Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be seeing the questers continue their journey, with taking a different route than the canon one, leading to new and dangerous encounters, along with some ugly truths, fair warning, it gets dark near the end of the chapter. So, without further ado.

I own nothing

After leaving Aunty Em's, and getting the address to the entrance of the Underworld, the four questers had set out to continue their journey.

At the moment, they were heading towards Pennsylvania, where they'd catch a train to North Carolina. After that they'd make their way through Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona, before finally making it to Los Angeles in California.

Currently, the four were walking through the forest towards Pennsylvania, while planning to catch a bus, if they came across a bus station. Kyoko was walking in the front with Percy, Annabeth and Grover right behind her, with the former two having been silent, ever since the encounter with Medusa.

The two demigods were still processing what they had learned, though Percy was mostly just angry at his father, even more than he already was. Annabeth, meanwhile, was trying to think of any possible explanation that could excuse what her mother did, but they were either impossible to believe, or always showed Medusa was just a victim.

"What else did your mom tell you, Kyoko? Besides about the gods." Percy said, after getting tired of the silence, with Annabeth also being thankful at being pulled from her thoughts.

"Hm? Mostly about monsters, all the ones I would encounter, when I eventually came to Earth." Replied Kyoko, while idly spinning a kunai on her finger.

"Wouldn't you have just learned about those at camp?" Annabeth asked, given all campers were aware of every monster in the Greek Pantheon, so it'd seem kind of pointless to learn about them earlier.

"Just the ones you know of. There are literally hundreds of monsters that exist, Annabeth; some you'd even pass off as actual myths." Kyoko said, having been told by her mother that most of the Greco-Roman Faction doesn't acknowledge other Pantheons.

Something that Kyoko found stupid, since it left a good number of Demigods ignorant and unprepared, should they encounter Monsters and Deities from say, the Norse or Egyptian Pantheons for example.

In fact, one religion that the Greco-Roman Pantheon held a particular hatred and resentment for was the Judeo-Christian Pantheon, for stealing their followers. Which is a major reason why the Gods are now shadows of what they once were in their prime, during the time of Ancient Greece and Rome. Along with why out of all the other Pantheons in the World, it's the Judeo-Christian Religion that they suppressed and influenced their children to dismiss, the most.

"Like what?" Questioned Annabeth, curious of what other monsters there could be, besides the ones she's read about.

"The Wendigo for starters." Answered the Uchiha.

"The what?" Percy asked.

"The Wendigo, Seaweed Brain. A man-eating creature, or evil spirit, from Native American folklore." Said Annabeth, with Kyoko nodding at her words.

"That's right. The Wendigo is a cannibalistic monster that feeds on human flesh. The legend differs on how a Wendigo comes into existence, some say it's a malevolent cannibalistic spirit that possesses humans, or they were actually once humans that physically transform into monsters. But what all the legends have in common, is that a Wendigo is created whenever someone commits the act of cannibalism." Kyoko explained, with the three paling at the idea of someone eating human flesh, and turning into a monster.

"And…what exactly can a…Wendigo do?" Percy asked, wanting to know, in the event he ever encountered one.

"A Wendigo's abilities are pretty standard. They have enhanced strength, durability, and agility. They're also really fast, and can move very quietly to sneak up on their prey, along with being immune to the cold, given Wendigo's usually stay in Northern regions. Finally, Wendigo's have a ravenous and insatiable hunger, never being truly satisfied, and always hunting for prey to devour." Kyoko explained, with her friends shivering at the idea of confronting such a monster.

"We-well, are there any monsters that could be nearby, we should be worried?" Annabeth asked, worried that there could be some strong monsters that she didn't know were real, that could be near them right now.

Kyoko thought about it, going over all the monsters her mother told her about, and which could prove a problem for them. Though the Uchiha paused for a moment, as she remembered just what state they were currently in, and where they currently were.

*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECCCCCHHHHH*

The questers immediately covered their ears, when they heard an ear-piercing scream, sounding like a mix between thousands of nails on chalkboards and a blood-curdling scream

"What the hell is that?!" Percy shouted over the ringing in his ears.

"Nothing good, run now!" Said Kyoko, as they started running through the forest.

