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Eliie and her friends were wondering through the woods they were currently in. After her brother, Dante, dropped them off they got some dinner, some rest and then hitched the bus over to the neighnouring city. Only her new friends got freaked out by another fight (honestly her new friends were really skittish) and dragged her into the woods with them when the bus driver pulled over to sort said fight out.
So here they were, treking through the woods. Not that Ellie minded much, she had done similar things on her travels and with Sam, her Mom. Sam had married her Mama, and that made her Ellie's Mom, though Ellie still called her Sam on occasion and Sam said she didn't mind, whatever she was comftorable with. Ellie liked that about her.
Thalia, who was leading them through the woods, stopped suddenly, ushering them all to be quiet. She drew her spear, Nico and Percy copping with their own weapons of choice, as she surveyed the surroundings.
Ellie stood there confused for a moment before catching the familar aura of her Mom. Oh, her friends were just sensing her Moms prescence, she knows it can be a little confusing and unsettling if you haven't felt it before. She tried to tell her friends that it was just her Mom but they shushed her, which was rude but she understood.
She tore away from the group and started making her way towards her Mom, or atleast where she could feel where her Mom was. Percy, who was the first to see her break off, shouted out in protest rushing to follow her, the other two following pursuit.
There in a clearing of the forrest sat her Mom, she was sat on a wooden log infront of a fire, cooking something. She was wearing a black peplos and vines were spiralled around her left arm and another around her waist acting as a belt. She had all of her usual sliver piecerings and of course her wedding band.
"MOM!" Ellie yelled out excitedly, it had been so long since she had seen Sam.
"Ellie," Sam repsonded more calmly but just as happy to see her. "Your Mother said that you were off travelling with your new friends and when i felt you step into one of my forrests i just had to come say hi."
She opended her arms for a hug which Ellie gladly obliged.
Her friends stilled when they ran into the clearing and Ellie could hear their shouts of protests cut of suddenly. She looked over her shoulder to them, twisting out of Sam's arms slightly, though she kept her hands on Ellie's shoulders.
"It's my Mom guys!" Ellie smiled excitedly, "guys this is my Mom, Sam, Mom these are my new friends, Percy, Thalia, and Nico." She gestured to the people as she introduced them.
"uh...hi Lady Sam," Percy waved awkardly, lowering his sword.
"Lady Sam," Thalia bowed her head in respect, Nico did the same.
"None of that children, please come sit." Sam guided Ellie over to the tree trunk bench, not waiting for the other three to follow. "I heard from Danny, and Dante, that you four are off to the underworld." Sam said, making converstation.
"Yes, my lady, we're travelling to the underworld to meet my father." Nico replied, taking a tentative seat next to Ellie on the log.
"hmm," Sam hummed, "I hope that visit isn't made permanent."
"Of course not, my lady!" Thalia is quick to interject, offering her assurences.
"Well thats good, and theres no need for such formalites." Sam kept herself busy tending to the fire and the food that was cooking on it. "It's not often that you see one of Lady Artemis' hunters off on their own, does your lady know what your're doing?"
"Of course, Lady Sam, I would never abandon my lady!" Thalia protested Sam's accusations.
"I'd certainly hope so, I'd hate to be accused of stealing one of your lady's hunters away. Our domains cross over enough, the last thing I need is to be accused of being jealous of her hunters." Sam handed each of the demigods, plus Ellie, a hot cup of tea.
"You know, my domians cross with your fathers domains as well" Sam hummed as she passed Nico his tea.
"Really?" Nico asked, suprised.
"I am know as the goddess of the natrual order of all things, and all things under the earth, among other things of course. Death, and the dead belong in both of those." Sam hummed, moving back to the fire.
"Now, as I understand it, you've met both my husband, Danny, and our son, Dante. Have you met our other husband yet?" Sam hummed as she glanced over her shoulder at them.
"Other husband?" Percy asked confused, "...no, I don't think we have."
"I'm sure you will eventually, all this olympian business has put us all on edge, so it seems we're all making it a habit to check on our dear Ellie." Sam turned around and looked at them all, "now i'm sure that Danny and Dante didn't think about how healthy the food they were feeding you was, and I have heard that burgers are a favourite." Sam handed them all a stone plate with a veggie burger on top.
"Thanks Mom," Ellie said happily, as she accepted the plate, the other three parroted her thanks.
"I hope you all enjoy, this is much better for you then those greasy meat burgers you've been eating." Sam smiled at them all.
They all ate in comfortable silence for a moment before Sam looked off into the distance like she was listening to something before she sighed.
"My husband is calling me, i'm afraid i've got to go." She stood up from where she was perched on a log, "you'll be safe from the greek monsters and any prying eyes here, you may stay here for as long as you may wish."
She handed Thalia a small cross the body bag, "it's not much, and I'm aware that both my husband and my son have given you supplies but i hope this can aid you in your journey to the underworld."
With that Sam turned on her heel and wandered off into the woods before disapearing, but not before wishing Ellie goodluck and goodbye.
The four of them camped out in that clearing for the night before they began their trek back to civilisation in the morning.
Just beyond the horizion a man with golden eyes smiled.