and the first thing they saw was the giant flashing letters on entrance of the building with what looked like giant flashing lotus above it.

They looked at the name and all said it aloud.

"Welcome to the Lotus Hotel and Casino."

Chapter 16 Completed

Beta'd by BladeMaster12

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