Just so you know, if PJO was owned by someone like me, I don't think it'd ever make it to the editing stage, much less the publishing and full-of-fame stage.

They didn't go back to the pavilion as Percy had expected. Instead, they walked over to the beach. It finally dawned on him that they were no longer in San Francisco. His eyes bugged out a bit as he realized they must be on some sort of island.

Apparently, Dean realized this, too. "Where are we exactly?" he asked in interest.

"A little slow on the uptake, aren't you? We're on an uncharted island off the coast of California. You'd be surprised what the Mist can conceal," Hazel pointed out with a smirk.

They finally reached a campfire. At this campfire sat an extremely short satyr-er faun. He didn't look up and continued eating something that looked to Percy like a charred mushroom on a stick, but he could smell burnt metal. He shrugged it off and looked at the other people standing around. Rain, Hazel, Gwen, and a menacing wolf stood in a half-circle around the clearing.

"You are Dean, correct?" the wolf asked in a surprisingly feminine voice. Percy kept in a yelp with difficulty. Dean didn't let his slight flinch of surprise show. He was good at this.

"Yes," he replied, trying to convey polite respect, but not really knowing how.

"I am Lupa, the camp's overseeing director. This-" she gestured to the faun, "-is Philoctetes. You have been claimed as a son of Mercury," she said with approval. "Welcome, new camper. If you make it to the next dinner, you will be formally announced, and your status will be changed." That last bit confused them all. Why wouldn't he make it to the next dinner? They didn't question it, though. Lupa gave the okay for them to leave their circle. The others in the little "council" walked over to congratulate Dean, giving sympathetic nods to the yet-to-be-claimed Percy.

Philoctetes looked up from his aluminum mushroom to find the curious eyes of Percy staring at him. "Paint a portrait. It lasts longer," he grunted in annoyance.

"Wasn't Philoctetes supposedly the one who trained Hercules in that old Disney movie? Doesn't that mean you're from Greek mythology?"

"Listen, kid (Yes, I'm going mainly with his attitude in the movie) the Greeks were the root of the Romans. Isn't it possible for someone from Greece to end up in Rome?"

"I guess," Percy answered, but something was stirring in his stomach. Why do I know so much about the Greeks? Why did what the s-faun said bug me so much? Percy asked no one in particular. He shrugged it off.

"So, son of Hermes, huh? You glad you got claimed before mush-for-brains here?" Rain said, smirking.

"Who did you say you were a daughter of?" Percy asked, trying not to get offended by the slight to his memory.

She laughed, "I guess I forgot to mention. I'm a daughter of Vesta."

Percy's brow furrowed, "Wait, Vesta is the Roman form of Hestia, right? Isn't she one of the maiden goddesses?"

Rain lifted an eyebrow.

"What? I have some thoughts in this mushy skull."

"Yeah, actually she takes in seven virgins. Traditionally, it was at a young age, but we can't stick to all the traditions. Hazel, Dakota, and I are three of them. You still haven't met Hannah, Lori, Tyler (yes, that's a girl), and Paula. I guess you could say she's our patron. We are the seven Vestals."

"Vessels? So who are you daughter of then?"

Rain laughed, "No, Percy, Vestals, as in V-E-S-T-A-L-S. I'm actually a daughter of Vulcan."

"You are Perseus," Lupa interrupted suddenly, staring Percy in the eye. He nodded numbly, a bit shocked at being addressed. She gave him an appraising look. "Perseus Jackson, I have been warned of your coming. I cannot tell you of anything other than the fact that you have been claimed as a son of Poseidon."

Somehow, this news didn't surprise Percy. The others, though, were highly intrigued. Poseidon's Greek, isn't it? That's just what we need, another son of the Great Three. How many of them have broken their vow? Is it possible there's a son or daughter of Pluto floating around somewhere? Mostly, though, the question was: Perseus? They said nothing, though, because the talking wolf was still holding their attention.

"You have been assigned to a quest."

Absolute shock was apparent in everyone's dropped jaws. Quests weren't usually an option for the newbies, and no one had gotten one in months. Percy looked at her like she was crazy.

"You did an exceptional job training Mr. Broussard. If you wish, you may ask any camper to accompany you. Three is usually the limit, though there have been exceptions before."

"I'll stick with three," he said after a small internal debate. It just felt right to have three people in his group. He looked at Dean, feeling the need to have at least one person he knew with him, even if he didn't really know him. "Dean?" he asked cautiously. Dean nodded, smiling a little. "I think I'll need someone who's kind of new for my second partner, considering I don't really know the style you guys fight in."

Hazel spoke up at this point, "What about Sage? She's really new. She got here only a couple days before you guys did, and she's definitely not the shy type."

Percy grinned, "Perfect choice, Hazel. Thanks."

(_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_)

The news spread quickly. Percy was left to pack his nonexistent belongings. Dean grabbed his bag. He hadn't even gotten to move into his new cabin. There was a sudden knock at the door. Percy answered it to find Sage and Lupa standing in the doorway. Sage's stance was one of confidence, though her eyes held an ounce of uncertainty.

"You must leave as soon as possible," Lupa said, glancing hurriedly at the setting sun.

"Wait! We don't even know what we're looking for!" Dean spoke up from behind Percy.

Lupa's eyes suddenly dimmed in pity. The teenagers in front of her weren't going to like the news. "I will explain to you on the way to the gates," she said, stalling for time.

They made their way slowly to edge of the camp, Lupa speaking the whole way.

"As you may or may not be aware of, the Olympians have been avoiding contact with all creatures, mythical or non-mythical. No one has heard from them for some time. Perseus, your father sent a distress signal to Chi- a friend of mine, requesting your assistance. He has been detained somehow. I have a map of the course you must take," she paused to nod to Sage to give the other half-blood the paper she was holding.

The map depicted the entire United States. In blue was a long, crooked line crossing the whole of the country. The stops were labeled by green dots and writing. The very last stop read, "New York, NY."

"Well, this is going to take a while," Percy mumbled under his breath as he gave the line a once-over.

Dean looked suspiciously at Lupa. "I talked to Gwen about quests, and he never said anything about maps being given out."

Lupa gazed at them sadly. "You must collect an item at each of the three places. Most of the half-bloods who accept the challenge are given their task. You are given the locations of the tasks and the overall goal. Unfortunately, you three have a time limit. Three days have been spared for your quest to take place. Good luck." With that, she padded away from the gate they hadn't even realized they'd reached.

Dean whistled in wonder, eyeing the coast of California in the distance, than the only boat parked on the pier. "We're getting across that in a dingy?"

Sage just smiled maliciously. "Are ya'll ready for this?"

I know, I'm special ;) Sorry for the lateness, again… and the new cliffy… At least it was a long chapter! I'm trying to get my plots moving forward. I really need to finish these stories!

I was reading over this to make sure it flowed, and I can honestly say I almost gagged. It was like reading a disjointed story about a bunch of robots without an ounce of funny in their little robot heads. I was trying to write this on the inspiration I'd gotten for another fic. Word to the wise: When you get inspiration, be sure you're writing in the right genre. *Groans* I know it's rushed and crappy. There's no need to punish me more than I'm already punishing myself! (No, people, I do not punish myself physically. You may throw as many cyber-tomatoes at me as you want. I happen to like them!)

Quote: "I don't think I've seen this much happiness in a room since Narcissus discovered himself."- find out the movie, and you'll get a mention in the next chapter! Also, I just have to say that I was kind of disappointed that none of you figured out the Vesta thing. I'm glad it could be a bit of a surprise ;)