Chapter 18: More Friends?

[Percy's POV:]

Before I even knew it I was protectively coiled around the adorable creature that was medusa daughter. She was just so dam cute! My wolf instincts were going absolutely crazy and the feel was so familiar it scared me. Medusa hadn't responded to my actions yet, probably still processing what had just happened in the last second. The child was surprisingly ok about this, enjoying herself even, a giggle on her face and all. I noticed her small frame, she reminded me of Rachel only with green hair and 3 years in age… Well there's another name added to the list of people I knew, but don't know, at least I know what she kinda looks like this sweet adorable child. Dam I am like a child with a new puppy.. I just can't name her else I'll get attached, wait she probably already has one phew. The next minute was filled with me playing with her, completely ignoring that the outside world existed.

"Damian, would you care to return my child?" She didn't seem angry, more humoured than anything.

"Ah, sorry wolf instincts kinda took over there, what's this adorable child's name?" I snapped out of my instinct state and released the child back to her mother... I better be careful not to ever say that, not about to get sent to wolf prison…

"Her name is Fidi, my precious little snakelet, the one thing in this world that I love with all my heart" hearing medusa claim to love something was odd to me, but it shouldn't have been she did fall for Poseidon once after all. My brain also autotranslated her name to snake, the name was a little bit direct, but still had it's cute charm.

"Ah means Snake doesn't it? I like it" and gave the best wolfish grin I could.

"Ah so you speak Greek? I thought you were roman" oh shoot.

"Oh err I just picked up a few words while reading some Greek dialects" I hope she wouldn't ask too much since I didn't want Reyna becoming suspicious during this painfully long drive.

[In The Bathroom:]

[Reyna POV:]

After having recomposed myself in the bathroom, I decided to take the rear exit and head to the car for a short while. I don't trust medusa at all, but what Dami said is true, continuing to judge monsters for being monsters is no better than monsters that kill us demigods for simply being demigods, but It infuriates me. They attacked us first! I understand his words and reasonings and that's what makes me so mad, I can no longer justify myself. All our battles and conquest no longer feel as righteous, we no longer really hold the moral high grounds, did we ever? Most monsters fight us for actions caused by heroes of the past or in revenge for family. It was a big massive vicious cycle of hate. I had to clear my head, maybe check on Acanthis while I'm at it. That lazy bird was probably sleeping on the dashboard still.

"How long do we hide in here?? I really need to go pee" my senses heightened, the sound came from our car. A trap? Sounds like a Medusa style plan alright.

"Shhh, I think they're inside now. We can sneak to the forest as soon as their eyes are averted!" ok maybe not with medusa, but then who? Please don't make this another spy situation…

"Nevermind your sneaking, come out right now and I may not kill you where you stand!" they sounded young, one considerably so. I wouldn't hurt them unless provoked, but intimidation is the battle before all battles, win that and blood need not be shed.

"Oh Juno, we got caught. Err w-we're coming out, don't attack! We aren't armed!" hmm sounds like a demigod or at least someone aware of our world. A moment later I spurted out a curse, cause there stood Anna and Emily the Demigod child of Venus and her daughter that Damian had chosen to train as his apprentice.

"What in Jupiter's name are you doing here?!?" they recoiled at my tone, but quickly recomposed themselves.

"We were planning to leave camp long ago.. The other descendants of Venus Hate us, we fitted in nowhere. Until Damian showed up, we decided to stay so long as he was there. Things got even worse when I became his apprentice, accusations of seducing him got thrown around, they started to do more dangerous 'pranks' that almost hurt my daughter. If it wasn't for Damian kindness and belief I'd be gone whether from the camp or this world I don't know" I always forgot how mature Anna was, she may look young but she has lived far longer than most demigods in camp. I would have to find a befitting punishment for the children of Venus, even their mother would be ashamed of their actions.

"Ok I understand that, but why hide and follow us? For all you know we were heading into a suicidal battle" even if she gave the reason to not be at camp, I still needed to check for any ulterior reasons she'd have to follow us. I'm not as trusting as Dami, which is why he is so perfect for me… as a praetor I mean.

"I may not trust camp, but I trust Damian with both our lives. He supported us both in our times of need when no other would. He's like the father I never had that's somehow younger than me" I decided not to think too hard about it, the Godly family tree is just as messed up.

"Fine, but you are explaining this to Damian not me and you will be on stable duty for a month after this" I wasn't about to let them get away scot free, they will feel my pain of Dami's hour long rambling about random facts he doesn't know the source of.

[Back With Percy:]

[Percy's POV:]

Talking with Medusa was more fun than you'd think, the woman had more gossip than you'd expect from someone in the middle of nowhere.

"Yeah, I told June" A cyclops friend of hers "If the guy keeps going off to kill demigods rather than help raise your kids, dump his ass" see what I mean? Who'd thought Medusa was the world's biggest gossiper. I may have said fun but I'm not one for gossiping much though.

"What'd she say? Surely she didn't stay with the asshole" ok I maybe I was a little interested.

"Oh she did, and guess what she found him in bed with a wood nymph how in Athena's, fattass they managed with that size difference I don't know" holy hades carl was cheating on his wife what the fuck man! And Athena's fattass? Way to add a curse into your gossip medusa gotta remember that one.. Also I am very curious how such a deed was possible.

"Please say she beat the hell outta him" ok fine I'm a lot more than a little interested.

