The walk back to the cabins was more preferable than being in the big house to Aaron. He had time to think about it all. Quests were full of glory, and the Ares cabin sought them out time and time again when they were called. Aaron on one hand was proud to have his chance to bring back glory in the name of Ares, but his partners were not the kind he'd fight next to on a battlefield. Except the son of Zeus, Aaron mused. The guy seemed like the lowest of lows, he wasn't liked by many people, and Aaron could see why that was. But, he did show up with a chimera on his shoulders, and that meant he at least knew how to fight. Aaron suspected that that vital trait did not exist within his other teammates.<br/><br/>Stopping to talk to some of his soon-to-be partners would have been a smarter move, but Aaron didn't bother, it didn't matter enough to him. They would have plenty of time to talk on the road, Aaron figured. He had them all squared up and thought out in his head. At the moment he felt none of them would be looking out for anyone but themselves, and he didn't like the odds that put for them as a group. He silently thought about what would happen if Murphy was there. Murphy could make any band of misfits at least survive.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"You look like you just got hit with a rock."</span>Aaron heard coming from Murphy as he took the first small steps to the cabin.<br/><br/>"A rock?" Aaron asked, amused by whatever it was he was going on about.<br/><br/>Murphy shrugged.<span style="color: #FF0000">"If you were wearing a helmet, anyway. Y'know, disoriented? Shell-shocked? All that stuff."</span>Murphy spoke, as nonchalantly as it came, it was the only was he ever spoke unless he was yelling.<span style="color: #FF0000">"Is it true? A prophecy? And we just missed it?"</span><br/><br/>"Trust me, you didn't miss anything that you wouldn't have wanted to see. We're going to look like a pack of mental wolves drowning." Aaron said, his tone less full of rage than when he was in the Big House.<br/><br/>Murphy couldn't hold back a snicker.<span style="color: #FF0000">"Tough break. Man, bother, I swear, you ever run into those hunter things, you better be fast with your shield."</span><br/><br/>"Hunter things." Aaron repeated, amused. "Come on, it'll be lights out soon. I'll fill you all in."<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">--------------------</div><br/><br/>The rest of the night had been more simple than before. No lightning striking, no prophecies, and best of all, no having to deal with unwanted people for Aaron. He'd filled his brothers and sisters in on what was ahead, a few even seemed jealous, until he got down to his team. The conversation went smoothly as expected, almost as though the children of Ares all had the same mind. It wasn't until morning hit that Aaron woke up and the reality of it hit him. He only had a short period of time until he would be gone, and he didn't know when he'd be back.<br/><br/>His cabin walked with him down to the entrance of Camp Halfbood. It was like saying a farewell, he'd gotten his gear for the quest, and now he was saying goodbye to his family. As warlike and brutal as the Ares cabin was, they were soldiers, and soldiers left no man behind.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"Make sure you keep moving, don't stay stationary for too long. That boy you're bringing along will pretty much be a billboard for monsters to your location. And Aaron, remember. We don't leave one another behind, but that sure as hell doesn't mean you should put your life on the line here. The quest is important. Your new 'allies' aren't though."</span>Murphy said, walking Aaron up to the entrance. They stopped at the front, and Aaron held his hand out. Murphy gripped it in what could only be described as an urban handshake.<span style="color: #FF0000">"Make us proud. You'll be back in no time, that's a promise."</span><br/><br/>And with no more words, the Ares cabin went back to start their day as they normally would. They were viewed as a hassle by most campers, but Aaron was damn proud to be a part of that hassle. Now all that was left for him was to wait for those that weren't already there.