Chapter I
"How was archery?" asked Silena, on her way to the stables.
"It was fine, I missed a few, though," I replied. Silena looked shocked.
"You miss a shot in archery?" she asked. I smiled. She thought I could do anything and everything, that I was super smart, and that I couldn't fail at anything. Well, I mean, I am pretty good at archery. Okay, fine, I always get bulls-eyes, but that's beside the fact. Talk about living up to expectations.
" I just have a lot on my mind, that's all," I told her. Her expression softened.
"Annabeth, you need to stop worrying about the gods. Whatever the problem is, they'll probably fix it." When I rolled my eyes, she added: " What I mean is, they are three-thousand years old, right? So, I think they're old enough to work the issue out, don't you?"
I knew she meant well, but her explanation just seemed hard to believe. She gave me an assuring pat on the shoulder, and then walked off to give her Pegasus riding lessons. I sighed, and went on my way as well.
"To the gods!" cried Chiron, raising his glass.
"To the gods," we echoed, and then drank. Once the nymphs brought in the food, we gathered in a line at the fire pit. Soon, I was at the front of the line.
"Athena," I said, closing my eyes. Mom, please, tell me what the issue in Olympus is about, I can help, I really can! Just, send a message, or something...because I know I'll be able to-
"Annabeth?" said a voice behind me. It was Malcolm, my brother. He looked slightly concerned.
"Oh, right. Sorry, just got side-tracked," I said, shaking my head. He nodded, and threw in a handful of strawberries, saying, "Athena".
When we were all seated again, we ate, and then walked to the amphitheater for Apollo's sing-along.
When we finished, I called to cabin six, "Athena, line up!" and we went back to our cabin. That night, I didn't sleep well. Dreams clouded my mind, and the weird thing was, I had no idea what any of them meant. A boy, whom I had never seen, plunging into a river. As his body touched the surface of the water, the scene exploded into color and changed. A bolt of lightning, a tidal wave. Over and over again, becoming less and less clear, until I woke up in a light sweat.