As they were running, the demigods and the satyr felt the ground shaking, while hearing something large running towards them. Taking a risk to look back and see what exactly was chasing them, only for Percy, Annabeth and Grover's eyes to widen in horror at the creature they saw.

It was big, probably just a little smaller than a baby elephant, and seemed to be a mix-match of different animals. It had bat-like leathery wings, a forked tail, cloven hooves, a goat-like head, horns, small clawed arms, and a kangaroo-like body. Overall, it was a rather terrifying creature, and worse, it was catching up to them!

"Kyoko, what is that thing?!" Annabeth asked, freaking out over seeing something like this.

"It's not that hard to guess, Annie! Just remember what state we're in!" Kyoko replied, while pulling out a second kunai.

It took a moment for the three to realize what Kyoko meant, before Annabeth screamed in pure frustration.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! THE GODS DAMN JERSEY DEVIL!" Annabeth screamed.

Like they needed another reason to hate Jersey!

"Okay! What can this thing do-WOAH!" Shouted Percy, ducking under a stream of fire that the Jersey Devil unleashed.

"Enhanced strength, speed, dexterity, endurance, stamina, resistance to hot temperature, fire breath, flight, shapeshifting and Demonic Magic! All standard abilities, that a Devil or Demon may have!" Kyoko said, while pulling out some ninja wire, which she tied to the kunai.

"What do you mean standard-?! You know what, never mind! How do we kill it?!" Annabeth asked, not wanting to know what Kyoko meant by those being the standard abilities that Devils, and Demons possess.

She's currently being chased by the Jersey Devil; Annabeth did NOT need to think of Devils or Demons being real as well.

"Gimme a minute, and when you see the signal, kill it!" Kyoko said, while testing her makeshift garrote wire.

"Wait, what signal?!" Percy asked.

"Good luck!" Said Kyoko, before she suddenly vanished in a burst of speed.

"Kyoko!" Annabeth shouted in disbelief.

"Did she seriously just ditch us?!" Grover asked, while freaking out.

Before they could say anything else, the three were forced to jump out of the way, as the Jersey Devil unleashed another blast of flames at them. Rolling out of the way, Percy uncapped Riptide, while Annabeth pulled out her dagger, as the Jersey Devil screeched at them with flames in its mouth.

Suddenly, Kyoko jumped down from a tree branch and landed on the Jersey Devils back, surprising the three. The monster screeched as it tried throwing Kyoko off, while the Uchiha quickly wrapped the garrote around its throat, pulling tightly to choke the Jersey Devil. Not stopping there, Kyoko stabbed the kunai in and out of the monsters wings, ensuring it couldn't try and fly into the air.

Figuring this was the signal Kyoko meant, Percy went to kill the Jersey Devil, something he never thought he'd say. But before he could, Annabeth walked right up to the monster, and stabbed her knife straight into its head.

"I! HATE! JERSEY!" Annabeth shouted, as she stabbed the Jersey Devil repeatedly in the head, only stopping when it finally died and dissolved into dust.

Kyoko, Percy, and Grover looked at Annabeth in disbelief, as she panted heavily in anger, before taking a deep breath and calming down.

"Uh, you good Annabeth?" Grover asked nervously.

"I'm fine, perfectly fine. I mean, we just got chased by the Jersey Devil, something that shouldn't exist! But I'm perfectly fine, now let's just get out of this gods forsaken state." Annabeth said, wanting nothing more than to leave New Jersey.

"Yeah. And here, since you killed it, you might as well get the Spoils of War." Kyoko said, picking up the item the Jersey Devil left behind, and handing it to Annabeth.

It was a blood red metal helmet in the shape of a demonic goat skull with Devil horns sprouting from the side. Looking it over, Annabeth couldn't help but smile in pride at getting a Spoils of War, that no other demigod has likely received. Even better, it came from a monster like the Jersey Devil, one she killed herself.

Though her mood immediately dropped at Kyoko's next words.

"Besides, now you can wear it with your whip, whenever you're satisfying your sadism." Kyoko added.

"I'm not a sadist!" Annabeth shouted, not believing Kyoko was still going on about that.

