Naturally, Percy chose Annabeth Chase and Svetlana Keegan to be the ones who would go with him on his quest. He also chose Grover, as he trusted the satyr.

Sveta packed up the night before leaving her cozy cabin. She was going to miss her home for sure. But this was a chance for her to go out and see the world. This was what she and Annabeth had wanted for years, wasn't it? It was their time to shine through.

Annabeth stopped by Thalia's tree to say goodbye to her before leaving. Percy stared at the child of Athena with a look of confusion on his face. 

"She really is going to miss that tree, isn't she?" Percy finally asked as Sveta came and joined them, looking at the tree for one last time. 

"That's not just a tree, Percy," Sveta finally answered quietly.

Percy stared at her, alarmed. She regretted talking and held back her tongue, cursing herself quietly. She breathed deeply. Luckily, Grover jumped in and explained to Percy why Sveta didn't like talking about that one, specific tree.

"When Annabeth and Svetlana first arrived at Camp, they came with Thalia and Luke. But they were being chased by monsters."

"Furies," Percy finally answered.

"We call them the 'Kindly Ones'," said Sveta, who still sounded bitter. "Servants of Hades. Sisters."

"Like Miss Dodds?"

"Exactly. One was our History teacher, Alecto."

"Thalia turned back to fight," Grover went on, sensing Sveta's sadness of losing Thalia, one of the very few people that could understand her. "She wanted to buy her friends some time. Her satyr protector tried to stop her, but she didn't listen. At the last moment, her father decided to change her form. Bring protection to Camp Half-Blood."

Percy looked surprised. He furrowed his eyebrows.

"The most powerful being in the entire world's best idea to save her daughter . . . . is to turn her into a tree?"

Percy was baffled. Sveta didn't blame him.

"Thalia was the bravest demigod I ever knew," said Annabeth as she now approached them. "She fought valiantly, and she met a hero's fate."

Percy stared at her, clearly not amused. "She met a pine cone's fate."

Sveta glared at the forbidden child before nudging him, hard, in the ribs. She was clearly offended with Percy saying that she met a 'pinecone's fate'. That was not nice to Thalia, nor her. Percy ignored her. 

"Forbidden children are always in danger," said Annabeth. "Even the strongest ones. Even . . . . Thalia. And you are not Thalia. So do exactly as I say, and maybe we'll survive this. Are we clear?"

No one said anything. Percy and Grover gave each other annoyed looks. Annabeth nodded. She turned on her heel and walked away from the three of them. Percy, Sveta, and Grover walked along behind her.

"Does she always think that she's in charge?" Percy finally asked, breaking the silence.

"She's a daughter of Athena," Sveta answered, feeling somewhat bitter. Sure, she was smart. But not nearly as smart as Annabeth. "Of course she thinks that she's in charge. Who else do you think would be in charge?"

They took a cab until they reached the bus stop. They would take the bus until they reached St Louis, Missouri.

A man flushed the toilet, making Sveta gag. The smell was terrible. But at least, it would hopefully mask Percy's strong demigod scent. She was relieved when the bus came to a halt in front of a gas station. She immediately got to her feet. Percy began to stand up, but Annabeth pushed him back into his seat.

"You, mister, are staying right there," said Annabeth firmly.

"What? Why? It smells terrible back here," Percy insisted, hoping to change Annabeth's mind.

"Monsters can't detect your smell back here, can they?" said Annabeth. "So it's only natural for you to stay back here with Grover."

"I want to vote," said Percy at once. "Who thinks that all of us should go outside and get some fresh air?"

"I'm sorry. But none of us are voting, Percy," said Sveta with a sad sigh. She felt guilty for siding with Annabeth, but she knew she was right.

"I really do think we should vote," Percy continued to insisted.

"Grover, please tell your little friend that —" Annabeth began.

But to everyone's surprise, Grover began clapping, almost rhythmically. He looked nervous.

