CHAPTER 2
"So how does that thing work?" asked Tia.
"Well... Last time we used one like it, the one you have, when we got nearer it glowed brighter." answered Larissa.
"But how do you know where to start?"
"Nixie, gave us a map when we were searching for you. And apparently we need to go East... That way."
"OK. You're the boss!"
"Well, I'm not the boss, boss... But ,Nixie, gave them to me... But if you want..."
"No... I don't have any idea how to read a map..."
"Don't worry, a few more weeks at Camp Half-blood and you'll be as good as the campers at Cabin #6."
"Maybe..."
"So, what do you really do?" asked Will.
"Do?" questioned Tia.
"For like survival skills."
"Well, my powers for one... Um... Uh..."
Will, looked at Larissa concerned.
"It will be fine." mouthed Larissa.
"... OK... My powers, I can do a little bit of flying with the Pegasus, and I can do a bit with knives and daggers." informed Tia.
"Well, that's something..." replied Will.
"Will!" exclaimed Larissa.
"What?"
"It's OK, Larissa." said Tia.
"I'm sorry ,Tia. Don't worry, when we get back, I'll train you, and the next Queen." replied Larissa.
Tia smiled.
"If... We get back..." whispered Tia.
Tia had never been outside her floating home island... So she's a little afraid and skeptic about the outside world.
At Camp Half-blood...
Camp Half-blood's 5 new cabins(snow, air/wind, earth/life, fire, and water) were almost finished(the first two mostly done, since they had a deadline for all 5)... All that needed to be done was the roof, windows, doors, and getting the furniture done. Unfortunately Chiron said that only the Snow, and Air Cabin's furniture could be done, because the rest would probably want it to be done in a specific way.
"Keep it up!" yelled Chiron.
"Chiron?" asked a girl.
"Yes, Shyla?"
"I was wondering when our cabin would be done... Um... If that's ok with you... Cabin #8, is kind of... Scary..."
"Well, all together with the roof, windows, doors, and the furniture... Hmm... Maybe in about a week."
"OK, good. Um... Just remember we like it frosty and cold... If they could do that... They don't have to..."
"It's ok... I'll make sure they set it at the temperature that you're used to..."
Shyla smiled.
"Chiron!" called Jake Mason.
"Yes." answered Chiron.
"OK, so we are almost finished with the inside, like almost finished..."
"Yes..."
"... I sent some guys down to The Forge to work on the doors and windows..."
"... Good..."
"... The furniture... I had to ask... What do they center around... Like anything enjoy or love."
"... Uh, well... They like snow and ice, and the temperature there is freezing cold... If you, uh, like I could get Shyla, and her sister Viola, to come see you."
"That would be great. Have them go down to The Forge, as soon as I am done here, I'll go down myself."
"Very, good."
"Well, that's it... Um, I have to ask about something else..."
"What?"
"... If Larissa, and Tia, can't bring back balance, what will happen..?"
"Jake... I don't know... What the gods did long ago, was out of fear, and hate... And now, Larissa, Tia, and the rest of the lost Queens, has to pay for that."
"OK, I'm going to help the other guys out... I'll update you in a 1 hour."
"Good."
As Chiron walked around and checked to see everything in order. Soon he had to go to the Archery Range...
"Chiron." called Nixie in a stern voice.
"Nixie. What is it?" asked Chiron, as Nixie came closer.
"Ugh. Those winter girls are impossible to train!"
"In..?"
"Their powers!.. I don't care about their survival skills."
Chiron, raised an eyebrow.
"I don't train, or do that... I'm a water sprite... We have more abilities than ,Larissa, with her powers."
"And what would happen if your powers... Were gone?"
"Are you threatening me?!"
"No. Just asking a simple question... What would happen if your powers miraculously disappeared?"
"Well... I'd... Um... OK, you got me! Survival skills are important. But that's not my department... I'm talking about the girls from their winter wonderland home. They can't be trained. They can't do any of what I'm trying to teach them."
"They can. You just need patience... Get personal with them. Some of them are probably blocked by something."
"Like?"
"Fear, lies, things like that... Others... Well, it could be memories, or psychical or mental pain."
"So...? What does that have to do with their training?"
"Get personal, you and your students must have something in common. Larissa taught Tia, some power moves in 2 days, and they have separate powers... It's because they both had the same pain."
"Yeah, yeah... I get psychical or mental pain. Got it."
"Good, I'll spare up some more time, for you to spend extra time with the girls..."
"But..!"
"... Now, if you excuse me..."
"B-b-but..!"
"... I have an archery class to get to..."
"I-I w-was..."
"Goodbye, Nixie."
"Uuuh..."
Back to Larissa, Tia, and Will...
"Larissa, check the necklace." said Will.
"OK." replied Larissa.
Larissa, let one hand go of the reins, looked in her saddlebag, and pulled out the heart-shaped necklace, and looked at it.
"It's glowing brighter now, and it's humming." informed Larissa.
"That's good." commented Tia.
"Yep."
As Larissa, was about to put the necklace back in her saddlebag, when it slipped from her hand and fell into the water.
The trio of horses dove, and skimmed just a bit over the ocean.
"I'm going in." said Larissa.
"No. I'll go, I've been trained." insisted Will.
"Yes, maybe, but I can hold my breath longer, and move the water to make me go faster. I need to go... Tia, do you think you can give me a push, as I jump up?"
"Sure." replied Tia.
They both nodded at each other... As she jumped up(and took a huge breath of air), Tia motioned the wind and like a rocket Larissa dove into the water.
"Do you think she'll be ok?" asked Will.
"She'll be fine... At Camp, she practiced breathing underwater.. Guess how long!" replied Tia.
"How long?"
"That's.. Not... (sigh) About 20 minutes; combine that with her ability to move water... Hmm... I say less."
"I hope you're right..." whispered Will.
Underwater...
Woah... thought Larissa to herself, It's beautiful..!
She used her abilities to control water pushed herself, as well as swimming. As she swam she noticed a feeling in the pit of her stomach, telling her to breathe...
She opened her mouth and looked at herself. She wasn't losing conciseness, her lungs weren't filled with water, she could see clearly, and her clothes didn't feel wet...
"What's happening to me?" she asked herself.
No... I mustn't think about this now... The mission... she thought to herself.
So with that she plunged herself deeper and deeper underwater.
She had finally reached the bottom... She didn't feel any pressure at all...
I need to concentrate... I should be here somewhere...
She looked around, then saw something shining on a rock.