"Don't worry Annie, I'm sure the next monster we kill will leave behind a leather outfit to complete the look." Assured Kyoko.

"One more word out of you, and I'll use the whip on you!" Annabeth threatened.

"Oh yes, punish me Mistress, I've been a bad girl~" Purred Kyoko, with Annabeth's face turning a bright red, as she glared at Kyoko.

"I hate you, with all of my hate!" Annabeth said, through gritted teeth.

"Awwww, I love you too~!" Sang Kyoko, getting her friend to blush even more in anger and embarrassment, with the chuckles from Percy and Grover not helping.

*Olympus*

Hera sighed as she sat within her temple, sipping a glass of Sake, having developed a taste for it during her time in the Elemental Nations, all while mentally counting back from a hundred.

The reason for this, is she had been keeping a close eye on the quest her daughter and her friends were on, all the way up to when they confronted Medusa. She watched as Medusa revealed the truth of how she was turned into the monstrous Gorgon, Kyoko killing her, and telling Annabeth and Percy that it was true, along with the rest of the true legends Hera told her daughter.

When she saw young Percy Jackson send Medusa's head to Olympus, Hera knew it'd only be a matter of time before the other Olympians piece together just how they knew the truth. And Hera was preparing herself for the coming headache of when Hermes will deliver the head, and the inevitable meeting she'll be summoned to.

'And right on the mark.' Hera thought, sensing a meeting was being called right now.

Downing the rest of her Sake, Hera vanished in a flash of light, reappearing within the Olympian Throne Room. Looking around, she saw all the other Olympians were already present. Not surprising, was most of them were now glaring at her, with Poseidon and Athena being the angriest.

The only ones who weren't glaring were Hephaestus, who was working on one of his inventions, Ares, who was flipping through a weapons catalogue, and Hestia, who was tending to the Hearth, as per usual. Though Hera saw her eldest sister giving her an understanding look.

"Hera! What have you done?!" Zeus demanded, even angrier than he was after the reveal Kyoko was her daughter.

"I told my daughter the truth, about all of us." Stated Hera, knowing what they were talking about, and why they were angry.

"You had no right!" Said Poseidon angry, at Hera for telling Kyoko the true legends of the gods, along with worried that Percy was now aware of the truth behind Medusa.

"I had every right. Kyoko is my daughter and I made sure she would see all of us, exactly as we are, not how you all choose to see yourselves!" Hera retorted.

"And what about yourself, Hera? Did you tell your demigod of your own cruelty?" Athena demanded, believing Hera kept her own cruel acts hidden.

"I told Kyoko about myself first, everything. Driving Hercules insane, throwing Hephaestus off Olympus, I told her all of it, fully knowing she could hate me, but I told her all the same. And yes, Kyoko was horrified to hear all that I had done, but she still loves me. And you know why? Because I was honest about who I was, I didn't tell her lies." Hera said.

"And she just forgave you, sister?" Questioned Demeter, with Hera glancing at her elder sister.

"No, she didn't, not at first. It took some time, but eventually she did forgive me." Hera answered, though that wasn't everything Hera did to prove she was trying to be better.

Back in the Elemental Nations, she and Madara had always told Kyoko to take responsibility for her actions, and the consequences that would come from the choices she would make. This was to make sure to curb any arrogance and pride Kyoko would develop, given her powerful lineage, and so she wouldn't become like the more prideful and arrogant demigod heroes, let alone like Zeus. Along with knowing when she makes a mistake, and to apologize for it.

That had been the same thing Kyoko had told Hera, when her daughter finally spoke to her again, after telling her the truth of the gods. That to prove she was better and has changed. She had to apologize to all the innocent people she has ever hurt, every single one of them.

Which is why, not long after returning from the Elemental Nations, Hera had gone to the Underworld to ask Hades for a favor.

*Flashback*

"Is this all of them?" Hera asked, looking at Hades on his black throne, with the Lord of the Underworld nodding as he looked over the gathered souls in his throne room, all of them either confused as to why they were here, or looking at Hera fearfully

"Yes. It's actually surprising, seeing just how many there were." Hades stated, having not expected possibly dozens and dozens of souls needing to be collected.