"Hell yeah, and It was a spectacle to see. It was actually the first non-human statue in my collection not to mention my biggest. We'd use it as target practice since he was 'big' enough for it" the obvious emphasis on big had me desiring to clutch my privates in a sympathetic pain. Note to self, don't let Medusa and Artemis meet, the males species would be doomed.

"Umm are we interrupting something?" came the voice of my apprentice, which is impossible since she is well over a hundred miles away at camp. And there she is with her daughter too! Great now I have to babysit while searching for the titans.

"... What In the hell are you doing here? How did you get here? Why is your daughter here?" After a deep sigh I waited patiently for 3 seconds to get an answer. Very generous I'd say.

"Well?" patient Damian mode over. Not long after they began telling me why they were here and that they had snuck in the pack of the pickup with a blanket. All I could think was how the hades I didn't notice them with my nose. Naturally I started lecturing them on sneaking into praetors cars going on wild tangents about blue foods every other sentence. I really need to eat one, this is becoming a serious problem.

"Umm sorry to interrupt your amazing lecture, but could we use the toilet before you continue? We've Been holding for an hour longer than we should be capable" Oops forgot that we'd driven for so long, huh they must be hungry too.

"Ugh fine go on" I couldn't very well let them wet themselves on Medusa's nice clean floor now could I?

"Medusa, could you whip up some food for us all? I think a nice meal might help lift the mood" food solves all problems. Prove me wrong.

"Sure go take a seat next to Fipi, I'll make some steak and burgers" Yessss steak mmm.

"Thanks! Oh and leave my steak rare" not too much a fan of that burned meat other people eat. Most of the flavour is gone and there's no chewing fun to be had either.

"Sure, I'll be fifteen minuets" with food sorted, pondered over to where little Fipi was seated. Being a wolf of my size sitting in a chair was a no go. So naturally I had to perform a shrinking act. The child started in amazement and I'm certain if it wasn't for the shades her eyes would be twinkling. I've thought this once, twice, three times and four, but this child is so dam adorable to the point of it being a crime. Wow I am weak to cute things.

"Hi mister wolf that wass weally cool! did mommy go to make food?" I swear even if I must burn down this planet for this child I will And I'll smile as I do it.

"Yes little one, she'll not be long. What have you got there?" I pointed my snout at a little toy car she held in her hand accompanied by a small racing doll.

"It'ss my wacce car! And thiss iss princesss sspeed! She likes to drive really weally fasst with lotss of drifty turnss. Look sshe hass ssnake hair like me and mommy too!" it seemed that she liked racing, not something I'd expect from the daughter of medusa, but then again I never expected Medusa to be such a gossip queen. I also took note of her snake-like lisp and by extension her snake tongue that popped out whenever she made a S -like sound. It was something I did expect from the daughter of medusa, but so many times cuter! She wore shades like her mother, likely to protect from turning others to stone and a lovely emerald green dress that went to around knee height.

"Does this racing princess have another name?" I had to know the name of such a legendary racer of course.

"I call her Thea when sshe issn't a princesss, cause mommy ssaid that wass almosst my name" for some reason the thought of an electrified teen chasing me around popped up and I subconsciously shivered. Nonetheless, I continued to chat and play with her until her mother would return.

[At camp Half Blood:]

[Thalia's POV:]

"Why do I feel the sudden need to electrocute a wolf?" by wolf I mean Percy. Ugh when are we going to leave camp to search for him already? Camp has become too budgetary recently and keeping our findings from dad are making this even harder. He so Isn't winning father of the year this time.

"Percy is probably thinking about you chasing him again, that or he got zapped on something stupid again" I don't know when, but at some point Atlanta became an expert at deciphering Percy superstition situations.

[Back At The Cafe:]

[Medusa's POV:]

Was it really smart opening up to that demigod so much? Even if he is a wolf. I only met him today, hades I even left him with my daughter! But he did listen to my story, even sympathised with me like no one before him. Perhaps I can trust him, maybe he can even help with my unknown deity problem. I do wonder when Percy will turn up though I have yet to set any traps… I returned my focus to the job at hand, cooking.

Cooking was something I enjoyed so much and It was something I could call my own, snakes eat their prey whole and my parents were literally gods of monsters so I definitely didn't get that from them. It was a talent I could say with pride came from me. What I had said to the wolf was the truth, Percy had opened my eyes to this gift. Though it doesn't mean I don't wanna kill him, I'll at least try to thank him first. Even a monster must have manners.

Thinking about that wolf, I couldn't help but smile. He had challenged the very nature of the godly world with his statement, but how much of it was the truth and how much were just empty words I didn't know.

"Medusa, I see you host the Praetors of Rome, this displeases me. monsters mingling with demigods is an abomination of nature, but I do see an opportunity here. They speak of saving the Titans? This will work against my plans. Killing Percy will have to wait. You must be rid of these demigods. Killing them here won't be easy with so many of them. Convince them to let you accompany them and once you have found the Titans report their location back to me, I'll be busy with certain matters for a while so use an iris message to contact me when you do" speaking of the devil… So he wants me to stop them from saving the Titans? I thought he was one for sure. Perhaps He still is, some Titans aren't very united.

Well guess I'm going on a road trip, why can't I have one peaceful lifetime. I don't even really want to help Mr. Mysterious, but I have no choice.

I'm sorry Damian I truly am.