CHAPTER FOUR: DAD SENDS ME A DREAM MESSAGE

Nico and Asoka came around to spend time with me, Percy also came to visit me and introduce his half-brother Tyson, who is a Cyclops. He was better at metal working than anyone id ever seen, including the senior members of my own cabin. He was extremely impressed with my gauntlets "metal gloves good, know I can't make anything that good, not sure if even Briares can."

"Well according to my mom, my father made them for me."

Tyson's eye got wide at that "your papa is Hephaestus right?" I nodded. "Makes sense. Only smith god make things better than Briares." He clapped happily and went outside to play with Mrs. O'Leary, who was chewing on a life sized pink squeaky yak.

Percy looked at me "hey Drake thanks for that shockwave thing you did, if it hadn't been for that I wouldn't have made it across the creek. Oh and I should warn you Clarisse isn't very happy with you."

"Who is Clarisse and why is she upset with me?" I asked.

"Clarisse is the head of the Ares cabin, she was the one chasing me at the capture the flag match, she fell over when you did that shockwave and then half her team fell on top of her, so she's sworn revenge on you, she tends to hold grudges so if I was you I'd watch my back. She'll try to make your life miserable."

"Thanks for the warning. I'll make sure to keep my distance from her." That night I had my first nightmare, apparently being a half-blood means that dreams aren't always dreams; sometimes they are important messages.

I was in what looked like a huge garage, although it was the strangest garage ever imagined, there was half a bronze mechanical horse sitting on a car lift, next to what looked like a 65 Ford Mustang. Also there was a forge just like the one at camp in the back of the garage. An extremely large man with a metal brace on his leg was storming around the garage, knocking over tool racks and cursing in ancient Greek. He looked over at the mechanical horse and pointed one of his fingers at it and it started to smoke and melt all over the garage floor, then he turned to the mustang and smashed the hood with his fists. "Blast it all, who took it?" He yelled, I instantly knew I was looking at my father Hephaestus, God of fire and forging, he then looked over in my direction and his eyes lit up. "Drake you're the perfect one to do what I need."

I woke up in a cold sweat looking around the cabin. I looked out the window and guessed that it was about two in the morning. I put my headphones back on and played my favorite MC Chris song at the max volume. I needed to think and music always helped me think. I also pulled a can of black cherry faygo out from under my bed, the sodas aren't allowed in camp but the Stoll brothers brought me a case of it as a gift for helping win capture the flag and my brothers didn't rat me out since I shared them.

I wasn't sure if what id seen was real, it seemed real enough. I finished my soda and decided to go ask Chiron about it. I got dressed and headed over to the Big House. I knocked on the door, which was answered by a sleepy looking Satyr in a green shirt that said "Got Hooves." "What do you want?" He asked irritably.

"I need to talk to Chiron."

"Do you know what time it is?"

I started to get irritated "yes I know it's late but this is important so can you go get him?"

"Yeah yeah ill go get him." He waved me inside the Big House and then disappeared through one of the other rooms and emerged a few min later with Chiron; he was in his wheelchair form.

"What is going on Drake?" I explained my strange dream to Chiron, he looked very thoughtful. "Hmm, well I do not doubt that you saw your father in the dream, Lord Hephaestus is very distinct. It seems that something of his was stolen from him and he'd like you to retrieve it. It seems that you will be receiving a quest, but not until morning. Go back to bed and we will discuss it further after breakfast tomorrow."

I tried to protest with him but Chiron gave me one of those looks that didn't allow for argument, so I went back to cabin nine and tried to go back to sleep. I didn't get to much sleep that night and in the morning I was up with the dawn. I needed to talk to someone else about the dream that I had, I decided that Nico was a good choice since he was already one of my closest friends at camp; and everyone seemed to really respect him since apparently he'd helped save the world last summer in a huge battle when the Titans had attempted to destroy western civilization.

So I went over to cabin thirteen and knocked on the big black door. Nico answered, looking sleepy and a little Irritated. "Hi Drake" his voice also sounded irritated.

"Hey there Nico, I need someone to talk to." I held up the six-pack of soda I brought with me as kind of a bribe and Nico started to look less angry.

"Sure why not" I followed Nico into the big cabin which looked like a medieval castle made out of solid black obsidian, with silver skulls on the walls, and torches that burned magical green fire. Nico popped the top off of one of the sodas id brought, took a long drink and asked, "so Drake why are you waking me? The sun is barely up."

