Author's Note: I know, I know. I should be working on my other fic. But, I had to get this one out there, the plot bunny was practically attacking me. Warning: Supposed to be sad, kind of minor character death. This is also supposed to be a one-shot, but I might add more to it, depends on if I get enough reviews for it... Takes place somewhere in between THoH and TBoO. Has a minor House of Hades spoiler...

-AdllL123

Disclaimer: I don't own the awesomeness that is Leo Valdez or the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series or the Heroes of Olympus Series...

A breathless laugh was released into the air followed by a few easy chuckles. It was an average day on the Argo 2, Coach Hedge was yelling at pigeons, Jason and Piper were laughing with each other, Percy and Annabeth were discussing battle plans, and Frank and Hazel were trying (trying being the key-word there) to help Leo with ship repairs.

A light breeze swept over the deck and the sun shone warmly over their heads creating a sort of security in the air. They all conversed amongst each other calmly, on guard for the worst(as always), but at ease..

Everything, so far, was alright this particular day, and therefore, safe. No monsters, no problems, no worries.

But that's where every demigod makes their first mistake. Nothing is ever simply 'alright' ,and in the world of the Greeks and Romans nothing will ever, ever be something so unreachable, and kind as 'safe'.

A watery rainbow shimmered into view, startling the demigods for a moment. Grins faltered, and a sudden disquiet covered the previous atmosphere like a smothering blanket. They hadn't received an Iris Message in a good long while; the party of eight also happened to recall the many times they had seen an IM in periods of war and ruin such as this the message was always one sad tidings and stress.

In the image of mist sat Chiron, his face weary and worn, a look that was starting to become constant expression that said centaur wore.

Now it's not to say that Frank and Hazel weren't worried, they were; but they couldn't be as worried as the rest of them were.

Coach Hedge had a wife and a soon-to-be-born child at Camp; Jason, although he hadn't been going to Camp Half-Blood as long as he had been going to Camp Jupiter, loved it, the place was his home away from home. Percy and Annabeth had both been going there for about as long as they could remember, and the thought of any one else they knew dying or being hurt again was too overwhelming; if Camp had been destroyed... Leo and Piper both had siblings at Camp, some they didn't know as well as others, but they did care for all of them, a select few of them were actually quite dear to them; but they wanted to get to know them more, love them all like real brothers and sisters. If their siblings' lifes had been cut short before they had that chance, Piper and Leo probably would regret the missed time for the rest of the lives.

A bated silence was washed between every one, suspense and distress crawling up their throats. No one made a move, or a sound; they were all too afraid to break the quiescent, not knowing what words had in store for their home, Camp Half-Blood.

Finally, the torturous unsoundliness, that had in reality only lasted mere seconds, was shattered by a firm, but caring voice from the other side of the Iris message.

"Leo, Piper, I'll need to speak with you both for a moment. Alone." Chiron said heavily, albeit calmly.

An ice-cold dread seeped into their veins and pumped into their blood. 'No, no, no, no, no, no, no!' This could not be happening! Leo stiffly stepped backward, he couldn't bear the thought of any more of his family being gone. First his mom, then Festus, now this!? It wasn't fair!

'Is it Lacy, is it Shane?!' Piper could never forgive herself if they had been taken away from her; if any of her siblings had been stolen by death, even Drew! she would cry herself to sleep. Lacy and Shane were one of the very few that had actually been nice to her in the Aphrodite cabin when she'd first arrived; she was so close to them now, even the thought of them hurt...

Jason glanced at his girlfriend, scared of what this talk might do to her; he had no idea if it had to do with their stance as cabin leaders or their siblings. Oh, and Leo, his best friend; how would this affect him!? He didn't want Leo to feel like he'd lost another piece of himself. He didn't want his best friend to have another reason to be hurt. Another reason to hate himself.

Percy and Annabeth both breathed a silent sigh of relief. But, don't get them wrong, they were very worried for Leo and Piper. They hoped and prayed to the gods that it was only some stupid cabin leader problem and not their friends' loved ones, they knew that awful feeling of sorrow all too well. They really, really wanted for that to be the reason, just a trivial, old cabin leader problem; but there was one thing that bothered them, if it had been a cabin leader issue... wouldn't they have been asked to be talked to, as well? Percy and Annabeth shared a scared glance for their friends. What was going to happen?

Hazel and Frank didn't know Chiron, but they had heard of him before, and they knew that if one of their friends was being IM'ed by him then something serious was going on. Hazel reached for Frank's hand for some comfort in this uneasy situation, she bit her lip; 'Poor Leo. Oh, and what about Piper!? Whatever this is, I hope it doesn't hurt them, their lives have probably already been difficult enough...'

Frank didn't know if Piper or Leo had any important friends or close siblings at their camp, but he prayed to Mars, and Hera, Jupiter, and every other Roman god that Leo and Piper would be okay. Piper and him weren't close, but Leo and him were past the whole Sammy thing and were starting to become much better friends; sure they'd might've gotten off to a rough start, but he'd never wish something ill on the fire-user...

Chiron gave them a stern look, they obviously couldn't take part in this. 'Please let them be ok.' ' Hopefully, just a cabin leader problem.' ' Poor Piper and Leo...' ' How will this affect them...'

Jason kissed Piper on the cheek and gave Leo a meaningful look that clearly said,'Good luck'. The demigods and Coach all slowly filed down the hall to discuss their worry for their friends with each other; the rest of the Seven felt almost like they were leaving their friends behind to face a deadly monster by themselves. Whatever was happening, they would have to be there for them after...

Leo watched his friends walk down the hall to their rooms, he felt almost betrayed. He rigidly turned his head back to the Iris message. Piper was the first one to break the silence.

"So, umm, what did you need to talk to us about?", she said; her voice only quavered slightly. Leo thought she was very firm in her words, he knew she was just as worried about the situation as he was. If he were in her position, he probably wouldn't have been able to get one stuttering sentence out.

Leo's hands started shaking- badly, he put them in his pockets to make the shaking lessen. He lifted his eyes to the IM. Chiron opened his mouth, then closed it, as if he didn't know what to say, he had thousands of years of experience bearing bad news. It never got any easier.

After a while, he took a deep breath and said,"Let me put this bluntly, I don't want to drag this on any longer. Leo, Piper...not all of them are, but... your siblings are dead.

The cool breeze seemed to turn harsh, and eerie, while the warm sunlight turned hot, and stifling, a sort of overbearing enmity created by the mood and nature of the words that were spoken.

'Your siblings are dead." rang through Leo and Piper's ears; the last words that they heard that day before chaos erupted.

Author's Note: Should I make this a one-shot or should it continue? Please review! Give me your opinions, I need answers! Tell me if I made any mistakes. Love ya!

-AdllL123