Well… this has been forever. Finally on summer break, fun. I'm going to finish and edit this story. Heaven knows it needs it, but I'm going to be posting it elsewhere. Can't have the type of story on one site you know? Lastly, I know I don't say it (at all or enough) but thank you to those who fave/follow me or my stories and those who sent reviews. You're all so kind and motivated me to continue writing. Right now I don't have too much motivation but never fear, it will get completed for those that like the story. I think that covers everything…

Disclaimer: Don't own PJO.

Percy POV

We appeared at the entrance of Cumberland, scaring a couple in hiking gear and sending them running towards a circle of cabins.

Nico smirked. "Silly humans. Still though, better in the cabins than in the forest where Alcyoneus lives."

I looked down the path and gulped; so many trees. "Nico, not to question your undead information gatherers of anything, but how do we actually know he's here? You know the power of false information."

He looked around and plucked a sheet of newspaper floating around in the breeze. "Look at this." He said, shoving the paper towards me.

I took it and read: 10 Mysterious Disappearances in Cumberland, Georgia in Two Days. I cleared my throat. "Well I guess that does give you a big hint doesn't it?"

Hazel nodded in agreement. "Yes, now shush." She said, motioning for us to be quiet. Once we were, she closed her eyes and concentrated. After what seemed like ages, her eyes popped open and pointed towards the left path that branched off the one we were standing on, into the center of the preserve. "There. Alcyoneus is in there."

I looked at her questioningly. "And you know this how? Wait, don't tell me, he's still made of gold and metals isn't he?"

"Yeah. My control over that domain has gotten stronger. I might be able to control him." She suggested. "Just a theory mind you."

"It's better than nothing." I pulled our Riptide and uncapped my beloved pen. I jerked my head in the direction Hazel pointed and the three of us moved quickly and quietly that way.

After about ten minutes of trudging and shoving our way through dense shrubs and various leafy plants, we heard distant voices mixed with a couple kitten mewls.

I shook my head, thinking I got that last sound wrong. "What the... What was that?" I looked at Hazel, wondering if she really got his location right.

She nodded and pushed me forward with the butt of her spear. "We have to hurry. C'mon Percy."

I nodded and started to shove my way through the dense growth. A couple minutes later we were close to where I heard the kittens. I crouched and stuck out my hand to push a couple of branches to the side to gain a better view to the situation.

On the other side of the greenery was a large clearing. A smoldering pit lay at the center with a dead deer turning slowly above it. A throne made of various bones sat in front of the pit. Four small tabby kittens circled around the throne meowing.

A teenaged girl knelt to the side and picked up one of the cats and cooed to it, tickling its stomach. Her hair was long, around the middle of her back, and pure black with some gold streaks. Her eyes glowed amber and her skin had a light tan to it. She smiled at the cat she held and her incisors were sharpened to the point of fangs, almost like a cats.

"Who is she?" Hazel whispered.

Nico shrugged. "Beats me. Do we have a goddess or Titaness of cats?"

"I don't think so."

From the forest on the opposite side of the clearing came a loud growl. "Lanada!" Alcyoneus clomped out into the open, shaking his head. A shower of rubies and crystals feel out, sizzling as they hit the dirt. "We're almost out of food." He barked. "And you insist that the beasts must be fed. Go get some."

The girl bolted up, scaring the cat that was lying comfortably on her lap. The tabby leaped onto the armrest of the bone throne and hissed. Its fur turned translucent and it bared its small fangs. The girl, Lanada, glared at the giant before rushing silently into the trees, her tail flicking back and forth in annoyance.

I poked Nico's arm. "Dude? Did you see that?" I blinked to make sure I was seeing things correctly. Yep, still a ghost cat hissing.

"Yes." Nico shushed. "But shush. We need to listen."

We turned our attention back to the ranting giant in front of us. He flicked the cat off his throne and sat down, causing the bones to crack and shift under his weight. "Didn't you promise me 5 cats Lanada?" He called. "Five fearsome warriors or something like that?"

A rustle was heard and she reappeared, holding a handful of dead animals in her hand. "Well sorry. One seemed to have wandered away. It doesn't matter. We can still take on any demigods that cross us."

Alcyoneus groaned. "Are you sure they're even coming? It's been a week and nothing."

She raised an eyebrow. "Loki is never wrong. If you're having doubts I can always-"

"No, no, no." He said quickly. He plucked a bone from his throne and tossed it at a cat, causing it to scurry backwards towards us. It scrambled a couple of feet from us and hissed. The tabby paused and sniffed the air, then made a series of yips and squeaks.

"Aha!" purred Lanada. "And you doubted me."

The giant straightened. "What? They're here?"

Lanada flicked her tail to the tabby nearest to us and it grew, baring its long fangs at the bush.

Alcyoneus grinned and plucked a gem from his hair and tossed it on the bush, the leaves sizzling and evaporating right in front of us leaving only the branches for cover. The giant grinned and rubbed his hands together. "Oh yes, this will be fun."