"Sorry about that Nico but I needed someone to talk to," I said.

"So what's up?" I explained my dream to Nico and what Chiron had said about it and the quest. Nico whistled loudly "well your either going to be really popular or a lot of people are going to be really jealous of you."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well most of the kids here have been wanting quests for a long time and it's your first year at camp, some of the other kids may not be very happy hearing that you're already getting a quest, but then again they may be happy for you, it just depends." Nico said as he finished the soda Id handed him. I hadn't even thought that other campers might be jealous of me getting a quest. "If I was you I'd listen to Chiron, he's been doing this kind of thing for over three thousand years, he knows what he's talking about. Now go back to your cabin and try to relax."

I left the Hades cabin but decided not to go back to my cabin; instead I headed over to the sword arena where I decided to do an early morning work out. Went to the improvised heavy bag I'd made out of large heavy pieces of celestial bronze and steel that wouldn't crumple under my gauntlets. Id been working on the bag for about an hour when I heard loud barking, I turned to see Mrs. O'Leary came bounding towards me, I changed my gauntlets back into rings and petted her for a few minutes then went over to the practice dummies and pulled off one of the shields and threw it for her to fetch. Mrs. O'Leary woofed happily and charged after the shield.

I started to turn back to the bag when I noticed the sun, I decided to head to the showers and go back so I'd be on time for breakfast. I got back just as my brothers were heading to breakfast, Jake looked at me but didn't say anything and we all headed out. After breakfast I went up to Chiron and asked him about my quest, "yes you shall have you quest as soon as our Oracle arrives, she should be here shortly." Just then I heard Mrs. O'Leary barking happily, I looked over at what had her so excited, she was bounding over toward a pretty red headed girl of about seventeen who was walking toward the Big House.

Chiron trotted over to her and said. "Hello Rachel. How was your school year?"

Rachel made a face and said. "Horrible, I hate that school, but I made a deal and I'll just have to suffer through." Then she looked over at me and smiled "New camper?"

"Yeah I just got here about a week ago."

Chiron looked over at us and smiled "Rachel may I introduce Drake Anderson, son of Hephaestus. Drake this is Rachel Elizabeth Dare, our Oracle. Now I hate to do this to you my dear, since you just arrived but our young hero requires a quest." Rachel looked over at me and I smiled at her.

"Oh ok no problem, let me just put my stuff in my room and ill get ready." With that she disappeared into the Big House, Chiron looked over at me and said.

"Well let me get into my chair and we will head inside." With that Chiron trotted over to his wheelchair and sat down into it, after that we walked into the Big House where Mr. D was sitting at the ping pong table eating grapes and drinking diet coke and reading his wine magazine. We went past him and Chiron looked at me "you should go up into the attic, Rachel is probably waiting for you up there already, she will give you your quest. Assuming you return to us sane you will begin your quest."

Feeling a bit put off by the 'should you return sane' part of what Chiron said, I headed up to the attic. It was packed with trophies from previous quests done and battle by other half bloods in camp. Rachel was sitting on a stool, when she saw me here eyes got really wide and started to glow green, then suddenly green mist started pouring out of her mouth and it changed into the form of a huge snake. It hissed and flowed towards me, and then I heard a voice in my head.

I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophesies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach Seeker and ask. I was pretty freaked out by this, but I asked.

"How do I help my father?" The Green mist snake curled around itself, and then it spoke again.

A creature of sea and air you must find in a land of good weather.

Knowledge sought of a stolen treasure

Destruction of a sacred place, map hidden within a case

On a land surrounded in mist, you must find

Or treasure will be lost for all time.

Rachel came shook her head as she was coming out of the trance. "What did I say?" She asked.

"What? You mean you don't know?"

"No I never know what the prophecy says, because the spirit takes over completely."

I was stunned, I had no idea what that prophecy was supposed to mean. I looked at Rachel. "I guess we should head back down and talk to Chiron." Rachel nodded and we both headed down stairs. Chiron rolled over to us as we came down the stairs into the main room.

"So Drake what did the prophecy say?" Chiron asked me.

"Well it said something about finding a creature of water and air." I said.

"No Drake what Exactly did it say, prophecy's almost always have double meanings." So I started over with the prophecy.

