A/N: Sorry for the slight delay in updating, this story got pushed back a bit with my others that I'm working on, but I haven't forgotten about it.. it just might be a little slower in updates than the others. Thanks for all who've reviewed and stayed following so far.
Disclaimer: Don't own nuthin..
The five of us departed down the hill where Thalia's Pine stood, well aware that Chiron believed our beginning destination to be the land of the Amazons. Only Carina and Stephanie really seemed comfortable with that thought, as far I could tell though. I couldn't really blame them though, it was a well known fact that girls were easily accepted by the amazonian women, while men were generally either killed or castrated on sight. A very mind numbing thought that Chiron had so wonderfully left us all with.
I silently checked the map I had been given, seeing as it would be rather bad to get lost trying to just get to our initial destination.
"So where exactly does that map say we gotta head to again?" Leon laughed nervously as he asked the question, to which I casually replied.
"Louisiana."
Steph and Carina both groaned at the location but Austin got slightly enthused by the prospect.
"Yo man, why you gettin so cheery for?" Leon said with a smirk to Austin.
"Simple, I'm from Louisiana." We all shared a few glances back and forth as we made our way towards the JFK International airport in the camp van.
"So what's the plan?" Steph asked with a mischievous smile, which could mean anything from she was curious and excited about seeing new things or that she couldn't wait to pickpocket lots of southerners.
My guess was that she wanted to do some easy looting.
"Once we reach Louisiana, it should take about three hours to reach New Orleans and then we just head towards the coast and into the swamps." Austin smirked with the thought.
"Swamps?" I couldn't help but ask with a nervousness in my voice. "Like with crocodiles and Bigfoot?"
Austin laughed while Carina and Stephanie both rolled their eyes at me.
"Crocodiles, hardly. You might be lucky enough to spot an alligator or two though." The girls couldn't help but snicker as my expression from Austin's correction of swamp monsters.
"Besides, Alex.." Carina started in. "Alligators will be the least of your worries, once you get near the Amazons and the other monsters we're sure to encounter."
We all laughed at this remark as we climbed into the white van, but Argus didn't join us. I couldn't help but look back at the others with a touch of concern.
"So, who wants to drive?"
Leon popped me in the back of the head playfully. "You're the oldest pal, why not give it a shot."
With a slight cringe I got into the drivers seat for only a moment before Chiron appeared at the top of the hill. This made me get back out of the van, along with the others as he trotted down towards us.
"Since none of you are of driving age and Argus can't travel too far from the camp, we arranged for some Pegasus to lend out a hoof."
I shared a high five with Leon as a group of white Pegasus landed near us, but I only counted four of them. This caused me to pause and look at Chiron curiously.
"Only four.. but there are five of us." I couldn't help but state the obvious.
"No, no. The other Pegasus should be here shortly, but she's always had trouble with arriving on time." Chiron calmly stated back at me with a smile.
We waited for a couple of minutes, as all my friends got saddled up and ready to ride. Finally, a sleek, black Pegasus appeared through the clouds and landed near me.
Hello, young lord. The voice was definitely female and I vaguely remembered some of Annabeth's stories about Percy having talks with his Pegasus.
"So, what's your name?" I asked the black Pegasus, earning a few odd glances from the others.
Nightshade. She replied back mentally to me.
"Lovely name, Nightshade." I smiled back as I climbed onto her back and Chiron waved us off.
So, where are we heading? She asked as we took off heading south.
"Overall, we're going to Louisiana, but anytime you guys need a break just say the word." I patted her mane softly as we flew, the Pegasus adjusting course accordingly.
Word. Came a whinny from one of the Pegasus on the side, causing the others winged horses to mentally laugh along with me.
Let your friends know that you can all rest for a while, we'll wake you up if anything is amiss. Nightshade let me know reassuringly, as I informed the others.
"Hey guys, Nightshade says we can zonk out for a bit. They'll let us know when we land or trouble sparks up." I hadn't realized how tired any of us were, still being so early in the morning. It didn't really take long for any of us to find a comfortable rest, soaring through the cool morning air of the east coast.
It seemed like just a few minutes later when Nightshade woke everybody up with lots of braying.
We're here. She announced proudly.
The sun was starting to dim slightly and I looked around at the countryside with curiosity.
"Where is here, exactly?" I couldn't help but ask with anticipation.
"I think we're in Kentucky." Steph replied with a shiver.
"How about we find a motel or something to hole up in for the night?" Leon asked our group, but the thought struck me as odd.
"What about our rides?" I paused a moment before continuing. "I mean.. do you need to find a place with some stables or something?"
Nightshade didn't say anything, but a Pegasus to her left did, his name was Coffee.
We can take care of ourselves, boss. Just leave it to 'ole Coffee and Beans. I blinked in astonishment, Austin and Leon catching my slight bewilderment.
"What's up Alex, everything smooth?" Austin asked.
"Yeah.. it's all good, just that two of the Pegasus are named Coffee and Beans." This caused small fit of a laughter, but I felt compelled to ask the other names.
Tonio, would be mine. The further one off called to me, when I noticed he wasn't white like the others, but more of a bay color.
My name is Philip. The final Pegasus replied, stomping his foot in the dirt. Everybody always forgets about me though, so no worries if you do too.
I turned to my friends as I ran a hand through my hair embarrassingly. "Well, it seems the rest of our friends names are Philip and Tonio."
The groups of each formally greeted each other, as well as you could, and did a slight switching of pairs based on which Pegasus liked which camper the most. I got to keep Nightshade for myself, but Leon got Tonio and the girls both girl Coffee and Beans, fittingly. Philip and Austin seemed to fit well together as a duo, and I was content to leave everything as that.
"Well, there was a motel not even a mile back, if you want to try there?" Carina spoke up with a slight yawn.
"Sure, I think the bit of rest or planning will serve us well." We all agreed and headed to the motel to make our preparations, promising with our Pegasus to meet them back early in the morning outside of the motel. With those thoughts, we checked in with relative ease. For a group of five teenagers, that is.