𝒍𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒛𝒆 - pjo x hp [₂]

xlii. here kitty, kitty

"𝐖𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘," 𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐀 𝐒𝐔𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃. Zoe had hoarded the members of the quest into one of the Camp vans, refusing to explain where Phoebe was until they were settled. Before starting up the van, she explained her 'land without rain' theory, and how that must have been Phoebe.

No one believed it. Especially not Raya.

But Zoe was adamant, "No. He is not part of the quest, and I refuse to take him along."

And then she slammed the foot on the gas and sped off. Raya nearly toppled into Kayse, but she managed to steady herself at the very last second, much to Kayse's disappointment.

"After the pit stop, I'm driving," Raya called out, her tone not really leaving any room for argument.

In response, Zoe simply sped up, driving as if she had a death wish.

"Merlin, she's a mad woman," Kayse muttered under his breath, before furrowing his brow. "Girl? I don't actually know how to refer to her."

Raya shrugged, "Doesn't matter. I don't think she cares. Besides, she refers to even acknowledge you as human, so I think you're alright."

Kayse snorted, rolling his eyes as he laughed to himself. "Alright then. But if she tries to put an arrow through me for it, I'm blaming you."

The group drove and drove and drove, playing Uno and eating Raya's granola bars while trying not to fall over every time Zoe ran right over a pothole. After what was simultaneously too long and too short of a time, they arrived in Maryland for a pitstop. Mostly because Grover decided it was a good place to do his tracking song.

The group filed out of the car, and then went to the convenience store, where they bought some hot chocolate while Grover did his thing. A minute later, he spoke.

"Washington."

Raya, who knew nothing about American geography, merely nodded, spinning the keys to the van in her hand. She had nicked them off of Zoe, since she was pretty sure the other girl was not going to hand it over otherwise.

Then Kayse spoke, "I thought we were going west."

"Mhm," Raya nodded. "That's what the prophecy says."

"Washington isn't west," he frowned.

Everyone blinked, suddenly realizing that this was indeed an issue. Raya didn't know a single thing about this country, so she decided to stay quiet while the Americans discussed. In the end, they'd gotten their hot chocolate and it was time to move on. Grover's tracking song was the best bet.

"Grover, are you sure?" Thalia asked again as they left the store.

"Well... pretty sure. Ninety-nine percent. Okay, eighty-five percent."

"And you did this with acorns?" Bianca asked, like she couldn't believe it.

Grover looked offended. "It's a time-honored tracking spell. I mean, I'm pretty sure I did it right."

"Of course you did it right," Raya patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"D.C. is about sixty miles from here," Bianca said. "Nico and I..." She frowned. "We used to live there. That's... that's strange. I'd forgotten."

"I dislike this," Zoe said. "We should go straight west. The prophecy said west."

"Oh, like your tracking skills are better?" Thalia growled.

Zoe stepped toward her. "You challenge my skills, you scullion? You know nothing of being a Hunter!"

"Oh, scullion. You're calling me a scullion? What the heck is a scullion?"