It was even more surprising when Hera, now having red hair oddly enough, herself showed up in the Underworld and requested he summon the soul of every single innocent person she's ever wronged. It was definitely not something Hades ever expected, and he had wanted to know just what had caused the sudden change in his sister.

His curiosity only grew when Hera made him swear on Styx, not to reveal what she told him, only to be shocked to learn Hera had actually cheated on Zeus and sired a demigod.

Hades would deny it to the end of time, but it actually took him a few minutes to properly register what he just heard. But when it finally did register, the God of the Dead actually laughed, he laughed at the fact his man-whore brother was for once getting a taste of his own medicine, even better was that Hera not only cheated on Zeus, but sired a demigod as well.

After he had calmed down, Hades had been more than happy to accept Hera's request and began summoning the souls of all the innocents Hera has wronged. Normally, Hades would demand something in return for summoning this many souls, but the news of Hera siring a demigod, more than made up for the request.

Now if only he could be on Olympus, when Zeus learned as well, just to forever memorize his brother's reaction.

Hera took a breath, before stepping forward to address the gathered souls. Looking over them all, Hera winced at seeing the majority of them were in fact women who had caught Zeus's eye, along with even a few of the illegitimate children that were unfortunate enough to die from her plots. She could even see Hercules's family, his first wife Megara and their children, who were killed after she drove him insane.

After her time in the Elemental Nations, Hera realized that the women weren't to blame, only being guilty, or probably unlucky, to have caught Zeus's attention. The children were even less to blame, having not had a choice in who their parents were.

'And they're all terrified of me.' Hera thought, seeing them all look at her with fear, given she had a hand in most of their deaths and torment in life.

Taking a moment to collect herself, Hera began speaking.

"I'm sure you all know me; I am Hera Queen of Olympus. I'm also the reason most of you ended up here, or lived miserable lives. For those of you who were unlucky enough to have gotten the attention of my husband, Zeus. Most of you must be thinking I'm here to make your afterlives as miserable as your lives, but I'm not. The reason I requested my brother to gather you all here, is so I can apologize, for everything." Hera said, seeing all them either looking shocked, or didn't believe her.

"I know this must be a shock for those that know of my pettiness and grudge, you might not even believe that I'm being sincere. But I am, after certain recent events, I realize now that none of you deserved the pain and hardship, I unleashed on you. I know there is nothing I can do to make up for what I've done, only that I can try and be better. I'm sure most of you won't accept it, but I am truly sorry, for everything." Hera said, looking at all the gathered souls.

She knew it was hopeless to expect them to forgive her, after everything she's done, but Hera also knew she had to do this. Both to prove to herself that she wants to be better, and to be a better mother for Kyoko.

*End Flashback*

Hera was right, not all of them had accepted her apology, but all of them had at least been impressed at how far she was willing to go. While it may have taken thousands of years, the Queen of Olympus was at least willing to finally acknowledge her mistakes and ask for redemption.

Though Hera didn't stop there, she had also spoken to Hephaestus for her cruelty against him and throwing him off Olympus. As while they may have made peace with each other, Hera never truly apologized, something she had done after her trip to the Underworld. She had also gone to apologize to Semele, Dionysus's mother, for tricking her into getting Zeus to reveal his true form.

Hera was determined to prove that she wanted to be better, a better mother, a better queen, a better goddess. Something the rest of her family could try and do, rather than continuing to hide behind their own self-righteousness.

Really, the only ones Hera could honestly say have never wronged or killed a mortal, unless they truly deserved it, were ironically enough, Ares, Hades and Hephaestus. Out of them all, those three were never truly in the wrong in their actions; Ares's affair with Aphrodite notwithstanding.

There was also her sister Hestia, but Hera honestly doubted that Hestia had a single mean bone in her body, and gets along with everyone.

'Perhaps now they'll finally start accepting just how terrible we really were.' Hera thought, seeing a few of the Olympians looking deep in thought, or looking down in shame, as they thought over all their past actions.

*Timeskip – One Day*

*With Kyoko, Percy, Annabeth and Grover*

A day has passed, since their encounter with the Jersey Devil, and thankfully, it didn't take them long to reach a bus station and get to Pennsylvania. After that they took a train straight to North Carolina.

