~ Drama Back Home ~

CHLOE

The quest party arrived in Toledo about an hour ago. It was nearly a five hour trek from where they got stranded by their van's slashed tire. Had it been just Chloe, Saphira, and Lykos, it might have been three hours, but unfortunately their demigod companions don't have Artemis' blessings of speed or stamina. They had to keep a slower pace as well as stop to let them rest a few times. It's not yet sunrise, only about three in the morning. At the moment, Chloe, Saphira and Lykos are waiting out in a park, concealed within the treeline of the woods, waiting for Annabeth and Percy to return. The couple had gone on to a bus station to purchase them tickets and right now, Chloe has taken a perch in the tree to keep watch for their return.

"Are they coming back yet?"

Saphira's voice calls up to her from below as the Hesperide anxiously paces around the tree. Chloe sighs and shakes her head. She wishes her friend wouldn't be so high strung.

"No, Saph. They just left a minute ago. Give them some time," she replies.

"We should have just stolen a car. We're losing so much time by-"

Chloe interrupts her by jumping down and catching her in an embrace, hugging her tightly. "Saph, please. Try to relax. We are good on time. We have a whole day and a half and Springfield is only some hours away now. We will make it."

She can sense that Saphira wants to argue, but to her relief, she feels the tension leave her friend's body as she relaxes and returns Chloe's hug, resting her chin on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she murmurs.

"It's okay. I know you're stressed out, but you have to trust us here. We will get there in time, okay?" Chloe tells her.

"I trust you," Saphira replies with a sigh.

Chloe smiles and pulls back from their embrace, but keeps hold of her friend's arms. "Good. Now, breathe, relax, and keep faith that everything will work out."

Saphira closes her eyes, taking a deep breath and gently pushing Chloe's hands away before she looks back at her and returns the smile. "Thanks, Chloe."

"You're welcome."

"What would I do without you?"

"Oh, probably despair, panic, and be hopelessly lost," Chloe says with a snicker. Saphira rolls her eyes, but she doesn't deny it.

"Probably," she admits.

"Seriously though, Saph. You'd be okay. You're strong, capable, and passionate. You know what? I think you would make a hell of a lieutenant, if Thalia ever steps down," Chloe tells her.

"I don't think anyone could replace Thalia," Saphira says.

"Well, not replace but, fill her shoes, you know? Lead us as well as she did," Chloe says.

The Hesperide frowns. "I don't know, Chloe. Like I said before, I've never been a leader. Always a follower, of Artemis and of Zoe, and now of Thalia. I'm okay with being that. I'm happy to have someone I can faithfully serve under."

"I know, I'm just saying. The Hunt would be in good hands with you as lieutenant."

Their conversation is interrupted when Lykos softly huffs, alerting them to the returning couple. Percy and Annabeth look pleased as they approach, with the latter holding a small bundle in her right hand. Chloe and Saphira separate and turn to face them, with Saphira being the first to start talking.

"Did they have a bus to Springfield?" she asks.

Annabeth responds as she holds up the bundle to reveal them to be tickets. "They did. It leaves at four this afternoon. From here, it's only a six hour ride to Springfield, so we'll still get there before Asteria is handed off to the so-called higher-ups."

Saphira sighs in relief while Chloe feels triumph.

"See, I told you it would work out," she says.

"You did," Saphira agrees. "The question now is, what do we do until that bus arrives?"

"I think now would be a good time to I.M. our friends and family, let them know we're okay," Percy suggests before looking at the hunters and the wolf. "Especially you three. It'd be a good idea to give Artemis an update. She seemed like she'd be worried about you a lot."

Chloe agrees with that idea. Artemis may come off as cold or intimidating to those who don't know her well, but anyone who's managed to get close to her would be able to say otherwise. She's much more relaxed among her girls in the Hunt. She's loving, protective, and would fight the worst evils in the world to defend them. Chloe's seen how the goddess' mood changes when she has to depart from them, or they from her. It's easy to tell that there's no place she'd rather be than by their side. It would do her good to know that they're alright.

"I saw a fountain in the recreational area when we were headed to get the tickets. We can use it to make the rainbow," Annabeth chimes in.

"Let's go then. After that, we'll come back here to set up camp," Saphira says.

The group gathers up and heads off, following Annabeth to lead them to where she had seen the fountain. It's a short walk following the path from their spot in the woods to the recreational area. Benches both wooden and concrete line the path and form a circle around a small courtyard with a cement ground. Public restrooms and vending machines are stationed a little farther off and in the center is the fountain. It's nothing spectacular, just a simple circle-based fountain, but it does produce a fine mist with the spray of the water that even in this low pre-dawn light, Chloe can see the shimmer of. However, the light of the moon and stars is not enough to create the rainbow they need.

