Here is my first foray into fanfiction for PJO. My original writing hit a roadblock, and so I'm keeping the fires burning by trying out this idea that has been niggling for a while.

Disclaimer: All rights of the original author respected. Any characters not found in the original books are either imagined by me or pulled out of mythology.

PROLOGUE

The icy wind bit through the layers of clothing she wore as she vainly tried to rub feeling back into her arms. Glancing to her side, Rachel noticed that her companions weren't faring much better. Summer should have been dancing in the air; they had not been prepared for this sudden taste of the extreme arctic in eastern Maine.

Rachel sighed and motioned for the girls to follow her back to their rented cabin. Tomorrow they could return to Long Island, and the balmy peace of strawberry fields and Camp Half-Blood. As she walked, the woman twisted strands of her red hair around her fingers and reflected through the past week's activities. Percy would be pleased. The locals on this coast-line had done amazing things in an attempt to revive the marine life. Rachel's coaxing had also brought two local influential businesses to the table with promises of sponsorship.

The Poseidon Foundation was the leading crusader in North American marine conservation. Rachel strongly suspected that at least half of the momentum the project had gained in the early days was due to the fact that its founder was young, passionate and extremely good-looking. Percy's unassuming charm had won them scores of supporters. These days he tended to stay out of the spotlight and in the field, leaving the harassment of big business to her, which suited Rachel. Never afraid to go into battle, the fiery redhead usually walked away with a win.

The wind was growing in intensity as Rachel ushered the girls inside. The small two-bedroom cabin was hardly warmer than the outdoors, but at least the walls were sealed against the minions of the North Wind.

Hala shook off her silver hood first and instantly set to restoring heat to the frosty cabin. Jennie unzipped her jacket as she headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Vera settled in to a post by the door, alert and on guard. Despite her initial protests, Rachel had grudgingly become accustomed to her constant companions every time she set foot outside the Camp. In fact, the argument she'd had with her patron had become legendary; few people could say they'd argued with a god so explosively and still walked away unscathed. Three years on and Rachel could honestly say that her current rotation of guards was her favourite. Hala and Jennie were particularly efficient; they ran the necessities of life like clockwork, leaving Rachel's mind free to pursue business and other eccentricities. Vera was the only oddity. Relatively new to the Hunt, she reminded Rachel of a brave little seal pup in a school of slick dolphins.

"I'm just going to make a quick call," Rachel told them. She pulled out a large crystal dangling on a string from a box of art supplies, and stepped into her bedroom.

With a light shining, Rachel twirled the crystal and dug a large gold coin from her pocket. "O Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, accept my offering. Show me Annabeth." She tossed the coin at the rainbow being cast on the wall. It disappeared, and a window opened in the air to reveal a blonde woman with her back to Rachel, intently studying an assortment of blueprints.

"Annabeth!" Rachel called.

Annabeth turned with a start, knocking a cup of pencils to the floor. "Rachel! Ah, damn!" Kneeling down, she scooped up the cup and dropped the pencils back into it. "I'm glad you called – I was just thinking about you when I saw the news. Two deaths in one week on the Maine coast – when are you leaving?"

Rachel laughed. "Tomorrow, but remember – I'm not the one who attracts trouble like a magnet. Besides, those accidents happened near Brunswick, not here. Not all trouble is related to us, Annabeth."

Annabeth frowned. "I know, I know. How is there then?"

"Freezing. I'm looking forward to getting back to my cave tomorrow," Rachel confessed as she enviously took note of the bright sunshine framing her friend. "After a week of non-stop talking, would you believe I'm looking forward to some solitude?"

Annabeth laughed. "Yes, well, that's one of the reasons I don't mind being dragged to San Francisco. With Percy 20,000 leagues deep there's usually some peace. When I'm on my own there also seems to be fewer monsters to handle."

Rachel laughed. "No surprises there."

Annabeth smiled. "Were you looking for Percy?"

"Yes, but never mind. Let him know I'll fill him in on the details of my trip when he's back."

"All positive?" Annabeth asked.

"Yup, everything except the temperature."

Rachel's friend frowned. "Are you in the middle of a storm over there? What's that noise?"

"Just the wind. It seems to have quickly worked itself into a gale."

Annabeth shuddered. "Sounds like a monster throwing a tantrum against your window."

Rachel grinned at the description, and her fingers itched for a sketch book to create the scene.

"And your little minders, how are they doing?"

Rachel rolled her eyes. "They're alright, not overly chatty, but pleasant enough. How's our boy doing?"

"I don't know," Annabeth said, chewing on the end of her thumb. "He's quieter than usual. I'm thinking maybe he shouldn't stay at Camp all summer. Maybe he needs to go to Montauk, or Sally's …". Annabeth stopped as suddenly Rachel sat bolt upright. Green smoke curled from her mouth and swirled around her eyes. When she spoke, it was with a raspy voice:

"The hero divided shall lead foe and friend.

One choice to change a life and one choice to end

The one who is true shall lose most of all,

And to save the lost sight the hero must fall."

A door slammed shut elsewhere in the cabin, and Rachel's eyes refocussed on the Iris-window. The smoke retreated, and red-head half-fell back onto the bed before she blinked and stared at Annabeth.

"Did I just give…?"

"A prophecy," Annabeth confirmed. "As puzzling as the rest, too." Her brow creased as her brain instinctively tried to unravel any possible meaning. She did not like the timing of this prophecy, especially in light of the topic of their conversation.

Rachel sighed. "It's just as well I'm headed home tomorrow. Chiron will be so thrilled."

A loud crash from the kitchen seemed to reverberate against the walls. The Iris message window shook, and then dissipated. Instantly on guard, Rachel pocketed the crystal and inched towards the door.

"Jennie? Everything okay out there?" Rachel called. No one answered, and she hesitated before reaching for the door handle. As she started to slowly turn it, pounding feet down the short hall made her leap back into a crouching position beside the bed.

The door flung open wide, and Hala raced wildly into the room, slamming the door shut behind her. Her silver jacket was torn on one shoulder, and a broken arrow was in her hand. Her dark hair fought to free itself from a usually tight braid, and she appeared out of breath. But it was the fear in Hala's dark eyes that shook Rachel.

"Oracle! We have to flee!"