When We Were 'Us'

Takin' That Cross-Country Trip - Percy POV

We actually had a pretty quiet trip across the country. One or two small groups of monsters, but not nearly as many as I'd expected.

"The Hunters have been going a little overboard recently." Hazel commented when I mentioned as much. "They're cutting down monsters as fast as reports come in."

"I wouldn't call it going overboard." Rosalia commented, flicking her braid over her shoulder. I noted that she kept her eyes moving as she talked to us and nodded to myself. Observant, that was good. Her free hand was also at the quiver of darts for her atlatl.

She was a good kid, and I liked her. I was looking forward to seeing what she could do on the training field.

"Yeah, the more monsters the Hunt gets rid of, the less we have to rescue demigod kids who don't know their heritage yet." Jax grunted.

I liked him too. He was quick with his sword and his jokes. And he clearly had a crush on Rosalia, who was very uninterested. It was sort of amusing to watch.

"Rosi, what are you watching?" Noah asked suspiciously.

He was the problem of the group. He was constantly trying to push Jax's buttons, and succeeding in most cases, and seemed to have some strange distrust of the daughter of Apollo.

"I saw something moving. I'm trying to figure out if it was an animal or a human."

"I think I just saw a squirrel over that way." Jax offered quickly.

Rosalia shook her head, slowly drawing an atlatl dart.

"Is that Celestial Bronze tipped?" I asked softly, watching her. Rosalia seemed most attuned to her surroundings, so I trusted her instincts. My hand dropped to my sword hilt.

"Mix of it and Imperial Gold." 

Rosalia hooked the dart into the little handle and took a step forward, bringing her arm back and then forward in a fluid movement.

The dart went whizzing into the bushes and something made a horribly garbled noise.

Jax drew his sword and ran over into the bushes. He re-emerged a moment later, shaking his head.

"Gold dust. I don't even know what it was... I got your dart though."

"Thanks." Rosalia took it from his outstretched hand and checked it over casually. 

Hazel shook her head. "That just means we've been here for too long. Let's keep moving."

"Yes ma'am."

I chuckled and wrapped an arm around the little daughter of Pluto's shoulders. "Don't go getting a big head just because they're treating you like that all the time."

"How could I ever with a wet blanket like you around?" She teased, pushing me. "Keep doing that Rosalia, you've got the best eyes of the group."

Noah snorted quietly and I shot him a look, telling him silently to 'shut up now'.

And so we kept on. Jax kept most of the quiet conversation going, and Noah lapsed into sharp silence.

Another girl joined them just past Carson City. She looked very similar to Rosalia and I was tempted to ask if they were related.

"Yamka." She nodded to the daughter of Apollo.

"Hehewuti. Is something wrong?"

"I heard you coming and wanted to see the son of Poseidon."

I raised my eyebrows, watching curiously. These were more native names, and if I had to guess I'd have to say they were descendants of a local tribe of some sort.

"Well, this is him."

Hehewuti eyed me critically. "He's taller than I imagined."

I offered a grin. "First time I've heard that."

She tilted her head for a moment, then shrugged and turned to Rosalia again. "Your mother wants to talk to you."

The daughter of Apollo nodded. "I'll talk to her later. Just let her know I'll be home soon."

Hehewuti nodded and then acknowledged Hazel and I, ignoring the other two entirely.

Rosalia offered a shrug to us as she walked away. "There's a group of Hopi demigod women who've formed some sort of society together, like the Amazons have. Let's keep going."

I moved up to walk with her as she continued on. "So... is there a significance to the name difference?"

She shrugged. "My full name is Yamka Rosalia Sarantou. Yamka and Rosalia essentially mean the same thing, blossom: so I decided when I first came to Camp Jupiter that I was going to separate my lives by the name I used. I'm Rosalia at camp and Yamka with my family."

I nodded slowly. "That's really smart...."

Rosalia chuckled. "I kind of get to have separate personas for each name as well. It's sort of a comfort."

"That's even better...."

"Thinking of changing your name for Camp Jupiter, Jackson?" Hazel teased.

"You know... the thought crossed my mind."

"Well if you decide, just tell us what you want us to call you." Jax smiled.

I nodded. "Thanks."

A fresh start. That would be nice.

[A/N Okay y'all so

Haley or Victor

Haley is Rick's older son's name

and I just like Victor

Lemme know]