"Ow, my head…" groaned Percy, sitting up shakily. He clutched at his skull, which had a sloppy bandage plastered on like someone who was either drunk or didn't care if their patient lived or died. With his fingers he probed the wound, making clotted blood ooze out like between his fingers. Already, Percy felt his vision tunneling, the columns on the opposite side of the room becoming smaller, but he commanded himself to get a grip. Is his blanked out now and Thalia saw him, what would she- THALIA!

With a panicked jolt, Percy pushed himself forward, just now realizing that he had no idea where he was. He almost threw up from the sudden movement, but after a few minutes of slow breathing, he was able to get his bearings. He was in open room that had three pillars overlooking a vast valley with a river running through the middle. Off to the right side was a little village of sorts, with a type of architecture that he couldn't recognize at first glance, but was sure it looked familiar. Annabeth could rattle off what it was, along with 1,000 useless facts, just like she always does Percy thought snidely. Draped artfully between the columns were huge white sheets that twisted to blend into the curve of the columns.

Percy looked down to find that he was sitting on a thin white pad that looked about 10 years too old, with the corners tattered and worn. Under that was polished marble, with circled out tiny words that he had to squint to read-SQPR; whatever that meant. On the back wall were just some wood boards that seemed flimsy enough to break if someone so much as touched them. Staggering to his feet, Percy went over to inspect the wood boards, which could serve as a possible weapon. He might have put on a façade of above-all-you-peasants at camp, but he secretly paid attention when he wasn't fantasizing about Thalia. He was just reaching toward the beams when a voice echoed behind him.

"I wouldn't, if I were you."

Percy spun around, facing his intruder. Well, their shadow, which was leaning against the left pillar with an annoying amount of ease.

"Show yourself, coward! I've fought monsters that you couldn't even dream about… and WON!" Percy shouted with what he hoped was bravo.

The figure stepped forward, and Percy could just make out their features in the dim light. No, not their features… her features.

The girl looked about his age, with ink black hair and piercing eyes, which looked half amused and half defiant. She wore a purple toga, draped around her defined frame, and had a tattoo that Percy couldn't quite make out on her forearm. Percy felt his mouth go dry.

"I had hoped a boy who fell from the sky would be more original with his nicknames. Maybe all that time in the ocean clogged your head full of seaweed." She said, observing him coolly.

"Um, ocean? What ocean? I don't go to the ocean. And even if I did, how would you know? Do you have some creepy 6th sense that can judge the levels of salt water leaking out of ones pores?" Percy stammered quickly. He had learned in his time as a demigod that it is better to deny everything and ask & answer questions later. Besides, this girl was beyond hot (that totally confidence thing was a real hooker) and exactly Percy's type, which made her even more dangerous. Blacked haired girls (and just girls with black hair) had a way of creeping up on him and getting him to want them uncontrollably. He hoped it was just a phase, because there was a smoking hot red-head from Cabin 4 that had been giving him the look for a while now.

"Don't play stupid. It doesn't suit you," she sniffed, and then brought two fingers to her lips, letting out a shrill whistle. Immediately, two metal dogs-one gold and the other silver- appeared at her side, seemingly out of midair. "As for an answer, my pets did. You stink."

Percy felt his ears start to turn red, and tried to shrug it off. "Well, I haven't had the most urgent of care. A shower might be nice." Percy suddenly became conveniently aware of his headache. "Maybe a little help in that area, if your not too busy."

The girl raised an eyebrow "So you're that type ofguy; one who hopes to scrape by, mediocre at best, picking up all the chicks on the way."

"Except you missed something there," Percy said with a wink. "I'm not 'mediocre'. I'm top of the line, limited edition. I'm Christmas and your birthday all rolled into one. Seaweed is the new fashion statement in this club, Raven."

"My name is Reyna, and I would ask you to show some respect for a praetor," she said, eyes flashing dangerously. "That is, if your hope to make it anywhere in New Rome."

Percy just stared at her blankly, "What's New Rome?"

Surprised, she uncrossed her arms, and looked at him, like really looked at him. She took in his full appearance, from the wind tumbled black hair to the faded blue jeans that has dirt stains at the heels. Her eyes narrowed at the orange camp shirt.

"That's not Roman. Who are you, precisely?"

Percy hesitated, thinking back into his past. Now that he looked at it, he could only remember 4 things- Thalia, that bombshell red-head, Annoying Annabeth, and his rough demigod meaning of life.

"I'm… I'm not really sure."