"I really don't wanna be the tie-breaker," he said nervously, "but I've got a better idea." He began to clap faster. "Oh, golly! The road's getting bumpy, cuz I got me some friends who just can't get along. Oh, dear! When the team's getting grumpy, the trick to getting through it is singing this song —"

"Dude, what are you doing?" Percy finally asked.

"It's the Consensus song," Grover answered. "Verse two is actually about how we should all say nice things about each other. Then, you can kinda figure out that this silly idea will -" he noticed everyone giving him weird looks, and he backed down, embarrassed. "— fizzle out."

"Chips and sodas okay with you guys?" Sveta asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Sure," said Grover bitterly.

"Whatever," Percy grunted. He was still bitter with Annabeth for not letting him go outside to get fresh air.

Annabeth took Sveta's hand and they walked out of the bus together to the convenience store. They struggled with what they wanted. In the end, they grabbed whatever looked good. When they got to the checkout, both girls noticed a monstrous presence near them. Cautiously, Sveta turned her head and spotted the dreaded Fury, Alecto. After spotting the Fury, they pretended to ignore her, until they got to the bus.

Halfway down the aisle, Sveta noticed the same Fury again. She sighed and scrunched her face before turning invisible. She found her way next to Alecto. There was an empty seat next to her, and she took it.

"You know, if you had disguised yourself better, maybe I wouldn't have noticed you as quickly," the girl noted.

Alecto was not amused. She raised an eyebrow, looking away from the invisible daughter of Apollo.

"You're very different from the little girl I ran into five years ago, Svetlana Keegan," she finally answered. "I wish that you were just as scared when I ran into you and your little band."

"I wasn't scared. I still knew how to fight, even all those years ago," Sveta scoffed, though she knew she was lying. She had been scared when Alecto and her two sisters had been chasing after them. "Why are you even here?"

"I'm here to collect your little friend," Alecto answered. The hairs on Sveta's neck stood up on its ends.

"Why? You're not going to take him, y'know. You can't tempt me," she spat. She hated that everyone who was not a demigod was after Percy.

"I didn't ask questions," Alecto scoffed in return. She rolled her eyes. Alecto missed the terrified version of the daughter of Apollo. She didn't expect Sveta to be this brave. She didn't even think that the girl would be brave enough to even discuss why she was there. "I was told 'lure your little friend away from the bus, and bring him quietly'. Unless. . . . you'd rather hand him over to me yourself and I'll let you go back to camp safely?"

Sveta's mouth suddenly went dry. She could feel her hands shaking. She glanced over at Percy and Grover. Annabeth had joined them, though she was more concentrated on why the hell Sveta was sitting with a monster.

"Not bloody likely," she hissed defensively. "Does it really look like I'm that stupid?"

She was about to say something else, but she was cut off whenever another passenger came and sat down behind them. She took this as her chance to leave. Halfway to the back of the bus, she scrunched her face into a look of concentration before appearing again. She hurried over towards her friends, now absolutely panicked.

"We need to get off this bus, now!" she demanded frantically. She glanced nervously behind her to see Alecto rising from her seat and slowly approaching them. "Open the window so that we can climb through the window!"

"Sveta, why the hell —?" Grover began, but he immediately caught sight of the Fury walking eerily towards them. "I get it. But I don't think that these things should be opened?"

"Just do as I say, Goat Boy," the girl huffed.

Grover looked slightly offended with the nickname, but he did as he was told. At once, the alarm blared. The driver spoke through the P.A with a bored voice, and everyone began to scramble off the bus. Sveta and her crew began to jump out of the window. But as Percy was beginning to make his way towards the window, Alecto's sister came flying in, breaking glass everywhere. Sveta shrieked as Percy shoved himself to the side to avoid being attacked by the creature.

"Percy, go!" she demanded shrilly.

She pressed the rose-shaped stud on her ring, which immediately transformed itself into a short sword. Sveta aimed it directly at Alecto's sister, Megaera, who instantly vaporized, leaving nothing but ashes. She hurried forward and snatched her sword before hopping out of the window herself. They managed to flee into the woods, where they were more safe.