Since then, they had either walked or taken buses across North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas. They had even stolen a car, at Kyoko's insistence, with the Uchiha being the one to drive.

It had been an experience to say the least, surprisingly Kyoko didn't get into a single accident. That's not to say Percy, Annabeth and Grover weren't completely terrified, as Kyoko just made a beeline across several states, not stopping once. Thankfully, the car ran out of gas, after they crossed over into Oklahoma, leading to the questers traversing across the states numerous forests.

Kyoko personally enjoyed being out in the wilderness, away from the noise of cities and towns. Though only Grover shared her enthusiasm with being outside, with Annabeth and Percy grumbling at having to climb over giant rocks, cliffsides, and rivers.

Personally, Kyoko didn't see the problem, given she'd been put in more dangerous situations by the time she was walking.

Currently, it was around midday, with the four having found a forest trail, that'd hopefully lead them to a road that'll take them into New Mexico. After that, it'll just be a few more states to traverse, before they reach Los Angeles.

Though as they continued walking, Kyoko narrowed her eyes as the longer they walked, the more it felt like they were being followed. She'd occasionally look behind them to see if she'd catch a glimpse of anything.

"Could you please stop doing that?!" Percy asked, getting tired of Kyoko constantly glancing behind them, since it just put him more on edge than he already was, and felt like any second, something was going to jump out and attack them.

"Sorry, but don't any of you get the feeling we're being followed?" Kyoko asked.

"Only from you constantly looking behind us." Replied Annabeth, with Grover bleating nervously as he looked around.

"She's right guys, I've been smelling monsters, lots of monsters." Grover said.

"Of course there are." Muttered Percy, gripping his pen tightly, ready to turn it into Riptide.

Kyoko, though, felt it was something else, besides just monsters nearby. It literally felt like something was standing right behind her, but every time she looked, there was nothing there.

'Somethings definitely up, whatever this monster is, it's targeting me specifically.' Kyoko thought, as she went over all the monsters that fit the description of the one trailing her.

When Kyoko realized just what it was, she cursed mentally, realizing she'll need to use Mahakala again, if she hoped to be able to kill it.

"Guys, there's a monster following us right now, I know what it is, but I need to go off and kill it, myself. Grover, how many other monsters are trailing us?" Kyoko muttered, not wanting to tip off the monsters, in case they were sentient and smart enough to realize they knew they were there.

"I-I can smell th-three, r-right now." Whispered Grover nervously, with Kyoko nodding as she looked at the three.

"Think you guys can handle the other two, while I deal with mine?" Kyoko asked, with Percy and Annabeth nodding.

"Yeah, we've got this." Percy replied.

Looking at them for a moment, Kyoko nodded, before immediately dashing off into the forest. Like she guessed, the monster she felt watching her, followed after her, making the Uchiha smirk.

'That's right chase me, hide from me, and when the moment arrives, you'll strike.' Kyoko thought, knowing exactly what the monster was, the Hidebehind.

The Hidebehind was a monster that was known to stalk and hunt people that get lost in the forest. Its name came from the fact that it hides behind its prey, and it keeps hiding behind them, waiting for the time to strike. Even if its prey is aware that it, or at least something, is following them, the Hidebehind will always be faster than its prey, when they try looking for it, with the Hidebehind being able to always hide behind them. It would continue stalking its prey, waiting for the moment to strike and kill its prey.

It's abilities included enhanced speed and strength, invisibilty, shapeshifting, and of course, hiding.

Kyoko would be nervous of facing such a monster, but thanks to Mahakala, this time she's the one with the advantage.

Finally, Kyoko stopped in a clearing and unsealed her katana, while activating her Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Okay, you wanna play hide and seek, let's play." Kyoko said twirling her sword in her hand, while constantly looking around her.

She needed to draw the Hidebehind out, before she used Mahakala, given she'd need its exact location, to be able to kill it within her ten second window.

As Kyoko looked around, she could just barely catch a glimpse of something moving quickly out of her sight.

"Speedy little bastard, aren't you." Muttered Kyoko, knowing the Hidebehind wouldn't be coming out, until it was sure it has a chance to kill her.

