A/N: First of all, i just want people to know that The Penderwicks are not my characters. I loved the Penderwick books, and the PJO books, and I thought it would be awesome to bring them together. but i didn't put it in the crossover section, because the Penderwick books aren't that popular, so i didn't think anyone would read it if it was under "Penderwick and Percy Jackson Crossover". Anyways. . .

I know this isn't the best first chapter. i had to introduce characters, and get the story rolling (which i hate doing- i'd rather just start in the middle :) I know that the explanations in later chapters are very confusing, so i hope those of you who don't understand will tell me. i know that i don't really give the characters justice in this chapter, but i hope to do that in later chapters. and don't worry, there will be plenty of Camp Half-Blood later!

So, yes, please just read (and review if you want) my writing style in this chapter is very old fashioned, but thats only because i'm mainly on the Penderwicks. when theres some demi-god action going on, it will be more laid back.

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or the Penderwicks, or anything else for that matter!

The four Penderwick sisters lay on the green grass, staring up at the sky in Quigly woods. It was a clear, sunny June day, and a soft breeze blew through the clearing, adding just the perfect touch to an almost perfect day. School had ended that afternoon, and each sister was harbouring her own ideas as to what they would do that summer. 14 year old Rosalind was planning on spending as much time with her boyfriend Tommy as possible. She was already organizing a picnic for the coming week. 13 year Skye was extremely excited to look at the stars every night with their step-mother, Iantha, for she was wanted to become an astrophysicist when she was older, and thought that examination of the sky was a good place to start. Jane, who was just one year younger than Skye, had already started writing her new book. But this time she was branching out. It was to be her first novel not about Sabrina Starr, her very daring heroine. No, this book was to be fantasy, involving beast and monsters. And 6 year old Batty? Well, she was going to continue working on her music all summer through. With maybe a little bit of playing with their dog Hound in between. And, of course, each sister was hoping to have many adventures with their dear friend Jeffery Tifton. They had met Jeffery several summers ago, and he had been like a brother to them ever since. He went to a boarding school in Boston, but he was arriving next week to spend all of July with them. His mother was going on a trip to Africa with her Jeffery's stepfather (not for charity, as one might expect), and so, after much argument, she agreed to let him stay with the Penderwicks, a decision all of them were happy about.

"Do you think Mrs.T-D will cancel like she did last summer?" Jane asked.

"If she does, we'll just have to go get him," replied Skye, who almost definitely would have done just that.

"I doubt she will Jane," said Rosalind. "Where else would he stay? Dexter's going with her, and Churchie's going to California." Churchie was the Tifton's housekeeper and cook.

"Good," said Batty. "I want to show Jeffery my Minuet in G Major." Jeffery was also a musician.

They lapsed once again into silence. Skye was just opening her mouth to give and interesting fact about the sky they were looking at, when a shadow passed over the sun. All of them looked toward it , but what they expected to be a cloud had a very un-cloud-like shape. The edges were too sharp, too prominent, and it had a very distinct shape. Each jumped to a different conclusion. Rosalind, ever the sensible one, immediately assumed it was a plane flying low- she didn't take into account the fact that it wasn't making any noise. Skye thought maybe it was a comet flying toward Earth, even though it wasn't in anyway round, or fiery. Batty just assumed it was a giant bird. And Jane had wild thoughts about a fantastical creature with large, feathery wings. In the end, Jane turned out to be the closest.

The large shape circled round and round, and then began to descend. When it started to draw closer, Rosalind stood and pulled Batty to her feet.

"Guys, c'mon," she said to her other sisters, a note of urgency in her voice. Immediately, they were on their feet. They jogged away, simply wary of the approaching shape. But even when they moved, it followed them.

They started to run when they heard it. The horrible sound was like a mixture of a snake's hissing, and a rabid animal's spitting. And even though none of them could believe what they were seeing, they ran even faster when they got a closer look. Leathery skin. Huge wings, with molted, black feathers. Claws with three inch nails. It was wearing what looked like a bunch of rags. Its face was deformed, with ugly green eyes, and a thin lipped mouth. It was smiling slightly, moving in for the kill.

Batty screamed. Jane swiftly pulled her onto her back, despite her own fear.

But it was no good. In fact, the monster was floating along leisurely, and seemed to be amused with their attempted escape. They were still deep in the woods. It would take them at least a few minutes more to make it back to their street, even running. They all knew it. Which was why Skye suddenly stopped in her tracks, and turned around.

She cringed when she saw the thing again, but knew there was no time for dawdling. Whatever this. . .thing was, it obviously wanted to hurt them. She grabbed the first thing she thought of –a branch lying on the ground- and hurled it at the monster. The projectile threw it off- balance. Then Rosalind caught on. She bent down, picked up a rock, and threw it. She did it again and again, while Skye threw the sticks again and again. Jane stopped a little ways ahead, but couldn't try anything because Batty was on her back. And to tell the truth, the older sisters could have used her help. Despite both their efforts, the monster was merely annoyed. It lunged at them, and tried to grab their hair. They were quick, and even though they couldn't hurt it, they could at least avoid the monster. But they both knew they could grow tired before it. They needed to think of something, and quick.

Frustrated by their lack of success, Skye racked her brain for solutions. Now, usually, Skye was very good at this. Even under pressure. But she had never been in a life threatening situation before, and so she had no practice at working under that kind of pressure. So it took her a while to come up with the obvious way of help. But she did, eventually.

She reached into her pocket, and pulled out her bronze Swiss Army knife, something she had carried since it was given to her when she was eleven. She flicked it open and charged the monster.

Her sisters watched awestruck as she battled with the thing, weaving in and out of its claws, slashing it in the process. Rosalind tried to run in when Skye first got cut, but she yelled at her to leave it, for she had no weapon. Fortunately, she had no time to agree or disagree. The monster looked over at the possibility of enemy reinforcements. Skye took the one second of opportunity, and jabbed it in the ribs. Almost immediately, it disintegrated into dust.

Skye looked at her sisters, her eyes wide with horror. Jane and Batty drifted over, and Jane let Batty down. The four sisters looked at each other.

"Are group hallucinations even possible?" Skye asked, still breathing hard.

"I don't think that was a hallucination," Rosalind replied darkly. There was a pause. If anyone were to have come up with a reasonable explanation, it would have been Rosalind. Now that she had vetoed the only one, everyone was at a loss for words.

Jane broke the silence. "Then what was it?" she asked.

"A really messed up animal?" suggested Skye hopefully.

"With wings and clothing?" Rosalind pointed out.

"Well, what else could it have been?" No one answered. They stood there in the woods, shivering despite the summer sun.

"I think we're going crazy," whispered Jane

"Calm down," said Rosalind. "It's okay. No one's hurt." Then she glanced at Batty, who hadn't said a thing. Her eyes were hollow, just staring at the ground. "Batty, honey, are you alright?" she asked, concern in her voice. Batty didn't answer. Rosalind looked up at her other sisters. "We need to get her back to the house. Now."

"What will we tell Daddy?" Skye asked.

"The truth," Rosalind replied, picking up Batty.

"He'll never believe us! I don't even believe us!"

"Skye." Rosalind grabbed her arm. "Seriously. We just need to get back to the house. Then we can sort it out."

So the girls trudged back to their beloved Gardam Street. No one talked. Each was still thinking about the monster. And how their almost perfect day had turned into an almost fatal day.