"So, do we wait for sunrise to get the rainbow or…?" Percy voices the question out loud for them. Annabeth grins as she slings off her backpack and begins digging through it.

"Just one moment," she tells them, fishing out a flashlight and a roll of duct tape. Curiously, Chloe observes her as she peels a strip of tape from the roll before ripping that piece in half. Then she places both strips over the flashlight, leaving only a slit for the light to shine through when she turns it on. Annabeth turns to them again with a look of pride as she shows them her result.

"What does that do for us?" Percy asks.

"This will allow us to make a rainbow. All we need now is a glass cup, which I also have right here," Annabeth replies before she pulls said cup from her backpack. She then walks to the fountain and scoops out some water, then places it on the flat surface of the fountain's wall. She aims the slit beam of light into the cup, carefully turning the angle. Chloe looks on, impressed with the display of improvisation as the rainbow appears through the reflection of the light rays through water. Leave it to the daughter of Athena to have come prepared.

"Well done," Saphira says, looking just as impressed.

Annabeth nods her thanks. "I'll have to keep this held still so we don't lose the connection, so one of you will have to make the call."

Chloe decides she should volunteer. "I'll do it. I have plenty of drachmas."

She steps forward with the small sack of gold coins, fishing one out and aiming at the rainbow.

"Lady Iris, please accept my offering," she chants before tossing the drachma into the rainbow. The coin dissolves upon contact, showing that her fee was paid. "We'd like to see Lady Artemis, please."

"Very well, young huntress. There's been a rainbow over your camp the past couple days, and I could see that your mistress has been distressed lately. Perhaps this will lift her spirits. One moment please."

Chloe waits patiently for the rainbow goddess to connect their call, the rainbow shimmering and warping into an image of the goddess of the Hunt. She looks first surprised, then overjoyed to see who the call is from.

"Chloe! My sweet healer, how are you?" Artemis cries, her eyes lighting up as a smile appears over her lips.

"Hello, milady! I'm doing good. We all are. We just wanted to let you know that we're okay," Chloe replies, returning the smile.

"And Saphira?"

"I'm here, milady," Saphira says as she steps into view. She smiles too, though Chloe can see in the longing in her eyes, how much she misses her goddess.

"My beautiful huntress, Saphira. I miss you, both of you, as do the other girls. Chloe, I'm afraid you'll have to deal with an upset mob on your return. They dearly miss your cooking, child," Artemis says with humor twinkling in her eyes.

Chloe giggles. "Oh, I'm sure they'll manage a few more days without me."

"I don't know if I can manage that," the moon goddess admits. She looks past them curiously. "Where is my Guardian?"

Lykos moves into her view with a soft groan of greeting and Artemis grins at him.

"There you are. Are you faring well, Lykos?"

The wolf nods his head in reply.

"We've stopped in Toledo, Ohio. Karpoi attacked and disabled our ride, so we're going to catch a bus that will take us to Springfield, Illinois," Saphira explains.

Artemis frowns at this. "So far from New York. Are you on the child's trail?"

"We are. We got info in Manhattan about where the monsters are taking her," Chloe says. "We're hoping to intercept them there."

"I see." Artemis sighs and pinches the ridge of her nose. "I wish I could send your sisters to help you. I don't know why we didn't just take this quest ourselves. The full force of the Hunt would have been able to overtake them easily."

"We can handle this, milady," Saphira tells her.

The goddess nods and heaves a sigh. "I know you can, my faithful one. I'm not doubting your abilities… I just hate the idea of letting you go into the unknown without me and your sisters to support you."

Chloe slips an arm around her friend and pulls her close, smiling at the goddess. "We'll be okay. We're less than a day from Springfield. We'll have Asteria at camp and be back at your side in two days."

She hopes anyway. Truthfully, despite all her insistence that everything will work out, Chloe isn't overly certain herself of what will happen… but she's not about to tell Artemis that. The goddess still seems reassured by her words.

"Very well. Be sure to rest when you can, and to eat. You must keep your strength up. Chloe, I am making it your job to ensure Saphira gets enough sleep and food," Artemis says.

Chloe chuckles. "As you wish, Lady Artemis, but this will be a challenge. We both know how stubborn she can be."

"I am still right here, you know?" Saphira mutters.

