…Percy…

For the first time in days, I sat next to Annabeth alone.

Between her busy schedule with her boarding school and her redesigning job after the damages on Olympus, I barely got to see Annabeth's face unless it was through mist during two-minute Iris Messages.

My cabin was quiet except for the sound of metal lightly moving from the hippocampi Tyson had made and hung from the ceiling last summer and the sound of the squeaking bunk below us.

Annabeth took a deep breath, reminding me that there were other things on her mind. We had another quest to be thinking about now, which still didn't seem quite real yet.

"You ready?" I asked her, breaking the comfortable silence we had sunken into. Annabeth leaned into my shoulder, and as I pressed my face against her hair lightly, I knew what she must have been thinking.

It was almost frustrating to accept that Olympus was in danger again just after we had put everything we had into the Battle of Manhattan to defeat Kronos. There were already so many losses and heartaches, and just when the wounds seemed to be patching themselves up, another quest was being thrown at us. It wasn't fair, but there was no changing it.

"I just… I can't believe that this is really happening," Annabeth told me honestly. "It's too soon."

I flashed back to just a month ago when Annabeth and I had raced down Half Blood Hill feeling like we could finally kick back and relax for a while. All of those lighthearted feelings had seemed to "Poof!" away the second Zeus announced a quest.

"I know," I admitted. "But we're demigods, right? Stuff is going to be popping out at us every second of our lives."

Annabeth's fingers seemed to find mine, I gripped her hand as Annabeth stared absently at the wall. "Yeah, I am," she said to herself. Then in a more confident voice, she said, "I'm ready, I mean."

I nodded slowly, knowing that Annabeth's determination was coming quickly now. "Just like all the other times," I said.

"We're going outside of the United States this time," Annabeth remembered. "This might be our biggest quest yet."

I couldn't pretend like I hadn't thought about it, but I assured Annabeth that we would make it. "We just need to stick together," I said.

I saw Annabeth glancing at where our hands sat in my lap. Our fingers were intertwined, and it never felt more right than it did now when we had a quest depending on trust and teamwork. I seemed to read Annabeth's mind as I thought about something else that was different from all of our other quests. This time, Annabeth and I had each other, and it wasn't a secret to either of us.

I watched Annabeth smile slowly, and for the very first time, I let the quest feel real. Even though it was sudden, with Annabeth by my side, I knew it was another adventure that we could accomplish.

For the first time, as we sat there in a strange type of silence, it sunk in.

Annabeth turned her head towards me slightly, positioning herself so she was closer. I filled the gap, leaning in to kiss her on the lips. "I missed you," she whispered, and I knew that her busy schedule bothered her too. If nothing else, I had a feeling right then that at least one good thing would be coming out of this quest: Annabeth and I would be together along with our friends. Of course, the fact that our lives would constantly be on the line seemed to make it worse, but I preferred not to think about it that as Annabeth pressed into me.

Neither of us felt like moving from our spots, but things needed to be done. I sighed, finally standing up as I threw some last minute things together in to a backpack. Annabeth sat up as she picked up my camp T-shirt off the floor, folding it before handing it to me while quietly mumbling something about boys and unorganized.

The air had a lighter touch to it as Annabeth and I exited my cabin, feeling a little better about the whole go-save-Olympus-again situation.

What we didn't expect was to see an old friend standing before us so soon. In the distance, Thalia stood, fully dressed in her Hunter's uniform, her figure creating a shadow as the sun blazed behind her from where she appeared tall by her pine tree.

…Thalia…

I stood with a hand on my pine tree, looking down at camp.

Camp had never really been home, but it was a place I belonged in, though I felt a lot more comfortable among my sister Hunters than the campers here. Still, I had friends here, and it was a place that brought at least some peace to me, especially when I was standing like this.

A cabin opened, and I saw two familiar people step out and look up in my direction. I could almost see Annabeth's happy smile and Percy's small grin, though it was probably more my memory of seeing them more than once.

Annabeth took off in my direction, Percy following behind her at a slower pace, shaking his head gently at the daughter of Athena. It only took thirty seconds for Annabeth to reach me at the top of Half-Blood Hill, and I had already opened my arms to catch her as she hugged me.

"You came!" she said happily, and I had to let out a laugh even as I looked at Percy from over Annabeth's shoulder.

"Of course I came!" I replied. "Who else is going to make sure Kelp Head over there doesn't get killed while you're too busy making sure the quest actually gets done?"

Annabeth laughed lightly as she pulled away from me, Percy rolling his eyes while grinning at my comment. He knew it was so true.

