𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐈𝐋¹ || 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐍

𝐕𝐈𝐈

✦ 𝐅𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒' 𝐅𝐔𝐑𝐘 ✦

AS AURORA PREPARED FOR THE QUEST, her mind buzzed with a mix of excitement and nervous energy. She meticulously packed a couple of changes of clothes, ensuring she had both practical attire for travel and comfortable garments for downtime.

Snacks were a must, knowing they would need sustenance during their journey, her siblings made sure to include a variety of options to keep their energy up. But perhaps the most important item she brought was Sunbeam, her trusted companion disguised as a golden sun ring on her finger.

Sunbeam was more than just a weapon; it was a symbol of her strength and heritage, a reminder of her divine lineage as the daughter of Apollo. With Sunbeam by her side, Aurora felt a sense of reassurance, knowing that she had a powerful ally in their quest.

As she double-checked her supplies, Aurora couldn't help but feel a surge of determination. This quest was not just an opportunity to prove herself; it was a chance to make a difference, to protect the Camp and the world beyond its borders.

With her belongings packed and Sunbeam at the ready, Aurora was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that she had the support of her friends by her side.

Meanwhile, it didn't take Percy long to pack. He decided to leave the Minotaur horn in his cabin, which left him only an extra change of clothes and a toothbrush to stuff in a backpack Grover had found for him.

The Camp store loaned them one hundred dollars in mortal money and twenty golden drachmas. These coins were as big as Girl Scout cookies and had images of various Greek gods stamped on one side and the Empire State Building on the other.

The ancient mortal drachmas had been silver, Chiron told them, but Olympians never used less than pure gold. Chiron said the coins might come in handy for non-mortal transactions – whatever that meant.

He gave Annabeth and Percy each a flask of nectar and an airtight bag full of ambrosia squares, to be used only in emergencies if they were seriously hurt.

It was god food, Chiron reminded them. It would cure them of almost any injury, but it was lethal to mortals. Too much of it would make a half-blood very, very feverish. An overdose would burn them up, literally.

Annabeth was bringing her magic Yankees cap, which she told Percy had been a twelfth birthday present from her mom. She carried a book on famous classical architecture, written in Ancient Greek, to read when she got bored, and a long bronze knife, hidden in her shirt sleeve.

Grover wore his fake feet and his trousers to pass as human. He wore a green rasta-style cap, because when it rained his curly hair flattened and you could just see the tips of his horns. His bright orange backpack was full of scrap metal and apples to snack on. In his pocket was a set of reed pipes his daddy goat had carved for him, even though he only knew two songs: Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 12 and Hilary Duff's 'So Yesterday', both of which sounded pretty bad on reed pipes.