Note: WHAT!? THE AUTHOR IS FINALLY GOING TO FINISH THIS? Yes I am. Trust me I will finish this mini-story before Christmas.
Enjoy.

A day went by as our five heros walked north to Thebes, one of the rival cities or Athens. Every hour closer to the city, but every hour someone complained.

"Are we there yet Petra?" Axl would asked.

"No, not even close. But we are getting closer." Petra would answer.

The quest just kept going, one day turned into a week and still no city of Thebes. Axl and Ox Blood where going to turn back but Lukas and Olive forced them to stay. But no matter if they stayed or not, Thebes was still not in sight.

"Petra should we just turn back? I mean being a god could be fun! People will make a temple for you and make sacrifices! You'll get to live on Olympus! That's way better than your current life don't you think?" Ox Blood asked.

Petra stopped and looked at the satyr with cold eyes. Almost growling she barked, "Why should I care about all that crap? I don't want people building anything in my honor or sacrifices be made. We already give up the best parts of our cattle and boars to the gods. Why make it a higher demand? And Olympus? I could care less about living in a giant palace above the sky, with other God's no less. What would I even be the god of? I would just be kicked out like Hades or Apollo. Or be kidnapped like Persephone."

"If what your mother said was true then Aires lives up there. From my knowledge he sleeps around with other goddesses like Aphrodite all the time. He sounds like a complete dog. Not the cute kind, I mean the big evil three headed one," Lukas pointed out.

"All the more reason to have me turn back into a mortal. I'll be damned if I turn up like him. I won't look a day over eighteen, wandering the earth like a lonely mutt. No one to rely on either, I'd outlive all my friends. I'll never die! What's the point of living if you can't die? Answer me that satyr man," Petra growled some more before continuing to walk North.

Ox Blood tried to pick up the conversation again but just dropped it after Petra gave him a second stare. He swore you could see fire in her eyes, or was that just in her soul?

The journey continued, more days past and more supplies where being used. All seemed hopeless until finally in the distance you could see it. The city of Thebes, standing in the distance. They where ecstatic, Axl, Ox Blood, Lukas, and Olive couldn't stop dancing with joy when they saw the city. Petra just stared at the city waiting for her friends to finish and realize what waits ahead. For the city was still an hour walk away. But, they didn't give up so easily. They walked with whatever little energy they had left and finally made it into Thebes.

Entering the city was the easy part, getting around it was a different story. People moving around the city, carts pulling goods, and shops selling goods. Noise was in every corner, no matter where you turned there would always be something going on.

Olives eyes lit up as they wandered through the city. Regardless if her legs hurt, she was amazed by how Athens could be enemies with such a beautiful place. Even the donkey looked impressed, although it was clearly tired. Lukas on the other hand was more focused of gathering more supplies, like food and water. Axl and Ox Blood looked at the women who passed by with their husbands. Petra didn't even stop to admire the city or the people in it. She just kept moving through the crowd to try and find the person she was looking for. Although at this rate and with that many people, finding someone you know seems impossible. It was a mystery how people could find someone they know in a city like this, or Athens.

Axl and Ox Blood quickly stopped staring, for some of the men started to make threatening gestures. The two sort of surrounded Petra. Axl walking ahead of her and Ox Blood walking behind. They looked more like bodyguards than pranksters like this. People split like the red sea as our heros walked through the streets. Who knows why they did that, maybe because they were outsiders, or that the way Axl and Ox Blood where walking around Petra, she looked important? Like the philosopher Ivor says, "The people of Greece is a mystery for a whole 'nother generation. Their actions and ways of thinking have still yet to amuse me. As a man of knowledge I'm not proud of admit... These people are a riddle to me."