"So, I've heard there's a minor god loose over in Europe after a tool belt with all the prototypes of the gods' weapons," I commented, "and that we're bringing Nico along with us. Lady Artemis said that all other explanations are to come from you, so what else do I need to know?"

"Why don't we go someplace where we can make an Iris Message?" Percy suggested before Annabeth could speak, and she turned to glare at him for a moment before sighing. At Annabeth's gesture, Percy led the way down to the beach, his hands tucked into his pockets as he walked.

"So, how's camp doing?" I had to ask, knowing they'd talk about this even if they wouldn't talk about the quest.

"It's been hard," Annabeth said quietly. "Except for a handful of cabins, so many of us lost siblings, and while many have recovered, even Chiron fears many are scarred for life from losing loved ones. We've been helping how we can, distracting them with building the few new cabins still to build for the minor gods and training, but it's going to take more time for everyone to be back to normal."

"The Hunters have been the same way," I sighed, thinking back to the conversation I'd had with Kristen just yesterday. She had cried right into my shoulder once I got her going, her eyes completely bloodshot before she was done. It had obviously helped, but it had been so painful for me to see as, even knowing her for only three months, I had come to see her as a sister just as much as those I had known for over a year.

"We'll recover," Percy said, glancing over his shoulder at Annabeth and me with a little worry before looking forward again.

The three of us were silent after that as we walked to the beach. I took the time to look at the cabins, and I had to admit I was impressed by the new ones, which were beginning to form a Greek Omega. It was obvious that Nico had had a huge hand in the Hades' cabin with its dark and creepy look while another looked like an old-fashioned prairie house that I recognized as Hypnos' cabin by the red poppies hanging over the doorway. Overall, though, the sight of the new cabins was a wonderful thing to see.

Finally, we reached the beach, and all three of us sat down in the sand near the ocean. Percy was obviously keeping the water away from us so that we wouldn't get wet, which I was grateful for, though I wasn't going to mention it at all.

"Why are we here, then?" I had to ask. "Who are you going to Iris Message?"

"Rachel," Percy said, glancing at Annabeth for a moment, but Annabeth's face still had the slight smile on it from my coming. It appeared her jealousy towards Rachel had disappeared, most likely with Rachel's becoming the Oracle. Percy's words also made sense, now that I thought about it, as we'd need a prophecy for the quest.

"Let's talk to Rachel before telling Thalia what she wants to know," Annabeth suggested, turning to Percy with a raised eyebrow.

He just pulled out a drachma and turned to the surf, where I could see a rainbow forming as mist rose from the water.

"O goddess, accept our offering," he said as he threw the drachma into the rainbow. "Rachel Elizabeth Dare."

It only took a few moments before a scene appeared in the rainbow. I saw the redheaded mortal-turned-Oracle sitting at a desk in what appeared to be her dorm room, wearing her normal jeans and a T-shirt, though I could see a terrible-looking uniform hanging in her closet.

"Rachel!" Percy called, and she looked up, startled for a moment before she grinned.

"Hey Percy, Annabeth, and is that you, Thalia?" she returned, turning her chair to face us completely.

"Yes, Thalia is here as well," Annabeth said. "Unfortunately, this isn't a social call, Rachel."

"Let me guess, you need a prophecy for a quest of some sort?" Rachel asked with an amused grin. "I guess it's a good thing I'm already sitting. Okay, one of you ask the question, and we'll see what happens."

"What do we need to do to stop the minor god?" Percy asked, and I almost rolled my eyes at the secrecy that seemed to surround the god's identity.

Rachel sat up straight, green mist swirling around her feet as her eyes glowed, green smoke coming out of her mouth. Her voice was the same raspy sound I had heard over a year ago when the mummy Oracle had taken a walk to give her prophecy, leading to the quest that saved Lady Artemis.

"Five will travel East to where Olympus once stood,
Chasing the goddess who feels misunderstood.
Pieces of a shield shall be gathered,
But not in time to stop the wizard.
A daughter of magic will fight for what's right,
To convince the turned against this plight."

Once she had finished, Rachel slumped down in her chair, blinking slowly. I noted that being the Oracle could be exhausting when giving prophecies before thinking about the actual words.

Well, the first line we already knew as the gods had told us we would be going east. The second line mostly just told me that I had been right in thinking the minor god was really a minor goddess and Lady Artemis had just used the male form because she wanted to be generalized.

I didn't understand what shield the prophecy was talking about, but Annabeth would most likely tell me in a minute or two. Unfortunately, it appeared we would finish this shield too late to stop the goddess from getting the tool belt and have to fight her.

