When I woke up, it was morning and Connor was already eating breakfast. He didn't notice me at first, too busy with his food—golden food from camp. What did they call it? Ambrosia? Oh crap! I thought. Ambrosia!

Still dizzy from sleep, I tried to get up, but ended up just wobbling around. "Connor!"

He dropped the food of the gods, looking scared. "It was nothing! Please don't take your early morning madness out on me."

I rolled my eyes, "Be serious. What happened while I was asleep?"

"Stymphalian birds were a few miles out. Not too close to us, but close enough to worry. I wouldn't have bothered them—give them a reason to harm us, but then they got hungry…"

I sighed, brushing the hair out of my face. "You should have woken me. I could have helped."

He raised an eyebrow. "You? No offence, Anna, but you don't have a weapon or a special fighting skill. It wouldn't have made much difference. At least this way you would be out of the way and you could get some sleep."

I tried my hardest not to be offended. I mean, I knew I had some issues, but was I really nothing more than dead weight to him? Nico didn't say anything about it, but I got the hint that he thought so too… "Well," I scoffed, moving to the other side of the camp fire. "It just so happens that I am a natural using a spear and I have an amazing shield that no one else has used for millennia." I sounded a lot more confident than I meant to, but the shock on my best friend's face was priceless. His chocolaty brown eyes widened, mouth opened slightly, head crooked.

"Really?" He asked finally.

I opened up the backpack that I used to carry clothes, my pencil and my notebook (which I used very frequently) ambrosia, nectar, and my spear and sword. I took out the stick—yes, a stick was actually my mind-blowing, amazing, perfect spear— and the golden ring that, when I rubbed it, it turned into the huge shield.

Connor was left speechless, making me very happy. That would show him. I can be more than I appear. I know I can. After examining me for a few minutes, he said, "Okay, fine. Just be careful with that thing. We ate a small breakfast of energy bars and power aid and whatever else Connor managed to steal from the camp store, talking about our lives before camp.

"Our mom was special," he said. "There were times when she'd act like our brother, Luke's mother—senile and off her rocker—but there were also times when she was as warm and loving as Percy's mom. I can't describe what Percy's mom is like. You'd have to meet her to know, but let me tell you—no matter how weird her blue cookies look they taste amazing no matter what."

I smiled. It was strange to talk about something privet like this. Not even Miranda would talk to me about her home life. Connor was open and honest to me about everything. Either that, or he's an impressive liar, I noted. We continued to walk about talk all day long, running into a few monsters, but they didn't seem like such a big deal. So what a few no-name monsters attacked us? I impressed Connor by flinging my spear straight into their hearts. As much fun as it was to mock his stunned expression, I still had that uneasy I just killed something feeling that made me sick.

"Hey," Connor asked, voice low trying to take my hand. "You okay?"

I ignored my feelings and forced a smile. "Yeah… How much farther are we until we reach Maine?"

"Half a day by car, a day by foot."

Crap. I had to get there tonight… I thought, worried. As if on cue, my loving brother, Nico appeared from thin shadow in a dark ally. Furious, he demanded to know what we were doing.

"We are running out of time," Nico hissed. "So if it did put you out of your way, hurry up!"

The two boy ignored me, fighting things out again, like they did from day one. Looking into the stormy sky, I saw a rainbow. It was almost cruel to look at. I hated my mother and all the gods and how if I'd just left camp the first day, none of this would happen. Then I felt a warm sensation take over me.

Darling, a voice said in my head. My sweet, Anna, do not be angry simply because a problem seems difficult. It was my mother. I'm not sure how or why, but the voice was unmistakable.

What do I do, Mom?

If it were possible, I could have sworn she laughed. What do you mortals say… Follow the rainbow to find the pot of gold? As soon as she came, my mother left. But I made a mental note to give her a food offering when all this was over. Once again, I stepped in between my two best friends.

"Follow me," I said. "I know what to do."