"You tend to make that very clear," Chloe teases her before turning her attention back to Artemis. "Don't worry. She's in good hands."

"I trust that she is. I am afraid I cannot speak for much longer. There is trouble brewing on Olympus regarding my brother," the goddess says as the same tired look returns to her gaze.

"Is Apollo being punished?" Chloe asks. She never has been one to speak about her godly father much with Artemis. It simply never crossed her mind to do so, but recently she's been getting a lot of reminders that she is his daughter, so it's been in her thoughts lately.

Artemis nods with a grim expression. "Father was- is furious with him. He still believes it to be my brother's fault that the Prophecy of Seven was issued too quickly. For that reason, Apollo was cast out of Olympus, stripped of his godhood."

Chloe is stunned by the news. Does that mean Apollo is…

"Zeus made him mortal?!" Saphira exclaims, sounding just as shocked. Artemis exhales and nods again. Saphira shakes her head in disbelief. "Of course! That must be why Rachel Dare was struggling with the Oracle's power. With Apollo turned mortal, the gift of prophecy is unstable!"

"And unless Father decides otherwise, Apollo cannot reclaim his godhood," Artemis adds. She looks and sounds almost saddened by this reality.

"Milady, you sound like you're grieving," Chloe remarks.

"I know he and I have our differences and we may not always get along, but he is still my brother and I do care for him."

"Is there nothing you can do?" she asks.

Artemis shakes her head. "I've tried to reason with him, but Father has refused to hear me. I am also forbidden from trying to reach out to Apollo directly. At best I can lend him help through our girls but even that is risky if Father finds out."

"Where is Apollo now?" Saphira asks.

"Somewhere in New York. I believe that is where Father dropped him."

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Chloe tries to offer as assurance. "He's close to Camp Half-blood. He's probably headed there right now."

"Perhaps, but my brother is not the sharpest of knives. He will need help to get through this, lot's of help. There is something else you must understand. A god turned mortal is a target. He will be hunted like any demigod, not just by monsters. We gods have a lot of enemies, powerful enemies, and Apollo is no exception. If any of our enemies know that an Olympian has been cast out and stripped of godhood, it is certain that they will be hunting for him," Artemis says.

Chloe sighs and nods in understanding. Apollo's probably paranoid right now. After all, it's a huge leap from being a powerful immortal to becoming a regular human. No gifts, no powers, no resources, alone in a world full of beings that want you dead.

"When we return, we will find a way to help him," Saphira declares. "Zeus can only punish you for trying, but not us. We are not directly involved in Olympian affairs."

"Perhaps, but like I said. It's still a risk. My father is… less than reasonable at times. I don't want to put you in peril for something based only on speculation," Artemis replies. She waves her hand in dismissal. "Nevermind this. You have more important matters to concern yourself with right now. It was wonderful seeing you, but I'm afraid this is all the time I have. I must be going."

"Understood, milady," Chloe and Saphira say in unison.

"Take care, my hunters." This is the last thing the goddess says before she sweeps through their message, breaking the connection.

Chloe and Saphira step back while Annabeth switches off the flashlight, making the rainbow vanish. It was great to see their mistress again, but Chloe can't forget the grim news about her father. She's never felt much like his daughter but they are still kin. However, right now her concern is moreso to the possibility of what could happen to the gift of prophecy, to the Oracle. If Rachel cannot get her power straightened out due to Apollo's exile, then their greatest chance at solving the mystery behind Asteria's existence is lost.

"So, basically because of the fact that a certain uncle is being… well, himself, the entire world could be at risk," Percy summarizes after a few moments of awkward silence. He rubs his temples with a groan. "Is it too much to ask for them to act more like people who are thousands of years old and not five?"

"Like I said when we met, they do need an attitude adjustment," Saphira mutters. She looks around the park with narrowed eyes. "If we are to set up camp, we should do so now before the mortals arrive," she says, gesturing towards the rising sun in the distance.

Chloe and the others agree, so with that, they begin to head back to their original spot in the woods. It's sheltered from view and the ground is cushioned by the bedding of grass and pine needles. They begin to pitch their camp; a task made much easier by the special gifts they had stashed in their packs.

"So, we just lay out here, I guess?" Percy says. "We didn't pack tents."

"Pfft. You have two hunters with you and you think we didn't pack tents?" Chloe scoffs and fishes out a pair of small cylinders. She aims one at the ground and pulls a small string at one end. Suddenly, an entire tent bursts from the cylinder, fully set up with sleeping bags, a lantern and other camping necessities already inside.

