Nico and Percy had finally made it out of the mountains and were now in the woods. They were, by my calculations, about 75 miles from Where they were supposed to be. Why so slow, you ask? Well, here's an idea.

"So, if I am to understand your moronic brain, you think we're going the right way because, and I quote "I just do."" Percy glared at Nico's head.

"I do, just don't know why. Maybe it's my love for Annabeth leading me home."

"Oh please."

"Stanley, whether you like it or not..." Nico grumbled.

"The name is Percy, moron. How many times do I have to tell you?"

"Well, how many times do I have to tell you mine is Nico, not moron?"

"Please, can we slow down?"'

"OK, fine. Look, we're going north," Nico looked around as Percy limped to the roots of a tree and collapsed, "The wall is north, and if you look up in the sky during the day you can see the..."

Percy raised an eyebrow at him, wondering if he'd make the connection.

"That's funny, So hilarious. My sides are splitting!"

"No, I'm serious. Wait.. that was you? Really?"

Nico looked around, and saw Percy sitting at the tree. "Wait, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing, Nico? I'm sitting down."

"No, Don't do this again! We agreed we'd stop at the next village to eat and rest."

"Come on, Nico. It's midday, I never stay up this late. Please let me rest."

Nico looked at Percy, and saw the lines of exhaustion on his face. He relented, "OK. You rest, I'll go and get something to eat."

Percy sighed to himself, then watched as Nico started to walk off. When Nico stopped and turned around with the string he had held the whole time they walked, he thought for a second and then walked back to Percy. He walked around the tree Percy leaned against, and connected the string to itself. Percy looked at him, "Nico, What are you doing?"

Nico looked at him, "What does it look like, I'm making sure you don't run away."

Percy glared at him, "With how I walk, it would take you no time to catch up!"

Nico just ignored him and walked away to find food.

Now, we look to Ares. He's standing at a beach that's covered in ice and snow. Coming toward him is his men and a soothsayer. Ares had his back to the soothsayer, but heard him and the men coming. One of the men spoke, "Your highness, the soothsayer as per your request."

Ares thanked him and spoke, "South you said. South we went and still NO STONE!. Do you now propose we start swimming?"

"my lord, I've merely relayed to you what the runes have told me." The man looked extremely nervous. "I can do no more."

Ares spun around, the full effect of his glare on the man. "Well, consult them again."

The man was about to when Ares held up his hand, "Wait, before we seek the stone I have another question. Am I the seventh son?"

The man smiled and shook the runes out. They looked at the runes, the man said yes. Ares asked about his favorite color, another yes. Then Ares looked at the man hard, "Has excessive begging or pleading ever persuaded me to spare the life of a traitor?"

The man threw the runes, the answer was no.

"Throw them again, this time throw them high."

The man did, and Ares asked the question as the runes flew in the air, "Do you work for my last remaining brother?"

The runes clattered into the ice with an answer of yes. Ares looked at the soothsayer angrily and swiftly stuck a knife in the man's chest. He pulled it out and watched as the man fell to the ground.

"So," Ares asked as he picked up the runes, "do we continue west?"

The runes flew into the air.