'Alright fine, you want me come and get me.' Kyoko thought, stabbing her katana into the ground, before closing her eyes and crossing her arms, leaving herself completely open to be attacked, at least as far as the Hidebehind was concerned.

"Come on, come on, come on." Kyoko muttered under her breath, as she channeled Chakra to her ears to hear every sound around her.

For several moments, Kyoko could only hear the sound of the wind, trees and bushed rustling, birds chirping. Then suddenly, everything fell silent around her, with Kyoko tensing up in preparation for the attack she knew was coming.

Not a moment later, Kyoko's eyes snapped open as she shouted.

"Mahakala!"

Picking up her katana, Kyoko turned to get the first glimpse of the illusive Hidebehind.

The Hidebehind was tall, very tall, standing at least twice as tall as a full grown adult. Its arms and legs were literally just bones, with its skin pulled taut against them, clawed hands and feet, disturbing sickle-like protrusions emerging from its palms, a hunched back with sticks poking out of it, and finally a creepy wooden mask-like face, with empty black eye sockets, and its mouth was open, displaying rows of jagged wooden teeth.

Looking at the monster, and possibly being the first person to see it, Kyoko could only think of one thing to say.

"Man, you're one ugly motherfucker. No wonder you like to hide behind people." Kyoko said with a smirk, taunting the beast, before moving in for the kill.

Not wanting to waste another second, Kyoko decapitated the Hidebehind, before cutting its body down the middle, just to be on the safe side and make sure it's really dead.

Once time resumed, Kyoko panted as she watched the Hidebehind's body dissolve into dust, leaving behind the Spoils of War. Picking it up, Kyoko saw it was a dark-brown hooded cloak.

Wanting to see what it could do, Kyoko put the cloak on and pulled up the hood. Looking down at herself, the Uchiha was surprised when she couldn't see her body anymore, and in its place was a dark shadowy form, emitting wisps of shadow-like smoke.

'This'll definitely come in handy.' Kyoko thought, taking the cloak off and sealing it away, knowing she had to get back to the others, in case they needed help with the other monsters.

*With Percy, Annabeth and Grover*

Not long after Kyoko had run off into the forest to deal with her own monster, the remaining three questers had quickly run off in the opposite direction, to hopefully deal with their own monsters.

"Any ideas, Annabeth?" Percy asked as they ran, with Annabeth shaking her head.

"No, not unless I saw what monsters we're dealing with. Normally in this situation, I'd say they were Hellhounds, but given what we've encountered so far, with the Jersey Devil, and there being some unknown monster that Kyoko's dealing with, I don't know. The best I could say, is we split up and hope the monsters split up as well. Grover and I will deal with one, and you deal with the other. Think you handle that, Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth said, with Percy nodding as he uncapped Riptide.

"Yeah, definitely." Replied Percy.

"Alright, you go left, we'll go right." Annabeth said.

Nodding, Percy immediately made a sharp turn and ran off to the left, while Annabeth and Grover ran to the right.

"Grover, is the monster still chasing us?" Annabeth asked, with Grover sniffing the air, and nodding with a shudder.

"Yeah, it's still chasing us, and the other one's after Percy." Grover replied, with Annabeth nodding as she pulled out her knife.

"Okay, here's a plan. I'll distract the monster, while you hide, and when you see an opening, take it and attack; kill it if you can." Annabeth said, with Grover looking at her in surprise and worry.

"Wouldn't it be better if I distracted the monster, and you killed it?" Grover asked, since Annabeth would be better suited for attacking the monster.

"No, I'd be better at holding its attention, while you attacked. Now go!" Annabeth said, with Grover jumping slightly, before quickly ducking down behind some rocks, while Annabeth kept running with the monster chasing after her.

'I may not know how to use it, but I don't really have a choice.' Annabeth thought, unhooking the Furies' Whip, knowing it'd at least allow her to keep the monster at a distance.

Finally, Annabeth stopped running and turned to face the monster chasing her, only to recoil at what she saw.

It looked to be some mutated cross between a man and a goat, with insanity and bloodlust shining in its blood red eyes. It was also holding a wicked-looking axe in one hand.

