Garden Gnome Emporium.

That's a stupid name for a stupid building with two idiots and a satyr—

Deep breath, Annabeth. You can't rage on your first ever quest.

Annabeth was frustrated. While she had begged Chiron for years and years ever since she arrived at Camp Half-Blood to give her a quest, prove her worthiness to her mother. Athena. To show she was worth looking at. Worth to spared a glance. She didn't expect it to be this *annoying.

She expected to be paired with strong demigods from camp, people who would take her seriously and would add in their own two cents to plans. Not stand aside like a kicked puppy. But unfortunately, Zeus had struck her, and she was paired with Percy, Grover, and you. Percy kept asking questions upon questions —

"you're telling me that I'm not hallucinating this?" "why is it so far?" "am i like.. jesus?" and the most repeated of all:

"im hungry"

She wanted to rip her own hair out in clumps and tie that braids around his neck. Only day one and she was already having murderous thoughts. That's a record. Anyways, the four of the teens arrived at the Garden Gnome Emporium. Neatly trimmed bushes lined a perfect edged gravel path to the front of a fancy enough house. Flowers bloomed brightly in all sorts of colours. The whole rainbow if you must. They entered, a rap at the door from Percy, his impatience showing by his foot tapping rapidly against the ground. It grew on Annabeth's nerves.

She clenched her fists, deep breath, exhale. Don't kill the kid who chose you for a quest.

The door opened and in they all went. Grover's eyes immediately went to the food that was on a long table, a table cloth draped with floral decorations and knittings on it in white. A small stand sat atop, cupcakes lining the outer rim in four stacks. Candles were present along with more food. Cookies, cakes, those coloured popcorns, brownies and more. A tall woman stood at the end of it, a friendly smile on her dark red lips. She wore all white, dark brown hair curled like she was from an eighties TV show.

She wore a white hat, stylish and slightly lopsided to cover her eyes and most of her hair. "Come join me," she said. Percy and Grover dug in, sitting at the table. Annabeth remained standing, a skeptical expression on her face while you were slightly forgotten about at the door. "That includes you, daughter of Hades." She spoke to you.

You froze a little. Her smile remained, her folded hand waving you over. Percy, Grover and Annabeth all turned to you. Did you know this woman?

No. Not other than myths and stories.

She was Medusa.

The woman with snakes on her head and eyes to turn you to stone if you looked. When you came over, still a little shocked she knew you, she turned to Annabeth, almost reading her mind. "You're here on the quest to retrieve Zeus's lightning bolt, yes?" She hummed, a delicate and soothing sound. Everyone paused. Had she been expecting you four? She hummed again, this time amused. "I understand your eagerness, Annabeth. I was once like you. Desperate to please Athena."

Annabeth grew rigid. Anger. Not fear.

"No you weren't." She growled. "You betrayed her. In her own temple. We are not the same." She stormed off to the kitchen where more food was brewing. Medusa's smile remained. Percy and Grover stood to go after her.

"Sorry," Grover apologised, "She's not usually like that." He added.

"Well, I mean— she is but- ow!" Grover nudged him and they both went into the kitchen after Annabeth.