She tosses the other cylinder to Percy, who catches it.

"They're big enough for three people, but Saphira and I will be staying in this one. I assume you and Annabeth would have wanted a tent to yourselves," she says with a playful wiggle of her eyebrows.

Both demigods go red in the face. Percy develops a sudden deep interest in the ground.

"Aren't you hunters supposed to be like, disgusted by this sort of topic?" Annabeth grumbles, taking the cylinder from Percy and pulling the string to pop out their tent.

Chloe laughs as she replies. "The older hunters definitely would be, but you forget I'm a modern girl. I'm not an alien to this stuff."

"I was never disgusted by romance and… the things associated with it," Saphira adds, though she does seem a little awkward in the manner she describes it. "Besides, you have Artemis' approval. Even our more zealous girls would be unwise to challenge her judgement on a relationship."

"I would have thought you'd be grateful for the idea of pairing you two in your own tent, but if you'd rather Annabeth sleep with Saphira and I…" Chloe snickers, unable to help the little bit of mischievous humor. Probably inherited from her father.

"No!" Percy and Annabeth cry in unified protest. Their blush only deepens as they clear their throats and proceed to try to cover their tracks, talking over each other.

"It's fine-"

"We'll be okay together-"

"It's not a problem-"

Chloe and Saphira share a soft laugh at the couple's embarrassment. Twice over saviors of the world, flustered by a little teasing.

Saphira lifts a third cylinder, holding it out towards Lykos. The Guardian tilts his head in question.

"I brought one for you, if you want it. I don't like the idea of you sleeping outside by yourself," the Hesperide says. Predictably, Lykos shakes his head and paws the ground where he's sitting. He swivels both ears backwards and then forwards again, signaling his answer. Saphira sighs and puts the cylinder back in her pack.

"What did he say?" Percy asks.

"He's going to stay up and keep watch for us," Saphira replies. The sea child seems to ponder this for a moment, studying the wolf before he speaks again.

"Maybe I should too," he says, but a stern growl from Lykos has him backing up to his tent again.

"He's telling you to rest and leave it to him," Saphira says. Lykos nods to confirm her translation. Chloe is amazed at their level of understanding. She's learned to interpret a lot of Lykos' sounds and gestures herself, but she wouldn't dare compare her interpretation abilities to Saphira's.

"Don't take it personally. Lykos is used to protecting us at night," Chloe adds.

Percy shrugs. "Right then. I'll leave you to it, Lykos."

He turns to disappear into his tent with a nod and wave over his shoulder at the hunters while Annabeth bids them goodnight, before following her boyfriend. Saphira moves to hug Lykos' head briefly.

"If you change your mind, don't hesitate to wake me. Goodnight, Lykos," she murmurs to his ear. Then she releases him and pads to their own tent, where she disappears as Chloe takes her turn to bid the wolf goodnight with a soft, short stroke of his muzzle.

"Thanks for watching over us. Try to get some sleep, buddy," she tells him, then follows her friend into their tent. Saphira is shimmying out of her cloak and daywear to change into her sleeping chiton. Chloe's own sleepwear consists of a simple shirt and fresh leggings.

As she gets into her sleeping bag, she's joined by her friend. Chloe sleepily smiles as Saphira snuggles her way in, curling up with her face pressed into Chloe's neck. For a long time, this was the only way Saphira could have a chance for a good night's sleep and now it seems she's unwilling to break the habit.

"You think Apollo can reclaim his godhood?" the Hesperide mumbles softly.

"I don't know. Hopefully, but it depends on how much Zeus wants to punish him," Chloe replies with a yawn.

"He must see that this is a mistake. If the Oracle cannot interpret her visions or speak a true prophecy- ow! Hey!"

Her rant is cut short by a pinch to her side from Chloe, resulting in a sudden jerk of her body. She tries to lift her head to glare at her, but Chloe keeps her friend trapped in her arms.

"Sleep now. Worry about quests and prophecies tomorrow," Chloe says. It won't do Saphira any good if she keeps herself up at night stressing over what they cannot hope to figure out, nor afford to worry about right now.

Saphira tries to protest. "But-"

"Sleep."

Her friend sighs and settles in, nuzzling her face deeper into Chloe's neck and shoulder.

"I thought I was leader here," she mutters under her breath.

"Outside this tent, yes. Inside, no." Chloe feels almost like a mother scolding a child, and the thought makes her giggle inside. "Goodnight, Saph."

"Goodnight, Chloe."