'The Goatman, because of course it's the Goatman.' Annabeth thought, seeing she was being chased by yet another monster, or cryptid, that shouldn't exist.

Annabeth swore if they survived this quest, she's going to look up every single urban or mythological creature outside of the Greek Pantheon, and find out all she can about them.

Annabeth was pulled from her thoughts, when Goatman let out a cross between a scream and a bleat, before it leapt at her with its axe. Rolling out of the way, Annabeth swung her whip, as it lit up with hellfire and cut across Goatman's back, getting a cry of pain from the monster. And the demigod couldn't deny the satisfaction she got, at managing to get a hit in.

Though her satisfaction didn't last, as Goatman screeched angrily at her, before charging with surprising speed.

"Woah!" Annabeth said, jumping back as Goatman swung its axe at her chest, before she was forced to keep moving, back as the monster swung at her wildly.

Unfortunately, Annabeth soon found herself backed against a tree, with Goatman swinging its axe straight for her head. Acting quickly Annabeth ducked under the swing, before plunging her dagger into Goatman's stomach, getting another cry of pain from the monster.

However, Goatman then backhanded Annabeth cross her face, sending her flying away from it, and onto the ground. Groaning, Annabeth rubbed her head from the strength behind Goatman's hit, only to gulp when she saw Goatman standing over her, with her dagger in hand.

Reaching for her whip, Annabeth paled when she saw it had been knocked out of her hand. Looking back at Goatman, who cackled wickedly as it held her own dagger up, ready to stab her. Closing her eyes, Annabeth prepared herself for the end, only to suddenly hear Goatman cry out in pain, followed by the sound of something hitting the ground.

Opening her eyes, Annabeth was shocked to see Grover standing in front of her holding Goatman's bloody axe, while the monster itself was on the ground, before dissolving into dust.

"Are-are you alright, Ann-Annabeth?" Grover asked, shaking as he held the bloody axe, snapping Annabeth out of her surprise.

"Yeah-yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for the help." Annabeth said, while getting up off the ground.

Just then, Kyoko ran through the trees, stopping when she saw Annabeth and Grover.

"Hey, I took care of my monster, did you get yours?" Kyoko asked, taking note of the axe Grover had.

"Yeah, Grover just killed Goatman. What about you?" Annabeth asked, wondering what monster Kyoko killed.

"Goatman, that'd explain the axe. I took care of the Hidebehind. Come on, let's see if Percy's gotten his." Kyoko said, with the other two nodding, before they ran off in the direction Percy went.

*With Percy*

Percy panted as he ran through the forest, having not stopped, since he split off from Annabeth and Grover. He could still hear the monster that was chasing after him, and knew he couldn't stop, not until he at least had an idea of how to kill whatever monster was after him.

Pulling out a water bottle, Percy quickly took the cap off and drank half the bottle, before pouring the rest over his head. Instantly, he felt his energy restored and then some.

Knowing this was his chance to fight the monster, Percy stopped running and faced the creature, seeing just what was chasing him.

The first thing he noticed, was just how thin the monster was, to the point it look emancipated. It had rotted skin that was pulled taut over its bones, long gangly arms with sharp claws, its head was a wolfs skull with empty eye sockets, antlers on its head, and patches of grey fur on the back of its head, arms and legs.

Percy also noticed how it didn't seem to hold still, it was constantly jittery, as if it hadn't eaten in months.

'Is this a Wendigo?' Percy thought, going off what Kyoko told them about Wendigo's, and figured this might be one, even more so, given the way it seemed to look at him hungrily.

Before Percy could contemplate further, the Wendigo roared before appearing in front of him in a burst of speed. Eyes widening Percy quickly raised his sword and blocked the Wendigo's claws, the demigod then raising his foot and driving it into the monsters chest, knocking it away.

Running towards the Wendigo, Percy ducked under a swipe from its claws and slashed at its left leg, leaving a deep gash on it, getting a cry of pain from the monster. Acting on instinct, Percy slammed Riptides hilt into the Wendigo's head dazing it, before spinning around it and driving his sword straight into the Wendigo's back.

Releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding; Percy pulled his sword out, and looked at the Wendigo as it clutched its wound, before stumbling into a tree which it slumped against. Approaching the wounded Wendigo cautiously, not sure if it'd suddenly attack again, Percy was confused and surprised, when the Wendigo suddenly let out a deep, raspy laughter.

"What're you laughing at?" Percy said, not really expecting a response, only to be surprised further when the Wendigo actually spoke.

"I laugh at you demigod, you and the rest of your foolish kind. All of you, nothing but disposable pawns for the gods to use for their own amusement. But you, you are the most pathetic, Son of Poseidon." Said the Wendigo, much to Percy's surprise, both at the fact the monster could speak, and that it knew who his father was.

"How do you know that?" Percy asked, his curiosity over what the Wendigo was saying getting the better of him, wanting to hear what else it said.

"You have the same disgusting stench as your father and the rest of your filthy siblings, that I've encountered. The scent of monsters and rapists!" Said the Wendigo cackling cruelly, while Percy clenched his fists tightly at the reminder of what Poseidon did to Medusa, and probably other women as well.

"What about my siblings?" Percy questioned. noticing how the Wendigo included his half-siblings, the other children of Poseidon.

This only seemed to make the Wendigo laugh even more.

"What's that saying you humans have, ah yes "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree". I have existed for centuries boy, and I have seen many of your brethren, human and monsters alike, they're all the same as their father. Raping women they desire, but cannot have, always taking them again and again, until death would be considered a mercy. Not even men would be safe from their lust. After all, look at how the gods take men and women for themselves, for their own pleasure. Just like your father did with Medusa, and how your namesake had done, after he took her head, PERSEUS JACKSON!" The Wendigo declared wickedly, while Percy turned a mix between deathly pale and sickly green at what he was hearing.

"That is who you are, boy! Sired by a rapist, and named after a rapist who defiled the corpse of the one he killed! I wonder, how long will it be until you follow in their footsteps?! Who will you force yourself on first, your pretty little companions, or perhaps you'll prove worse than your father, and defile your own mother!" Shouted the Wendigo, taking pleasure in tormenting its soon to be killer.

That's when Percy shouted in anger, before stabbing his sword straight into the Wendigo's head. But he didn't stop there, as he repeatedly stabbed the Wendigo's body, while its empty eye sockets still looking straight at him. As if even in the death, it was mocking him.

Even as the Wendigo's body dissolved into dust, Percy kept stabbing and slashing at where it was, with tears in his eyes.

'I'm not like them, I'm not like them, I'm not like them, I'm not like them, I'm not like them…' Percy mentally chanted.

"I'M NOT LIKE THEM!" Percy shouted, before falling to his knees panting.

"Percy!"

Looking, Percy saw Kyoko, Annabeth and Grover looking at him in worry.

"Are you alright?" Kyoko asked, with Percy laughing bitterly.

"No, I'm not." Percy muttered, doubting he could ever say he'll be alright, ever again.

After a few moments, Percy felt hands on his shoulders. Looking, he saw Annabeth and Grover by his sides.

"We aren't our parents." Annabeth said, with Percy nodding after a moment, before standing up.

"Here, I'm guessing it was left by the monster you killed." Said Kyoko, handing Percy his Spoils of War.

Looking it over, Percy saw it was a white hooded cloak, with the Wendigo's antlers on the hood.

With that, the four questers continued on their way towards California.

So, what did you think, good. Yep the questers encountered some new monsters, the Jersey Devil, the Hidebehind, Goatman, and a Wendigo, with each of them getting their own Spoils of War. Though Percy also learned some rather disturbing truths about his half-siblings by Poseidon, both men and monsters alike, along with about his own namesake (in the Fate-series Medusa/Rider actually called Perseus a "Successful Shinji", exact words.), with the Wendigo mocking Percy of how he's the same as them, with Percy angrily killing the monster denying he's anything like Poseidon or the original Perseus. Luckily his friends are there to help him pick up the pieces. We also see Hera confronted by the other Olympians about telling Kyoko the true versions of all their legends, along with a flashback of Hera proving she is trying to be better. So, review if you liked go away if you didn't.

Storm out