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Later at dinner, Percy sat down next to me after dinner and whispered to me, "What happened?"

I pressed my lips together. "I'll let you know when I find out."

Percy looked at me worriedly, and I realized I was lucky to have a friend like this. Him, Luke, and Annabeth. Not the biggest circle, but a good one.

Our table wasn't as talkative as usual. Andrew was there, but he looked like he was sick, pale and tipsy like he was lightheaded. He slipped me a glare here and there, but he looked nervous and wary of me now. They all did, even other tables. Obviously people had started talking.

I decided to change the subject, turning my attention to him. "Rock wall?"

Percy frowned. "What?"

"I assume you went on the rock wall."

He stared at me, dumbfounded. "How did you know?"

I laughed. "One, I have the same schedule as you. Two, your shirt is still covered in holes."

Percy laughed along, rubbing the back of his neck.

I smiled a bit as he said, "I guess that was kind of obvious."

I said, "Yeah, just a bit. How many times did you fall?"

Percy proudly said, "None!"

I teased, "Oh wow, amazing! And apparently you didn't have any run-ins with the lava either."

We both laughed, and I caught a glimpse of the rest of the Hermes table, scowling or muttering, all looking at us. I suddenly didn't feel like laughing.

The rest of dinner was a bit quieter, but once we started to the woods for capture the flag, Andrew grabbed my arm and pulled me behind a cabin so no one could see.

I tried to pull away but he held tight. "Listen dork, I have no idea what you did earlier, but I know you're not like the rest of us. I don't care if you beat me once, cheating."

I narrowed my eyes. "I didn't cheat."

Andrew hissed, "And apparently you're a liar too! But it doesn't matter. The newbie will figure out your a freak, and you won't have any friends. I'm surprised Luke still stands up for your sorry butt."

I growled, "He's my friend, just like Percy. And you'd better leave me alone or whatever that smoke was might just come back for round two. You never know."

Andrew wavered, then shoved me down before walking away, leaving me on my sorry butt, wondering if he was right.

When we got out into the woods, I walked with Percy and Annabeth, tightening the straps of my armor as Percy asked Annabeth, "So what's the plan? Got any magic items you can loan me?"

I couldn't help but smile a bit as Annabeth's hand drifted toward her pocket, where I knew she had her Yankees cap from Athena. She was always cautious with her hat, especially around someone from the Hermes cabin.

She said, "Just watch Clarisse's spear. You don't want that thing touching you. Otherwise, don't worry. We'll take the banner from Ares. Has Luke given you your job?"

"Border patrol, whatever that means."

I jumped i, "It's easy. Stand by the creek, keep the reds away."

Annabeth smiled and said, "Leave the rest to me. Athena always has a plan."

With that, my friend took off.

Percy grumbled, "Okay. Glad you wanted me on your team."

I chided, "Hey, it's a good job."

Percy asked, "What are you?"

I fought back a smile again. "I'm going to be a runner, trying to get their flag."

Percy looked crestfallen, and the smile became a lot easier to control. "Hey, don't worry. It's your first time, so just stick to our side of the water and you should be fine. If all goes well, I'll be back in a flash."

Percy tried to return my smile, but he didn't seem able to.

As the conch horn blew, I nodded at Percy. "I'll see you after the game."

Did I feel bad for Percy as I took off for the other side? Yes. Did I want to go stand next to him at the border as was my job forever? Sorry, but no way. These rare times when I get to be a part of the action are some of the greatest days of my life!

I weaved through the trees, silently ducking through brush, my eyes wide open for any red team opponents, but I saw- crap.

Five red plumes at once. I ducked behind a tree, but they didn't seem interested in me. They were making for the creek. Realization dawned on me.

Oh, Annabeth. Your plan... Gods, Percy was going to be slaughtered!

I started running after the Ares kids as a low growl came from the brush behind me. I whipped around, pulling out my knives.

Monsters roamed the woods. I couldn't ignore one if it was right behind me. The head of a giant dog emerged from behind a tree and I stumbled back a step. Gods no... how in Hades was there a hellhound here?!

The monster slunk out of the shadows, growling softly at me, but it hadn't attacked yet. Oh, I was so dead...

The thing was the size of a small car, eyes ruby red and gleaming like the extremely threatening fangs in its mouth. Gods gods gods... I was going to be eaten alive without ever leaving this stupid camp!

I leveled my daggers, hands shaking as much as my voice. "G-Go away!"

The hellhound... listened? Or it decided I didn't look tasty enough. Either way, it leapt over my head toward my side of the creek, disappearing into the brush.

"Well, it seems you are finally growing into your powers."

For the second time in the last minute, I turned to see something I didn't want to see. The woman from my dream was back.

I leveled my blades at her this time. "Stay away!"

The woman laughed softly. "Child, I'm no threat to you."

I asked, "Oh yeah? Then why did you leave me with a brand the last time I talked to you?!"

She said, "It is a family mark. You should have gotten it years ago, but your mother was a fool."

I faltered, my daggers nearly falling out of my hands. "My... mother?"

The woman mused, "She should have listened to me, led you down the family path. Now... I've had to take matters into my own hands."

I didn't like the sound of that. Blood roared in my ears and a headache started pounding against my skull like a mallet as I demanded, "Where's- who's- my Mom?"

The woman smiled coolly, those red eyes as unnerving as the hellhound's. "Oh, Ryder. So lost. Well, I'll have to change that soon enough."

I was terrified and angry at the same time, both rivaling the other. "I don't care how lost I am in your eyes. I know who I am." But... Did I really? Ugh, this headache had come on so quickly, and now it was making my thoughts slow down.

The woman seemed to be amused by this. "Ryder, you don't know who you are. You may think so, but-" her eyes gleamed mischeviously; like mine did when once and awhile. "- a Moíra always sticks to what they believe until proven wrong."

The woman leaned closer, and I felt paralyzed, unable to attack or move away, barely able to breathe.

She traced the moon on my wrist, her eyes still on mine as she said, "I'll prove you wrong, Ryder. Then... then you can embrace your destiny as the greatest Moíra ever to live."

She disappeared in a puff of black smoke- like what I had summoned earlier- and I could move again. I fell to my hands and knees, my head now burning like a wildfire had started up there.

Who was she? Why did she keep calling me Ryder? The name was daunting, threatening. I didn't want to be a Morina or whatever she called me. I'd always wanted to leave camp, but now, I wanted nothing more but to stay here forever. But this encounter had proved something: this woman wasn't just a hallucination. She was real. And she could get to me in the safest place in the world.