It also appeared we would be bringing a daughter of Hecate with us on the quest as our fifth as-of-yet-unknown member, and she would be the one to try to stop the goddess. Well, then, our fifth member was most likely quite brave.

"So, what did I say?" Rachel asked as she looked at us through the Iris Message. Annabeth quickly repeated the prophecy, and Rachel nodded as she heard it, her face one of interest. "Well, I believe I've helped all that I can. Try to be safe and keep me informed of what's going on, will you?"

"Sure," Percy said, and Rachel smiled at us all before breaking the connection.

"Well, that's an interesting prophecy," I said with a bit of sarcasm in my tone.

"It's more straightforward than most prophecies I've heard," Percy muttered, and I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Yes, it appeared straightforward, but we all knew that there was a chance it had double-meanings. Still, only about half of it made sense to me, which didn't really help.

Unfortunately, before I had the chance to ask more about the quest, the conch horn sounded throughout Camp, which meant it was time for dinner.

With a sigh, I headed up to the dining pavilion behind Percy and Annabeth, instantly taking my seat at the Artemis table, usually reserved for when the Hunters were here. Before food was served, however, Chiron stood to make a few announcements. I had a feeling the quest would be among them, asking for the fifth member of our quest.

"Olympus has ordered a quest to be sent as they have another problem," Chiron stated. "Percy and Annabeth have agreed to the quest, and Thalia from the Hunters has arrived to join them. Nico, son of Hades, will be arriving shortly to be the fourth member. They need one more member for their quest.

"If you accept, you will be going east to Europe, chasing after a minor goddess who has been causing many problems for the gods. Now, are there any volunteers?"

As Chiron said that, I looked around the pavilion. To me it appeared that most did not wish to go on a quest that would involve most likely fighting a goddess, not even the Ares cabin, and I didn't blame them. Still, I knew where to look and glanced towards the Hecate table. There I saw three boys and two girls.

One of the girls looked young, only thirteen, while the other was closer to sixteen. The boys all ranged from fourteen to seventeen, if my estimation was correct. The three boys looked quite scared at the idea of going on the quest, as if they thought they didn't have enough training, which most of them probably didn't. Of the two girls, it was actually the younger of the two who seemed to be working up the courage to accept, which made me blink before smiling slightly. She was most certainly brave.

"I'll go," the young girl said as she stood, her back straight and head high as she looked at Chiron. Her dark brown hair swung around her shoulders as she turned to look at first Annabeth, then Percy, and finally me. Her bluish-purple eyes bore into mine with a determination that I had only somewhat been expecting.

"Very well," Chiron finally said. "Unless anyone has a reason for Amberlynn not to go, I believe we have our fifth member of the quest."

No one said anything, so Chiron nodded quite seriously at young Amberlynn, and she returned it before sitting.

I looked over at the Poseidon table and saw Percy looking at Amberlynn carefully, something in his eyes. Examining him carefully, I began to realize that his look was one of some pride. It most likely had to do with the fact that she was a daughter of a minor goddess, meaning she was being given the opportunity to show what they could do. Maybe if we did well at this, others would look at the children of minor gods as more capable. I could definitely see where Percy was coming from with his obvious thoughts.

Shaking off my thoughts, I gathered my plate and went to give an offering to both my father and My Lady. As I went back to my table, I spotted Nico slipping up to the fire to make his offering before heading towards the Hades table. He caught my eye and nodded as he sat, and I returned it before we both turned to our meals. There would be time to talk later.

Once the meal was done, I saw Annabeth pull Amberlynn from her siblings to join Percy, who was standing with Nico. I went over to join them.

"We need to talk about the quest," Annabeth said. "Where should we talk?"

"Not in Kelp Head's cabin; it's always a mess," I stated, and Percy glared at me for a moment before he stopped, realizing I was right. "And not Death Boy's as it's just too dark in there."

"Hey!" Nico complained, but I just shot a smirk at him, and Annabeth was smiling as she shook her head. "Fine, if we can't use my cabin, and we know Athena and Hecate are out because they've got others in them, why don't we go to Artemis?"

"Nico, you're a boy," I stated, emphasizing the 'boy.' "If you or Percy went in there, there would be some consequences for all involved. I'm not bringing Lady Artemis' wrath on me." There were no more ideas after that, both Percy and Nico looking a bit afraid of what Lady Artemis would do to them for going into her cabin.

"There's always the Zeus cabin," Annabeth suggested quietly, and I looked at her a bit sharply. "I know you never liked it in there, Thalia, but it's empty and somewhere we can go."

"Fine," I sighed, waving for them to follow me, "come on."

Now I got to spend time in my father's cabin again. Great, just great…