§ Tasha's POV §

   I was really excited for the quest. I hadn't been on one since the quest where Lovey and I became friends. It was a simple quest, helping Grover and Gleeson Hedge bring a couple of demigods to camp. Not anything prophecy-worthy though.

"Tasha? Tasha!" Mark exclaimed, waving his hand in front of my face. I snapped back into reality, and found myself looking into the son of Athena's warm chocolatey eyes.

"Sorry, I was thinking," I muttered, looking down at my breakfast. I could feel myself blushing. I couldn't look at Mark properly after what Jack had said yesterday.

"Oooh I ship it," Lovey said. I glanced at her, my face reddening even more when I saw her wiggling her eyebrows.

"Shuddup," I hissed, proceeding to attack my french toast with a fork.

   When breakfast was over, Lovey, Jack, Mark and I walked down to the beach. Docked near the pier was a smallish sailing ship, probably less than half the size of the Argo II.

"Poseidon provided this for your journey. You will have a small crew of satyrs to help you as well. Piper McLean has also given you this, to help with your journey," Chiron said, holding out a cornucopia.

"Wow, thanks. To Poseidon, Piper and the satyrs," Lovey replied, accepting the cornucopia. The entire camp was there to see us off. I'd told Percy about the Polyphemus part of the prophecy, and he'd given us the coordinates to the Sea of Monsters, which were 30° 31'N 75° 12'W. Leo Valdez had given us a couple of vials of Greek fire, as well as a few of his crazy grenades and a navigation device.

"We'll see you guys soon!" I called, a little unsure about the words that left my mouth. Lovey had told me about her dream, about how we only had six days, and I was panicking inside. Percy used his powers to push us off, and he pushed us into open water, where the sails filled with air. Jack appeared next to me.

"We are going to see them again... right?" he asked nervously. I turned to see his blue eyes filled with worry.

"Of course we are, Jackaboy! We're gonna find the island, rescue Hephaestus and Athena, and kick some Cyclopes butt!" I exclaimed, a broad grin stretched across my face. In reality, I didn't know for sure. I mean, the ultimate number for a quest is three... and no matter how many leave, usually only three return. The prophecy of the seven was a different story, I know, but still. I was very uncomfortable.

"You guys do remember what I said about Polyphemus not being at his island... right?" Lovey asked, walking up to us.

"Yeah, but it might give us an idea to where he's going. I mean, isn't one of Hephaestus' forges near the island?" I asked. Jack looked at Lovey and I like we were nuts, but he said nothing.

"Still... I think we should IM Thalia first," Lovey replied. I nodded. We called Mark over, and I got my glass prism out.. We sprayed some water to make a rainbow.

"Fleecy, do me a solid and show me Thalia," Lovey muttered, throwing a drachma into the multi-colored mist. The mist shimmered, and revealed a girl with dark hair and punk clothing, with a silver circlet around her head.

"Hi Thalia!" I called. The daughter of Zeus turned around, and smiled widely.

"Hey Natasha! Hey Lovey! How's everything at camp?" she asked.

"We aren't at camp. We've been sent on a quest to free Athena and Hephaestus, which is why we called you. Our prophecy mentioned something about Polyphemus gathering a group of Cyclopes to overthrow Olympus, but I said the Cyclopes wouldn't be on Polyphemus' island, because there aren't any forges there. We thought Lady Artemis might be able to help us, since she tracks down monsters and stuff," Lovey explained. Thalia's face became serious.

"I'll ask her quickly, before she leads the next search party," she said, walking out of the IM's range. Lovey and I exchanged looks with the boys as we heard chatter in the back ground. Then, of all people, Lady Artemis stepped into our view.

"Hello girls. And... boys," Artemis said, noticing Mark and Jack. Lovey and I bowed, motioning for the boys to do the same.

"Lady Artemis, I apologize if we are keeping you from something important, but we need your assistance," I said respectfully. She asked us for the prophecy, which Mark recited from memory.

"My brother, always cryptic with his prophecies, seems to have given you quite a simple one. Yes, it definitely speaks of Polyphemus, but he left his island about a year ago, and I lost track of him. I'm afraid I cannot help you find him... but if the prophecy is to be believed, then I'd try looking in Hephaestus' forges. I do know of one near Polyphemus' island, you should try there first," the goddess suggested. I sent Lovey a smug look.

"Thank you, Lady Artemis," Lovey replied, and Artemis ended the IM.

"So Tasha was right, then," Jack said, earning a glare from the daughter of Athena.

"Fine, maybe she was. But I was right about Polyphemus not being at his island," she retorted. Mark and I started laughing.

"Relax, Lovey. You were both right," Mark grinned. Lovey sighed.

"Come on, it's a long way to the Sea of Monsters. We'd better keep ourselves busy until then," she said, going below deck. Mark and Jack followed her, but I climbed up to the crow's nest and scanned the horizon. The satyr crew scurried around beneath the mast, hoisting sails, steering the ship, and doing whatever else had to be done.

"Poseidon? If you're listening, please give us safe passage through your domain. Help us get to where we need to be. Please..." I prayed softly, staring at the glittering waters. The steady rocking motion of the ship made me drowsy, and before long, I fell asleep.

~
   My dream started off like they all did: a six year old me running for my life. Then, it shifted. I was now in a room. No, make that a forge. Hammering away at what looked like an axe, was the god of the forges himself.

"Hephaestus?" I asked incredulously. He looked terrible. Shackled to the floor, his sanctuary had become his prison. Golden ichor dribbled from cuts and wounds all over his body, and his leg-brace was dented and warped. The god looked up.

"Hmph, a child of Khione. Typical. I suppose you're leading the quest to save me, then?" he asked gruffly. I shook my head.

"No, a son of Athena is. Gods, what have they done to you?!" I exclaimed. Hephaestus sighed.

"It doesn't matter. You have to find us, Natasha, even if you only manage to release Athena. She needs to make that meeting with Zeus. Yes, the Cyclopes will be powerful with my weapons, but with Athena's strategies to boot, they'll be unstoppable," he said.

"But how? How can four demigods rescue two gods from a whole army of Cyclopes?" I asked desperately. The god of the forges tossed me a bronze disk - a locket, by the looks of it.

"This will help you-" he cut off, hearing the clang of a door unlocking. "They're coming to check on my progress. Go, NOW!"
~

   The god's yell woke me up. I was curled up in the crow's nest. As I sat up, the bronze locket from my dream fell to the floor. I picked it up, but before I had the chance to take a good look at it, the ship jolted.

"Tasha! Come quick!" Lovey shouted, 'We've seen land!"