The more they walked the more out heros grew tired, so tired to the point where Axl had to carry Lukas and Olive. As much as Petra would've loved to be carried, she kept walking and wouldn't stop until she was mortal again. Or at least until an abrupt stop got her back on her guard. A giant lion looking bird flew over head above the entire city. People panicked as they ran indoors, or hid inside barrels. One person who jumped into a barrel of water was a victim of the giant creatures wrath. It swooped down picking up the barrel and threw it upward. Only as the barrel started to fall, it broke and the person was screaming with all the air they had.

All looked grim for the poor person. Until luckily, Petra climbed onto a roof and caught the guy before they hit the ground. Of course even with Petras god like strength she still fell off the roof, but the person was safe none the less. Although the person ran away in fear for the giant monster was sitting on the tops of multiple buildings, it was that big. But the monster was one that was all to familiar with Lukas, it was a Sphinx. A beast with the body of a lion, wings of an eagle, but the face of a woman. Petra pulled out her sword and the two brothers put up their fists expecting a fight. All while Olive hid behind the donkey and Lukas wrote all this down on a scroll.

The Sphinx had an evil grin on her face and with a swish of her lion tail she spoke, "If I am wine and you a grape, Oidipous a raisin and your friends a vine. What will this make you?"

Petra put her sword down, confused by the riddle. Looking over at Lukas for some answers only ended up with disappointment for even he didn't know the answer. Or if he did he wouldn't notice, Lukas was too busy writing down everything that was happening.
Clearly the brothers didn't have a clue for they where considered "Retarded". Only when Olive got out of hiding is when the answer arose. "Time! The answer is time," Olive answered, "you are wine for you are the oldest but wise with it, Oidipous is raisin since he has died from it, her friends are a vine to show that she'll break apart from it. Philia herself is a seed for she'll grow into a grape through it."

Everyone stared at the demigod as she hid back behind her animal companion. The Sphinx laughed and looked at Petra. With a voice of thunder she boomed, "I come back to the city to have some good fun, for my riddles are difficult and the ratio is 2000 to 1. For whoever solves my riddle I'll leave for good and I'll never come back for centuries to come," with an evil laugh she licked her lips at Petra, "I'll enjoy watching you fail Philia and face a terrible fate. For you will be eaten and that cannot be replaced. A new grape for me to munch and the pain in your eyes will be sweet. For without the help of your friends your chance of surviving is a million to none!" Hitting her paws against the roofs the Sphinx flew up into the sky and glided with the wind to the West.

As Lukas finally looked up from his writings he walked over to Petra and patted her shoulder. As he took a breath he realized that he couldn't speak. No matter how   much he tried the words would not come out, same with Olive.

"That bird lady put a curse on Lukas and Olive!" Axl panicked.

"Why didn't we get cursed?" Ox Blood asked.

Petra sighed, "Because you two are complete idiots, you wouldn't be able to solve a riddle if your life depended on it. Which in this situation it does, so when I go to confront the Sphinx and answer her riddle you two stay as far away as possible. And for the love of Olympus don't try to answer it! She will eat you!"

Axl and Ox Blood now clear on their instructions just nodded and watched Petra as she stood on a not destroyed barrel. "People of Thebes," Petra started as people started to come out of hiding, "I Philia promise to solve the Sphinx riddle and make sure that it stays out of Thebes... forever!" Some people cheered at the thought of not having another Sphinx attack again, while others were skeptical of this outsider. One the of them even pushing through the crowd and made their way to Petra. Though you can hear some whispers from the citizens like 'Isn't that Nikes girl?' or 'Ain't she one of those Demigods?'

The person who turned out to be a girl made her way to the opening. She wasn't necessary tall, about normal hight for someone her age. She had raven black hair, and light green eyes. Wearing white robes that made her look more royalty and innocent than she actually was. She walked around the barrel Petra was standing on and spoke to her fellow citizens, "People of Thebes, I am Andrianna. Or better known as Jesse daughter of the goddess Nike. I walk here today to remind you of a threat that happened long ago. When that Sphinx cursed our city and would not leave until somebody answered her riddle. We all remember Oidipous right? Brave, wise, awesome Oidipous. Remember that he was one of us, the people of Thebes! Shouldn't one of us go and defend is all? Instead of an outsider doing it for us?"

