Sorry the update was so long. But at least school's over now :D

Calling Tempest was easy. Telling him what to do and where to go was easy. Riding him was hard. It was all Reyna could do to stay on his back as he tore through the land at a pace she couldn't even calculate, trees and shrubs, rivers and lakes, all mixing together in a blur of green and blue and yellow. And the entire time, Reyna was clinging to Jason in a way she wished she didn't have to. Her heart broke when he left, even more so the second time, since it was completely by his own choice. And she could tell he wasn't even dedicated to this quest now. He just wanted to complete it so he could return to Piper and ensure her safety. It hurt Reyna so much, but she would never admit it, not in a thousand years when the constellations have changed in the sky and the earth exists no longer…

"Wait!" Reyna called. Jason yanked on Tempest's reins and he halted, stopping with a jerk. "Something doesn't feel right." She dismounted, looking around. The rain had stopped.

"Listen," Jason hissed, suddenly grabbing Reyna's hand. Reyna nearly jumped. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she listened intently.

Stop flipping out whenever he looks at you, Reyna chastised herself. He's just a boy.

Their surroundings were silent.

"What did you hear?"

"Well," Jason said awkwardly, "I thought there was a whirring sound. But it's gone now." He smiled rather sheepishly. "Should we get back on Tempest?" Reyna nodded. They mounted Tempest and kept riding. But something still didn't feel right.

Tempest suddenly bucked Jason and Reyna off. Reyna hit the ground hard, landing on her back and knocking the wind out of her. She heard Tempest neighing. Gulping for air, she looked up and saw him rise up on hind legs.

"Something's wrong," Jason gasped, trying to recover from the fall. Reyna clambered up, surveying the surroundings. Everything was shrouded in mist, and the clouds hung low in the sky. In one small corner of the sky she saw a flying figure, a bird, swooping closer and closer.

"Prepare for attack!" She called out, using Roman legion ways even though she was alone with Jason. They drew their swords out and stood in a ready stance for battle. Memories flashed through Reyna of the countless times they'd done this before. On their first quest, where, for the very first time, they had stood by each other and defended the other, not fought against. On quests after that, multiple times, every time. He had made her stronger, and she had done the same for him. And when they were fighting Krios. If they hadn't been fighting as one then, the entire legion would have been defeated. Reyna felt a slight rush of heat to her cheeks as she remembered what had almost happened after Krios had been defeated, and also the legionnaires thinking it really had happened. The teasing never ceased. In fact, it hadn't stopped until Jason left. After that, everyone was aware not to tease Reyna about it. Not when Jason wasn't there with her. A wave of bitterness filled her, bitterness and sadness at how kind and how…close Jason had once been.

Metallic birds flew down, their beaks clashing with Reyna's sword. Whirling around, she slashed and stabbed, but to no avail. More and more kept coming, and soon she'd be overwhelmed. Rain ran into her eyes and mixed with the blood from cuts on her arms as she tried in vain to fight off the birds, not even able to see exactly where her sword was swinging. Reyna felt a sharp pain and watched in horror as blood gushed down a deep gash on her sword arm. She bit her lip to fight back a scream, feeling dizzy, and faint. Daughter of Bellona, she reminded herself. A queen. Staggering up, Reyna fought again, wondering if she was to make it out alive. And then Jason was there, fighting them off with her, like they had done so many times before. They fought as one, their movements paralleling the other, flashing swords rising up and down together.

"Get that one," he gasped, unable to catch his breath. He jerked his head toward the direction of the biggest bird, certainly the leader of the flock. While Jason continued to fight off the others, Reyna launched herself at the leader. In an equally matched one-on-one duel, they fought at an untrackable pace. The metal bird had the obvious advantage. The rain had no effect on them, while it blinded Reyna's vision and fell in such a way that droplets always landed in her eyes. It attacked again and again, Reyna only able to defend and nothing more. Jabbing pains tore through her arm every time she swung her sword. Use your wits. Reyna told herself, gritting her teeth against the pain. Assess its weakness, avoid its strengths. It's not that smart. Trick it. Reyna recalled all the times she had fought with Jason, and how she had won each time. All it took was a simple trick, and Jason was defeated. Now was the time to use her training. Defending for a while, Reyna contemplated how she would win this fight. It finally ended when Reyna, with a clever move she'd once used against Jason, that caused the opponent to think they'd won, got the upper hand at last and stabbed the metal bird with her imperial gold sword. It dropped to the ground with a thud and a clang. Turning around, Reyna saw Jason fending off the rest of the Stymphalian Birds. But upon seeing their leader fall, all the others left too, in a flurry of screeching and the sound of metal against metal.

