BY fates design

A great start

Chiron lead them up to the top of Half-blood hill, a white SUV was waiting at the bottom while Argus stood outside it patiently as he prepared to drive the kids as far as he could. "Argus will keep an eye on you," Chiron said, the irony of his statement hitting Percy after a couple of minutes.

"I'm going to wait in the car." Annabeth said jogging down to Argus' side. "Chiron, do you truly believe that this will go well?" Cassiopeia's eyes were full of hesitation, so much worry flooded them that it flowed into Chiron's own head. "I don't doubt your ability to compete a quest." He replied, his answer did nothing to soothe the apprehension that gnawed at Cassiopeia, it was strange, she hadn't been scared of a quest since the first one she ever did, and that fear was because she was seven.

"Why so young?" Euphemia asked, she was disliking these gods more and more as she learned about them. "Truthfully, I have no idea." Cassiopeia shook her head slightly with a sigh. She hated those quests, they were tiring and painful, always ending with someone getting hurt.

"Cassy!" Cassiopeia's head turned at the familiar voices, a smile seeping onto her face. "I'm going to go say goodbye." She passed Percy and Grover as she ran over to her siblings, jumping into a hug.

"We're going to miss you." Eleana muttered pulling the black haired girl closer, "I have been praying to my mother for your safety, and Alex prayed for your travels." The red head slipped a forget me not behind her ear with a smile. "Thank you, Lea, but everything will be fine." Cassiopeia assured, hugging each of her siblings.

Kira gave her a tarot card, the wheel of fortune, that Cassiopeia slipped into the inside pocket of the leather jacket she wore, Alex handed her a feather and Jake gave her a coin. "For luck." He whispered in her ear as he slipped the coin into her pocket. "I have to go now, I promise we'll be back soon." Cassiopeia waved as she jogged back over to Percy, linking arms with him before heading to the SUV.

"Those were really random gifts." Bellatrix rose a brow at the selection of presents Cassiopeia had received. "The flower is my favourite, the tarot card means good fortune, the feather means to be free of burden and the coin is for split decisions." Cassiopeia explained, a fond smile on her face.

The group was packed in the car, Annabeth was in the front beside Argus, Percy sat in the back middle between Grover and Cassiopeia. "Are you nervous?" Cassiopeia asked, the question wasn't directed at anyone in particular. "Are you not?" Grover said, his voice trembling slightly. "Well, this isn't my first quest, Groves," Cassiopeia gave a sympathetic smile, she remembered her first adventure fondly though at the time she was terrified, it had been to retrieve a gauntlet that Athena had lost in the mortal world, over all it was a simple task, minus the surprise attack from three hell hounds that were there.

Cassiopeia drowned out the argument between Percy and Annabeth, they had only been on the highway for 10 miles or so.

When they finally pulled into East Side, Argus helped them unload their bags, Cassiopeia watched Percy rip a lost poster of the wall with a curious gaze. "Thank you Argus, get back to camp safe." She said taking her bags to wait with Percy, Grover and Annabeth for the bus to arrive.

Time seemed to drag as they awaited their bus, Grover, Percy and Annabeth played a game of Hacky Sack with an apple until Grover ate it. Percy was tense, Cassiopeia could see that, she remembered him telling her about where he had lived with Smelly Gabe and his mother and sighed.

She had over heard Grover trying to make Percy understand why his mother had married Gabe but she could tell he didn't care much for the explanation. Finally the bus came, and Grover sniffed at the air, "what is it?" Cassiopeia asked, immediately on edge.

"I don't know," he said tentatively, "maybe it's nothing." Cassiopeia didn't like that answer but didn't push it, she was glad when they had taken their seats on the back of the bus. Annabeth kept slapping her Yankee's cap on her knee until Cassiopeia took it from her hands.