Axl shoved Jesse out of the way and stood up for Petra. "Just because Pe- I mean Philia isn't the daughter of some god doesn't mean she can't save you guys! She wants to help you!"

Petra let out a sigh of relief, "Thank you Ax-"

But she was cut off by Axls pride, "I mean this is Philia we're talking about! Didn't Hermes come with a message saying 'Hey an important person is coming!' didn't he? Because this is Philia, God of the mortals!" With that Petra lost faith in the son of Markos.

Instead of the gasp and praise Axl was expecting to get when he said 'god' instead everyone laughed. Jesse trying to gasp for breath couldn't stop laughing, "You got to be kidding me. Ha! God? Her? Impossible! Besides it would be goddess, how stupid are you? Everyone knows the difference! Hahaha!"

But Axl refusing Ox Bloods warnings to calm down wouldn't take Petra being made fun of lightly. "She is a goddess go ahead a punch her then! It's true! If she was a mortal she would fall on her back instantly! But if she's a god then she won't even flinch!"

Petra tried to get calm her enraged friend, "Axl just sto-"

Now this time Jesse interrupted, "Fine I'll punch her! You know why? Because she's just a mortal dressed up in nice armor, and I'm a Demigod. Watch how it's done buddy!"

At this point Petra was pissed but didn't want to let this Jesse enjoy seeing her crack. So Petra being a genius sat on the barrel and looked bored. It was only when Petra yawned it was the kicker, "So? Who were you again? The daughter of Nike? She's not even part of the big twelve, she may be strong but not like Aries. You may be her daughter but I'm the child of Aries god of war, and I now have god like strength. I feel no pain you little tree branch. So go on, hit me with your best shot."

Jesse or any child of Nike doesn't like being called things like 'little tree branch'. It makes them sound weaker than they actually are. So Jesse punched Petra with all her strength, but Petra didn't move. So she punched her again and again, but Petra refused to move and she didn't feel a thing. It frightened some of the city people so they ran away, in fear of being trapped in a goddesses rage. The more Jesse hit the more her fists started to hurt, and the more people watched Jesse give it her all but fail chased them away, until there was nobody left. Just Jesse, Petra, Lukas, Olive, the brothers, and the donkey.

"Give up yet little tree branch?" Petra mocked.

Jesse who was now on her knees and with broken hands looked up at Petra. Fear in her eyes she asked, "Who... who are you?"

Petra grabbed Jesses hands and popped them back into place, but with a painful sounding cracking sound which made Jesse yelp. Looking like witchcraft Jesse moved her hands around, being able to use her hands again just after they've been dislocated or worse possibly broken. Although with every good thing comes a price, with another loud cracking sound Jesse screamed out in pain for her hands where still particularly broken. Though in her pain Petra was laughing.

Jesse looked back up at Petra and growled, "Oh so you get pleasure in seeing me in pain. Typical Aries children!"

Petra grabbed Jesses hands again, although this time with a smile she said, "Jesse, I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you. Pain is best something to laugh about, not to cry over. We should cry for people we've lost, people we never knew. Not because your hurt, I thought you were a child of Nike. Strength, Speed, and Victory call for you. Don't let a little hand problem hurt you, Jesse."

As Petra stood up from the barrel she dragged Jesse up with her, and let go of her hands to put an arm around her. "Jesse, this is my group of tough and mostly rough Demigods. Ox Blood the Satyr, Axl the only mortal, Olive my sister who's the daughter of Hephaestus, and Lukas son of Athena. Well of course there's myself, daughter of Aries."

