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Chapter 6: Bessie

"Percy I don't want a pet hippocampi anymore, they make you solve their problems," said Nico.

"Blackjack took me over the water and told me where to go. I jumped off Blackjack and plunged into the icy sea and down to the bottom," said Percy. "The hippocampi were swimming in circles around an overturned fishing boat."

"The sea creature was underneath the overturned boat," said Apollo.

"Yes and it was tangled in its net," said Percy.

"I HATE those NETS, Mortals over fishing waters, trapping dolphins and porpoises and then being too lazy to untangle the net so they cut the net and let the animal die," shouted Poseidon as the throne room shook.

"Poseidon calm down," shouted Zeus.

"The hippocampi were frantically trying to help but didn't know what to do. One was trying to chew the net, but there teeth are not meant for cutting rope," said Percy as Poseidon nodded in agreement.

"Hippocampi are strong but they are not really um smart," said Poseidon "Don't say that they are like me Athena."

"I didn't say anything," exclaimed Athena.

"Yes but you would have," retorted Poseidon. Everyone present rolled their eyes, did those two ever stop fighting.

"I at first thought the creature was a baby hippocampi, I have rescue a number of them before, but no it wasn't. The creature made a sound that I didn't expect," said Percy.

"What did it oink or did it moo?" asked Hermes, while all the other gods and goddesses rolled their eyes. Like that was the creature said?

"It said moo," said Percy to a shocked room "it's was a cow with the backend of a serpent. I didn't know what it was and neither did the hippocampi."

"The Ophiotaurus," gasped Athena, Artemis and Poseidon.

"That's when you first saw it? We could have easily kept him safe at camp," said a disgruntled Thalia.

"How could we follow it for the quest, if it is stuck at camp?" asked Percy.

"How did you follow a sea creature through the desert?" asked Chris.

"To free the Ophiotaurus, I uncapped riptide, unfortunately that freaked it out, and I had to work out how else I could free it," said Percy.

"It's like it had seen swords before and knew they were dangerous," mumbled Nico.

"To calm the Ophiotaurus I spoke calmly to it as I untangled the net. I called it Bessie- it seemed to be an appropriate name for a cow," said Percy.

"You called the Ophiotaurus… Bessie?" exclaimed Poseidon.

"Yes and I now know that's not a good name for a male," Percy said.

"You and your names," said Thalia laughing as she remembered Bob.

"It took me about an hour to free Bessie and I get out of the water. Blackjack was going to drop me off at my cabin but as we flew over the dining pavilion I could see someone and they seemed to be hiding from someone," said Percy, glancing at Nico.

"I wasn't hiding," retorted Nico.

"No you were pulling a Grover and spying on the Hunters," replied Percy. Nico stood up to defend himself but Percy pulled him back down into the seat between Thalia and himself.

"Pulling a Grover- we have to use that one," said Travis, ignoring the glare from the Artemis and Thalia.

"I was curious when I realised that it was Zoe and Bianca. So I used Annabeth's cap to get closer," said Percy.

"So you use my cap to eavesdrop but not for a capture the flag game," said Annabeth glaring at her boyfriend.

"Zoe and Bianca were arguing. Apparently the Stoll boys had played a prank that consisted of them putting Centaur blood in a t-shirt and Phoebe was bedridden with horrible hives," said Percy. He then watched as the Stolls were chased by Artemis around the throne room who was threatening to turn them into jackolopes. Thankfully for the brothers being turned into jackolopes was included in the no maiming rule.

"Zoe decided that they didn't have time to find a fifth member to complete the prophecy," said Nico.

"The prophecy said they would lose one in the land with no rain, the magical borders could mean that camp could be that land," said Percy.

"I don't think that's what the prophecy meant,' said Athena.

"Zoe didn't sound convinced. She said she sensed that they shouldn't pick someone else, and she didn't want Chiron to choose the fifth companion or risk another Hunter," said Nico.

"Zoe and Bianca left for the big house. I revealed myself to Nico as I knew he was thinking of following them on the quest," said Percy moving closer to Nico.

"You can't go, you are too young," said Hades as Nico glared and pouted.

"I told Nico that the quest group would not let him go and would catch him and send him back," explained Percy.

"We so would, we wouldn't want an untrained ten year old demi-god along," said Thalia, but grunted when Nico elbowed her in the ribs.

"How come Percy can lead his first quest untrained but I can't attend a quest untrained?" asked a disgruntled Nico. No one knew how to answer that question.

"My plan was to follow the questing group and go find Annabeth. Nico made me promise to keep Bianca safe," said Percy.

"That's a big thing to promise," said Athena looking concerned.

"I told Nico I promised to do my best to keep her safe," said Percy. Nico head was buried in his hands. Percy wrapped his arm around Nico's body pulling him closer, but Nico shrugged him off. Hades meanwhile was starting to realise what he had been trying to ignore.

"So how did you leave camp, Perseus?" asked Demeter.

"I used Blackjack as my getaway horse to follow the van with the questers into the city," said Percy.

"Five attending the quest. Phoebe not attending, Zoe dies… others alive. No…. not Bianca," mumbled Hades. Percy noticed the tear in Hades eyes even though he was looking at the floor. The Lord of the Underworld knew.

"What are you whining about Hades?" asked Zeus, "It's just a quest. Are you crying?" Hades glared at his brother with a withering look before disappeared into the shadows. A flash of light, a gasped and then all Hades broke loose. Zeus was a jackolope.

Artemis looked contented. She couldn't believe her father. The rest of her family looked stunned; they were brought out of their stupor with the sound of Poseidon laughing.

"Arty you turned our father into an animal," said Apollo.

"Artemis, turn Zeus back," screamed Hera.

"The King of the gods is a jackolope," stuttered Hermes.

"Artemis why?" asked a confused Athena.

"Because he deserves it, and I couldn't turn the boys into one," said Artemis looking towards her lieutenant who was trying to calm Nico confirming what she and Hades knew.

The fire in the heath suddenly blared to a roaring fire, shooting flames far into the sky. Everyone quickly looked towards Lady Hestia.

"I think tomorrow we should have a break form the story telling," said Hestia.

"I think that's a good idea Lady Hestia. What should we do?" Thalia said.

"How about you give suggestions of an activity we can all do together. Tomorrow morning I will choose from your suggestions," said Hestia.

"What a good idea, a family outing," said Hera.

"How about you all get on with your duties," said Hestia. "Oh and Artemis, tomorrow morning your father needs to be back to normal," said Hestia.

A/N: So Hades knows. I know where they are going on their outing. It will be the next chapter- why? I felt like doing a bonus chapter for some reason and have had the idea for about two weeks.

Other news I should be back at work very soon. Therefore my updates won't be as often. Hopefully weekly but I make no promises.

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Bye. coralie14.