"It said 'A creature of water and air you must find in a land of good weather. Knowledge sought of a stolen treasure. Destruction of a sacred place, a map hidden within a case. On a land shrouded in mist, you must find. Or treasure be lost for all time.'"

Chiron looked thoughtful for a few minutes then said. "Well that is certainly obscure enough for our prophecies, but it does give you a few clues for where to begin. I would guess that the 'Land of good weather' refers to Buenos Aries, since the name literally translates to 'good weather'. I am not certain about the creature of water and air, there are a lot of different possible creatures that it could be. I believe you will have to go to Buenos Aries to figure out the rest of your prophecy. Now Drake you can choose two companions for this mission."

"Umm, well I think I'd like to have Nico and Asoka go with me, if they'll come." I said a little nervous about this whole thing.

Chiron nodded in approval. "Excellent choices, I will have them brought to the house so that they can choose." Chiron had a Satyr go get both of them and when they arrived at the house Chiron and I explained the quest and the prophecy to them both.

Nico was nodding and smiling before Chiron finished explaining the quest and Asoka was doing the same by the time he finished explaining everything. "YES." They both said when Chiron asked if they wanted to accompany me.

"Well that's settled, now we must get you three down to Buenos Aries. Do any of you have active passports?" Chiron asked.

"Well I do." Asoka said. "I use it to come here from Japan every summer."

I looked at Chiron. "I don't have one with me but my mom has it in our house in Chicago."

Nico looked a little disappointed. "I don't have a passport, I've never left the country."

"That's alright Nico we can come up with something suitable for you. The real thing is always better but I'm certain we can improvise. Now the three of you get ready, we will have Nico's passport finished by the time you return." Chiron said as he turned and wheeled himself out of the Big House. I looked at Nico and Asoka and we all shared a smile as we headed back towards our respective cabins to begin getting ready for our first quest together.

I headed back to cabin nine and told my brothers about my quest. They were all really excited for me, and gave me some really good advice; like not to use a cell phone, since it sends up flares for monsters saying 'I'm here come and eat me'. I changed into a pair of jeans shorts, a black mc chris t-shirt, and a pair of tennis shoes. I packed up my few clothes and my IPod into my Camp duffel bag, and then headed back toward the Big House. Nico and Asoka caught with me before I left the courtyard for the cabins. They were both geared up for travel.

Nico was wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt with flaming skulls on it, his silver skull ring, and black combat boots. He had his Stygian Iron sword strapped to his side was carrying his own Camp duffel bag. Tabitha had on a pair of stone washed Capri jeans, a bright yellow tank top, and tennis shoes. She had her two magical key chains hooked into the belt loops of her pants and she had some strange bumps and straps across her back.

"Hey guys, thanks for coming with me. I really appreciate it."

Nico smiled at me. "You don't get it cause your new to camp, but any kid here would jump at the chance for a real quest. We train constantly for this right here, it's in the real world that we find out just how good we are. I helped out a lot when the Titan Invasion came last year, but I've never actually been on a real quest before.

"Yeah Drake, neither have I. I've been coming to camp since I was nine years old and I haven't gotten to go on a quest yet. I really appreciate picking me to go with you." Asoka smiled happily at me while she said it.

I was really relieved to hear them both so excited about this quest. We headed back to the Big House together where Chiron was waiting for us along with this blonde Surfer looking guy whose whole body looked like it was covered in eyes. I looked at Nico and Asoka, and Asoka explained. "Oh that's Argus. He's the head of camp security, he'll be the one who drives us into New York so that we can get started." Chiron trotted over to us and handed Nico a large Manila Envelope.

"Here you are Mr. Di Angelo one perfectly legitimate appearing passport, courtesy of Lord Hermes." Nico stared at the passport Chiron had given him then put it into his back pocket. "Now here is my suggestion to the three of you, Argus will take you to LaGuardia airport where I suggest you take a flight to Chicago and pick up Drake's passport, then you take another flight down to Buenos Aries. After you get to Buenos Aries contact me and hopefully I will have figured out some more information about the prophecy to help you." With that Chiron handed each of us a few zip-loc Baggies with cash in them, along with three canteens of Nectar, three more zip-loc Baggies with ambrosia squares in them, and a big pouch filled with golden Drachmas.

End Chapter Four