Ox Blood greated Jesse but was ignored as she passed him by. Axl didn't really care, same with Olive. But it was Lukas that Jesse has the most interest in. Leaning against him and talking to him, "Son if Athena huh? That's cool, must be great being so smart. Yeah I'm not much of a 'bookworm' like some of the other people in Thebes. I'm more of a... Competition and victory type of person, being the offspring of Nike and all."

Lukas just stared at the girl who continued to talk to him. Since he couldn't speak he just ignored her and thought to himself, For the love of the gods this girl is annoying. Maybe she's just trying to be friendly? Why not go to Ox Blood then? He's actually trying to be nice, while I'm stuck here with that stupid Sphinx curse! He am I supposed to communicate if I can't talk? I can't imagine anything worse than this... except right now. Was Jesse her name? She's cute but she is really... really annoying. I don't care about hearing her whole past right now. Wait did I just call her cute? I mean I guess? Well I'm not much of a romantic anyway, that's Aphrodites thing. I don't want to be a part of that dependent line. Even if most of her children are hot! Oh for the love of scrolls I just called all of Aphrodites children hot... even the guys. But they're so stuck up though. Wait what is Jesse doing now?!

Jesse continued to talk to Lukas although he clearly didn't want to be with her at the moment, Petra stepped in and dragged Jesse away from Lukas. But that didn't stop her from winking at him.

Petra walked with Jesse far away enough so they wouldn't hear them. "Jesse I don't know if you noticed but Lukas and Olive are stuck with a Sphinx curse and they can't talk. Don't make this uncomfortable for them... especially Lukas. He isn't much of a social boar if you get what I'm saying."

"Philia was it? Listen I've been living in this city all my life, ever since my mother gave me to my father I've lived in this city. And I may not be the brightest guy but I know a thing or two about Sphinx curses. Just tell me how they got the curse."

"Well Olive answered the Sphinx riddle, the Sphinx said something about another riddle. She flew away but before she did it slammed it paws into some buildings and-"

Jesse cut off Petra's explanation, "They're cursed because the Sphinx doesn't want them helping you. She clearly wants you to solver a riddle. So if you solve the riddle correctly then the curse is lifted. If you don't and you get eaten the curse lasts forever. It's simple really! But speaking of speaking, what does Lukas' voice sound like?"

"Get it together Jesse! It's like Aphrodite sent Eros to shoot you with one of his love arrows. You don't want to end up like psyche do you?"

"And become a goddess? Yeah"

"But do you really want to sort seeds, almost get killed by sheep, dragons, and Hades but only to be tricked at the end and die?" Petra asked.

"... good point. So whats the plan?"

"Woah woah woah! Who said you were coming with us? This is a godly mission. Get it?"

"Look Philia, I'm the only one who's s demigod, believes you are a goddess, and knows a whole lot about the sphinx that is willing help you."

"... Damn you have a good point. Okay so this is my plan. We spend the night in Thebes and tomorrow we head West to where the Sphinx went," Petra explained.

"Not the best plan but who am I to judge. You all can stay in my place for the night, yes there's a place for the donkey."

As Petra ran over to the rest of the gang with the news, Jesse watched as they all jumped with joy. The sun was already starting to set when the group finally made it to Jesses home that was all the way across the city. Everyone flopped down onto the hay filled sacks Jesse had and everyone was out like a light, even the donkey who laid down to rest. Well all except for Petra who was looking at the stars from outside wondering about back home. How was her mom and spot? Would Athens be safe without her? Was Aries really her father? Would she ever become mortal again? So many questions yet limited answers. But every hour Petra gets closer and closer to the answers.

Looking over into Jesses' home you could, see all the friends in the moonlight. Ox Blood and Axl were laying on top of each other like bears. Olive slept by herself, same with the donkey. It was only Jesse and Lukas that caught Petras eye. Jesse who had her own room was sleeping really close to Lukas, almost snuggling him. Petra would have to keep a close eye on her.

To be continued...

Thank you Shadowolf1712 for giving me the idea of Jesses godly parent.