Reyna gasped in pain, dropping her sword. Her arm was throbbing, and the rainwater running into the deep cut wasn't helping. Collapsing onto the ground, she ripped a piece of cloth from her sleeve, wincing from the pain, and began tying it onto her sliced arm.

"I have ambrosia," Jason offered, sitting down beside her. Digging through his pack, he pulled out a small square. "Here. Take this."

"Will we have enough?"

"We can manage," Jason said. "I'll wrap your arm for you."

Reyna hadn't had ambrosia since the day Circe's Island blew up, and it had tasted like the coconut drink her father had always made for her and Hylla when they were sick. But now it tasted different. It tasted like hot chocolate, warm hot chocolate with marshmallows, drank on a bitter cold winter night. The hot chocolate she had with Jason last Christmas. Swallowing her thoughts along with the ambrosia, Reyna clenched her teeth, trying not to cry out as Jason poured disinfectant on the cut.

"Stymphalian birds," he muttered, wrapping Reyna's arm. "The Argo II was attacked by them once, when we were trying to find the Mark of Athena."

"They're Ares's servants," Reyna said absentmindedly, trying not to think about what Jason had probably done for Piper when the Stymphalian birds attacked the Argo II. "Flesh-eating birds of metal. They were one of Hercules's Twelve Labors." Jason grimaced, nodding.

"Does that feel better?" he asked, finishing up. Reyna nodded.

"Thanks."

Jason's fingers gently brushed Reyna's arm as he completed tying the knot. Reyna felt cold shivers run down her back, leaving a warm, tingling feeling. Calm down, she told herself. Jason would not be her greatest weakness on this quest.

"Well," said Jason with a crooked smile, "you'll want to look good to meet your mother, won't you?"

Reyna whipped around, startled. Her mother? Sure enough, Bellona was walking toward them. Scrambling up, Reyna bowed her head slightly.

"Mom. Why are you here?" A faint golden glow emanated from Bellona. She wore a royal purple gown, with gold armor. In one hand, she carried a torch, in the other, a sword.

"Typhon is rising from Tartarus." Bellona pointed at the clouds with her sword. They were an ominous gray, and the constant rain had stopped for a second. Everything was eerily calm, with nothing but a chilling breeze in the air. "His storm will come soon, and when it truly hits, no one will be able the avoid its fury. Mortals and demigods will die. The mortal humans may just call it a severe hurricane, a storm…possibly the end of the world. But we know better. You two must succeed, Reyna." Reyna nodded.

"We will," she replied, her voice resolute. Her mouth was a thin line, holding in so much more than she was saying.

Bellona looked at Reyna. "So beautiful. So strong. My daughter, you were born to succeed, born to rule, to be a queen. You and Hylla both, each in your different fashion. Hylla shone, dark-haired and fair, like any queen you'd expect. She fights well, rules well, and yet shimmers. You, my daughter, are different. Your sister's beauty radiates off her, while yours is hidden–but not lessened. In a way, Reyna, you are more beautiful than your sister. Except most, if not all, fail to see it. You do not shimmer, for you are solid. You know what you are meant to do. You know how to succeed in all that you do. And you would succeed on this quest too," Bellona paused for a moment, looking Reyna directly in the eyes. There was a burning fire in the dark irises, an intensity kindled. "but for the son of Jupiter standing by your side."

"What do you mean?" Reyna asked. Her voice came out as a whisper. She could feel her heart thudding inside her chest, the nervousness rising into her throat, and yet she didn't show it. She felt Jason's presence beside her, felt him tense. Reyna clenched her fists.

"What do you mean?" she asked again, her voice shaking.

Bellona only smiled, vanishing in a wisp of smoke.

I won't be here for a while since I'm leaving for winter break- but I'm bringing my laptop so I'll be writing more than usual, it's just the internet connection I'm worried about.

Reviews, CC, flames welcome.

~Hazel